Patents by Inventor John L. Lahti

John L. Lahti 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: 20080262698
    Abstract: There is provided a method and an article of manufacture comprising a storage medium having machine-executable code stored therein for estimating a power loss for an internal combustion engine at a point in time. The code includes code to determine engine operating conditions. A nominal power loss is determined based upon an engine operating point. A power loss correction to the nominal power loss is determined based upon barometric pressure, engine temperature, air/fuel ratio, and catalyst temperature. The power loss correction is determinable for: an engine air/fuel ratio mode, an engine cylinder activation mode, and, an engine operating temperature mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: John L. Lahti, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20080195297
    Abstract: A diagnostic cold start emissions control system for an internal combustion engine includes a control module having a calculated engine-out energy module, an engine-out energy residual module, and a diagnostic system evaluation module. The calculated engine-out energy module is in communication with the engine-out energy residual module and is configured to determine an operating engine-out energy flow based on an operating engine torque. The engine-out energy residual module is in communication with the diagnostic system evaluation module and is configured to determine an engine-out energy residual based on the determined engine-out energy flow and an expected engine-out energy flow. The diagnostic system evaluation module is configured to determine whether the determined engine-out energy residual meets a predetermined value indicative of proper cold start emissions control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, John L. Lahti, Christopher A. Gillanders, Robert J. Genslak, John F. Van Gilder
  • Patent number: 7275426
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine includes a virtual engine model which mathematically represents the states of the engine in real time, but which is programmed to provide the engine's states at least a fraction of an engine cycle (and preferably at least one-fourth of an engine cycle, i.e., one stroke) to several engine cycles in advance of the real engine. The mass flow entering and leaving the cylinder is modeled, allowing parameters such as the mass of air per cylinder (MAC) and residual exhaust gas to be computed, and thereafter used to generate engine control commands related to fuel injection (air/fuel ratio), spark advance, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: John L. Lahti, John J. Moskwa
  • Patent number: 7124021
    Abstract: A testing device allows a test engine (such as a single-cylinder test engine) to experience the air exchange characteristics of a multi-cylinder test engine having a greater number of cylinders. The test engine receives air from an air source (such as the atmosphere) through the interior passage of an air intake adapter, wherein valves on the passage walls separate the interior passage from a negative or positive pressure source. A processor (such as a computer) may actuate the valves to allow air to be pulled from the passage to simulate the effect of air intake into additional virtual cylinders (i.e., cylinders that would operate in tandem with the cylinder(s) of the test engine if the test engine had a greater number of cylinders), and/or to simulate the effect of forced air induction (i.e., turbocharging or supercharging).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: John J. Moskwa, John L. Lahti, Matthew W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 6708557
    Abstract: A dynamometer is coupled to a single cylinder version of a multi-cylinder engine. The dynamometer control system calculates the instantaneous dynamic torques (e.g., inertial, combustion, and/or other torques) that would normally be generated in the multi-cylinder engine. The control system then inputs the torque from the missing cylinders of the engine to the dynamometer, preferably by a hydraulic system capable of accurately applying these torque pulses. By inputting energy to the engine as well as receiving it, the single-cylinder engine can replicate the rapid transients that are experienced in multi-cylinder engine operation, and can therefore be made to have an instantaneous speed profile matching that of the multi-cylinder engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: John J. Moskwa, John L. Lahti
  • Publication number: 20030150258
    Abstract: A dynamometer is coupled to a single cylinder version of a multi-cylinder engine. The dynamometer control system calculates the instantaneous dynamic torques (e.g., inertial, combustion, and/or other torques) that would normally be generated in the multi-cylinder engine. The control system then inputs the torque from the missing cylinders of the engine to the dynamometer, preferably by a hydraulic system capable of accurately applying these torque pulses. By inputting energy to the engine as well as receiving it, the single-cylinder engine can replicate the rapid transients that are experienced in multi-cylinder engine operation, and can therefore be made to have an instantaneous speed profile matching that of the multi-cylinder engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: John J. Moskwa, John L. Lahti