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).

  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A SPLIT EXHAUST ENGINE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190263384
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, the engine system may be installed in a hybrid vehicle, and, in response to a request to restart the engine while the vehicle is being propelled via motor torque only, the engine may be rotated unfueled via the motor torque at less than cranking speed while at least partially opening a valve disposed in a passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold and the intake passage. In another example, in response to the request to restart the engine, all exhaust valves of a second set of exhaust valves coupled to the second exhaust manifold may be deactivated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, John D. Russell, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Cluster availability management
    Patent number: 10394672
    Abstract: A first logical partition in a first processing complex of a server cluster is operated in an active mode and a second logical partition in the processing complex is operated in a standby mode. Upon detection of a failure in a second processing complex of the server cluster. the standby mode logical partition in the first processing complex is activated to an active mode. In one embodiment, partition resources are transferred from an active mode logical partition to the logical partition activated from standby mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Joseph Armstrong, Michael Howard Hartung, Yu-Cheng Hsu, Glenn Rowan Wightwick
  • DUAL-PASS-THROUGH COUNTERTOP HIGH VELOCITY HOT AIR STERILIZER
    Publication number: 20190255202
    Abstract: A device and system for sterilizing objects, commonly dental, medical, or veterinary instruments, having a double door configuration that can provide entry of contaminated instruments into a sterilizer from a contaminated area and subsequently, post-sterilization, their pass-through directly into a sterile area through an exit door from said sterilizer. More specifically, the invention is a countertop, high velocity, dry heat sterilization device that is readily adaptable for those clinical areas requiring separation of contaminated and sterile areas for the processing of medical, dental, or veterinary instruments. The sterilization device utilizes a dual airflow pathway and a controlled heat delivery system to deliver to the sterilization chamber the supply air having temperature uniformity and air velocity required of the high velocity dry heat sterilization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: William Bryan Smith, Michael Howard Linse, Nelson Sigman Slavik
  • System and method for variable compression ratio engine
    Patent number: 10378458
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving calibration of a variable compression ratio engine. Cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations are detected and accounted for by comparing cylinder fuel flow and IMEP at each compression ratio setting. Dilution parameters including EGR and VCT schedule are also calibrated to account for the cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Michael Howard Shelby, Lyth Alobiedat
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A SPLIT EXHAUST ENGINE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190234327
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, during a cold start, a method may include adjusting a position of a first valve disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage based on an engine operating condition, the EGR passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold coupled to a first set of exhaust valves and the intake passage, upstream of a compressor. As one example, the engine operating condition may include an engine temperature or a temperature of a catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Michael Howard Shelby, Kim Hwe Ku, Brad Alan Boyer
  • FULL SIZE ROCKER HOUSING WITH PIEZO BUZZER
    Publication number: 20190214204
    Abstract: A rocker switch assembly features a rocker switching mechanism and a rocker base housing. The rocker switching mechanism has a switch cover and rocker configured to rock between rocking positions in response to rocking switch forces applied thereon, and provide a rocking switch actuator force. The rocker base housing has a piezo buzzer and rocker switch circuitry, e.g., including contacts/terminals. The piezo buzzer is configured to respond to the rocking switch actuator force, and provide signaling from the piezo buzzer to rocker switch circuitry, based upon the rocking switch actuator force applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Howard IRVING
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING ENGINE CYLINDERS
    Publication number: 20190211762
    Abstract: Systems and methods for activating and deactivating cylinders of an engine that may activate and deactivate one cylinder independent of other cylinders are presented. In one example, an engine cylinder firing fraction and a remainder value that is based on the engine cylinder firing fraction are a basis for activating and deactivating engine cylinders. The systems and methods also provide for transitioning between different cylinder firing fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Amey Y. Karnik, Stephen Lee Cooper, Adam Nathan Banker, Michael Howard Shelby, John Eric Rollinger, Adam J. Richards
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE FUELING
    Publication number: 20190211761
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tracking a fuel puddle mass in the intake port of a deactivated engine cylinder. The difference in fuel evaporation rate in the deactivated cylinder intake is accounted for by applying distinct time constant and gain values to a transient fuel compensation model. A fuel vapor content is clipped once the intake vapor pressure in the intake port of the deactivated cylinder reaches a saturation pressure limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Amey Karnik, Pravin Sashidharan, Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, Eric Storhok
  • FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION DEVICE
    Publication number: 20190214800
    Abstract: An electrical isolator includes a flexible non-electrically conductive membrane and an inelastic flexible dielectric member journalled in the membrane and extending from the first end of the membrane to the second end of the membrane. First and second couplings are mounted to the ends of the dielectric member. The ends of the membrane are mated in sealed engagement with the couplings so as to fluidically seal the ends of the membrane and the dielectric member within the membrane. The membrane is filled with a dielectric fluid so as to displace any air in the membrane and the dielectric member. The couplings are adapted to couple to objects at opposite ends of the electrical isolator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: David Karl WABNEGGER, Robert Wayne PALMER, Jody Milton GREER, Daniel Neil O'CONNELL, Raymond Henry JODOIN, Ian Edward TRIP, Michael Howard BOUDREAU
  • Pre-chamber ignition system
    Patent number: 10337397
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging a pre-chamber. In one example, a system is provided with a combustion chamber formed by a cylinder head coupled to a cylinder block and a pre-chamber in fluidic communication with the combustion chamber. The system is also provided with a purge port coupled to the pre-chamber and structured to flow purge air into the pre-chamber, where the flow of the purge air is driven by operation a purge pump and a piston disposed within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Howard Shelby, Brad Alan VanDerWege
  • CYBER VACCINE AND PREDICTIVE-MALWARE-DEFENSE METHODS AND SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20190199736
    Abstract: Methods and systems for Predictive Malware Defense (PMD) are described. The systems and methods can utilize advanced machine-learning (ML) techniques to generate malware defenses preemptively. Embodiments of PMD can utilize models, which are trained on features extracted from malware families, to predict possible courses of malware evolution. PMD captures these predicted future evolutions in signatures of as yet unseen malware variants to function as a malware vaccine. These signatures of predicted future malware “evolutions” can be added to the training set of a machine-learning (ML) based malware detection and/or mitigation system so that it can detect these new variants as they arrive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Howard, Avi Pfeffer, Mukesh Dalal, Michael Reposa
  • Systems and methods for a split exhaust engine system
    Patent number: 10328924
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, the engine system may be installed in a hybrid vehicle, and, in response to a request to restart the engine while the vehicle is being propelled via motor torque only, the engine may be rotated unfueled via the motor torque at less than cranking speed while at least partially opening a valve disposed in a passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold and the intake passage. In another example, in response to the request to restart the engine, all exhaust valves of a second set of exhaust valves coupled to the second exhaust manifold may be deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, John D. Russell, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Systems and methods for a split exhaust engine system
    Patent number: 10316771
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, during a cold start, a method may include adjusting a position of a first valve disposed in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage based on an engine operating condition, the EGR passage coupled between the first exhaust manifold coupled to a first set of exhaust valves and the intake passage, upstream of a compressor. As one example, the engine operating condition may include an engine temperature or a temperature of a catalyst disposed in the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Michael Howard Shelby, Kim Hwe Ku, Brad Alan Boyer
  • System and method for reducing data retrieval delays via prediction-based generation of data subgraphs
    Patent number: 10303688
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, data retrieval delays may be reduced via prediction-based generation of data subgraphs. In some embodiments, a data request may be predicted to occur in the future based on prior queries compatible with a graph data model. Based on the graph data model, one or more subgraphs representative of data subsets of a data set may be generated. For example, the data set may be data that the data request is predicted to seek, and the subgraphs may be generated in response to the data request prediction. The subgraphs may be stored in a temporary data storage. A subsequent data request matching the predicted data request may be obtained subsequent to the subgraph storage. Based on the subsequent data request matching the predicted data request, the subgraphs may be obtained from the temporary data storage. The subgraphs may be used to respond to the subsequent data request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: STARDOG UNION
    Inventors: Evren Sirin, Michael Howard Grove, Kendall Grant Clark, Pavel Klinov
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VARIABLE COMPRESSION RATIO ENGINE
    Publication number: 20190120147
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving calibration of a variable compression ratio engine. Cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations are detected and accounted for by comparing cylinder fuel flow and IMEP at each compression ratio setting. Dilution parameters including EGR and VCT schedule are also calibrated to account for the cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Michael Howard Shelby, Lyth Alobiedat
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VARIABLE COMPRESSION RATIO ENGINE
    Publication number: 20190120160
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving calibration of a variable compression ratio engine. Cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations are detected and accounted for by comparing cylinder fuel flow and IMEP at each compression ratio setting. Dilution parameters including EGR and VCT schedule are also calibrated to account for the cylinder-to-cylinder compression ratio variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Michael Howard Shelby, Lyth Alobiedat
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENGINE WATER INJECTION
    Publication number: 20190113005
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for coordinating water usage with spark usage based on the effect on an engine torque ratio. Water is injected based on torque ratio at a current spark timing relative to torque ratio at borderline knock to improve the impact of the water injection on the engine performance. Manifold water injection and direct water injected are coordinated based on intake manifold humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Howard Shelby, Gopichandra Surnilla, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Methods and system for adjusting engine water injection
    Patent number: 10247140
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for water injection at an intake port of an engine toward or away from intake valves in response to engine operating conditions. In one example, a method may include port injecting water away from an intake valve in response to engine knock and port injecting water towards an intake valve in response to engine dilution demand. Further, the method may include adjusting an amount of water injected based on one or more of a change in manifold temperature and a change in exhaust oxygen level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Michael Howard Shelby
  • System and method for operating engine cylinders
    Patent number: 10233852
    Abstract: Systems and methods for activating and deactivating cylinders of an engine that may activate and deactivate one cylinder independent of other cylinders are presented. In one example, an engine cylinder firing fraction and a remainder value that is based on the engine cylinder firing fraction are a basis for activating and deactivating engine cylinders. The systems and methods also provide for transitioning between different cylinder firing fractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Amey Y. Karnik, Stephen Lee Cooper, Adam Nathan Banker, Michael Howard Shelby, John Eric Rollinger, Adam J. Richards
  • System and method for reducing query-related resource usage in a data retrieval process
    Patent number: 10223417
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, query-related resource usage in a data retrieval process may be reduced. In some embodiments, a graph query related to a data request may be obtained. The graph query may be transformed into a query set based on a graph data model and patterns of the graph query. Upon generation, the query set may include queries and query operators linking the queries, where the query operators include a first query operator linking first and second queries of the queries or other query operators. Prior to execution of the first and second queries, a satisfiability issue may be predicted, where the satisfiability issue is related to combining results derived from the first and second queries. Based on the prediction, the first query operator may be removed from the query set to update the query set. The updated query set may be executed to satisfy the graph query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: STARDOG UNION
    Inventors: Evren Sirin, Michael Howard Grove, Kendall Grant Clark, Jess M. Balint