Patents by Inventor Michael Kern

Michael Kern 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: 20170009728
    Abstract: An engine control system and method of reducing knocking combustion in a spark-ignited internal combustion engine having exhaust gas recirculation by controlling engine timing based on detection of a misfire in an engine cylinder. The engine control system determines a number of combustion cycles indicative of an amount of time that will pass before misfire gas from the detected misfire will be recirculated to a combustion chamber of any cylinder of the internal combustion engine, and the engine control unit reduces or prevents knocking combustion by adjusting the ignition timing of at least one subsequent combustion cycle after the determined number of combustion cycles have occurred since the misfire was detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Justin Michael Kern
  • Patent number: 9541469
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a time delay and line length of each sample of a set of exhaust gas sensor responses collected during a commanded change in air-fuel ratio. In this way, the exhaust gas sensor may be monitored utilizing robust parameters in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Imad Hassan Makki
  • Publication number: 20160379806
    Abstract: In accordance with this disclosure, there are provided several inventions, including an apparatus and method for depositing plasma resistant coatings on polymer materials used in a plasma processing chamber. In a particular example, such a coating may be made on a portion of an electrostatic chuck, where the polymer material is a bead surrounding an adhesive between a chuck base and a ceramic top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Lin XU, Nash W. ANDERSON, John DAUGHERTY, Thomas R. STEVENSON, John Michael KERNS
  • Patent number: 9518287
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine exhaust emissions while enabling exhaust catalyst regeneration following an engine lean event. Prior to a VDE event, or prior to an engine idle-stop, ammonia is produced and stored on an exhaust underbody SCR catalyst. Then, during the engine restart after the VDE mode or the idle-stop, the stored ammonia is used to treat exhaust NOx species while an upstream exhaust underbody three-way catalyst is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Robert Theis, James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Giovanni Cavataio, Thomas G. Leone, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Todd Anthony Rumpsa
  • Patent number: 9488113
    Abstract: An engine includes one or more cylinders configured to receive gaseous fuel for use in combustion. Two gaseous fuel injectors per cylinder, include: a first injector directed at the corresponding cylinder and having an injection capacity of a first amount of gaseous fuel per injection, and a second injector directed at the corresponding cylinder and having an injection capacity of a second amount of gaseous fuel per injection, the second amount being greater than the first amount. The engine is operable in a first mode in which a per-cylinder fuel demand is at or below the first amount, and only the first injector is operable for each cylinder. The engine is operable in a second mode in which the per-cylinder fuel demand is greater than the first amount, and only the second injector is operable for each cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Justin Michael Kern
  • Publication number: 20160291064
    Abstract: There is provided a system for use with a fiber-optic current transducer. The system includes a processing unit configured to transduce a first light signal into a first electrical signal. The processing unit is further configured to transduce a second light signal into a second electrical signal. Furthermore, the processing unit is configured to remove offsets from the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal by forcing the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal to be on the same per unit basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Wallace, John Michael Kern, Richard Young, Brian Ross
  • Publication number: 20160265449
    Abstract: An engine includes one or more cylinders configured to receive gaseous fuel for use in combustion. Two gaseous fuel injectors per cylinder, include: a first injector directed at the corresponding cylinder and having an injection capacity of a first amount of gaseous fuel per injection, and a second injector directed at the corresponding cylinder and having an injection capacity of a second amount of gaseous fuel per injection, the second amount being greater than the first amount. The engine is operable in a first mode in which a per-cylinder fuel demand is at or below the first amount, and only the first injector is operable for each cylinder. The engine is operable in a second mode in which the per-cylinder fuel demand is greater than the first amount, and only the second injector is operable for each cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Justin Michael Kern
  • Patent number: 9416714
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust are provided. In one example approach, a method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a downstream exhaust gas sensor responding before the upstream exhaust gas sensor during a commanded change in air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Imad Hassan Makki, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Publication number: 20160230706
    Abstract: A mixing device for introducing gaseous fuel and recirculated exhaust gas into an intake passage of an engine, the mixing device including a body, an annular channel, the body defining a fuel inlet opening, and a plurality of gaseous fuel injectors fluidly coupled to the fuel inlet opening such that gaseous fuel from the plurality of gaseous fuel injectors is conveyed into the annular channel through the fuel inlet opening. The mixing device further includes a diffuser at a position of the annular channel to diffuse gaseous fuel from the annular channel into the intake airflow in the intake passage, an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) inlet opening defined by the body and in fluid communication with the intake passage, and an exhaust gas recirculation supply pipe coupled to the EGR inlet opening and configured to direct recirculated exhaust gas from the engine into the intake passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Paul William Schwark, Justin Michael Kern, Todd Wallace Helsel, Mohamed Moustafa El-Gammal
  • Publication number: 20160222920
    Abstract: A mixing device for introducing gaseous fuel into an intake passage of an engine, including a body, an annular channel within the body at least partially encircling the intake passage, the body defining a fuel inlet opening. The mixing device includes a plurality of gaseous fuel injectors arranged to discharge gaseous fuel into a fuel inlet manifold, a fuel connection passage extending between the fuel inlet manifold and the fuel inlet opening of the body, a diffuser positioned within the body to diffuse gaseous fuel from the annular channel into the intake airflow, and a valve positioned along the fuel connection passage and configured to selectively block fluid communication between the fuel inlet manifold and the fuel inlet opening of the body in response to a signal from at least one electronic controller programmed to execute control strategies controlling operation of the engine, the gaseous fuel injectors, and the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Paul William Schwark, Justin Michael Kern
  • Publication number: 20160156958
    Abstract: A method for recording of media items broadcast from at least one channel source and for time-delayed playback of a media item recorded in a memory region reserved for time-delayed playback and received by a terminal arrangement configured for time-delayed playback includes: recording a schedule broadcast by the at least one channel source as a media data stream; and playing back a media item already running at the point in time at which the at least one channel source is selected, irrespective of the point in time of the selection, from the start of the item, or from an earliest point in time available in the reserved memory region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Fred RUNGE, Michael Kern
  • Patent number: 9353708
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a fuel vapor recovery system including a fuel tank isolation valve coupled between a fuel tank and a canister. During selected conditions, the valve is modulated and pressure pulsations in the fuel vapor recovery system are monitored. Valve degradation is identified based on correlations between the valve modulation and the resultant pressure pulsations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed Mohammad Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, Timothy DeBastos, James Michael Kerns, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Patent number: 9337002
    Abstract: Components of semiconductor material processing chambers are disclosed, which may include a substrate and at least one corrosion-resistant coating formed on a surface thereof. The at least one corrosion-resistant coating is a high purity metal coating formed by a cold-spray technique. An anodized layer can be formed on the high purity metal coating. The anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more of the components are also disclosed, the components being selected from the group consisting of a chamber liner, an electrostatic chuck, a focus ring, a chamber wall, an edge ring, a plasma confinement ring, a substrate support, a baffle, a gas distribution plate, a gas distribution ring, a gas nozzle, a heating element, a plasma screen, a transport mechanism, a gas supply system, a lift mechanism, a load lock, a door mechanism, a robotic arm and a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Daugherty, Hong Shih, Lin Xu, Anthony Amadio, Robert G. O'Neill, Peter Holland, Sivakami Ramanathan, Tae Won Kim, Duane Outka, John Michael Kerns, Sonia Castillo
  • Patent number: 9297348
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a group of cylinders for selective deactivation, in a variable displacement engine system, based at least on a regeneration state of an exhaust catalyst. The position of one or more valves and throttles may be adjusted based on the selective deactivation to reduce back-flow through the disabled cylinders while also maintaining conditions of a downstream exhaust catalyst. Pre-ignition and knock detection windows and thresholds may also be adjusted based on the deactivation to improve the efficiency of knock and pre-ignition detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Stephen B. Smith, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Patent number: 9288564
    Abstract: Integrated audio-visual systems are provided. Such integrated audio-visual systems are capable of reproducing sound frequencies without compromising visual characteristics. In particular, a surface of the acoustic diaphragm also serves as the image projection screen. Such surface may be made of materials capable of reflecting light and converting audio signals simultaneously. The surface may be integrated with electromagnetic conductive materials or nanomaterials. In response to an audio signal, the surface is driven by various driving mechanism to create acoustic vibration. Any number of audio zones may be created on the surface and the audio emanation areas may be customized for the desired application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Norbert Faerstain, Michael Kern, James Hurrell
  • Publication number: 20160032854
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust in an engine is provided. The method includes adjusting engine operation responsive to exhaust gas sensor degradation, the degradation identified during deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO) and compensated based on whether vapor purge operation is occurring in the engine during DFSO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Michael James Uhrich, Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns
  • Patent number: 9222420
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine exhaust emissions while enabling exhaust catalyst regeneration following an engine lean event. Prior to a VDE event, or prior to an engine idle-stop, ammonia is produced and stored on an exhaust underbody SCR catalyst. Then, during the engine restart after the VDE mode or the idle-stop, the stored ammonia is used to treat exhaust NOx species while an upstream exhaust underbody three-way catalyst is regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Joseph Robert Theis, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150354489
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine including a humidity sensor. Degradation of the humidity sensor may be determined based on a change in intake air relative humidity as compared to a change in intake air temperature or pressure, under selected conditions. An amount of exhaust gas recirculated to an engine intake is adjusted differently based on whether the humidity sensor is degraded or functional.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Robert Roy Jentz, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Richard E. Soltis
  • Publication number: 20150337450
    Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong SHIH, Lin XU, John Michael KERNS, William CHARLES, John DAUGHERTY, Sivakami RAMANATHAN, Russell ORMOND, Robert G. O'NEILL, Tom STEVENSON
  • Patent number: 9188045
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust in an engine is provided. The method includes adjusting engine operation responsive to exhaust gas sensor degradation, the degradation identified during deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO) and compensated based on whether vapor purge operation is occurring in the engine during DFSO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Michael James Ulrich, Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns