Patents by Inventor Robert J. Genslak

Robert J. Genslak 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: 20130054083
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an oxygen storage capacity (OSC) determination module, a delay determination module, a correction module, and a fault detection module. The OSC determination module determines an OSC period of a catalyst of an exhaust system based on first and second amounts of oxygen measured using first and second oxygen sensors located upstream and downstream of the catalyst, respectively. The delay determination module determines a delay period of the second oxygen sensor. The correction module sets a corrected OSC period for the catalyst based on a difference between the OSC period and the delay period. The fault detection module selectively indicates that a fault is present in the catalyst based on the corrected OSC period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Robert E. Heger, Edward Stuteville, Jerry J. Sheahan, Thomas J. Large
  • Patent number: 8364376
    Abstract: A control system for an engine having a catalytic converter includes an energy calculation module that calculates a calculated mass air flow (MAF) of intake air of the engine based on a requested torque and a requested spark timing that correspond to a desired thermal energy of exhaust of the engine, and that determines an expected thermal energy of the exhaust based on the calculated MAF, and an energy residual module that determines a thermal energy residual of the exhaust based on the expected thermal energy and an estimated thermal energy of the exhaust, wherein the estimated thermal energy is based on a measured MAF of the intake air. The control system includes an energy evaluation module that determines a diagnostic result that indicates whether the catalytic converter is operating within a target temperature range based on the thermal energy residual. Related control methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: Lan Wang, Robert J. Genslak, Wenbo Wang, Matthew Squire, Jinchun Peng, Edward Stuteville, Kurt D. McLain
  • Patent number: 8311721
    Abstract: A reserve torque system comprises a first module and a reserve torque module. The first module generates a first signal a predetermined period before an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture supplied to an engine is transitioned from a non-lean EQR to a lean EQR. The reserve torque module creates a reserve torque between when the first signal is generated and when the EQR is transitioned to the lean EQR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Cheryl A. Williams, Robert C. Simon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8127744
    Abstract: An engine control module includes a spark control module, an engine speed module, a residual determination module, and a metric determination module. The spark control module actuates spark plugs based on a commanded spark timing. The engine speed module determines a desired engine speed based on an engine temperature and a period of time an engine is in operation after a cold start. The residual determination module determines a desired spark timing based on the desired engine speed, and determines a residual spark timing based on a difference between the commanded spark timing and the desired spark timing. The metric determination module detects a spark timing fault based on the residual spark timing and a predetermined spark timing range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Wenbo Wang, Wesley W. Wald
  • Publication number: 20120047875
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a steady-state (SS) temperature module and a mass temperature module. The SS temperature module generates a SS temperature of a downstream-most catalyst of an exhaust system at a predetermined location between upstream and downstream faces of the downstream-most catalyst. The predetermined location is a predetermined distance upstream from the downstream face. The mass temperature module generates an instantaneous temperature of the downstream-most catalyst at the predetermined location as a function of the SS temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wajdi B. Hamama, Alan Root Lockwood, James A. Goodall, Robert J. Genslak, Mather El-Jaroudi
  • Publication number: 20110120095
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system of an engine includes a fuel control module and a diagnostic module. The fuel control module, in response to a request for a fuel inhibiting event, operates the engine in a first rich condition for a first period until a catalytic converter of the exhaust system is in a predetermined first rich state and subsequently operates the engine in a lean condition for a second period contiguous with the first period. The diagnostic module determines a catalyst efficiency of the catalytic converter based on an output of an oxygen sensor located downstream of said catalytic converter during the second period, and selectively adjusts a diagnostic status of the catalytic converter based on a comparison of the catalyst efficiency and a predetermined catalyst efficiency. The fuel inhibiting event may be a deceleration fuel-cutoff event. A related diagnostic method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Igor Anilovich
  • Publication number: 20110106411
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a stage transition module and a control module. The stage transition module generates a command signal based on a fuel control signal. The command signal commands a fuel system of the engine to intrusively transition between rich and lean states during a diagnostic test that includes first, second, and third stages. The first, second, and third stages are defined based on transitions between the rich and lean states. The control module during the second and third stages detects: an error with a first oxygen sensor based on a comparison between the command signal and a first oxygen signal from the first oxygen sensor; an error with a second oxygen sensor based on a second oxygen signal from the second oxygen sensor; and an error with a catalytic converter based on the first and second oxygen signals and a manifold absolute pressure signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, John W. Siekkinen, Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Jeffry A. Helmick, John F. Van Gilder
  • Patent number: 7900439
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system including a catalyst and a post-catalyst oxygen sensor is provided. The system generally includes a fuel control module that commands fuel to transition from a rich condition to a lean condition and that commands fuel to transition from the lean condition to the rich condition. A first diagnostic module monitors the post-catalyst oxygen sensor during the transition from the rich condition to the lean condition. A second diagnostic module monitors the catalyst during the transition from the lean condition to the rich condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Igor Anilovich, Justin F. Adams, Jeffry A. Helmick, Edward Stuteville, Wesley W. Wald, Vidyapriya Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7793489
    Abstract: An oxygen storage capacity (OSC) monitoring system for a vehicle having a catalytic converter includes an inlet oxygen sensor that generates an inlet sensor signal (ISS) based on an oxygen content of exhaust flowing into the catalytic converter. A control module receives the ISS, increases a closed loop fuel control gain during a first period and determines a fuel control factor based on the ISS during the first period. The control module determines an OSC when an average value of the fuel control factor is greater than a first value and is less than a second value during the first period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Richard B. Jess, David N. Belton, Chris R. Thelen, Jeffrey M. Hutmacher, William Western, Ian J. Macewen, Robert J. Genslak
  • Publication number: 20100222982
    Abstract: A control system for an engine having a catalytic converter includes an energy calculation module that calculates a calculated mass air flow (MAF) of intake air of the engine based on a requested torque and a requested spark timing that correspond to a desired thermal energy of exhaust of the engine, and that determines an expected thermal energy of the exhaust based on the calculated MAF, and an energy residual module that determines a thermal energy residual of the exhaust based on the expected thermal energy and an estimated thermal energy of the exhaust, wherein the estimated thermal energy is based on a measured MAF of the intake air. The control system includes an energy evaluation module that determines a diagnostic result that indicates whether the catalytic converter is operating within a target temperature range based on the thermal energy residual. Related control methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Lan Wang, Robert J. Genslak, Wenbo Wang, Matthew Squire, Jinchun Peng, Edward Stutevilie, Kurt D. McLain
  • Publication number: 20100175664
    Abstract: An engine control module includes a spark control module, an engine speed module, a residual determination module, and a metric determination module. The spark control module actuates spark plugs based on a commanded spark timing. The engine speed module determines a desired engine speed based on an engine temperature and a period of time an engine is in operation after a cold start. The residual determination module determines a desired spark timing based on the desired engine speed, and determines a residual spark timing based on a difference between the commanded spark timing and the desired spark timing. The metric determination module detects a spark timing fault based on the residual spark timing and a predetermined spark timing range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Wenbo Wang, Wesley W. Wald
  • Patent number: 7630826
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, John L. Lahti, Christopher A Gillanders, Robert J. Genslak, John F. Van Gilder
  • Publication number: 20090241899
    Abstract: A reserve torque system comprises a first module and a reserve torque module. The first module generates a first signal a predetermined period before an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture supplied to an engine is transitioned from a non-lean EQR to a lean EQR. The reserve torque module creates a reserve torque between when the first signal is generated and when the EQR is transitioned to the lean EQR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Cheryl A. Williams, Robert C. Simon, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080302087
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system including a catalyst and a post-catalyst oxygen sensor is provided. The system generally includes a fuel control module that commands fuel to transition from a rich condition to a lean condition and that commands fuel to transition from the lean condition to the rich condition. A first diagnostic module monitors the post-catalyst oxygen sensor during the transition from the rich condition to the lean condition. A second diagnostic module monitors the catalyst during the transition from the lean condition to the rich condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Igor Anilovich, Justin F. Adams, Jeffry A. Helmick, Edward Stuteville, Wesley W. Wald, Vidyapriya Srinivasan
  • 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