Patents by Inventor Francesco CASTORINA

Francesco CASTORINA 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: 11067011
    Abstract: A control module includes a dynamic target selection module configured to receive an intake manifold pressure setpoint and a measured intake manifold pressure, select between the intake manifold pressure setpoint and the measured intake manifold pressure, and output a selected intake manifold pressure setpoint based on the selection. A multivariable control module is configured to receive at least one target setpoint that is based on the selected intake manifold pressure setpoint and control operation of an air charging system of a vehicle based on the at least one target setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marco Clelio Lucarelli, Vincenzo Alfieri, Francesco Castorina
  • Publication number: 20210131364
    Abstract: A control module includes a dynamic target selection module configured to receive an intake manifold pressure setpoint and a measured intake manifold pressure, select between the intake manifold pressure setpoint and the measured intake manifold pressure, and output a selected intake manifold pressure setpoint based on the selection. A multivariable control module is configured to receive at least one target setpoint that is based on the selected intake manifold pressure setpoint and control operation of an air charging system of a vehicle based on the at least one target setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Marco Clelio LUCARELLI, Vincenzo ALFIERI, Francesco CASTORINA
  • Publication number: 20200088082
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a vehicle and method of operating the exhaust system. The exhaust system comprises an internal combustion engine, an exhaust throttle valve, and a pressure sensor. The method comprises the steps of: outputting an exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine; determining a flow factor for the exhaust throttle valve; conducting a diagnostic pressure analysis using one or more pressure readings from the pressure sensor; estimating a stuck position for the exhaust throttle valve; determining a flow limit based on the estimated stuck position; and mitigating one or more exhaust system effects based on the flow limit and/or the estimated stuck position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Serena Tordin, Fabio Sessa, Lorenzo Pataccia, Francesco Castorina
  • Patent number: 10557406
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a coolant flow request module and a pump control module. The coolant flow request module is configured to determine a coolant flow request based on at least one of (i) an outlet temperature of a compressor disposed upstream of a heat exchanger of a charge air cooler, and (ii) an efficiency of a radiator of the charge air cooler. The pump control module is configured to control an output of a pump based on the coolant flow request. The pump circulates coolant through the radiator of the charge air cooler and through the heat exchanger of the charge air cooler when the pump is activated. The heat exchanger is disposed upstream of an intake manifold of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Serena Tordin, Fabrizio Ramolivo, Francesco Castorina
  • Patent number: 10519881
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention described herein include a control system for a vehicle. The control system includes a control module that dynamically computes a first power value (PC) to be generated by a compressor based on an estimation model of the compressor. The control system further includes a power term estimator module that dynamically computes a second power value (PU) based on a measured compressor pressure ratio (?cmeas) of the compressor. The control module further computes an amount of power to be generated by an engine (Ptdes) by adding the first power value and the second power value. The control module further adjusts an actuator position to generate the amount of power to be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Giuseppe Conte, Vincenzo Alfieri, Francesco Castorina, Stefano Sarinelli
  • Publication number: 20190316533
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention described herein include a control system for a vehicle. The control system includes a control module that dynamically computes a first power value (PC) to be generated by a compressor based on an estimation model of the compressor. The control system further includes a power term estimator module that dynamically computes a second power value (PU) based on a measured compressor pressure ratio (?cmeas) of the compressor. The control module further computes an amount of power to be generated by an engine (Ptdes) by adding the first power value and the second power value. The control module further adjusts an actuator position to generate the amount of power to be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Giuseppe Conte, Vincenzo Alfieri, Francesco Castorina, Stefano Sarinelli
  • Patent number: 10190521
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger for pressurizing an intake airflow and an after-treatment (AT) system including an AT device for reducing nitrogen oxides (NOX) concentration in the engine exhaust gas. The method includes operating the engine with a variable high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and low-pressure EGR split in the intake airflow. The method also includes determining the NOX concentration in the exhaust gas and determining a current high-pressure EGR to low-pressure EGR split in the intake airflow. The method additionally includes determining an EGR corrective factor using the determined current high-pressure EGR to low-pressure EGR split and applying the determined EGR corrective factor to the determined NOX concentration to generate a corrected NOX concentration. Furthermore, the method includes regulating operation of the AT system to treat the exhaust gas via the AT device in response to the generated corrected NOX concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Giorgio Sticchi, Francesco Castorina, Andrea Dutto
  • Publication number: 20180347495
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger for pressurizing an intake airflow and an after-treatment (AT) system including an AT device for reducing nitrogen oxides (NOX) concentration in the engine exhaust gas. The method includes operating the engine with a variable high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and low-pressure EGR split in the intake airflow. The method also includes determining the NOX concentration in the exhaust gas and determining a current high-pressure EGR to low-pressure EGR split in the intake airflow. The method additionally includes determining an EGR corrective factor using the determined current high-pressure EGR to low-pressure EGR split and applying the determined EGR corrective factor to the determined NOX concentration to generate a corrected NOX concentration. Furthermore, the method includes regulating operation of the AT system to treat the exhaust gas via the AT device in response to the generated corrected NOX concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Giorgio Sticchi, Francesco Castorina, Andrea Dutto
  • Publication number: 20180328265
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a coolant flow request module and a pump control module. The coolant flow request module is configured to determine a coolant flow request based on at least one of (i) an outlet temperature of a compressor disposed upstream of a heat exchanger of a charge air cooler, and (ii) an efficiency of a radiator of the charge air cooler. The pump control module is configured to control an output of a pump based on the coolant flow request. The pump circulates coolant through the radiator of the charge air cooler and through the heat exchanger of the charge air cooler when the pump is activated. The heat exchanger is disposed upstream of an intake manifold of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Serena TORDIN, Fabrizio RAMOLIVO, Francesco CASTORINA
  • Patent number: 10066561
    Abstract: A method of controlling a rate of warm-up of an internal combustion engine fluidly connected to an exhaust system is disclosed. The method includes identifying a cold-start of the engine. The method also includes regulating, in response to the identified cold-start of the engine, an exhaust pressure modulation (EPM) valve arranged in a main exhaust passage of the exhaust system. The main exhaust passage channels engine exhaust gas to the ambient. Such regulation of the EPM valve will restrict a flow of the engine exhaust gas to the ambient and increase exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system up to a predetermined pressure value. Furthermore, the subject regulation of the EPM valve will increase a load on and the rate of warm-up of the engine. A vehicle having an engine and a controller programmed to control a rate of the engine's warm-up of according to the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Francesco Cianflone, Francesco Castorina
  • Publication number: 20170314486
    Abstract: A method of controlling a rate of warm-up of an internal combustion engine fluidly connected to an exhaust system is disclosed. The method includes identifying a cold-start of the engine. The method also includes regulating, in response to the identified cold-start of the engine, an exhaust pressure modulation (EPM) valve arranged in a main exhaust passage of the exhaust system. The main exhaust passage channels engine exhaust gas to the ambient. Such regulation of the EPM valve will restrict a flow of the engine exhaust gas to the ambient and increase exhaust gas backpressure in the exhaust system up to a predetermined pressure value. Furthermore, the subject regulation of the EPM valve will increase a load on and the rate of warm-up of the engine. A vehicle having an engine and a controller programmed to control a rate of the engine's warm-up of according to the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Francesco Cianflone, Francesco Castorina
  • Patent number: 9657634
    Abstract: A turbocharger controller includes a turbocharger compressor temperature module having a compressor inlet air temperature input, and a turbocharger compressor pressure module including a compressor inlet pressure input and a compressor outlet pressure input. A memory module includes a compressor outlet temperature calibration map and a compressor pressure ratio look-up table. A turbocharger boost pressure ratio control module is operatively connected to the turbocharger compressor temperature module, the turbocharger compressor pressure module, and the memory module. The turbocharger boost pressure ratio control module is configured to selectively compare compressor outlet pressure and compressor inlet pressure with values in the compressor ratio look-up table to determine a turbocharger boost pressure set point establishing a desired compressor outlet temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Francesco Castorina, Joseph Zammit, Yun Xiao
  • Patent number: 9297319
    Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust gas recirculation circuit, an air throttle system, and a charging system. A method to control the engine includes determining a feed forward control command for a first selected one of the exhaust gas recirculation system, the air throttle system, and the charging system based on an inverse flow model of the first selected system. This includes monitoring a first input based upon an effective flow area of the first selected system, monitoring a second input based upon a pressure value within the first selected system, and determining the feed forward control command for the first selected system based upon the first input and the second input. The first selected system is controlled based upon the feed forward control command for the first selected system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara, Francesco Castorina
  • Patent number: 9175617
    Abstract: A system and method can control exhaust braking in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine system. The engine system includes internal combustion engine, an intake manifold, a control module, an exhaust system, and a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) having a turbine. The turbine includes turbine blades and vanes movable with respect to the turbine blades. The method includes the following: (a) receiving an exhaust brake torque request; (b) determining target pumping losses in the internal combustion engine based on the exhaust brake torque request; (c) determining a target exhaust gas pressure within the exhaust system based on the target pumping losses; and (d) determining a target vane position of the vanes based on the target exhaust gas pressure, wherein the target vane position yields an exhaust brake torque in accordance with the exhaust brake torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Luca Scavone, Simone Barbero, Francesco Castorina, Francesco Cianflone, Andrea Di Giovanni, Andrea De Vito
  • Publication number: 20150113981
    Abstract: A turbocharger controller includes a turbocharger compressor temperature module having a compressor inlet air temperature input, and a turbocharger compressor pressure module including a compressor inlet pressure input and a compressor outlet pressure input. A memory module includes a compressor outlet temperature calibration map and a compressor pressure ratio look-up table. A turbocharger boost pressure ratio control module is operatively connected to the turbocharger compressor temperature module, the turbocharger compressor pressure module, and the memory module. The turbocharger boost pressure ratio control module is configured to selectively compare compressor outlet pressure and compressor inlet pressure with values in the compressor ratio look-up table to determine a turbocharger boost pressure set point establishing a desired compressor outlet temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Francesco Castorina, Joseph Zammit, Yun Xiao
  • Publication number: 20150040859
    Abstract: A system and method can control exhaust braking in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine system. The engine system includes internal combustion engine, an intake manifold, a control module, an exhaust system, and a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) having a turbine. The turbine includes turbine blades and vanes movable with respect to the turbine blades. The method includes the following: (a) receiving an exhaust brake torque request; (b) determining target pumping losses in the internal combustion engine based on the exhaust brake torque request; (c) determining a target exhaust gas pressure within the exhaust system based on the target pumping losses; and (d) determining a target vane position of the vanes based on the target exhaust gas pressure, wherein the target vane position yields an exhaust brake torque in accordance with the exhaust brake torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Luca Scavone, Simone Barbero, Francesco Castorina, Francesco Cianflone, Andrea Di Giovanni, Andrea De Vito
  • Publication number: 20120180454
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the regeneration process of a LNT device for the treatment of exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine. The method includes, but is not limited to storing a plurality of parameters in the form of preset values which relate to admissible regenerating conditions, receiving a regeneration request, measuring the current values of the parameters to define the current operating conditions of the engine and the LNT device, comparing the current values with the preset values of a corresponding parameter to evaluate if the current operating conditions of the engine and of the LNT device satisfy the admissible regenerating conditions for carrying out the regeneration process, and inhibiting the regeneration process if at least one current value of a corresponding parameter does not satisfy the admissible regenerating conditions for carrying out the regeneration process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Roberto ARGOLINI, Francesco CASTORINA, Nicola PIO SACCO
  • Publication number: 20120173118
    Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust gas recirculation circuit, an air throttle system, and a charging system. A method to control the engine includes determining a feed forward control command for a first selected one of the exhaust gas recirculation system, the air throttle system, and the charging system based on an inverse flow model of the first selected system. This includes monitoring a first input based upon an effective flow area of the first selected system, monitoring a second input based upon a pressure value within the first selected system, and determining the feed forward control command for the first selected system based upon the first input and the second input. The first selected system is controlled based upon the feed forward control command for the first selected system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ibrahim Haskara, Francesco Castorina
  • Publication number: 20110120428
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the level of oxygen concentration in the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine system. The engine having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold and corresponding intake and exhaust lines, the intake line having a leading point for mixing of fresh air, first and second EGR routes, a charge air cooler located in the intake line upstream the intake manifold and downstream the second EGR route, a turbocharger having a compressor located in the intake line and a turbine located in the exhaust line, the exhaust line having a diesel oxidation catalyst and an antiparticulate filter. The system has a regulator for regulating the flow rate of exhaust gas. The regulator including, but not limited to a low pressure EGR valve associated to the second EGR route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Paolo PASERO, Francesco CASTORINA