Patents by Inventor Nate Trask
Nate Trask 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).
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Patent number: 8763582Abstract: A method for controlling an engine during a start is presented. In one example, the method includes direct starting an engine with a port fuel injector. The method can improve engine starting during some conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2006Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Donald J. Lewis, Nate Trask, Vince Winstead
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Patent number: 8249795Abstract: A method for detection of emissions levels during extended engine speed controlled operation is provided. The method includes monitoring mass airflow passing through the engine while operating the engine. The method further includes adjusting mass airflow responsive to engine speed to maintain a desired engine speed. The method further includes shutting down the engine when engine mass airflow becomes higher than a predetermined mass airflow threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2011Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Bala Chander, Nate Trask, Shane Elwart, Stephen B. Smith
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Patent number: 8245691Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Publication number: 20120145124Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Patent number: 8181629Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Patent number: 8118008Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Publication number: 20120017870Abstract: A method for detection of emissions levels during extended engine speed controlled operation is provided. The method includes monitoring mass airflow passing through the engine while operating the engine. The method further includes adjusting mass airflow responsive to engine speed to maintain a desired engine speed. The method further includes shutting down the engine when engine mass airflow becomes higher than a predetermined mass airflow threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Bala Chander, Nate Trask, Shane Elwart, Stephen B. Smith
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Publication number: 20110288713Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Patent number: 8032291Abstract: A method for detection of emissions levels during extended engine speed controlled operation is provided. The method includes monitoring mass airflow passing through the engine while operating the engine. The method further includes adjusting mass airflow responsive to engine speed to maintain a desired engine speed. The method further includes shutting down the engine when engine mass airflow becomes higher than a predetermined mass airflow threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Bala Chander, Nate Trask, Shane Elwart, Stephen B. Smith
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Publication number: 20110226215Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Patent number: 7997252Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Patent number: 7950368Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Patent number: 7930087Abstract: A method of operating an engine for a vehicle having at least a first cylinder, the method comprising of operating the first cylinder to provide at least one of compression braking and expansion braking by holding one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of the first cylinder closed while opening, closing, and opening the other of the intake valve and the exhaust valve during a cycle of the first cylinder and during a first vacuum level of an intake manifold upstream of the first cylinder; and operating the first cylinder to provide at least one of compression braking and expansion braking by operating both the intake valve and the exhaust valve of the first cylinder during a cycle of the first cylinder to allow at least some air to flow through the first cylinder during a second vacuum level of the intake manifold.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alex Gibson, Nate Trask, Dennis Reed, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
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Patent number: 7865290Abstract: A system for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine with electromagnetic valve actuation, comprising of at least one cylinder with an engine cylinder valve, a second controller operably coupled to the engine cylinder valve, said second controller configured to adjust at least one of the valve opening and closing timing of the engine cylinder valve, and a first controller connected with the second controller over a first link and a second link, wherein the first controller is configured to send an engine position indication signal to the second controller over the first link and receive a status signal from the second controller over the second link, and wherein the first controller outputs a synchronization degradation signal responsive to a synchronization error between the engine position indication signal and the status signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Donald Lewis, Nate Trask, Brian C. Moorhead, Vincent J. Winstead
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Publication number: 20100282208Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Patent number: 7762232Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Publication number: 20100174468Abstract: A method for detection of emissions levels during extended engine speed controlled operation is provided. The method includes monitoring mass airflow passing through the engine while operating the engine. The method further includes adjusting mass airflow responsive to engine speed to maintain a desired engine speed. The method further includes shutting down the engine when engine mass airflow becomes higher than a predetermined mass airflow threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Bala Chander, Nate Trask, Shane Elwart, Stephen B. Smith
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Patent number: 7748355Abstract: A method of transitioning a cylinder of an engine from a spark ignition mode to a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, the cylinder having at least one electrically actuated intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, the method comprising of before a transition, operating the cylinder with at least some overlap between an opening event of the intake valve and an opening event of the exhaust valve in the spark ignition mode; in response to a transition request, operating the cylinder with at least some negative overlap between an opening event of the intake valve and an opening event of the exhaust valve, retarding the intake valve opening and closing timing by different amounts and retarding ignition timing; and further increasing negative overlap and performing the homogeneous charge compression ignition mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Megli, Nate Trask, Donald J. Lewis
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Publication number: 20100108031Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The method comprises: during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to before a peak torque timing, and retarding spark timing from the advanced timing toward the peak torque timing in response to decreased engine speed to maintain idling speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask
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Publication number: 20100108032Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle engine having a plurality of cylinders and an electric motor configured to rotate the engine is provided. The method includes, during engine idling, advancing spark timing of at least one cylinder to substantially before a peak torque timing. The method further includes adjusting motor torque output of the electric motor to maintain engine idle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Gopichandra Surnilla, Nate Trask