Patents by Inventor Hugh William Miller

Hugh William Miller 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).

  • Valvetrain fault indication systems and methods using engine misfire
    Patent number: 9133775
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a misfire indication module, a valve control module, and a fault indication module. The misfire indication module selectively indicates that misfire occurred within a cylinder of an engine. The valve control module controls lifting of a valve of a cylinder of the engine and, in response to the misfire indication module indicating that misfire occurred within the cylinder, transitions lifting of the valve from one of a low lift state and a high lift state to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state. The fault indication module selectively indicates that a fault is present in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism of the cylinder based on whether the misfire indication module indicates that misfire occurred within the cylinder after the transition to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventors: Brian E. Betz, Hugh William Miller
  • Valvetrain fault indication systems and methods using knock sensing
    Patent number: 9121362
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a knock indication module, a valve control module, and a fault indication module. The knock indication module selectively indicates that knock occurred within a cylinder of an engine. The valve control module controls lifting of a valve of a cylinder of the engine and, in response to the knock indication module indicating that knock occurred within the cylinder, transitions lifting of the valve from one of a low lift state and a high lift state to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state. The fault indication module selectively indicates that a fault is present in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism of the cylinder based on whether the knock indication module indicates that knock occurred within the cylinder after the transition to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Inventors: Brian E. Betz, Hugh William Miller
  • VALVETRAIN FAULT INDICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING KNOCK SENSING
    Publication number: 20140058650
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a knock indication module, a valve control module, and a fault indication module. The knock indication module selectively indicates that knock occurred within a cylinder of an engine. The valve control module controls lifting of a valve of a cylinder of the engine and, in response to the knock indication module indicating that knock occurred within the cylinder, transitions lifting of the valve from one of a low lift state and a high lift state to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state. The fault indication module selectively indicates that a fault is present in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism of the cylinder based on whether the knock indication module indicates that knock occurred within the cylinder after the transition to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Betz, Hugh William Miller
  • VALVETRAIN FAULT INDICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING ENGINE MISFIRE
    Publication number: 20140053809
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a misfire indication module, a valve control module, and a fault indication module. The misfire indication module selectively indicates that misfire occurred within a cylinder of an engine. The valve control module controls lifting of a valve of a cylinder of the engine and, in response to the misfire indication module indicating that misfire occurred within the cylinder, transitions lifting of the valve from one of a low lift state and a high lift state to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state. The fault indication module selectively indicates that a fault is present in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism of the cylinder based on whether the misfire indication module indicates that misfire occurred within the cylinder after the transition to the other one of the low lift state and the high lift state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Betz, Hugh William Miller