Patents by Inventor Kirk Englert

Kirk Englert 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: 9834187
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a speed sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal. A sway detection sensor generates an oscillation signal. A brake control is coupled to a vehicle brake and is associated with a trailer brake. A controller is coupled to a stability control system and brakes one or more of the vehicle brake and the trailer brake and in response to the oscillation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kirk Englert, Doug Marsden, Erik Chubb, David Messih, Paul Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8746812
    Abstract: Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise undesirable conditions can be created. There is a need for a method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle. This method comprises receiving a first signal via a communication bus of a towing vehicle, the first signal relating to at least one operating condition of at least one the towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, sending a second signal to brakes of the towed vehicle, the second signal based on said first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventors: Marcia Albright, Chandrakumar Kulkarni, Jerald Prater, Jason Reichard, Dennis Morse, Mark Austin, Pat Burgess, Marvin Hoot, Larry Eccleston, Steve Zavodny, Doug Marsden, Kirk Englert
  • Patent number: 8511759
    Abstract: A method of controlling a trailer brake system using a trailer brake controller positioned within a passenger vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining intended braking inputs and developing an effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile based thereon. The method scales the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile in response to an adjustable gain setting set by an operator. A vehicle velocity is obtained and used to calculate a correction factor to the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile. The effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile is then adjusted using the correction factor to generate a corrected trailer brake controller output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Doug Marsden, Kirk Englert, Erick Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20130171480
    Abstract: Systems and methods monitoring battery bus bars are disclosed. In one example, positive temperature coefficient thermistors are coupled to battery bus bars. The systems and method may reduce the cost and complexity of battery bus bar monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Kirk Englert, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Publication number: 20080172163
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a speed sensor that generates a vehicle speed signal. A sway detection sensor generates an oscillation signal. A brake control is coupled to a vehicle brake and is associated with a trailer brake. A controller is coupled to a stability control system and brakes one or more of the vehicle brake and the trailer brake and in response to the oscillation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicants: FORD MOTOR COMPANY, Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kirk Englert, Doug Marsden, Erik Chubb, David Messih, Paul Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7204564
    Abstract: A method of controlling a trailer brake system using a trailer brake controller positioned within a passenger vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining intended braking inputs and developing an effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile based thereon. The method scales the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile in response to an adjustable gain setting set by an operator. The wheel speed is determined at a plurality of wheel locations and vehicle acceleration is calculated. The vehicle acceleration is utilized to selectively choose one of the wheel speed. The vehicle velocity is based on the selectively chosen wheel speed. The vehicle velocity is used to calculate a correction factor to the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile. The effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile is then adjusted using the correction factor to generate a corrected trailer brake controller output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Todd Brown, Doug Marsden, Kirk Englert
  • Publication number: 20070024107
    Abstract: A method of controlling a trailer brake system using a trailer brake controller positioned within a passenger vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining intended braking inputs and developing an effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile based thereon. The method scales the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile in response to an adjustable gain setting set by an operator. A vehicle velocity is obtained and used to calculate a correction factor to the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile. The effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile is then adjusted using the correction factor to generate a corrected trailer brake controller output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Doug Marsden, Kirk Englert, Erick Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20070001509
    Abstract: A method of controlling a trailer brake system using a trailer brake controller positioned within a passenger vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining intended braking inputs and developing an effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile based thereon. The method scales the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile in response to an adjustable gain setting set by an operator. The wheel speed is determined at a plurality of wheel locations and vehicle acceleration is calculated. The vehicle acceleration is utilized to selectively choose one of the wheel speed. The vehicle velocity is based on the selectively chosen wheel speed. The vehicle velocity is used to calculate a correction factor to the effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile. The effective baseline trailer brake controller output profile is then adjusted using the correction factor to generate a corrected trailer brake controller output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Todd Brown, Doug Marsden, Kirk Englert
  • Publication number: 20060214506
    Abstract: Towed vehicles can be extremely heavy. Accordingly, it is too much of a burden to the braking system of a towing vehicle to not have brakes on the towed vehicle. Controlling the brakes of the towed vehicle must be accurately applied otherwise undesirable conditions can be created. There is a need for a method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle. This method comprises receiving a first signal via a communication bus of a towing vehicle, the first signal relating to at least one operating condition of at least one the towing vehicle and a towed vehicle, sending a second signal to brakes of the towed vehicle, the second signal based on said first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Marcia Albright, Chandrakumar Kulkarni, Jerald Prater, Jason Reichard, Dennis Morse, Mark Austin, Pat Burgess, Marvin Hoot, Larry Eccleston, Steve Zavodny, Doug Marsden, Kirk Englert