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).

  • Patent number: 10544773
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William Hoban, Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
  • Patent number: 10041461
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
  • Publication number: 20180171955
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
  • Publication number: 20180112685
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Beschorner, Dustin K. Fee, Ioan Paduret, David J. Subert
  • Publication number: 20170314524
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William Hoban, Morteza Rezaei, Ioan Paduret, James Siegle
  • Patent number: 9541022
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Hoban, Jr., Ioan Paduret, James D. Siegle
  • Publication number: 20160139103
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Amiyo K. Basu, Ian S. McInerney, Brian S. Howard, Ioan Paduret
  • Publication number: 20150308399
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Hoban, JR., Ioan Paduret, James D. Siegle