Ralph W Cunningham

6468183, Oct 22, 2002

Sep 26, 2000

09/669927

Brian Michael ONeil - Ann Arbor MI
Bradley Dean Riedle - Northville MI
Dennis Allen Light - Monroe MI
Michael John Cullen - Northville MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

B60K 4104

477107

A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission is described. The method is especially suited for a transmission having at least one gear in which an over-running clutch is present. The invention describes a method for adjusting an engine operating parameter to maintain transmission input speed at or below a synchronous transmission input speed when the transmission is in the gear with the over-running clutch. The synchronous transmission input speed is based on transmission state and transmission output speed. Alternatively, vehicle speed can be used in place of transmission output speed.

6506140, Jan 14, 2003

Sep 26, 2000

09/670354

Brian Michael ONeil - Ann Arbor MI
Bradley Dean Riedle - Northville MI
Dennis Allen Light - Monroe MI
Michael John Cullen - Northville MI
Michelle S. Grytzelius - Canton MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

F16H 6114

477 62, 477168

A vehicle control system is described for controlling a torque converter coupled to an engine. The controller engages the torque converter before negative powertrain output becomes less than a predetermined value. Such an approach allows for torque converter locking in the negative powertrain output region. Such an approach is especially suited to vehicles having certain torque converters, which are difficult to lock at large negative torque values.

6516778, Feb 11, 2003

Sep 26, 2000

09/670196

Dennis Allen Light - Monroe MI
Michael John Cullen - Northville MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI
Thomas M. Luther - Brighton MI

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

F02D 3100

123352, 12333919, 180179

A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle adjusts a minimum allowed airflow based on operating conditions. Specifically, when conditions of engine speed and/or vehicle speed area away from idle conditions, no increasing of the minimum allowed airflow is carried out. However, when conditions of engine speed and/or vehicle speed area approaching idle conditions, the minimum allowed airflow is increased to the required airflow for those idle conditions.

6571771, Jun 3, 2003

May 25, 2001

09/866341

Jeffrey Allen Doering - Canton MI
Giuseppe D. Suffredini - Shelby Township MI
Jon Walter Halverson - Dearborn MI
Mark Thomas Linenberg - Dearborn MI
Paul Charles Mingo - Farmington Hills MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

F02M 5100

123480, 123492

A method and system for controlling the fuel mass to be delivered to an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine during engine transients caused by intake control device transitions. The method and system compensates for fuel transport dynamics and the actual fuel injected into the cylinder. A plurality of engine parameters are sensed, including cylinder air charge. An initial base desired fuel mass is determined based on the plurality of engine parameters. An initial transient fuel mass is also determined based on prior injection history which, in turn, is modified based on the transition of the intake control device for that cylinder. A desired injected fuel mass to be delivered to the cylinder is determined based on the initial base desired fuel mass and the initial transient fuel mass. These same calculations are then used to compensate for changes to the base desired fuel mass while the fuel injection is in progress, resulting in an updated desired injected fuel mass. Finally, the injection history for that cylinder is updated to account for the actual desired fuel mass delivered to the cylinder.

6600988, Jul 29, 2003

Sep 26, 2000

09/669603

Dong Da - Ypsilanti MI
Michael John Cullen - Northville MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI
Richard John Hippley - Canton MI

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

B60T 832

701 93, 701 70, 701 59, 701 97, 701 84, 701 85, 701 91, 701 95, 701 51, 180167, 180170, 180168, 180179, 180 658, 318 3, 318 9, 318 11, 318 12, 318 10, 318 55, 340901, 340903, 340436, 123361, 123336, 123399, 123442

A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle is described. The method determines a desired vehicle condition based on three driver actuated elements. In a preferred embodiment the first element can be pedal position, the second element can be a brake actuator or, more specifically, brake actuation duration, and the third element can be a gear selection lever. Further, the desired vehicle condition can be desired powertrain output, vehicle acceleration, or various other parameters.

6640539, Nov 4, 2003

Jul 12, 2002

10/064432

Donald James Lewis - Howell MI
James Michael Kerns - Trenton MI
Matthew John Gerhart - Dearborn Heights MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

F01N 300

60284, 60274, 60285, 60289, 12340623, 123699

A method for rapidly heating an emission control device in an engine exhaust uses excess air added to the exhaust via an air introduction device. After an engine cold start, the engine is operated to raise exhaust manifold temperature to a first predetermined value by operating the engine with a lean air-fuel ratio and retarded ignition timing. Once the exhaust manifold reaches the predetermined temperature value, the engine is switched to operate rich and air is added via the air introduction device. The added air and rich exhaust gas burn in the exhaust, thereby generating heat and raising catalyst temperature even more rapidly. The rich operation and excess air are continued until either engine airflow increases beyond a pre-selected value, or the emission control device reaches a desired temperature value. After the emission control device reaches the desired temperature, the engine is operated substantially around stoichiometry. Further, a method is described for adaptively learning pump airflow using feedback from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor.

6666021, Dec 23, 2003

Jul 12, 2002

10/064430

Donald James Lewis - Howell MI
James Michael Kerns - Trenton MI
Matthew John Gerhart - Dearborn Heights MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

F01N 300

60289, 60274, 60276, 60285, 60290

A method for rapidly heating an emission control device in an engine exhaust uses excess air added to the exhaust via an air introduction device. After an engine cold start, the engine is operated to raise exhaust manifold temperature to a first predetermined value by operating the engine with a lean air-fuel ratio and retarded ignition timing. Once the exhaust manifold reaches the predetermined temperature value, the engine is switched to operate rich and air is added via the air introduction device. The added air and rich exhaust gas burn in the exhaust, thereby generating heat and raising catalyst temperature even more rapidly. The rich operation and excess air are continued until either engine airflow increases beyond a pre-selected value, or the emission control device reaches a desired temperature value. After the emission control device reaches the desired temperature, the engine is operated substantially around stoichiometry. Further, a method is described for adaptively learning pump airflow using feedback from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor.

6715280, Apr 6, 2004

Jul 12, 2002

10/064433

Donald James Lewis - Howell MI
James Michael Kerns - Trenton MI
Matthew John Gerhart - Dearborn Heights MI
Ralph Wayne Cunningham - Milan MI

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

F01N 300

60274, 60284, 60285, 60292, 60289, 12340644

A method for rapidly heating an emission control device in an engine exhaust uses excess air added to the exhaust via an air introduction device. After an engine cold start, the engine is operated to raise exhaust manifold temperature to a first predetermined value by operating the engine with a lean air-fuel ratio and retarded ignition timing. Once the exhaust manifold reaches the predetermined temperature value, the engine is switched to operate rich and air is added via the air introduction device. The added air and rich exhaust gas burn in the exhaust, thereby generating heat and raising catalyst temperature even more rapidly. The rich operation and excess air are continued until either engine airflow increases beyond a pre-selected value, or the emission control device reaches a desired temperature value. After the emission control device reaches the desired temperature, the engine is operated substantially around stoichiometry. Further, a method is described for adaptively learning pump airflow using feedback from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor.