Patents by Inventor Brian Flora

Brian Flora 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).

  • Internal combustion engine controller, and control system and method of controlling an internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9598065
    Abstract: An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The engine controller is in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism. The engine controller is configured to determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine and to communicate with the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder. The engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration to a second gear configuration requires a positive torque when the at least one cylinder is deactivated. The engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift between gear configurations and the positive torque are completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ryuichi Mori, Christopher Hopp, Kazuma Sasahara, Brian Flora, Christian Villing
  • INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROLLER, AND CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
    Publication number: 20160101768
    Abstract: An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The engine controller is in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism. The engine controller is configured to determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine and to communicate with the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder. The engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration to a second gear configuration requires a positive torque when the at least one cylinder is deactivated. The engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift between gear configurations and the positive torque are completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ryuichi Mori, Christopher Hopp, Kazuma Sasahara, Brian Flora