Patents by Inventor Eric J. Defenderfer

Eric J. Defenderfer 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: 10941722
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Shost, Louis J. Serrano, Steven E. Carlson, Vijay Srinivasan, Eric J. Defenderfer, Nitish J. Wagh, Randall S. Beikmann, Jinbiao Li, Xin Yuan, Li-Chun Chien
  • Patent number: 10380988
    Abstract: A noise cancellation system for a vehicle includes an excitation device mountable to a vehicle body component. The excitation device is operable to produce a low frequency response of the vehicle body component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Frank C. Valeri, Scott M. Reilly, Eric J. Defenderfer
  • Publication number: 20190237056
    Abstract: A noise cancellation system for a vehicle includes an excitation device mountable to a vehicle body component. The excitation device is operable to produce a low frequency response of the vehicle body component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Frank C. Valeri, Scott M. Reilly, Eric J. Defenderfer
  • Publication number: 20190170074
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Mark A. SHOST, Louis J. SERRANO, Steven E. CARLSON, Vijay SRINIVASAN, Eric J. DEFENDERFER, Nitish J. WAGH, Randall S. BEIKMANN, Jinbiao LI, Xin YUAN, Li-Chun CHIEN
  • Patent number: 10247121
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Shost, Louis J. Serrano, Steven E. Carlson, Vijay Srinivasan, Eric J. Defenderfer, Nitish J. Wagh, Randall S. Beikmann, Jinbiao Li, Xin Yuan, Li-Chun Chien
  • Patent number: 10054167
    Abstract: A two-stage stiffness driveshaft includes a hollow cylinder having first and second ends and a hollow cylinder stiffness. An inner shaft having first and second ends and an inner shaft stiffness extends through the hollow cylinder. The inner shaft's first end and the hollow cylinder's first end are engaged via a rotational clearance fit. The inner shaft's second end is rotationally fixed to the hollow cylinder's second end to permit the inner shaft's first end to twist through a predetermined angle relative to the inner shaft's second end. The inner shaft's stiffness defines the driveshaft's first-stage stiffness, while the combined stiffness of the inner shaft and the hollow cylinder defines the driveshaft's second-stage stiffness. A damping element positioned between the inner shaft and the hollow cylinder controls variation in torque transmitted by the driveshaft and generates gradual transition between the first-stage stiffness and the second-stage stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Piorkowski, Michael J. Grimmer, Mark Gehringer, Stephanie A. Erntser, Eric J Defenderfer, Stephen H. Miller
  • Patent number: 9416815
    Abstract: A two-stage stiffness driveshaft includes a hollow cylinder defined by a longitudinal axis, a first end, a distal second end, and a hollow cylinder stiffness. The driveshaft also includes an inner shaft extending through the hollow cylinder along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first end, a distal second end, and an inner shaft stiffness. The first end of the inner shaft is engaged with the first end of the hollow cylinder via a rotational clearance fit. The second end of the inner shaft is rotationally fixed to the second end of the hollow cylinder such that the first end of the inner shaft can twist to a predetermined angle with respect to the second end of the inner shaft. The inner shaft stiffness defines a first-stage stiffness of the driveshaft, and the inner shaft stiffness and the hollow cylinder stiffness together define a second-stage stiffness of the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Grimmer, Mark Gehringer, Stephanie A. Ernster, Eric J. Defenderfer, Stephen H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20160097420
    Abstract: A two-stage stiffness driveshaft includes a hollow cylinder defined by a longitudinal axis, a first end, a distal second end, and a hollow cylinder stiffness. The driveshaft also includes an inner shaft extending through the hollow cylinder along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first end, a distal second end, and an inner shaft stiffness. The first end of the inner shaft is engaged with the first end of the hollow cylinder via a rotational clearance fit. The second end of the inner shaft is rotationally fixed to the second end of the hollow cylinder such that the first end of the inner shaft can twist to a predetermined angle with respect to the second end of the inner shaft. The inner shaft stiffness defines a first-stage stiffness of the driveshaft, and the inner shaft stiffness and the hollow cylinder stiffness together define a second-stage stiffness of the driveshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Grimmer, Mark Gehringer, Stephanie A. Ernster, Eric J. Defenderfer, Stephen H. Miller
  • Publication number: 20150260117
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. SHOST, Louis J. SERRANO, Steven E. CARLSON, Vijay SRINIVASAN, Eric J. DEFENDERFER, Nitish J. WAGH, Randall S. BEIKMANN, Jinbiao LI, Xin YUAN, Li-Chun CHIEN
  • Patent number: 7225783
    Abstract: An engine active motion control system for controlling engine dynamic torque includes an engine that generates a first dynamic torque. A first module selectively initiates generation of a second dynamic torque about an axis of rotation of a crankshaft of the engine in a direction opposite that of the first dynamic torque generated through the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick P. Hohnstadt, Steven A. Tervo, Eric N. Jacobson, Brian E. Ferrari, Donald R. Elzinga, Jr., Eric J. Defenderfer, Scott Wise, Wolfgang Bors, Borz Fariborzi