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).

  • Methods and systems for individual cylinder fuel-air ratio adaptation
    Patent number: 12662974
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining normalized fuel-air ratio error for a cylinder of an engine an engine are disclosed. In one example, the engine is operated in a four-cylinder mode to generate a first normalized fuel-air ratio error for a first cylinder and operated in an eight-cylinder mode to generate a second normalized fuel-air ratio error for a second cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Michael Uhrich, Chris Paul Glugla, Kenneth John Behr
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIAGNOSING FOUR OXYGEN SENSOR SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20260168456
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating operation of a plurality of upstream and downstream oxygen sensors are disclosed. In one example, the air to fuel patterns may be arranged in an order to reduce an amount of time it takes to evaluate upstream and downstream oxygen sensors. The oxygen sensor evaluation may be suitable to detect sensor miswiring and sensor degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Yusef Sadat-Hossieny, Chris Paul Glugla, Kenneth John Behr, Michael Uhrich
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CYLINDER FUEL-AIR RATIO ADAPTATION
    Publication number: 20260078712
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining normalized fuel-air ratio error for a cylinder of an engine an engine are disclosed. In one example, the engine is operated in a four-cylinder mode to generate a first normalized fuel-air ratio error for a first cylinder and operated in an eight-cylinder mode to generate a second normalized fuel-air ratio error for a second cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Michael Uhrich, Chris Paul Glugla, Kenneth John Behr
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO COMPENSATE FOR OXYGEN SENSOR BIAS
    Publication number: 20260043367
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuel that is supplied to cylinders of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, oxygen sensors are placed in an exhaust system of an engine such that each oxygen sensor may detect exhaust gas from a pair of engine cylinders. The oxygen sensors may then provide feedback to coupled and decoupled fuel controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Stephen W. Magner, Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Uhrich
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR V8 ENGINE FUEL CONTROL
    Publication number: 20260036097
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuel that is supplied to cylinders of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, oxygen sensors are placed in an exhaust system of an engine such that each oxygen sensor may detect exhaust gas from a pair of engine cylinders. The oxygen sensors may then provide feedback to coupled and decoupled fuel controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2024
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Stephen W. Magner, Michael Uhrich, Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Calvin McKinney, Stephen Lee Cooper
  • Methods and systems for V8 engine fuel control
    Patent number: 12540583
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fuel that is supplied to cylinders of an internal combustion engine are described. In one example, oxygen sensors are placed in an exhaust system of an engine such that each oxygen sensor may detect exhaust gas from a pair of engine cylinders. The oxygen sensors may then provide feedback to coupled and decoupled fuel controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Stephen W. Magner, Michael Uhrich, Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Calvin McKinney, Stephen Lee Cooper
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXHAUST GAS SENSOR MONITORING
    Publication number: 20250250948
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust in an engine is provided. The method includes entering into a variable displacement engine (VDE) mode wherein intake and exhaust valves of a first subset of cylinders of the engine are activated and intake and exhaust valves of a second subset of cylinders of the engine are deactivated prior to a reduced traction fuel shut-off transition; and executing a six-pattern diagnostic during fuel shut-off to identify exhaust gas sensor degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Uhrich, Rani Kiwan, Chris Paul Glugla
  • Methods and systems for verifying oxygen sensor connections
    Patent number: 12234784
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and compensating miswiring of oxygen sensors of a cylinder bank of an engine are disclosed. In one example, fuel control parameters are monitored to determine whether or not the fuel control parameters diverge to fuel control thresholds. If so, a controller may switch which cylinder's equivalence ratios are adjusted in response to output of a particular oxygen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Uhrich
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AIR-FUEL RATIO IMBALANCE MONITOR
    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
  • Systems and methods for air-fuel ratio imbalance monitor
    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
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SCR TEMPERATURE
    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
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTANT CATALYST OF A GASOLINE ENGINE
    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
  • Methods and systems for controlling selective catalytic reductant catalyst of a gasoline engine
    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
  • Method and system for controlling SCR temperature
    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
  • Methods and system for controlling selective catalytic reductant catalyst of a gasoline engine
    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
  • Engine emmissions control methods and systems
    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
  • Methods and systems for fuel injection control
    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
  • METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTANT CATALYST OF A GASOLINE ENGINE
    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
  • Methods and systems for improving fuel injection repeatability
    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
  • Methods and systems for improving fuel injection repeatability
    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