Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Dulzo

Joseph R. Dulzo 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: 20100268439
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a fuel pump control module and a diagnostic module. The fuel pump control module controls a pressure pump to inject fuel into a fuel rail. The diagnostic module determines an estimated pressure increase within the fuel rail based on the injected fuel, compares an actual pressure increase within the fuel rail to the estimated pressure increase, and indicates when the actual pressure increase is less than the estimated pressure increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Byungho Lee, Donovan L. Dibble, Joseph R. Dulzo, Scot A. Douglas
  • Patent number: 7806106
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine includes a control module that includes a fuel rail pressure module and a comparison module. The fuel rail pressure module determines a first fuel rail pressure of a fuel rail after a first event and a second fuel rail pressure of the fuel rail after a second event. The first event includes N conditions, a first of the N conditions comprises deactivation of a fuel pump of the engine, and N is an integer. The second event includes M conditions, a first of the M conditions comprises activation of a fuel injector, and M is an integer. The comparison module adjusts a fuel injector constant of the fuel injector based on the first fuel rail pressure, the second fuel rail pressure, and an injector activation period corresponding to the second event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Publication number: 20100250089
    Abstract: A method and a control module for diagnosing an engine component function includes a comparison module comparing an in-cylinder pressure signal to a threshold and a fault indication module generating a diagnostic signal for an engine component in response to comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo, Jonathan T. Shibata, Daniel G. Brennan, Joshua Cowgill
  • Publication number: 20100224169
    Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a fuel system of an engine includes a steady state determination module determining the engine is operating at a steady state and a memory storing a first fuel correction. A fuel pump control module commands a predetermined fuel rail pressure change. The memory stores a second fuel correction after the predetermined fuel rail pressure change. A sensor error correction module determines a fuel rail pressure sensor error based on the first fuel correction and the second fuel correction and determines a fuel rail pressure in response to the sensor error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Byungho Lee, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo
  • Publication number: 20100206269
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an engine includes a control module that includes a fuel rail pressure module and a comparison module. The fuel rail pressure module determines a first fuel rail pressure of a fuel rail after a first event and a second fuel rail pressure of the fuel rail after a second event. The first event includes N conditions, a first of the N conditions comprises deactivation of a fuel pump of the engine, and N is an integer. The second event includes M conditions, a first of the M conditions comprises activation of a fuel injector, and M is an integer. The comparison module adjusts a fuel injector constant of the fuel injector based on the first fuel rail pressure, the second fuel rail pressure, and an injector activation period corresponding to the second event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Publication number: 20100199951
    Abstract: An adaptive fuel delivery control system includes a pressure monitoring module and a flow rate determination module. The pressure monitoring module determines an actual pressure drop after a fuel injection event on an injector. The flow rate determination module determines an adjusted flow rate based on a reference flow rate and the pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
  • Publication number: 20100154526
    Abstract: A solenoid diagnostic system includes a pressure monitoring module that determines a first pressure in an intake cam phaser for an intake camshaft and a second pressure in an exhaust cam phaser for an exhaust camshaft associated with a cylinder. A fuel injection monitoring module determines a fuel injection status associated with the cylinder. A fault determination module diagnoses a fault in a solenoid associated with the cylinder based on the first pressure, the second pressure, and the fuel injection status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: KENNETH J. CINPINSKI, JOSEPH R. DULZO
  • Patent number: 7726281
    Abstract: A control module comprising a cylinder torque determination module that determines an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, a cylinder torque balancing module that determines a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and a cylinder pressure error detection module that detects a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term. A method comprising determining an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, determining a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and detecting a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo, David S. Mathews
  • Patent number: 7651441
    Abstract: An engine control system for controlling a displacement on demand engine having a plurality of cylinders includes a torque converter with a torque converter clutch. A control module determines a slip speed of said torque converter clutch, estimates a temperature state of said torque converter clutch based on said slip speed, and selectively activates at least one of said cylinders based on said temperature state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel M. Maguire, Joseph R. Dulzo, Thomas E. Bolander, William C. Albertson
  • Publication number: 20090276138
    Abstract: A control module for determining a time and angle based cylinder pressure includes a crankshaft position determination module that determines a first crankshaft position in an engine at a first time, a time-based cylinder pressure determination module that determines N time-based cylinder pressures in the engine at N times, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and an angle-based cylinder pressure determination module that determines an angle-based cylinder pressure at the first crankshaft position based on the first time, the N cylinder pressures, and the N times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo, Kenneth J. Buselpp
  • Publication number: 20090239707
    Abstract: A system comprises a slip module and a gas temperature module. The slip module adjusts slipping of a clutch of a torque converter based on a first slip value before a cylinder of an engine is deactivated. The gas temperature module determines a temperature of a gas within the cylinder after the cylinder is deactivated. The slip module determines a second slip value based on the temperature of the gas and adjusts the slipping of the clutch based on the second slip value, wherein the second slip value is less than the first slip value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: William C. Albertson, Thomas E. Bolander, Joseph R. Dulzo
  • Publication number: 20090043475
    Abstract: A control module comprising a cylinder torque determination module that determines an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, a cylinder torque balancing module that determines a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and a cylinder pressure error detection module that detects a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term. A method comprising determining an indicated torque for a cylinder in an engine based on a pressure in the cylinder, determining a derivative term for the cylinder based on rotation of a crankshaft, and detecting a pressure error for the cylinder based on the indicated torque and the derivative term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph R. Dulzo, David S. Mathews
  • Publication number: 20080234106
    Abstract: An engine control system for controlling a displacement on demand engine having a plurality of cylinders includes a torque converter with a torque converter clutch. A control module determines a slip speed of said torque converter clutch, estimates a temperature state of said torque converter clutch based on said slip speed, and selectively activates at least one of said cylinders based on said temperature state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Joel M. Maguire, Joseph R. Dulzo, Thomas E. Bolander, William C. Albertson
  • Publication number: 20080208420
    Abstract: A method of regulating a torque output of a vehicle powertrain includes generating a plurality of torque requests and associating each of the plurality of torque requests with one of a plurality of arbitration domains to form torque request sets associated with each of the plurality of arbitration domains. A first torque request set is arbitrated within a first of the plurality of arbitration domains to provide a first torque request. The first torque request is introduced into a second torque request set associated with a second of the plurality of arbitration domains. The second torque request set is arbitrated within the second arbitration domain to provide a second torque request. A torque source is regulated based on the second torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Leonard G. Wozniak, Robert C. Simon, Christopher E. Whitney, Donovan L. Dibble, Charles H. Folkerts, Joseph R. Dulzo, Thomas Magnusson, Magnus Wall, Emil Ritzen
  • Patent number: 7395147
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine having an intake manifold and a turbocharger that supplies compressed air to the intake manifold. An engine control module calculates a desired pre-throttle pressure of air before the throttle and calculates a desired manifold air flow into the engine. The engine control module determines a desired pre throttle pressure area based on the desired air per cylinder, desired manifold pressure and RPM and generates control signals to control the engine with the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Douglas J. Babcock, Joseph R. Dulzo, Emil Ritzen, Anne E. Vondracek, Lennarth Zander
  • Publication number: 20080060356
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine having an intake manifold and a turbocharger that supplies compressed air to the intake manifold. An engine control module calculates a desired pre-throttle pressure of air before the throttle and calculates a desired manifold air flow into the engine. The engine control module determines a desired pre throttle pressure area based on the desired air per cylinder, desired manifold pressure and RPM and generates control signals to control the engine with the turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Douglas J. Babcock, Joseph R. Dulzo, Emil Ritzen, Anne E. Vondracek, Lennarth Zander
  • Patent number: 7159623
    Abstract: A method of estimating composition of fuel in the fuel tank of a vehicle. A refuel event is detected. Fuel consumption is monitored during a plurality of stages after the refuel event. A plurality of fuel trim shift values are determined relative to the stages. The fuel trim shift values are used to estimate a fuel composition change. This method eliminates a need for a hardware fuel composition sensor and also provides dynamic filtering of fuel trim values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Carr, Joseph R. Dulzo, Christopher R. Graham, Richard B. Jess, Ian J. MacEwen, Onassis Matthews, Jeffrey A. Sell, Michael J. Svestka, Julian R. Verdejo
  • Patent number: 7069136
    Abstract: A cruise control system for a vehicle includes a throttle and a controller. The controller determines an open-loop speed compensation factor and calculates a closed-loop speed compensation factor. The controller determines a throttle area based on the open-loop speed compensation factor and the closed-loop speed compensation factor and operates the throttle based on the throttle area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Tameem K. Assaf, Joseph R. Dulzo, Onassis Matthews
  • Patent number: 6761146
    Abstract: A torque control system for a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electronic throttle coupled to the internal combustion engine, a powertrain controller controlling the electronic throttle, a first control loop operating in the powertrain controller including a feed forward function to control engine torque, a second control loop operating in the powertrain controller including a proportional function acting upon the torque variance in the internal combustion engine, a third control loop operating in the powertrain controller including an integral function acting upon the rpm variance in the internal combustion engine, and where the outputs of the first, second and third control loop are used to factor a desired mass airflow for the engine and the desired mass air flow is used to generate a position command for the electronic throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Onassis Matthews, Joseph R. Dulzo, Donovan L. Dibble, Scott J. Chynoweth
  • Patent number: 5484353
    Abstract: A torque converter clutch control reduces or eliminates undesirable driveline disturbances through throttle position or load based criteria. A region of vehicle operation delineated by vehicle speed prone to driveline disturbances during certain vehicle operating conditions is used to predict such disturbances and disengage the torque converter clutch. Disturbances are cumulated and upon reaching a predetermined number of events the control substitutes certain torque converter clutch apply/release patterns to further reduce such disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Lux, John W. Boughner, Joseph R. Dulzo