Patents by Inventor M. Scott Christensen
M. Scott Christensen 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: 11897437Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, activating an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) system and operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while the UVGI system may supplement the heat sanitizing.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
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Patent number: 11807072Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, while receiving power from an external power source and responsive to receiving a request for cleaning an interior of a vehicle, operating an electric heater of a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the interior above an upper threshold temperature for a first threshold duration using the power received from the external power source. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes while vehicle battery power and fuel are conserved by using power supplied from the external power source.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Fred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco
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Patent number: 11673535Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Manfred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco, Venkatesh Krishnan
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Patent number: 11280303Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing and delivering engine sounds to a vehicle cabin based on a selected mode. In one example, a method may include adjusting openings of one or more valves fluidically coupling one or more corresponding engine regions to a sound tube of a sound enhancing system based on the selected mode. Throttle opening may also be adjusted to compensate for air routed from the engine regions to the sound tube instead of flowing to the engine cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour, Hani Ayesh
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Publication number: 20210339712Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for heat sanitizing a vehicle. In one example, a method may include, responsive to receiving a request for sanitization of a vehicle interior, operating a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to heat the vehicle interior above an upper threshold temperature for a threshold duration. In this way, the HVAC system may be advantageously used to expose the vehicle interior to temperatures that kill or inactive microbes.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Alan Gutowski, Curtis Jones, Manfred Koberstein, Stephen White, Peter Mitchell Lyon, John Rollinger, Scott Thompson, M. Scott Christensen, David Hancock, Adam Richards, Steve Skikun, Frank Fusco, Venkatesh Krishnan
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Patent number: 11136919Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an actuator of a variable inlet compressor coupled in an electric turbocharger. During torque transitions, an electrical power consumption of an electric boost assist motor is observed and used to infer an actual compressor speed and pressure ratio across the compressor. By comparing the measured pressure ratio to a compressor map, it may be determined if the actuator is stuck open or stuck closed.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour
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Patent number: 11060464Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, an engine's position is adjusted during engine stopping so that the engine may be less likely to stop at a crankshaft angle where rotating a fuel pump may increase engine cranking torque due to work performed by the fuel pump.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, David Hancock, Alexander O'connor Gibson
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Patent number: 10988133Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine arranged to output a first torque to a driveshaft and an electric motor arranged to output a second torque to the driveshaft. The vehicle also includes an automatic transmission arranged to receive an input torque from the driveshaft. The vehicle further includes an exhaust system to output combustion byproduct from the engine. A vehicle controller is programmed to, during deceleration, cause the engine to apply a negative first torque to increase an audible exhaust system sound. The controller is also programmed to activate the electric motor to output a positive second torque such that the input torque to the automatic transmission does not exceed a transmission torque threshold during deceleration.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: M. Scott Christensen
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Patent number: 10859016Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and mitigating belt slip of an engine front end accessory drive are described. In one example, three different signals are input to a weighted average filter to determine the presence or absence of belt slip so that quality of an indication of belt slip may be improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky
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Patent number: 10836397Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine and a transmission to reduce a catalyst light off time are disclosed. In one example, clutches of a transmission are operated to provide a desired load to the engine so that engine combustion stability may be improved while supplying heat to a catalyst so that the catalyst light off time may be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: M. Scott Christensen, Adam Joseph Krach, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
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Publication number: 20200291908Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing and delivering engine sounds to a vehicle cabin based on a selected mode. In one example, a method may include adjusting openings of one or more valves fluidically coupling one or more corresponding engine regions to a sound tube of a sound enhancing system based on the selected mode. Throttle opening may also be adjusted to compensate for air routed from the engine regions to the sound tube instead of flowing to the engine cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour, Hani Ayesh
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Publication number: 20200262414Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes an engine arranged to output a first torque to a driveshaft and an electric motor arranged to output a second torque to the driveshaft. The vehicle also includes an automatic transmission arranged to receive an input torque from the driveshaft. The vehicle further includes an exhaust system to output combustion byproduct from the engine. A vehicle controller is programmed to, during deceleration, cause the engine to apply a negative first torque to increase an audible exhaust system sound. The controller is also programmed to activate the electric motor to output a positive second torque such that the input torque to the automatic transmission does not exceed a transmission torque threshold during deceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventor: M. Scott CHRISTENSEN
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Publication number: 20200256262Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, an engine's position is adjusted during engine stopping so that the engine may be less likely to stop at a crankshaft angle where rotating a fuel pump may increase engine cranking torque due to work performed by the fuel pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, David Hancock, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
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Publication number: 20200240330Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an actuator of a variable inlet compressor coupled in an electric turbocharger. During torque transitions, an electrical power consumption of an electric boost assist motor is observed and used to infer an actual compressor speed and pressure ratio across the compressor. By comparing the measured pressure ratio to a compressor map, it may be determined if the actuator is stuck open or stuck closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour
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Publication number: 20200217257Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and mitigating belt slip of an engine front end accessory drive are described. In one example, three different signals are input to a weighted average filter to determine the presence or absence of belt slip so that quality of an indication of belt slip may be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky
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Patent number: 10706020Abstract: A computer-implemented method for sharing CAx data includes receiving CAx data in a first CAx format from a first client, storing the CAx data in a plurality of alternate formats, receiving a request for the CAx data from a second client, providing the CAx data to the second client using at least one alternate format of the plurality of alternate formats responsive to receiving the request for the CAx data from the second client. An apparatus and system corresponding to the above method is also disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITYInventors: Kelly Eric Bowman, Charles Greg Jensen, Joshua Coburn, Dan Staves, M. Scott Christensen, Bryce DeFigueiredo, Robert Freeman
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Publication number: 20170337215Abstract: A computer-implemented method for sharing CAx data includes receiving CAx data in a first CAx format from a first client, storing the CAx data in a plurality of alternate formats, receiving a request for the CAx data from a second client, providing the CAx data to the second client using at least one alternate format of the plurality of alternate formats responsive to receiving the request for the CAx data from the second client. An apparatus and system corresponding to the above method is also disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Kelly Eric Bowman, Charles Greg Jensen, Joshua Coburn, Dan Staves, M. Scott Christensen, Bryce DeFigueiredo, Robert Freeman