Patents by Inventor Walter Joseph Ortmann

Walter Joseph Ortmann 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: 11912166
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling output of a fuel cell that generates electrical power for an electric machine that propels a vehicle. In one example, a driver demand power reduction is anticipated and output of the fuel cell is adjusted before the driver demand power is reduced so that a greater amount of electric charge may be stored in an electric energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Beck, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Kenneth James Miller, Thomas Joseph Cusumano
  • Patent number: 11865947
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to releasing an accelerator pedal during a first driving scenario that is based on a first set of navigation data, increase regenerative braking torque of the electric machine to a first value. The controller is further programmed to, in response to releasing the accelerator pedal during a second driving scenario that is based on a second set of navigation data, increase the regenerative braking torque of the electric machine to a second value that is less than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ashish Naidu, Colby Jason Buckman, Mark Anthony Tascillo
  • Publication number: 20230271513
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell system (FCS), a traction battery, and a controller. The controller controls the FCS to output a constant amount of power throughout a vehicle trip. Responsive to a demanded power greater than the constant amount, the controller controls the traction battery to output an amount of power commensurate with a difference between the demanded power and the constant amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Jason Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230264595
    Abstract: A fuel cell and battery power management system for a fuel cell-powered vehicle includes an electric traction motor, a traction battery in electrical communication with the electric traction motor, a fuel cell stack in electrical communication with the traction battery and the electric traction motor, and a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system is configured to operate the vehicle with at a first discharge power level and a first charging power level if fuel cell power is sufficient alone to navigate the uphill grade and to build up battery state of charge by charging the traction battery at a second charging power level when the vehicle is approaching an uphill grade if fuel cell power is not sufficient alone to navigate the uphill grade. The vehicle control system is further configured to initiate proactive depletion of the battery SOC to enable powertrain braking and to provide regenerative power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Naginder GOGNA, Jason MEYER, Walter Joseph ORTMANN, Stanley L. BOWER, JR., Rajit JOHRI
  • Patent number: 11623627
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain has an engine and an electric machine that are each configured to generate power within the powertrain to propel the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, generate a powertrain power output profile required to propel the vehicle over a predetermined route based on navigation data. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile to a value that is greater than a threshold, initiate an engine start at a predetermined time period before the upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Naginder Gogna
  • Patent number: 11440532
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a wireless transceiver that receives attribute data, and a controller. The controller selectively shuts down the engine responsive to such requests based on whether a predicted fuel savings associated with a predicted engine off duration is greater than a predicted fuel usage to restart the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ashish Kumar Naidu, Thomas William Megli, Mrudula Uday Orpe
  • Publication number: 20220266690
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a powertrain and a controller. The controller commands a change in torque produced by the powertrain for a given change in pedal position according to a default calibration schedule that is defined by a driving style of a driver such that the change in torque is different for different drivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ashish Kumar Naidu, Mark Anthony Tascillo, Naginder Gogna
  • Patent number: 11413970
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for generating regenerative braking torque at a front axle and a rear axle of a vehicle. In one example, the regenerative braking torque may be a function of a normal load applied to the front axle and a normal load applied to the rear axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Beck, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Matthew Erich von der Lippe, Kevin Higgins
  • Publication number: 20220212542
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to releasing an accelerator pedal during a first driving scenario that is based on a first set of navigation data, increase regenerative braking torque of the electric machine to a first value. The controller is further programmed to, in response to releasing the accelerator pedal during a second driving scenario that is based on a second set of navigation data, increase the regenerative braking torque of the electric machine to a second value that is less than the first value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ashish Naidu, Colby Jason Buckman, Mark Anthony Tascillo
  • Publication number: 20220212653
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a wireless transceiver that receives attribute data, and a controller. The controller selectively shuts down the engine responsive to such requests based on whether a predicted fuel savings associated with a predicted engine off duration is greater than a predicted fuel usage to restart the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph ORTMANN, Ashish Kumar NAIDU, Thomas William MEGLI, Mrudula Uday ORPE
  • Publication number: 20220212651
    Abstract: A powertrain control system includes a controller that, when attribute data is indicative of an expected deceleration having a magnitude that exceeds a threshold within a predefined duration of time after receipt of an engine on request, inhibits start of an engine, and when the attribute data is indicative of an expected deceleration having a magnitude that does not exceed the threshold within the predefined duration, permits start of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Tascillo, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ashish Kumar NAIDU, James Patrick Somsel
  • Publication number: 20220144241
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The powertrain has an engine and an electric machine that are each configured to generate power within the powertrain to propel the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, generate a powertrain power output profile required to propel the vehicle over a predetermined route based on navigation data. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the electric machine operating to propel the vehicle over the predetermined route while the engine is shutdown and an upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile to a value that is greater than a threshold, initiate an engine start at a predetermined time period before the upcoming increase in the powertrain power output profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Naginder Gogna
  • Patent number: 11326571
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method selects one of a plurality of engine starting devices to start an engine based on durability metrics of each of the plurality of engine starting devices. In addition, engine starting device selection may be based on calibration parameters that are generated via a server that is external to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Doering, James A. Hilditch, John Rollinger, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Jason Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220034287
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method selects one of a plurality of engine starting devices to start an engine based on durability metrics of each of the plurality of engine starting devices. In addition, engine starting device selection may be based on calibration parameters that are generated via a server that is external to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Doering, James A. Hilditch, John Rollinger, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11161510
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, transmission output torque and electric machine torque are adjusted while a brake pedal and accelerator pedal are contemporaneously applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Doering, Jason Meyer, Stan L. Bower, Xiaoyong Wang, Yanan Zhao, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ming Kuang
  • Patent number: 11046299
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a four wheel drive vehicle that includes a high gear ratio and a low gear ratio. The driveline may be operated to shift between the high gear ratio and the low gear ratio while the four wheel drive vehicle is moving. In one example, a clutch is opened during shifting from the high gear ratio to the low gear ratio, which allows the vehicle to continue traveling during the gear ratio change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Rajit Johri, Kevin Ruybal, Dushyant K. Palejiya, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Patent number: 10981571
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a driveline that includes one or more electric machine providing torque to one or more axles are described. In one example, a requested vehicle speed is adjusted responsive to at least one of vehicle yaw, vehicle roll, and vehicle pitch so that vehicle speed may be maintained at a requested value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Rajit Johri, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jose Velazquez Alcantar
  • Publication number: 20210053448
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for generating regenerative braking torque at a front axle and a rear axle of a vehicle. In one example, the regenerative braking torque may be a function of a normal load applied to the front axle and a normal load applied to the rear axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: David Beck, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Matthew Erich von der Lippe, Kevin Higgins
  • Patent number: 10910614
    Abstract: This disclosure details electrified vehicles that are equipped with secondary battery packs for increasing the electric range of the vehicles. An exemplary electrified vehicle includes a cargo space, such as a truck bed, and a secondary battery pack positioned within the cargo space. The secondary battery pack is adapted to selectively supply power for propelling one or more vehicle drive wheels. In some embodiments, the secondary battery pack is shaped like, and therefore disguised as, a toolbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Thomas J. Coupar, Kenneth James Miller
  • Publication number: 20200391615
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for controlling output of a fuel cell that generates electrical power for an electric machine that propels a vehicle. In one example, a driver demand power reduction is anticipated and output of the fuel cell is adjusted before the driver demand power is reduced so that a greater amount of electric charge may be stored in an electric energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: David Beck, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Kenneth James Miller, Thomas Joseph Cusumano