Patents by Inventor Richard H. Clutz

Richard H. Clutz 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: 8584647
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a driver input module, a cylinder actuation module, and an active fuel management (AFM) module. The driver input module generates a fuel saver mode (FSM) signal having a first state based upon a driver input. The cylinder actuation module selectively disables at least one of a plurality of cylinders of an engine based upon a deactivation signal having a first state. The AFM module generates the deactivation signal based on at least one engine parameter and at least one threshold. The at least one threshold is modified when the FSM signal has the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Colin A. Roberts, Richard H. Clutz, Robert Paul Black, Kevin J. Storch, Alfred E. Spitza, Jr., Richard L. Tiberg, William S. Beggs, Bala K. Murthy, Terrence E. Connolly, Mike M. McDonald, William C. Albertson, Eric S. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8112214
    Abstract: A system for limiting the speed of a vehicle includes a first module that generates a first torque signal based on a vehicle speed, a second module that generates a second torque signal based on a difference between a predetermined vehicle speed limit and the vehicle speed, and a third module that generates an output torque signal based on the first and second torque signals. The output torque signal is adapted to control the output torque of a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventors: Chad W. Lehner, Richard H. Clutz, William G. Howell, Mark T. Hutchinson, Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Ronald C. Allison
  • Patent number: 7769534
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes an oxygen detection module, a timing module and a control module. The oxygen detection module receives an oxygen signal from an oxygen sensor that detects an oxygen level in an exhaust system of the engine. The oxygen signal has N rich states and M lean states, where N and M are integers greater than or equal to 1. The timing module determines a rich period that the oxygen signal is in at least one of the N rich states and determines a lean period that the oxygen signal is in at least one of the M lean states. The control module detects an asymmetrical error with the oxygen sensor based on a comparison between the rich period and the lean period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Xu, Wenbo Wang, Vincent A. White, Richard H. Clutz, Douglas J. Moening
  • Publication number: 20090173311
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a driver input module, a cylinder actuation module, and an active fuel management (AFM) module. The driver input module generates a fuel saver mode (FSM) signal having a first state based upon a driver input. The cylinder actuation module selectively disables at least one of a plurality of cylinders of an engine based upon a deactivation signal having a first state. The AFM module generates the deactivation signal based on at least one engine parameter and at least one threshold. The at least one threshold is modified when the FSM signal has the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Colin A. Roberts, Richard H. Clutz, Robert Paul Black, Kevin J. Storch, Alfred E. Spitza, JR., Richard L. Tiberg, William S. Beggs, Bala K. Murthy, Terrence E. Connolly, Mike M. Mc Donald, William C. Albertson, Eric S Kaufman
  • Patent number: 7433775
    Abstract: A method of controlling a torque output of an internal combustion engine includes determining a pressure ratio, determining a reference torque based on the pressure ratio and a torque request, calculating a desired throttle area based on the reference torque and regulating operation of the engine based on the desired throttle area to achieve the desired torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Bahram Younessi, Richard B. Jess, Richard H. Clutz
  • Publication number: 20080228366
    Abstract: A system for limiting the speed of a vehicle includes a first module that generates a first torque signal based on a vehicle speed, a second module that generates a second torque signal based on a difference between a predetermined vehicle speed limit and the vehicle speed, and a third module that generates an output torque signal based on the first and second torque signals. The output torque signal is adapted to control the output torque of a motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Chad W. Lehner, Richard H. Clutz, William G. Howell, Mark T. Hutchinson, Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Ronald C. Allison
  • Publication number: 20080120009
    Abstract: A method of controlling a torque output of an internal combustion engine includes determining a pressure ratio, determining a reference torque based on the pressure ratio and a torque request, calculating a desired throttle area based on the reference torque and regulating operation of the engine based on the desired throttle area to achieve the desired torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Bahram Younessi, Richard B. Jess, Richard H. Clutz
  • Patent number: 7021282
    Abstract: A torque control system for regulating operation of an engine includes a throttle that regulates air flow into the engine and a device that regulates a torque output of the engine. A first module determines a throttle area based on a desired manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and a desired manifold air flow (MAF) and a second module determines a device set-point based on a desired air per cylinder (APC) and an engine speed. A third module generates a throttle control signal to control the throttle based on the throttle area and generates a device control signal to control the device based on the device set-point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Scott J. Chynoweth, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard H. Clutz, Donovan L. Dibble, Bahram Younessi
  • Patent number: 6966287
    Abstract: A torque control system for regulating operation of a displacement on demand engine that is operable in an activated mode and a deactivated mode includes a throttle that regulates air flow into the engine and a cam phaser that regulates a torque output of the engine. A first module determines a throttle area based on a desired deactivated manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and a desired mass air flow (MAF) and a second module determines a desired cam phaser position based on an engine speed and a transitional air per cylinder (APC) that is determined based on one of a desired deactivated APC and desired activated APC. A third module generates a throttle control signal to control the throttle based on the throttle area and a fourth module generates a cam phaser control signal to control the cam phaser based on the desired cam phaser position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard H. Clutz, Donovan L. Dibble, Bahram Younessi, Gregory J. York, Kevin J. Storch, Timothy J. Braman