Patents by Inventor Joseph Lyle Thomas

Joseph Lyle Thomas 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).

  • 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 systems for adjusting a direct fuel injector
    Patent number: 10240554
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing direct injector fueling errors due to injection variability in a transition region of a direct injector map. Fuel injection, including usage of one or more direct and port injected fuel pulses, may be planned based on engine operating conditions including engine temperature and driver demand. Responsive to any of the direct injected fuel pulses having a pulse-width that lies in a high variability transition region of the direct injector, the fuel injection may be adjusted via adjustments to a number and/or split ratio of the injections so as to not operate in the transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Paul Hollar, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Daniel Dusa
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP COOLING
    Publication number: 20190078531
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for temperature control of a high pressure pump (HPP) of a direct injection system. When direct injection is disabled, the HPP and the associated direct injectors are intermittently operated when the HPP temperature rises above a modeled threshold temperature. The HPP and injectors are operated until the HPP temperature falls below the modeled threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Michael Anthony Pierce
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DUAL FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20190072051
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing port injection fuel errors by selectively reactivating a direct fuel injector. Responsive to an increase in driver demand received while delivering fuel to a cylinder via port injection only, wherein the increase in driver demand is received late in the port injection window, the port injection error is addressed by reactivating a direct injector on the same engine cycle and delivering at least a portion of the fuel mass corresponding to the error via the direct injector. Additionally, a portion of the fuel mass may be delivered by the port injector on the same engine cycle by extending the end of injection timing, if possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Mary Catherine Farmer, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Method and system for cylinder imbalance estimation
    Patent number: 10208686
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for learning a cylinder-to-cylinder air variation. During conditions when a PFDI engine is operated in a port-injection only mode, prior to port fuel injection, a direct-injection fuel rail pressure may be lowered via direct-injection. Then, prior to a spark event in a port-injected cylinder, the direct-injector may be transiently opened to use the rail pressure sensor for estimating a cylinder compression pressure, and inferring cylinder air charge therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn, Paul Hollar, Daniel Dusa
  • Method for controlling a dual lift pump fuel system
    Patent number: 10197004
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a fuel system comprising two lift pumps. In one example, a method may comprise adjusting operation of a first lift pump to achieve a desired fuel rail pressure. The method may comprise powering on a second lift pump to achieve the desired fuel rail pressure when operating only the first lift pump is not sufficient to achieve the desired fuel rail pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Lyle Thomas, David Gimby
  • 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 systems for dual fuel injection
    Patent number: 10156201
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing port injection fuel errors by selectively reactivating a direct fuel injector. Responsive to an increase in driver demand received while delivering fuel to a cylinder via port injection only, wherein the increase in driver demand is received late in the port injection window, the port injection error is addressed by reactivating a direct injector on the same engine cycle and delivering at least a portion of the fuel mass corresponding to the error via the direct injector. Additionally, a portion of the fuel mass may be delivered by the port injector on the same engine cycle by extending the end of injection timing, if possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Mary Catherine Farmer, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING A DIRECT FUEL INJECTOR
    Publication number: 20180334984
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing direct injector fueling errors due to injection variability in a transition region of a direct injector map. Fuel injection, including usage of one or more direct and port injected fuel pulses, may be planned based on engine operating conditions including engine temperature and driver demand. Responsive to any of the direct injected fuel pulses having a pulse-width that lies in a high variability transition region of the direct injector, the fuel injection may be adjusted via adjustments to a number and/or split ratio of the injections so as to not operate in the transition region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Paul Hollar, Mark Meinhart, Ian D. Campbell
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING A DIRECT FUEL INJECTOR
    Publication number: 20180334982
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing direct injector fueling errors due to injection variability in a transition region of a direct injector map. Fuel injection, including usage of one or more direct and port injected fuel pulses, may be planned based on engine operating conditions including engine temperature and driver demand. Responsive to any of the direct injected fuel pulses having a pulse-width that lies in a high variability transition region of the direct injector, the fuel injection may be adjusted via adjustments to a number and/or split ratio of the injections so as to not operate in the transition region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Paul Hollar, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Daniel Dusa
  • Methods and systems for high pressure fuel pump cooling
    Patent number: 10125715
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for temperature control of a high pressure pump (HPP) of a direct injection system. When direct injection is disabled, the HPP and the associated direct injectors are intermittently operated when the HPP temperature rises above a modeled threshold temperature. The HPP and injectors are operated until the HPP temperature falls below the modeled threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Michael Anthony Pierce
  • Methods and systems for dual fuel injection
    Patent number: 10094320
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing fueling errors resulting from pressure pulsations in a port injection fuel rail. The pressure pulsations result from pressure pulsations generated in a high pressure fuel pump delivering fuel to both the port injection fuel rail and a direct injection fuel rail. A center of a port injection fuel pulse is repositioned on a nearest fuel rail pressure sampling point in the advanced direction to improve the accuracy of the delivered fuel pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Paul Hollar, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DUAL FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20180266357
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing port injection fuel errors by selectively reactivating a direct fuel injector. Responsive to an increase in driver demand received while delivering fuel to a cylinder via port injection only, wherein the increase in driver demand is received late in the port injection window, the port injection error is addressed by reactivating a direct injector on the same engine cycle and delivering at least a portion of the fuel mass corresponding to the error via the direct injector. Additionally, a portion of the fuel mass may be delivered by the port injector on the same engine cycle by extending the end of injection timing, if possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Mary Catherine Farmer, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Method and system for engine starting control
    Patent number: 10066573
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for restarting an engine when a high pressure fuel pump is degraded. In response to an indication of high pressure fuel pump degradation, fuel may be injected during an intake stroke, rather than a compression stroke, for a selected number of combustion events since the engine restart. By shifting to an intake stroke injection, the engine may be started even when sufficient fuel rail pressures are not available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Lyle Thomas, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Xiaoying Zhang, Robert Sarow Baskins
  • Systems and methods for engine coolant system diagnostics
    Patent number: 10060333
    Abstract: Methods are provided for engine coolant system diagnostics. In one example, engine coolant system malfunction is indicated based on an engine coolant temperature inference model, whereas in another example engine coolant system malfunction is indicated based on a time-based monitor, where the inference model is enabled at ambient temperatures above a predetermined threshold, and where the time-based monitor is enabled at ambient temperatures below the predetermined threshold. In this way, accurate engine coolant system diagnosis may be accomplished under ambient temperature conditions wherein the engine coolant temperature inference model may be compromised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sitaram Rejeti, Robert Roy Jentz, Aed M. Dudar, John Smiley, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • METHODS AND SYSTEM MITIGATING DIRECT INJECTION DEGRADATION
    Publication number: 20180230930
    Abstract: Methods and systems for simultaneously operating port fuel injectors and direct fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, operation of a port fuel injector is deactivated in response to an indication of reduced performance of a direct fuel injector so that degradation of the direct fuel injector may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Paul Hollar, Xiaoying Zhang, Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen George Russ
  • Methods and systems for dual fuel injection
    Patent number: 10041433
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing port injection fuel errors by selectively reactivating a direct fuel injector. Responsive to an increase in driver demand received while delivering fuel to a cylinder via port injection only, wherein the increase in driver demand is received late in the port injection window, the port injection error is addressed by reactivating a direct injector on the same engine cycle and delivering at least a portion of the fuel mass corresponding to the error via the direct injector. Additionally, a portion of the fuel mass may be delivered by the port injector on the same engine cycle by extending the end of injection timing, if possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Mary Catherine Farmer, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Fuel injection operation
    Patent number: 10041434
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine with multi-fuel injector per cylinder capabilities to accommodate reaching minimum fuel pulsewidth conditions of any of the injectors under various operating conditions including hot and cold engine starts. The method reduces engine performance and emissions variations resulting from changes in fuel injection mass below minimum mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Dusa, Paul Hollar, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • Methods and system for engine control
    Patent number: 10018143
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining air-fuel error in an engine fueled via direct and port fuel injection. Errors associated with individual fuel injection systems are distinguished from a common error based on trends in the error correction coefficients of the individual fuel injection systems. Adaptive fuel multipliers for each injection system are updated to account for the common error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn, Mark Thomas Linenberg, Kenneth John Behr, Yichao Guo
  • Methods and system for engine control
    Patent number: 10018144
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining air-fuel error in an engine fueled via direct and port fuel injection. Errors associated with individual fuel injection systems are distinguished from a common error based on trends in the error correction coefficients of the individual fuel injection systems. Adaptive fuel multipliers for each injection system are updated to account for the common error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn, Mark Thomas Linenberg, Kenneth John Behr