Patents by Inventor Nicholas Herhusky

Nicholas Herhusky 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 system for diagnosing belt slip of an engine front end accessory drive
    Patent number: 10859016
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and mitigating belt slip of an engine front end accessory drive are described. In one example, three different signals are input to a weighted average filter to determine the presence or absence of belt slip so that quality of an indication of belt slip may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky
  • System and method for increasing catalyst temperature
    Patent number: 10836397
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine and a transmission to reduce a catalyst light off time are disclosed. In one example, clutches of a transmission are operated to provide a desired load to the engine so that engine combustion stability may be improved while supplying heat to a catalyst so that the catalyst light off time may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Adam Joseph Krach, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
  • System and method for waste-gate valve diagnostics
    Patent number: 10823092
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an exhaust waste-gate valve via an electric boost assist motor of an electric turbocharger. Degradation of the waste-gate valve is inferred based on the motor torque profile of the motor after commanding the waste-gate valve to an open or closed position on a torque transient. Deviation of the motor torque profile from the expected profile is used to infer if the valve is stuck open or closed, and actions are taken accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky, Timothy Stolzenfeld, Baitao Xiao
  • SOUND ENHANCING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200291908
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enhancing and delivering engine sounds to a vehicle cabin based on a selected mode. In one example, a method may include adjusting openings of one or more valves fluidically coupling one or more corresponding engine regions to a sound tube of a sound enhancing system based on the selected mode. Throttle opening may also be adjusted to compensate for air routed from the engine regions to the sound tube instead of flowing to the engine cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour, Hani Ayesh
  • Methods and system for reducing a possibility of spark plug fouling
    Patent number: 10760482
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, operation of the engine may be adjusted to compensate for conditions when carbon deposits may build on one or more engine spark plugs. The engine adjustments may help to remove carbon deposits from the engine's spark plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Herhusky, Scott Steadmon Thompson, John Eric Rollinger, David Lew
  • Methods and systems for engine idle stop
    Patent number: 10745013
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine idle-stop based on operation of an on-board generator. In one example, during operation of the generator to power an external load, a method may include inhibiting engine shut-down based on input from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Herhusky, Scott Steadmon Thompson, John Eric Rollinger, Vincent Martinez
  • VARIABLE INLET COMPRESSOR DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20200240330
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an actuator of a variable inlet compressor coupled in an electric turbocharger. During torque transitions, an electrical power consumption of an electric boost assist motor is observed and used to infer an actual compressor speed and pressure ratio across the compressor. By comparing the measured pressure ratio to a compressor map, it may be determined if the actuator is stuck open or stuck closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Nicholas Herhusky, Michael Bastanipour
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WASTE-GATE VALVE DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20200240334
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an exhaust waste-gate valve via an electric boost assist motor of an electric turbocharger. Degradation of the waste-gate valve is inferred based on the motor torque profile of the motor after commanding the waste-gate valve to an open or closed position on a torque transient. Deviation of the motor torque profile from the expected profile is used to infer if the valve is stuck open or closed, and actions are taken accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky, Timothy Stolzenfeld, Baitao Xiao
  • Method and system for controlling engine torque reserve
    Patent number: 10718259
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing torque reserve via an electrically assisted turbocharger. A portion of requested torque reserve is provided by intentionally reducing turbine speed of an electric turbocharger by operating the associated electric motor as a generator. The resulting reduction in air mass allows for the torque reserve to be provided with reduced reliance on spark and throttle based torque reserve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky, Adam Richards
  • METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR DIAGNOSING BELT SLIP OF AN ENGINE FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE
    Publication number: 20200217257
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and mitigating belt slip of an engine front end accessory drive are described. In one example, three different signals are input to a weighted average filter to determine the presence or absence of belt slip so that quality of an indication of belt slip may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: M. Scott Christensen, Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE TORQUE RESERVE
    Publication number: 20200123965
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for providing torque reserve via an electrically assisted turbocharger. A portion of requested torque reserve is provided by intentionally reducing turbine speed of an electric turbocharger by operating the associated electric motor as a generator. The resulting reduction in air mass allows for the torque reserve to be provided with reduced reliance on spark and throttle based torque reserve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Bastanipour, Nicholas Herhusky, Adam Richards