Patents Examined by Mark L Greene
  • Patent number: 11708801
    Abstract: Provided is a load drive device capable of diagnosing a failure of an output terminal of the load drive device before a charging voltage stabilizes in a configuration in which a capacitor is connected to an output terminal of the load drive device that drives an inductive load. In the load drive device according to the present invention, a capacitor is connected between a load terminal and a ground terminal, and the presence or absence of a failure of the load terminal is diagnosed on the basis of a current flowing between an internal power supply included in a diagnosis circuit and the load terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Arafune, Takahiro Kawata, Takumi Masubuchi
  • Patent number: 11703008
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a boost controller charging a boost capacitor by performing a boost switching control of a boost switch, and supplying a boost power from a battery power source; and a boost voltage monitor monitors a boost voltage. The boost controller measures a number of times of when the boost voltage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value due to a boost current flowing into the boost capacitor, causing a jump of the boost voltage during a time between a start and stop of boosting, and determines deterioration of the boost capacitor by comparing the measured number of times (i.e., the number of jumps) with a predetermined number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11703010
    Abstract: An electronic control unit for a vehicle with a combustion engine and a method of fuel analysis are provided. At least one dynamic torque sensor value from a high pressure pump of the vehicle and at least one additional sensor value including at least one pressure sensor value and/or at least one timing value are used to determine whether a combustible fuel type currently in use is known, unknown, or similar to a known fuel type. In each case, the operation of the combustion engine is optimized using specific parameter configurations for the fuel injectors of the vehicle. The specific parameter configurations are either retrieved from a database, or are generated using artificial intelligence methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Stephan Revidat, Leigh Deissenroth
  • Patent number: 11698014
    Abstract: Methods and systems using model based and iterative calculations of mass flow throughout an internal combustion engine system. A secondary air injection valve is provided to selectively allow intake air to pass to the exhaust side of the engine system to aid in exothermic reaction with exhaust gasses exiting the engine for various purposes. The iterative calculations of mass flow include estimation of the mass flow through the secondary air injection valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Dickinson, Ondrej Santin, Malay C. Maniar
  • Patent number: 11674469
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a diagnostic of a pressure sensor. In one example, a method includes bypassing one or more vapor canisters and determining a condition of the pressure sensor based on feedback from a hydrocarbon sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11674467
    Abstract: An injection control device for a fuel injection valve includes: a current detection unit, a current area correction control unit, a storage unit, and a reference current value correction unit. The current area correction control unit corrects, based on an energization current profile, an area correction amount of an energization time to equalize the integrated current value of the energization current profile and an integrated current value of the detected current, and obtains the integrated current value of the current based on an attainment time from a start of energization of the fuel injection valve to an attainment of each of plural reference current values. The storage unit stores a reference attainment time. The reference current value correction unit corrects each reference current value based on a difference between the reference attainment time and a detected attainment time at a time of actual drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Kato, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Yasumasa Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11668259
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing fuel economy and maintaining particulate emissions below a threshold of an engine system in a vehicle. An engine system has port fuel injection, direct injection, variable compression ratio, and independent compression/expansion. A processor predicts settings for the four systems that optimize for a fuel economy that is maximized. A particulate rate of the engine system is computed based on the settings. A determination is made of whether the particulate rate is below a threshold. When the particulate rate is below the threshold, command signals are delivered to actuators of the systems to move to the settings. When the threshold is exceeded, the settings are revised to maintain the particulate below the threshold while optimizing for fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: J. Michael Gwidt, Andrew B. Gillett, Karen Margaret-Bell Gwidt
  • Patent number: 11668257
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for synchronizing a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including the steps of detection of the reference position of a first toothed wheel during a rotation of the crankshaft from the measurements sent by a first measuring sensor, detection of rising and falling edges of the teeth of a second toothed wheel during a concomitant rotation of the camshaft from the measurements sent by a second measuring sensor, identification of the detected edges with a first tolerance threshold on the angular position of the camshaft from recorded positions of the edges to synchronize the engine, the recorded positions being predetermined by learning from theoretical positions with a second tolerance threshold on the angular position of the camshaft, the first tolerance threshold being less than the second tolerance threshold, and synchronization of the engine from the identified edges of the teeth of the second toothed wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Fabien Joseph, Stéphane Eloy
  • Patent number: 11649781
    Abstract: An injection control device includes: a booster circuit that boosts a battery voltage; a boosting control unit that performs boosting control on the booster circuit; a charge control setting unit that sets a charge prohibition time of the booster circuit for the boosting control unit; and a maximum time specification unit that specifies a maximum valve-closing detection time based on a valve-closing detection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Takaya, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Kosuke Kato
  • Patent number: 11486291
    Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within the fluid flow system. A control device includes a microprocessor and is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model and at least one input from the fluid flow system. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
  • Patent number: 11454185
    Abstract: An injection control device includes a boost controller performing boost control of a boosted voltage generated by a booster circuit until a boosted voltage, which is generated in a boost capacitor, rises to a full-charge threshold when the boosted voltage falls below a charge start threshold. When a power interruption controller interrupts electric current supplied to the fuel injection valve by the drive unit, a regeneration unit regenerates electric current generated in the fuel injection valve to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit. The boost controller stops the boost control of the booster circuit when at least the electric current is regenerated by the regeneration unit to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit after the interruption control by the power interruption controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shirakawa, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11441506
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for regulating the duty cycle of a controlled current signal of a conversion module of a voltage converter including a step of measuring, by the microcontroller, the duty cycle of the envelope of the controlled current signal, and when the value of the duty cycle is below a predetermined threshold, a step of controlling, by the microcontroller, the current control module to decrease the amplitude of the control signal and that the duty cycle of the envelope of the controlled current signal thus tends toward a predetermined threshold, or when the value of the duty cycle is higher than the predetermined threshold, a step of controlling, by the microcontroller, the current control module so the current control module increases the amplitude of the controlled current signal and that the duty cycle of the envelope of the controlled current signal thus tends toward the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Stéphane Saint-Macary
  • Patent number: 11441505
    Abstract: An injection control device includes a boost controller performing boost control of a boosted voltage generated by a booster circuit until a boosted voltage, which is generated in a boost capacitor, rises to a full-charge threshold when the boosted voltage falls below a charge start threshold. When, for stopping a peak current by a drive unit, a power interruption controller interrupts electric current supplied to the fuel injection valve by the drive unit as interruption control (i) of an application voltage to a fuel injection valve or (ii) of a constant current by the drive unit, a regeneration unit regenerates electric current generated in the fuel injection valve to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit. The boost controller upward-shifts (i.e., raises) the full-charge threshold of the booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shirakawa, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11428183
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve driving device that drives an electromagnetic valve for injecting a fuel, includes: a first charging route that charges a bootstrap capacitor from a battery without intervention of a boost circuit; a second charging route that charges the bootstrap capacitor from the boost circuit; and a switching control unit that switches a charging route for charging the bootstrap capacitor to the first charging route or the second charging route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD., NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Motoaki Kato, Atsushi Ogawa, Kengo Nomura, Keisuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11421617
    Abstract: An injection control device includes a boost controller performing boost control of a boosted voltage until a boosted voltage, which is generated in a boost capacitor, rises to a full-charge threshold when the boosted voltage falls below a charge start threshold. A drive unit supplies electric current to a fuel injection valve from a start timing t1 of an injection instruction period. A power interruption controller interrupts electric current supplied to the fuel injection valve by the drive unit. A regeneration unit regenerates electric current generated in the fuel injection valve which is caused by interruption control by the power interruption controller to the boost capacitor of the booster circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Shirakawa, Masashi Inaba
  • Patent number: 11415069
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a DC-DC voltage converter for driving with current at least one fuel injector of a motor-vehicle internal combustion engine. The method includes, when the transistor is switched from the off state to the on state, triggering a counter for measuring time, and, if at the end of a preset time called the “observation” time, the amplitude of the peak current has not reached its maximum value, steps of commanding that transistor so that the transistor switches from the on state to the off state, of keeping the transistor in the off state for a preset time called the “cooling time”, and of commanding the transistor so that the transistor switches to the on state at the end of the cooling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Jean Cannavo
  • Patent number: 11396849
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for dynamically assigning cylinders to cylinder sets in engines having two or more cylinder banks, wherein each cylinder bank is fed intake air by a separate intake manifold, and wherein each cylinder bank includes a separate exhaust manifold. In one example, the current disclosure teaches comparing engine operating conditions against a plurality of predetermined override conditions, and responding to the engine operating conditions matching a predetermined override condition of the plurality of predetermined override conditions by reassigning at least a first cylinder of a first cylinder bank from a first cylinder set to a second cylinder set, and adjusting an operating parameter of the second cylinder set and first cylinder set based on the override condition. In this way, cylinders may be dynamically assigned to cylinder sets based, from a default cylinder set, based on occurrence of predetermined override conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Powerhouse Engine Solutions Switzerland IP Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Atul George Tharakan, James Robert Mischler
  • Patent number: 11384703
    Abstract: A controller is used for an air-fuel ratio sensor. The air-fuel sensor includes a detection element that detects an oxygen concentration, and a PWM-controlled heater that receives a PWM signal for temperature control of the detection element. The controller includes a resistance detection circuit configured to detect a resistance of the detection element, and a processor. The processor is programmed to generate the PWM signal for the heater based on the detected resistance such that the resistance of the detection element is kept at a predetermined target resistance, and determine whether a failure has occurred in the air-fuel ratio sensor based on a manner of time-series increase in duty cycle of the PWM signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Takayuki Urakawa
  • Patent number: 11378025
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, the present disclosure may relate to a system including a gaseous fuel consuming engine operating at an air to fuel ratio (AFR) and including a throttle valve controlling a speed of engine, and an engine controller coupled to the engine. The engine controller may be configured to obtain the speed of the engine and obtain the AFR of the engine. The engine controller may also be configured to, based on a transient event affecting the engine, coordinate modification of both the throttle valve to change the speed of the engine and trim valve to change the AFR of the engine to maintain at least one of the speed and the AFR of the engine within a threshold deviance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Peter M. Young, Yi Han, Daniel Zimmerle
  • Patent number: 11326539
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting a malfunction of a voltage-limiting circuit of a control circuit, the control circuit including an output port connected to a capacitive actuator of a motor vehicle, an output voltage on the output port being, in the absence of a malfunction of the voltage-limiting circuit, equal to or lower than a theoretical maximum value. The capacitive actuator is arranged in series with a commutator, the method including steps of: placing the commutator in an open state; activating the control circuit; measuring the output voltage over the output port; and evaluating a criterion for detecting a malfunction of the voltage-limiting circuit as a function of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Sébastien Chiabo, Sébastien Delepouve