Patents by Inventor Gopichandra Surnilla

Gopichandra Surnilla has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and system for improved dilution tolerance
    Patent number: 9845751
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving combustion stability, in particular during transient operations such as tip-out to lower load conditions, when EGR is being purged. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Gopichandra Surnilla, Jianwen James Yi, Brad Alan Boyer, James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Benjamin Richard Petersen
  • Methods and systems for engine fuel and torque control
    Patent number: 9845760
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately estimating intake aircharge based on the output of an intake oxygen sensor while flowing EGR, purge, or PCV hydrocarbons to the engine. The unadjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine fuel control while the hydrocarbon adjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine torque control. A controller is configured to sample the oxygen sensor at even increments in a time domain, stamp the sampled data in a crank angle domain, store the sampled data in a buffer, and then select one or more data samples corresponding to a last firing period from the buffer for estimating the intake aircharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Justin Trzeciak, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • System and methods for diagnosing soot accumulation on an exhaust gas recirculation valve
    Patent number: 9845749
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining changes in a flow area of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve for EGR flow estimates due to soot accumulation on the EGR valve. In one example, a method includes indicating soot accumulation on the EGR valve based on a difference in EGR flow estimated with an intake oxygen sensor and with a pressure sensor coupled across the EGR valve. The determination of the difference of the EGR flow estimates may occur when the engine is not boosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Imtiaz Ali, Daniel Joseph Styles, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING FUEL INJECTION BASED ON A DETERMINED FUEL RAIL TEMPERATURE
    Publication number: 20170356382
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting a temperature of an engine fuel rail at a plurality of locations along the engine fuel rail. In one example, a method may include detecting temperatures along the engine fuel rail with a plurality of metal film thermocouples adhered to the engine fuel rail and arranged proximate to engine fuel injectors, and adjusting fuel injector operation and/or fuel rail pressure in response to the detected fuel rail temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohan Karulkar, Brian Joseph Robert, Richard E. Soltis, Larry Dean Elie
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20170356359
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing a spark plug soot load and a combustion chamber soot load by controlling spark plug timing while injecting water or washer fluid. In one example, water or washer fluid is injected during a torque reduction while advancing spark timing so as to provide at least a portion of the torque reduction while opportunistically cleaning soot from the spark plug and combustion chamber. By reducing spark plug soot load, misfire occurrence is reduced, while pre-ignition occurrence is reduced by decarbonizing the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIR-FUEL RATIO CONTROL
    Publication number: 20170356380
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for learning fuel injector error for cylinder groups during a deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO), where all cylinders of an engine are deactivated, sequentially firing each cylinder of a cylinder group, each cylinder fueled via consecutive first and second fuel pulses of differing fuel pulse width from an injector. Based on a lambda deviation between the first and second pulses, a fuel error for the injector and an air-fuel ratio imbalance for each cylinder is learned. Alternatively or additionally, a difference in crankshaft acceleration between the first and second pulses relative to the expected deviation may be used to learn torque error, and adjust fuel injector error and air-ratio imbalance for each cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Imad Hassan Makki, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Hassene Jammoussi, Robert Roy Jentz, Michael Igor Kluzner, Stephen B. Smith
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AIR-FUEL RATIO IMBALANCE
    Publication number: 20170356363
    Abstract: Methods and systems include determining a cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance in a multi-cylinder engine. In one example, the method may include sequentially firing an engine cylinder to provide an expected air-fuel deviation and learning cylinder air-fuel ratio imbalance based on an error between an actual air-fuel ratio deviation from a maximum lean air-fuel ratio relative to an expected air-fuel deviation during a deceleration fuel shut-off event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Hassene Jammoussi, Imad Hassan Makki, Michael Igor Kluzner, Gopichandra Surnilla, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Method and system for knock control
    Patent number: 9840976
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock tolerance, in particular when rapidly ramping in LP-EGR from low levels of EGR. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection to compensate for the transport delay in EGR filling the intake system. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Gopichandra Surnilla, Brad Alan Boyer, James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Chris Paul Glugla, Benjamin Richard Petersen
  • Method and system for secondary fluid injection control in an engine
    Patent number: 9840975
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting the amount of secondary fluid being injected into an engine. In one example, a method may include adjusting an amount of secondary fluid injected at an engine cylinder based on a secondary fluid injection amount estimated from outputs of an exhaust oxygen sensor. For example, the secondary fluid injection amount may be estimated based on a first change in pumping current of the exhaust oxygen sensor between a first and second reference voltage when only fuel is injected into the engine cylinder and a second change in pumping current of the exhaust oxygen sensor between the first and second reference voltage when fuel and the secondary fluid are injected into the engine cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled
  • Method and system for humidity sensor diagnostics
    Patent number: 9828949
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine including a humidity sensor. Degradation of the humidity sensor may be determined based on a change in intake air relative humidity as compared to a change in intake air temperature or pressure, under selected conditions. An amount of exhaust gas recirculated to an engine intake is adjusted differently based on whether the humidity sensor is degraded or functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Robert Roy Jentz, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Richard E. Soltis
  • Method and system for determining knock control fluid composition
    Patent number: 9828948
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately determining the composition of a knock control fluid using sensors already present in the engine system. An intake oxygen sensor is used to estimate the water and the alcohol content of a knock control fluid that is direct injected into an engine cylinder responsive to an indication of abnormal combustion. A change in the pumping current of the oxygen sensor due to the water content of the knock control fluid is distinguished from a change in the pumping current of the oxygen sensor due to the alcohol content of the knock control fluid, while compensating for interfering effects of intake air diluents on the change in pumping current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dane Miller, Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Mohannad Hakeem
  • System and method for controlling engine air flow
    Patent number: 9803570
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine during conditions where ambient humidity changes over time are presented. In one non-limiting example, an engine air flow limit is adjusted to increase engine air flow during high humidity conditions such that an engine may provide equivalent torque output during the high humidity conditions as compared to when the engine is operated during low humidity conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Michael Howard Shelby, Stephen B. Smith, Mohannad Hakeem
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FIXED AND VARIABLE PRESSURE FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20170306881
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a high pressure injection pump to provide each of high fixed fuel pressure at a port injection fuel rail and high variable fuel pressure at a direct injection fuel rail. Port injection fuel rail pressure can be raised above a pressure provided with a lift pump via a fuel system configuration that includes various check valves, pressure relief valves, and a spill valve positioned between an inlet of the high pressure injection pump and the port injection fuel rail. High pressure port injection may be advantageously used to provide fuel at high pressure during conditions when fuel delivery via high pressure direct injection is limited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph F. Basmaji, Mark Meinhart, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Methods and systems for humidity and PCV flow detection via an exhaust gas sensor
    Patent number: 9797323
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating a PCV flow to an engine based on the output of an exhaust gas oxygen sensor. During DFSO conditions, a reference voltage of the sensor is modulated initially with an intake throttle open and then with the intake throttle closed. PCV flow leaking past the piston valves in an aging engine, as well as an ambient humidity estimate, are inferred based on the outputs of the sensor during the modulating with the intake throttle open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis
  • Determining exhaust gas recirculation cooler fouling using DPOV sensor
    Patent number: 9797343
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining degradation of an EGR cooler based on differential pressure across the EGR cooler during EGR flow. In one example, the differential pressure across the EGR cooler may be based on differential pressure across an EGR valve and a pressure downstream from the EGR valve with and without EGR flow. The pressure downstream from the EGR valve may be a compressor inlet pressure or an intake manifold pressure in a low pressure EGR system or high pressure EGR system, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, James Alfred Hilditch, Imtiaz Ali, Freeman Carter Gates
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING HEATER POWER OF AN OXYGEN SENSOR TO REDUCE DEGRADATION FROM WATER
    Publication number: 20170298852
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting heater power of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method for an engine includes adjusting heater power of a heating element of the oxygen sensor when the heater power increases by a threshold amount. The method includes subsequently increasing heater power back to a baseline power level responsive to a temperature of the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis, Stephen B. Smith
  • Direct injection of diluents or secondary fuels in gaseous fuel engines
    Patent number: 9777646
    Abstract: A method for operating an engine, comprising port injecting a first quantity of a first gaseous fuel in a cylinder cycle and direct injecting a second quantity of a secondary injectant in the cylinder cycle as a function of a desired air-to-fuel ratio (AFR), the desired AFR based on a temperature of an engine cylinder valve. The desired AFR may be outside the AFR range available during natural gas combustion alone and thus allows for cooler engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, Mark Allen Dearth, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Systems and methods for fuel injection
    Patent number: 9771910
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering fuel to a port injector fuel rail in a port fuel direct injection (PFDI) engine. In one example, the port injector fuel rail may receive fuel from each of a compression chamber and a step chamber of a direct injection fuel pump coupled in the PFDI engine. In this way, pressurized fuel may be supplied to the port injector fuel rail during an entire cycle of the direct injection fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph F. Basmaji, Mark Meinhart, Hao Zhang
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENGINE FUEL AND TORQUE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20170268447
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately estimating intake aircharge based on the output of an intake oxygen sensor while flowing EGR, purge, or PCV hydrocarbons to the engine. The unadjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine fuel control while the hydrocarbon adjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine torque control. A controller is configured to sample the oxygen sensor at even increments in a time domain, stamp the sampled data in a crank angle domain, store the sampled data in a buffer, and then select one or more data samples corresponding to a last firing period from the buffer for estimating the intake aircharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael McQuillen, Martin Brown, Imtiaz Ali, Naginder Gogna
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENGINE FUEL AND TORQUE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20170268451
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately estimating intake aircharge based on the output of an intake oxygen sensor while flowing EGR, purge, or PCV hydrocarbons to the engine. The unadjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine fuel control while the hydrocarbon adjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine torque control. A controller is configured to sample the oxygen sensor at even increments in a time domain, stamp the sampled data in a crank angle domain, store the sampled data in a buffer, and then select one or more data samples corresponding to a last firing period from the buffer for estimating the intake aircharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Justin Trzeciak, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla