Patents by Inventor David P. Sczomak

David P. Sczomak 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).

  • Patent number: 10718258
    Abstract: A direct-injection stratified charge internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder to receive an air-fuel mixture, and an air intake port to inlet air into the combustion cylinder. The direct-injection engine also includes a fuel injector configured to deliver fuel within the cylinder in a spray pattern substantially aligned to a cylinder central axis to create the air-fuel mixture. A spark igniter is located within a path of the spray pattern to ignite combustion of the air-fuel mixture. The direct-injection engine further includes a movable piston defining a lower boundary of the combustion cylinder to contain the combustion of the air-fuel mixture. The piston is configured to include a bowl portion having local geometric features located on an intake port side of the combustion cylinder to redirect fluid flow towards a vortex in fluid communication with a combustion location near the cylinder central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Arun S. Solomon, William F. Spruit, David P. Sczomak
  • Patent number: 10519883
    Abstract: A catalyst temperature control system of a vehicle includes a fuel control module configured to control fuel injection based on a target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and a target fuel injection start timing. An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module is configured to control an EGR valve based on a target EGR opening. An adjustment module is configured to, when a temperature of a catalyst in an exhaust system is less than a sum of a predetermined light-out temperature of the catalyst and a predetermined temperature and the target air/fuel ratio is fuel lean relative to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio, based on a comparison of an engine speed and a predetermined engine speed, selectively adjust at least one of: a target throttle opening, a target spark timing, the target fuel injection start timing, the target air/fuel ratio, and the target EGR opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Arun S. Solomon, Kushal Narayanaswamy, Gerald A. Szekely, Jr., David P. Sczomak
  • Publication number: 20190368437
    Abstract: A catalyst temperature control system of a vehicle includes a fuel control module configured to control fuel injection based on a target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and a target fuel injection start timing. An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module is configured to control an EGR valve based on a target EGR opening. An adjustment module is configured to, when a temperature of a catalyst in an exhaust system is less than a sum of a predetermined light-out temperature of the catalyst and a predetermined temperature and the target air/fuel ratio is fuel lean relative to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio, based on a comparison of an engine speed and a predetermined engine speed, selectively adjust at least one of: a target throttle opening, a target spark timing, the target fuel injection start timing, the target air/fuel ratio, and the target EGR opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Arun S. SOLOMON, Kushal NARAYANASWAMY, Gerald A. SZEKELY, JR., David P. SCZOMAK
  • Patent number: 10077727
    Abstract: A fuel control module controls fuel injection of an engine based on a predetermined lean air/fuel ratio. The predetermined lean air/fuel ratio is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio for the fuel. A cylinder control module selectively deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of M cylinders of the engine to increase removal of nitrogen oxide (NOx) from exhaust. M is an integer greater than 0 and less than a total number of cylinders of the engine. The fuel control module further: disables fueling of the M cylinders while opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the M cylinders is deactivated; and, while fueling of the M cylinders is disabled and opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the M cylinders is deactivated, controls fuel injection of other cylinders based on a predetermined rich air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Robert J. Gallon, Robert S. McAlpine, Arun S. Solomon
  • Publication number: 20180142607
    Abstract: A direct-injection stratified charge internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder to receive an air-fuel mixture, and an air intake port to inlet air into the combustion cylinder. The direct-injection engine also includes a fuel injector configured to deliver fuel within the cylinder in a spray pattern substantially aligned to a cylinder central axis to create the air-fuel mixture. A spark igniter is located within a path of the spray pattern to ignite combustion of the air-fuel mixture. The dire-injection engine further includes a movable piston defining a lower boundary of the combustion cylinder to contain the combustion of the air-fuel mixture. The piston is configured to include a bowl portion having local geometric features located on an intake port side of the combustion cylinder to redirect fluid flow towards a vortex in fluid communication with a combustion location near the cylinder central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Arun S. Solomon, William F. SPRUIT, David P. Sczomak
  • Patent number: 9957911
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a fuel control module that controls fuel injection of a first cylinder of an engine based on a first target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and that controls fuel injection of a second cylinder of the engine based on a second target air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to stoichiometry. The first cylinder outputs exhaust to a first three way catalyst (TWC), and the second cylinder outputs exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. An EGR control module controls opening of the EGR valve to: (i) a second TWC that reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust and outputs ammonia to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst; and (ii) a conduit that recirculates exhaust back to an intake system of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Kushal Narayanaswamy, Edward J. Keating
  • Patent number: 9915221
    Abstract: A combustion system for use with one or more cylinder bores of an internal combustion engine includes at least one cylinder head defining first and second intake ports in fluid communication with the one or more cylinder bores. A flap is adjustably connected to the at least one cylinder head. The flap includes a first flap portion cooperating with the first intake port extending from an arm and a second flap portion cooperating with the second intake port extending from the arm and disposed adjacent the first flap portion. A controller in electrical communication with an actuator monitors the condition of the engine and actuates the flap to position the first and second flap portions between first and second positions to create a first combustion condition and a second combustion condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Robert J. Gallon, Arun S. Solomon
  • Publication number: 20170241364
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a fuel control module that controls fuel injection of a first cylinder of an engine based on a first target air/fuel ratio that is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and that controls fuel injection of a second cylinder of the engine based on a second target air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to stoichiometry. The first cylinder outputs exhaust to a first three way catalyst (TWC), and the second cylinder outputs exhaust to an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. An EGR control module controls opening of the EGR valve to: (i) a second TWC that reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust and outputs ammonia to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst; and (ii) a conduit that recirculates exhaust back to an intake system of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: David P. SCZOMAK, Kushal NARAYANASWAMY, Edward J. KEATING
  • Publication number: 20170198652
    Abstract: A fuel control module controls fuel injection of an engine based on a predetermined lean air/fuel ratio. The predetermined lean air/fuel ratio is fuel lean relative to a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio for the fuel. A cylinder control module selectively deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of M cylinders of the engine to increase removal of nitrogen oxide (NOx) from exhaust. M is an integer greater than 0 and less than a total number of cylinders of the engine. The fuel control module further: disables fueling of the M cylinders while opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the M cylinders is deactivated; and, while fueling of the M cylinders is disabled and opening of the intake and exhaust valves of the M cylinders is deactivated, controls fuel injection of other cylinders based on a predetermined rich air/fuel ratio that is fuel rich relative to the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: David P. SCZOMAK, Robert J. GALLON, Robert S. MCALPINE, Arun S. SOLOMON
  • Patent number: 9695772
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a fuel control module and at least one of a desired air per cylinder (APC) module and a predicted manifold absolute pressure (MAP) module. The desired APC module determines a desired amount of airflow to each cylinder of an engine. The predicted MAP module predicts a pressure within an intake manifold of the engine at a future time. The fuel control module selectively adjusts a fuel injection parameter of the engine based on at least one of: a change in the desired air per cylinder from a first time to a second time; and a change in the predicted manifold pressure from the first time to the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Levy, David P. Sczomak, Michael J. Lucido, Jonathan T. Shibata
  • Patent number: 9677495
    Abstract: A fuel control system includes a target rail pressure module. The target rail pressure module determines a target fuel rail pressure of a fuel rail of a direct injection engine. An offset module determines an offset value based on an engine speed of the direct injection engine and at least one of an engine load and an air per cylinder. A modifier module determines a modifier value based on a temperature of the direct injection engine. A rail pressure control module adjusts a current fuel rail pressure of the fuel rail based on the target fuel rail pressure, the offset value and the modifier value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Joshua D. Cowgill, Daniel Sabathil, David P. Sczomak
  • Publication number: 20170145949
    Abstract: A combustion system for use with one or more cylinder bores of an internal combustion engine includes at least one cylinder head defining first and second intake ports in fluid communication with the one or more cylinder bores. A flap is adjustably connected to the at least one cylinder head. The flap includes a first flap portion cooperating with the first intake port extending from an arm and a second flap portion cooperating with the second intake port extending from the arm and disposed adjacent the first flap portion. A controller in electrical communication with an actuator monitors the condition of the engine and actuates the flap to position the first and second flap portions between first and second positions to create a first combustion condition and a second combustion condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Robert J. Gallon, Arun S. Solomon
  • Patent number: 9629189
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a communication module and a control module. The communication module transmits a first wireless signal indicating a request from a user of a vehicle to adjust operation of a powertrain in the vehicle, a display in the vehicle, and/or a noise actuator in the vehicle. The communication module receives a second wireless signal enabling operation of the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator to be adjusted according to the request. The control module controls the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator based on a first set of values for a control parameter before the second wireless signal is received. The control module controls the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator based on a second set of values for the control parameter after the second wireless signal is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Robert S. Levy
  • Publication number: 20160138508
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a communication module and a control module. The communication module transmits a first wireless signal indicating a request from a user of a vehicle to adjust operation of a powertrain in the vehicle, a display in the vehicle, and/or a noise actuator in the vehicle. The communication module receives a second wireless signal enabling operation of the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator to be adjusted according to the request. The control module controls the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator based on a first set of values for a control parameter before the second wireless signal is received. The control module controls the powertrain, the display, and/or the noise actuator based on a second set of values for the control parameter after the second wireless signal is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: DAVID P. SCZOMAK, Robert S. Levy
  • Patent number: 9328690
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes an injection timing adjustment module and an injection control module. The injection timing adjustment module generates an adjusted fuel injection timing when a fuel request is received and the engine is operating in a transient state, wherein the adjusted fuel injection timing is based on a base fuel injection timing, an elapsed time since the fuel request, and at least one of a plurality of engine operating parameters. The injection control module controls fuel injection based on the adjusted fuel injection timing for a period, and controls fuel injection based on the base fuel injection timing after the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Joshua D. Cowgill, John Ogalla Waldman, David P. Sczomak
  • Publication number: 20160084192
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a fuel control module and at least one of a desired air per cylinder (APC) module and a predicted manifold absolute pressure (MAP) module. The desired APC module determines a desired amount of airflow to each cylinder of an engine. The predicted MAP module predicts a pressure within an intake manifold of the engine at a future time. The fuel control module selectively adjusts a fuel injection parameter of the engine based on at least one of: a change in the desired air per cylinder from a first time to a second time; and a change in the predicted manifold pressure from the first time to the second time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Robert S. Levy, David P. Sczomak, Michael J. Lucido, Jonathan T. Shibata
  • Patent number: 9163568
    Abstract: A cylinder deactivation system comprises a fuel injection module and a cold start control module. The fuel injection module injects a desired amount of fuel into a cylinder of an engine during engine cranking. The cold start control module maintains an intake valve and an exhaust valve associated with the cylinder in respective closed positions while the desired amount of fuel is injected when at least one of an air temperature and a coolant temperature is less than a predetermined cold start temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, David J. Cleary, Junseok Chang
  • Patent number: 8989989
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a temperature estimation module and a fuel control module. The temperature estimation module estimates a piston temperature associated with a cylinder based on engine operating conditions. The fuel control module controls at least one of injection timing associated with the cylinder, injection pressure associated with a cylinder, injection location associated with a cylinder, and a number of injections per engine cycle associated with the cylinder based on the piston temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Jonathan T. Shibata, Joshua D. Cowgill
  • Patent number: 8965667
    Abstract: A method for starting an engine includes sensing a triggering event and monitoring pressure in a fuel rail. A cam shaft of the engine is oscillated with a cam phaser. The cam shaft does not complete a full rotation during the oscillation. A fuel rail pump is operated with the oscillating cam shaft until the monitored pressure in the fuel rail reaches a minimum level, and the engine is started after reaching the minimum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Robert J Gallon, Joseph J. Moon
  • Publication number: 20140074381
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a temperature estimation module and a fuel control module. The temperature estimation module estimates a piston temperature associated with a cylinder based on engine operating conditions. The fuel control module controls at least one of injection timing associated with the cylinder, injection pressure associated with a cylinder, injection location associated with a cylinder, and a number of injections per engine cycle associated with the cylinder based on the piston temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Sczomak, Jonathan T. Shibata, Joshua D. Cowgill