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 SYSTEMS FOR DUAL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180171916
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing lean air-fuel ratio excursions due to degradation of a port injector while fueling an engine via each of port and direct injection. During a PFDI mode of engine operation, responsive to an indication of port injector degradation, such as due to circuit or injector power issues, intake airflow is limited by reducing the opening of an intake throttle. Air flow is limited to be based only on the direct injected fuel fraction, and independent of the commanded port injected fuel fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Xiaoying Zhang, Paul Hollar, Daniel Dusa
  • Methods and system for transitioning between fuel injection windows
    Patent number: 9995238
    Abstract: Methods and systems for simultaneously operating port fuel injectors and direct fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, different duration port fuel injection windows are provided to maximize fuel injection amount and improve accuracy of an amount of fuel injected during a cylinder cycle via port and direct fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Xiaoying Zhang, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE STARTING CONTROL
    Publication number: 20180106209
    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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Lyle Thomas, Alex O`Connor Gibson, Xiaoying Zhang, Robert Sarow Baskins
  • Methods and system mitigating direct injection degradation
    Patent number: 9945316
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Paul Hollar, Xiaoying Zhang, Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen George Russ
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP COOLING
    Publication number: 20180087465
    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: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Michael Anthony Pierce
  • FUEL INJECTION OPERATION
    Publication number: 20180066598
    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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Dusa, Paul Hollar, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20180051646
    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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    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
    Publication number: 20180051647
    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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn, Mark Thomas Linenberg, Kenneth John Behr
  • Methods and systems for dual fuel injection
    Patent number: 9885309
    Abstract: Methods and a system are provided for controlling fuel injection in a vehicle engine. The system specifically relates to an engine fueled with both port and direct fuel injectors. In one example, a method may include delivering a first portion of fuel via port injection during a first injection window, and subsequently delivering a second portion of fuel directly during a second injection window before the engine exits cranking speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Ron Reichenbach, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DUAL FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20180023500
    Abstract: Methods and a system are provided for controlling fuel injection in a vehicle engine. The system specifically relates to an engine fueled with both port and direct fuel injectors. In one example, a method may include delivering a first portion of fuel via port injection during a first injection window, and subsequently delivering a second portion of fuel directly during a second injection window before the engine exits cranking speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Ron Reichenbach, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Methods and systems for a dual injection fuel system
    Patent number: 9874168
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injectors for a fuel system configured to deliver fuel to an engine via each of port fuel injection and direct fuel injection. In one example, a method may include, during an engine green start condition, injecting fuel with the port injector while not injecting fuel with the direct injector, and after the green start condition, injecting with each of the port injector and the direct fuel injector at a fuel ratio determined based on engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Lyle Thomas, Xiaoying Zhang, Daniel Dusa, Paul Hollar, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • Method and system for selecting a cylinder for engine starting
    Patent number: 9835110
    Abstract: A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop the cylinder's position relative to the cylinder's top-dead-center compression stroke. The method also describes adjusting a number of fuel injections for a first combustion event since engine stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Wooldridge, Joseph Lyle Thomas, David Oshinsky
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A DUAL LIFT PUMP FUEL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170342936
    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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Lyle Thomas, David Gimby
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENGINE COOLANT SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20170314455
    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: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Sitaram Rejeti, Robert Roy Jentz, Aed M. Dudar, John Smiley, III, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Method and system for supplying fuel to an engine
    Patent number: 9732695
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for adjusting an amount of fuel supplied to an engine via port and direct fuel injectors during transient engine operating conditions where the fuel injection amount is adjusted responsive to the transient engine operating conditions. In one example, a fuel injection amount is adjusted based on a time constant for a filter that is based on a direct fuel injection fuel fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Xiaoying Zhang, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Marcus William Fried
  • Methods and systems for adjusting a direct fuel injector
    Patent number: 9689342
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving fuel injection of an engine that includes a cylinder receiving fuel from a direct fuel injector are disclosed. In one example, a transfer function or gain of a direct fuel injector is adjusted in response to an exhaust lambda value and a first pulse width of two pulse widths provided to an injector of a cylinder during a cylinder cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mark Meinhart, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Hao Zhang
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DUAL FUEL INJECTION
    Publication number: 20170130666
    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, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Hollar, Mary Catherine Farmer, Ethan D. Sanborn, Daniel Dusa, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Methods and systems for adjusting fueling of engine cylinders
    Patent number: 9631573
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving fuel injection of an engine that includes a cylinder receiving fuel from two different fuel injectors is disclosed. In one example, fueling errors for each of the two fuel injectors are determined based on fractions of fuel supplied by the two fuel injectors during different engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Ethan D. Sanborn, Xiaoying Zhang
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTING A CYLINDER FOR ENGINE STARTING
    Publication number: 20170082057
    Abstract: A method and system for improving starting of an engine is presented. In one example, the method selects a first cylinder to receive fuel since engine stop the cylinder's position relative to the cylinder's top-dead-center compression stroke. The method also describes adjusting a number of fuel injections for a first combustion event since engine stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Steven Wooldridge, Joseph Lyle Thomas, David Oshinsky
  • Method for operating a fuel injection system
    Patent number: 9599060
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine with dual fuel injection capabilities to enable fuel rail over-pressure control is shown. The method comprises operating an engine cylinder with only port injection, while selectively activating and deactivating a direct injector in response to an estimated minimum fuel injection mass from the direct injector. Direct fuel injection is actuated until the minimum fuel mass injected by the direct injector has reached a lower threshold that is above an NVH limit of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ethan D. Sanborn, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Daniel Dusa