Patents by Inventor Jason Daniel Mullins

Jason Daniel Mullins 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: 9797288
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining if a diesel emission fluid is at least partially frozen, and determining if the vehicle is currently operating in a low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol. If the vehicle is not currently operating in the low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol, and the diesel emission fluid is at least partially frozen, then a temporary minimum diesel emission fluid mass may be defined to prevent entry of the vehicle into the low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca J Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Kyle E Crawford, Jason Daniel Mullins, Matthew King
  • Patent number: 8818691
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a fuel system in fluid communication with a cylinder to direct a fuel flow to be mixed with air in the cylinder and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the cylinder to receive an exhaust gas produced by the combustion process, wherein the exhaust system includes an oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter downstream of the oxidation catalyst. The system also includes a control module that determines an amount of energy to be provided by at least one of: a post-injection process, hydrocarbon injector, and heating device, wherein the amount of energy is based on a desired temperature at a selected location in the exhaust system, an exhaust gas flow rate, a temperature of the received exhaust gas, a flow rate and temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Jason Daniel Mullins, Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8745973
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a dosing control module and an offset determination module. The dosing control module actuates an injector to inject a first amount of reducing agent into exhaust gas produced by an engine during a period when a temperature of the exhaust gas is greater than a predetermined temperature threshold. The offset determination module determines an efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) material based on measured amounts of nitrogen oxide (NOx) during the period and expected NOx amounts, wherein the measured amounts of NOx are measured at locations upstream and downstream from the SCR material, and wherein the expected NOx amounts are based on the temperature of the exhaust gas and the first amount of reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Rebecca J Darr, Kyle E. Crawford, Paul Jasinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 8621854
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for exhaust gas produced by an engine includes a condition control module, a load determination module, and an age determination module. The condition control module decreases a load on a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst below a predetermined load threshold and increases exhaust gas temperature (EGT) to a predetermined temperature. The load determination module increases injection of a dosing agent into the exhaust gas and determines a load on the SCR catalyst when dosing agent is detected downstream from the SCR catalyst. The age determination module determines an age of the SCR catalyst based the determined load and predetermined loads for first and second SCR catalysts, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Kyle E. Crawford, Rebecca J Darr
  • Publication number: 20130245918
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a fuel system in fluid communication with a cylinder to direct a fuel flow to be mixed with air in the cylinder and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the cylinder to receive an exhaust gas produced by the combustion process, wherein the exhaust system includes an oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter downstream of the oxidation catalyst. The system also includes a control module that determines an amount of energy to be provided by at least one of: a post-injection process, hydrocarbon injector, and heating device, wherein the amount of energy is based on a desired temperature at a selected location in the exhaust system, an exhaust gas flow rate, a temperature of the received exhaust gas, a flow rate and temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Michael J. Paratore, JR., Jason Daniel Mullins, Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8505277
    Abstract: An engine system includes an aging factor generation module, a temperature comparison module, and a mode control module. The aging factor generation module generates an aging factor that indicates deterioration of a catalyst in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. The temperature comparison module compares inlet and outlet temperatures of the SCR system to predetermined effective inlet and outlet temperatures of the SCR system, respectively, wherein the predetermined effective inlet and outlet temperatures are based on the aging factor. The mode control module controls at least one of a throttle and a plurality of fuel injectors based on a first predetermined air/fuel (A/F) ratio when the inlet and outlet temperatures of the SCR system are greater than the predetermined effective inlet and outlet temperatures of the SCR system, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventors: Kyle E. Crawford, Jason Daniel Mullins
  • Patent number: 8504280
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes an error detection module and a diagnostic module. The error detection module selectively detects a fuel control error based on a change in a fuel correction value used to determine a quantity of fuel supplied directly to an exhaust system. The diagnostic module identifies a cause of the fuel control error based on a period since a last refueling event. The diagnostic module identifies the cause as one of variation in an actual heating value of the fuel and faulty operation of a fuel injection system that supplies the fuel. The diagnostic module further identifies the cause based on a first amount of the fuel contained in a fuel tank at a start of the last refueling event and a second amount of the fuel added to the fuel tank during the last refueling event. A control system and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Jason Daniel Mullins
  • Patent number: 8479495
    Abstract: A control module for a vehicle includes a correction module that generates a correction signal based on a regeneration state of an exhaust system of the vehicle and based on a received environmental signal. The environmental signal includes at least one of an altitude value, an ambient temperature, and an air flow value. The air flow value corresponds to air flow across an external area of the exhaust system. A first post injection module generates a first post injection signal. A second post injection module adjusts the first post injection signal based on the correction signal to generate a second post injection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Sarah Funk, Thomas Larose, Jr., Eric R Snyder, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Jason Daniel Mullins, James M Perrin
  • Patent number: 8479500
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an engine comprises a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device having a NOx reducing selective catalytic reduction composition disposed thereon. A particulate filter is disposed in the rigid shell or canister downstream of the selective catalytic reduction device. An ammonia dosing system comprising a controller in signal communication with NOx sensors located upstream and downstream of the selective catalytic reduction device for injection of ammonia into the exhaust gas upstream of the SCR device based on information collected from the NOx sensors to thereby optimize the reduction of NOx in the exhaust gas. An ammonia-neutral oxidation catalyst compound is disposed on the wall-flow substrate of the particulate filter device and is configured to pass through ammonia constituents of the exhaust gas exiting the selective catalytic reduction device with little or no conversion of the ammonia constituents to N2, N2O and NOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shouxian Ren, Rahul Mital, Jason Daniel Mullins
  • Patent number: 8454916
    Abstract: A dosing control system for a vehicle includes a current storage module, an adaption triggering module, and an adaption ending module. The current storage module estimates an amount of ammonia stored by a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. The adaptation triggering module triggers a reduction of the amount of ammonia stored by the SCR catalyst to zero when a first amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) measured by a first NOx sensor located downstream of the SCR catalyst is greater than a predicted value of the first amount of NOx. The adaptation ending module selectively ends the reduction and enables injection of dosing agent based on a comparison of the first amount of NOx with a second amount of NOx upstream of the SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventors: James M. Perrin, Rebecca J. Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Jason Daniel Mullins, Kyle E. Crawford
  • Patent number: 8443591
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises an oxygen comparison module and a regeneration control module. The oxygen comparison module compares an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas of an engine to an oxygen threshold. A regeneration control module initiates regeneration of a particulate filter and controls regeneration based on the oxygen comparison and at least one of a particulate filter load, a particulate filter temperature, and a speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., Jason Daniel Mullins, Eric R. Snyder, Matthew King, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Nicasio Gomez, III
  • Patent number: 8429898
    Abstract: A dosing control system for a vehicle includes an adaption triggering module, a dosing management module, and an adaption ending module. The adaptation triggering module triggers performance of an adaptation event when a first amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) measured by a first NOx sensor located downstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst is greater than a predicted value of the first amount of NOx. The dosing management module disables dosing agent injection during the adaptation event. The adaptation ending module selectively delays ending the adaptation event after a predetermined number of phases of the adaption event have been completed based on a comparison of the first amount of NOx with a second amount of NOx measured by a second NOx sensor located upstream of the SCR catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Darr, James M. Perrin, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Jason Daniel Mullins, Kyle E. Crawford
  • Patent number: 8413427
    Abstract: A dosing control system for a vehicle includes a pump control module and an enabling/disabling module. The pump control module controls a pump that provides dosing agent to a dosing agent injector located upstream of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst in an exhaust system. The enabling/disabling module disables the pump for a predetermined melting period after engine startup when the dosing agent is frozen and selectively activates the pump during the predetermined melting period to cool the dosing agent injector when a tip temperature of the dosing agent injector is greater than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Justin A. Shetney, Kyle E. Crawford, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Rebecca J Darr
  • Patent number: 8413432
    Abstract: A regeneration control system for a vehicle includes a regeneration control module and a regeneration interrupt module. The regeneration control module selectively provides fuel to an oxidation catalyst for a regeneration event of a particulate filter that occurs during a predetermined melting period for frozen dosing agent. The regeneration interrupt module selectively interrupts the regeneration event and disables the provision of fuel to the oxidation catalyst before the regeneration event is complete when a temperature of a dosing agent injector that is located between the oxidation catalyst and the particulate filter is greater than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Kyle E. Crawford, Justin A. Shetney, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Patent number: 8327621
    Abstract: A temperature control system comprises a temperature determination module, a temperature correction module, a temperature control module, and an updating module. The temperature determination module determines a desired outlet temperature for an oxidation catalyst (OC) that is located upstream of a particulate filter (PF) in an exhaust system. The temperature correction module determines a temperature correction from a plurality of temperature corrections. The temperature control module controls an outlet temperature of the OC based on the desired outlet temperature and the temperature correction. The updating module selectively updates at least one of the plurality of temperature corrections when an engine speed and an engine load are within respective predetermined ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., Jason Daniel Mullins, Eric R. Snyder, Paul Jasinkiewicz, James M. Perrin, Sarah Funk
  • Publication number: 20120258015
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an engine comprises a selective catalytic reduction (“SCR”) device having a NOx reducing selective catalytic reduction composition disposed thereon. A particulate filter is disposed in the rigid shell or canister downstream of the selective catalytic reduction device. An ammonia dosing system comprising a controller in signal communication with NOx sensors located upstream and downstream of the selective catalytic reduction device for injection of ammonia into the exhaust gas upstream of the SCR device based on information collected from the NOx sensors to thereby optimize the reduction of NOx in the exhaust gas. An ammonia-neutral oxidation catalyst compound is disposed on the wall-flow substrate of the particulate filter device and is configured to pass through ammonia constituents of the exhaust gas exiting the selective catalytic reduction device with little or no conversion of the ammonia constituents to N2, N2O and NOx.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shouxian Ren, Rahul Mital, Jason Daniel Mullins
  • Patent number: 8161808
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring operation of an exhaust treatment system of a diesel engine includes a dosing system including an injector for injecting an injection fluid and a pump for pressurizing the injection fluid. The system also includes a pressure sensor in communication with the dosing system generating a pressure signal. The system further includes a control module that determines a pressure error signal in response to the pressure signal and generates a fault signal in response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventors: Kyle E Crawford, Jason Daniel Mullins
  • Patent number: 8156736
    Abstract: A system comprises an injection control module and a fuel film module. The injection control module controls a flow rate of fuel injected into an exhaust system to adjust a temperature of exhaust gas. The fuel film module determines an accumulation rate of fuel on a surface of the exhaust system based on the flow rate of the fuel. The fuel film module determines a release rate of fuel from the surface of the exhaust system based on a flow rate of the exhaust gas. The injection control module adjusts the flow rate of the fuel based on the accumulation rate and the release rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Thomas Larose, Jr., James M. Perrin, Paul Jasinkiewicz
  • Publication number: 20120072092
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes an error detection module and a diagnostic module. The error detection module selectively detects a fuel control error based on a change in a fuel correction value used to determine a quantity of fuel supplied directly to an exhaust system. The diagnostic module identifies a cause of the fuel control error based on a period since a last refueling event. The diagnostic module identifies the cause as one of variation in an actual heating value of the fuel and faulty operation of a fuel injection system that supplies the fuel. The diagnostic module further identifies the cause based on a first amount of the fuel contained in a fuel tank at a start of the last refueling event and a second amount of the fuel added to the fuel tank during the last refueling event. A control system and method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Jason Daniel Mullins
  • Publication number: 20120036839
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel tank, an internal combustion engine, an oxidation catalyst, a regenerable particulate filter in fluid communication with an outlet side of the oxidation catalyst, and a host machine. The host machine calculates an actual hydrocarbon level in the exhaust stream downstream of the particulate filter as a function of an actual energy input value and an actual output value of the oxidation catalyst, and subsequently executes a control action using the actual hydrocarbon level. A method for use aboard the vehicle includes using the host machine to calculate an actual hydrocarbon level in the exhaust stream downstream of the particulate filter, including solving a function of an actual energy input value and an actual energy output value of the oxidation catalyst, and executing a control action aboard the vehicle via the host machine using the actual hydrocarbon level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Barasa, Scot A. Douglas, Jason Daniel Mullins