Patents Examined by Hai Huynh
  • Patent number: 10012203
    Abstract: In an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine, a resistor is disposed in a tower insertion hole of a high-voltage tower section. A coil spring is inserted in the tower insertion hole. An inner diameter of a proximal end side portion of the tower insertion hole is larger than an outer diameter of a maximum outer diameter portion of the resistor. An inner diameter of the distal end side portion of the tower insertion hole is larger than an outer diameter of a proximal end side portion of the coil spring, and is smaller than the outer diameter of the maximum outer diameter portion. In a state where the coil spring is pulled out from the tower insertion hole, the maximum outer diameter portion is restrained by the distal end side portion of the tower insertion hole, and a gap is formed between the resistor and a high-voltage cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafuyu Sano, Junichi Wada
  • Patent number: 10012171
    Abstract: The application is directed to a diesel engine. If the rack cannot complete a predetermined operation within a predetermined amount of time due to the key switch being held at a start-position, the control unit controls a starter to cause a plunger to perform a preparatory stroke operation, and the stroke operation by the plunger is stopped before the diesel engine starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: YANMAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Shibata, Hideo Shiomi, Taichi Togashi, Hiroyuki Machiyama
  • Patent number: 10012172
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine including a fuel pressure control processor that controls a fuel pressure at a target fuel pressure, an instruction value calculating processor that calculates a peak instruction value, an upper limit guard processor that executes a guard process on the peak instruction value, an energizing processor that energizes the coil based on the peak instruction value that has undergone the guard process, a convergence determination processor that determines whether or not the detected fuel pressure has converged on the target fuel pressure, and a decreasing processor that decreases the upper limit guard value to a lower value when the fuel pressure has converged on the target fuel pressure than when the fuel pressure has not converged on the target fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 10006432
    Abstract: A method of responding to a detected blowout in a coil ignition system is provided in this disclosure. The method includes receiving a characteristic regarding operation of a coil ignition system; determining a blowout condition exists for the coil ignition system based on the characteristic; and providing a command to the coil ignition system based on the determination that the blowout condition exists, wherein the command is structured to reduce a residual charge amount in the coil ignition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Akash S. Desai, Karthik Kappaganthu, Benjamin L. Olivas, Douglas L. Sprunger, David Stroh
  • Patent number: 10006397
    Abstract: A data analyzer for analyzing characterization data to form fuel injection control, including a data obtainer that obtains data from a detection signal of a sensor as a time-series data that changes over time. The data analyzer further includes a differentiator that differentiates the time-series data obtained by the data obtainer, a moving averager that calculates a moving average of the differentiated time-series data by the differentiator, an identifier that identifies a waveform of the time-series data based on the moving average calculated by the moving averager, and a data characterizer characterizes the time-series data based on the waveform of the time-series data identified by the identifier. As such, noise is removed as much as possible, and characteristics of time-series data become analyzable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yamada, Ken Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 10001075
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a combustion chamber; a compressed gas valve wherein the compressed gas valve is arranged to enable compressed gas to be extracted from the internal combustion engine and used to provide power for mechanical functions: and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the configuration of the internal combustion engine and cause the compressed gas valve to be opened in response to a signal indicating at least one of that the internal combustion engine is decelerating and a throttle is closed to enable compressed gas to be extracted from the internal combustion engine via the compressed gas valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: James Royston Tansley
  • Patent number: 10001105
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 9995230
    Abstract: In an engine control device, an automatic engine stop control section automatically stops an engine operating when an automatic engine stop condition is satisfied. An engine start control section supplies electric power to a starter to drive the starter when receiving an initial engine start intention signal transmitted from a push starter and when an automatic engine start condition has been satisfied. An engine start completion detection section detects whether the engine start of the engine has finished. An automatic engine stop permission section permits the automatic engine stop control section to stop the engine operating when the automatic engine stop permission section detects that the engine start has finished at a timing when the engine start control section has started the engine after receiving an initial engine start intention detection signal transmitted from the push starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Okamiya
  • Patent number: 9989018
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating restrictions in a fuel system vapor recirculation line. In one example, a fuel tank is evacuated responsive to a fuel level below a threshold, and if the vacuum is relieved via a negative pressure relief valve in a capless fuel filler system, the negative pressure relief valve is indicated to be functional such that, responsive to a fuel level greater than a threshold, the fuel system may be evacuated and a restriction may be indicated in the vapor recirculation line responsive to the negative pressure valve not relieving the applied vacuum. In this way, restrictions in the vapor recirculation line may be rapidly diagnosed and excessive loading of a fuel vapor canister may be prevented, thus reducing the potential for evaporative emissions being released to the atmosphere and prolonging fuel vapor canister function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 9982647
    Abstract: An engine start system has a rotating electrical machine, a starter motor, an engine ECU and an ISG controller. The rotating electrical machine is connected to an output shaft of an engine. The starter motor drives the engine to be restarted. The engine ECU controls the engine operation. The ISG controller instructs an inverter when the rotating electrical machine performs power running and regenerative power generation. The ISG controller communicates with the engine ECU, and adjusts the operation of the starter motor and the rotating electrical machine. When receiving an engine restart request, the ISG controller drives at least one of the starter motor and the rotating electrical machine so as to restart the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Imura, Takuro Nakaoka, Atsuyuki Hiruma
  • Patent number: 9982624
    Abstract: Disclosed are multi-pulse fuel delivery control systems, methods for using such systems, and motor vehicles with engines employing multi-pulse fuel injection schemes. A fuel delivery control system is disclosed with fuel injectors that selectively inject multiple pulses of fuel per working cycle into cylinders of an engine. An engine sensor detects an operating condition of the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) sensor detects a state of an EGR system coupled to the engine. An engine control unit is programmed to: determine, from the detected EGR state, a current intake burned gas fraction; determine, from the detected engine operating condition, a desired intake burned gas fraction; determine a secondary fuel mass injection adjustment based on the desired and current intake burned gas fractions; and command the fuel injectors to inject two fuel pulses into each cylinder per working cycle, with the second pulse modified based on the determined adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jun-Mo Kang, Hanho Yun
  • Patent number: 9976491
    Abstract: Provided is an internal combustion engine including a sparkplug disposed in the vicinity of the center portion of an upper wall surface of a combustion chamber. Tumble flow generated during lean burn operation is controlled such that the tumble flow shape changes according to the engine rotation speed between a first tumble shape (usual tumble shape) in which the flow direction of a gas around the sparkplug at the time of ignition is direction from an intake valve side toward an exhaust valve side in a latter half of a compression stroke, and a second tumble shape (? tumble shape) in which the flow direction of the gas is reversed in the latter half of the compression stroke from the direction from the intake valve side toward the exhaust valve side to the direction from the exhaust valve side toward the intake valve side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sachio Mori, Koshiro Kimura, Satoshi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 9976496
    Abstract: The present invention describes a fuel-management system for minimizing particulate emissions in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines. The system optimizes the use of port fuel injection (PFI) in combination with direct injection (DI), particularly in cold start and other transient conditions. In the present invention, the use of these control systems together with other control systems for increasing the effectiveness of port fuel injector use and for reducing particulate emissions from turbocharged direct injection engines is described. Particular attention is given to reducing particulate emissions that occur during cold start and transient conditions since a substantial fraction of the particulate emissions during a drive cycle occur at these times. Further optimization of the fuel management system for these conditions is important for reducing drive cycle emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ethanol Boosting Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Cohn, Leslie Bromberg
  • Patent number: 9976501
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inverting a particulate filter housing. In one example, a method may include inverting the particulate filter housing to dislodge an ash load in the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Solger
  • Patent number: 9970373
    Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine of a marine propulsion device includes receiving a knock sensor signal over an analysis period in a combustion cycle of an internal combustion engine, and subdividing the analysis period into at least a first knock window and a second knock window. The method further includes determining that the knock sensor signal exceeds a threshold in each of the first knock window and the second knock window, and that the knock sensor signal intensity is greater in the first knock window than in the second knock window. At least one combustion parameter is then adjusted for the internal combustion engine to eliminate knocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jason S. Arbuckle, Matthew W. Snyder, Thomas S. Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 9970377
    Abstract: A method and controller provide a corrected standard characteristic curve for a fuel injector to inject fuel into an internal combustion engine. A minimum fuel injector energizing time is determined where a predetermined parameter based upon a plurality of fuel injector energizing times and a plurality of master fuel injector energizing times is a minimum. An energizing time correction value is the difference between a reference energizing time and the minimum energizing time. The standard characteristic curve is corrected based on the energizing time correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniele Carboni, Antonio Arpaia
  • Patent number: 9968886
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an exhaust gas aftertreatment system for a combustion engine in a motor vehicle. In one example, the exhaust gas aftertreatment comprises at least two catalyst devices arranged in an exhaust tract, and a feed device for a reducing agent arranged between the two catalysts, and which furthermore comprises a first heat device at the inlet of the first catalyst and a second heat device downstream thereof, the system adapted for the reduction of nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Balenovic, Felix Goebel, Matthew Allen Schneider, Martina Reichert, Frederik De Smet, Peter Ross
  • Patent number: 9970380
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel injector and a sensor that is configured to provide a signal indicative of a temperature. A controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller includes a fuel injector driver in communication with the fuel injector. The fuel injector driver includes a saturated mode and a peak and hold mode. The controller is configured to command the fuel injector driver to control the fuel injector with one of the saturated mode or the peak and hold mode based upon the signal. For a high resistance injector, the peak and hold mode is used in cold weather conditions to break free an injector seal, and then the fuel injector driver reverts to the saturated mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Mahoro M. Fujita
  • Patent number: 9964058
    Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing fuel economy of a vehicle including a SCR catalyst are presented. In one example, an amount of EGR provided to an engine is decreased in response to performance of the SCR being within a predetermined range of performance. The methods and systems may increase vehicle fuel economy while vehicle tailpipe emissions are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Kurtz, Paul Joseph Tennison, William Charles Ruona, Waheed Alashe, David A. May, Joshua Putman Styron
  • Patent number: 9957901
    Abstract: Control of fuel flow in a uniflow-scavenged, two-stroke cycle, opposed-piston engine includes limiting an amount of torque or fuel in response to a torque demand, based upon a comparison and a selection of fuel delivery options derived from a global airflow parameter and/or a trapped airflow parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ACHATES POWER, INC.
    Inventors: Nishit Nagar, Arunandan Sharma