Patents Examined by Erick R. Solis
  • Patent number: 11242814
    Abstract: A learned neural network learned in weights using an engine load, an engine speed, and an intake pressure inside the engine intake passage downstream of the throttle valve (19) as input parameters of the neural network and using leakage of blow-by gas from a blow-by gas feed path (20) as a truth label is stored. At the time of operation of the vehicle, the learned neural network is used to detect the abnormality of leakage of blow-by gas from the blow-by gas feed path (20) from the above input parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Harufumi Muto, Naoya Okubo, Akihiro Katayama, Yosuke Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11242811
    Abstract: A system for automatically controlling shut-off of a vehicle includes: a sensor that senses existence of a user in the vehicle; and a vehicle controlling device that determines whether the vehicle is in an idle state, determines whether a user exists in the vehicle based on a sensing value of the sensor, controls the vehicle to automatically shut off, and notifies a user of a vehicle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Il Yang, Ji Woon Park, Beom Choon Park
  • Patent number: 11242817
    Abstract: An engine control method includes a step of setting combustion mode in which a first combustion mode in which a mixed gas is combusted by propagating flame or a second combustion mode in which the mixed gas is combusted by self-ignition is selected, a step of setting air-fuel ratio mode in which a lean first air-fuel ratio mode or a second air-fuel ratio mode equal to or richer than a theoretical air-fuel ratio is selected, a step of setting torque reduction in which a torque reduction amount by which a torque generated by an engine is reduced based on a steer angle of a steering wheel, and a suppressing step in which reducing the torque generated by the engine based on the torque reduction amount set in the step of setting torque reduction is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Takayama, Takeatsu Ito, Masahiro Nagoshi, Yuichiro Akiya, Yuto Matsushima, Kenko Ujihara, Daisaku Ogawa, Daisuke Umetsu
  • Patent number: 11236695
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a set of feature data, the feature data sensed from a fuel injector during a fuel injection event; processing, by a processor, the set of feature data with a decision tree model to generate a prediction of a fault status; and selectively generating, by the processor, a notification signal based on the prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jin Shen, Jeffrey M. Hutmacher, Patricia M. Laskowsky, Dana J. Suttman, Iman Mohammadrezazadeh, Ruggero Scorcioni, Vincent DeSapio
  • Patent number: 11236691
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of predicting engine knocking, which includes calculating initial pressure in cylinder based on operating data and pressure in intake manifold measured using manifold absolute pressure sensor, calculating pressure at spark timing in the cylinder by interpreting compression process as polytropic process based on the calculated initial pressure in the cylinder, calculating heat release rate for individual operating conditions based on the calculated pressure in the cylinder at spark timing, calculating pressure change in the cylinder based on the calculated heat release rate, calculating unburned gas temperature in adiabatic compression process based on the calculated pressure change in the cylinder, and determining whether knock occurs by calculating ignition delay based on the calculated unburned gas temperature and calculating unburned gas mass fraction at crank angle at the end of the ignition delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Kyoung Doug Min, Chi Heon Song, Seok Won Cho, Young Bok Lee, Ji Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 11236690
    Abstract: A variety of engine controllers and methods are described for controlling engines operating in a cylinder output level modulation mode. In one aspect transitions between different effective firing fractions are managed by gradually ramping an effective firing density. In another, when an engine transitions to a multi-level skip fire firing density that has more than one possible high/low/skip sequence, the phase of the high/low pattern is set relative to the phase of the firing pattern to ensure that a preferred high/low/skip sequence is generated. In another aspect, rapid large torque changes can be implemented in part by immediately changing the operational high/low fraction in response to a command to increase or reduce the desired engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongyan Cao, Elliott A. Ortiz-Soto, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 11230999
    Abstract: An injector includes a nozzle portion to inject fluid, a coil to generate a driving force to open and close the nozzle portion, and a molded resin that seals the coil. A cooling jacket has a flow path to cause cooling fluid to flow therethrough. The cooling jacket houses the injector and has an opening in an end opposite to the nozzle portion. A sealing material is filled in a space between the cooling jacket and the molded resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoichi Itami
  • Patent number: 11220969
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving accuracy of an amount of fuel injected to an engine are disclosed. In one example, holding current of a fuel injector is adjusted to follow a fixed period and timing of a fuel injector off command is adjusted according to attributes of fuel injector holding current so that a fuel injector may provide a requested fuel amount. The fuel injector off command may be adjusted according to an amount of holding current that is expected to be flowing through the fuel injector at a time when the fuel injector is commanded off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Rani Kiwan, Joseph Thomas, Paul Hollar, Ian D Campbell
  • Patent number: 11220976
    Abstract: A method to control the combustion of a compression ignition engine having the steps of: establishing, for each combustion cycle, a fuel quantity to be injected into the cylinder; injecting a first fraction of the fuel quantity; heating a second fraction of the fuel quantity, which is equal to the remaining fraction of the fuel quantity, to an injection temperature higher than 100° C.; injecting the second fraction of the fuel quantity heated to the injection temperature into the cylinder at the end of the compression stroke and at no more than 60° from the top dead centre; and decreasing the injection temperature and the ratio between the second fraction and the first fraction as the internal combustion engine increases and as the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MARMOTORS S.R.L.
    Inventor: Luca Marmorini
  • Patent number: 11215137
    Abstract: In an engine device, when executing normal control that performs fuel injection and ignition as control of an engine, a controller estimates, in the case of a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, an exhaust gas temperature based on first thermal energy that is based on a combustion gas temperature, a combustion gas quantity, and specific heat of combustion gas, estimates, in the case of a lean air-fuel ratio, the exhaust gas temperature based on the first thermal energy and second thermal energy that is based on an air temperature, a surplus air quantity, and specific heat of air, and estimates, in the case of a rich air-fuel ratio, the exhaust gas temperature based on the first thermal energy and third thermal energy that is based on a fuel temperature, a surplus fuel quantity, specific heat of fuel, and evaporation latent heat of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sohichi Imai, Shigeki Nakayama, Masanao Idogawa, Daigo Ando
  • Patent number: 11208966
    Abstract: A storage device is configured to store a first mapping that receives, as an input, a first input variable including a cam phase variable on present and past phases of a cam, and output a pulsating variable on a pulsating component. The execution device is configured to acquire the first input variable and estimate the pulsating variable by applying the acquired first input variable to the first mapping. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the pulsating variable without providing a low-pressure fuel pressure sensor by estimating a fuel pressure variable by applying the first input variable to the first mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Iwai
  • Patent number: 11204013
    Abstract: A method for ignition control in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine by means of acquiring an electric signal relating to ionizing currents emitted in said combustion chamber, comprising a step of detecting a substantially stepped trend of said electric signal and a consequent step of inhibiting a corrective action of an ignition advance and/or of a fuel injection limitation curve in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FPT INDUSTRIAL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Pittatore, Francesco Sanarico
  • Patent number: 11203993
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an internal combustion engine as a function of an expected value of a temperature of a component of an exhaust gas system, route data of an expectable driving route being assigned values of exhaust gas temperatures. The method is characterized in that the route data are assigned engine operating data which are expectable when passing through the expectable driving route and in that a first exhaust gas temperature expected value is computed and assigned to a route section, in that the route is subdivided into characterizable route sections, in that each of these route sections is assigned a predetermined second exhaust gas temperature expected value which is based on at least one exhaust gas temperature value measured at an earlier point in time, and in that the expected value of the temperature of the component is formed on the basis of linking the first exhaust gas temperature expected value to the second exhaust gas temperature expected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Damitz, Christian Luz, Joerg Frauhammer
  • Patent number: 11203989
    Abstract: An engine start control device is provided with: a starter relay that is provided between a battery and a starter motor; a start abnormality determining means that determines the occurrence of start abnormality of an engine; and a start control means, which turns on the starter relay, and starts supplying power from the battery to the starter motor in the cases where a start instruction signal is inputted from a start switch, and which turns off the starter relay in the cases where the start abnormality determining means determined the occurrence of start abnormality of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kondo, Koichi Shimamura, Takeshi Yanagisawa, Yoshiaki Takeuchi, Hideki Uematsu, Mamoru Uraki, Naoki Murasawa, Atsushi Hatayama, Hirofumi Wakayama, Tomoya Makabe
  • Patent number: 11199169
    Abstract: An electric starter system for an internal combustion includes a pinion gear, a pinion solenoid coupled to the pinion gear, a starter motor that is selectively connectable to the flywheel of the engine via the pinion gear, and a controller in communication with the pinion solenoid and the starter motor. In response to an engine auto-stop signal, the controller is configured to translate the pinion gear into contact with the flywheel and the motor, and cause rotation of the engine crankshaft to a predetermined crank angle. In response to an engine auto-start signal, the controller is configured to command delivery of motor torque from the starter motor, through the pinion gear, and to the flywheel for a duration sufficient for starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chandra S. Namuduri, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Pranjal Sharma
  • Patent number: 11199150
    Abstract: A fuel pressure estimation system estimates a fuel pressure variable on a fuel pressure in a supply pipe for an engine apparatus including an engine having a fuel injection valve, and a fuel supply device having a fuel pump that supplies the fuel in a fuel tank to the supply pipe, and includes a storage device and an execution device. The storage device stores a first mapping that receives, as an input, first input variables including a pump variable, a consumption flow rate variable on a consumption flow rate of the fuel, and a property variable on a property of the fuel, and outputs the fuel pressure variable. The execution device acquires the first input variables and estimates the fuel pressure variable by applying the first input variables to the first mapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Iwai
  • Patent number: 11187201
    Abstract: A combustion control system for an engine of a vehicle includes an ion sensing system configured to generate an ion current signal indicative of a measured current across electrodes of a spark plug associated with a cylinder of the engine and a controller configured to monitor for peaks in the ion current signal and, upon detecting at least a first peak and a second peak in the ion current signal, estimate a location of peak pressure (LPP) based on the detected second peak in the ion current signal, estimate an angle (CA50) of a crankshaft of the engine at which approximately 50% of the heat generated during combustion in the cylinder of the engine is released, and control combustion phasing of the engine based on the estimated CA50 angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Shuonan Xu
  • Patent number: 11181068
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a fuel injection quantity command value output unit that outputs a command value for a fuel injection quantity of the fuel injection valve; a fuel injection quantity correction unit that calculates an A/F correction amount and corrects the command value of the fuel injection quantity; and a controller that executes current control on the fuel injection valve. The controller executes current area correction. The injection control device further includes an area correction abnormality determination unit that determines an area correction abnormality. The area correction abnormality determination unit changes the abnormality determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Kato, Yasumasa Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11181067
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a fuel injection quantity command value output unit that outputs a command value for a fuel injection quantity of a fuel injection valve; and a controller that executes current control on the fuel injection valve. The controller executes current area correction by calculating an area correction amount for an energization time to cause an integrated current value of an energization current profile and the integrated current value of a current to be equal to each other. Correction control of the current area correction is changed based on a detection signal of a cooling water temperature of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Kato, Yasumasa Ishikawa, Yohei Suganuma, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11181050
    Abstract: A driving-side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, a driven-side rotating body that is allowed to rotate relative to the driven-side rotating body and that rotates integrally with a camshaft that opens and closes an intake valve, and a phase adjustment mechanism for setting a relative rotation phase of the driving-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body using a driving force of an electric motor are included. The phase adjustment mechanism is configured to be able to execute retarding control for setting the relative rotation phase to the retarding side until reaching a phase in which the internal combustion engine cannot be started and autonomous running is not possible even if fuel injection and ignition are performed in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kozaki, Seiichi Fujimoto, Masaaki Kaneko, Tatsuki Okude, Tomoaki Fukao