Patents by Inventor Brian K. Kowalczyk

Brian K. Kowalczyk 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 to adjust an oil control valve actuation response time using cylinder valve diagnostics
    Patent number: 10094312
    Abstract: A method to adjust an oil control valve actuation response time using cylinder valve diagnostic results includes commanding an engine cylinder to deactivate/reactive when conditions are met and then detecting if a deactivation/reactivation response time failure has occurred by analyzing the cylinder diagnostics results. If a predetermined number of failures are detected at the cylinder within a predetermined number of engine cycles then the engine controller operates to adjust the oil control valve response time to improve the response time accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Allen B. Rayl, Jr., Brian K. Kowalczyk
  • Method to Adjust an Oil Control Valve Actuation Response Time using Cylinder Valve Diagnostics
    Publication number: 20180142636
    Abstract: A method to adjust an oil control valve actuation response time using cylinder valve diagnostic results includes commanding an engine cylinder to deactivate/reactive when conditions are met and then detecting if a deactivation/reactivation response time failure has occurred by analyzing the cylinder diagnostics results. If a predetermined number of failures are detected at the cylinder within a predetermined number of engine cycles then the engine controller operates to adjust the oil control valve response time to improve the response time accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Allen B. Rayl, Jr., Brian K. Kowalczyk
  • System and method for detecting an unexpected medium or a change of medium sensed by a thermistor
    Patent number: 8485725
    Abstract: A system for detecting a change in medium sensed by a thermistor comprises a first module that receives a temperature signal from a thermistor and that calculates a first dissipation factor of the thermistor. A second module receives the first dissipation factor of the thermistor and detects at least one of an unexpected medium and a change in medium based on the first dissipation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventors: Brian Carl Nelson, Marilyn L. Kindermann, Brian K. Kowalczyk, Christian G. Masson
  • System and method for more accurate temperature sensing using thermistors
    Patent number: 8314623
    Abstract: A system includes a first module, a second module, and a third module. The first module determines a first temperature and a first power dissipation value of a thermistor based on a resistance of a first resistor connected in series with the thermistor. The second module, after disconnecting the first resistor and connecting a second resistor in series with the thermistor, determines a second temperature and a second power dissipation value of the thermistor based on a resistance of the second resistor. The third module determines a thermal dissipation factor based on the first and second temperatures and the first and second power dissipation values, and corrects temperature sensed by the thermistor based on the thermal dissipation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventors: Brian Carl Nelson, Christian G. Masson, Marilyn L. Kindermann, Brian K. Kowalczyk
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AN UNEXPECTED MEDIUM OR A CHANGE OF MEDIUM SENSED BY A THERMISTOR
    Publication number: 20120155506
    Abstract: A system for detecting a change in medium sensed by a thermistor comprises a first module that receives a temperature signal from a thermistor and that calculates a first dissipation factor of the thermistor. A second module receives the first dissipation factor of the thermistor and detects at least one of an unexpected medium and a change in medium based on the first dissipation factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian Carl Nelson, Marilyn L. Kindermann, Brian K. Kowalczyk, Christian G. Masson
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MORE ACCURATE TEMPERATURE SENSING USING THERMISTORS
    Publication number: 20120062041
    Abstract: A system includes a first module, a second module, and a third module. The first module determines a first temperature and a first power dissipation value of a thermistor based on a resistance of a first resistor connected in series with the thermistor. The second module, after disconnecting the first resistor and connecting a second resistor in series with the thermistor, determines a second temperature and a second power dissipation value of the thermistor based on a resistance of the second resistor. The third module determines a thermal dissipation factor based on the first and second temperatures and the first and second power dissipation values, and corrects temperature sensed by the thermistor based on the thermal dissipation factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOLGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Carl Nelson, Christian G. Masson, Marilyn L. Kindermann, Brian K. Kowalczyk