Patents by Inventor Yong-Wha Kim

Yong-Wha Kim 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).

  • Method for estimating intake air humidity
    Patent number: 10202923
    Abstract: Embodiments for estimating intake air humidity in an engine are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises adjusting an engine parameter in response to intake air humidity estimated based on a concentration of one or more engine-out emissions. In this way, one or more exhaust emission sensors may be used to estimate intake air humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, In Kwang Yoo, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton
  • Humidity sensor diagnostic method using condensation clearing heater
    Patent number: 10156213
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for a capacitive humidity sensor comprising a heater, and a capacitance-sensing element that individually identifies heater, temperature-sensing element, or capacitance-sensing element degradation. By this method, individual elements of the sensor may be replaced or compensated for to allow for further operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar, Yong-Wha Kim
  • Methods and systems for diagnosing an intake oxygen sensor based on pressure
    Patent number: 9932938
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an intake oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of an intake oxygen sensor based on a first time constant of an output of the intake oxygen sensor and a second time constant of an output of a throttle inlet pressure sensor. The method may further include adjusting EGR flow based on the output of the intake oxygen sensor and the output of the throttle inlet pressure sensor when the intake oxygen sensor is not degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Yong-Wha Kim, Michael James Uhrich, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Humidity sensor and engine system
    Patent number: 9618470
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine coupled temperature-based humidity sensor. Degradation of the humidity sensor may be determined while flowing gasses into an engine intake air downstream of a humidity sensor and upstream of a compressor, indicating humidity sensor degradation when relative humidity readings change by less than a threshold while temperature at the sensor changes greater than a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Yong-Wha Kim, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIAGNOSING AN INTAKE OXYGEN SENSOR BASED ON PRESSURE
    Publication number: 20170074215
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an intake oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of an intake oxygen sensor based on a first time constant of an output of the intake oxygen sensor and a second time constant of an output of a throttle inlet pressure sensor. The method may further include adjusting EGR flow based on the output of the intake oxygen sensor and the output of the throttle inlet pressure sensor when the intake oxygen sensor is not degraded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Yong-Wha Kim, Michael James Uhrich, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Methods and systems for diagnosing an intake oxygen sensor based on pressure
    Patent number: 9528476
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an intake oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of an intake oxygen sensor based on a first time constant of an output of the intake oxygen sensor and a second time constant of an output of a throttle inlet pressure sensor. The method may further include adjusting EGR flow based on the output of the intake oxygen sensor and the output of the throttle inlet pressure sensor when the intake oxygen sensor is not degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Yong-Wha Kim, Michael James Uhrich, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • System for determining EGR cooler degradation
    Patent number: 9476387
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing an EGR system are presented. The method provides for indicating EGR system degradation in response to a temperature at an outlet of an EGR cooler. The method may require less calibration effort than a model based diagnostic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Eric Kurtz
  • HUMIDITY SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC METHOD USING CONDENSATION CLEARING HEATER
    Publication number: 20160245240
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for a capacitive humidity sensor comprising a heater, and a capacitance-sensing element that individually identifies heater, temperature-sensing element, or capacitance-sensing element degradation. By this method, individual elements of the sensor may be replaced or compensated for to allow for further operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar, Yong-Wha Kim
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DIAGNOSING AN INTAKE OXYGEN SENSOR BASED ON PRESSURE
    Publication number: 20160177847
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing an intake oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include indicating degradation of an intake oxygen sensor based on a first time constant of an output of the intake oxygen sensor and a second time constant of an output of a throttle inlet pressure sensor. The method may further include adjusting EGR flow based on the output of the intake oxygen sensor and the output of the throttle inlet pressure sensor when the intake oxygen sensor is not degraded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Yong-Wha Kim, Michael James Uhrich, Timothy Joseph Clark
  • Humidity sensor diagnostic method using condensation clearing heater
    Patent number: 9329160
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for a capacitive humidity sensor comprising a heater, and a capacitance-sensing element that individually identifies heater, temperature-sensing element, or capacitance-sensing element degradation. By this method, individual elements of the sensor may be replaced or compensated for to allow for further operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar, Yong-Wha Kim
  • HUMIDITY SENSOR AND ENGINE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140316672
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an engine coupled temperature-based humidity sensor. Degradation of the humidity sensor may be determined while flowing gasses into an engine intake air downstream of a humidity sensor and upstream of a compressor, indicating humidity sensor degradation when relative humidity readings change by less than a threshold while temperature at the sensor changes greater than a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, Yong-Wha Kim, Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • HUMIDITY SENSOR DIAGNOSTIC METHOD USING CONDENSATION CLEARING HEATER
    Publication number: 20140298880
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for a capacitive humidity sensor comprising a heater, and a capacitance-sensing element that individually indentifies heater, temperature-sensing element, or capacitance-sensing element degradation. By this method, individual elements of the sensor may be replaced or compensated for to allow for further operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Imad Hassan Makki, Timothy Joseph Clark, Michael James Uhrich, Pankaj Kumar, Yong-Wha Kim
  • METHOD FOR ESTIMATING INTAKE AIR HUMIDITY
    Publication number: 20130275030
    Abstract: Embodiments for estimating intake air humidity in an engine are provided. In one example, an engine method comprises adjusting an engine parameter in response to intake air humidity estimated based on a concentration of one or more engine-out emissions. In this way, one or more exhaust emission sensors may be used to estimate intake air humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, In Kwang Yoo, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Brien Lloyd Fulton
  • Method for diagnosing fuel injectors
    Patent number: 8459105
    Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, the diagnostic can determine if that amount of fuel injected or the timing of start of injection is degraded. Thus, the fuel injector diagnostic method can distinguish between different types of injector degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, In Kwang Yoo
  • System for Determining EGR Cooler Degradation
    Publication number: 20120290190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing an EGR system are presented. The method provides for indicating EGR system degradation in response to a temperature at an outlet of an EGR cooler. The method may require less calibration effort than a model based diagnostic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Eric Kurtz
  • METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING FUEL INJECTORS
    Publication number: 20120125089
    Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, the diagnostic can determine if that amount of fuel injected or the timing of start of injection is degraded. Thus, the fuel injector diagnostic method can distinguish between different types of injector degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, In Kwang Yoo
  • Method for diagnosing fuel injectors
    Patent number: 8051704
    Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, the diagnostic can determine if that amount of fuel injected or the timing of start of injection is degraded. Thus, the fuel injector diagnostic method can distinguish between different types of injector degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, In Kwang Yoo
  • METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING FUEL INJECTORS
    Publication number: 20110185798
    Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic is disclosed. In one example, the diagnostic can determine if that amount of fuel injected or the timing of start of injection is degraded. Thus, the fuel injector diagnostic method can distinguish between different types of injector degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, In Kwang Yoo
  • Controlled port oxidation of direct injection spark ignition engines
    Patent number: 7647914
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine is disclosed. The system and method includes performing multiple ignitions during a single engine cycle. According to one embodiment, a first ignition takes place during a first stroke in the cycle and a second ignition takes place during a second stroke in the cycle. The system and method may further include performing multiple injections during the engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Jeffrey Koncsol, Julie Buckland, Jing Sun
  • Controlled port oxidation of direct injection spark ignition engines
    Publication number: 20070113822
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine is disclosed. The system and method includes performing multiple ignitions during a single engine cycle. According to one embodiment, a first ignition takes place during a first stroke in the cycle and a second ignition takes place during a second stroke in the cycle. The system and method may further include performing multiple injections during the engine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Yong-Wha Kim, Jeffrey Koncsol, Julie Buckland, Jing Sun