Patents by Inventor Michael Howard

Michael Howard 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: 20180023522
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for flowing exhaust through a second cooler, arranged downstream of a first cooler and upstream of an intake in an exhaust gas recirculation passage, and extracting condensate for water injection from condensate in cooled exhaust gas exiting the second cooler. In one example, a method may include adjusting the amount of exhaust gas flowing through the second cooler based on an amount of water stored at a water storage tank of a water injection system and engine operating conditions. Further, the method may include selectively flowing exhaust gas from the second cooler to a location upstream or downstream of a compressor in response to engine operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohannad Hakeem, Brad Alan VanDerWege, Christopher House, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Patent number: 9845751
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving combustion stability, in particular during transient operations such as tip-out to lower load conditions, when EGR is being purged. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Gopichandra Surnilla, Jianwen James Yi, Brad Alan Boyer, James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Benjamin Richard Petersen
  • Publication number: 20170359073
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms allow a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) to support a pseudo open drain (POD) input/output (I/O) standard used in interface protocols such as fourth generation double data rate (DDR4). An OR gate with inputs including data and an inverted output enable from a user's design may be inserted into programmable logic. The output of the OR gate may be coupled with an input of an I/O buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Navid Azizi, Gordon Raymond Chiu, Michael Howard Kipper
  • Patent number: 9840976
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock tolerance, in particular when rapidly ramping in LP-EGR from low levels of EGR. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection to compensate for the transport delay in EGR filling the intake system. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Gopichandra Surnilla, Brad Alan Boyer, James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Chris Paul Glugla, Benjamin Richard Petersen
  • Publication number: 20170349164
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving surge control. When surge conditions are anticipated, motor torque usage is increased to discharge a battery to a lower state of charge. When surge conditions actually occur, engine torque output is limited to a higher level than the engine output required to meet the reduced torque demand, while the excess wheel torque is offset by charging the battery to a higher state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Michael Howard Shelby, Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 9828955
    Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing EGR gas temperature for an engine that includes at least one dedicated EGR cylinder. The dedicated EGR cylinder may provide exhaust gas to engine cylinders and the exhaust gas does not include exhaust gases from cylinders other than the dedicated EGR cylinder. The dedicated EGR cylinder may allow the engine to operate at higher EGR dilution levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Michael Damian Czekala, Gregory Patrick McConville
  • Patent number: 9822714
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock control by accounting for a drop in charge cooling efficiency of a knock control fluid at higher temperatures. In response to the prediction of an elevated temperature of a knock control fluid at a time of release from a direct injector, a pulse width of the injection is adjusted. Any knock relief deficits are compensated for using alternate engine adjustments, such as boost or spark timing adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan VanDerWege, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Patent number: 9803570
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine during conditions where ambient humidity changes over time are presented. In one non-limiting example, an engine air flow limit is adjusted to increase engine air flow during high humidity conditions such that an engine may provide equivalent torque output during the high humidity conditions as compared to when the engine is operated during low humidity conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Michael Howard Shelby, Stephen B. Smith, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Publication number: 20170306858
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using compression heating to heat a cylinder piston before cylinder combustion is resumed. Cylinder heating is achieved using combinations of slow unfueled engine rotation where the engine cylinders are heated via compression stroke heating, and slow compressor rotation where the cylinders are heated via compression heating. One or more intake or exhaust heaters may be concurrently operated to expedite cylinder heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, John Eric Rollinger, Michael Howard Shelby, Jianwen James Yi
  • Patent number: 9789747
    Abstract: Methods and systems for duct protection of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems provided include an apparatus for containing a flow of fluid discharged from a fracture in a duct. The apparatus includes a ballistic containment layer and an insulation sheath coupled to the ballistic containment layer. The insulation sheath includes a first air containment layer, an insulation layer, and a second air containment layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: John Ralph Hull, Michael Strasik, Bret A. Voss, Mark A. Negley, William J. Sweet, Kevin R. Housen, Jason S. Damazo, Michael D. Gonzales, Michael Howard-Edward Ware, Lee Charles Firth
  • Patent number: 9764426
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a machine tool configured to perform small-scale, high-accuracy drilling operations for small-hole applications. The small-hole applications for which the machine tool is designed includes holes with one or more diameters. A part may have a larger-diameter hole that penetrates through a fraction of the thickness of a part and a smaller-diameter hole that penetrates from the bottom of the larger-diameter hole through the remainder of the part thickness. Additionally, the machine tool may be used with parts in any of the following categories: (i) both the step-hole and the flow-hole are created using the machine tool; or, (ii) the step-hole is created with an up-stream process and the machine tool may accept the part, measure the step-holes and create the flow-holes; or, (iii) no step-hole is used and the machine tool may accept the part, measure the raw surface and create the flow-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Microlution Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Honegger, Andrew Phillip, Onik Bhattacharyya, Grzegorz Nowobilski, Brendon DiVincenzo, Alexander Kim, Michael Howard, Jeremy VonHatten, Daniel Roti
  • Patent number: 9759135
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using compression heating to heat a cylinder piston before cylinder combustion is resumed. Cylinder heating is achieved using combinations of slow unfueled engine rotation where the engine cylinders are heated via compression stroke heating, and slow compressor rotation where the cylinders are heated via compression heating. One or more intake or exhaust heaters may be concurrently operated to expedite cylinder heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, John Eric Rollinger, Michael Howard Shelby, Jianwen James Yi
  • Publication number: 20170248089
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a throttle based on an intake oxygen sensor output. In one example, a method may include adjusting a position of a throttle based on a dilution threshold and a total aircharge dilution level, the total dilution aircharge level based on an output of an intake oxygen sensor. Additionally, spark timing may be adjusted based on the total aircharge dilution level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, James Alfred Hilditch, Jason Williams
  • Publication number: 20170241355
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine knock tolerance, in particular when rapidly ramping in LP-EGR from low levels of EGR. Until a desired LP-EGR rate is achieved, fuel may be delivered as a split injection with at least an intake stroke injection and a compression stroke injection to compensate for the transport delay in EGR filling the intake system. Subsequently, single fuel injection may be resumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Wooldridge, Gopichandra Surnilla, Brad Alan Boyer, James Alfred Hilditch, Michael Howard Shelby, Chris Paul Glugla, Benjamin Richard Petersen
  • Publication number: 20170217606
    Abstract: A system and method including a processor coupled to the non-volatile memory and a non-transitory medium connected to the processor wherein the processor is configured to select one of a flight path between two points or a point of departure and frequency of departure in the flight path from the point for an aircraft, wherein the flight path has at least two phases and a flight along the flight path or a departure constitutes one cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Howard Fisher, Andrew Scott Kessie, Mazen Hammoud
  • Patent number: 9718562
    Abstract: A system and method including a processor coupled to the non-volatile memory and a non-transitory medium connected to the processor wherein the processor is configured to select one of a flight path between two points or a point of departure and frequency of departure in the flight path from the point for an aircraft, wherein the flight path has at least two phases and a flight along the flight path or a departure constitutes one cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Howard Fisher, Andrew Scott Kessie, Mazen Hammoud
  • Publication number: 20170191303
    Abstract: The present invention provides a frame (10) for a sliding door which sits within a pocket, wherein the frame comprises of rigid vertical posts (20), which have channels (24) which contain a beam (22) for strengthening of the posts and allowing the fastening of plasterboard or other such wall panels to the vertical posts (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: LINEAR BUILDING INNOVATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Hans Nicholas PURDOM, Anthony Michael HOWARD
  • Patent number: 9698795
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms allow a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) to support a pseudo open drain (POD) input/output (I/O) standard used in interface protocols such as fourth generation double data rate (DDR4). An OR gate with inputs including data and an inverted output enable from a user's design may be inserted into programmable logic. The output of the OR gate may be coupled with an input of an I/O buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ALTERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Navid Azizi, Gordon Raymond Chiu, Michael Howard Kipper
  • Patent number: 9683497
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a throttle based on an intake oxygen sensor output. In one example, a method may include adjusting a position of a throttle based on a dilution threshold and a total aircharge dilution level, the total dilution aircharge level based on an output of an intake oxygen sensor. Additionally, spark timing may be adjusted based on the total aircharge dilution level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, James Alfred Hilditch, Jason Williams
  • Patent number: 9679724
    Abstract: A contact assembly for an electrical component includes: a bus member; and a switching assembly structured to move between first and second positions. The switching assembly includes: a stationary contact extending from the bus member, a movable contact engaging the stationary contact when the switching assembly is in the first position and disengaging the stationary contact when the switching assembly moves toward the second position, and a switching device coupled to the bus member. When the switching assembly is in the first position, the switching device and the stationary contact are electrically connected in parallel with the bus member and the movable contact. When the switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, the switching device disconnects power after the movable contact disengages the stationary contact in order that electrical disconnection between the bus member and the movable contact occurs within the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Howard Abrahamsen, Daniel Garett Sims, Matthew Stephen Weidemeier, Robert Kirkland Smith, Hongbin Wang