Patents by Inventor Robert Roy Jentz

Robert Roy Jentz 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: 11840248
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain of an autonomous vehicle is described. In one example, the autonomous driver may supply a torque request and a torque or power urgency assessment to a powertrain controller. The powertrain controller may monitor vehicle control system parameters based on the driver demand torque and the torque or power urgency assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Steadmon Thompson, Robert Roy Jentz, David Hancock
  • Patent number: 11657655
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive one or more parameters of a vehicle condition to be monitored, allocate an unreserved parameter identifier to each of the parameters, assign respective memory spaces to each of the allocated unreserved parameter identifiers, and store the parameters in the memory spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 11551489
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a coolant system. In one example, a method may include diagnosing a condition of a pump of the coolant system based on a temperature change of coolant. The diagnostic may determine if the pump is stuck on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sitaram Rejeti, Adam Krach, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 11527113
    Abstract: A system comprises a processor that is programmed to define a plurality of vehicle groups based on vehicle specification data and define a plurality of sub-groups for each of the vehicle groups based on environmental data and sensor data received from each of a plurality of vehicles. The processor is programmed to adjust fuel tank leak detection classifiers for the sub-groups based on ground truth data. The ground truth data include, for each of the plurality of vehicles, a leak detection status and a leak test result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fling Finn Tseng, Imad Hassan Makki, Aed M. Dudar, Medville Jay Throop, Brian David Tillman, Dimitar Petrov Filev, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 11423709
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for updating an in-use monitoring performance (IUMP) based on operation of an auxiliary device. In one example, a method may include using an engine model to estimate a duration in which a diagnostic routine is not completed due to operation of an auxiliary device driven by an engine and selectively updating the IUMP ratio based on a comparison of the duration to a minimum time duration needed for completion of the diagnostic routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Steadmon Thompson, Robert Roy Jentz, Nicholas Herhusky
  • Patent number: 11413951
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle coolant circuit. In one example, the coolant circuit includes a heater core isolation valve (HCIV) where a status of the HCIV may be diagnosed by intrusively activating a positive temperature coefficient heater in a cooling loop in which the HCIV is arranged. A response of coolant temperature to heater activation may be used to determine a position of the HCIV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sridhar Kalivarapu, Robert Roy Jentz, Athira Vilson, Herbert Thomas Meissner, Sitaram Rejeti
  • Patent number: 11401882
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a status of a heater core isolation valve (HCIV) housing in an engine coolant circuit including a first coolant loop and a second coolant loop. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of the HCIV based on a difference between a first coolant loop temperature and a second coolant loop temperature upon activation of coolant system pumps and deactivation of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater housed in the cabin heating loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sitaram Rejeti, Robert Roy Jentz, Sridhar Kalivarapu
  • Publication number: 20220157086
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to receive one or more parameters of a vehicle condition to be monitored, allocate an unreserved parameter identifier to each of the parameters, assign respective memory spaces to each of the allocated unreserved parameter identifiers, and store the parameters in the memory spaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 11306631
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing a state of a vent hose that fluidically couples a crankcase of an engine to an engine air intake system. In one example, a method may include sealing the crankcase from the vent hose, initiating cranking of the engine, monitoring a series of pressure pulsations during a monitoring window duration via a pressure sensor positioned between a crankcase oil separator and the vent hose, and indicating a presence of degradation associated with the vent hose based on the series of pressure pulsations and the monitoring window duration. In this way, diagnosis of a state of the vent hose may be reliably assessed without crankcase pressures confounding pressure measurements as recorded via the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy, Adam Joseph Krach
  • Patent number: 11215532
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an EGR system reverse hose diagnostic. In one example, a method includes executing the reverse hose diagnostic in response to an EGR flowrate exceeding a threshold flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Robert Roy Jentz, Herbert Thomas Meissner
  • Publication number: 20210341356
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an EGR system reverse hose diagnostic. In one example, a method includes executing the reverse hose diagnostic in response to an EGR flowrate exceeding a threshold flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Robert Roy Jentz, Herbert Thomas Meissner
  • Publication number: 20210285348
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing a state of a vent hose that fluidically couples a crankcase of an engine to an engine air intake system. In one example, a method may include sealing the crankcase from the vent hose, initiating cranking of the engine, monitoring a series of pressure pulsations during a monitoring window duration via a pressure sensor positioned between a crankcase oil separator and the vent hose, and indicating a presence of degradation associated with the vent hose based on the series of pressure pulsations and the monitoring window duration. In this way, diagnosis of a state of the vent hose may be reliably assessed without crankcase pressures confounding pressure measurements as recorded via the pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Matthew Carpenter, Michael Stephen Sweppy, Adam Joseph Krach
  • Patent number: 11053823
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a heat exchanger phase change material installed as a component of a variable exhaust tuning system. In one example, a method may include absorbing excess heat energy from exhaust gases during and after an engine-on event within a heat exchanger material, releasing heat energy stored in the heat exchanger material during and after an engine-off event, and heating an adjustable exhaust valve with the heat energy stored in the heat exchanger material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, Sanyam Sharma, Sumanth Dadam
  • Patent number: 11015511
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an active exhaust valve in an exhaust system based on thermal data. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of a first active exhaust valve positioned in a first exhaust pipe of a first engine bank based on a difference between a first temperature of exhaust downstream of the first active exhaust valve and a second temperature of exhaust downstream of a second active exhaust valve positioned in a second exhaust pipe of a second engine bank. Degradation of the valve may be confirmed based on thermal image data acquired at outlets of the first and second exhaust pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vinod Kumar Ravi, Sumanth Dadam, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 10968853
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for learning fuel injector error for cylinder groups during a deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO), where all cylinders of an engine are deactivated, sequentially firing each cylinder of a cylinder group, each cylinder fueled via consecutive first and second fuel pulses of differing fuel pulse width from an injector. Based on a lambda deviation between the first and second pulses, a fuel error for the injector and an air-fuel ratio imbalance for each cylinder is learned. Alternatively or additionally, a difference in crankshaft acceleration between the first and second pulses relative to the expected deviation may be used to learn torque error, and adjust fuel injector error and air-ratio imbalance for each cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Imad Hassan Makki, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Hassene Jammoussi, Robert Roy Jentz, Michael Igor Kluzner, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 10961884
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle that includes an exhaust gas heat recovery device having an exhaust heat recovery device valve that may be selectively opened and closed. In one example, a method may include storing heat from exhaust gases in a phase changing material and releasing the stored heat to surroundings of an exhaust heat recovery device valve to reduce a possibility of the exhaust heat recovery device valve sticking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Robert Roy Jentz, Sanyam Sharma, Sitaram Rejeti
  • Patent number: 10955278
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle, comprising: indicating a true fill level of a fuel tank based on a fuel vapor canister temperature profile during a refueling event. In this way, a quantity fuel dispensed over the maximum fill level of the fuel tank may be accounted for, regardless of the fuel level sensor reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Damien Baldwin, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Publication number: 20210070315
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain of an autonomous vehicle is described. In one example, the autonomous driver may supply a torque request and a torque or power urgency assessment to a powertrain controller. The powertrain controller may monitor vehicle control system parameters based on the driver demand torque and the torque or power urgency assessment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Scott Steadmon Thompson, Robert Roy Jentz, David Hancock
  • Patent number: 10928275
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving completion rates for engine system diagnostics for hybrid electric vehicles. In one example, a method may include in response to fueling of the engine of a hybrid electric vehicle being discontinued, establishing an air flow from an intake to an exhaust of the engine by relying on an electric motor to rotate the engine unfueled, and conducting a plurality of diagnostic monitors that rely on the air flow prior to reactivation of fueling of the engine. In this way, diagnostic monitor completion rates may be improved for hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel economy may be improved by coordinating the plurality of diagnostic monitors to be conducted during times when the engine is not fueled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sumanth Reddy Dadam, Robert Roy Jentz, Adam Joseph Krach, Douglas Raymond Martin, Allen Lehmen, Rohit Bhat, John Eric Rollinger
  • Patent number: 10927782
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a dual function imaging device. In one example, a method may comprise imaging exhaust gas outside of a reverse engine condition via the imaging device. The imaging device may image a surrounding area during the reverse engine condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz, Luke DiBussolo