Patents by Inventor Judith M. Curran

Judith M. Curran 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).

  • Publication number: 20100040661
    Abstract: Nanopatterned surfaces which provide for improved cell growth including improved stem cell differentiation. The patterned surfaces can comprise an array of fields of biologically active moieties and can be controlled by parameters which include the pitch between the fields and the size of the fields. Nanopatterning can be carried out with use of dip pen nanolithographic printing, microcontact printing, and nanoimprint lithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: John A. Hunt, Judith M. Curran, Duncan Graham, Robert Stokes
  • Patent number: 5359852
    Abstract: An air fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an electronic engine control module and an upstream and downstream exhaust gas oxygen sensor positioned in the engine exhaust gas stream. A first feedback loop includes the upstream EGO sensor. A second feedback loop includes a downstream EGO sensor and a trim bias signal to bias stored values provided from an air/fuel bias table. Such a biased signal is applied to an air fuel feedback controller which provides a feedback air fuel control signal to be applied to an open loop fuel controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Judith M. Curran, Thomas R. Culbertson, Douglas R. Hamburg
  • Patent number: 5325836
    Abstract: An electronic engine control system for use with differing fuel types, such as gasoline, methanol and mixtures of the two, controls engine operating parameters such as the fuel/air ratio and ignition timing in response to fuel-type indications generated by a fuel type sensor positioned on the fuel line. Changes in the fuel type passing the sensor result in variations in the engine control signals which are effective after a variable delay period elapses. The duration of the variable delay period is altered in response to changes in fuel pump voltage and fuel temperature to form a better estimate of the transport delay experienced by the fuel as it passed from the fuel-type sensor to the engine's fuel intake. A microcontroller delays the control signal changes by retrieving a count value from a two-dimensional lookup table indexed by values reflecting pump voltage and fuel temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Daniel V. Orzel, William E. Boruta, Judith M. Curran
  • Patent number: 5282360
    Abstract: An exhaust gas oxygen sensor is used to control the air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine in combination with an electronic engine control. The exhaust gas oxygen sensor is positioned in the exhaust stream flow from the engine. The electronic engine control utilizes different air/fuel ratio feedback strategies depending upon whether the signal output from the exhaust gas oxygen sensor is saturated indicating a rich air/fuel ratio, saturated indicating a lean air/fuel ratio or operating in a linear region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Hamburg, Thomas R. Culbertson, Judith M. Curran
  • Patent number: 5255512
    Abstract: An air fuel ratio control system for an internal combustion engine having an electronic engine control module and an upstream and a downstream exhaust gas oxygen sensor positioned in the engine exhaust gas stream. A first feedback loop includes the upstream EGO sensor and an air fuel bias table. A second feedback loop includes a downstream EGO sensor and a trim signal to change the stored values in the air fuel bias table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Hamburg, Thomas R. Culbertson, Judith M. Curran
  • Patent number: 5253631
    Abstract: A proportional plus integral feedback control system is responsive to a two-state, filtered output signal from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor. The sensor's output is offset from stoichiometric switching by the presence of alcohol in the fuel blend. A correcting bias term is calculated and the average value of the feedback variable is appropriately biased by selection of the proportional plus integral terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Judith M. Curran
  • Patent number: 5237983
    Abstract: An air/fuel control system for use with an internal combustion engine which is adapted to burn fuels having different combustion characteristics. The control system compensates for errors in the fuel-type signal produced by a sensor and provides a failure mode of operation when the sensor fails. A closed-loop air/fuel mixture controller responds to sensed exhaust oxygen levels to maintain combustion near stoichiometry. When the errors from the fuel type sensor predominate, at high engine speed and load, a selected one of two fuel-type variables, is adaptively modified. The first variable is modified in response to the control system's inability to achieve stoichiometry during high speed/high load operation, a condition which causes the first variable to correct the fuel type signal from the sensor. The second variable assumes control when the first variable is unable to achieve stoichiometry, indicating sensor failure, and is updated in accordance with a more vigorous strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Raymond L. Willey, Judith M. Curran
  • Patent number: 5230322
    Abstract: An air/fuel control system for use with an internal combustion engine which is adapted to burn fuels having different combustion characteristics. The control system compensates for errors in the fuel-type signal produced by a sensor. A closed-loop air/fuel mixture controller responds to sensed exhaust oxygen levels to maintain combustion near stoichiometry. When the errors from the fuel type sensor predominate, at high engine speed and load, a fuel-type variable, initially obtained from the sensor, is adaptively modified. The error compensation scheme thus adapts to changing fuels, fuel sensor errors, and differing engine operating characteristics to provide better fuel control and improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Judith M. Curran, Raymond L. Willey, David A. Wright
  • Patent number: 5220895
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for modifying a control signal of a fuel injector of a fuel delivery system wherein at least one shut-down temperature signal representing the temperature of an internal combustion engine is utilized together with other input signals to calculate a net amount of heat transferred to the fuel delivery system. The signals are utilized to calculate a correction factor, which correction is used to modify the control signal for the fuel injector. Preferably, two shut-down temperature signals are utilized, an engine coolant shut-down temperature signal and an air charge shut-down temperature signal to calculate the net amount of heat transferred. The modified control signal provides accurate control of the fuel injector by compensating for the increased volatility of the heated liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Judith M. Curran, Raymond L. Willey