Patents by Inventor Donovan L. Dibble
Donovan L. Dibble 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).
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Publication number: 20100199951Abstract: An adaptive fuel delivery control system includes a pressure monitoring module and a flow rate determination module. The pressure monitoring module determines an actual pressure drop after a fuel injection event on an injector. The flow rate determination module determines an adjusted flow rate based on a reference flow rate and the pressure drop.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2009Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph R. Dulzo, Byungho Lee
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Patent number: 7765053Abstract: The fuel injection system includes a fuel injector that injects fuel directly into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine. The control module initiates multiple fuel injections in a combustion chamber during a combustion cycle of the cylinder via the fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Michael J. Lucido, Vijay Ramappan, Halim G Santoso, Donovan L. Dibble, David J. Cleary
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Publication number: 20100147058Abstract: A fuel injector diagnostic system includes a fuel pump control module, a pressure sensor, and a diagnostic module. The fuel pump control module disables delivery of fuel to a fuel rail of an engine. The pressure sensor measures a first pressure of the fuel rail before an injection event and a second pressure of the fuel rail after the injection event on at least one of a plurality of injectors when the engine is running. The diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the at least one of the injectors based on the first pressure and the second pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2008Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Byungho Lee, Donovan L. Dibble, Michael J. Lucido, Mark D. Carr
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Patent number: 7698935Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a pressure monitoring module that determines a plurality of first average pressure values and a plurality of second average pressure values of a fluid supply provided to a camshaft phaser. A diagnostic module identifies one of a plurality of cylinders associated with a failed variable valve lift mechanism based on the first and the second average pressure values. Each of the first and the second average pressure values respectively correspond to each of the plurality of cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2007Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Inventors: Donovan L. Dibble, Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Matthew A. Wiles, Vimesh M. Patel
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Publication number: 20090265081Abstract: An engine control system comprises a fuel quality calculation module and a fueling module. The fuel quality calculation module calculates a fuel quality value for fuel provided to an engine based on at least one operating parameter of the engine. The fueling module selectively increases an amount of fuel provided to the engine based on the fuel quality value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2008Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jonathan T. Shibata, Kenneth J. Buslepp, Donovan L. Dibble, Mary Beth Furness
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Publication number: 20090223472Abstract: A camshaft phasor control system for an engine includes a first camshaft position sensor that generates a first camshaft position signal based on a position of a first camshaft. A first summer generates a first error signal based on the first camshaft position signal and a first commanded position signal. A control module generates a raw duty cycle based on the first error signal. A second summer generates a modified duty cycle based on the raw duty cycle and a modifier. The control module generates the modifier based on the first error signal and speed of the first camshaft relative to a second camshaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2008Publication date: September 10, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Alexander J. Roberts, Vijay Ramappan
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Publication number: 20090222196Abstract: A method may include commanding operation of an engine in a first lift mode. The engine may include a valve lifter system that selectively operates a valve member in the first lift mode and a second lift mode through engagement with a camshaft. A first duty cycle of a cam phaser oil control valve (OCV) may be determined to maintain a first camshaft position corresponding to the first lift mode. The camshaft position may be maintained by a cam phaser that is coupled to the camshaft and in communication with the cam phaser OCV. Engine operation may be commanded to the second lift mode and a second duty cycle of the cam phaser OCV may be determined to maintain a second camshaft position corresponding to the second lift mode. A valve lifter system failure may be diagnosed based on a difference between the first and second duty cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2008Publication date: September 3, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble
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Publication number: 20090204283Abstract: A method of valve lift failure detection may include determining first and second intake air pressures in an engine having intake valve lifters that selectively operate intake valves in first and second lift modes. The first intake air pressure may correspond to an intake stroke of a first piston of the engine when the engine is commanded to operate in the first lift mode and the second intake air pressure may correspond to an intake stroke of a second piston of the engine when the engine is commanded to operate in the first lift mode. The method may further include determining a difference between the first and second intake air pressures and diagnosing an intake valve lifter failure when the difference exceeds a predetermined limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2008Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Alexander J. Roberts, Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble
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Patent number: 7561957Abstract: An engine control system for a spark-ignition direct-injection (SIDI) engine comprises a fuel control module delays injection of fuel during engine cranking until fuel pressure is greater than a predetermined fuel pressure, retards ignition timing, and retards fuel injection until near top dead center (TDC). An exhaust cam phaser module retards an exhaust cam phaser after starting and oil pressure is greater than a predetermined oil pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Inventors: Halim G. Santoso, Frank Ament, Donovan L. Dibble
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Publication number: 20090132146Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a pressure monitoring module that determines a plurality of first average pressure values and a plurality of second average pressure values of a fluid supply provided to a camshaft phaser. A diagnostic module identifies one of a plurality of cylinders associated with a failed variable valve lift mechanism based on the first and said second average pressure values. Each of the first and the second average pressure values respectively correspond to each of the plurality of cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: DONOVAN L. DIBBLE, Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Matthew A. Wiles, Vimesh M. Patel
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Patent number: 7526375Abstract: An engine control system is provided. The system includes: an engine torque module that estimates torque output based on charge energy; and a cylinder mode module that controls fuel cut-off and adjusts spark timing to the engine based on the torque output.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2007Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Louis A. Avallone, Stuart R. Smith, Donovan L. Dibble
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Publication number: 20090101091Abstract: A system for controlling a variable valve lift system of an engine comprises a delay module that estimates a total delay based on at least one of a measured and an estimated delay of the variable valve lift system. A variable valve control module commands one of a first transition from a variable valve low-lift profile to a variable valve high-lift profile and a second transition from a variable valve high-lift profile to a variable valve low-lift profile based on the total delay.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2008Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Kenneth J. Cinpinski, Donovan L. Dibble, Alexander J. Roberts, Vimesh M. Patel
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Publication number: 20090038583Abstract: The fuel injection system includes a fuel injector that injects fuel directly into a combustion chamber of a cylinder of an engine. The control module initiates multiple fuel injections in a combustion chamber during a combustion cycle of the cylinder via the fuel injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Jesse M. Gwidt, Michael J. Lucido, Vijay Ramappan, Halim G. Santoso, Donovan L. Dibble, David J. Cleary
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Publication number: 20080223334Abstract: An engine control system is provided. The system includes: an engine torque module that estimates torque output based on charge energy; and a cylinder mode module that controls fuel cut-off and adjusts spark timing to the engine based on the torque output.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Louis A. Avallone, Stuart R. Smith, Donovan L. Dibble
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Publication number: 20080208420Abstract: A method of regulating a torque output of a vehicle powertrain includes generating a plurality of torque requests and associating each of the plurality of torque requests with one of a plurality of arbitration domains to form torque request sets associated with each of the plurality of arbitration domains. A first torque request set is arbitrated within a first of the plurality of arbitration domains to provide a first torque request. The first torque request is introduced into a second torque request set associated with a second of the plurality of arbitration domains. The second torque request set is arbitrated within the second arbitration domain to provide a second torque request. A torque source is regulated based on the second torque request.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Inventors: Leonard G. Wozniak, Robert C. Simon, Christopher E. Whitney, Donovan L. Dibble, Charles H. Folkerts, Joseph R. Dulzo, Thomas Magnusson, Magnus Wall, Emil Ritzen
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Patent number: 7051517Abstract: A controller estimates a temperature of a catalytic converter in a vehicle and determines an engine speed. The controller shuts off fuel to the engine if the estimated temperature is greater than a maximum temperature of the catalytic converter and the engine speed is greater than a maximum engine speed. If the estimated catalytic converter temperature is greater than the maximum temperature, the controller delays a spark retard request to the engine. The controller updates vehicle torque with an integral torque if an RPM error is within an RPM error range and vehicle speed is less than a maximum vehicle speed for a first period. The controller increases torque to the engine by a proportional torque if an RPM error is within an RPM error range to prevent engine stall. The controller updates the integral torque when the RPM error is within an RPM error range for a first period.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Vivek Mehta, Joseph M. Stempnik, Donovan L. Dibble, Paul A. Bauerle
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Patent number: 7021282Abstract: A torque control system for regulating operation of an engine includes a throttle that regulates air flow into the engine and a device that regulates a torque output of the engine. A first module determines a throttle area based on a desired manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and a desired manifold air flow (MAF) and a second module determines a device set-point based on a desired air per cylinder (APC) and an engine speed. A third module generates a throttle control signal to control the throttle based on the throttle area and generates a device control signal to control the device based on the device set-point.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Michael Livshiz, Scott J. Chynoweth, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard H. Clutz, Donovan L. Dibble, Bahram Younessi
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Patent number: 6966287Abstract: A torque control system for regulating operation of a displacement on demand engine that is operable in an activated mode and a deactivated mode includes a throttle that regulates air flow into the engine and a cam phaser that regulates a torque output of the engine. A first module determines a throttle area based on a desired deactivated manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and a desired mass air flow (MAF) and a second module determines a desired cam phaser position based on an engine speed and a transitional air per cylinder (APC) that is determined based on one of a desired deactivated APC and desired activated APC. A third module generates a throttle control signal to control the throttle based on the throttle area and a fourth module generates a cam phaser control signal to control the cam phaser based on the desired cam phaser position.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard H. Clutz, Donovan L. Dibble, Bahram Younessi, Gregory J. York, Kevin J. Storch, Timothy J. Braman
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Patent number: 6957140Abstract: A throttle control system for a vehicle includes a driver input that generates a control signal and a control module that generates a throttle control signal based on the control signal. The control module determines whether the throttle control signal is within one of a first and a second region, determines a compensation factor from a first look-up table when the throttle control signal is within the first region and determines the compensation factor from a second look-up table when the throttle control signal is within the second region. The control module calculates a compensated throttle control signal based on the compensation factor.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Joseph M. Stempnik, Kerfegar K. Katrak, Donovan L. Dibble, Alfred E. Spitza, Jr., James L. Worthing, John N. Stockbridge, Edward J. Tully
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Publication number: 20040224819Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for ensuring that a throttle increase accompanying a change in the number of active cylinders of an internal combustion engine will not occur too long with more than a selected fraction of all the cylinders activated, so as to not startle a driver. The apparatus comprises an electronic controller that generates the throttle increase if less than all the cylinders are requested to be activated. A determination is made as to whether the number of cylinders being fueled is equal to or less than the selected fraction. A timer is started if the number of cylinders being fueled is greater than the selected fraction. The throttle increase is turned off if the amount of time measured by the timer exceeds a threshold before the number of cylinders being fueled becomes either less than or equal to the selected fraction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2003Publication date: November 11, 2004Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Mark H. Costin, Donovan L. Dibble, Kerfegar K. Katrak, Vivek Mehta