Patents by Inventor Michael McQuillen

Michael McQuillen 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: 20180229729
    Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a speed displayed in a vehicle is provided. In one example, a method includes adjusting a determination of vehicle speed responsive to character recognition of an image from an on-board camera of the vehicle, the image including an external speed measurement source (such as a radar speed sign) displaying a speed measurement. The speed displayed in the vehicle may be corrected if the determined vehicle speed is outside of a threshold range generated from the speed measurement displayed on the external speed measurement source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled
  • Patent number: 10049573
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for active park assist detection of semi-trailer overhang. An example vehicle includes a first range detection sensor, a second range detection sensor different from the first range detection sensor, and a parking assist unit. The parking assist unit detects, with the first and second range detection sensors, a second vehicle with an overhang adjacent to a parking space. Additionally, the parking assist unit broadcasts, with a DSRC module, a message including properties of the parking space accounting for the overhang.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Michael McQuillen, Ali Ahmad Ayoub, Jeremy Ferack
  • Publication number: 20180223760
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately estimating intake aircharge based on the output of an intake oxygen sensor while flowing EGR, purge, or PCV hydrocarbons to the engine. The unadjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine fuel control while the hydrocarbon adjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine torque control. A controller is configured to sample the oxygen sensor at even increments in a time domain, stamp the sampled data in a crank angle domain, store the sampled data in a buffer, and then select one or more data samples corresponding to a last firing period from the buffer for estimating the intake aircharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael McQuillen, Martin Brown, Imtiaz Ali, Naginder Gogna
  • Patent number: 10041428
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating an engine exhaust pressure based on outputs from an exhaust oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include estimating an exhaust pressure of exhaust gas flowing through an engine exhaust passage based on a difference between a first output of an oxygen sensor disposed in the exhaust passage and a second output of the oxygen sensor and then adjusting engine operation based on the estimated exhaust pressure. As one example, both the first and second outputs may be taken while operating the sensor in a variable voltage mode, after increasing a reference voltage of the oxygen sensor from a lower, first voltage to a higher, second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Michael McQuillen
  • Patent number: 10018156
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing the quality of water in a water injection system using existing engine sensors. A change in manifold charge temperature following a water injection may be compared to a change in intake oxygen level to determine an error between an amount of water delivered to the engine and an amount of water actually used in the engine. The error may be correlated with the water quality and used for correcting subsequent water injection commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10019854
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting exhaust gas oxygen sensor degradation due to sealant off-gassing. In one example, a method may include indicating exhaust gas oxygen sensor degradation due to sealant off-gassing responsive to a change in fueling demand without a change in driver-demanded torque after a threshold exhaust temperature has been reached. In response to the indication, a measurement correction may be learned and applied to measurements of the exhaust gas oxygen sensor in order to accurately determine an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10019857
    Abstract: A computer in a first vehicle is programmed to detect a collision with a second vehicle, start a countdown timer upon detecting the collision, classify the collision as a hit-and-run with the second vehicle based on expiration of the countdown timer, and upon classifying the collision as a hit-and-run, tag the second vehicle based on at least one of receiving a vehicle-to-vehicle collision broadcast and receiving data from a sensor operable to identify the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mcquillen, Daniel A. Makled
  • Publication number: 20180171934
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing the quality of water in a water injection system using existing engine sensors. A change in manifold charge temperature following a water injection may be compared to a change in intake oxygen level to determine an error between an amount of water delivered to the engine and an amount of water actually used in the engine. The error may be correlated with the water quality and used for correcting subsequent water injection commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20180171891
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for learning a transport delay for individual cylinders that is associated with maldistribution of water among cylinders during a water injection event. Differences in knock intensity between individual cylinders, following a water injection, are used to identify water maldistribution. Differences in the amount and timing of an engine dilution effect following a manifold water injection are learned via an intake oxygen sensor and used to reduce cylinder-to-cylinder imbalance in water delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20180171936
    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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Joseph Norman Ulrey, Michael Howard Shelby
  • Publication number: 20180171935
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting water injection at distinct locations of an engine based on a total water injection error determined from an output of an exhaust oxygen sensor. The method may include injecting water at distinct locations based on a cooling demand and a dilution demand. Further, the method may include distributing the total injection error to respective water injectors, as well as adjusting engine operating parameters, to provide desired engine cooling and dilution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 9995234
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately estimating intake aircharge based on the output of an intake oxygen sensor while flowing EGR, purge, or PCV hydrocarbons to the engine. The unadjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine fuel control while the hydrocarbon adjusted aircharge estimate is used for engine torque control. A controller is configured to sample the oxygen sensor at even increments in a time domain, stamp the sampled data in a crank angle domain, store the sampled data in a buffer, and then select one or more data samples corresponding to a last firing period from the buffer for estimating the intake aircharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael McQuillen, Martin Brown, Imtiaz Ali, Naginder Gogna
  • Publication number: 20180141567
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle sensor calibration using wireless network-connected sensors. An example disclosed vehicle includes a communication controller and a sensor manager. The example communication controller communicatively couples to a network associated with a facility. The example sensor manager determines when the vehicle is proximate the facility. Additionally, the sensor manager calibrates sensors of the vehicle based on a measurement data of sensors installed at the facility that are communicatively coupled to the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Radhakrishnan Swaminathan, Daniel A. Makled, Michael Mcquillen
  • Publication number: 20180128623
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle localization based on wireless local area network nodes. An example disclosed vehicle includes a wireless network controller and a location tracker. In response to losing reception of GPS signals, the location tracker scans for wireless network nodes via the wireless network controller, and when second locations of the wireless network nodes are stored in memory, determines a current location of the vehicle based on a particle filtering technique and received signal strength measurements from the wireless network nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel Makled, Michael McQuillen, Ali Ahmad Ayoub, Jeremy Ferack
  • Publication number: 20180128149
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an exhaust oxygen sensor coupled to an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine in response to detecting water at the sensor. In one example, a method may include indicating water at an exhaust oxygen sensor positioned in an engine exhaust passage based on a sensor parameter of the exhaust oxygen sensor while operating the exhaust oxygen sensor in a variable voltage (VVs) mode where a reference voltage is adjusted from a lower, first voltage to a higher, second voltage; and adjusting one or more of sensor operation and engine operation based on the indicating water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis
  • Publication number: 20180121763
    Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer readable media are disclosed for object classification adjustment based on vehicle communication. An example vehicle includes a camera to detect an object and an object classifier. The example object classifier is to determine first classification data for the object. The first classification data includes a classification confidence of the object. Also, the example object classifier is to associate second classification data for the object with the first classification data. The second classification data is collected from a second vehicle. Additionally, the example object classifier is to adjust the classification confidence of the object based on the second classification data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen B. Smith, Daniel A. Makled, Michael Mcquillen
  • Publication number: 20180120415
    Abstract: A vehicle computer is programmed to receive reflections of radio-magnetic beams transmitted by an antenna mounted to a vehicle body, and, when it is determined that the vehicle is moving, determine whether the vehicle body has changed shape based on the received reflections and a predetermined base reflection pattern. The computer is further programmed to generate a second base reflection pattern based at least on the received reflections and the predetermined base reflection pattern. The computer can then use the received reflections as vehicle sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mcquillen, Daniel A. Makled
  • Publication number: 20180105060
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an interpack switch configured to connect portions of a traction battery when closed to transfer electric charge therebetween, and a controller configured to, responsive to a request, operate the switch to disconnect the portions and to initiate transfer of electric charge to each of the portions in parallel and at a same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Michael MCQUILLEN, Philip Michael GONZALES, Gopichandra SURNILLA
  • Patent number: 9945310
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for water injection into an engine and adjusting engine operation based on engine dilution demand and engine knock. In one example, a method may include injecting water into an intake manifold via a port water injector or a manifold water injector and adjusting engine operation. Further, the method may include adjusting engine operation based on a change in engine dilution or knock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20180095057
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting measurements of relative humidity using an ultrasonic sensor. In one example, a plurality of ultrasonic signals having different frequencies are transmitted from a single sensor, and attenuation values of reflected signals are determined only for those signals determined to have the same transit time from transmission to receipt, and where frequency of the plurality of ultrasonic signals may be changed responsive to an indication that the signals may be below a signal-to-noise threshold. In this way, by determining a difference between attenuation values between pairs of signals, where the signals comprise different frequencies and where the signals comprise the same transit times, relative humidity may be accurately determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Douglas Blue, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem