Patents by Inventor Brian Spohn
Brian Spohn 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).
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Patent number: 10002007Abstract: A device driver is configured to provide access to at least one peripheral device through a normalized interface. A loader is provided with the device driver. When the loader is executed, the loader loads the device driver to an operating system (OS) within its own independent processing context. The interactions through the normalized interface are OS independent.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Ian Cathro, Brian Spohn
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Patent number: 9458812Abstract: An engine control system comprises a temperature control module and an engine disabling module. The temperature control module regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down. The engine disabling module selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Halim G Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
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Patent number: 9410458Abstract: A control system includes a state of charge module and a control module. The state of charge module receives a parameter associated with a battery in a vehicle and determines a state of charge of the battery based on the parameter. The control module activates a heater in a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle based on the state of charge.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
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Publication number: 20150347157Abstract: A device driver is configured to provide access to at least one peripheral device through a normalized interface. A loader is provided with the device driver. When the loader is executed, the loader loads the device driver to an operating system (OS) within its own independent processing context. The interactions through the normalized interface are OS independent.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: NCR CorporationInventors: Ian Cathro, Brian Spohn
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Patent number: 9098362Abstract: An Inter-Process Communication (IPC) message transport mechanism is provided with an Application Programming Interface (API). Applications use the API to create and register clients, and device drivers for devices use the API to create and register services. The applications and device drivers use their own independent API to pass commands and responses to one another using the clients and services. An IPC message transport manager manages and routes the commands as messages without any restrictions on the format or content of the messages. The messages routed in an OS independent fashion.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: NCR CorporationInventors: Ian Cathro, Brian Spohn
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Patent number: 8447494Abstract: A control module for an engine of a vehicle includes a mode determination module that determines whether the vehicle is in a fuel-saving mode based on an acceleration of the vehicle. A diurnal control valve (DCV) control module selectively closes a DCV a predetermined time after at least one of determining that the vehicle is in the fuel-saving mode and determining that the engine is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Inventors: Zhong Wang, Brian Spohn, Miles K. Maxey, Jonathan J Stec, Timothy E. McCarthy, Vincent A. White, John F. Van Gilder, Lan Wang, Jun Lu
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Patent number: 8413423Abstract: A catalyst temperature control system of the present disclosure includes a vehicle start anticipation module and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) control module. The vehicle start anticipation module determines whether a vehicle start is anticipated based on at least one of a plurality of vehicle conditions before an ignition switch is turned on. The EHC control module activates an EHC based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Inventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn, Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze
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Patent number: 8359844Abstract: An exhaust treatment system comprises M three-way catalysts and N electrically heated catalysts (EHCs). The M three-way catalysts are arranged to receive exhaust gas output by an engine of a hybrid vehicle. M is an integer greater than one. The N EHCs are arranged to receive the exhaust gas and provide radiant heat to the M three-way catalysts when the N EHCs are powered. N is an integer greater than one.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
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Patent number: 8122758Abstract: A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a tank pressure module and a leak diagnostic module. The tank pressure module selectively outputs first and second fuel tank pressures when an engine is shut down and when engine vacuum is greater than a predetermined engine vacuum, respectively. The leak diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a leak in a fuel vapor purge valve based on the second fuel tank pressure when the first fuel tank pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Inventors: Zhong Wang, Miles K. Maxey, James D. Ethington, Eric M. Hall, Brian Spohn, David Edward Prout
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Patent number: 7934487Abstract: A control system for an engine having N cylinders in first and second banks includes a catalyst heat module and a fuel control module. N is an integer greater than two. The catalyst heat module selectively operates the engine in a catalyst heat mode to heat a catalyst. The fuel control module, throughout a fuel injection sequence for each of the N cylinders, adjusts a first air/fuel (A/F) ratio for the first bank to a rich value and adjusts a second A/F ratio for the second bank to a lean value.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn
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Publication number: 20110078999Abstract: A control system includes a state of charge module and a control module. The state of charge module receives a parameter associated with a battery in a vehicle and determines a state of charge of the battery based on the parameter. The control module activates a heater in a catalytic converter in an exhaust system of the vehicle based on the state of charge.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
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Publication number: 20110047981Abstract: A catalyst temperature control system of the present disclosure includes a vehicle start anticipation module and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) control module. The vehicle start anticipation module determines whether a vehicle start is anticipated based on at least one of a plurality of vehicle conditions before an ignition switch is turned on. The EHC control module activates an EHC based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn, Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze
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Publication number: 20110047980Abstract: An engine control system comprises a temperature control module and an engine disabling module. The temperature control module regulates a first temperature of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a first predetermined light-off temperature while an engine is shut down. The engine disabling module selectively disables start up of the engine when a second temperature of a passive catalyst is less than a second predetermined light-off temperature while a maximum torque output of an electric motor is greater than a desired torque output.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
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Publication number: 20110030344Abstract: An exhaust treatment system comprises M three-way catalysts and N electrically heated catalysts (EHCs). The M three-way catalysts are arranged to receive exhaust gas output by an engine of a hybrid vehicle. M is an integer greater than one. The N EHCs are arranged to receive the exhaust gas and provide radiant heat to the M three-way catalysts when the N EHCs are powered. N is an integer greater than one.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
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Publication number: 20100318281Abstract: A control system for an engine having N cylinders in first and second banks includes a catalyst heat module and a fuel control module. N is an integer greater than two. The catalyst heat module selectively operates the engine in a catalyst heat mode to heat a catalyst. The fuel control module, throughout a fuel injection sequence for each of the N cylinders, adjusts a first air/fuel (A/F) ratio for the first bank to a rich value and adjusts a second A/F ratio for the second bank to a lean value.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INCInventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn
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Patent number: 7829048Abstract: An exhaust treatment system comprises M electrically heated substrates and a heater control module. The M electrically heated substrates are coated with a catalyst material and arranged in series to receive exhaust gas of an engine. M is an integer greater than one. The heater control module applies power to N of the M substrates to heat the N substrates during a predetermined period. N is an integer less than M. The engine is turned off and the M electrically heated substrates do not receive exhaust gas during the predetermined period.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2009Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
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Patent number: 7792627Abstract: An emissions control method may include operating a hybrid vehicle in a first mode during which a combustion engine is off and an electric motor powers propulsion of the vehicle. An electrically heated catalyst (EHC) may be energized during the first mode. The method may further include determining an operating temperature of an additional catalyst in communication with exhaust gas from the combustion engine and operating the vehicle in a second mode after the first mode during which the engine powers propulsion of the vehicle. The engine may operate in a catalyst combustion mode during the second mode when the operating temperature is below a first predetermined limit. The catalyst combustion mode may include operating the engine at an air-fuel ratio of less than stoichiometry and injecting air into exhaust gas from the engine at a location before the additional catalyst to create an exothermic reaction within the additional catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn
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Publication number: 20090211340Abstract: A leak diagnostic system for a vehicle comprises a tank pressure module and a leak diagnostic module. The tank pressure module selectively outputs first and second fuel tank pressures when an engine is shut down and when engine vacuum is greater than a predetermined engine vacuum, respectively. The leak diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a leak in a fuel vapor purge valve based on the second fuel tank pressure when the first fuel tank pressure is less than a first predetermined pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2009Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Zhong Wang, Miles K. Maxey, James D. Ethington, Eric M. Hall, Brian Spohn, David Edward Prout
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Publication number: 20090216426Abstract: A control module for an engine of a vehicle includes a mode determination module that determines whether the vehicle is in a fuel-saving mode based on an acceleration of the vehicle. A diurnal control valve (DCV) control module selectively closes a DCV a predetermined time after at least one of determining that the vehicle is in the fuel-saving mode and determining that the engine is stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2009Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Zhong Wang, Brian Spohn, Miles K. Maxey, Jonathan J. Stec, Timothy E. McCarthy, Vincent A. White, John F. Van Gilder, Lan Wang, Jun Lu