Patents by Inventor Donald R. Begin

Donald R. Begin 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: 7865317
    Abstract: A fuel measurement system and method that can determine the fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank, even when the fuel is sloshing, splashing, or experiencing other dynamic conditions. Generally speaking, the system and method use different fuel measuring techniques to address different fuel tank conditions. For example, during normal conditions a traditional fuel level sensor may be used. During dynamic conditions, such as when the vehicle is experiencing significant acceleration, maneuvering, inclination, yaw rate, etc., the system may employ other measuring techniques that are better suited to address such an environment. One measuring technique that may be used is a consumption-based technique that uses fuel usage signals from one or more fuel injector sensor(s) to determine the amount of fuel consumed, and then subtracts that amount from a previous fuel level reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Begin
  • Publication number: 20100145638
    Abstract: A fuel measurement system and method that can determine the fuel level in a vehicle fuel tank, even when the fuel is sloshing, splashing, or experiencing other dynamic conditions. Generally speaking, the system and method use different fuel measuring techniques to address different fuel tank conditions. For example, during normal conditions a traditional fuel level sensor may be used. During dynamic conditions, such as when the vehicle is experiencing significant acceleration, maneuvering, inclination, yaw rate, etc., the system may employ other measuring techniques that are better suited to address such an environment. One measuring technique that may be used is a consumption-based technique that uses fuel usage signals from one or more fuel injector sensor(s) to determine the amount of fuel consumed, and then subtracts that amount from a previous fuel level reading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Donald R. Begin
  • Patent number: 7587939
    Abstract: A process is provided for monitoring the amount of fuel remaining in a vehicle's storage tank, the vehicle including a fuel level sensor. The process includes the steps of searching for a refueling event, establishing a base line fuel level utilizing the fuel level sensor when a refueling event is detected, tracking fuel consumption, and calculating the amount of fuel remaining in the storage tank as a function of fuel consumption and the base line fuel level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Miceli, Donald R. Begin
  • Publication number: 20090056436
    Abstract: A process is provided for monitoring the amount of fuel remaining in a vehicle's storage tank, the vehicle including a fuel level sensor. The process includes the steps of searching for a refueling event, establishing a base line fuel level utilizing the fuel level sensor when a refueling event is detected, tracking fuel consumption, and calculating the amount of fuel remaining in the storage tank as a function of fuel consumption and the base line fuel level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: MICHAEL V. MICELI, DONALD R. BEGIN
  • Patent number: 7467550
    Abstract: The invention concerns a float arm assembly for use in a vehicle fuel tank and a method of operating the float arm assembly to determine a level of fuel in the tank. First and second resistor cards are electrically connected in series and each includes a pivoting float arm with a float attached to an end. The first and second resistor cards, with separate floats allow the fuel level to be more accurately determined, especially in fuel tanks with complex contours and indentations in the tank wall that create dead bands in a single float type of arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard G. Betz, II, Donald R. Begin
  • Publication number: 20070283755
    Abstract: The invention concerns a float arm assembly for use in a vehicle fuel tank and a method of operating the float arm assembly to determine a level of fuel in the tank. First and second resistor cards are electrically connected in series and each includes a pivoting float arm with a float attached to an end. The first and second resistor cards, with separate floats allow the fuel level to be more accurately determined, especially in fuel tanks with complex contours and indentations in the tank wall that create dead bands in a single float type of arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gerard G. Betz, Donald R. Begin