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).

  • Selectively storing reformate
    Patent number: 8635977
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively storing gaseous reformate output by a fuel reformer for fueling an engine. Carbon monoxide produced by a fuel reformer may be continuously combusted in the engine and/or engine exhaust rather than being stored. In one example, reformate components produced by a fuel reformer, e.g., H2 and CH4, may be stored and buffered for use by an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Michael Kerns
  • Methods and systems for variable displacement engine control
    Patent number: 8631646
    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: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen B. Smith, Michael James Uhrich, James Michael Kerns, Adam Nathan Banker
  • FUEL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING FUEL SYSTEMS IN A VEHICLE WITH MULTIPLE FUEL TANKS
    Publication number: 20140007951
    Abstract: Fuel systems and methods for controlling fuel systems in a vehicle with multiple fuel tanks are provided. An exemplary vehicle fuel system includes a first fuel tank including a first pressure sensor, and a second fuel tank. The system may further include a fuel tank isolation valve positioned to selectively decouple the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank. The system may further include an electronic controller configured to identify which of the first fuel tank and second fuel tank includes a fuel system leak by selectively decoupling the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank via the fuel tank isolation valve, responsive to an identification of the fuel system leak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns
  • Methods and systems for variable displacement engine control
    Patent number: 8607544
    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: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith
  • Approach for controlling a vehicle engine that includes an electric boosting device
    Patent number: 8583351
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle including an engine is provided. The engine may include at least one cylinder, a boosting device to boost intake air to the at least one cylinder, a fuel tank, a fuel vapor canister to store fuel vapors vented from the fuel tank, and an emission control device to treat exhaust gas from the engine. The boosting device includes a compressor at least partially driven by an electric motor. The method includes during an engine cold start condition, operating the electric motor of the boost device to boost intake air, directing the boosted intake air through the fuel vapor canister to release a fuel vapor stored in the fuel vapor canister, directing the fuel vapor from the fuel vapor canister to the engine, and performing combustion in the at least one cylinder using the fuel vapor during the engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, James Michael Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • HYDROCARBON RETAINING AND PURGING SYSTEM FOR FLEX-FUEL COMBUSTION ENGINE
    Publication number: 20130247544
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Fuel systems and methods for controlling fuel systems in a vehicle with multiple fuel tanks
    Patent number: 8539938
    Abstract: Fuel systems and methods for controlling fuel systems in a vehicle with multiple fuel tanks are provided. An exemplary vehicle fuel system includes a first fuel tank including a first pressure sensor, and a second fuel tank. The system may further include a fuel tank isolation valve positioned to selectively decouple the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank. The system may further include an electronic controller configured to identify which of the first fuel tank and second fuel tank includes a fuel system leak by selectively decoupling the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank via the fuel tank isolation valve, responsive to an identification of the fuel system leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns
  • Method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer
    Patent number: 8539914
    Abstract: Methods for operating a flexible fuel engine with a fuel reformer which reforms a fuel into a gaseous fuel reformate are provided. Operating parameters of the fuel reformer and delivery of reformate to the engine are adjusted based on an alcohol content of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Thomas G. Leone, Michael Howard Shelby
  • LOW DIMENSIONAL THREE WAY CATALYST MODEL FOR CONTROL AND DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20130245919
    Abstract: Embodiments for an engine exhaust are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting a fuel injection amount based on a fractional oxidation state of a catalyst, the fractional oxidation state based on reaction rates of a plurality of exhaust gas species throughout a catalyst longitudinal axis and a set of axially-averaged mass balance and energy balance equations for a fluid phase and a washcoat of the catalyst. In this way, a simplified catalyst model may be used to control air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Pankaj Kumar, Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Stephen B. Smith
  • NON-INTRUSIVE EXHAUST GAS SENSOR MONITORING
    Publication number: 20130231847
    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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Imad Hassan Makki
  • NON-INTRUSIVE EXHAUST GAS SENSOR MONITORING
    Publication number: 20130231844
    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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Imad Hassan Makki
  • METHOD FOR INJECTING FUEL
    Publication number: 20130191008
    Abstract: Embodiments for adjusting fuel injection are provided. In one example, a method comprises adjusting fuel injection based on fuel concentration in an engine intake manifold, and during idle and when EGR is disabled, adjusting fuel injection based on the fuel concentration and a fuel pushback amount. In this way, fuel injection may be adjusted based on fuel concentration in the intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, James Michael Kerns, Stephen B. Smith, Imad Hassan Makki
  • NON-INTRUSIVE EXHAUST GAS SENSOR MONITORING
    Publication number: 20130180510
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. The method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a difference between a first set of estimated parameters of a rich operation model and a second set of estimated parameters of a lean operation model, the estimated parameters based on commanded lambda and determined lambda values collected during selected operating conditions. In this way, sensor degradation may be indicated with data collected in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Michael Casedy, Hassene Jammoussi
  • NON-INTRUSIVE EXHAUST GAS SENSOR MONITORING
    Publication number: 20130180509
    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 characteristics of a distribution of extreme values of a plurality of sets of lambda differentials collected during selected operating conditions. In this way, the exhaust gas sensor may be monitored in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, Pankaj Kumar, James Michael Kerns, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Trap for exhaust system
    Patent number: 8464524
    Abstract: A system for trapping liquid exhaust during a cold start of an internal combustion engine is provided. As one example, a system includes, an exhaust inlet, an exchange area fluidly coupled downstream of said exhaust inlet, a trap coupled to said exchange area having a liquid exhaust chamber for collection of liquid exhaust, and a catalytic converter fluidly coupled downstream to said exchange area. In another example, a method includes condensing, at least partly, exhaust from the engine in an exchange area in an exhaust system into liquid exhaust, collecting liquid exhaust into a trap disposed in the exchange area, and evaporating the liquid exhaust into the exchange area after an evaporation temperature is reached in the trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Karl Bidner, John M. Roth, Ken O. Jahr, Gopichandra Surnilla, James Michael Kerns, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Method for regenerating a particulate filter for a boosted direct injection engine
    Patent number: 8464514
    Abstract: A method for regenerating a particulate filter is disclosed. In one example, oxygen is pumped from the intake system of a direct injection turobocharged gasoline engine through a cylinder and into the exhaust system by a compressor. In this way, regeneration of a particulate filter may be accomplished without an auxiliary air supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Helmut Hans Ruhland, Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Georg Louven, Jan Harmsen
  • Engine starting control for engine with hydrocarbon retaining system
    Patent number: 8448422
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Hydrocarbon retaining and purging system for flex-fuel combustion engine
    Patent number: 8448427
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Shane Elwart, James Michael Kerns, Jason Aaron Lupescu
  • Method and system for fuel vapor control
    Patent number: 8447495
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Christopher Kragh, Timothy DeBastos, Patrick Sullivan, James Michael Kerns, Chad Michael Olson
  • Method and system for fuel vapor control
    Patent number: 8434461
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a fuel vapor recovery system having a fuel tank isolation valve coupled between a fuel tank and a canister. Fuel vapors are purged from the fuel tank to a canister buffer over a plurality of purge pulses. The pulses are adjusted based on the buffer capacity, a purge flow rate, and a fuel tank pressure to improve control of canister loading and reduce air-to-fuel ratio disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Chris Kragh, Dennis Yang, Timothy DeBastos, Russell Randall Pearce, Scott Bohr, Michael G. Heim