Patents by Inventor Douglas Christopher Sarsen

Douglas Christopher Sarsen 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: 9441525
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system including a particulate filter. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining an expected boost pressure of an intake air compressor system in response to an output torque request, determining a deviation between an actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, determining a engine-out soot generation rate correction based upon the deviation between the actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, adjusting a steady-state engine-out soot generation rate using the engine-out soot generation rate correction, time-integrating the adjusted steady-state engine-out soot generation rate, and commanding regeneration of the particulate filter when the time-integrated adjusted engine-out soot generation rate exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9366172
    Abstract: A particulate filter device monitoring system for an internal combustion engine includes a particulate accumulation register configured to store an amount of particulate in a particulate filter. The particulate accumulation register includes a particulate accumulation trigger zone having a power limiting mode trigger. A power limiting mode trigger module is configured to limit output power of the internal combustion engine when the amount of particulate accumulation reaches the power limiting mode trigger. A particulate accumulation model module includes a particulate accumulation model configured to calculate changes in particulate accumulation in the particulate accumulation register at a first sampling rate when particulate accumulation is outside the particulate accumulation trigger zone, and at a second sampling rate when particulate accumulation is within the particulate accumulation trigger zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher C. Swoish
  • Patent number: 9303579
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a particulate filter of an exhaust aftertreatment device includes sensing a first pressure drop across the particulate filter at a first instant in time, and sensing a second pressure drop across the particulate filter at a second instant in time. A controller may then calculate a rate-of-change of the pressure drop between the first instant in time and the second instant in time while sensing a flow rate of an exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust aftertreatment device. Using the sensed exhaust flow rate, the controller may determine a rate-of-change threshold, and subsequently compare the calculated rate-of-change to the rate-of-change threshold. The method further includes updating a soot model using the sensed second pressure drop if the calculated rate-of-change is less than the rate-of-change threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen
  • Patent number: 9206719
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system to treat exhaust gas includes a particulate filter and a pressure sensor. The particulate filter is configured to trap soot contained in exhaust gas. The pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure signal indicative of a pressure differential of the particulate filter. The exhaust treatment system further includes a soot mass module configured to determine a soot mass. The soot mass is indicative of an amount of soot stored in the particulate filter based on the pressure differential and a soot model stored in a memory device. The exhaust treatment system further includes a continuously regenerating trap (CRT) compensation module configured to generate a variable CRT threshold. The CRT compensation module selectively outputs a CRT compensation value that modifies the soot model based on comparison between the NOx flow rate and the soot mass-based variable CRT threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9140156
    Abstract: A method of correcting a soot mass estimate in a vehicle exhaust after-treatment device includes monitoring an exhaust gas pressure drop across a particulate filter included with the vehicle exhaust after-treatment device; determining an initial soot mass estimate from a monitored exhaust gas pressure drop; revising the initial soot mass estimate in view of a monitored engine speed, engine load, exhaust gas temperature, and NOx gas flow rate; and generating a particulate filter regeneration request if the revised soot mass estimate exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt
  • Publication number: 20150233277
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system including a particulate filter. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining an expected boost pressure of an intake air compressor system in response to an output torque request, determining a deviation between an actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, determining a engine-out soot generation rate correction based upon the deviation between the actual boost pressure and the expected boost pressure, adjusting a steady-state engine-out soot generation rate using the engine-out soot generation rate correction, time-integrating the adjusted steady-state engine-out soot generation rate, and commanding regeneration of the particulate filter when the time-integrated adjusted engine-out soot generation rate exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER C. SWOISH, DOUGLAS CHRISTOPHER SARSEN, CHRISTOPHER WHITT, THOMAS LAROSE, JR.
  • Patent number: 9091190
    Abstract: A method of correcting a soot mass estimate in a vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device includes monitoring an exhaust gas pressure drop across a particulate filter included with the vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device. Following the detection of a pressure drop, a controller may determine a soot mass estimate from the monitored pressure drop; determine an ash volume estimate representative of an amount of ash within the particulate filter; determine an ash correction factor from the soot mass estimate and the ash volume estimate; and calculate a corrected soot mass value by multiplying the ash correction factor with the soot mass estimate. If the corrected soot mass value exceeds a threshold, the controller may generate a corresponding particulate filter regeneration request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Patent number: 9080483
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling regeneration for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust system includes a particulate filter is provided, where the method includes determining a mass flow rate of oxygen received from the internal combustion engine, determining a particulate mass within the particulate filter, determining a desired particulate burn rate based on the mass flow rate of oxygen and the particulate mass and determining a current particulate burn rate. The method also includes determining a correction value based on the desired particulate burn rate and the current particulate burn rate, determining a temperature set point for exhaust gas entering the particulate filter based on the correction value, an engine speed and an engine load and communicating a signal, from a controller, to control a parameter for a regeneration system based on the determined temperature set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen
  • Patent number: 9051889
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an intake air compressor system and is fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system having a particulate filter. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining a total engine-out soot generation based upon a summation of a steady-state engine-out soot generation rate and an engine-out soot generation rate correction. The engine-out soot generation rate correction is either zero when the intake air compressor system is closed-loop controlled or a rate based upon a deviation between an actual boost pressure and an expected boost pressure from the intake air compressor system. The particulate filter is regenerated when the total engine-out soot generation exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150068192
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system to treat exhaust gas includes a particulate filter and a pressure sensor. The particulate filter is configured to trap soot contained in exhaust gas. The pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure signal indicative of a pressure differential of the particulate filter. The exhaust treatment system further includes a soot mass module configured to determine a soot mass. The soot mass is indicative of an amount of soot stored in the particulate filter based on the pressure differential and a soot model stored in a memory device. The exhaust treatment system further includes a continuously regenerating trap (CRT) compensation module configured to generate a variable CRT threshold. The CRT compensation module selectively outputs a CRT compensation value that modifies the soot model based on comparison between the NOx flow rate and the soot mass-based variable CRT threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, JR.
  • Patent number: 8904757
    Abstract: Method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of an engine comprises receiving an upstream temperature signal, receiving a downstream temperature signal, and calculating a temperature difference based on a difference between the upstream temperature signal and the downstream temperature signal. The temperature difference is compared to a predetermined temperature change limit to determine whether the temperature difference is less than or greater than the predetermined temperature change limit. If the temperature difference is less than the predetermined temperature change limit, an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is calculated using a primary soot accumulation model. If the temperature difference is greater than the predetermined temperature change limit, an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is calculated using a secondary soot accumulation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt
  • Publication number: 20140352281
    Abstract: A particulate filter device monitoring system for an internal combustion engine includes a particulate accumulation register configured to store an amount of particulate in a particulate filter. The particulate accumulation register includes a particulate accumulation trigger zone having a power limiting mode trigger. A power limiting mode trigger module is configured to limit output power of the internal combustion engine when the amount of particulate accumulation reaches the power limiting mode trigger. A particulate accumulation model module includes a particulate accumulation model configured to calculate changes in particulate accumulation in the particulate accumulation register at a first sampling rate when particulate accumulation is outside the particulate accumulation trigger zone, and at a second sampling rate when particulate accumulation is within the particulate accumulation trigger zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher C. Swoish
  • Patent number: 8806852
    Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of a compression-ignition engine includes receiving a value of a parameter associated with an exhaust stream passing through the after-treatment component and determining a rate of change of the parameter. A filtered parameter value is calculated based on the value of the parameter, the rate of change of the parameter, and a predetermined filtering relationship for the parameter. Accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is estimated based, at least, on a soot accumulation model and the filtered parameter value. The estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component is compared to a predetermined threshold associated with the after-treatment component, and a remedial action is initiated when the estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component exceeds the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen
  • Publication number: 20140123628
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling regeneration for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust system includes a particulate filter is provided, where the method includes determining a mass flow rate of oxygen received from the internal combustion engine, determining a particulate mass within the particulate filter, determining a desired particulate burn rate based on the mass flow rate of oxygen and the particulate mass and determining a current particulate burn rate. The method also includes determining a correction value based on the desired particulate burn rate and the current particulate burn rate, determining a temperature set point for exhaust gas entering the particulate filter based on the correction value, an engine speed and an engine load and communicating a signal, from a controller, to control a parameter for a regeneration system based on the determined temperature set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: THOMAS LAROSE, JR., CHRISTOPHER WHITT, CHRISTOPHER C. SWOISH, DOUGLAS CHRISTOPHER SARSEN
  • Publication number: 20140033679
    Abstract: A method of correcting a soot mass estimate in a vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device includes monitoring an exhaust gas pressure drop across a particulate filter included with the vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device. Following the detection of a pressure drop, a controller may determine a soot mass estimate from the monitored pressure drop; determine an ash volume estimate representative of an amount of ash within the particulate filter; determine an ash correction factor from the soot mass estimate and the ash volume estimate; and calculate a corrected soot mass value by multiplying the ash correction factor with the soot mass estimate. If the corrected soot mass value exceeds a threshold, the controller may generate a corresponding particulate filter regeneration request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Christopher Sarsen, CHRISTOPHER WHITT, CHRISTOPHER C. SWOISH, REBECCA J. DARR
  • Publication number: 20140033680
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a particulate filter of an exhaust aftertreatment device includes sensing a first pressure drop across the particulate filter at a first instant in time, and sensing a second pressure drop across the particulate filter at a second instant in time. A controller may then calculate a rate-of-change of the pressure drop between the first instant in time and the second instant in time while sensing a flow rate of an exhaust gas flowing through the exhaust aftertreatment device. Using the sensed exhaust flow rate, the controller may determine a rate-of-change threshold, and subsequently compare the calculated rate-of-change to the rate-of-change threshold. The method further includes updating a soot model using the sensed second pressure drop if the calculated rate-of-change is less than the rate-of-change threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen
  • Publication number: 20140033678
    Abstract: A method of correcting a soot mass estimate in a vehicle exhaust after-treatment device includes monitoring an exhaust gas pressure drop across a particulate filter included with the vehicle exhaust after-treatment device; determining an initial soot mass estimate from a monitored exhaust gas pressure drop; revising the initial soot mass estimate in view of a monitored engine speed, engine load, exhaust gas temperature, and NOx gas flow rate; and generating a particulate filter regeneration request if the revised soot mass estimate exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt
  • Publication number: 20140000239
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an intake air compressor system and is fluidly coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment system having a particulate filter. A method for operating the internal combustion engine includes determining a total engine-out soot generation based upon a summation of a steady-state engine-out soot generation rate and an engine-out soot generation rate correction. The engine-out soot generation rate correction is either zero when the intake air compressor system is closed-loop controlled or a rate based upon a deviation between an actual boost pressure and an expected boost pressure from the intake air compressor system. The particulate filter is regenerated when the total engine-out soot generation exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Thomas Larose, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130298529
    Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of an engine includes receiving a signal that is responsive to a change in pressure across an after-treatment component and calculating an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component using a soot accumulation model calibrated to simulate operation of the engine at a reference condition. A soot model correction factor is based at least in part on an environmental temperature correction and is applied to the estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component to produce a temperature-compensated estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Patent number: 8523988
    Abstract: A particulate estimation system is configured for estimating a mass of particulate matter accumulated in a particulate filter of an exhaust system. The system includes a memory device, an interface, and a controller. The memory device stores a plurality of modules. Each of the plurality of modules is configured to uniquely estimate an amount of the particulate matter accumulated within the particulate filter over a period of time. The interface receives a plurality of input signals. The plurality of input signals correspond to a plurality of modules that are stored in the memory device. The controller derives a hybrid model based on the input signals. The hybrid model is configured to provide an output that is an estimation of the amount of particulate matter accumulated within the particulate filter over the period of time as a function of the plurality of input signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul Jasinkiewicz, Raffaello Ardanese, Michelangelo Ardanese, Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen