Ford files patents to protect EcoBoost

Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News

Dearborn --Ford Motor Co.'s EcoBoost engines are the foundation for the company's near-term fuel economy strategy. Now Ford is moving to protect the system, filing more than 100 patents.

EcoBoost engines combine turbo-charging and direct fuel-injection to produce more power from a smaller motor. That allows Fords with the engines to get up to 20 percent better fuel economy than traditional gasoline engines generating the same horsepower.

But other automakers have been combining those two technologies for years, albeit for different reasons. First used to boost the power of high-performance motors, the Germans began selling mainstream vehicles with gasoline powered turbo direct-injection engines before Ford even unveiled its system.

"If I were them, I'd be more worried about VW coming after me than the other way around," said analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP in Birmingham, adding that Volkswagen AG had similar engines on the market before Ford. "There are certain parts of this you just can't patent."

But that has not kept Ford from trying.

The Dearborn automaker has filed 125 patents for technology developed for its first EcoBoost engine, the 3.5-liter V-6 that debuted on the Lincoln MKS this year. Some already have been granted.

"The secret to Ford's EcoBoost system isn't just the hardware -- the key is in the Ford control system," said Brett Hinds, advanced engine design and development manager at Ford. "Our engineers have the right recipes to integrate various systems like engine, transmission and fuel management, resulting in a seamless, exhilarating driving experience."

On Friday, Ford scientists allowed reporters inside its advanced engine research facility to show off some of these technologies, as well as the proprietary analytical tools it developed to study them.

For example, Ford's control system adjusts fuel injection up to 300 times each second. It is designed to maximize every drop of fuel injected into the cylinder. Ford's system also anticipates the drop in turbo boost power that comes when the transmission shifts and proactively adjusts to avoid a noticeable drop in power, leading to a smoother ride.

"We manage the air flow differently than anyone else," said Ford scientist Mrdjan Jankovic. "We are able to find a superior balance between fuel economy, performance and driveability."

bhoffman@detnews.com (313) 222-2443