Vibration, Roughness, Knock Patents (Class 701/111)
  • Patent number: 10139314
    Abstract: A rotation acquisition unit acquires a rotation signal correlated with a rotational state of an internal combustion engine. An analysis unit performs frequency analysis of the rotation signal acquired with the rotation acquisition unit. An inter-cylinder determination unit determines whether an inter-cylinder component is smaller than an inter-cylinder threshold representing occurrence of misfire. The inter-cylinder component is a frequency component of an inter-cylinder cycle. The inter-cylinder cycle is computed by dividing an ignition cycle, which is one burning cycle of the internal combustion engine, by a number of cylinders of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiyo Hiroi, Daisuke Honda, Takanori Matsukawa, Takanobu Kajino
  • Patent number: 10118616
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a vehicle for causing an own vehicle to travel following a preceding vehicle calculates a requested acceleration of the own vehicle on the basis of a feedback requested acceleration to maintain an inter-vehicle distance at a target distance and a feedforward requested acceleration to cause the own vehicle to travel following the preceding vehicle. The apparatus calculates the feedforward requested acceleration on the basis of information on an acceleration of the preceding vehicle sent from the preceding vehicle through a wireless communication. The apparatus sets the feedforward requested acceleration to zero when a vehicle travel stabilization control is executed in the preceding vehicle to control a friction braking force applied to at least one of vehicle wheels of the preceding vehicle to stabilize a travel of the preceding vehicle, and the feedforward requested acceleration is larger than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Nemoto
  • Patent number: 10113454
    Abstract: A control device of an engine, the engine including: a piston contained in a cylinder; an intake passage communicated to a combustion chamber of the cylinder; an exhaust passage led from the combustion chamber; a fuel injection valve configured to inject fuel to the combustion chamber or the intake passage; and an ignition unit provided in the combustion chamber, includes: a low speed pre-ignition predicting unit configured to perform prediction of occurrence of low speed pre-ignition, based on operation condition of the engine; and a lubricating oil injection controlling unit configured to control a lubricating oil injecting device to inject lubricating oil to the piston or a member located around the piston, based on the prediction of the occurrence of the low speed pre-ignition performed by the low speed pre-ignition predicting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensuke Yanagawa, Takashi Kawabe, Koji Hata
  • Patent number: 10047692
    Abstract: A GDCI engine control system determines if in-cylinder conditions are sufficient to achieve combustion in a given cylinder or if a misfire is likely. Fuel is delivered to that cylinder if combustion is probable, but fuel is disabled to that cylinder if a misfire is probable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Gregory T. Roth, Gary C. Fulks, Andrew Fedewa
  • Patent number: 10036333
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission; a torque converter coupled to the transmission; a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission; and sensors configured to detect user occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one or both of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Kenneth James Miller, Chris James Hocking
  • Patent number: 10025687
    Abstract: An approach for writing performance data to memory based on a hardware event rate change involving receiving a hardware event count associated with a computer processor, comparing the hardware event count to a previous hardware event count, computing the hardware event rate change associated with a change between the hardware event count and the previous hardware event count and, responsive to the hardware event rate change not equaling a threshold rate, writing the hardware event count to memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivas P. Bangalore, Sooraj R. Nair
  • Patent number: 10024252
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas recirculation valve. In one example, a system may include a valve being cleaned following a delay subsequent an engine shut-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jon Dixon, Andres Arevalo
  • Patent number: 9975445
    Abstract: Forms of the disclosure relate to a vehicle, a vehicle control system, a display apparatus for vehicle, a terminal apparatus and a control method of the vehicle. The control method of a vehicle comprises receiving an input of a charge request period after the vehicle is electrically connected to an external power source, determining a power distribution rate of a rechargeable battery and at least one of peripheral device based on the charge request period, displaying the power distribution rate, receiving an input of an adjustment command related to the power distribution rate and distributing and supplying a power, which is supplied to the vehicle, to at least one of the rechargeable battery or the at least one peripheral device, according to a power distribution rate that is adjusted based on the adjustment command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyun Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9975546
    Abstract: An engine clutch control system of a hybrid vehicle includes a driving information detector for detecting vehicle information and road environment information according to operation of the hybrid vehicle. An engine clutch is disposed between an engine and a motor. A hybrid controller provides an EV (electric vehicle) mode or an HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) mode by controlling engagement or disengagement of the engine clutch. The hybrid controller sets a slip estimation region of the engine clutch from an accumulated value of an APS (Accelerator Pedal position Sensor), an engine clutch temperature, or a road inclination when engagement of the engine clutch is required, and extracts a speed variation of the engine and the motor in the slip estimation region. The hybrid controller compares the speed variation of the engine and the motor with each other, and determines the engine clutch is engaged when a maximal peak is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Do Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 9951703
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for identifying cylinder misfire. In one example, cylinder misfire may be identified based on a misfire monitor that differentiates a single-cylinder misfire event from a multi-cylinder misfire event based on output from a crankshaft speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Habeeb Khan Pathan, Paul Lloyd Flynn, Pritamkumar Gangwal, James Robert Schreiner, Bhanuprakash Haranahalli Panchakshari, Aninda Bhattacharya, Ganesasubramanian Murugesan, Milan Palinda Karunaratne, Daniel Cullen
  • Patent number: 9951741
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing cycle to cycle variation of an engine is provided. The system may determine fuel injection characteristics and predict a gas burning rate or flame speed based on the fuel injection characteristics. The system may adjust an ignition timing in response to the predicted gas burning rate within the same engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventors: Fadi Adly Anis Estefanous, Shenouda Mekhael, Naeim A. Henein
  • Patent number: 9915240
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and mitigating automatic ignition in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The method includes providing a first sensor for sensing and determining a crank angle of a crankshaft of the engine. A second sensor is provided for detecting a change in an engine vibration frequency caused by Auto Ignition (AI). The engine vibration signal of the second sensor is processed into a knock intensity signal. The knock intensity signal is indicative of the cylinder pressure and is acquired when the crank angle is between a first predetermined crank angle and a second predetermined crank angle. At least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is determined and the at least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is compared to at least one predetermined characteristic threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Craig M. Sawdon, Eric B. Ferch, Kathryn W. McMillan
  • Patent number: 9908528
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, the vehicle speed control system comprising one or more electronic control units configured to carry out a method that includes applying torque to at least one of the plurality of wheels, detecting a slip event between any one or more of the wheels and the ground over which the vehicle is travelling when the vehicle is in motion and providing a slip detection output signal in the event thereof. The method carried out by the one or more electronic control units further includes receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel and maintaining the vehicle at the target speed independently of the slip detection output signal by adjusting the amount of torque applied to the at least one of the plurality of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: James Kelly, Andrew Fairgrieve, Daniel Woolliscroft
  • Patent number: 9890716
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing pre-ignition by mechanically varying a piston displacement within a combustion chamber. In response to pre-ignition, a static compression ratio may be reduced until a threshold lower compression ratio is reached. Further pre-ignition is then addressed with enrichment, thereby reducing the amount of pre-ignition mitigating enrichment required overall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chris Paul Glugla
  • Patent number: 9863342
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for adjusting an air-fuel ratio for combustion in an engine. In one embodiment, a method for an engine (e.g., a method for controlling an engine system) comprises responding to a sensed change in a load on the engine, or indications of engine knock or misfire, by one or more of: altering a speed of the engine, adjusting a fueling flow rate into at least one cylinder of the engine, and adjusting a position of a valve in a bypass passage configured to direct compressed intake air away from cylinders of the engine to obtain a determined air-fuel ratio; and thereby maintaining an air-fuel ratio in a determined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chetan Sharadchandra Tulapurkar, Manoj Gokhale, Roy James Primus, Leslie Orin Trask, James Robert Mischler, Adam Edgar Klingbeil, Thomas Michael Lavertu
  • Patent number: 9855857
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (30) for the active damping control for an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle having an electric motor drive element (4), comprising the steps of receiving a current target torque value (tqElmDes) of the electric motor drive element (4), determining a current rotational angle value (?ElmAct) of the electric motor drive element (4), and determining a current damping torque value (tqDmp), characterized in that the current damping torque value (tqDmp) is determined using a reduced drive train model (rTSM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mykhaylo Klymenko, Michael Mecks, Markus Kretschmer, Gunther Goetting
  • Patent number: 9810603
    Abstract: A method for detecting glow ignition of a fuel-air mixture in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine having at least one first cylinder and at least one second cylinder, the at least one first and second cylinders being connected by a crankshaft, according to which method partial segment times of the at least one first cylinder are measured. The method is characterized in that partial segment times of the at least one second cylinder are measured and a reference characteristic for the glow ignition is formed by a comparison of partial segment times of the at least one first cylinder with partial segment times of the at least one second cylinder and subsequently a signal is generated for the detection of the glow ignition on the basis of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Samuel Trebesius, Stefan Klie, Andreas Sprysch, Stefanie Thauer, Florian Thauer
  • Patent number: 9765690
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a diagnostic system for a machine with a combustion engine and a variable geometry turbocharger that includes a vane position sensor. The diagnostic system includes a controller configured to calculate a learned span value of the turbocharger based on the output of the vane position sensor during a diagnostic procedure and a reference vane position sensor value. A plurality of learned span values are calculated each during a different one of a plurality of diagnostic procedures performed over a period of time and a first regression analysis to predict an expected learned span value at a defined future time using the calculated learned span value and the plurality of stored learned span values. An alert message is generated when the expected learned span value is indicative of a potential future fault of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Curtis P. Ritter, Brigham R. Shamrell, Michael J. Ryken, Stephane Cochet, Jeffrey M. Hedberg, Zachary M. Sharp, Joseph A. Bell, Mark A. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 9731731
    Abstract: A system includes an engine and a controller. The engine is capable of multiple operating modes, and each mode has a relatively different fuel ratio such that as the engine is changed from a first operating mode having a first ratio of a first fuel to a second fuel to a second operating mode having a second ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel. The controller is operable to change the engine from one operating mode to another operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Adam E. Klingbeil
  • Patent number: 9709014
    Abstract: An engine starting system and technique include selecting a target engine speed profile from a plurality of engine speed profiles based on operator inputs and operating parameters of the vehicle. A feedback control strategy is used to substantially conform the engine speed with the target speed profile during starting until a target speed is reached in which fueling is initiated to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anant Puri, Fan Zeng, Vivek Sujan, Edmund Hodzen, C. Larry Bruner
  • Patent number: 9708972
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting the opening of a scroll valve of a binary flow turbine. Scroll valve adjustments are used at different engine operating conditions to improve engine performance and boost response. Scroll valve adjustments are coordinated with wastegate and EGR valve adjustments for improved engine control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan Boyer, Julia Helen Buckland, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Barbara Westrate, Stephen Lee Cooper, Keith Michael Plagens
  • Patent number: 9593631
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating an engine event location are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a controller is configured to receive a signal from at least one knock sensor coupled to a reciprocating engine, transform the signal, using a multivariate transformation algorithm, into a power spectral density, transform the power spectral density into a plurality of feature vectors using predictive frequency bands, predict the engine event location using at least the plurality of feature vectors and a predictive model, and adjust operation of the reciprocating engine based on the engine event location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Iyad Batal, Jeffrey Jacob Bizub, Brett Alexander Matthews
  • Patent number: 9563373
    Abstract: Non-volatile memory block management. A method according to one embodiment includes determining a block health of at least some non-volatile memory blocks of a plurality of non-volatile memory blocks that are configured to store data. An error count margin threshold is calculated for each of the at least some non-volatile memory blocks. A determination is made as to whether the error count margin threshold of any of the at least some non-volatile memory blocks has been exceeded. A memory block management function is triggered upon determining that the error count margin threshold of any of the non-volatile memory blocks has been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Camp, Timothy J. Fisher, Aaron D. Fry, Nikolas Ioannou, Roman Pletka, Sasa Tomic
  • Patent number: 9528426
    Abstract: A combustion engine system in one embodiment includes a combustion engine, at least one controllable component operably connected to the combustion engine, at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter associated with the combustion engine, and an electronic control unit (ECU) operably connected to the at least one controllable component and the at least one sensor, wherein the ECU is configured to determine a temperature of an unburned mixture based upon the sensed parameter, and control the at least one controllable component based upon the determined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eric M. Doran, David J. Cook, Joel Oudart, Nikhil Ravi
  • Patent number: 9470223
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a linear compressor is provided. The method includes determining a velocity dependent induced voltage in a driving coil of the linear compressor, extracting a higher order harmonic from the velocity dependent induced voltage, and establishing that a piston of the linear compressor is crashing if the higher order harmonic is greater than a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Mallampalli, Abhijeet Bhandwale, Srujan Kusumba
  • Patent number: 9441556
    Abstract: A method includes: generating an indicator of present operating conditions of an engine; determining a first amount of noise based on vibration measured during a first plurality of combustion events of a cylinder; storing the first amount of noise and a first value of the indicator in a mapping based on a first engine speed and a first engine load; determining the first value of the indicator from the mapping based on a second engine speed and a second engine load; generating a trigger signal when the first value is different than a second value of the indicator; and, when the trigger signal is generated: determining a second amount of noise based on vibration measured during a second plurality of combustion events of the cylinder; and replacing the first amount of noise and the first value in the mapping with the second amount of noise and the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wajdi B. Hamama, Craig M. Sawdon, Kevin M. Luchansky, James R. Reeder, Jr., Frank Garthoff, Christian Mueller, Jessica A. Carroll
  • Patent number: 9376975
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a timer module, a stochastic pre-ignition (SPI) mitigation module, and a boost control module. The timer module tracks a period of operation of an engine where vacuum within an intake manifold is less than a first predetermined vacuum. The SPI mitigation module generates an SPI signal when the period is greater than a predetermined period and the vacuum is less than a second predetermined vacuum. The second predetermined vacuum is less than the first predetermined vacuum. The boost control module reduces output of a turbocharger in response to the generation of the SPI signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: J. Michael Gwidt, Bjorn E. Soderstrom, Kevin M. Luchansky, Craig M. Sawdon, Wajdi B. Hamama
  • Patent number: 9322382
    Abstract: A method for detecting the development of detonation phenomena in an internal combustion engine (1) which includes determining the variance (?i) of each combustion taken into account for a given cylinder (2) and in a given engine point as a function of the comparison between the detonation energy (?i) of each combustion taken into account and the self-learnt mean detonation energy (?i_m) for the given cylinder (2) and in the given engine point; calculating the maximum variance (?i_max) for a given cylinder (2) and in a given engine point with a reduction of the spark advance actuated in the given cylinder (2); and determining the development of detonation phenomena for each combustion taken into account as a function of the comparison between the maximum variance (?i_max) and the variance (?i) of each combustion taken into account for a given cylinder (2) and in a given engine point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNETI MARELLI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Nicola Garagnani, Riccardo Lanzoni, Filippo Cavanna
  • Patent number: 9303759
    Abstract: A method and a system of controlling shift for a vehicle may include an accelerator pedal position sensor detecting a position of an accelerator pedal, a vehicle speed sensor detecting vehicle speed, a navigation device configured to provide road information including gradient and radius of curvature of a road, and a controller receiving information on input variables including the position of the accelerator pedal and the vehicle speed from the accelerator pedal position sensor and the vehicle speed sensor, determining a short term driving tendency factor of a driver and target shift-speed based on the information, receiving information on the radius of curvature of a front road from the navigation device, determining adjusted shift-speed based on the short term driving tendency factor, the radius of curvature of the front road, and the target shift-speed, and controlling the shift to the adjusted shift-speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Byeongwook Jeon, Donghoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9299334
    Abstract: A sound source detecting system that detects a predetermined sound source on the basis of sounds collected by sound collectors includes: a noise extracting unit that extracts a noise from signals of the collected sounds; and a noise suppressing unit that suppresses a signal component of the noise extracted by the noise extracting unit from the signals of the collected sounds. The sound source detecting unit detects a location of the predetermined sound source, such as an approaching vehicle, using information about the sounds having the signals of which the noise is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MEIJO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jun Sato, Ryuji Funayama, Tomoya Takatani, Osami Yamamoto, Kensaku Asahi, Hideki Banno, Keiichi Yamada, Akira Ogawa, Yuichi Tanaka, Hiroyuki Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9274873
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a method and system for high-volume distributed script error report handling. An error report group threshold may be obtained. The error report group threshold may be determined by available computing resources, at an error facility, to receive error reports. A subset of current user terminals with representative user terminal environments may be identified. The subset may have a cardinality less than the error report group threshold. Members of the subset may be notified to report errors for a distributed program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Ye, David Q. He, Rajasekhar Bhogi
  • Patent number: 9269206
    Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring a measuring chain arranged to collect over time measures relating to a turbojet engine of an aircraft, the system including a processor configured to build a health indicator of the measuring chain based on counting transitions between successive health words defining a validity score of corresponding successive measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Guilhem Foiret
  • Patent number: 9222427
    Abstract: A system includes a parameter module that determines at least one of a position of a throttle and a load of an engine. A cylinder status module generates a status signal indicating an activation status of each cylinder of the engine. The cylinder status module determines whether one or more of the cylinders are activated. A first pressure prediction module, when all of the cylinders are activated, predicts first intake port pressures for the cylinders of the engine according to a first model and based on the at least one of the position of the throttle and the engine load. A second pressure prediction module, when one or more of the cylinders is deactivated, predicts second intake port pressures for the deactivated cylinders according to a second model and based on the status signal and the at least one of the position of the throttle and the engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory P. Matthews, Zhiping Steven Liu
  • Patent number: 9181892
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing late burn induced cylinder pre-ignition events. Forced entry of residuals from a late burning cylinder into a neighboring cylinder may be detected based on engine block vibrations sensed in a window during an open exhaust valve of the late burning cylinder. In response to the entry of residuals, a pre-ignition mitigating action, such as fuel enrichment or deactivation, is performed in the neighboring cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Garlan J. Huberts, Michael Damian Czekala
  • Patent number: 9157816
    Abstract: A torque sensing device includes a rotating component configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and a first sensor positioned adjacent to the rotating component to sense instantaneous angular position of the rotating component at a first location. A second sensor is positioned adjacent to the rotating component radially inboard of the first sensor to sense instantaneous angular position of the rotating component at a second location. A controller is operably coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller determines a relative phase shift between a first signal generated by the first sensor and a second signal generated by the second sensor to calculate an output proportional to a torque applied to the rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: TIAX LLC
    Inventors: Chad Austin Smutzer, J. Thomas Fowler, Thomas Kotwal, Michael Rutberg, J. Robert Fricke
  • Patent number: 9135755
    Abstract: Methods and associated devices useful for the health monitoring of igniters of gas turbine engines are disclosed. Exemplary embodiments disclosed include the use of an accumulated spark count to an igniter to obtain an indication of wear on the igniter and/or the remaining life of the igniter. An exemplary method disclosed includes: receiving one or more signals indicative of a commanded spark count to the igniter for one or more ignition events; processing the one or more signals indicative of the commanded spark count to the igniter, determining a total accumulated commanded spark count to the igniter; and generating one or more signals indicative of at least one of an estimated wear on the igniter or an estimated remaining life of the igniter based on the total accumulated commanded spark count to the igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Michael Youssef
  • Patent number: 9121362
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a knock indication module, a valve control module, and a fault indication module. The knock indication module selectively indicates that knock occurred within a cylinder of an engine. The valve control module controls lifting of a valve of a cylinder of the engine and, in response to the knock indication module indicating that knock occurred within the cylinder, transitions lifting of the valve from one of a low lift state and a high lift state to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state. The fault indication module selectively indicates that a fault is present in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism of the cylinder based on whether the knock indication module indicates that knock occurred within the cylinder after the transition to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Inventors: Brian E. Betz, Hugh William Miller
  • Patent number: 9115644
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an air-throttled engine includes a variable flow expander (VFE) in the intake air conduit system that supplies intake air to the engine. At part-load operation, the VFE expands the air by an amount that is controllable, and thus regulates the air flow as needed by the engine. The power extracted by the VFE from the intake air flow is fed to the turbocharger, which helps to achieve quicker turbocharger response and improve scavenging of exhaust gases from the engine. The VFE can be a variable expansion ratio turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Syed Shahed, Krishnamurthy Vaidyanathan
  • Publication number: 20150149067
    Abstract: A knocking control method based on a separation learning range may include (a) designating a learning cell in a driving range represented by a load-rotating number, (b) dividing the learning cell into individual cells, (c) designating a knocking cell of a partial load and a knocking cell of a full load, respectively, as other cells; and (d) determining a reference of a spark timing advanced and lagged angle by a difference between a partial load learning value of a high load and a learning value in the full load and based on the determined reference, simultaneously performing a knocking cell learning of the partial load and a knocking cell learning of the full load or not performing the knocking cell learning of the full load at the time of performing the knocking cell learning of the partial load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ha-Dong Bong
  • Publication number: 20150149066
    Abstract: Embodiments may provide an engine knock monitoring system that may include an engine block including an engine block body and a cylinder wall defining at least a portion of a combustion chamber. A space may be defined between a top of the cylinder wall and a top of the engine block body. An engine knock sensor may be mounted to the engine block. A pressure pulse transmissive element may be disposed in the space and may be disposed in contact with an outside surface of the cylinder wall and an opposite inside surface of the engine block body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Moetakef, James Matthew Kindree, Mathew Leonard Hintzen, Antony George Schepak
  • Patent number: 9043122
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing late burn induced cylinder pre-ignition events. Forced entry of residuals from a late burning cylinder into a neighboring cylinder may be detected based on engine block vibrations sensed in a window during an open exhaust valve of the late burning cylinder. In response to the entry of residuals, a pre-ignition mitigating action, such as fuel enrichment or deactivation, is performed in the neighboring cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Garlan J. Huberts, Michael Damian Czekala
  • Patent number: 9037386
    Abstract: A sensor signal processing device includes an AD conversion section, a filter section, a timing signal generation section, and an arithmetic section. The timing signal generation section generates a signal synchronized with a crank angle of an engine based on a signal indicating the crank angle and generates a data acquisition timing signal by compensating the signal synchronized with the crank angle with a delay time of the filter. The arithmetic section acquires a plurality of sensor signals, which is transmitted from a sensor, converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by the AD conversion section, and filtered by the filter section, in a term before and after receiving the data acquisition timing signal and generates a data synchronized with the data acquisition timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Kawakami, Akito Itou, Ryotaro Kuno
  • Publication number: 20150100221
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for reducing noise or vibration generated by an internal combustion engine is described. An engine controller is arranged to generate firing information suitable for operating the working chambers of the engine in a skip fire manner to deliver a desired amount of torque. A noise/vibration reduction unit is arranged to help reduce noise or vibration based on the firing information. The noise/vibration controller actively controls a device that is not a part of the engine to alter an NVH characteristic of the vehicle in a desired manner based at least in part on a skip fire characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Geoffrey ROUTLEDGE, Mark A. SHOST, Biswa R. GHOSH, Louis J. SERRANO, Mark WILCUTTS
  • Patent number: 8997711
    Abstract: Fuel management system for efficient operation of a spark ignition gasoline engine. Injectors inject an anti-knock agent such as ethanol directly into a cylinder of the engine. A fuel management microprocessor system controls injection of the anti-knock agent so as to control knock and minimize that amount of the anti-knock agent that is used in a drive cycle. It is preferred that the anti-knock agent is ethanol. The use of ethanol can be further minimized by injection in a non-uniform manner within a cylinder. The ethanol injection suppresses knock so that higher compression ratio and/or engine downsizing from increased turbocharging or supercharging can be used to increase the efficiency or the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg, John B. Heywood
  • Patent number: 9002617
    Abstract: A feedback control system is provided and includes a controller to control an operation of a motive element in accordance with current and previous measured states. The controller includes a servo, a processor and an event trigger controller. The event trigger controller is configured to cause the processor to command the servo to perform model based control (MBC) executions in an event a difference between the current and previous measured states exceeds a threshold based on the previous measured state or the current measured state exceeds a limit, and skip the MBC executions in an event the difference does not exceed the threshold and the current measured state does not exceed the limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Olgu Tanriverdi
  • Patent number: 8989938
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle including an engine, a first MG (motor generator), a second MG, a power split device that couples them, and an ECU. ECU determines whether or not to permit execution of pressing control for suppressing idling vibrations produced by the power split device in an idling state of the engine depending on whether or not the combustion state of the engine is good, and sets a permission flag in accordance with a determination result. ECU determines whether or not the vehicle is stopping and is in the idling state. While the vehicle is stopping and is in the idling state and if the permission flag F is “ON”, ECU executes pressing control to cause the first MG to produce pressing torque Tp. If the permission flag F is “OFF”, ECU does not execute pressing control so that the first MG does not produce pressing torque Tp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daigo Ando, Takuji Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8977475
    Abstract: The present invention provides for predicting peak cylinder temperatures above which knock in an engine may become more frequent and then provides one or more actuation approaches to reduce the knock of the engine while maintaining engine performance. The actuation approaches of the present invention include one or more of direct injection, engine gas recirculation, and spark retarding, where the application of one or more the actuation approaches is determined based upon using operational and engine characteristic inputs as well as modeling and estimation values as inputs in a feedforward control methodology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: David Stroh
  • Patent number: 8965666
    Abstract: A knock control device is provided in which erroneous knock detection can be reduced by suppressing sudden knock signal changes due to noise, without causing any increase in the number of matching steps, deterioration in the S/N in knock detection and decrease in detection performing frequency. In the knock control device, an open gain is applied to the detected signal only during a knock detection window set in advance by a knock window setting means. The window corresponds to a period in which vibration due to knock arises. During other periods, either a closed gain or an interpolated gain value is applied to the detected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhei Matsushima, Keitaro Ezumi, Tomokuni Kusunoki
  • Publication number: 20150046069
    Abstract: A number of systems and methods are disclosed which increase the replenishment interval for anti-knock fluid. This is especially important during activities which require a large amount of anti-knock fluid, such as towing. In some embodiments, the systems and methods are used to reduce anti-knock fluid consumption. For example, changes to engine operation, such as rich operation, spark retarding, upspeeding, and variable valve timing, all serve to reduce the amount of anti-knock fluid required to eliminate knocking. In other embodiments, the composition of the anti-knock fluid is modified, such as by using a higher octane fluid, or through the addition of water to the anti-knock fluid. In other embodiments, the replenishment interval is increased through a larger anti-knock fluid storage capacity. In one embodiment, a three tank system is used where the third tank can be used to store gasoline or anti-knock fluid, depending on the driving conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn
  • Patent number: 8949006
    Abstract: A knock control apparatus for internal combustion engine includes: a knock signal normalization unit that normalizes a knock signal extracted from an output signal of a knock sensor; a knock determination threshold setting unit that sets a knock determination threshold on the basis of the normalized knock signal; a knock intensity computation unit that calculates knock intensity on the basis of the normalized knock signal and the set knock determination threshold; a knock determination unit that determines a presence or absence of a knock on the basis of the calculated knock intensity; and a knock correction amount computation unit that calculates a knock correction amount to correct the calculated knock intensity in a case where an occurrence of a knock is determined. The knock signal normalization unit normalizes a standard deviation of the knock signal by dividing the knock signal by an average value of the knock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuhei Matsushima, Hideki Hagari, Toshikatsu Saito, Keitaro Ezumi, Tomokuni Kusunoki