Patents by Inventor William Robert Dutcher

William Robert Dutcher 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 control with operating mode detection
    Patent number: 6860244
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting an operating mode of an engine or engine component modulate a first engine parameter and analyze a change in a second engine parameter in response to modulating the first engine parameter to detect a current operating mode based on changes in at least one of the first and second engine parameters. In a variable compression ratio (VCR) engine embodiment, the system and method modify ignition timing of at least one cylinder until engine knock is detected and determine whether the cylinder is operating in the lower compression ratio mode or the higher compression ratio mode by comparing the ignition timing change required to cause engine knock to a corresponding threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Glugla, David Karl Trumpy, In Kwang Yoo, William Robert Dutcher, Woong-chul Yang
  • Engine control with operating mode detection
    Publication number: 20040089253
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting an operating mode of an engine or engine component modulate a first engine parameter and analyze a change in a second engine parameter in response to modulating the first engine parameter to detect a current operating mode based on changes in at least one of the first and second engine parameters. In a variable compression ratio (VCR) engine embodiment, the system and method modify ignition timing of at least one cylinder until engine knock is detected and determine whether the cylinder is operating in the lower compression ratio mode or the higher compression ratio mode by comparing the ignition timing change required to cause engine knock to a corresponding threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Glugla, David Karl Trumpy, In Kwang Yoo, William Robert Dutcher, Woong-chul Yang