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).

  • ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION PARKING SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190031038
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for electric vehicle charging station parking spot monitoring system. An example electric vehicle charging station includes a communication module, sensors, and a charge controller. The communication module communicatively couples to a vehicle parked in a parking spot associated with the charging station. The sensors monitor the parking spot. The charge controller receives identifying information and battery information from the vehicle parked in the parking spot, and when the vehicle is not eligible for charging, sends the identifying information of the vehicle to a parking enforcement authority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Michael McQuillen
  • Method and system for engine water injection
    Patent number: 10190541
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting water injection at distinct locations of an engine based on a total water injection error determined from an output of an exhaust oxygen sensor. The method may include injecting water at distinct locations based on a cooling demand and a dilution demand. Further, the method may include distributing the total injection error to respective water injectors, as well as adjusting engine operating parameters, to provide desired engine cooling and dilution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Methods and system for reducing particulate matter produced by an engine
    Patent number: 10190523
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen George Russ, Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Methods and system for selecting a location for water injection in an engine
    Patent number: 10184429
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a location for water injection during a water injection event based on engine operating conditions. In one example, a method may include selecting a location for water injection from each of an intake port of each cylinder, an intake manifold upstream of all engine cylinders, and directly into each cylinder based on engine operating conditions. Further, the method may include adjusting water injection at the selected location and engine operating parameters in response the evaporated and/or condensed portion of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen B. Smith, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Systems and methods for calibrating vehicle sensing devices
    Patent number: 10180120
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a vehicle intake humidity sensor positioned in an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle. In one example, a method is provided, comprising in response to shutdown of the engine, and further responsive to conditions being met for calibrating the intake humidity sensor, requesting a humidity estimate from one or more weather devices, and calibrating the intake humidity sensor based on at least a confidence level in the one or more weather devices. In this way, the intake humidity sensor may be regularly calibrated, under conditions where accurate and robust calibration may be achieved, and where regularly calibrating the intake humidity sensor may improve engine operation and increase fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Vehicle sensor calibration using wireless network-connected sensors
    Patent number: 10173691
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle sensor calibration using wireless network-connected sensors. An example disclosed vehicle includes a communication controller and a sensor manager. The example communication controller communicatively couples to a network associated with a facility. The example sensor manager determines when the vehicle is proximate the facility. Additionally, the sensor manager calibrates sensors of the vehicle based on a measurement data of sensors installed at the facility that are communicatively coupled to the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Radhakrishnan Swaminathan, Daniel A. Makled, Michael Mcquillen
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A SPLIT EXHAUST ENGINE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190003412
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, an amount of opening overlap between a plurality of intake valves and a first set of exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold may be adjusted responsive to a transition from an estimated combustion air-fuel content to a leaner air-fuel content of the blowthrough air on a cylinder to cylinder basis. As one example, the transition may be determined from an output of an oxygen sensor positioned within the first exhaust manifold or an exhaust runner of each of the first set of exhaust valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Method and system for engine water injection
    Patent number: 10167819
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Howard Shelby, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Methods and system for central fuel injection
    Patent number: 10167806
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operating conditions for reduction of NOx emissions. In one example, immediately after a fuel shut-off event, in response to an oxygen content of an exhaust catalyst being higher than a threshold, manifold charge cooling may be increased by increasing the portion of fuel delivered to the engine via manifold injection relative to the portion to fuel delivered via one or more of port and direct injection. By increasing manifold cooling, NOx production may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Mohannad Hakeem, Calvin Trescott, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Peter C. Moilanen
  • Zero flow lubrication for a high pressure fuel pump
    Patent number: 10161347
    Abstract: Methods and systems are providing for improving zero flow lubrication (ZFL) of a high pressure fuel pump coupled to direct fuel injectors via a direct injection fuel rail. A ZFL transfer function for the fuel pump is learned while fuel is at non-nominal fuel bulk modulus conditions and corrected for variations from a nominal fuel bulk modulus estimate. When zero flow lubrication of the pump is requested, the pump is operated with a duty cycle based on the learned transfer function and an instantaneous estimate of the fuel bulk modulus to compensate for differences in fuel condition from the nominal fuel bulk modulus estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Hao Zhang, Mark Meinhart
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARACTERIZING A PORT FUEL INJECTOR
    Publication number: 20180328304
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating engine port injectors. After pressurizing a low pressure fuel rail, a lift pump may be disabled and port injector variability may be correlated with a measured fuel rail pressure drop at each port injection event by sweeping injection pressure while maintaining injection voltage, and then sweeping injection voltage while maintaining injection pressure. A port injector variability map learned as a function of injection voltage and injection pressure is then transformed into a map learned as a function of injection current and injection pressure by accounting for injector variability caused due to changes in injector temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARACTERIZING A PORT FUEL INJECTOR
    Publication number: 20180328306
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating engine port injectors. After pressurizing a low pressure fuel rail, a lift pump may be disabled and port injector variability may be correlated with a measured fuel rail pressure drop at each port injection event by sweeping injection pressure while maintaining injection voltage, and then sweeping injection voltage while maintaining injection pressure. A port injector variability map learned as a function of injection voltage and injection pressure is then transformed into a map learned as a function of injection current and injection pressure by accounting for injector variability caused due to changes in injector temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20180320625
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operating conditions for mitigation of pre-ignition in one or more engine cylinder. In one example, a method may include, in response to indication of pre-ignition, manifold charge cooling may be increased by increasing the portion of fuel delivered to the engine via manifold injection relative to the portion to fuel delivered via one or more of port and direct injection, while maintaining engine operation at or around a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Mohannad Hakeem, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Calvin Trescott
  • METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20180320626
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operating conditions for reduction of NOx emissions. In one example, immediately after a fuel shut-off event, in response to an oxygen content of an exhaust catalyst being higher than a threshold, manifold charge cooling may be increased by increasing the portion of fuel delivered to the engine via manifold injection relative to the portion to fuel delivered via one or more of port and direct injection. By increasing manifold cooling, NOx production may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Mohannad Hakeem, Calvin Trescott, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Peter C. Moilanen
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CALIBRATING VEHICLE SENSING DEVICES
    Publication number: 20180319250
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving operation of a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. In one example, a method may include calibrating a vehicle humidity sensor position inside a cabin of the vehicle by obtaining one or more humidity measurements with one or more personal computing devices positioned inside the cabin, and may further include adjusting operation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system responsive to the calibration. In this way, an interior humidity sensor of a vehicle may be regularly calibrated, which may improve operation of the vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and may further increase fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Radhakrishnan Swaminathan
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CALIBRATING VEHICLE SENSING DEVICES
    Publication number: 20180320609
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating one or more vehicle sensors. In one example, a method comprises calibrating a sensor coupled to a vehicle and updating an operating parameter of an engine configured to propel the vehicle, based on a source of one or more weather devices removed from the vehicle, where said source includes a confidence level in data provided via said source. In this way, one or more vehicle sensors may be calibrated as a function of a confidence level in the data provided via said source, which may improve vehicle systems that rely on said sensors, and which may in some examples increase fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CALIBRATING VEHICLE SENSING DEVICES
    Publication number: 20180320645
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for calibrating a vehicle intake humidity sensor positioned in an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle. In one example, a method is provided, comprising in response to shutdown of the engine, and further responsive to conditions being met for calibrating the intake humidity sensor, requesting a humidity estimate from one or more weather devices, and calibrating the intake humidity sensor based on at least a confidence level in the one or more weather devices. In this way, the intake humidity sensor may be regularly calibrated, under conditions where accurate and robust calibration may be achieved, and where regularly calibrating the intake humidity sensor may improve engine operation and increase fuel economy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Methods and systems for central fuel injection
    Patent number: 10119490
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operating conditions for mitigation of pre-ignition in one or more engine cylinder. In one example, a method may include, in response to indication of pre-ignition, manifold charge cooling may be increased by increasing the portion of fuel delivered to the engine via manifold injection relative to the portion to fuel delivered via one or more of port and direct injection, while maintaining engine operation at or around a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Mohannad Hakeem, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Calvin Trescott
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMIC VEHICLE KEY GENERATION AND HANDLING
    Publication number: 20180304856
    Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to generate a new access key, responsive to a vehicle shutdown. The processor is also configured to connect to a previously identified user wireless device. The processor is further configured to deliver the new access key to the user wireless device, responsive to connection to the wireless device and locally store a copy of the new access key in a file designated for reference for a next-access attempt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Alex SZCZEPANIAK, Michael MCQUILLEN, Gopichandra SURNILLA, Radhakrishnan SWAMINATHAN
  • OXYGEN SENSOR ELEMENT BLACKENING DETECTION
    Publication number: 20180306673
    Abstract: The present description relates generally to methods and systems for detecting thermal aging and blackening in oxygen sensors. Thermal aging and blackening effects may be differentiated based on a monitored change in impedance in each of a pump cell and a Nernst cell of the oxygen sensor following application of an alternating voltage. In response to detection of thermal aging and/or blackening in the oxygen sensor corrective measures may be taken to ensure accurate oxygen estimation using the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, John Joseph Virga