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 determining knock control fluid composition
    Patent number: 10316798
    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 or an exhaust 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Reducing engine misfire due to charge air cooler condensate using in-cylinder enrichment and a positive valve overlap
    Patent number: 10316788
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting combustion parameters to increase combustion stability during conditions when condensate formed in a charge air cooler may enter cylinders of an engine. In response to increased mass air flow and a condensate level in the charge air cooler, the engine may combust a rich air-fuel ratio while increasing a positive valve overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Systems and methods for humidity determination and uses thereof
    Patent number: 10309931
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity via the use of either an ultrasonic sensor positioned on the vehicle, or via another sensor. In one example, responsive to a request for a relative humidity measurement and an indication of fueled engine operation, the ultrasonic sensor may be utilized, whereas responsive to an indication of non-fueled engine operation, another sensor may be utilized. In this way, robust measurement of relative humidity with desired accuracy may be actively determined, rather than opportunistically, and such measurements of relative humidity may be utilized to adjust vehicle operating parameters, which may improve overall vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis
  • Systems and methods for humidity determination and uses thereof
    Patent number: 10302596
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity via the use of an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, the ultrasonic sensor for conducting the relative humidity measurement is selected from a plurality of ultrasonic sensors positioned at various locations on the vehicle, and where the selecting is accomplished in some examples via the use of one or more onboard cameras configured to identify suitable objects that are stationary with respect to the vehicle. In this way, robustness and accuracy of relative humidity measurements may be improved, lifetime of individual ultrasonic sensors may be extended, and vehicle operating conditions that depend on accurate relative humidity measurements may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Douglas Blue, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE SUGGESTION OF UNDER-UTILIZED FEATURES
    Publication number: 20190152386
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for suggestion of under-utilized features. A vehicle comprises sensors, a processor, and a display interface. The processor is in communication with the sensors and is to: receive inputs from the sensors, select one of multiple driving situations using the inputs, select a convenience feature corresponding to the selected driving situation, determine usage of the convenience feature using the inputs, and generate a message regarding use of the convenience feature. The display interface is in communication with the processor and is to display the message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Method and system for improved dilution purging
    Patent number: 10294874
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting EGR purging in a hybrid vehicle during transient operations, such as tip-out to lower load conditions. In response to decreasing engine torque demand, engine fueling is disabled and a motor is used to spin the engine unfueled until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved. Alternatively, engine operation is maintained with EGR disabled until the desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, and the excess engine torque generated is stored in a system battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Stanley Larue Bower, James Alfred Hilditch, Robert Ralph Iorio, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING A LIGHT-OFF TIME OF AN OXYGEN SENSOR
    Publication number: 20190145333
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an oxygen sensor heater. In one example, a method may include applying a less than maximum duty cycle of voltage to the oxygen sensor heater during an engine cold start (e.g., when a temperature of the oxygen sensor is less than its light-off temperature) and adjusting the applied duty cycle of voltage to maintain a constant amount of power. In this way, the oxygen sensor may be heated at a constant rate even as a resistance of the oxygen sensor heater increases, decreasing an amount of time before the oxygen sensor reaches its light-off temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Hao Zhang, Richard E. Soltis, William Russell Goodwin, Robert F. Novak, David Bilby, Evangelos P. Skoures
  • Method and system for pulsed engine water injection
    Patent number: 10267243
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for learning a transport delay for individual cylinders that is associated with maldistribution of water among cylinders during a water injection event. Differences in knock intensity between individual cylinders, following a water injection, are used to identify water maldistribution. Differences in the amount and timing of an engine dilution effect following a manifold water injection are learned via an intake oxygen sensor and used to reduce cylinder-to-cylinder imbalance in water delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE WATER INJECTION
    Publication number: 20190113005
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for coordinating water usage with spark usage based on the effect on an engine torque ratio. Water is injected based on torque ratio at a current spark timing relative to torque ratio at borderline knock to improve the impact of the water injection on the engine performance. Manifold water injection and direct water injected are coordinated based on intake manifold humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Howard Shelby, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohannad Hakeem
  • System and methods for operating an exhaust gas recirculation valve based on a temperature difference of the valve
    Patent number: 10260436
    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 a change in temperature difference between a stem and body of the EGR valve. In one example, a method includes adjusting an EGR valve based on an estimate of EGR flow, the EGR flow estimated based on a pressure difference across the EGR valve and an adjusted valve flow area. The adjusted valve flow area may be based on the temperature difference between the stem and body of the EGR valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Joseph Styles, James Alfred Hilditch, Imtiaz Ali, Yan Wang, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Charging a battery using interpack switch
    Patent number: 10259336
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an interpack switch configured to connect portions of a traction battery when closed to transfer electric charge therebetween, and a controller configured to, responsive to a request, operate the switch to disconnect the portions and to initiate transfer of electric charge to each of the portions in parallel and at a same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Philip Michael Gonzales, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING PARTICULATE MATTER PRODUCED BY AN ENGINE
    Publication number: 20190107073
    Abstract: Methods and systems for simultaneously operating port fuel injectors and direct fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, port fuel injection timing is adjusted to reduce particulate matter formation in the engine so that particulate filter loading may be reduced until a time when the particulate filter may be purged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen George Russ, Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Methods and system for adjusting engine water injection
    Patent number: 10247140
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for water injection at an intake port of an engine toward or away from intake valves in response to engine operating conditions. In one example, a method may include port injecting water away from an intake valve in response to engine knock and port injecting water towards an intake valve in response to engine dilution demand. Further, the method may include adjusting an amount of water injected based on one or more of a change in manifold temperature and a change in exhaust oxygen level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Michael Howard Shelby
  • VEHICLE DETECTION AND AVOIDANCE
    Publication number: 20190096255
    Abstract: A communication from a second vehicle is received. Upon failing to detect the second vehicle based on first vehicle sensor data, a message indicating a forward collision warning is sent. Upon detecting the second vehicle based on the first vehicle sensor data, the forward collision warning is suppressed and a first vehicle brake is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Gopichandra Surnilla, Chet Hearn
  • Minimizing false collision avoidance warnings
    Patent number: 10239452
    Abstract: A route learning system for a vehicle and a method of using the system is described. The method includes: in response to determining that a current location matches a historical location, retrieving from memory false alert geotag that includes historical path data; and based on determining that a currently-predicted path does not match the historical path, replacing the currently-predicted path with the historical path to mitigate a false warning to a driver of a host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Szczepaniak, Gopichandra Surnilla, Hao Zhang, Dennis Craig Reed, Timothy Mark Feldkamp
  • Method for controlling an engine during a restart
    Patent number: 10221821
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are described for controlling an engine in a vehicle, the engine being coupled to a transmission. One example method comprises, under selected braking conditions, shutting-off the engine and spinning-down the engine to rest while the vehicle is traveling, and in response to a foot-off-brake event, restarting the engine by at least partially engaging the transmission and adjusting engine torque control actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald J. Lewis, Gopichandra Surnilla, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Methods and systems for individual cylinder air-fuel ratio control in a combustion engine
    Patent number: 10215115
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling individual cylinder air-fuel ratio (AFR) in a combustion engine. In one example, a method may include measuring a high-frequency exhaust gas composition, parsing the measured high-frequency exhaust gas composition to determine a first cylinder-specific component of the high-frequency exhaust gas composition, estimating an air-fuel ratio (AFR) based on the first cylinder-specific component of the measured high-frequency exhaust gas composition, and correcting the estimated AFR by subtracting intercylinder exhaust gas interactions from the estimated AFR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla, Vadivelan Jagadeesan
  • System and methods for extracting water from exhaust gases for water injection
    Patent number: 10215135
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for flowing exhaust through a second cooler, arranged downstream of a first cooler and upstream of an intake in an exhaust gas recirculation passage, and extracting condensate for water injection from condensate in cooled exhaust gas exiting the second cooler. In one example, a method may include adjusting the amount of exhaust gas flowing through the second cooler based on an amount of water stored at a water storage tank of a water injection system and engine operating conditions. Further, the method may include selectively flowing exhaust gas from the second cooler to a location upstream or downstream of a compressor in response to engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohannad Hakeem, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Christopher House, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Methods and systems for operating an exhaust oxygen sensor based on water contact at the sensor
    Patent number: 10208644
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an exhaust oxygen sensor coupled to an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in response to detecting water at the sensor. In one example, a method may include indicating water at an exhaust oxygen sensor positioned in an engine exhaust passage based on a sensor parameter of the exhaust oxygen sensor while operating the exhaust oxygen sensor in a variable voltage (VVs) mode where a reference voltage is adjusted from a lower, first voltage to a higher, second voltage; and adjusting one or more of sensor operation and engine operation based on the indicating water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RELAYED ON-DEMAND LOCALIZED VIDEO SHARING
    Publication number: 20190052915
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive a request from a host vehicle for video relating to a location specified in the request. The processor is also configured to determine whether a candidate vehicle receiving the request can provide the request video when the request is received. The processor is further configured to relay the request to a transceiver in wireless communication with the candidate vehicle, if the candidate vehicle cannot provide the requested video, otherwise record and transmit the requested video.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Michael MCQUILLEN, Daniel A. MAKLED, Gopichandra SURNILLA