Patents by Inventor Kenneth James Miller

Kenneth James Miller 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).

  • WATER-INJECTION ANTI-FREEZING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180051658
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transferring heat from a coolant to a water injection system reservoir coupled to an engine of a vehicle. The water injection system reservoir may include a first reservoir fluidically coupled to a second reservoir, where the first reservoir is vertically higher than the second reservoir. The coolant may absorb waste heat from the engine, or from a hybrid electric vehicle power electronics system, and transfer heat to the water reservoir to prevent water from freezing even when ambient temperature is at or below the freezing temperature of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING CHARGING SOURCE FOR ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180037127
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, charging a battery pack of an electrified vehicle using an amount of harvested energy from an energy harvesting device and an amount of energy from a grid. The amount of harvested energy is predicted based on at least a weather forecast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING WATER INJECTION
    Publication number: 20180022339
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for synergizing the benefits of engine water injection in a hybrid vehicle system. During engine operation, in response to a change in driver demand, the controller may opt to switch between water injection states while using stored power assist. The selection may be based on the combination of water injection and stored power offset that provides the highest engine efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING WATER INJECTION
    Publication number: 20180022352
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for integrating engine water injection technology with a CVT transmission. Responsive to a driver demand, a controller may determine whether to maintain a current water injection state or transition to an alternate water injection state based on each of the efficiency of the transition, water availability, and any engine limitations that may be incurred at the engine speed-load following the transition. To improve the net fuel economy benefit while addressing the engine limitation, the water injection state transition may be combined with a CVT adjusted engine speed-load regime, while maintaining engine power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • AUTONOMOUS-VEHICLE CLIMATE-CONTROL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20180022182
    Abstract: Controlling a vehicle includes determining that an occupancy status of the vehicle is unoccupied, estimating a remaining unoccupied time, and controlling a climate-control system according to climate-control parameters based on at least the occupancy status and the remaining unoccupied time. A climate-control parameter is a value or set of values for an attribute or attributes of vehicle climate control, such as a power status for the climate-control system as a whole, a target temperature for a passenger cabin, power statuses corresponding to individual climate zones of the passenger cabin, and target temperatures for the individual climate zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Christopher Alan Lear, Chris James Hocking
  • Method and system for engine control
    Patent number: 9873435
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for integrating a bi-fuel engine with a CVT transmission. Responsive to a driver demand, a controller may determine whether to maintain usage of a current fuel or transition to an alternate fuel based on the cost efficiency of the transition and further based on any engine limitations that may be incurred at the engine speed-load following the transition. To improve the net fuel economy benefit while addressing the engine limitation, a fuel transition may be combined with a CVT adjusted engine speed-load regime, while maintaining engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Hybrid vehicle and method of conditioning a vehicle battery
    Patent number: 9873350
    Abstract: A includes a battery, an electric machine, an electrically powered cooling system, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to charge the battery with current generated from regenerative braking. The electrically powered cooling system is configured to cool the battery. The controller is programmed to, in response to a temperature of the battery being greater than a threshold, direct at least a portion of the current generated from regenerative braking to the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • Hybrid vehicle powertrain
    Patent number: 9862262
    Abstract: Methods and systems for delivering powertrain torque of a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In one example, torque is supplied to vehicle wheels from a piston engine, an electric machine, and a turbine engine via a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set may be configured with at least one sun gear and two ring gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TORQUE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20180001885
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing torque pulsations during hybrid engine shutdown and restarts. A valve actuating mechanism may be actuated to operate an engine with a selected valve lift profile during engine restart and shutdown events that is distinct from the valve lift profile applied during cylinder combustion. The selected valve lift profile reduces cylinder pressure during engine shutdown and restarts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller
  • System and methods for improving fuel economy
    Patent number: 9856829
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling engine operation in a hybrid vehicle, where the vehicle engine comprises one or more cylinders dedicated to recirculating exhaust to the intake manifold. In one example, if an engine load decreases below a level where dedicated exhaust gas recirculation may lead to combustion stability issues, engine load may be increased above the demanded load and the excess power used to charge a system battery, or if the battery state of charge is above a threshold, the engine may be shut down and the vehicle propelled via battery power. In this way, fuel economy and combustion stability issues may be improved, NOx emissions reduced, and costs for implementation of dedicated exhaust gas recirculation decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Vehicle system and method for adjusting deceleration rate
    Patent number: 9849786
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling an electrified vehicle by adjusting a deceleration rate based on a closing rate of the electrified vehicle to an oncoming object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin, William Paul Perkins, Derek Hartl
  • DRIVER COMPETENCY DURING AUTONOMOUS HANDOFF
    Publication number: 20170349186
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor and storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include detecting a handoff request indicating a transition of a host vehicle from an autonomous mode of operation to a non-autonomous mode of operation and assessing driver competency. The handoff request is approved if the driver competency exceeds a predetermined threshold. Likewise, the handoff request is denied if the driver competency fails to exceed the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, William Paul Perkins
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SURGE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20170349164
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving surge control. When surge conditions are anticipated, motor torque usage is increased to discharge a battery to a lower state of charge. When surge conditions actually occur, engine torque output is limited to a higher level than the engine output required to meet the reduced torque demand, while the excess wheel torque is offset by charging the battery to a higher state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Michael Howard Shelby, Thomas G. Leone
  • Systems and methods to improve fuel economy using adaptive cruise in a hybrid electric vehicle when approaching traffic lights
    Patent number: 9827955
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes automatically controlling vehicle brakes to decelerate the vehicle at a braking deceleration rate in response to an anticipated stop at a traffic signal and an adaptive cruise control system being active. The method further includes, in response to the vehicle decelerating to an intermediate speed, releasing the vehicle brakes. The intermediate speed is determined such that, at the intermediate speed, a coasting distance to a full stop is approximately equal to a distance to the traffic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Douglas Raymond Martin, William Paul Perkins
  • CONTROLLING OPERATION OF ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES TRAVELING ON INDUCTIVE ROADWAY TO INFLUENCE ELECTRICAL GRID
    Publication number: 20170334296
    Abstract: A method for influencing the efficiency of an electrical grid includes coordinating operation of a first electrified vehicle and a second electrified vehicle traveling along an inductive roadway and having opposite power needs in a manner that influences an amount of energy supplied by the electrical grid during an inductive roadway event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond MARTIN, Kenneth James MILLER
  • Method and system for reducing engine exhaust emissions
    Patent number: 9822689
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing engine cold-start emissions while an exhaust catalyst is activated. In one example, a method for improving exhaust emissions may include flowing ionized air into an engine exhaust, downstream of an exhaust catalyst, to oxidize exhaust emissions left untreated by the catalyst. The approach reduces the PM load of the exhaust as well as of a downstream particulate matter filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth James Miller, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, John Eric Rollinger
  • POWERTRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170328292
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission, a torque converter coupled to the transmission, a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission, and sensors configured to detect occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Chris James Hocking
  • CYLINDER DEACTIVATION CONTROL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170328287
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission; a torque converter coupled to the transmission; a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission; and sensors configured to detect user occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one or both of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Chris James Hocking
  • TRAFFIC LIGHTS CONTROL FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY
    Publication number: 20170330456
    Abstract: Data is received from each of a plurality of vehicles proximate to an intersection indicating a kinetic energy and a time to the intersection. An optimized timing of a traffic light is determined based on an aggregation of the kinetic energies and times to intersection. A timing of the traffic is modified according to the optimized timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Daniel Mark Schaffer
  • VEHICLE DATA ENCRYPTION
    Publication number: 20170331795
    Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a server, in communication with a vehicle controller. The server, in response to receiving from the controller a software update request including a timestamp, identifies a long key associated with the vehicle, encrypts the update beginning at a key offset into the long key generated from a manipulation of a data ordering of the timestamp, and transmits the encrypted update to the controller. A controller, in communication with a server, in response to receiving from the server an encrypted software update triggered by an update request transmitted by the controller and including a timestamp, identifies a long key associated with the vehicle, decrypts the update beginning at a key offset into the long key generated from a manipulation of data ordering of the timestamp, and initiates an installation of the decrypted update on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond MARTIN, Kenneth James MILLER, Mark Anthony ROCKWELL