Patents by Inventor Eugene V. Gonze

Eugene V. Gonze 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).

  • Publication number: 20170159546
    Abstract: A control system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an estimated coolant flow module and at least one of a valve control module and a pump control module. The estimated coolant flow module estimates a rate of coolant flow through a cooling system for an engine based on a pressure of coolant in the cooling system and a speed of a coolant pump that circulates coolant through the cooling system. The valve control module controls the position of a coolant valve based on the estimated coolant flow rate. The pump control module controls the coolant pump speed based on the estimated coolant flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Sergio Quelhas, Vijay A. Ramappan, Michael J. Paratore, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170122182
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes an adjusting module that: (i) receives an engine output coolant temperature measured at a coolant output of an internal combustion engine; (ii) adjusts the engine output coolant temperature based on a reference temperature to produce a first adjusted coolant temperature; (iii) receives an engine input coolant temperature measured at a coolant input of the internal combustion engine; and (iv) adjusts the engine input coolant temperature based on the reference temperature to produce a second adjusted coolant temperature. The coolant control system also includes a difference module that determines a difference between the first and second adjusted coolant temperatures. The coolant control system also includes a pump control module that controls a coolant output of a coolant pump based on the difference between the first and second adjusted coolant temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Christopher H. KNIEPER, Vijay A. RAMAPPAN
  • Patent number: 9611780
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a fraction module, and a coolant valve control module. The fraction module determines an oil fuel fraction based on an amount of fuel in an amount of engine oil. The coolant valve control module, based on the oil fuel fraction, selectively actuates a coolant valve to enable coolant flow from an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM) of an engine to an engine oil heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9599011
    Abstract: A pump current module determines a first current flowing through an electric engine coolant pump based on a coolant valve position. A current error module receives a second current flowing through the electric engine coolant pump measured using a current sensor and determines a current error based on a difference between the first current and the second current. A fault module indicates whether a fault is present based on the current error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9581075
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a target pressure module and a thermostat valve control module. The target pressure module determines a target pressure of coolant in a coolant path between a thermostat valve and at least one of an engine oil heat exchanger and a transmission fluid heat exchanger. The thermostat valve control module closes the thermostat valve and blocks coolant flow out of an engine when a temperature of coolant within the engine is less than a predetermined temperature. When the temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature, the thermostat valve control module controls opening of the thermostat valve to the coolant path based on the target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, George M. Claypole, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9562452
    Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of an engine comprises receiving a signal indicative of whether the engine is in an operating state or a non-operating state and detecting, based on the signal, when the engine has departed an operating state and entered a non-operating state. When the engine has departed an operating state and entered a non-operating state, a regeneration event is initiated. The regeneration event comprises causing a stream of air to flow through the after-treatment component and initiating a flow of fuel into the stream of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Charles E. Solbrig
  • Publication number: 20170022879
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a fraction module, and a coolant valve control module. The fraction module determines an oil fuel fraction based on an amount of fuel in an amount of engine oil. The coolant valve control module, based on the oil fuel fraction, selectively actuates a coolant valve to enable coolant flow from an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM) of an engine to an engine oil heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Michael J. PARATORE, JR., Yue-Ming CHEN
  • Patent number: 9540987
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a coolant valve, a valve control module, and a fault diagnostic module. The coolant valve includes a first valve chamber, a second valve chamber, and a partition disposed between the first and second valve chambers. The coolant valve further includes a first end stop disposed on a first outer perimeter surface of the first valve chamber and a second end stop disposed on a second outer perimeter surface of the second valve chamber. The valve control module rotates the coolant valve in a first direction and in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction. The fault diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the coolant valve based on a measured position of the coolant valve as the coolant valve is rotated in the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20160376978
    Abstract: A system including a target module determining a target temperature of coolant at an input of an engine for a maximum amount of fuel efficiency. A mode module disables closed loop control based on temperatures of coolant entering the engine and at an output of a radiator. An open loop module determines first and second temperatures of coolant at inputs of a coolant control valve that receive coolant from the radiator and a channel that bypasses the radiator. A ratio module determines a ratio based on the first and second temperatures and the temperatures of the coolant entering the engine and at the radiator output. A closed loop module generates a correction value based on the target temperature and the temperature of the coolant entering the engine. A position module adjusts the coolant control valve based on the ratio, the correction value and whether closed loop control is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Yue-Ming CHEN, Vijay RAMAPPAN, Sanjeev M. NAIK
  • Patent number: 9482125
    Abstract: A regeneration system includes a first comparison module that at least one of (i) compares a first temperature of an adsorber to an adsorber release temperature and (ii) compares a second temperature of an engine to a predetermined temperature, and generates a first comparison signal. A second comparison module that compares a particulate matter output of the engine with a predetermined output and generates a second comparison signal. A mode selection module that selects a mode and generates a mode signal based on the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal. A bypass valve control module that adjusts position of a bypass valve to bypass at least one of a particulate matter (PM) filter and the adsorber based on the mode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9458812
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a temperature control module and an engine disabling module. The temperature control module regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down. The engine disabling module selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Halim G Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Publication number: 20160281584
    Abstract: A system includes a coolant management module that, determines whether an engine of a vehicle is off, determines, in response to a determination that the engine is off, whether a heater associated with the engine is on, receives one of a plurality of engine coolant temperature (ECT) measurements and a respective location associated with the received ECT measurement, and communicates the respective location and an instruction to direct engine coolant flow from the respective location to one of the heater and engine. The system also includes a coolant control module that selectively actuates one or more coolant control valves based on the respective location and the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Christopher Harold Knieper
  • Patent number: 9410458
    Abstract: A control system includes a state of charge module and a control module. The state of charge module receives a parameter associated with a battery in a vehicle and determines a state of charge of the battery based on the parameter. The control module activates a heater in a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle based on the state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Publication number: 20160201547
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a coolant valve control module and a pump control module. The coolant valve control module determines a position of a coolant valve. The pump control module determines a speed of a coolant pump based on the position of the coolant valve and a desired coolant output temperature, measures a coolant output temperature, determines a difference between the desired coolant output temperature and the measured coolant output temperature, generates a correction factor based on the difference between the desired coolant output temperature and the measured coolant output temperature, and applies the correction factor to the speed of the coolant pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan
  • Patent number: 9388722
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The exhaust gas treatment system includes an electrically heated catalyst (“EHC”) device in fluid communication with an exhaust gas conduit, a generator, a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device, and a control module. The EHC device includes an electric heater and an EHC catalyst that is heated to an EHC light-off temperature. The generator is selectively operable in a target voltage mode to supply a target voltage to the electric heater. The target voltage represents a voltage required by the electric heater in order to maintain the EHC catalyst at a catalyst temperature. The SCR device is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit. The SCR device is located downstream of the EHC device and includes an SCR catalyst that is selectively heated by the EHC device to a SCR light-off temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 9376948
    Abstract: A method of treating an exhaust gas produced by a vehicle internal combustion engine includes conveying the gas through a first reactor including a non-thermal plasma. The gas includes nitric oxide and is transitionable between a first condition in which the gas has a cold-start temperature that is less than or equal to about 150° C., and a second condition in which the gas has an operating temperature that is greater than about 150° C. During the first condition, the method includes contacting the gas and plasma to oxidize the nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide and form an effluent that includes nitrogen dioxide. The method includes concurrently conveying the effluent through a second reactor including a diesel oxidation catalyst, and storing the nitrogen dioxide within the second reactor during only the first condition. The method includes, after storing, releasing nitrogen dioxide from the second reactor during only the second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chang H. Kim, Steven J. Schmieg, Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9284870
    Abstract: A regeneration system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter with an upstream end for receiving exhaust gas and a downstream end. A control module determines a current soot loading level of the PM filter and compares the current soot loading level to a predetermined soot loading level. The control module permits regeneration of the PM filter when the current soot loading level is less than the predetermined soot loading level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Garima Bhatia
  • Publication number: 20160053646
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for optimizing fuel economy during an engine warm up phase of operation of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust manifold may have a coolant jacket through which a coolant may flow. A temperature of the coolant in the exhaust manifold may be determined to detect when it is at a predetermined maximum threshold, which represents a temperature threshold just below a temperature at which the coolant will begin to boil. When this threshold is reached, then a determination may be made as to a minimum rate of flow of the coolant through the exhaust manifold which maintains the coolant at about the predetermined maximum threshold, and the coolant may be flowed through the exhaust manifold at the determined minimum rate of flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: EUGENE V. GONZE, VIJAY RAMAPPAN, MICHAEL J. PARATORE, JR., YUE-MING CHEN
  • Publication number: 20160053665
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving fuel economy in an internal combustion engine. The method may involve sensing a temperature of an engine block and determining a block thermal energy representing an ability of the block to reject heat. An open loop control scheme may be used together with the block thermal energy to predict if a coolant in the block is about to enter a boiling condition and, when this is about to occur, to open a block valve to permit a flow of coolant through the block. A closed loop control scheme may be used together with the sensed temperature of the block to determine if a coolant boiling condition is about to occur, and to control the block valve to permit a flow of coolant through the block which is just sufficient to prevent the onset of coolant boiling in the block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Ben W. Moscherosch
  • Publication number: 20160047291
    Abstract: A target speed module determines a target speed of an engine coolant pump of the vehicle. A speed adjustment module determines a speed adjustment based on a position of a valve, wherein a backpressure of the engine coolant pump changes when the position of the valve changes. An adjusted target speed module determines an adjusted target speed for the engine coolant pump based on the target speed and the speed adjustment. A speed control module controls a speed of the engine coolant pump based on the adjusted target speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: EUGENE V. GONZE, VIJAY RAMAPPAN, YUE-MING CHEN