Patents by Inventor Barth Fisk

Barth Fisk has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6611145
    Abstract: A motorcycle including a two-cylinder engine. The engine includes a housing, first and second cylinders having first and second combustion chambers, respectively, and first and second pistons reciprocating in the first and second chambers, respectively. The motorcycle further includes a spark generating circuit including a spark plug having a spark gap exposed to the first combustion chamber, an ion sensing circuit including the spark plug and being operable to generate an ion signal indicative of an ion current generated across the spark gap, and an analysis module coupled to the ion signal circuit. The analysis module is operable to receive the ion signal and to analyze the ion signal to determine whether a no-combustion event occurs in the first cylinder. The analysis module may be further operable to determine if the spark generating circuit has an intermittent connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignees: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc., Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: V. Dennis Lodise, Eric Norppa, Frederick K. Lenhart, Barth Fisk
  • Patent number: 6588259
    Abstract: A system for determining engine phase in a motorcycle engine includes a crank gear sensor mounted near the crank gear of the engine, a pressure sensor mounted on the air intake manifold of the engine, and a processor communicating with the crank gear sensor and the pressure sensor. First and second groups of crank gear teeth pass by the crank gear sensor before either of the first and second pistons of the engine reaches TDC. At low rpm, such as at start up, the processor determines the phase of the engine during a single rotation of the crankshaft by measuring and comparing the time periods taken by the groups of teeth to pass by the crank gear sensor. At high rpm, the processor determines the phase of the engine using the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: V. Dennis Lodise, Eric Norppa, Barth Fisk
  • Publication number: 20030061870
    Abstract: A system for determining engine phase in a motorcycle engine includes a crank gear sensor mounted near the crank gear of the engine, a pressure sensor mounted on the air intake manifold of the engine, and a processor communicating with the crank gear sensor and the pressure sensor. First and second groups of crank gear teeth pass by the crank gear sensor before either of the first and second pistons of the engine reaches TDC. At low rpm, such as at start up, the processor determines the phase of the engine during a single rotation of the crankshaft by measuring and comparing the time periods taken by the groups of teeth to pass by the crank gear sensor. At high rpm, the processor determines the phase of the engine using the pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: V. Dennis Lodise, Eric Norppa, Barth Fisk
  • Patent number: 6499341
    Abstract: A system for determining engine phase in a motorcycle engine includes a crank gear sensor mounted near the crank gear of the engine, a pressure sensor mounted on the air intake manifold of the engine, and a processor communicating with the crank gear sensor and the pressure sensor. First and second groups of crank gear teeth pass by the crank gear sensor before either of the first and second pistons of the engine reaches TDC. A third group of crank gear teeth passes by the crank gear sensor before the first piston reaches TDC, but after the second piston reaches TDC. At low rpm, such as at start up, the processor determines the phase of the engine during a single rotation of the crankshaft by measuring and comparing the time periods taken by the group of teeth to pass by the crank gear sensor. At high rpm, the processor determines the phase of the engine using the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: V. Dennis Lodise, Eric Norppa, Barth Fisk
  • Publication number: 20020007818
    Abstract: A motorcycle including a two-cylinder engine. The engine includes a housing, first and second cylinders having first and second combustion chambers, respectively, and first and second pistons reciprocating in the first and second chambers, respectively. The motorcycle further includes a spark generating circuit including a spark plug having a spark gap exposed to the first combustion chamber, an ion sensing circuit including the spark plug and being operable to generate an ion signal indicative of an ion current generated across the spark gap, and an analysis module coupled to the ion signal circuit. The analysis module is operable to receive the ion signal and to analyze the ion signal to determine whether a no-combustion event occurs in the first cylinder. The analysis module may be further operable to determine if the spark generating circuit has an intermittent connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
    Inventors: V. Dennis Lodise, Eric Norppa, Frederick K. Lenhart, Barth Fisk