Patents by Inventor Mario Balenovic

Mario Balenovic 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).

  • Publication number: 20240140259
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to control a regenerative braking system comprising a battery, e.g., of a vehicle. The regenerative braking system harvests energy from a braking event. The energy can be stored in the battery, used to power a plurality of devices in the vehicle, or the battery can be preconditioned to provide more capacity to account for a braking event. The vehicle system may comprise one or more electrical loads configured to use power from the battery. The method comprises detecting a regenerative braking event of the vehicle and activating a first electrical load to consume the energy from the regenerative braking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: David Cox, Shane Keilthy, Paul Nigel Turner, Frederik De Smet, Mario Balenovic, Themi Petridis
  • Publication number: 20240001872
    Abstract: Methods and system are disclosed for vehicle power control. a first high voltage, HV, demand signal is received from a HV device and a first low voltage, LV, demand signal is received from a LV system of the vehicle. The first HV demand signal can be modified based on the first LV demand signal. An input HV supply is received from an e-machine based on the first LV demand signal and modified HV demand signal. An output LV supply is provided from a first DCDC converter to the LV system of the vehicle and an output HV supply is provided from a second DCDC converter to the HV device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: David Cox, David Hesketh, Emil G. Serban, Mario Balenovic, Bastian Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20230184153
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating an after-treatment system of a vehicle. A first operational parameter of a first component of the after-treatment system is monitored and a second operational parameter, different to the first operational parameter, of a second component of the after-treatment system is monitored. It is determined if the first operational parameter of the first component is outside a first threshold range and if the second operational parameter is approaching a second threshold and, in response to the first operational parameter being outside the first threshold range and the second operational parameter being within the second threshold range, a regeneration sequence of the after-treatment system configured to regenerate at least the first component of the after-treatment system is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: David Cox, Mario Balenovic, Christopher Ponter, Larry Rogosin, Craig Peacock
  • Publication number: 20230184149
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an aftertreatment system. In one example, a method includes adjusting operation of an electric heating element based on an exhaust mass flow. The method further includes estimating the electric heating element based on the exhaust mass flow and a temperature of exhaust gas upstream of the electric heating element and downstream of a catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Mario Balenovic, Frederik De Smet, Maria Armiento, Ke Fan
  • Patent number: 11441462
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for partially regenerating a lean Nox trap in response to an engine shutdown request. In one example, an engine shutdown is delayed so that a low-temperature storing region of the lean Nox trap is regenerated without regenerating a high-temperature storing region of the lean Nox trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Mario Balenovic
  • Patent number: 11391229
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine with an electrically heated catalyst and an electrically driven compressor are described. In one example, the electrically driven compressor and the electrically heated catalyst are activated before an engine start so that vehicle emissions may be reduced more efficiently at engine starting and thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Cox, Themi Petridis, David Hesketh, Mario Balenovic, Helmut Matthias Kindl
  • Publication number: 20220010742
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine with an electrically heated catalyst and an electrically driven compressor are described. In one example, the electrically driven compressor and the electrically heated catalyst are activated before an engine start so that vehicle emissions may be reduced more efficiently at engine starting and thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: David Cox, Themi Petridis, David Hesketh, Mario Balenovic, Helmut Matthias Kindl
  • Patent number: 10989083
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for partially regenerating a lean NOx trap in response to an engine shutdown request. In one example, an engine shutdown is delayed so that a low-temperature storing region of the lean NOx trap is regenerated without regenerating a high-temperature storing region of the lean NOx trap. A battery charge is replenished during the shutdown, wherein the charge may be consumed during a subsequent engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Vijay Krishnaswamy, Mario Balenovic
  • Patent number: 10961892
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment system. In one example, a system comprises an air injector positioned to inject air between a first catalyst and a second catalyst in response to an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas falling below a threshold concentration while exhaust gas temperatures are less than a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Mario Balenovic, Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen
  • Patent number: 10837341
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust tract for vehicles having an internal combustion engine, the exhaust tract including a first exhaust gas aftertreatment device and a metering device arranged downstream therefrom. In one example, a region of the first exhaust gas aftertreatment device which is situated downstream is designed as an SCR region. Further, the metering device is designed to spray a reducing agent onto a side of the first exhaust gas aftertreatment device which faces the metering device, counter to a main direction of flow of an exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Balenovic, Felix Goebel, Martina Reichert, Monika Angst, Robert Ukropec, Brendan Patrick Carberry
  • Patent number: 10746115
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment arrangement. In one example, a system includes a LNT upstream of an SCR with an oxygen storage component arranged therebetween, and where a rich operation of an engine is limited based on an oxygen load of the oxygen storage component when an exhaust gas temperature is higher than a limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Harmsen, Maria Armiento, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Patent number: 10563556
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas arrangement. In one example, a system includes a lean-NOx trap arranged upstream of a selective-catalytic reduction device with an air supply device positioned to inject air therebetween, wherein the air supply device is activated in response to an exhaust gas being rich and an exhaust gas temperature exceeding a limit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Publication number: 20190284978
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for partially regenerating a lean NOx trap in response to an engine shutdown request. In one example, an engine shutdown is delayed so that a low-temperature storing region of the lean NOx trap is regenerated without regenerating a high-temperature storing region of the lean NOx trap. A battery charge is replenished during the shutdown, wherein the charge may be consumed during a subsequent engine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Vijay Krishnaswamy, Mario Balenovic
  • Publication number: 20190271245
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for partially regenerating a lean Nox trap in response to an engine shutdown request. In one example, an engine shutdown is delayed so that a low-temperature storing region of the lean Nox trap is regenerated without regenerating a high-temperature storing region of the lean Nox trap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Mario Balenovic
  • Publication number: 20190271251
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment system. In one example, a system comprises an air injector positioned to inject air between a first catalyst and a second catalyst in response to an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas falling below a threshold concentration while exhaust gas temperatures are less than a threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Robert Ukropec, Mario Balenovic, Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen
  • Patent number: 10392997
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating an exhaust gas aftertreatment device for cleaning an exhaust gas flow of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine operated in normal mode with oxygen surplus. An oxygen store arranged downstream of an NOx storage catalyst of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device receives oxygen in normal mode, and during a regeneration mode emits oxygen for converting breakthrough hydrocarbons and/or carbon monoxide. The oxygen store is assigned to a particulate filter and/or an oxidation catalyst of the exhaust gas aftertreatment device. The particulate filter and/or the oxidation catalyst is arranged downstream of the NOx storage catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jan Harmsen, Mario Balenovic
  • Publication number: 20190242314
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust aftertreatment arrangement. In one example, a system includes a LNT upstream of an SCR with an oxygen storage component arranged therebetween, and where a rich operation of an engine is limited based on an oxygen load of the oxygen storage component when an exhaust gas temperature is higher than a limit temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Jan Harmsen, Maria Armiento, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Publication number: 20190242285
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas arrangement. In one example, a system includes a lean-NOx trap arranged upstream of a selective-catalytic reduction device with an air supply device positioned to inject air therebetween, wherein the air supply device is activated in response to an exhaust gas being rich and an exhaust gas temperature exceeding a limit temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Maria Armiento, Jan Harmsen, Mario Balenovic, Robert Ukropec, Christian Nederlof
  • Patent number: 10240505
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling nitrogen oxide emissions in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by means of successive actuation of catalytic converters in the exhaust tract and of the internal combustion engine, wherein the catalytic converters or the internal combustion engine are actuated in succession if the actuation of a first device is not sufficient for reducing the nitrogen oxide emissions. An arrangement for carrying out the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Mario Balenovic, Vijay Krishnaswamy
  • Patent number: 10029671
    Abstract: An operating method for a motor vehicle having a hybrid drivetrain includes, during a demand check, comparing at least one value which characterizes a current state of an exhaust-gas after-treatment device, with a setpoint value of the exhaust-gas after-treatment device. In response to the comparison indicating a deviation of the value characterizing the current state of the exhaust-gas after-treatment device from the setpoint value, a demand for a measure is indicated. The measure includes supplying charge gas, which includes recirculated exhaust gas, to the internal combustion engine during overrun operation. In addition, a capability check is carried out to detect conditions suitable for implementing the operating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Schneider, Frank Linzen, Dirk Roemer, Frederik De Smet, Jan Harmsen, Kim Ford, Javier Castellano, Andres Arevalo, Monika Angst, Mario Balenovic, Evgeny Smirnov, Robert Ukropec, Christian Winge Vigild, Felix Goebel