Patents by Inventor David W. Dempsey

David W. Dempsey 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: 6990856
    Abstract: An engine system includes an intake manifold, and an air inlet enabling an air flow into and out of the intake manifold. An air flow sensor is attached to the air inlet, and measures a flow of air through the air inlet. A first sensor is also included, and is operable to determine a direction of air flow. The air flow sensor is in communication with a controller, which records the mass of air flow through the air inlet. In one embodiment, the first sensor is a differential pressure that detects a pressure differential. In an alternative embodiment, a second sensor communicates with the air inlet, and the first sensor communicates with the intake manifold. The first and second sensors jointly determine a direction of air flow. In yet another embodiment, an output of the first sensor is compared to a calibrated barometric pressure to determine a direction of air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Dempsey, Kenneth P. Dudek
  • Publication number: 20040250610
    Abstract: An engine system includes an intake manifold, and an air inlet enabling an air flow into and out of the intake manifold. An air flow sensor is attached to the air inlet, and measures a flow of air through the air inlet. A first sensor is also included, and is operable to determine a direction of air flow. The air flow sensor is in communication with a controller, which records the mass of air flow through the air inlet. In one embodiment, the first sensor is a differential pressure that detects a pressure differential. In an alternative embodiment, a second sensor communicates with the air inlet, and the first sensor communicates with the intake manifold. The first and second sensors jointly determine a direction of air flow. In yet another embodiment, an output of the first sensor is compared to a calibrated barometric pressure to determine a direction of air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: David W. Dempsey, Kenneth P. Dudek
  • Patent number: 6694243
    Abstract: An on-board catalyst diagnostic for monitoring the conversion efficiencies of a catalytic converter by measuring the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter. The measurement of the OSC indicates the degree of health of the converter. Under the same engine running conditions, the greater the OSC measurement, the healthier the converter. A modeled OSC is compared to the real OSC to determine a normalized OSC. The normalized OSC is compared to a predetermined threshold value in order to determine the health of the converter. The modeled OSC takes into consideration variables which will affect the value of the OSC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Guojun Shi, Sharanjit Singh, Minghui Kao, David N. Benton, David W. Dempsey
  • Patent number: 6631611
    Abstract: A method of initializing the catalyst converter for monitoring the conversion efficiencies of a catalytic converter by measuring the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter. The measurement of the OSC indicates the degree of health of the converter. Under the same engine running conditions, the greater the OSC measurement, the healthier the converter. The catalyst needs to be set to either a rich state or a lean state prior to the measurement of its OSC time. This process is called catalyst state initialization. The catalyst has to be fully saturated from test to test in order to make consistent OSC measurements. This is through open loop fuel control by commanding a lean air to fuel ratio and then monitoring thepost-O2 sensor voltage until it falls below a calibrated value (e.g. 80 mV) indicating a lean state. The system continues to command a lean air to fuel ratio (e.g. 6%) for a calibrated duration of time (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Guojun Shi, Sharanjit Singh, Minghui Kao, David W. Dempsey
  • Publication number: 20020178714
    Abstract: A method of initializing the catalyst converter for monitoring the conversion efficiencies of a catalytic converter by measuring the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter. The measurement of the OSC indicates the degree of health of the converter. Under the same engine running conditions, the greater the OSC measurement, the healthier the converter. The catalyst needs to be set to either a rich state or a lean state prior to the measurement of its OSC time. This process is called catalyst state initialization. The catalyst has to be fully saturated from test to test in order to make consistent OSC measurements. This is through open loop fuel control by commanding a lean air to fuel ratio and then monitoring thepost-O2 sensor voltage until it falls below a calibrated value (e.g. 80 mV) indicating a lean state. The system continues to command a lean air to fuel ratio (e.g. 6%) for a calibrated duration of time (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Guojun Shi, Sharanjit Singh, Minghui Kao, David W. Dempsey
  • Publication number: 20020165789
    Abstract: A vehicle communication system including a mobile application service provider communicating over a first wireless communication network, a mobile station communicating with the mobile application service provider via the first wireless communications network, and where the mobile station is capable of communicating with a merchant over a second wireless communication network to conduct electronic commerce.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth Paul Dudek, David W. Dempsey
  • Publication number: 20020120386
    Abstract: An on-board catalyst diagnostic for monitoring the conversion efficiencies of a catalytic converter by measuring the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of the converter. The measurement of the OSC indicates the degree of health of the converter. Under the same engine running conditions, the greater the OSC measurement, the healthier the converter. A modeled OSC is compared to the real OSC to determine a normalized OSC. The normalized OSC is compared to a predetermined threshold value in order to determine the health of the converter. The modeled OSC takes into consideration variables which will affect the value of the OSC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Guojun Shi, Sharanjit Singh, Minghui Kao, David N. Benton, David W. Dempsey