Patents by Inventor Toufic R. Rtail

Toufic R. Rtail 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).

  • Engine stop-start auxiliary battery disconnect detection
    Patent number: 10160409
    Abstract: A system for controlling an automatic engine stop-start system of a vehicle includes a controller, an engine configured to be automatically stopped and started in response to a signal from the controller, a primary power source electrically coupled to the controller, and an auxiliary power source electrically coupled to the controller. A power control relay is electrically connected between the primary power source and the auxiliary power source and is configured to be selectively activated to isolate the auxiliary power source from the primary power source such that only the auxiliary power source is configured to supply power to the controller. The controller is configured to determine if the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle when the power control relay is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Toufic R Rtail, Min Han, Amber Plee, John J Nahirniak, Michael E List, Gary A Gonzales, Robert Schropshire, Jr.
  • ENGINE STOP-START AUXILIARY BATTERY DISCONNECT DETECTION
    Publication number: 20180194306
    Abstract: A system for controlling an automatic engine stop-start system of a vehicle includes a controller, an engine configured to be automatically stopped and started in response to a signal from the controller, a primary power source electrically coupled to the controller, and an auxiliary power source electrically coupled to the controller. A power control relay is electrically connected between the primary power source and the auxiliary power source and is configured to be selectively activated to isolate the auxiliary power source from the primary power source such that only the auxiliary power source is configured to supply power to the controller. The controller is configured to determine if the auxiliary power source is electrically disconnected from the vehicle when the power control relay is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Toufic R. Rtail, Min Han, Amber Plee, John J. Nahirniak, Michael E. List, Gary A. Gonzales, Robert Schropshire, JR.
  • Method of diagnosing a starter relay failure using synchronized state machine
    Patent number: 8831815
    Abstract: A method and electrical system for detecting and compensating for a failure in a starter circuit that comprises first and second relays in a circuit path to a starter motor of a vehicle. The method and system determine if at least one of the first or second relays is in a closed position when it should be in an open position and disables a vehicle starter operation if it is determined that at least one of the first or second relays is in the closed position when it should be in the open position. The vehicle starter operation could be a stop-start operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Mark L. Lott, Toufic R. Rtail
  • METHOD OF DIAGNOSING A STARTER RELAY FAILURE USING SYNCHRONIZED STATE MACHINE
    Publication number: 20140032037
    Abstract: A method and electrical system for detecting and compensating for a failure in a starter circuit that comprises first and second relays in a circuit path to a starter motor of a vehicle. The method and system determine if at least one of the first or second relays is in a closed position when it should be in an open position and disables a vehicle starter operation if it is determined that at least one of the first or second relays is in the closed position when it should be in the open position. The vehicle starter operation could be a stop-start operation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Mark L. Lott, Toufic R. Rtail