Patents by Inventor Cyrus M. Healy
Cyrus M. Healy 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: 10473042Abstract: At least some implementations of a method of distinguishing between two loads being driven by an engine, includes the steps of determining engine speed at defined intervals, comparing a second engine speed against a previously determined first engine speed, determining if the second engine speed fits an expected pattern of engine speeds, and counting either the number of incidents where the second engine speed does not fit the expected pattern, or the number of incidents where the second engine speed does fit the expected pattern, or some combination of these two. A method of determining if an engine is operating at least near a lean limit of its air to fuel ratio is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Walbro LLCInventors: Takashi Abei, Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20190293046Abstract: In at least some implementations, a method of maintaining an engine speed below a first threshold, includes: (a) determining an engine speed; (b) comparing the engine speed to a second threshold that is less than the first threshold; (c) allowing an engine ignition event to occur during a subsequent engine cycle if the engine speed is less than the second threshold; and (d) skipping at least one subsequent engine ignition event if the engine speed is greater than the second threshold. In at least some implementations, the second threshold is less than the first threshold by a maximum acceleration of the engine after one ignition event so that an ignition event when the engine speed is less than the second threshold does not cause the engine speed to increase above the first threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Matthew A. Braun, Cyrus M. Healy, Shunya Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe
-
Publication number: 20190293006Abstract: At least some implementations of a method of distinguishing between two loads being driven by an engine, includes the steps of determining engine speed at defined intervals, comparing a second engine speed against a previously determined first engine speed, determining if the second engine speed fits an expected pattern of engine speeds, and counting either the number of incidents where the second engine speed does not fit the expected pattern, or the number of incidents where the second engine speed does fit the expected pattern, or some combination of these two. A method of determining if an engine is operating at least near a lean limit of its air to fuel ratio is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Takashi Abei, Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20190257280Abstract: —In at least some implementations, a control and communication system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a circuit card, an ignition circuit carried by the circuit card and configured to control an ignition timing of the engine, and a short range wireless communication circuit carried by the circuit card. The communication circuit may include a Bluetooth Low Energy antenna. The ignition circuit may include an ignition capacitor that when drained induces an ignition pulse adapted to fire a spark plug. The system may further include a microprocessor that is coupled to and controls the ignition and communication circuits, and/or a clocking circuit adapted to provide a clocking frequency associated with the timing of the ignition circuit and associated with the communication circuit via a short range wireless communication protocol. The clocking circuit may include a crystal oscillator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20190242341Abstract: In at least some implementations, a fuel supply module includes a reservoir and a fuel pump carried by the reservoir. The reservoir may include a body and a lid that define an internal volume to contain a supply of fuel, and the reservoir may include an inlet through which fuel enters the internal volume and an outlet from which fuel is discharged from the fuel supply module. The fuel pump is carried by the reservoir and has a first inlet communicating with the internal volume to take fuel into the fuel pump from the internal volume and a second inlet spaced above the first inlet relative to the direction of the force of gravity to take fluid or vapors into the fuel pump from the internal volume. The fuel pump includes an outlet from which fluid is discharged for delivery to an engine through the reservoir outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2017Publication date: August 8, 2019Inventors: Eric D. Anderson, Travis P. Baur, Elton J. Fisch, Cyrus M. Healy, Kevin L. Israelson, Gerald J. LaMarr, Jr., Robby L. Linton, Edward J. Talaski
-
Patent number: 10358996Abstract: A method and apparatus controlling the fuel-to-air ratio of a fuel and air mixture supplied to an operating engine includes the steps of determining a first engine speed before enleanment of the mixture, determining a second engine speed near or at the end of a period of enleanment of the mixture, and after ending the enleanment, determining whether the engine speed recovers within a predetermined range of the first engine speed and if so determining a delta speed difference between the first and second speeds and using this delta speed difference as a factor in determining a change in the fuel-to-air ratio of the fuel mixture supplied to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Walbro LLCInventors: Martin N. Andersson, Mark S. Swanson, Takashi Abei, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20190078547Abstract: In at least some implementations, an auxiliary power supply in an ignition system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a first auxiliary winding and a second auxiliary winding coupled in parallel with the first auxiliary winding such that both windings are arranged to provide power to an auxiliary load. The first auxiliary winding may include a greater number of turns than the second auxiliary winding. A ratio of the number of turns in the first auxiliary winding to the number of turns in the second auxiliary winding may be between 1.5:1 and 10:1, the first auxiliary coil and the second auxiliary coil may have between 50 and 2,000 turns, and the first auxiliary coil and the second auxiliary coil are formed from wire between 25 and 45 gauge.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2016Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20190040810Abstract: A kill switch assembly for an internal combustion engine may include a housing, a first terminal carried by the housing and connected to a ground wire, a second terminal carried by the housing and connected to an engine microcontroller communication wire, and a kill switch. The kill switch may be carried by the housing, electrically connected to the first and second terminals, and manually operable by an operator to change the state of the electric switch to provide an engine stop signal to the engine microcontroller. The assembly may also include an electronic circuit carried by the housing, connected to the first and second terminals, and through the wires communicating with the engine microcontroller.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy, Gerald J. LaMarr, Jr., George M. Pattullo
-
Publication number: 20180328333Abstract: An ignition system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a charge winding, a microcontroller and a power supply sub-circuit. The sub-circuit is coupled to both the charge winding and the microcontroller and includes a first power supply switch, a power supply capacitor and a power supply zener. The sub-circuit is arranged to turn off the first power supply switch so that charging of the power supply capacitor stops when the charge on the power supply capacitor exceeds the breakdown voltage on the power supply zener. In at least some implementations, the power supply capacitor may power the microcontroller and the power supply sub-circuit may limit or reduce the amount of electrical energy taken from the induced AC voltage of the charge winding to a level that is still able to sufficiently power the microcontroller yet saves energy for use elsewhere in the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Patent number: 10119516Abstract: A spark ignition engine system for communicating data includes a capacitive discharge ignition system using a microcontroller for controlling the spark ignition of a light-duty internal combustion engine; a memory device communicated with the microcontroller, wherein the micro-controller obtains engine data from the light-duty internal combustion engine and stores the engine data or software using the memory device; and a powering connection and a separate data connection that are electrically connected to different pins of the microcontroller, wherein the powering connection supplies power to the microcontroller while engine data or software is communicated via the data connection.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Walbro, LLCInventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy, Russell R. Speirs
-
Patent number: 10066592Abstract: In at least some implementations, an ignition system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a charge winding, a microcontroller and a power supply sub-circuit. The sub-circuit is coupled to both the charge winding and the microcontroller and includes a first power supply switch, a power supply capacitor and a power supply zener. The sub-circuit is arranged to turn off the first power supply switch so that charging of the power supply capacitor stops when the charge on the power supply capacitor exceeds the breakdown voltage on the power supply zener. In at least some implementations, the power supply capacitor may power the microcontroller and the power supply sub-circuit may limit or reduce the amount of electrical energy taken from the induced AC voltage of the charge winding to a level that is still able to sufficiently power the microcontroller yet saves energy for use elsewhere in the system.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Walbro LLCInventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20180195443Abstract: At least some implementations of a method of distinguishing between two loads being driven by an engine, includes the steps of determining engine speed at defined intervals, comparing a second engine speed against a previously determined first engine speed, determining if the second engine speed fits an expected pattern of engine speeds, and counting either the number of incidents where the second engine speed does not fit the expected pattern, or the number of incidents where the second engine speed does fit the expected pattern, or some combination of these two. A method of determining if an engine is operating at least near a lean limit of its air to fuel ratio is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2016Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Takashi ABEI, Martin N. ANDERSSON, Cyrus M. HEALY
-
Publication number: 20170314490Abstract: A method and apparatus controlling the fuel-to-air ratio of a fuel and air mixture supplied to an operating engine includes the steps of determining a first engine speed before enleanment of the mixture, determining a second engine speed near or at the end of a period of enleanment of the mixture, and after ending the enleanment, determining whether the engine speed recovers within a predetermined range of the first engine speed and if so determining a delta speed difference between the first and second speeds and using this delta speed difference as a factor in determining a change in the fuel-to-air ratio of the fuel mixture supplied to the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Mark S. Swanson, Takashi Abei, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20170058810Abstract: A control system for a small engine operated device includes an emitter carried by the engine or a portion of the device spaced from the engine and a control circuit. The control circuit may include memory with which control data related to device conditions, engine conditions or both is stored, and a processor in electrical communication with the first emitter. The control circuit provides a signal corresponding to the control data to the emitter so that the emitter provides an output in response to device conditions, engine conditions, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy, Jason L. Osantowski
-
Publication number: 20160076506Abstract: In at least some implementations, an ignition system for a light-duty combustion engine includes a charge winding, a microcontroller and a power supply sub-circuit. The sub-circuit is coupled to both the charge winding and the microcontroller and includes a first power supply switch, a power supply capacitor and a power supply zener. The sub-circuit is arranged to turn off the first power supply switch so that charging of the power supply capacitor stops when the charge on the power supply capacitor exceeds the breakdown voltage on the power supply zener. In at least some implementations, the power supply capacitor may power the microcontroller and the power supply sub-circuit may limit or reduce the amount of electrical energy taken from the induced AC voltage of the charge winding to a level that is still able to sufficiently power the microcontroller yet saves energy for use elsewhere in the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20160003210Abstract: A spark ignition engine system for communicating data includes a capacitive discharge ignition system using a microcontroller for controlling the spark ignition of a light-duty internal combustion engine; a memory device communicated with the microcontroller, wherein the micro-controller obtains engine data from the light-duty internal combustion engine and stores the engine data or software using the memory device; and a powering connection and a separate data connection that are electrically connected to different pins of the microcontroller, wherein the powering connection supplies power to the microcontroller while engine data or software is communicated via the data connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy, Russell R. Speirs
-
Patent number: 9022011Abstract: A method of operating an engine is disclosed, which includes determining a peak power condition for the engine, measuring a temperature associated with the engine at said peak power condition, comparing the temperature measured with a previously determined temperature associated with a known peak power condition of the engine, determining an offset value based on the comparison made in step, controlling at least one of an air-fuel mixture delivered to the engine or ignition spark timing based on said offset value. Various engine fuel delivery systems, carburetors, fuel injection and control systems also are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Andrew E. Bejcek, Massimo Casoni, William E. Galka, Cyrus M. Healy, Alessandro Pascoli, Ronald H. Roche, Mark S. Swanson, James E. Van Allen, John C. Woody
-
Patent number: 8807119Abstract: A system for managing ignition of a light-duty internal combustion engine during starting includes a charge winding used to create an ignition pulse; a first signal generated by the charge winding that indicates the speed of an engine; a second signal generated by the charge winding that indicates a piston position of the engine; a switch coupled to the charge winding for controlling the ignition pulse; and a processing device that receives the first signal and the second signal, wherein the processing device activates the switch when a comparison of the received first signal and second signal indicates that a piston is positioned at approximately top dead center (TDC).Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20110303189Abstract: A system for managing ignition of a light-duty internal combustion engine during starting includes a charge winding used to create an ignition pulse; a first signal generated by the charge winding that indicates the speed of an engine; a second signal generated by the charge winding that indicates a piston position of the engine; a switch coupled to the charge winding for controlling the ignition pulse; and a processing device that receives the first signal and the second signal, wherein the processing device activates the switch when a comparison of the received first signal and second signal indicates that a piston is positioned at approximately top dead center (TDC).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Cyrus M. Healy
-
Publication number: 20100258099Abstract: A method of operating an engine is disclosed, which includes determining a peak power condition for the engine, measuring a temperature associated with the engine at said peak power condition, comparing the temperature measured with a previously determined temperature associated with a known peak power condition of the engine, determining an offset value based on the comparison made in step, controlling at least one of an air-fuel mixture delivered to the engine or ignition spark timing based on said offset value. Various engine fuel delivery systems, carburetors, fuel injection and control systems also are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2008Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: WALBRO ENGINE MANAGEMENT ,LLC.Inventors: Martin N. Andersson, Andrew E. Bejcek, Massimo Casoni, William E. Galka, Cyrus M. Healy, Alessandro Pascoli, Ronald H. Roche, Mark S. Swanson, James E. Van Allen, John C. Woody