Patents by Inventor Craig E. Slepicka

Craig E. Slepicka 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).

  • Secondary throttle control systems and methods
    Patent number: 11313291
    Abstract: An engine system includes: a first throttle valve; a turbocharger compressor disposed downstream of the first throttle valve; a charge air cooler disposed downstream of the turbocharger compressor; a second throttle valve located downstream of the turbocharger compressor; a purge inlet located downstream of the first throttle valve and configured to introduce fuel vapor from a fuel tank into intake air; and an engine control module configured to: maintain the first throttle valve in a fully open position; and selectively close the first throttle valve relative to the fully open position in response to receipt of a request to at least one of: purge fuel vapor from the fuel tank; and at least one of decrease and prevent icing of the charge air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew A. Raftopoulos, Michael A. Smith, Christopher E. Whitney, Nathan M. Picot, Craig E. Slepicka, Robert Gallon, Darrell W. Burleigh, Vijay A. Ramappan
  • Secondary Throttle Control Systems and Methods
    Publication number: 20220034269
    Abstract: An engine system includes: a first throttle valve; a turbocharger compressor disposed downstream of the first throttle valve; a charge air cooler disposed downstream of the turbocharger compressor; a second throttle valve located downstream of the turbocharger compressor; a purge inlet located downstream of the first throttle valve and configured to introduce fuel vapor from a fuel tank into intake air; and an engine control module configured to: maintain the first throttle valve in a fully open position; and selectively close the first throttle valve relative to the fully open position in response to receipt of a request to at least one of: purge fuel vapor from the fuel tank; and at least one of decrease and prevent icing of the charge air cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew A. RAFTOPOULOS, Michael A. SMITH, Christopher E. WHITNEY, Nathan M. PICOT, Craig E. SLEPICKA, Robert GALLON, Darrell W. BURLEIGH, Vijay A. RAMAPPAN
  • Variable compression ratio engine control strategy
    Patent number: 11092089
    Abstract: A method of selecting a compression ratio in an internal combustion engine having a mechanism configured to vary the compression ratio includes receiving, via an electronic controller, a requested output torque value. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a value of engine speed corresponding to the requested output torque value. The method additionally includes determining, via the controller, a compression ratio value corresponding to the requested output torque value and the determined value of the engine speed. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a position of the mechanism corresponding to the determined compression ratio value. Furthermore, the method includes commanding, via the controller, the determined position of the mechanism and thereby selecting the determined compression ratio value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Justin E. Ketterer, Ryan M. Heinbuch, Nathan M. Picot, Craig E. Slepicka, Pulasti Bandara, Christopher E. Whitney