Patents by Inventor Peter Kafarnik

Peter Kafarnik 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: 8776762
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a threshold determination module that determines a plurality of combustion mode thresholds based on the engine speed and engine temperature. The control module also includes a transition module that compares the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds and changes a combustion mode of the engine in response to comparing the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik, Jun-Mo Kang, Hanho Yun
  • Patent number: 8452520
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a parameter determination module and a period determination module. The parameter determination module determines a first fuel injection parameter based on a rate of change of a quantity of fuel injected during a period, and determines a second fuel injection parameter based on an initial quantity of fuel injected during the period. The period determination module determines a desired fuel injection period based on a desired fuel injection quantity, the first and second fuel injection parameters, and at least one of mass air flow (MAF) rate, intake air temperature (IAT), fuel injector pressure (FIP), engine coolant temperature (ECT), and exhaust gas air/fuel (A/F) ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Jun-Mo Kang, Peter Kafarnik, Jonathan T. Shibata
  • Patent number: 8322324
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes an HCCI mode control module operating an engine in a homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) mode. The control system also includes a difference module determining an actual difference between a desired torque amount and a spark ignition (SI) threshold. An SI mode control module operates the engine in a SI state when the actual difference is above a threshold band. A HCCI mode control module operates the engine in the HCCI mode for a predetermined time when the actual difference is within the torque threshold band. The HCCI mode control module operates the engine in the HCCI mode when the actual difference is below the torque threshold band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik, Allen B. Rayl, Jonathan T. Shibata
  • Patent number: 8326511
    Abstract: A control system for a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine includes a fuel requirement estimation module, a torque estimation module, and a torque control module. The fuel requirement estimation module estimates a fuel requirement of the HCCI engine based on a desired indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) of cylinders in the HCCI engine. The torque estimation module estimates a torque output of the HCCI engine based on the estimated fuel requirement. The torque control module adjusts the torque output of the HCCI engine based on the estimated torque output and a desired torque output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Allen B. Rayl, Andrew P. Bagnasco, Jun-Mo Kang, Peter Kafarnik
  • Patent number: 8316818
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a transition module that commands engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode. The control system also includes a fuel delivery module that operates the engine in a stratified charge operation mode after commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode and discontinues the stratified charge operation thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik, Jun-Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 8220436
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a spark ignited (SI) control module controlling the engine in a spark ignited mode, a pre-homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the spark ignited mode, and an HCCI module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the pre-HCCI mode. The SI module controls the engine in the SI mode after the HCCI mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Jun-Mo Kang, Vijay Ramappan, Matthew A. Wiles, Hanho Yun, Peter Kafarnik
  • Publication number: 20110295488
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a parameter determination module and a period determination module. The parameter determination module determines a first fuel injection parameter based on a rate of change of a quantity of fuel injected during a period, and determines a second fuel injection parameter based on an initial quantity of fuel injected during the period. The period determination module determines a desired fuel injection period based on a desired fuel injection quantity, the first and second fuel injection parameters, and at least one of mass air flow (MAF) rate, intake air temperature (IAT), fuel injector pressure (FIP), engine coolant temperature (ECT), and exhaust gas air/fuel (A/F) ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Jun-Mo Kang, Peter Kafarnik, Jonathan T. Shibata
  • Patent number: 8036807
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of controllable engine actuators includes operating the engine in a first combustion mode using a first control scheme while simultaneously simulating operating the engine in a second combustion mode using a second control scheme and in accordance with simulated control settings for the plurality of controllable engine actuators, and transitioning operation of the engine to the second combustion mode using the second control scheme and initially in accordance with the simulated control settings for the plurality of controllable engine actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Allen B. Rayl, Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik
  • Publication number: 20110238280
    Abstract: A control system for a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine includes a fuel requirement estimation module, a torque estimation module, and a torque control module. The fuel requirement estimation module estimates a fuel requirement of the HCCI engine based on a desired indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) of cylinders in the HCCI engine. The torque estimation module estimates a torque output of the HCCI engine based on the estimated fuel requirement. The torque control module adjusts the torque output of the HCCI engine based on the estimated torque output and a desired torque output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Allen B. Rayl, Andrew P. Bagnasco, Jun-Mo Kang, Peter Kafarnik
  • Patent number: 7975668
    Abstract: A control system for an engine comprises an air per cylinder (APC) generating module that generates measured and desired APC values. A combustion transition module selectively transitions the engine from spark ignition (SI) combustion to homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion and from HCCI combustion to SI combustion. A spark control module selectively retards spark during the transitions based on a ratio of the measured APC value and the desired APC value. Alternately, spark retard can be based on measured and desired engine torque representing values (ETRVs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Allen B. Rayl, Jun-Mo Kang, Peter Kafarnik, Matthew A. Wiles, Hanho Yun
  • Publication number: 20110132318
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a threshold determination module that determines a plurality of combustion mode thresholds based on the engine speed and engine temperature. The control module also includes a transition module that compares the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds and changes a combustion mode of the engine in response to comparing the engine load and the plurality of combustion mode thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATION, INC.
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik, Jun-Mo Kang, Hanho Yun
  • Publication number: 20100275877
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes an HCCI mode control module operating an engine in a homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) mode. The control system also includes a difference module determining an actual difference between a desired torque amount and a spark ignition (SI) threshold. An SI mode control module operates the engine in a SI state when the actual difference is above a threshold band. A HCCI mode control module operates the engine in the HCCI mode for a predetermined time when the actual difference is within the torque threshold band. The HCCI mode control module operates the engine in the HCCI mode when the actual difference is below the torque threshold band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik, Allen B. Rayl, Jonathan T. Shibata
  • Publication number: 20100274465
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a transition module that commands engine control from a first homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) mode to a second HCCI mode. The control system also includes a fuel delivery module that operates the engine in a stratified charge operation mode after commanding engine control from the first HCCI mode to the second HCCI mode and discontinues the stratified charge operation thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik, Jun-Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 7729844
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine includes a spark ignition (SI) control module operating the engine in a spark ignition mode in a high lift valve state and a pre-HCCI control module entering a matching state when homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode conditions are met. When a matching condition is met, the pre-HCCI control module enters a pre-homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and performs spark retardation, stratified operation or lean operation and commands a low lift valve state. The system also includes an HCCI control module entering an HCCI mode and when in the low lift valve state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Chen-Fang Chang, Peter Kafarnik, Jun-Mo Kang, Vijay Ramappan
  • Publication number: 20090234560
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine includes a spark ignition (SI) control module operating the engine in a spark ignition mode in a high lift valve state and a pre-HCCI control module entering a matching state when homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode conditions are met. When a matching condition is met, the pre-HCCI control module enters a pre-homogeneous charge compression ignition mode and performs spark retardation, stratified operation or lean operation and commands a low lift valve state. The system also includes an HCCI control module entering an HCCI mode and when in the low lift valve state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Chen-Fang Chang, Peter Kafarnik, Jun-Mo Kang, Vijay Ramappan
  • Publication number: 20090234556
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of controllable engine actuators includes operating the engine in a first combustion mode using a first control scheme while simultaneously simulating operating the engine in a second combustion mode using a second control scheme and in accordance with simulated control settings for the plurality of controllable engine actuators, and transitioning operation of the engine to the second combustion mode using the second control scheme and initially in accordance with the simulated control settings for the plurality of controllable engine actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Allen B. Rayl, Vijay Ramappan, Peter Kafarnik
  • Publication number: 20090229562
    Abstract: A control system for an engine comprises an air per cylinder (APC) generating module that generates measured and desired APC values. A combustion transition module selectively transitions the engine from spark ignition (SI) combustion to homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion and from HCCI combustion to SI combustion. A spark control module selectively retards spark during the transitions based on a ratio of the measured APC value and the desired APC value. Alternately, spark retard can be based on measured and desired engine torque representing values (ETRVs).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay Ramappan, Allen B. Rayl, Jun-Mo Kang, Peter Kafarnik, Matthew A. Wiles, Hanho Yun
  • Publication number: 20090229563
    Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a spark ignited (SI) control module controlling the engine in a spark ignited mode, a pre-homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the spark ignited mode, and an HCCI module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the pre-HCCI mode. The SI module controls the engine in the SI mode after the HCCI mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Jun-Mo Kang, Vijay Ramappan, Matthew A. Wiles, Hanho Yun, Peter Kafarnik