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).

  • Patent number: 10002007
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Cathro, Brian Spohn
  • Patent number: 9458812
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Halim G Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Patent number: 9410458
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Publication number: 20150347157
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Cathro, Brian Spohn
  • Patent number: 9098362
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Cathro, Brian Spohn
  • Patent number: 8447494
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    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
  • Patent number: 8413423
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn, Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze
  • Patent number: 8359844
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Patent number: 8122758
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventors: Zhong Wang, Miles K. Maxey, James D. Ethington, Eric M. Hall, Brian Spohn, David Edward Prout
  • Patent number: 7934487
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn
  • Publication number: 20110078999
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Publication number: 20110047981
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn, Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze
  • Publication number: 20110047980
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Publication number: 20110030344
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Publication number: 20100318281
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn
  • Patent number: 7829048
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian Spohn, Bryan Nathaniel Roos
  • Patent number: 7792627
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze, Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn
  • Publication number: 20090211340
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhong Wang, Miles K. Maxey, James D. Ethington, Eric M. Hall, Brian Spohn, David Edward Prout
  • Publication number: 20090216426
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: 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