Patents by Inventor Hank L. Kwong

Hank L. Kwong 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).

  • Patent number: 10527018
    Abstract: A vehicle engine start/stop control method includes shifting an automatic transmission to a park or neutral position and auto-stopping the engine in response the automatic transmission being in the park or neutral position for a predetermined period of time that begins with a shift of the automatic transmission to the park or neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Eric Michael Rademacher, Hank L. Kwong, Siraj Siddiqui, Giuseppe Domenico Suffredini
  • Patent number: 10501080
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and an electric parking brake. A controller activates the electric parking brake in response to the powertrain transitioning to an off state that inhibits production of propulsive torque during an ignition cycle when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed and in a presence of conditions that inhibit the powertrain from transitioning to an on state that permits production of propulsive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Kirk Pebley, Eric Michael Rademacher, Hank L. Kwong, Chad Michael Korte
  • Patent number: 10266178
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a controller programmed to autostop and autostart the engine. The controller is further programmed to, in response to receiving signals indicative of a driver exiting the vehicle while the engine is auto stopped, autostart the engine, and after expiration of a predetermined duration, autostop the engine and inhibit vehicle propulsion until an ignition cycle is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Eric Michael Rademacher, Ahmed Awadi, Hank L. Kwong, Giuseppe Domenico Suffredini
  • Patent number: 10029688
    Abstract: A stop/start hybrid vehicle includes an engine configured for stopping and restarting during travel, a multiple-ratio transmission, a brake pedal, and an electronic parking brake. The transmission can be shifted into reverse gear either when the brake pedal is applied or unapplied. At least one controller is programmed to control the vehicle under these scenarios. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is applied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller restarts the engine. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is unapplied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller inhibits the engine from restarting until the brake pedal is applied. The controller can also be programmed to apply the electronic parking brake while the brake pedal remains unapplied after a predetermined time from the transmission being shifted into the reverse gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Kirk Pebley, Eric Michael Rademacher, Hank L. Kwong, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 9994222
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, automatic transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to auto-start and auto-stop. The automatic transmission has a shift-by-wire gear selector. The controller is programmed to, in response to shifting the gear selector to a neutral position while the engine is running, command the engine to auto-stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Eric Michael Rademacher, Yunjiao Cai, Hank L. Kwong, Hussam Makkiya
  • Publication number: 20180105178
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a controller programmed to autostop and autostart the engine. The controller is further programmed to, in response to receiving signals indicative of a driver exiting the vehicle while the engine is auto stopped, autostart the engine, and after expiration of a predetermined duration, autostop the engine and inhibit vehicle propulsion until an ignition cycle is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Eric Michael RADEMACHER, Ahmed AWADI, Hank L. KWONG, Giuseppe Domenico SUFFREDINI
  • Publication number: 20180093669
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, automatic transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to auto-start and auto-stop. The automatic transmission has a shift-by-wire gear selector. The controller is programmed to, in response to shifting the gear selector to a neutral position while the engine is running, command the engine to auto-stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Eric Michael RADEMACHER, Yunjiao CAI, Hank L. KWONG, Hussam MAKKIYA
  • Publication number: 20180058353
    Abstract: A method to control engine stop-start in a vehicle is provided. The method includes a controller outputting an engine command to auto-start an engine based on detection of shifter position change to one of a first set of shifter positions and whether a first predetermined time threshold has expired following the shifter position change in response to presence of an engine auto-stop mode and one of a set of preselected drive modes. The vehicle may include an engine, a traction battery, and a controller. The traction battery selectively powers components of the vehicle when the engine is auto-stopped. The controller is programmed to, in response to detecting an engine auto-stop condition, one of a set of preselected drive modes, and a shifter position change to one of a first set of shifter positions with a brake application, output an engine command to engage engine auto-start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Hank L. Kwong, David H. Schmitt, Jamal Kanso
  • Publication number: 20170356415
    Abstract: A vehicle engine start/stop control method includes shifting an automatic transmission to a park or neutral position and auto-stopping the engine in response the automatic transmission being in the park or neutral position for a predetermined period of time that begins with a shift of the automatic transmission to the park or neutral position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Eric Michael RADEMACHER, Hank L. KWONG, Siraj SIDDIQUI, Giuseppe Domenico SUFFREDINI
  • Publication number: 20170267242
    Abstract: A stop/start hybrid vehicle includes an engine configured for stopping and restarting during travel, a multiple-ratio transmission, a brake pedal, and an electronic parking brake. The transmission can be shifted into reverse gear either when the brake pedal is applied or unapplied. At least one controller is programmed to control the vehicle under these scenarios. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is applied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller restarts the engine. If the engine is off and the brake pedal is unapplied when the transmission is shifted into reverse, the controller inhibits the engine from restarting until the brake pedal is applied. The controller can also be programmed to apply the electronic parking brake while the brake pedal remains unapplied after a predetermined time from the transmission being shifted into the reverse gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Kirk PEBLEY, Eric Michael RADEMACHER, Hank L. KWONG, Bang Kim CAO
  • Patent number: 9731698
    Abstract: A start-stop vehicle includes an engine configured to automatically stop and start during travel. The vehicle further includes a gear lever, a brake pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to restart the engine or inhibit restarting of the engine depending upon one or more sets of conditions of the vehicle. A method is also present for operating the vehicle based upon the one or more sets of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Chad Everette Griffin, Hank L. Kwong, Ahmed Awadi, Richard John Hippley
  • Publication number: 20170203762
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and an electric parking brake. A controller activates the electric parking brake in response to the powertrain transitioning to an off state that inhibits production of propulsive torque during an ignition cycle when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed and in a presence of conditions that inhibit the powertrain from transitioning to an on state that permits production of propulsive torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek KHAFAGY, Kirk PEBLEY, Eric Michael RADEMACHER, Hank L. KWONG, Chad Michael KORTE
  • Patent number: 9388750
    Abstract: Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Mark Douglas Malone, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, William Najib Mansur
  • Patent number: 9366216
    Abstract: Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, George Edmund Walley, Filip Tomik
  • Publication number: 20140278019
    Abstract: Vehicles capable of operating in an energy conserving mode may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing activation of the energy conserving mode. The system may identify the inhibiting features and prompt an operator of the vehicle for authorization to disable the inhibiting features or adjust the feature states to enable the energy conserving mode. In response to receiving authorization, the system may automatically control feature interfaces to remove inhibits to the energy conserving mode. The interface may communicate active inhibitors to an operator using a display or a speaker, or both. Additionally, the interface may query the operator to approve automatic deactivation of the inhibiting features and facilitate the receipt of operator input to the query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Mark Douglas Malone, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, William Najib Mansur
  • Publication number: 20140081561
    Abstract: Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, George Edmund Walley, Filip Tomik