Patents Examined by Elizabeth Hadley
  • Patent number: 8616184
    Abstract: A fuel pump module includes a reservoir and a sender gauge. The reservoir includes an outer wall, an inner wall spaced radially inward from the outer wall, and through-hole sockets spaced around a perimeter of the reservoir to define N zones between the inner and outer walls, where N is an integer greater than one. The sender gauge is mounted to the reservoir in one of the N zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick Powell
  • Patent number: 8616183
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine has a fuel distributor (2), in the interior space (4) of which is formed a high-pressure accumulator, wherein transverse bores (6) open into the interior space (4). The transverse bores (6) are connected by connecting pipes (8a, 8b) to pressure lines (10) for the supply and discharge of fuel. A high-pressure sensor (30) is arranged at the face-side end of the fuel distributor (2), which high-pressure sensor (30) is connected by a measurement bore (30c) to the interior space (4), and a permanent magnet ring is arranged at that face-side end of the interior space (4) which is assigned to the high-pressure sensor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Klesse, Thomas Riedel, Wolfgang Stapf, Björn von Willmann
  • Patent number: 8606486
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a density determination module and a mass air flow (MAF) determination module. The density determination module determines a density of air in an induction system of the engine based on a temperature of the air, a pressure of the air, and a relative humidity of the air. The MAF determination module, based on the determined density of the air, a velocity of the air, and a cross-sectional area of the induction system, determines a MAF through the induction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventors: Bryant G. Hammond, Layne K. Wiggins, Jan Andrzej Gatowski
  • Patent number: 8594904
    Abstract: A control system for an engine includes an engine torque request module, an engine torque response module, a torque command limit module, and an actuation module. The engine torque request module determines an engine torque request based on (i) an engine power request and (ii) a desired engine speed (DRPM). The engine torque response module determines first and second torque values based on (i) an engine torque response model and (ii) first and second torque boundaries, wherein the first and second torque boundaries are based on the DRPM and a measured engine speed (RPM). The torque command limit module generates a secured engine torque request based on (i) the engine torque request and (ii) the first and second torque values. The actuation module controls at least one actuator of the engine based on the secured engine torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard B. Jess, Michael J. Pitsch, Michael L. Waterman, Pahngroc Oh
  • Patent number: 8583347
    Abstract: A method for determining at least one rail pressure/closing current value pair for a pressure control valve of a common rail injection system of an internal combustion engine includes the following steps: operating the common rail injection system in an MU control mode; reducing the control current for the pressure control valve; detecting the pressure curve over time in the common rail and determining the rail pressure; determining the closing current based on the detected pressure curve; and associating the determined rail pressure and the determined closing current with a rail pressure/closing current value pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Veit, Thomas Breitbach
  • Patent number: 8566002
    Abstract: A system includes a power request module, a first desired engine speed (DRPM) determination module, a driver torque request module, and an actuation module. The power request module generates a power request for an engine of the vehicle based on an accelerator pedal position and a vehicle speed. The first DRPM determination module determines a first target DRPM based on the power request, a turbine speed of a torque converter, and a k-factor of the torque converter. The driver torque request module selectively generates a torque request for the engine based on the power request and the first target DRPM. The actuation module controls at least one engine actuator based on the torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Michael J. Pitsch, Michael L. Waterman, Pahngroc Oh
  • Patent number: 8560206
    Abstract: By using a model of a transient response characteristic of an engine and a model of a steady-state characteristic of the engine, a disturbance estimate value is calculated. By using this disturbance estimate value, initial command values of a nozzle opening degree of a Variable Nozzle Turbo and a valve opening degree of a Exhaust Gas Recirculator are adjusted in order to reduce model errors and appropriately handle the disturbance. Hence, it is possible to cause Mass Air Flow and Manifold Air Pressure to follow their target values stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Arata Ejiri, Tsugito Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8539921
    Abstract: An isolation portion (P) of an insulator (10) of a spark plug (100) electrically insulatively isolates a front end portion (22) of a center electrode (20) and a holding portion (56) of a metallic shell (50) from each other and has an intermediate portion (P2) which extends while its outside diameter varies, thereby ensuring an insulation distance between the two portions. The ratio (S/V) of the surface area (S) of the outer surface (14) of the isolation portion (P) to the volume (V) of the isolation portion (P) satisfies the relation 1.26 mm?1?S/V, whereby the insulation distance between the front end portion (22) and the holding portion (56) is sufficiently ensured while existing dimensional conditions are held unchanged. Through satisfaction of the relation S/V?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kuribayashi, Hirokazu Kurono, Toshitaka Honda, Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 8528527
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank and a tank ventilation device. The fuel tank is connected via a first and second tank ventilation lines to an intake tract of the internal combustion engine. A hydrocarbon store has first and second chambers separated by a diaphragm. The first chamber is connected in communicating fashion to the first tank ventilation line and the second chamber is connected in communicating fashion to the second tank ventilation line. Valves are arranged in the first tank ventilation line upstream and downstream of the first chamber. A valve is arranged in the second tank ventilation line between the second chamber and the intake tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.f. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Stefan Fischer
  • Patent number: 8511285
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment apparatus collects vapor, generated in a fuel tank, in a canister. A bypass passage is provided for an intake passage. An ejector is placed in the bypass passage to generate a negative pressure by air flowing in the bypass passage. When the negative pressure occurs in the ejector, the vapor collected in the canister is drawn from the canister to the ejector through the purge passage and then purged from the bypass passage to the intake passage. An open/close valve placed in the ejector is configured to allow or block the flow of air from the intake passage to the bypass passage according to a pressure difference between the pressure in an upstream portion and the pressure in a downstream portion of the bypass passage during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Konohara, Fumihito Nakatani, Tatsuya Furuhashi
  • Patent number: 8511282
    Abstract: A mounting structure of a high pressure fuel pump for a gasoline direct injection engine, wherein a cam carrier may be mounted on top of a cylinder head and the high pressure fuel pump may be directly attached to an outer side of the cam carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sungkweon Jang
  • Patent number: 8510024
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system having a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, a NOx sensor, and first and second controllers. The first controller compares estimated NOx levels from an SCR model to actual levels from the sensor, and updates the SCR model when the values differ from each other. The second controller evaluates an updating frequency of the SCR model, and executes a control action when the frequency is excessive. A control system includes the sensor and two controllers noted above. A method of diagnosing the exhaust system includes measuring NOx gasses downstream of the SCR device, updating the SCR model when the deviation is present between estimated and measured NOx levels, comparing estimated ammonia (NH3) storage levels from the SCR model to modeled or estimated upper and lower NH3 storage level boundaries to determine excessive updating, and setting a diagnostic code when excessive updating is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Gady, Min Sun
  • Patent number: 8479707
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection device may include a rotational member, at least one magneto-electric transducer having a magnetism detection portion capable of detecting a change in magnetism caused by rotation of the rotational member and generating a detection signal representative of the change in magnetism, and an operation voltage output portion capable of performing an operation based on the detection signal and generating an output signal. The rotation angle detection device may further include a fixed member having an receiving recess that receives the at least one magneto-electric transducer therein, and an elastic member attached to the receiving recess in which the at least one magneto-electric transducer is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Mase
  • Patent number: 8412440
    Abstract: It is possible to perform a failure diagnosis of a pressure sensor with a simple structure without installing a dedicated circuit for the failure diagnosis. In a common rail type fuel injection control apparatus, a pressure control valve 12 is provided in a fuel return path from a common rail 1, and a rail pressure detected by a pressure sensor 11 can be controlled to match a target rail pressure through drive control of the pressure control valve 12 by an electronic control unit 4. The target rail pressure is calculated based on operational information of an engine 3. In the common rail type fuel injection control apparatus, learning processing is performed, in which a correction coefficient Cv is stored and updated as a learning value to correct energization characteristics of a median product of the pressure control valves 12 that are stored in the electronic control unit 4. At the same time, it is determined whether the learning value of the correction coefficient Cv is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kaneko, Sakae Suda, Kenichi Iino