Patents Examined by Elizabeth Hadley
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Patent number: 8869772Abstract: An ECU 70A is associated with an engine 1 provided with a VVT 30 capable of independently setting a phase of an intake valve 2A and a phase of an intake valve 2B of two intake valves 2 mounted for a combustion chamber E. The ECU 70A includes a controller control the VVT 30 based on a magnitude of engine brake required to the engine 1 to vary a phase of at least one of the intake valves 2A and 2B.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoto Hisaminato, Manabu Tateno, Eiichi Kamiyama
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Patent number: 8862367Abstract: The present invention provides a control system for an internal combustion engine capable of, in a case where fuel is injected from an injector for a plurality of times in a divided manner based on an operation status of the internal combustion engine, controlling an injection quantity of the injector accurately in light of variation in an injection quantity of the injector based on air-fuel ratio accuracy, while preventing performance deterioration of the internal combustion engine caused by the injection of fuel. An internal combustion engine control system of the present invention includes an injector for making a valve operate and injecting fuel by applying an excitation current to a coil and injecting fuel into a combustion chamber directly in a manner dividing into a plurality of times of fuel injection, the internal combustion engine control system includes means for determining invalid and valid pulse widths of the injector.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Toyohara, Yoshihisa Fujii
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Patent number: 8857396Abstract: An igniter for igniting a fuel-air-mixture in a combustion chamber, in particular in a combustion engine with one or several combustion chambers, by generating a high frequency corona discharge, said ignitiger comprising an assembly comprising an ignition electrode, an outer conductor surrounding the ignition electrode, which has a front end and a rear end, and an electrical insulator arranged between the ignition electrode and the outer conductor, wherein the ignition electrode is part of an electrical high-frequency resonant circuit, protrudes over the front end of the outer conductor, and is connected to an alternate current source or alternate voltage source which feeds the HF-resonant circuit, and delivers a high frequency alternate current or a high frequency alternate voltage, respectively. The ignition electrode is branched into more than four electrode branches extending away from the outer conductor, in different directions.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Borgwarner Beru Systems GmbHInventors: Thomas Giffels, Timo Stifel, Steffen Bohne, Helmut Müller
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Patent number: 8851050Abstract: When preignition is detected, and an engine speed is less than a predetermined value (Nex), an air/fuel ratio is enriched (S22), and then, when the preignition is detected even after enriching the air/fuel ratio, an effective compression ratio of an engine is reduced (S23), whereafter, when the preignition is detected even after reducing the effective compression ratio, a part of injection fuel is injected in a compression stroke (S24). On the other hand, when preignition is detected, and an engine speed is equal to or greater than the predetermined value (Nex), the air/fuel ratio is enriched (S31), and then, when the preignition is detected even after enriching the air/fuel ratio, a part of the fuel is injected in the compression stroke (S32). This makes it possible to effectively suppress the occurrence of preignition while maximally avoiding deterioration in emission performance and lowering in engine power output.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kouji Shishime, Naoya Matsuo, Mikinori Ohashi
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Patent number: 8855890Abstract: Engine synchronization apparatus and system for multi-engine vehicles such as boats and aircraft providing limited authority throttle cable trim effected by an apparatus interposed between the throttle plate and throttle cable of a slave engine and mounted in a floating configuration. An actuator is mounted to the apparatus to trim the distance between the throttle plate and throttle cable attachment thereby trimming the throttle cable. A system is provided in which a difference signal derived from master and slave engine tachometer signals is used to control the actuator and synchronize the engines within a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Evoke Technology LLCInventors: Lawrence E. Egle, Aaron S. Dickey
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Patent number: 8855898Abstract: Systems and methods to diagnose valve leakage in a vehicle storing gaseous fuel in two or more vessels. A valve regulating the flow of the gaseous fuel from one of the vessels is closed and reopened, while the other vessels are providing gaseous fuel during a full run. The pressure spike from reopening the valve is analyzed to determine the rate of pressure change. Pressure spikes having a rate of change lower than a threshold parameter are indicative of a leaking valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Oliver Maier, Michael Leykauf
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Patent number: 8855893Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a housing that is rotatable with a crankshaft; a vane rotor that is rotatable with a camshaft; and a phase controller to compulsorily change a rotation phase of the vane rotor alternately between an advance side and a retard side with respect to the housing if an engine shifts to a high rotation state after the engine continuously has a low rotation state for a predetermined period or more. The engine in the low rotation state has a rotation speed lower than a predetermined rotation speed. The engine in the high rotation state has a rotation speed equal to or higher than the predetermined rotation speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuhei Oe, Hiroya Andou, Jun Yamada, Takehiro Tanaka, Yoshihito Moriya
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Patent number: 8851052Abstract: In a method for controlling operation of an internal combustion engine using a control device, a setpoint value of a first fuel injection quantity is specified for a first combustion cycle, and the first fuel injection quantity is injected. A combustion pressure is ascertained during the first combustion cycle, and in a further step, a setpoint value of a second fuel injection quantity is ascertained for a second combustion cycle based on the combustion pressure.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Oliver Brox
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Patent number: 8833341Abstract: In one example, a method for controlling a fuel system with fuel is provided. The method includes, in response to an engine shutdown, increasing communication between a fuel rail and a fuel tank to increase boiling of fuel in the rail, and then decreasing the communication after the fuel rail cools.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Ford Motor Company of Australia LimitedInventors: Andrew Paul Chee Aun Wong, Adam Nolan, Jamie Terence Slaymaker
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Patent number: 8838367Abstract: Engine control systems having rotational sensors and controllers, and associated methods and systems, are disclosed herein. An engine control system in accordance with a particular embodiment can include a drum operably coupled to a rotating shaft of an engine. The drum can include a pattern positioned on its surface and a sensor can be positioned proximate to the drum to read the pattern and/or write a new pattern. A rod can operably couple the drum to an engine input mechanism and operate to axially move the drum. The axial movement of the drum can shift the pattern to different portions, resulting in a change in the timing for an engine event.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLCInventor: Roy Edward McAlister
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Patent number: 8826890Abstract: A covering body (10) made of a synthetic resin and including a rear shoulder part (16) oriented toward a fuel inlet part (6) side is formed around an outer periphery of an intermediate portion in an axial direction of a fuel injection valve (I). The rear shoulder part (16) includes: a first semicircular shoulder part (16a) extending over a half periphery of the covering body (10); a second semicircular shoulder part (16b) shifted in the axial direction with respect to the first semicircular shoulder part (16a) and extending over the other half periphery of the covering body (10); and a standing wall (16c) standing to connect the first and second semicircular shoulder parts (16a, 16b).Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Keihin CorporationInventor: Kazuhiko Sato
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Patent number: 8826884Abstract: A method for controlling combustion in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine operating in a controlled auto-ignition mode includes providing combustion control parameters, determining peak cylinder pressures and crank angle location of the peak cylinder pressures. Cylinder volumes at the peak cylinder pressures and at intake valve closings are determined and cylinder pressures at intake valve closings are determined. A combustion parameter for each cylinder is calculated based upon the peak cylinder pressure, the cylinder pressure at the intake valve closing, the crank angle location of the peak cylinder pressure, the cylinder volume coincident with the peak cylinder pressure, and the cylinder volume at the intake valve closing. A target combustion parameter is determined and the calculated combustion parameter for each cylinder is compared to the target combustion parameter.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Chen-Fang Chang, Hanho Yun
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Patent number: 8820301Abstract: A vehicular heat exchanger processes a exhaust gas recirculation flow. A method to manage combustion by-product contaminant deposits within the heat exchanger includes repeatedly cycling a flow control device controlling the exhaust gas recirculation flow through the heat exchanger from an original position to an intermediate position and back to the original position. The original position is determined based upon a required exhaust gas recirculation flow into an intake manifold.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alexander Knafl, Patrick G. Szymkowicz
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Patent number: 8807264Abstract: A method and apparatus for the acceleration of a motor vehicle comprising a manually operable control member, a throttle pedal (4) actuatable by the control member and a computer (3). The control member may comprise a known-per-se throttle ring. There is provided a speed sensor (2) to detect the speed of the motor vehicle and to generate a corresponding speed signal (V). Computer (3) has stored therein transmission ratio curves (V1, V2, V3 . . . Vn) each applicable to a different vehicle speed, with each such transmission ratio curve (V1, V2, V3 . . . Vn) representing a ratio of transmitting the amount of actuation of the control member to the applicable stroke of throttle pedal (4). Computer (3) uses the speed signal (V) provided by speed sensor (2) to select one of transmission ratio curves (V1, V2, V3 . . . Vn) for actuating throttle pedal (4) with a stroke corresponding to the transmission ratio curve (V1, V2, V3 . . . Vn) selected.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Inventor: Martine Kempf
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Patent number: 8800532Abstract: A method of controlling knocking in an internal combustion engine equipped with a device for controlling the opening of inlet valves; the control method includes the phases of: determining the occurrence of an excessive knocking in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine; and decreasing the mass of air sucked into the cylinder in which an excessive knocking has occurred by acting on the control device controlling the inlet valves of the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2010Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.Inventors: Nicola Garagnani, Fabio Sensi, Filippo Cavanna, Stefano Sgatti
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Patent number: 8794218Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with at least two reclaim cylinders for each two fuel burning cylinders. A plurality of routing members, such as hoses, are provided to route exhaust gas from the fuel burning cylinders to the reclaim cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Inventor: Robert L. Murtha
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Patent number: 8798894Abstract: A vehicle control unit includes an engine switch, an idling stop controller and a power supply controller. When the engine switch is depressed in a state where the engine is automatically stopped by the idling stop controller, the idling stop controller restarts the engine in a case where a relationship between an operating time during which the engine switch is depressed and a predetermined reference time satisfies a predetermined condition, and the power supply controller switches a power supply mode in a case where the relationship between the operating time and the reference time does not satisfy the predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takayoshi Kawamoto
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Patent number: 8793061Abstract: A control device performs fuel injection without cranking when engine-speed Ne is within a first-range (Ne>N1) and an engine-restart request occurs. The device performs the cranking after the synchronization in rotation-speed between pinion and ring gears, and the gear meshing operation between them when the engine-speed Ne is within a second range (N1?Ne>N2) and the engine-restart request occurs. The device performs the cranking after the gear meshing operation and drives a starter to rotate the pinion gear when the engine-speed Ne is within a third-range (N3?Ne) and the above request occurs. When the above request occurs in an engine restart ready-range (N2?Ne>N3), the control device performs the cranking after the engine-speed Ne is decreased to a value within the third-range (N3?Ne) and after the completion of the gear meshing operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kazushige Okumoto, Hideya Notani, Tatsuya Fujita, Yoshinori Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 8783221Abstract: A laser ignition device is provided for an internal combustion engine, having an ignition laser in which a combustion chamber window has an orifice plate arranged in front of it.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Pascal Woerner, Manfred Vogel, Juergen Raimann
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Patent number: 8781710Abstract: A system includes a sampling module and a map generating module. The sampling module receives a first mapping of thermal efficiency of a spark-ignition engine generated based on operation of the spark-ignition engine with a dynamometer. A combustion chamber of the spark-ignition engine has a first compression ratio. The map generating module generates a second mapping of the thermal efficiency of the spark-ignition engine based on the first mapping and the combustion chamber having a second compression ratio. The second compression ratio is different than the first compression ratio.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: Richard Stephen Davis