Patents by Inventor Patrick Edward Smithberger

Patrick Edward Smithberger 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).

  • Patent number: 11965472
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal correlated with an air-fuel ratio of first and second cylinders of the plurality of cylinders, and a controller in communication with the sensor and programmed to monitor the air-fuel ratio of the first cylinder in response to an indication that air-fuel ratio measurements of the first cylinder satisfy predetermined criteria for current engine operating conditions while air-fuel ratio measurements of the second cylinder do not satisfy the predetermined criteria for the current engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rani Kiwan, Sitaram Rejeti, Adam Joseph Krach, Andrew Bagnasco, Patrick Edward Smithberger
  • Publication number: 20230399989
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for EGR valve diagnostic. In one example, a method includes providing a correction to a position of the EGR valve to compensate for an altitude of the vehicle. The compensation is based on a comparison of a pressure ratio to a curve rationalized with a barometric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Jose Francisco Martinez Leyva, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Adam Krach, Edward Doemer
  • Patent number: 11725612
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether or not a temperature sensor is degraded are presented. In one example, a determination of degradation of the temperature sensor is based on a difference between a temperature determined from output of the temperature sensor and an estimate of a temperature of a pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Krach, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Kirk Pulay, Edward Doemer
  • Patent number: 11661899
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) components including an EGR pressure sensor. In one example, a method for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of a vehicle comprises diagnosing an excessive EGR flow rate via an MAP-MAF strategy, the MAP-MAF strategy including estimating an EGR flow rate based on a difference between an output of a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor of the vehicle and an output of a mass airflow (MAF) sensor of the vehicle; and in response to stable intrusive conditions being met, intrusively commanding an EGR valve of the EGR system to a closed position to confirm the diagnosed excessive EGR flow rate. If the excessive flow is detected after the EGR valve is commanded to the closed position, a diagnostic code may be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Doemer, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Adam Krach, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Bill Courtney
  • Patent number: 11603811
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) components including an EGR pressure sensor. In one example, a method may include comparing a current relationship between an output of the EGR pressure sensor and a manifold air pressure (MAP) and a pre-calibrated relation between the output of the EGR pressure sensor and the MAP to detect degradation of the EGR pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jentz, Edward Doemer, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Sitaram Rejeti, Adam Krach, Dave Hagner
  • Publication number: 20220372937
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnostics of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) components including an EGR pressure sensor. In one example, a method may include comparing a current relationship between an output of the EGR pressure sensor and a manifold air pressure (MAP) and a pre-calibrated relation between the output of the EGR pressure sensor and the MAP to detect degradation of the EGR pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Jentz, Edward Doemer, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Sitaram Rejeti, Adam Krach, Dave Hagner
  • Patent number: 11459964
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system. In one example, the high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system comprises pressure seconds arranged on different sides of a valve. The pressure sensors are used to regulate exhaust-gas recirculate flow without a fixed orifice delta pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dave Hagner, Sumanth Dadam, Sitaram Rejeti, Edward Doemer, Robert Jentz, Patrick Edward Smithberger
  • Publication number: 20220178319
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system. In one example, the high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system comprises pressure seconds arranged on different sides of a valve. The pressure sensors are used to regulate exhaust-gas recirculate flow without a fixed orifice delta pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Dave Hagner, Sumanth Dadam, Sitaram Rejeti, Edward Doemer, Robert Jentz, Patrick Edward Smithberger
  • Patent number: 5781877
    Abstract: A method (42) is disclosed for detecting the usage of a heater (31) in a block (30) of an internal combustion engine (11). The method (42) uses temperature measurements of the engine coolant and any ambient air used to create the air/fuel mixture. Based on the difference between the temperatures, the temperatures are weighted and added to create a temperature variable. The temperature variable is used by the electronic engine control module (34) to create an air/fuel mixture which will allow the internal combustion engine (11) to start smoothly. The method (42) operates on this modified temperature; i.e., the temperature variable, which is not the temperature of the engine coolant, nor the ambient air, and allows for the stoichiometric balance of the air/fuel mixture to be modified to optimize performance of the internal combustion engine (11) during a cold start in cold weather with warm engine coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Leonard Rachel, Patrick Edward Smithberger, Scott Richard Hughes, Michael John Cullen, Robert Matthew Marzonie