Patents by Inventor Kenneth John Behr

Kenneth John Behr 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).

  • Patent number: 11624336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a temperature of an after treatment device in an exhaust system of an engine are described. In one example, the temperature is estimated during condition when an engine exits a fuel cut-out mode and excess fuel is delivered to the after treatment device for the purpose of increasing after treatment device efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Allen Lehmen, Daniel Buckrop, Marcus William Fried, Kenneth John Behr, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 11313303
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting a target impedance of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include updating a target impedance of an oxygen sensor based on a difference between an estimated voltage across a sensing element of the oxygen sensor and a reference RMS voltage of the sensing element. The temperature of the oxygen sensor may be adjusted based on the updated target impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Goodwin, Scott Eckstein Brodesser, Kenneth John Behr, John Joseph Virga
  • Patent number: 11274615
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a temperature of an after treatment device in an exhaust system of an engine are described. In one example, the temperature is estimated during condition when an engine is in a fuel cut-out mode and fuel vapors are being released to the engine via a fuel vapor storage canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Allen Lehmen, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Kenneth John Behr, Daniel Buckrop, Ethan D. Sanborn, Marcus William Fried
  • Publication number: 20210388781
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a temperature of an after treatment device in an exhaust system of an engine are described. In one example, the temperature is estimated during condition when an engine is in a fuel cut-out mode and fuel vapors are being released to the engine via a fuel vapor storage canister.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Allen Lehmen, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Kenneth John Behr, Daniel Buckrop, Ethan D. Sanborn, Marcus William Fried
  • Publication number: 20210388793
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a temperature of an after treatment device in an exhaust system of an engine are described. In one example, the temperature is estimated during condition when an engine exits a fuel cut-out mode and excess fuel is delivered to the after treatment device for the purpose of increasing after treatment device efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Allen Lehmen, Daniel Buckrop, Marcus William Fried, Kenneth John Behr, Ethan D. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 11131261
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an air-fuel ratio of a turbocharged engine that operates without blow though and with blow through is disclosed. In one example, the method provides a way to provide a feed forward fuel adjustment in the presence of engine blow though so that a closed loop controller does not have to exceed its range of control authority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Owen Toms, Paul Mahlon Ranspach, Stephen William Magner, Kenneth John Behr, Zena Yanqing Yee
  • Patent number: 11125176
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an oxygen sensor and one or more fuel injectors for each engine cylinder are described. In one example, lines describing a relationship between a fuel mass multiplier and a coefficient of a function describing output of an oxygen sensor to a step change in fuel mass are a basis for determining air-fuel imbalance of engine cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Kluzner, Robert Jentz, Kenneth John Behr, Christopher Weber, Andrew Bagnasco
  • Publication number: 20210148295
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an air-fuel ratio of a turbocharged engine that operates without blow though and with blow through is disclosed. In one example, the method provides a way to provide a feed forward fuel adjustment in the presence of engine blow though so that a closed loop controller does not have to exceed its range of control authority.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas Owen Toms, Paul Mahlon Ranspach, Stephen William Magner, Kenneth John Behr, Zena Yanqing Yee
  • Publication number: 20200191082
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that includes an oxygen sensor and one or more fuel injectors for each engine cylinder are described. In one example, lines describing a relationship between a fuel mass multiplier and a coefficient of a function describing output of an oxygen sensor to a step change in fuel mass are a basis for determining air-fuel imbalance of engine cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Kluzner, Robert Jentz, Kenneth John Behr, Christopher Weber, Andrew Bagnasco
  • Patent number: 10337436
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting an asymmetric sensor response of an exhaust gas sensor to a symmetric response. In one example, a method includes adjusting fuel injection responsive to a modified exhaust oxygen feedback signal from an exhaust gas sensor, where the modified exhaust oxygen feedback signal is modified by transforming an asymmetric response of the exhaust gas sensor to a symmetric response. Further, the method may include adapting parameters of an anticipatory controller of the exhaust gas sensor based on the modified symmetric response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hassene Jammoussi, Imad Hassan Makki, Gladys G. Galicia, Kenneth John Behr, Zena Yanqing Yee
  • Publication number: 20190136780
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for converting an asymmetric sensor response of an exhaust gas sensor to a symmetric response. In one example, a method includes adjusting fuel injection responsive to a modified exhaust oxygen feedback signal from an exhaust gas sensor, where the modified exhaust oxygen feedback signal is modified by transforming an asymmetric response of the exhaust gas sensor to a symmetric response. Further, the method may include adapting parameters of an anticipatory controller of the exhaust gas sensor based on the modified symmetric response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Hassene Jammoussi, Imad Hassan Makki, Gladys G. Galicia, Kenneth John Behr, Zena Yanqing Yee
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9863353
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating an exhaust air/fuel ratio based on outputs from an exhaust oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include adjusting engine operation based on an air-fuel ratio estimated based on an output of the exhaust oxygen sensor and a learned correction factor. For example, the oxygen sensor may operate in a variable voltage mode in which a reference voltage of the oxygen sensor may be adjusted between a lower first voltage and a higher second voltage, and the learned correction factor is based on the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Kenneth John Behr
  • Publication number: 20170191436
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating an exhaust air/fuel ratio based on outputs from an exhaust oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include adjusting engine operation based on an air-fuel ratio estimated based on an output of the exhaust oxygen sensor and a learned correction factor. For example, the oxygen sensor may operate in a variable voltage mode in which a reference voltage of the oxygen sensor may be adjusted between a lower first voltage and a higher second voltage, and the learned correction factor is based on the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Kenneth John Behr
  • Patent number: 9677491
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided reusing processed sensor data to identify multiple types of sensor degradation. In one example, a central peak of a distribution, such as a generalized extreme value distribution, of sensor readings is re-used to identify asymmetric sensor degradation and stuck in-range sensor degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hassene Jammoussi, Imad Hassan Makki, Mark Thomas Linenberg, Gladys G. Soriano, Kenneth John Behr
  • Patent number: 9611799
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating an exhaust air/fuel ratio based on outputs from an exhaust oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include adjusting engine operation based on an air-fuel ratio estimated based on an output of the exhaust oxygen sensor and a learned correction factor. For example, the oxygen sensor may operate in a variable voltage mode in which a reference voltage of the oxygen sensor may be adjusted between a lower first voltage and a higher second voltage, and the learned correction factor is based on the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Kenneth John Behr
  • Patent number: 9447744
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for evaluating presence of fuel shifts in an engine. In one example, a method comprises indicating a fuel shift based on a time delay of an exhaust gas sensor during an entry into and an exit out of deceleration fuel shut off (DFSO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hassene Jammoussi, Imad Hassan Makki, Michael James Uhrich, Michael Casedy, Kenneth John Behr