Patents by Inventor Ioan Paduret
Ioan Paduret 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).
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Patent number: 10544773Abstract: An engine ignition system for a spark-ignited engine includes a sparkplug and a control system having primary ignition circuitry, secondary ignition circuitry coupled with electrodes of the sparkplug, and sensing circuitry. A control device determines a timing of spark production based on a pattern of varying of an electrical property in the primary ignition circuitry. An inflection point in a sensed current signal may be detected to determine the timing.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William Hoban, Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
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Patent number: 10041461Abstract: A system for detecting valve seating in a valve system such as a fuel admission valve system includes seat detection circuitry coupled with a low-side driver circuit in solenoid actuator circuitry for the valve system. The seat detection circuitry includes a voltage probe for sensing voltage in the solenoid actuator circuitry, delay circuitry, and a comparator coupled with the delay circuitry and the voltage probe and having an output dependent upon change in the sensed voltage over time. A timing of voltage changes is observed to enable valve seating detection.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
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Publication number: 20180171955Abstract: A system for detecting valve seating in a valve system such as a fuel admission valve system includes seat detection circuitry coupled with a low-side driver circuit in solenoid actuator circuitry for the valve system. The seat detection circuitry includes a voltage probe for sensing voltage in the solenoid actuator circuitry, delay circuitry, and a comparator coupled with the delay circuitry and the voltage probe and having an output dependent upon change in the sensed voltage over time. A timing of voltage changes is observed to enable valve seating detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
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Publication number: 20180112685Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a hydraulic valve is provided. The system includes a solenoid coupled to a spool assembly of the hydraulic valve. The system further includes a sensor disposed on the hydraulic valve. The sensor generates signals indicative of operational parameter of the hydraulic valve. The system also includes a controller in communication with the solenoid and the sensor. The controller receives signals generated by the sensor. The controller includes a booster circuit connected to the solenoid. The booster circuit boosts an actuating current generated in response to the signals received from the sensor. The controller further includes a switching circuit connected across the solenoid. The switching circuit controls a direction of the actuating current flowing through the solenoid. The solenoid actuates the spool assembly of the hydraulic valve to control the operation of the hydraulic valve based on the actuating current.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Beschorner, Dustin K. Fee, Ioan Paduret, David J. Subert
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Publication number: 20170314524Abstract: An engine ignition system for a spark-ignited engine includes a sparkplug and a control system having primary ignition circuitry, secondary ignition circuitry coupled with electrodes of the sparkplug, and sensing circuitry. A control device determines a timing of spark production based on a pattern of varying of an electrical property in the primary ignition circuitry. An inflection point in a sensed current signal may be detected to determine the timing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2016Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William Hoban, Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
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Patent number: 9541022Abstract: An engine control module (ECM) having a plurality of driver banks is provided. Each of the driver banks is configured to drive a plurality of combustion control elements. The driver banks include two low side driver circuits and a high side driver circuit, the high side driver circuit in each of the plurality of driver banks being shared pairwise by two combustion control elements. Each one of said at least two low side driver circuits is respectively associated with the two combustion control elements. The ECM includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the plurality of driver banks and configured to provide firing signals to at least twelve high side driver circuits to simultaneously drive at least twelve combustion control elements respectively coupled to the at least twelve high side driver circuits.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William E. Hoban, Jr., Ioan Paduret, James D. Siegle
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Publication number: 20160139103Abstract: An oil identification system is disclosed. The oil identification system includes a parameter sensor coupled to at least one of an oil pan or an oil flow path of a machine. The oil identification system also includes an identification module. The identification module is also configured to receive a signal indicative of movement of charged particles in the oil of the at least one of the oil pan or the oil flow path. The identification module is further configured to determine a resistivity of the oil in the at least one of the oil pan or the oil flow path. The identification module is configured to compare the resistivity of the oil with resistivity data readings. The identification module is also configured to identify a type of oil in the at least one of the oil pan or the oil flow path based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Amiyo K. Basu, Ian S. McInerney, Brian S. Howard, Ioan Paduret
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Publication number: 20150308399Abstract: An engine control module (ECM) having a plurality of driver banks is provided. Each of the driver banks is configured to drive a plurality of combustion control elements. The driver banks include two low side driver circuits and a high side driver circuit, the high side driver circuit in each of the plurality of driver banks being shared pairwise by two combustion control elements. Each one of said at least two low side driver circuits is respectively associated with the two combustion control elements. The ECM includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) coupled to the plurality of driver banks and configured to provide firing signals to at least twelve high side driver circuits to simultaneously drive at least twelve combustion control elements respectively coupled to the at least twelve high side driver circuits.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: William E. Hoban, JR., Ioan Paduret, James D. Siegle