Patents by Inventor Michael Uhrich

Michael Uhrich 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: 20230279820
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust system. In one example, a method may include determining presence of a zone flow based on a comparison of a first exhaust sensor and a second exhaust sensor. The presence or absence of the zone flow may determine a rate at which an air-fuel ratio is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Uhrich, Mario Santillo, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Stephen William Magner
  • Patent number: 11725603
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust system. In one example, a method may include determining presence of a zone flow based on a comparison of a first exhaust sensor and a second exhaust sensor. The presence or absence of the zone flow may determine a rate at which an air-fuel ratio is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Uhrich, Mario Santillo, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Stephen William Magner
  • Publication number: 20230212994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH3 or ceasing generation of NH3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen William Magner, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Michael Uhrich
  • Publication number: 20230212973
    Abstract: Methods and systems to control a temperature of a selective catalytic reduction catalyst are disclosed. In one example, a diverter valve that includes two butterfly valves that are coupled together via a shaft is adjusted to control a temperature at an inlet of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst so that the selective catalytic reduction catalyst may operate efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Uhrich, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 11686263
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH3 or ceasing generation of NH3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen William Magner, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Michael Uhrich
  • Patent number: 11674429
    Abstract: Methods and systems to control a temperature of a selective catalytic reduction catalyst are disclosed. In one example, a diverter valve that includes two butterfly valves that are coupled together via a shaft is adjusted to control a temperature at an inlet of the selective catalytic reduction catalyst so that the selective catalytic reduction catalyst may operate efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Uhrich, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 11603787
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH3 or ceasing generation of NH3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Michael Uhrich, Timothy R. Gernant, Giovanni Cavataio, Joseph Thomas
  • Patent number: 11428144
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include positioning an oxygen sensor in an engine exhaust downstream from a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, determining an oxygen storage capacity of the SCR catalyst based on a measurement of the oxygen sensor, and determining an extent of deactivation of the SCR catalyst based on the oxygen storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Giovanni Cavataio, Michael Uhrich, Jason Wu, Andrew Getsoian
  • Patent number: 11359568
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel system. In one example, a method includes comparing a resistance of a solenoid coil of a direct injector to a threshold resistance. The method further includes selecting one of a transient or a steady-state pressure-based injector balancing (PBIB) model in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Oshinsky, Mark Skilling, Ross Pursifull, Michael Uhrich, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220170400
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a gasoline urea selective catalytic reductant catalyst are described. In one example, an observer is provided that corrects an estimate of an amount of NH3 that is stored in a SCR. The amount of NH3 that is stored in the SCR is a basis for generating additional NH3 or ceasing generation of NH3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Michael Uhrich, Timothy R. Gernant, Giovanni Cavataio, Joseph Thomas
  • Patent number: 11346297
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for balancing a plurality of fuel injectors. In one example, a method includes adjusting direct injector parameters in response to a learned direct injector fueling error. The pulse-width supplied to the direct injectors is adjusted to balance cylinder fueling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Rani Kiwan, Paul Hollar, Joseph Thomas, David Oshinsky, Michael Uhrich
  • Patent number: 11319893
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for balancing injector fueling. In one example, a method includes learning portions of a transfer function shape by firing a plurality of injectors at PWs of a set of PWs following a reference injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Joseph Thomas, Michael Uhrich, David Oshinsky, Rani Kiwan
  • Publication number: 20220127995
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Giovanni Cavataio, Michael Uhrich, Jason Wu, Andrew Getsoian
  • Patent number: 11293372
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting fuel injector operation according to fuel pressure and electrical fuel injector signals are described. In one example, the fuel injector transfer function values are adjusted in a way that may lower a burden on fuel injector adaptation. The methods and systems described herein may be suitable for direct and port fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Michael Uhrich, David Oshinsky
  • Publication number: 20220099046
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting fuel injector operation according to fuel pressure and electrical fuel injector signals are described. In one example, the fuel injector transfer function values are adjusted in a way that may lower a burden on fuel injector adaptation. The methods and systems described herein may be suitable for direct and port fuel injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Michael Uhrich, David Oshinsky
  • Patent number: 11143135
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing errors in estimated fuel rail pressure incurred at the time of a scheduled injection event due to engine-driven cyclic fuel rail pressure changes. In one example, a pulse-width commanded during a scheduled injection event is determined as a function fuel rail pressure samples collected over a moving window that is customized for the corresponding fuel injector. In another example, the commanded pulse-width is determined as a function of an average fuel rail pressure sampled during a quiet zone of injector operation and predicted fuel rail pressure altering events occurring between the quiet zone and the scheduled injection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Thomas, David Oshinsky, Michael Uhrich, Paul Hollar
  • Patent number: 10947923
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for operating an engine that includes fuel injectors that supply fuel to cylinders of the engine. According to the methods and system, variation of individual fuel injection amounts injected by a sole fuel injector are determined so that it may be determined if individual fuel injector variation may be contributing to engine air-fuel ratio variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, Joseph Lyle Thomas, Michael Uhrich
  • Patent number: 10940753
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a fuel level of a fuel tank. In one example, a method may include transiently powering a fuel level sensor responsive to a fuel tank refilling event to obtain a fuel level measurement, maintaining the fuel level sensor unpowered after obtaining the fuel level measurement, and, while maintaining the fuel level sensor unpowered, inferring the fuel level based the obtained fuel tank fuel level measurement and an amount of fuel consumed since the obtained fuel level measurement. In this way, electrical power consumption by the fuel level sensor is reduced while a fuel level indication is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael Uhrich
  • Patent number: 10934955
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injector balancing without disabling a cam actuated high pressure fuel pump. In one example, one of a plurality of cam lobes of the pump is selectively and sequentially disabled while a group of injectors are concurrently operated to learn a pressure drop across each injector. The selection of the injectors is based on the identity and stroke timing of the disabled cam lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, David Oshinsky, Paul Hollar, Joseph Thomas, Michael Uhrich
  • Patent number: 10900436
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing errors in estimated fuel rail pressure incurred at the time of a scheduled injection event due to engine-driven cyclic fuel rail pressure changes. In one example, a pulse-width commanded during a scheduled injection event is determined as a function fuel rail pressure samples collected over a moving window that is customized for the corresponding fuel injector. In another example, the commanded pulse-width is determined as a function of an average fuel rail pressure sampled during a quiet zone of injector operation and predicted fuel rail pressure altering events occurring between the quiet zone and the scheduled injection event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Michael Uhrich, Joseph Thomas, Paul Hollar, David Oshinsky