Patents by Inventor Michael Brendan Hopka

Michael Brendan Hopka 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: 11149614
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Ronald Smith, Michael Brendan Hopka, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 11092453
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a first travel route for a vehicle from a database based on particulate filter regeneration requirements and an inferred initial driver state of mind. In one example, the initial driver state of mind may be selected based on a past driver history, and during travel along the first travel route, the driver state of mind may be updated based on the driver interactions with traffic. The route selection may also be updated based on the updated driver state of mind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Patent number: 10961893
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating an exhaust particulate filter based on a projected vehicle drive cycle and catalyst ammonia storage level. In one example, a method may include scheduling a PF regeneration during a regeneration window to maintain a threshold ammonia level in an exhaust catalyst, at the end of the drive cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cory Hendrickson, Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Patent number: 10605137
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting a missing exhaust catalyst based on water adsorption and related exothermic temperature rise by the catalyst. In one example, a method may include indicating an exhaust catalyst missing in response to an estimated exhaust temperature profile being different from an expected exhaust temperature profile. The estimated exhaust temperature profile may be based on exhaust temperature upstream and downstream of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka, In Kwang Yoo, David John Kubinski
  • Publication number: 20200063632
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for regenerating an exhaust particulate filter based on a projected vehicle drive cycle and catalyst ammonia storage level. In one example, a method may include scheduling a PF regeneration during a regeneration window to maintain a threshold ammonia level in an exhaust catalyst, at the end of the drive cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Cory Hendrickson, Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Publication number: 20190376431
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Jason Ronald Smith, Michael Brendan Hopka, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Publication number: 20190323849
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a first travel route for a vehicle from a database based on particulate filter regeneration requirements and an inferred initial driver state of mind. In one example, the initial driver state of mind may be selected based on a past driver history, and during travel along the first travel route, the driver state of mind may be updated based on the driver interactions with traffic. The route selection may also be updated based on the updated driver state of mind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Patent number: 10450930
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Ronald Smith, Michael Brendan Hopka, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 10393533
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a first travel route for a vehicle from a database based on particulate filter regeneration requirements and an inferred initial driver state of mind. In one example, the initial driver state of mind may be selected based on a past driver history, and during travel along the first travel route, the driver state of mind may be updated based on the driver interactions with traffic. The route selection may also be updated based on the updated driver state of mind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Patent number: 10309944
    Abstract: Particulate matter (PM) sensors and diagnostics performed using the PM sensors are disclosed. The PM sensors and diagnostics may be used in exhaust systems, such as vehicle exhaust systems, to detect soot. In at least one embodiment, an electrostatic particulate matter (PM) sensor is provided including first and second spaced apart electrodes forming a bulk gap therebetween having a bulk distance and a localized gap therebetween having a localized distance less than the bulk distance. A controller may be configured to control a voltage between the electrodes to induce an electrostatic discharge at the localized gap at a lower voltage than at the bulk gap. Various diagnostics may be performed using the disclosed PM sensors, including a wiring/continuity diagnostic, a soot detection plausibility diagnostic, and/or an installation diagnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Brendan Hopka, David John Kubinski, David Bilby, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 10309793
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for maintaining a database with details of frequently travelled routes and selecting a travel route for a vehicle from the database based on particulate filter regeneration requirements. In one example, a method may include selecting one or more routes from the database based on a current particulate filter soot level, fuel efficiency, travel time, operator behavior, etc., ranking the routes based on the particulate filter regeneration efficiency of each of the one or more routes. At vehicle key-off, the database may be updated with information regarding the travelled route including a level of particulate filter regeneration achieved during the drive cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Publication number: 20180340785
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a first travel route for a vehicle from a database based on particulate filter regeneration requirements and an inferred initial driver state of mind. In one example, the initial driver state of mind may be selected based on a past driver history, and during travel along the first travel route, the driver state of mind may be updated based on the driver interactions with traffic. The route selection may also be updated based on the updated driver state of mind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Publication number: 20180340784
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for maintaining a database with details of frequently travelled routes and selecting a travel route for a vehicle from the database based on particulate filter regeneration requirements. In one example, a method may include selecting one or more routes from the database based on a current particulate filter soot level, fuel efficiency, travel time, operator behavior, etc., ranking the routes based on the particulate filter regeneration efficiency of each of the one or more routes. At vehicle key-off, the database may be updated with information regarding the travelled route including a level of particulate filter regeneration achieved during the drive cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka
  • Publication number: 20180283248
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting a missing exhaust catalyst based on water adsorption and related exothermic temperature rise by the catalyst. In one example, a method may include indicating an exhaust catalyst missing in response to an estimated exhaust temperature profile being different from an expected exhaust temperature profile. The estimated exhaust temperature profile may be based on exhaust temperature upstream and downstream of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Devesh Upadhyay, Michael Brendan Hopka, In Kwang Yoo, David John Kubinski
  • Publication number: 20180156095
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Ronald Smith, Michael Brendan Hopka, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 9932876
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Ronald Smith, Michael Brendan Hopka, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Publication number: 20180067090
    Abstract: Particulate matter (PM) sensors and diagnostics performed using the PM sensors are disclosed. The PM sensors and diagnostics may be used in exhaust systems, such as vehicle exhaust systems, to detect soot. In at least one embodiment, an electrostatic particulate matter (PM) sensor is provided including first and second spaced apart electrodes forming a bulk gap therebetween having a bulk distance and a localized gap therebetween having a localized distance less than the bulk distance. A controller may be configured to control a voltage between the electrodes to induce an electrostatic discharge at the localized gap at a lower voltage than at the bulk gap. Various diagnostics may be performed using the disclosed PM sensors, including a wiring/continuity diagnostic, a soot detection plausibility diagnostic, and/or an installation diagnostic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Brendan HOPKA, David John KUBINSKI, David BILBY, Michiel J. VAN NIEUWSTADT
  • Publication number: 20170130635
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Jason Ronald Smith, Michael Brendan Hopka, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 9534524
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting leaks in a diesel particulate filter (DPF). In one example, a faster leak detection routine may be performed during a single drive cycle to detect large leaks in the DPF. However, if there are no large leaks in the DPF, a slower leak detection may be performed over a plurality of drive cycles, to detected smaller leaks in the DPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Brendan Hopka, William Russell Goodwin, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Publication number: 20160369673
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting leaks in a diesel particulate filter (DPF). In one example, a faster leak detection routine may be performed during a single drive cycle to detect large leaks in the DPF. However, if there are no large leaks in the DPF, a slower leak detection may be performed over a plurality of drive cycles, to detected smaller leaks in the DPF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Brendan Hopka, William Russell Goodwin, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt