Patents Examined by Xiao Mo
  • Patent number: 9739215
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system in a hybrid vehicle using an intrusive monitor include adjusting EGR flow through an EGR valve based on an average pressure difference between pressure measured from a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor and inferred pressure determined from mass air flow (MAF) into an intake of an engine when engine speed, throttle and camshaft timing position change is below a corresponding threshold. The measured pressure and inferred pressure are determined when the EGR valve is in a closed position and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Richard Paul Taylor, Freeman Gates
  • Patent number: 9732664
    Abstract: An ignition device with a pre-combustion chamber for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The internal combustion engine may have a plurality of cylinders. Each cylinder may define a main combustion chamber. The ignition device may have a first pre-combustion chamber part configured to at least partially accommodate a spark plug. The ignition device may also have a second pre-combustion chamber part defining at least a portion of the pre-combustion chamber. The second pre-combustion chamber part may include at least one orifice configured to be fluidly connected to the main combustion chamber. The second pre-combustion chamber part may be detachably mountable to the first pre-combustion chamber part, such that the first and second pre-combustion chamber parts are axially secured to one another and rotatable with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Trinkel
  • Patent number: 9719479
    Abstract: An ignition control device for an internal combustion engine can include an ignition coil supplying a discharge voltage to an ignition device of an ignition combustion engine, a voltage-controlled type semiconductor element connected to a primary side of the ignition coil and an ignition control section capable of repeating, multiple time in an ignition period, operations of turning ON and turning OFF of the voltage-controlled type semiconductor element by giving a gate signal to a gate of the voltage-controlled type semiconductor element. The ignition control section can include an active element that discharges gate charges accumulated on the gate of the voltage-controlled type semiconductor element upon turning OFF operation of the voltage-controlled type semiconductor element to the ground, and that is connected between the gate and a resistor at a side of the gate inserted in a gate wiring connected to the gate of the voltage-controlled type semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 9714638
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ignition timing control device and an ignition system which are capable of performing ignition timing control that easily suppresses occurrence of knocking for internal combustion engine. An ignition timing control device has a knocking detection device 41 detecting knocking of internal combustion engine; and an ignition timing adjustment device 43 adjusting ignition timing of internal combustion engine according to a knocking signal obtained from knocking detection device 41 and indicating knocking state and an externally-obtained signal concerning the ignition timing of the internal combustion engine. Knocking detection device 41 and ignition timing adjustment device 43 are electrically connected and formed integrally with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isao Suzuki, Katsunori Yazawa, Hiroshi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 9709019
    Abstract: In a plasma generation device that generates electromagnetic wave plasma by emitting electromagnetic waves in a target space, the electromagnetic wave plasma is generated in a plurality of locations with a simple configuration and relatively low electromagnetic wave energy. The plasma generation device is provided with an antenna that emits electromagnetic waves supplied from an electromagnetic wave generator in the target space, a discharger that forcibly discharges free electrons from gas molecules in the target space, and an electric field concentration member that concentrates electric field of the electromagnetic wave emitted from the antenna. The electric field concentration member is arranged in non-contact relationship with the antenna. The plasma generation device causes the discharger to discharge free electrons and the antenna to emit electromagnetic waves, thereby generating electromagnetic wave plasma in the vicinity of the antenna and in the vicinity of the electric field concentration member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: IMAGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Yuji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9704633
    Abstract: A motor vehicle solenoid including a solenoid housing, at least one coil arranged in the housing, and at least one diode holder arranged in the housing adjacent the at least one coil. The at least one diode holder includes a body having an outer circumferential edge and at least one diode pocket. The at least one diode pocket houses a diode electrically connected to the at least one coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Muhammed Emin Ozdemir, Steve Burton, David Durant
  • Patent number: 9704305
    Abstract: A method for predicting the future operation of a vehicle is disclosed which uses stored data representative of commonly followed routes to predict the future operation of the vehicle for the current trip. By establishing that the route currently being followed is comparable to one of the commonly followed routes, information relating to that “common route” is then used to predict the future operation of the vehicle for the current trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Bromham, James Wright, Kim Ford
  • Patent number: 9702332
    Abstract: An ignition device includes a spark plug and an ignition coil. The spark plug is attached to a cylinder head such that a center electrode and a ground electrode project into a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, airflow is generated in a predetermined direction to the spark plug during a compression step. The ignition coil has a primary coil and a secondary coil. An output voltage of the secondary coil after interruption of energization of the primary coil is restricted to a predetermined voltage or less. The ground electrode has a leg portion extending from a housing of the spark plug and an opposing portion that extends in a direction intersecting with the leg portion and forms a gap by opposing the center electrode. The leg portion is attached to a position further upstream than the gap in a flow direction of the airflow during the compression step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamichi Shibata, Koichi Hattori, Atsuya Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9702295
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine with variable displacement engine (VDE) operation coupled to a twin scroll turbocharger. One method comprises directing exhaust from a first outer cylinder and a first inner cylinder of four cylinders to a first scroll of the twin scroll turbocharger, directing exhaust from a second outer cylinder and a second inner cylinder of the four cylinders to a second scroll of the twin scroll turbocharger, and during a first condition, firing all four cylinders with uneven firing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Alan Boyer, Gregory Patrick McConville, Kim Hwe Ku, James Douglas Ervin
  • Patent number: 9702321
    Abstract: A fuel supply system adapted to supply fuel to an internal combustion engine has both a check valve and a purge valve disposed in a purge passage that extends from a canister to connect with an intake passage of the internal combustion engine. A controller estimates a pressure within an intermediate purge passage of the purge passage located between the check valve and the purge valve without relying on the use of a separate pressure detection device to provide information regarding the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryuji Miyazaki, Hidetoshi Tsutsumi, Tomonori Nakatsuka, Kinji Morihiro, Koji Honda
  • Patent number: 9695783
    Abstract: A fuel evaporative gas treatment device for a fuel tank is used in a motorcycle including a combustion engine with a supercharger. The fuel evaporative gas treatment device includes a canister which contains an adsorbent for adsorbing fuel evaporative gas from the fuel tank, a communication passage which communicates between an air intake passage for the combustion engine and the canister, and a check valve provided on the communication passage. The check valve blocks fluid flow from the air intake passage to the canister and permits fluid flow from the canister to the air intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tsubone, Norimasa Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kato, Naoto Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9695767
    Abstract: An ECU acquires a fluid temperature, a coolant temperature and a soak time, and determines whether vapors have been produced in a fuel supply device on the basis of a vapor production prediction map. When the ECU determines that vapors have been produced in the fuel supply device, the ECU reduces a feedback gain. Subsequently, the ECU predicts a vapor production time, and, when the ECU determines that a vapor production end time has been reached, executes normal feedback control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunki Lee, Yuji Miyanoo
  • Patent number: 9688375
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a fuel tank, a fuel path, and a fuel pump. The fuel tank includes a fuel storage region including a sealed region configured to store a fuel. The fuel path is connected to an engine and the fuel tank. The fuel path includes a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion to suck a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture. The vaporized-liquid fuel mixture is produced by mixing the vaporized fuel into the liquid fuel. The vaporized fuel is produced from the liquid fuel stored in the fuel storage region. The fuel pump is disposed in the fuel path. The fuel pump is configured to produce a negative pressure in a pump suction port connected to the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kadobayashi
  • Patent number: 9683510
    Abstract: A fuel control system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a parameter determination module, a parameter learning module, and an injector driver module. The parameter determination module determines a parameter of a fuel injector in an engine at an operating condition of the engine. The parameter learning module identifies index values in a table based on the engine operating condition and adjusts learned values of the fuel injector parameter corresponding to the index values based on the determined value of the fuel injector parameter. The injector driver module selectively applies power to the fuel injector based on the learned values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Michael J. Lucido
  • Patent number: 9683512
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a high-pressure fuel pump to mitigate audible ticking noise associated with opening and closing of a digital inlet valve of the high-pressure pump. To reduce the ticking noise associated with the high-pressure pump when the engine is idling, a solution is needed that is simple and does not involve retrofitting the fuel system with noise, vibration, and harshness countermeasures to mask the noise. Pressure devices and associated operation methods are provided that involve adding a combination of several check valves, an accumulator, and a flow control valve with weep channels to allow the digital inlet valve to be deactivated during engine idling as defined by a threshold engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark L. Stickler, Vince Paul Solferino, Paul Zeng, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Robin Ivo Lawther, Patrick Brostrom, Jacob Jensen, Christopher Woodring, Joseph F. Basmaji, Mark Meinhart, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Patent number: 9677486
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor vehicle having a turbocharged engine is disclosed in which deactivation of cylinders of the engine is controlled to prevent the rotational speed of a turbocharger of the engine falling below a predefined limit TA, TB. Following commencement of a coast down of the motor vehicle all cylinders of the engine are first deactivated so as to maximise energy recuperation from the motor vehicle by a belt integrated starter generator driveably connected to the engine. However, if the speed of the turbocharger reaches one of the speed limits TA, TB at least one cylinder of the engine is reactivated to keep the turbocharger spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donatus Andreas Josephine Kees, Anthemios Philemon Petridis
  • Patent number: 9650975
    Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for preventing a valve from sticking may include performing, by an ECU, an EGR Cooler By-Pass Valve (ECB V/V) normal mode for operating an ECB V/V under a low temperature and low load condition to prevent fouling of an EGR cooler and overcooling of an EGR gas, when an EGR is controlled with a vehicle driven, and performing, by the ECU, an ECB V/V self-cleaning mode for operating an ECB V/V in consideration of an engine condition when the OFF-state of the ECB V/V is determined and an ECB V/V sticking detection mode for detecting sticking of the ECB V/V in continuous performing, cold performing, and in-driving performing in consideration of an opening amount of the ECB V/V when a fixed state of the ECB V/V is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ju-Kwang Lee
  • Patent number: 9644564
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for addressing pre-ignition that may be induced in response to actions taken to mitigate a cylinder misfire. An amount of engine load limiting applied may be adjusted to reduce the likelihood pre-ignition while also addressing component over-temperature issues. By limiting an engine load while shutting off fuel in a misfiring cylinder, and while combusting a lean air-fuel mixture in the remaining cylinders, pre-ignition induced by the misfire-mitigating lean combustion conditions can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Paul Charles Mingo, Robert Sarow Baskins, Sue Kay Wagers
  • Patent number: 9644551
    Abstract: A method for supplying fuel to an engine is disclosed. The method may include regulating a gas admission valve disposed between a gaseous fuel line and a cylinder intake port to reduce flow of gaseous fuel to the cylinder. The method may also include closing a shut-off valve disposed between a gaseous fuel reservoir and the gaseous fuel line to restrict flow of gaseous fuel from the gaseous fuel reservoir to the gaseous fuel line. Further, the method may include actuating an inert gas inlet valve disposed between an inert gas reservoir and the gaseous fuel line to supply inert gas to the gaseous fuel line and flush the gaseous fuel in the gaseous fuel line into the cylinder via the gas admission valve. Additionally, the method may include closing the inert gas inlet valve to restrict supply of inert gas to the gaseous fuel line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hannes Marscheider, Eike Joachim Sixel, Daniel Wester, Thorsten Tuexen
  • Patent number: 9638156
    Abstract: A saddle-ride type vehicle includes a frame, an engine, a starter motor, a predetermined component, and a coupling member. The engine is supported by the frame. The starter motor is attached to the engine. The predetermined component is disposed adjacent to the starter motor. The coupling member couples the predetermined component to the starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takushiro Shiraishi