Patents by Inventor Eric B. Ferch

Eric B. Ferch 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: 9915240
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and mitigating automatic ignition in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The method includes providing a first sensor for sensing and determining a crank angle of a crankshaft of the engine. A second sensor is provided for detecting a change in an engine vibration frequency caused by Auto Ignition (AI). The engine vibration signal of the second sensor is processed into a knock intensity signal. The knock intensity signal is indicative of the cylinder pressure and is acquired when the crank angle is between a first predetermined crank angle and a second predetermined crank angle. At least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is determined and the at least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is compared to at least one predetermined characteristic threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Craig M. Sawdon, Eric B. Ferch, Kathryn W. McMillan
  • Publication number: 20170328334
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and mitigating automatic ignition in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The method includes providing a first sensor for sensing and determining a crank angle of a crankshaft of the engine. A second sensor is provided for detecting a change in an engine vibration frequency caused by Auto Ignition (AI). The engine vibration signal of the second sensor is processed into a knock intensity signal. The knock intensity signal is indicative of the cylinder pressure and is acquired when the crank angle is between a first predetermined crank angle and a second predetermined crank angle. At least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is determined and the at least one characteristic of the knock intensity signal is compared to at least one predetermined characteristic threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Craig M. Sawdon, Eric B. Ferch, Kathryn W. McMillan
  • Patent number: 8550055
    Abstract: A control system includes an engine mode transition module that initiates a deactivated mode to deactivate at least one cylinder. A scheduling module schedules a command to disable a spark plug at least one engine cycle after a command to disable a fuel injector for the at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Eric B. Ferch, Anthony L. Marks, Ryan Bruss, Ronald M. Wozniak, Eloy Martinez, Jon C Wasberg
  • Patent number: 8478511
    Abstract: A knock detection system for an engine includes an intensity module, a knock threshold module, and a detection module. The intensity module determines an engine vibration intensity during a first period of engine operation. The knock threshold module determines a knock threshold based on an ethanol concentration in a fuel supplied to the engine. The detection module determines whether engine knock has occurred during the first period by comparing the knock threshold and the engine vibration intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventors: Wajdi B. Hamama, Craig M. Sawdon, Eric B. Ferch, Matthew David Defever, Hillary L. Broadus
  • Patent number: 8307808
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a disturbance module, a torque correction module, a torque-to-spark module, and a spark correction module. The disturbance module determines a disturbance value for a past combustion stroke of a cylinder of an engine based on rotation of a crankshaft. The torque correction module selectively determines a torque correction for a future combustion stroke of the cylinder based on the disturbance value. The torque-to-spark module determines a spark correction based on the torque correction and determines an uncorrected spark timing based on a torque request. The spark correction module determines a corrected spark timing based on the uncorrected spark timing and the spark correction and generates spark during the future combustion stroke based on the corrected spark timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Timothy M. Karnjate, Christopher E. Whitney, Zhong Li, David S. Mathews, Eric B. Ferch, Pahngroc Oh
  • Publication number: 20120048234
    Abstract: A knock detection system for an engine includes an intensity module, a knock threshold module, and a detection module. The intensity module determines an engine vibration intensity during a first period of engine operation. The knock threshold module determines a knock threshold based on an ethanol concentration in a fuel supplied to the engine. The detection module determines whether engine knock has occurred during the first period by comparing the knock threshold and the engine vibration intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wajdi B. Hamama, Craig M. Sawdon, Eric B. Ferch, Matthew David Defever, Hillary L. Broadus
  • Publication number: 20110253100
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a disturbance module, a torque correction module, a torque-to-spark module, and a spark correction module. The disturbance module determines a disturbance value for a past combustion stroke of a cylinder of an engine based on rotation of a crankshaft. The torque correction module selectively determines a torque correction for a future combustion stroke of the cylinder based on the disturbance value. The torque-to-spark module determines a spark correction based on the torque correction and determines an uncorrected spark timing based on a torque request. The spark correction module determines a corrected spark timing based on the uncorrected spark timing and the spark correction and generates spark during the future combustion stroke based on the corrected spark timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Timothy M. Karnjate, Christopher E. Whitney, Zhong Li, David S. Mathews, Eric B. Ferch, Pahngroc Oh
  • Publication number: 20110220068
    Abstract: A control system includes an engine mode transition module that initiates a deactivated mode to deactivate at least one cylinder. A scheduling module schedules a command to disable a spark plug at least one engine cycle after a command to disable a fuel injector for the at least one cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric B. Ferch, Anthony L. Marks, Ryan Bruss, Ronald M. Wozniak, Eloy Martinez, Jon C. Wasberg