Patents by Inventor Stuart N. Ford
Stuart N. Ford 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: 11787412Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) limits for a vehicle based on an occupancy level of the vehicle. The occupancy level is inferred based on a number of occupants and their position within a vehicle, and further based on a degree of interaction of a primary occupant with vehicle controls. As the occupancy level decreases, NVH constraints for operating the vehicle are reduced and one or more vehicle operating parameters nay be based on the reduced NVH constraints.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart N. Ford, Adam Nathan Banker
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Patent number: 11628818Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission with a torque converter clutch is described. In one example, the method includes predicting a time that the torque converter clutch will open so that stopping rotation of the engine may be requested before the torque converter clutch is opened. The stopping rotation of the engine is requested to conserve fuel.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yanan Zhao, Christopher John Teslak, Stuart N. Ford, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Judhajit Roy, Chenliu Stephen Lu, Girish Gokul Chennupalli
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Publication number: 20220009473Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission with a torque converter clutch is described. In one example, the method includes predicting a time that the torque converter clutch will open so that stopping rotation of the engine may be requested before the torque converter clutch is opened. The stopping rotation of the engine is requested to conserve fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Christopher John Teslak, Stuart N. Ford, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Judhajit Roy, Chenliu Stephen Lu, Girish Gokul Chennupalli
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Publication number: 20210370947Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) limits for a vehicle based on an occupancy level of the vehicle. The occupancy level is inferred based on a number of occupants and their position within a vehicle, and further based on a degree of interaction of a primary occupant with vehicle controls. As the occupancy level decreases, NVH constraints for operating the vehicle are reduced and one or more vehicle operating parameters nay be based on the reduced NVH constraints.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Stuart N. Ford, Adam Nathan Banker
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Patent number: 11142207Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) limits for a vehicle based on an occupancy level of the vehicle. The occupancy level is inferred based on a number of occupants and their position within a vehicle, and further based on a degree of interaction of a primary occupant with vehicle controls. As the occupancy level decreases, NVH constraints for operating the vehicle are reduced and one or more vehicle operating parameters nay be based on the reduced NVH constraints.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stuart N. Ford, Adam Nathan Banker
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Patent number: 10994734Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission and a torque converter are described. In one example, vehicle launch is controlled according to a linear quadratic regulator that provides feedback control according to torque converter slip error and vehicle speed error. The vehicle launch is also controlled according to feed forward control that is based on requested torque converter slip and requested vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Weitian Chen, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Stuart N. Ford, Qi Wang, Hong Jiang
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Patent number: 10920705Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reduction of VDE harmonics and improvement in the phase alignment of powertrain sensor signals that are asynchronously tasked. In one example, torque converter slip control is improved in a variable displacement engine by processing a raw torque converter turbine speed signal with a moving average filtered engine speed signal. By determining an actual delay between the sampled signals and adjusting a downstream filter parameter, a desired delay can be provided between the samples to align the phases and reduce the signal harmonics.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Bradley Dean Riedle, Stuart N. Ford
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Publication number: 20200392916Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reduction of VDE harmonics and improvement in the phase alignment of powertrain sensor signals that are asynchronously tasked. In one example, torque converter slip control is improved in a variable displacement engine by processing a raw torque converter turbine speed signal with a moving average filtered engine speed signal. By determining an actual delay between the sampled signals and adjusting a downstream filter parameter, a desired delay can be provided between the samples to align the phases and reduce the signal harmonics.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Bradley Dean Riedle, Stuart N. Ford
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Publication number: 20200385000Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission and a torque converter are described. In one example, vehicle launch is controlled according to a linear quadratic regulator that provides feedback control according to torque converter slip error and vehicle speed error. The vehicle launch is also controlled according to feed forward control that is based on requested torque converter slip and requested vehicle speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Weitian Chen, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Stuart N. Ford, Qi Wang, Hong Jiang
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Patent number: 10746291Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, responsive to a command to launch the vehicle and while the vehicle is in a first gear, determining, at a controller, a feedforward component including a target engine torque and a target bypass clutch torque, and a feedback component that is based on an error between the target converter slip and a measured converter slip and between the target wheel torque and a measured wheel torque. The method further includes changing a commanded engine torque and a commanded bypass clutch torque based on the feedforward component and the feedback component.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Yang Xu, Weitian Chen, Stuart N. Ford, Zhengyu Dai, Qi Wang, Hong Jiang
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Publication number: 20200232557Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes, responsive to a command to launch the vehicle and while the vehicle is in a first gear, determining, at a controller, a feedforward component including a target engine torque and a target bypass clutch torque, and a feedback component that is based on an error between the target converter slip and a measured converter slip and between the target wheel torque and a measured wheel torque. The method further includes changing a commanded engine torque and a commanded bypass clutch torque based on the feedforward component and the feedback component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Yang XU, Weitian CHEN, Stuart N. FORD, Zhengyu DAI, Qi WANG, Hong JIANG
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Patent number: 10625730Abstract: A vehicle includes a disconnect clutch selectively coupling an engine and an electric machine. The vehicle further includes a mechanical pump driven by the electric machine and operable to pressurize fluid for the clutch. The vehicle includes a controller programmed to, in response to the electric machine being inoperable, activate an auxiliary starter to start the engine, activate an electric pump operable to pressurize fluid to the clutch, and operate the engine to drive the mechanical pump.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2017Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Todd McCullough, Scott James Thompson, Stuart N. Ford, Minku Lee
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Publication number: 20200010089Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) limits for a vehicle based on an occupancy level of the vehicle. The occupancy level is inferred based on a number of occupants and their position within a vehicle, and further based on a degree of interaction of a primary occupant with vehicle controls. As the occupancy level decreases, NVH constraints for operating the vehicle are reduced and one or more vehicle operating parameters nay be based on the reduced NVH constraints.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Stuart N. Ford, Adam Nathan Banker
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Patent number: 10451125Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission and a controller. The transmission has clutches that are configured to establish multiple speed ratios, including a first clutch. The first clutch has a measured drag torque distribution. The measured drag torque distribution has a median and a standard deviation. The controller is programmed to increase a pressure at a rate to engage the first clutch and to increase the rate in response to a measured first clutch torque exceeding the median by a predetermined multiple of the standard deviation.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gregory Michael Pietron, Qi Wang, Yuji Fujii, Rohit Hippalgaonkar, Joseph F. Kucharski, Jason Meyer, Stuart N. Ford
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Patent number: 10393258Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain includes a transmission torque converter having a bypass clutch disposed between an electric machine and a drive wheel. The controller is programmed to adjust a closed-state torque capacity of the bypass clutch according and in proportion to the greater in absolute value of a negative impeller torque command to the torque converter and a negative regenerative braking torque request.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yanan Zhao, Bernard D. Nefcy, Stuart N. Ford, Bradley Dean Riedle
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Publication number: 20190048947Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission and a controller. The transmission has clutches that are configured to establish multiple speed ratios, including a first clutch. The first clutch has a measured drag torque distribution. The measured drag torque distribution has a median and a standard deviation. The controller is programmed to increase a pressure at a rate to engage the first clutch and to increase the rate in response to a measured first clutch torque exceeding the median by a predetermined multiple of the standard deviation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventors: Gregory Michael PIETRON, Qi WANG, Yuji FUJII, Rohit HIPPALGAONKAR, Joseph F. KUCHARSKI, Jason MEYER, Stuart N. FORD
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Patent number: 10189468Abstract: A vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain includes an electric machine coupled between an automatic gearbox and an engine. The vehicle includes paddle shifters configured to output a driver requested gear change. The hybrid powertrain is configured to selectively operate in an economy mode that optimizes fuel economy. While operating in the economy mode, a controller may selectively inhibit the driver requested gear change when the change may negatively impact fuel economy. In the economy mode, the driver requested gear change may be inhibited during a demand for braking. If the driver requested gear change is a downshift request, the downshift is inhibited and simulated using electric machine torque.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Ming Lang Kuang, Brian Thomas Soo, Stuart N. Ford, Mark Davison, Matthew Joseph Meinhart
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Publication number: 20190016330Abstract: A vehicle includes a disconnect clutch selectively coupling an engine and an electric machine. The vehicle further includes a mechanical pump driven by the electric machine and operable to pressurize fluid for the clutch. The vehicle includes a controller programmed to, in response to the electric machine being inoperable, activate an auxiliary starter to start the engine, activate an electric pump operable to pressurize fluid to the clutch, and operate the engine to drive the mechanical pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Todd MCCULLOUGH, Scott James THOMPSON, Stuart N. FORD, Minku LEE
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Patent number: 10150467Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission is configured to alter clutch pressures in preparation for an upcoming shift between discrete gear ratios (e.g., input-to-output ratio). For example, the clutch pressures may spike to a heightened magnitude to prepare for the upcoming shift. The electric machine is configured to selectively propel the vehicle and perform regenerative braking. If regenerative braking demands occur during the clutch pressures being heightened during shift preparation, the controller is programmed to stop the preparing of the clutches. This can be done by reducing the clutch pressures back to their pre-preparation magnitude. The upcoming shift can be cancelled or delayed.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Todd McCullough, Bernard D. Nefcy, Stuart N. Ford
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Patent number: 10071724Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and at least one controller programmed to, in response to a brake request and a shaft speed associated with a speed of the vehicle achieving a starting speed that is defined by a torque of the powertrain that changes with brake demand at a given shaft speed, reduce a regenerative torque limit that constrains regenerative braking torque over a blend-out duration based on the shaft speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yanan Zhao, Ming Lang Kuang, Stuart N. Ford, Bernard D. Nefcy, Todd McCullough