Patents by Inventor Nicola Pisu
Nicola Pisu 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).
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Patent number: 10619586Abstract: A method, control system, and propulsion system use model predictive control to control and track several parameters for improved performance of the propulsion system. Numerous sets of possible command values for a set of controlled variables are determined. Initial constraints for the controlled variables are determined, which include upper and lower limits for each controlled variable and upper and lower rate-of-change limits for each controlled variable. A set of consolidated constraint limits for the controlled variables is then determined. Each consolidated constraint limit is determined by consolidating one of the upper and lower limits with one of the upper and lower rate-of-change limits. A cost for each set of possible command values is determined, and the set of possible command values that has the lowest cost and falls within the set of consolidated constraint limits is selected for use in controlling the propulsion system.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ning Jin, Nicola Pisu, Ruixing Long, David N Hayden
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Patent number: 10519880Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a torque request for an engine based on driver input. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the torque request, each of the sets of possible target values including target effective throttle area percentage; determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, respectively; determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets, respectively, the target values including a target pressure ratio across the throttle valve. A target area module determines a target opening area of the throttle valve based on the target effective throttle area percentage ratio. A throttle actuator module controls the throttle valve based on the target opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Nicola Pisu, Vincenzo Alfieri, Julian R. Verdejo, Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Ning Jin
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Publication number: 20190301387Abstract: A method, control system, and propulsion system use model predictive control to control and track several parameters for improved performance of the propulsion system. Numerous sets of possible command values for a set of controlled variables are determined. Initial constraints for the controlled variables are determined, which include upper and lower limits for each controlled variable and upper and lower rate-of-change limits for each controlled variable. A set of consolidated constraint limits for the controlled variables is then determined. Each consolidated constraint limit is determined by consolidating one of the upper and lower limits with one of the upper and lower rate-of-change limits. A cost for each set of possible command values is determined, and the set of possible command values that has the lowest cost and falls within the set of consolidated constraint limits is selected for use in controlling the propulsion system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Ning Jin, Nicola Pisu, Ruixing Long, David N. Hayden
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Publication number: 20190145304Abstract: A prediction module is configured to, based on a set of possible target values for future times, determine predicted efficiency values for set of possible target values at the future times, respectively. A cost module is configured to determine a cost for the set of possible target values based on comparisons of the predicted efficiency values and a reference efficiency value. A selection module is configured to: (i) based on the cost of the set of possible target values, select the set of possible target values from a group including: the set of possible target values; and N other sets of possible target values; and (ii) set target values to respective ones of the selected set of possible target values. A first valve control module is configured to actuate a first coolant valve based on a first one of the target values.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gabriele GIRAUDO, Vincenzo ALFIERI, Michele BlLANCIA, Nicola PISU
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Patent number: 10167746Abstract: A method of phasing the opening and closing of internal combustion engine intake and exhaust valves relative to the rotation of the crankshaft is based upon changes in engine speed, engine load and ambient relative humidity. During certain conditions of higher humidity, in order to maintain good combustion stability and thus overall engine operation, it is necessary to reduce intake and exhaust valve overlap by adjusting the phase of the intake and exhaust camshafts. This is achieved by utilizing a set of cam position reference values and constraints based upon engine speed, engine load and humidity that are contained in lookup tables that adjust and limit cam position and valve overlap. Generally speaking, in order to maintain optimum engine performance, intake and exhaust valve overlap is reduced with higher ambient humidity and vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher E. Whitney, David N. Hayden, Nicola Pisu, Stephen P. Levijoki
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Publication number: 20180363580Abstract: A method for controlling an actuator system of a motor vehicle includes utilizing a model predictive control (MPC) module with an MPC solver to determine optimal positions of a plurality of actuators subject to constraints, optimizing a cost function for a set of actuator duty cycles for controlling positions of the plurality of actuators, determining if the MPC solver has determined optimal actuator positions for the plurality of actuators, and applying a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) solution if the MPC solver fails to determine optimal actuator positions for the plurality of actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Ning Jin, Ruixing Long, Nicola Pisu
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Patent number: 10156197Abstract: A method for controlling an actuator system of a motor vehicle includes utilizing a model predictive control (MPC) module with an MPC solver to determine optimal positions of a plurality of actuators subject to constraints, optimizing a cost function for a set of actuator duty cycles for controlling positions of the plurality of actuators, determining if the MPC solver has determined optimal actuator positions for the plurality of actuators, and applying a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) solution if the MPC solver fails to determine optimal actuator positions for the plurality of actuators.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ning Jin, Ruixing Long, Nicola Pisu
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Publication number: 20180298838Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a torque request for an engine based on driver input. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the torque request, each of the sets of possible target values including target effective throttle area percentage; determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, respectively; determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets, respectively, the target values including a target pressure ratio across the throttle valve. A target area module determines a target opening area of the throttle valve based on the target effective throttle area percentage ratio. A throttle actuator module controls the throttle valve based on the target opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2017Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Nicola Pisu, Vincenzo Alfieri, JR., Julian R. Verdejo, Gary Robert Cygan, JR., Ning Jin
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Publication number: 20180230864Abstract: A method of phasing the opening and closing of internal combustion engine intake and exhaust valves relative to the rotation of the crankshaft is based upon changes in engine speed, engine load and ambient relative humidity. During certain conditions of higher humidity, in order to maintain good combustion stability and thus overall engine operation, it is necessary to reduce intake and exhaust valve overlap by adjusting the phase of the intake and exhaust camshafts. This is achieved by utilizing a set of cam position reference values and constraints based upon engine speed, engine load and humidity that are contained in lookup tables that adjust and limit cam position and valve overlap. Generally speaking, in order to maintain optimum engine performance, intake and exhaust valve overlap is reduced with higher ambient humidity and vice versa.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2017Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, David N. Hayden, Nicola Pisu, Stephen P. Levijoki