Patents by Inventor Douglas R. Verner

Douglas R. Verner 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: 10458349
    Abstract: A method of start/stop engine control based on vehicle location and driving situation includes identifying the location and driving situation of a host vehicle, and classifying the location and the driving situation of the host vehicle based on the identified location and driving situation. The engine start/stop control is based on at least one of the location classification and driving situation classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yiran Hu, Chen-fang Chang, Scott J. Chynoweth, Douglas R Verner, Feilong Liu
  • Patent number: 10358954
    Abstract: A method of noise filtering a sliding camshaft actuator pin position output signal includes determining an actual pin position output signal period of a sliding camshaft actuator that occurs within a predetermined output signal period measurement window and establishing a pin position output signal filter window based on the actual pin position output signal period. Thereafter, the actual pin position output signal period from the sliding camshaft actuator is monitored by a control module and signals that occur outside of the pin position output signal filter window are rejected accordingly to prevent responding to false triggers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Timothy Karnjate, Timothy P Philippart
  • Patent number: 10344734
    Abstract: A method of determining a sliding camshaft actuator pin position based on engine crankshaft angle includes commanding a sliding camshaft actuator to perform a valve step shift, and monitoring an actuator's pin position during the valve step shift command. At least one crank angle is measured when the actuator pin position reaches or exceeds at least one predetermined pin position threshold and at least one remedial action is performed when the actuator pin position does not correlate to the at least one measured crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P Philippart, Douglas R Verner, Dimitri Karatsinides, Timothy Karnjate
  • Patent number: 10329971
    Abstract: A system and method for sensing a camshaft barrel position of a sliding camshaft includes at least one sliding camshaft having at least one camshaft barrel and at least one position shifting slot disposed in the at least one camshaft barrel. At least one actuator is provided for engaging the at least one position shifting slot on the rotating sliding camshaft and shifting position of the at least one camshaft barrel and at least one sensor is provided for detecting the shifted position of the at least one camshaft barrel wherein the camshaft barrel includes position identifying features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R Verner, Scot A Douglas, Joseph J Moon, Alexander Doss
  • Publication number: 20190178183
    Abstract: A method of start/stop engine control based on vehicle location and driving situation includes identifying the location and driving situation of a host vehicle, and classifying the location and the driving situation of the host vehicle based on the identified location and driving situation. The engine start/stop control is based on at least one of the location classification and driving situation classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Yiran Hu, Chen-fang Chang, Scott J. Chynoweth, Douglas R. Verner, Feilong Liu
  • Patent number: 10316777
    Abstract: A method for heating a sliding camshaft actuator at cold engine start wherein the sliding camshaft actuator includes at least one magnetic field generating coil having a core, a piston armature disposed in the core of the at least one magnetic field generating coil, a magnet in mechanical communication with the piston armature, and an actuator pin in mechanical communication with the magnet. The method includes detecting a cold engine start condition and reversing an energizing voltage on the at least one magnetic field generating coil when the outside temperature is below a predetermined temperature threshold. The reverse energizing voltage on the at least one magnetic field generating coil is maintained for a predetermined period of time to heat the piston armature, the magnet, and the actuator pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Scot A Douglas
  • Patent number: 10301981
    Abstract: A method for retracting an extended pin of a sliding camshaft actuator wherein the actuator includes a magnetic field generating coil, a magnetic piston in connection with the extended pin operable to be actuated by the magnetic field generating coil, and a pin stop plate. The method comprises creating an air gap between the magnetic piston and the pin stop plate and reversing voltage on the magnetic field generating coil to retract the extended pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R Verner, Scot A Douglas
  • Patent number: 10280847
    Abstract: A method for retracting a partially extended pin of a sliding camshaft actuator having first and second pins being selectively actuatable by adjacent first and second magnetic field generating coils includes determining if the first or the second pin is partially extended after engine ignition. A partially extended first pin is retracted with flux linkage created by the second magnetic field generating coil being coupled unto the first magnetic field generating coil, and a partially extended second pin is retracted with flux linkage created by the first magnetic field generating coil being coupled unto the second magnetic field generating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scot A Douglas, Douglas R Verner
  • Publication number: 20190003446
    Abstract: A method of determining a sliding camshaft actuator pin position based on engine crankshaft angle includes commanding a sliding camshaft actuator to perform a valve step shift, and monitoring an actuator's pin position during the valve step shift command. At least one crank angle is measured when the actuator pin position reaches or exceeds at least one predetermined pin position threshold and at least one remedial action is performed when the actuator pin position does not correlate to the at least one measured crank angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy P. Philippart, Douglas R. Verner, Dimitri Karatsinides, Timothy Karnjate
  • Publication number: 20180320565
    Abstract: A method of noise filtering a sliding camshaft actuator pin position output signal includes determining an actual pin position output signal period of a sliding camshaft actuator that occurs within a predetermined output signal period measurement window and establishing a pin position output signal filter window based on the actual pin position output signal period. Thereafter, the actual pin position output signal period from the sliding camshaft actuator is monitored by a control module and signals that occur outside of the pin position output signal filter window are rejected accordingly to prevent responding to false triggers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Timothy Karnjate, Timothy P. Philippart
  • Publication number: 20180291828
    Abstract: A method for heating a sliding camshaft actuator at cold engine start wherein the sliding camshaft actuator includes at least one magnetic field generating coil having a core, a piston armature disposed in the core of the magnetic field generating coil, a magnet in mechanical communication with the piston armature, and an actuator pin in mechanical communication with the magnet. The method includes detecting a cold engine start condition and reversing an energizing voltage on the magnetic field generating coil when the outside temperature is below a predetermined temperature threshold. The reverse energizing voltage on the magnetic field generating coil is maintained for a predetermined period of time to heat the piston armature, the magnet, and the actuator pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Scot A. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20180283236
    Abstract: A method for retracting an extended pin of a sliding camshaft actuator wherein the actuator includes a magnetic field generating coil, a magnetic piston in connection with the extended pin operable to be actuated by the magnetic field generating coil, and a pin stop plate. The method comprises creating an air gap between the magnetic piston and the pin stop plate and reversing voltage on the magnetic field generating coil to retract the extended pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas R. VERNER, Scot A. DOUGLAS
  • Publication number: 20180283227
    Abstract: A method for retracting a partially extended pin of a sliding camshaft actuator having first and second pins being selectively actuatable by adjacent first and second magnetic field generating coils includes determining if the first or the second pin is partially extended after engine ignition. A partially extended first pin is retracted with flux linkage created by the second magnetic field generating coil being coupled unto the first magnetic field generating coil, and a partially extended second pin is retracted with flux linkage created by the first magnetic field generating coil being coupled unto the second magnetic field generating coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Scot A. DOUGLAS, Douglas R. VERNER
  • Publication number: 20180258803
    Abstract: A system and method for sensing a camshaft barrel position of a sliding camshaft includes at least one sliding camshaft having at least one camshaft barrel and at least one position shifting slot disposed in the at least one camshaft barrel. At least one actuator is provided for engaging the at least one position shifting slot on the rotating sliding camshaft and shifting position of the at least one camshaft barrel and at least one sensor is provided for detecting the shifted position of the at least one camshaft barrel wherein the camshaft barrel includes position identifying features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph J. Moon, Alexander Doss
  • Patent number: 9970332
    Abstract: An engine control module includes at least one high side driver connected to at least one intake camshaft actuator and at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A plurality of low side drivers is connected to the at least one intake camshaft actuator and the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A sliding camshaft control module selectively actuates the at least one high side driver and the plurality of low side drivers based on a status associated with the at least one intake camshaft actuator and/or the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Kevin Andrew Gady, Scot A. Douglas, Joseph J. Moon
  • Patent number: 9863332
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a switching period module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a start-stop control module. The switching period module determines a switching period that elapses as a valve lift actuator of an engine switches between a first valve lift position and a second valve lift position that is different than the first lift position. The switching period begins when a measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the first lift position and the switching period ends when the measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the second lift position. The valve lift control module controls the valve lift actuator based on the switching period. The start-stop control module determines whether to automatically stop the engine based on the switching period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Davis, Melvin R. Terechenok, Jr., Scott McLane, Sanjeev M. Naik, Kurt Alfred Wellenkotter, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph J. Moon, Kevin Andrew Gady
  • Publication number: 20170114676
    Abstract: An engine control module includes at least one high side driver connected to at least one intake camshaft actuator and at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A plurality of low side drivers is connected to the at least one intake camshaft actuator and the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator. A sliding camshaft control module selectively actuates the at least one high side driver and the plurality of low side drivers based on a status associated with the at least one intake camshaft actuator and/or the at least one exhaust camshaft actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas R. VERNER, Kevin Andrew GADY, Scot A. DOUGLAS, Joseph J. MOON
  • Publication number: 20160333803
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a switching period module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a start-stop control module. The switching period module determines a switching period that elapses as a valve lift actuator of an engine switches between a first valve lift position and a second valve lift position that is different than the first lift position. The switching period begins when a measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the first lift position and the switching period ends when the measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the second lift position. The valve lift control module controls the valve lift actuator based on the switching period. The start-stop control module determines whether to automatically stop the engine based on the switching period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jason T. DAVIS, Melvin R. TERECHENOK, JR., Scott MCLANE, Sanjeev M. NAIK, Kurt Alfred WELLENKOTTER, Douglas R. VERNER, Joseph J. MOON, Kevin Andrew GADY
  • Patent number: 9404397
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a position sensor, a current supply module, and a mode indicator module. The position sensor includes: an electromagnet (EM) that generates a magnetic field proximate to one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve of an engine; and a Hall-effect sensor that generates a position signal indicating a position of the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve based on the magnetic field. The current supply module supplies current to the EM. The mode indicator module indicates whether the one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is being actuated in a low lift mode or a high lift mode based on the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Douglas R. Verner, Sanjeev M. Naik, Donovan L. Dibble
  • Patent number: 9249748
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a spectral density module and a firing sequence module. The spectral density module determines a spectral density of engine speed. The firing sequence module selects a first set of M cylinders of an engine to activate, selects a second set of N cylinders of the engine to deactivate, and selects a firing sequence to activate the first set of M cylinders and to deactivate the second set of N cylinders. M and N are integers greater than or equal to one. The firing sequence specifies whether each cylinder of the engine is active or deactivated. Based on the spectral density, the firing sequence module adjusts the firing sequence to adjust M and N and/or to adjust which cylinders of the engine are included in the first set and which cylinders of the engine are included in the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Douglas R. Verner