Patents by Inventor Kenneth Gerard Brown
Kenneth Gerard Brown 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).
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Patent number: 8577514Abstract: A method for predicting an ambient temperature around a moving motor vehicle includes utilizing measured ambient temperatures and Newton's Cooling Law. A linear best fit line describing the time constant as a function of vehicle speed can be generated utilizing measured data. In use, the b values can be determined from the best fit line, and the b values can be utilized to provide a predicted or estimated ambient temperature before the measured temperatures drop to the ambient temperature.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Michael Buckenmeyer, Kenneth Gerard Brown
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Publication number: 20130179032Abstract: A method for predicting an ambient temperature around a moving motor vehicle includes utilizing measured ambient temperatures and Newton's Cooling Law. A linear best fit line describing the time constant as a function of vehicle speed can be generated utilizing measured data. In use, the b values can be determined from the best fit line, and the b values can be utilized to provide a predicted or estimated ambient temperature before the measured temperatures drop to the ambient temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2012Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Michael Buckenmeyer, Kenneth Gerard Brown
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Publication number: 20110166747Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling temperature in an automotive vehicle having a driver-side area, a front passenger-side area, and a climate control system with at least one interface. The interface allows a user to select a driver-side temperature setting and a passenger-side temperature setting. The system includes a seat occupancy sensor and at least one computer-based controller. In operation, the seat occupancy sensor generates a sensor signal indicative of passenger seat occupancy in the passenger-side area of the vehicle. Based on the sensor signal, the controller controls the climate control system. When the passenger-side area is unoccupied, the climate control system distributes conditioned air according to the driver-side temperature setting to both the driver-side and passenger-side areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Halim Wijaya, Christopher Stephen Van Auken, Kenneth Gerard Brown
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Publication number: 20110111920Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal management system for a vehicle powertrain and a method for heating the transmission. Exemplary thermal management systems include a heater core, a transmission fluid warmer selectively in thermal communication with the heater core, a bypass valve between the heater core and transmission fluid warmer configured to control fluid flow therebetween, a control module configured to control the bypass valve, and a timer linked to the control module configured to delay deactivation of the bypass valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2009Publication date: May 12, 2011Inventors: James Thomas Gooden, Don Peter Schneider, Kenneth Gerard Brown
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Patent number: 7834572Abstract: A method for starting a blower motor with a locked rotor condition, the motor having one or more speed settings, each speed setting having a reference voltage and reference current value associated therewith, the method comprising, from a motor off condition, applying the reference voltage to the motor, the reference voltage associated with a desired speed setting; measuring current flowing through the motor to define a measured current value; comparing the measured current value to the reference current value associated with the desired speed setting to determine if a locked rotor condition exists; if a locked rotor condition exists, increasing the motor speed from the desired speed setting until either the output speed is at a maximum speed or the locked rotor condition ceases to exist; and adjusting the motor output speed value to the desired speed setting.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Kenneth Gerard Brown, Ibrahim Mohammed Issa
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Patent number: 7599812Abstract: A method of determining air temperature outside a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having an engine and an outside air temperature (OAT) sensor disposed outside the passenger compartment. The OAT sensor is located in a region which is exposed to heat after the engine is turned off. The method includes measuring a series of temperature values at the OAT sensor, using the measured OAT sensor values to develop a temperature-time function, and generating an adjusted OAT value using an observed time, the measured OAT sensor values, and the temperature-time function.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Kenneth Gerard Brown
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Publication number: 20090099804Abstract: A method of determining air temperature outside a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having an engine and an outside air temperature (OAT) sensor disposed outside the passenger compartment. The OAT sensor is located in a region which is exposed to heat after the engine is turned off. The method includes measuring a series of temperature values at the OAT sensor, using the measured OAT sensor values to develop a temperature-time function, and generating an adjusted OAT value using an observed time, the measured OAT sensor values, and the temperature-time function.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2007Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Kenneth Gerard Brown
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Publication number: 20090096398Abstract: A method for starting a blower motor with a locked rotor condition, the motor having one or more speed settings, each speed setting having a reference voltage and reference current value associated therewith, the method comprising, from a motor off condition, applying the reference voltage to the motor, the reference voltage associated with a desired speed setting; measuring current flowing through the motor to define a measured current value; comparing the measured current value to the reference current value associated with the desired speed setting to determine if a locked rotor condition exists; if a locked rotor condition exists, increasing the motor speed from the desired speed setting until either the output speed is at a maximum speed or the locked rotor condition ceases to exist; and adjusting the motor output speed value to the desired speed setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2007Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Kenneth Gerard Brown, Ibrahim Mohammed Issa
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Patent number: 6712133Abstract: A system and method for controlling temperature within a vehicle cabin include monitoring various temperature sensors to determine current operating conditions, determining a desired temperature or temperature range based on occupant input, dynamically estimating a temperature gradient based on changes in the current operating conditions over a predetermined time, predicting when the desired temperature or temperature range will be attained based on the gradient and the current operating conditions, and controlling a heating/cooling system based on the predicted time. Controlling the heating/cooling system may include shutting off the system at a predicted time, or turning on the system at a predicted time. The process of prediction can be linear, non-linear, or empirical, i.e., based on a table.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Kenneth Gerard Brown
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Patent number: 6521868Abstract: A method and an apparatus 12 for quickly heating a portion of a vehicle 10, such as a windshield 22 or backwindow 20. Particularly, apparatus 12 includes several conductors 40 which are coupled to electrical ground potential 42 and which have opposed ends 44, 46 which are alternatingly coupled to a source of energy 26, thereby allowing the portion of the vehicle 10 to be quickly heated.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christos Kyrtsos, Kenneth Gerard Brown, Eric Gerd Schaefer, George Anderson