Patents Examined by Thomas Moulis
  • Patent number: 10138822
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, a flow of exhaust (e.g., exhaust gas recirculation) from engine cylinders to the intake passage, upstream of a compressor, via an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage and the first exhaust manifold may be adjusted by adjusting a timing of a first set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold. Additionally, the first set of cylinder exhaust valves open at a different time than a second set of cylinder exhaust valves coupled to the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Brad Alan Boyer, Daniel Paul Madison, James Leiby
  • Patent number: 10132235
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, the split exhaust engine system may include a first set of exhaust valves fluidly coupled to the exhaust passage, upstream of a turbocharger turbine, a first emission control device (ECD), and a second ECD disposed within the exhaust passage, the second ECD positioned downstream of the first ECD. The system may further include a second set of exhaust valves fluidly coupled to the intake passage and the exhaust passage, between the first ECD and the second ECD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Daniel Paul Madison, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Patent number: 10125696
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a charge forming device includes a main body, a throttle valve and an adjuster. The main body includes a main bore through which fluid flows for delivery to an engine. The throttle valve is carried by the main body and moveable relative to the main bore to control fluid flow through the main bore. And the adjuster is moveable relative to the throttle valve and engageable with the throttle valve to adjust the range of motion of the throttle valve. In at least some implementations, the adjuster limits the range of motion of the throttle valve when the adjuster is engaged with the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Bryan K. Gangler, Bradley J. Roche, Dairoku Suzuki, David L. Speirs, Eric G. Zbytowski
  • Patent number: 10118608
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a laser ignition system of an engine. In one example, a controller may operate the laser in a sealed cylinder hours after key-off. Then, the cylinder may be unsealed and a change in exhaust temperature may be correlated with laser functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10119489
    Abstract: A diagnostic device for a sensor 100 provided in an exhaust passage 11 of an internal combustion engine 10 of a vehicle and detecting nitrogen compounds in exhaust gas, the diagnostic device including an offset diagnosis unit 42 which diagnoses, during deceleration of the vehicle in which the internal combustion engine 10 stops fuel injection, an offset amount of a sensor value of the sensor 100 from a zero point based on the sensor value of the sensor value, and a diagnosis prohibition unit 44 which prohibits the diagnosing of the offset amount when a flow rate of the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine 10 rapidly increases while the offset amount is diagnosed by the offset diagnosis unit 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Ken Hasegawa, Hirotaka Takahashi, Masanobu Minezawa
  • Patent number: 10119461
    Abstract: A vehicle system including a plurality of alternators with a common electrical connection interface having at least one connector and a digital communication connector through which a processor communicates with the alternators. Input signals received at the at least one connector are unique for each alternator under normal and unimpaired operating conditions. Upon wakeup of an alternator, the alternator assesses the input signals and whether the address of the alternator is frozen. If the address is not frozen, the status of at least one operating parameter is assessed to determine if a predefined requirement is satisfied. If the predefined requirement is satisfied, the alternator is assigned an address based upon the input signals at the at least one connector and the address is frozen. The alternator can detect faults by determining if the input signals at the least one connector agree with the frozen address of the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Alfermann
  • Patent number: 10113519
    Abstract: An intake apparatus includes an intake apparatus body including a plurality of intake pipes and a distribution passage including a gas passage before branching which includes a first gas passage through which the external gas flows in a first gas flow direction and a second gas passage through which the external gas flows in a second gas flow direction, the second gas passage curving relative to the first gas passage at a downstream, and a gas passage after branching including a third gas passage branched in the first gas flow direction relative to the second gas passage and a fourth gas passage branched in an opposite direction from the first gas flow direction relative to the second gas passage, an angle formed between the second gas passage and the third gas passage is smaller than an angle formed between the second gas passage and the fourth gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 10113490
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which, in the case of intake-side and exhaust-side cleaning controls being performed, is capable of ensuring stable combustion of a mixture when the engine is returned from a decelerating FC operation to a normal operation, thereby making it possible to enhance marketability. The control apparatus for the engine includes an ECU. The ECU performs intake-side cleaning control for controlling an intake cam phase CAIN to a predetermined most advanced value CAIN_ADV so as to increase a valve overlap period of an intake valve and an exhaust valve, and performs exhaust-side cleaning control for controlling an exhaust cam phase CAEX to a predetermined most retarded value CAEX_RET so as to increase the valve overlap period of the intake valve and the exhaust valve. Further, during execution of one of the intake-side and exhaust-side cleaning controls, the ECU inhibits execution of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Kosaka, Eri Ito, Masaki Ueno, Yuto Katori
  • Patent number: 10107220
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a split exhaust engine system that provides blowthrough air and exhaust gas recirculation to an intake passage via a first exhaust manifold and exhaust gas to an exhaust passage via a second exhaust manifold. In one example, an amount of opening overlap between a plurality of intake valves and a first set of exhaust valves coupled to the first exhaust manifold may be adjusted responsive to a transition from an estimated combustion air-fuel content to a leaner air-fuel content of the blowthrough air on a cylinder to cylinder basis. As one example, the transition may be determined from an output of an oxygen sensor positioned within the first exhaust manifold or an exhaust runner of each of the first set of exhaust valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 10107211
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements are described for controlling transitions between firing fractions during skip fire operation of an engine in order to help smooth the transitions. Generally, firing fractions transitions are implemented gradually, preferably in a manner that relatively closely tracks manifold filling dynamics. In some embodiments, the commanded firing fraction is altered each firing opportunity. Another approach contemplates altering the commanded firing fraction by substantially the same amount each firing opportunity for at least a portion of the transition. These approaches work particularly well when the commanded firing fraction is provided to a skip fire controller that includes an accumulator functionality that tracks the portion of a firing that has been requested, but not delivered, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, Steven E. Carlson, Siamak Hashemi, Ryan A. Kuhlenbeck
  • Patent number: 10107233
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a high load purge line of a boosted engine system for undesired evaporative emissions. In one example, a method for diagnosing the high load purge line includes drawing vacuum in the high load purge line under natural aspiration conditions and concurrently purging a fuel vapor canister. In this way, the high load purge line may be diagnosed for undesired evaporative emissions without disrupting a canister purge schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Scott A. Bohr, Matthew Werner, Matthew Masucci
  • Patent number: 10101180
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein include systems with a variable reluctance sensor (VRS) interface and methods of their operation. Embodiments of VRS interfaces include a clearing signal generator configured to generate a clearing signal corresponding with the timing of a noise event. The clearing signal may be configured to clear a post-processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Mike R. Garrard, William E. Edwards
  • Patent number: 10100784
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine includes an intake tract and a throttle element. Between the compressor and the throttle element, the intake tract is gas-conductively connected on the low-pressure side to a first line and on the high-pressure side to a second line via an overrun air recirculation valve. A fuel tank having an activated carbon filter is provided for supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine, the fuel tank being gas-conductively connected via a valve to a tank venting valve. Between the compressor and the throttle element, the intake tract is gas-conductively connected on the low-pressure side to a third line and on the high-pressure side to a fourth line via the tank venting valve. The overrun air recirculation valve and the tank venting valve are arranged in parallel in terms of flow and the first and third lines and the second and fourth lines are, at least in sections, the same lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Falk Gerbig
  • Patent number: 10094300
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine actuator control module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a cylinder activation module. The valve lift control module adjusts a target lift state of a valve actuator of an engine to adjust an amount by which at least one of an intake valve of a cylinder of the engine and an exhaust valve of the cylinder is lifted from a valve seat. The cylinder activation module determines a target number of activated cylinders in the engine. The engine actuator control module that controls a first actuator of the engine at a present time based on at least one of the target lift state at a future time and the target number of activated cylinders at the future time. The first actuator is different than the valve actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Julian R. Verdejo
  • Patent number: 10094340
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sensor devices and the teachings may be applied to a sensor for determining a displacement of a shaft along its longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, a sensor device may include a sensor unit and a detection element. The sensor element is disposed at a fixed radial distance from the longitudinal axis. The detection element is arranged between the shaft and the sensor unit and coupled to the shaft. The side of the detection element facing away from the axis comprises a convex shape. A gap distance defined between the detection element and the sensor unit varies over an extent of the sensor unit perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis and independently of a tilting angle of the shaft. The sensor unit generates a shaft displacement signal dependent on a displacement of the detection element in relation to the sensor unit along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Peter Wiese
  • Patent number: 10087863
    Abstract: To provide an internal combustion engine control device (100) in which a control unit (107b) controls an operating condition of an internal combustion engine (1) based on a difference ?TCC between a first temperature TCC corresponding to the temperature of a first portion in a wall defining a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (1), and a second temperature TE corresponding to the temperature of a second portion on an outer wall surface side than the first portion in the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: KEIHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Ichihashi, Tomomi Yonemaru, Takashi Takanohashi
  • Patent number: 10087900
    Abstract: A fuel filter used with a supply of liquid fuel and with an engine has a housing formed with a filter chamber, with inlet and outlet ports respective connected to the supply and to the engine and opening into the chamber, and with a throughgoing return passage juxtaposed with the filter chamber and extending between a return-fuel inlet connected to the engine and a return-fuel outlet connected to the tank. A filter element is in the chamber between the inlet and outlet ports. Fuel moves in a circuit from the supply to the inlet port, then through the filter element in the chamber, then out the outlet port to the engine where a portion of the fuel is consumed and a portion of it is heated and flowed back to the return-fuel inlet, and then through the passage and out the return-fuel outlet to the supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: WILLIBRORD LOESING FILTERPRODUKTION GMBH
    Inventor: Ingeborg Loesing
  • Patent number: 10082098
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a combustion engine having at least one cylinder to burn a fuel, and a fuel injector to supply a fuel mass to the at least one cylinder. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to cause the fuel injector supply a series of fuel pulses that sum to an aggregate target fuel mass. The controller is also programmed to adjust a commanded duration of a subsequent pulse of the series of pulses from a target pulse duration value based on at least one of a dwell time since a preceding pulse, a fuel mass of the preceding pulse, and an opening delay of the preceding pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott E. Parrish, Yiran Hu
  • Patent number: 10066563
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for adjusting a fuel injector drive signal during a fuel injection event wherein the system comprises an engine having a fuel injector, a fuel control module configured to generate control signals corresponding to a desired fueling profile of a fuel injection event, and a fueling profile interface module that outputs drive profile signals to the fuel injector in response to the control signals to cause the fuel injector to deliver an actual fueling profile, wherein the fueling profile interface module changes the drive profile signals during the fuel injection event in response to a parameter signal indicating a characteristic of the actual fueling profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Syed Shah Jalel
  • Patent number: 10066580
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a fuel injector, a piston chamber, a piston slidably disposed in the piston chamber having a piston crown along a top surface, a head assembly having at least one pre-chamber separate from the piston chamber and in fluid communication with the piston chamber via at least one connecting orifice, and an ignition device disposed in the pre-chamber for igniting a fuel air mixture within the pre-chamber, thereby producing an ignition jet being introduced into the piston chamber via the at least one connecting orifice to ignite a fuel/air mixture in the piston chamber. The fuel/air mixture is passively introduced into the at least one pre-chamber during at least a compression stroke of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignees: The Regents of The University of Michigan, HYUNDAI AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC.
    Inventors: Dimitris Assanis, Margaret S. Wooldridge, Paul Neuman, Nayan Engineer