Patents by Inventor Bruce F. Hunter

Bruce F. Hunter 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: 9482173
    Abstract: An indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) module determines IMEPs for combustion cycles of cylinders of an engine, respectively. A coldstart indication module indicates whether the engine is in a cold state after a startup of the engine. A fueling correction module, when the engine is in the cold state, selectively increases a fueling correction for one of the cylinders based on the IMEP of the one of the cylinders. An equivalence ratio (EQR) module selectively increases an EQR of the one of the cylinders based on the fueling correction for the one of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Julian R. Verdejo, Bruce F. Hunter, Daniel G. Brennan
  • Publication number: 20160047328
    Abstract: An indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) module determines IMEPs for combustion cycles of cylinders of an engine, respectively. A coldstart indication module indicates whether the engine is in a cold state after a startup of the engine. A fueling correction module, when the engine is in the cold state, selectively increases a fueling correction for one of the cylinders based on the IMEP of the one of the cylinders. An equivalence ratio (EQR) module selectively increases an EQR of the one of the cylinders based on the fueling correction for the one of the cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: KENNETH J. BUSLEPP, JULIAN R. VERDEJO, BRUCE F. HUNTER, DANIEL G. BRENNAN
  • Patent number: 8904993
    Abstract: An engine mode control system for an internal combustion engine includes a transition control module and an intake cam phaser control module. The transition control module controls a transition from a first engine mode to a second engine mode and determines a desired air mass. The engine is operated at a first air/fuel ratio (AFR) in the first engine mode and at a second AFR in the second engine mode. The desired air mass is based on the second AFR. The intake cam phaser control module adjusts the intake cam phaser based on the desired air mass during the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Bruce F. Hunter, Donovan L. Dibble
  • Patent number: 8775054
    Abstract: A control system includes a starter control module, a mode setting module, a throttle control module, and a fuel control module. The starter control module initiates cranking of a spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) engine in response to user actuation of an ignition switch. The mode setting module sets a mode of operation to a coldstart mode when an engine coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature during the cranking. The throttle control module allows a throttle valve to be biased to a predetermined open position when the SIDI engine is off and, in response to the setting of the mode to the coldstart mode, selectively closes the throttle valve relative to the predetermined open position during the cranking. The fuel control module, in response to the setting of the mode to the coldstart mode, disables direct injection of fuel for a first combustion event during the cranking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Ricardo Vincenzi, Bruce F. Hunter, Joshua D. Cowgill, Craig D. Marriott, Claudio Engler Pinto
  • Patent number: 8631645
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a catalytic converter module that determines whether a catalytic converter is active. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst module determines whether a SCR catalyst is active. An engine control module adjusts an air and fuel ratio of an engine to operate at a stoichiometric ratio and retards spark of the engine when the catalytic converter is not active. The engine control module at least one of performs post fuel injection and directly injects fuel into an exhaust system of the engine when the catalytic converter is active and the SCR catalyst is not active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Bruce F. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20130297182
    Abstract: A control system includes a starter control module, a mode setting module, a throttle control module, and a fuel control module. The starter control module initiates cranking of a spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) engine in response to user actuation of an ignition switch. The mode setting module sets a mode of operation to a coldstart mode when an engine coolant temperature is less than a predetermined temperature during the cranking. The throttle control module allows a throttle valve to be biased to a predetermined open position when the SIDI engine is off and, in response to the setting of the mode to the coldstart mode, selectively closes the throttle valve relative to the predetermined open position during the cranking. The fuel control module, in response to the setting of the mode to the coldstart mode, disables direct injection of fuel for a first combustion event during the cranking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ricardo Vincenzi, Bruce F. Hunter, Joshua D. Cowgill, Craig D. Marriott, Claudio Engler Pinto
  • Patent number: 8302380
    Abstract: A desulfation control system includes a desulfation control module and a spark control module. The desulfation control module initiates a desulfation process in an emission reduction device by increasing temperature of the emission reduction device. The spark control module retards a spark timing to increase the temperature of the emission reduction device in response to the desulfation control module initiating the desulfation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Bruce F. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20120222408
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a catalytic converter module that determines whether a catalytic converter is active. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst module determines whether a SCR catalyst is active. An engine control module adjusts an air and fuel ratio of an engine to operate at a stoichiometric ratio and retards spark of the engine when the catalytic converter is not active. The engine control module at least one of performs post fuel injection and directly injects fuel into an exhaust system of the engine when the catalytic converter is active and the SCR catalyst is not active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Bruce F. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20100313845
    Abstract: An engine mode control system for an internal combustion engine includes a transition control module and an intake cam phaser control module. The transition control module controls a transition from a first engine mode to a second engine mode and determines a desired air mass. The engine is operated at a first air/fuel ratio (AFR) in the first engine mode and at a second AFR in the second engine mode. The desired air mass is based on the second AFR. The intake cam phaser control module adjusts the intake cam phaser based on the desired air mass during the transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Bruce F. Hunter, Donovan L. Dibble
  • Publication number: 20100313549
    Abstract: A desulfation control system includes a desulfation control module and a spark control module. The desulfation control module initiates a desulfation process in an emission reduction device by increasing temperature of the emission reduction device. The spark control module retards a spark timing to increase the temperature of the emission reduction device in response to the desulfation control module initiating the desulfation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Bruce F. Hunter