Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Smith

Stephen B. Smith 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: 9897027
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating an impact of PCV hydrocarbons on an output of an intake oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include disabling EGR flow when the impact of PCV hydrocarbons on the output of the intake oxygen sensor is above a threshold. The impact of the PCV hydrocarbons on the output of the intake oxygen sensor may be based on a difference between the output of the intake oxygen sensor and a DPOV sensor when EGR is flow and a difference between the output of the intake oxygen sensor and expected blow-by when EGR is not flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, James Alfred Hilditch, Stephen B. Smith, Michael Howard Shelby, Todd Anthony Rumpsa, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Publication number: 20180038319
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a location for water injection during a water injection event based on engine operating conditions. In one example, a method may include selecting a location for water injection from each of an intake port of each cylinder, an intake manifold upstream of all engine cylinders, and directly into each cylinder based on engine operating conditions. Further, the method may include adjusting water injection at the selected location and engine operating parameters in response the evaporated and/or condensed portion of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen B. Smith, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Publication number: 20180036849
    Abstract: This invention provides a guide for use with cutting power tools such as routers, circular saws, rotary cutters and the like. The invention provides a secure path along which a power tool can be used. The invention provides a device that is securely held against a surface by either user pressure or suction pressure and maintains its position along the surface to be cut. The invention can be configured to provide for varying cutting tools and differing attachments that are on the cutting tool and would be slid along the invention to effectuate a cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180038294
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operation based on estimated vaporized and condensed portions of water injected during a water injection event. In one example, a method may include injecting an amount of water into the intake manifold in response to engine conditions and inferring vaporized and condensed portions of the injected water based on the injected amount and a change in manifold temperature following the injection. Further, the method may include adjusting water injection and engine operating parameters in response the evaporated and/or condensed portion of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9874163
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting engine operation based on estimated vaporized and condensed portions of water injected during a water injection event. In one example, a method may include injecting an amount of water into the intake manifold in response to engine conditions and inferring vaporized and condensed portions of the injected water based on the injected amount and a change in manifold temperature following the injection. Further, the method may include adjusting water injection and engine operating parameters in response the evaporated and/or condensed portion of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Gopichandra Surnilla, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9863909
    Abstract: Various methods for operating an oxygen sensor are provided. In one example, a method of operating an oxygen sensor comprises applying power to a heater of the oxygen sensor, and indicating whether water is in contact with the oxygen sensor based on a time rate of change of a temperature of the oxygen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mcquillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170356380
    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: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Imad Hassan Makki, Adithya Pravarun Re Ranga, Hassene Jammoussi, Robert Roy Jentz, Michael Igor Kluzner, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9831605
    Abstract: Electrical connector assemblies are provided that include electrical connectors having electrical contacts that have receptacle mating ends are provided. The connector housings of the provided electrical connectors include alignment members that are capable of performing staged alignment of components of the electrical connector assemblies. The provided electrical connector assemblies and the electrical connectors provided therein are capable of operating at a data transfer rate of forty gigabits per second with worst case multi-active cross talk that does not exceed a range of about two percent to about four percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Buck, Stuart C. Stoner, Steven E. Minich, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stephen B. Smith, Arkady Y. Zerebilov, Deborah A. Ingram, Hung-Wei Lord, Robert Douglas Fulton
  • Patent number: 9803570
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an engine during conditions where ambient humidity changes over time are presented. In one non-limiting example, an engine air flow limit is adjusted to increase engine air flow during high humidity conditions such that an engine may provide equivalent torque output during the high humidity conditions as compared to when the engine is operated during low humidity conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Michael Howard Shelby, Stephen B. Smith, Mohannad Hakeem
  • Publication number: 20170298852
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting heater power of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method for an engine includes adjusting heater power of a heating element of the oxygen sensor when the heater power increases by a threshold amount. The method includes subsequently increasing heater power back to a baseline power level responsive to a temperature of the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9719448
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting heater power of an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method for an engine includes adjusting heater power of a heating element of the oxygen sensor when the heater power increases by a threshold amount. The method includes subsequently increasing heater power back to a baseline power level responsive to a temperature of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael McQuillen, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170211495
    Abstract: A method for an engine may comprise, responsive to a first condition comprising a reference voltage of a first exhaust oxygen sensor operating in variable voltage mode increasing above a threshold voltage, determining a change in an output of the first exhaust oxygen sensor corresponding to the increase in the reference voltage, correcting the output of the first oxygen sensor based on the output change, and adjusting engine operation based on the corrected output. In this way, the accuracy of air-fuel estimates based on the exhaust gas sensor can be preserved, and closed loop fuel control of the engine can be maintained even when the exhaust oxygen sensor is operating VVS mode, thereby reducing engine emissions, increasing fuel economy, and increasing vehicle drivability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Lyth Alobiedat, Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Mohannad Hakeem, Richard E. Soltis, Michael McQuillen, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9682347
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polymer dissolution system comprising a mix tank, a strainer, and a pump. The mix tank is configured to receive polymers, water, and an inlet stream, to form a polymer solution including swollen polymers, and to discharge the polymer solution. The strainer is configured to receive the polymer solution, and to withdraw at least a portion of the swollen polymers therethrough substantially without shear degradation, thereby forming a resultant solution, wherein the swollen polymers are dissolved at least in part. The pump is configured to receive the resultant solution, and to return the resultant solution to the inlet stream. In some embodiments, the strainer and the pump cooperate together to maintain a viscosity of the resultant solution substantially within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Mayur Patel, Jeffrey R. Cramm, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9664132
    Abstract: Various methods are provided for operating an oxygen sensor. In one example, a method of operating an oxygen sensor including a heater comprises sampling a first heater resistance at a first temperature, and determining a resistance-temperature transfer function relating heater resistance to heater temperature based on the first heater resistance and a second heater resistance at a second temperature, the second temperature different from the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael McQuillen, Gopichandra Surnilla, Richard E. Soltis, Daniel A. Makled, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9664594
    Abstract: Various method for operating an engine responsive to transmission shifts under non-fueling conditions are provided. In one example, a method of operating an internal combustion engine comprises deactivating at least one engine cylinder, performing a diagnostic while the at least one engine cylinder is deactivated and while the engine is operating under high load, predicting a transmission shift, and responsive to the predicted transmission shift, reducing engine load below the high load and terminating the diagnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Makled, Gopichandra Surnilla, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Brian Shu, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 9664133
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a reference voltage for an intake manifold oxygen sensor based on ingestion of hydrocarbons from a fuel system canister and/or an engine crankcase. During conditions when purge or crankcase ventilation hydrocarbons are ingested in the intake aircharge, the intake oxygen sensor is transitioned from operating at a lower reference voltage to a higher reference voltage where the effects of the ingested hydrocarbons on the sensor output are nullified. An EGR dilution of the intake aircharge is estimated based on the output of the sensor at the higher reference voltage while an amount of hydrocarbons ingested is estimated based on a difference between sensor outputs at the higher and lower reference voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Daniel A. Makled, Richard E. Soltis, Stephen B. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170135855
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to warming systems and methods of using such warming systems. The warming systems include a heating pad and a controller. The heating pad includes a pouch having a substrate contained therein and a heating element disposed on the substrate. The heating element may include conductive ink, it may be a polymeric sheet doped with one or more metals, or it may be a fabric impregnated with one or more metals. The heating pad may also include thermocouples, pressure sensors, and temperature change sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: VITAHEAT MEDICAL, LLC
    Inventors: Ann C. Stefan, Stephen B. Smith, Victor J. Orler, James T. Gaffney, William T. Renwick, Robin A. Wedell, David K. Mezera, Stephen D. Dunlap, James A. Medsker
  • Patent number: 9583895
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of leadframe assembly, each having a leadframe housing and a plurality of contacts carried by the leadframe housing. The electrical connector includes at least one unassigned electrical contact that includes a resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Buck, Dana J. Bergey, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: D785571
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Buck, Stuart C. Stoner, Steven E. Minich, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: D790471
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Buck, Stuart C. Stoner, Steven E. Minich, Douglas M. Johnescu, Stephen B. Smith