Patents by Inventor John A. Jacobs

John A. Jacobs 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: 9944134
    Abstract: An integrated sensing unit and method that involves wirelessly transmitting tire pressure sensor readings and wheel speed readings to a control module in a vehicle. Sensor circuitry for a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system can be used with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in an integrated sensing unit to facilitate the wireless transmittance of wheel speed data. In an exemplary embodiment, the wheel speed data from the integrated sensing unit provides a redundant measure of wheel speed that can prolong the availability of vehicle systems that rely upon wheel speed, despite a potential malfunction of one or more typical wheel speed sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Walter M. Lazar, II, John A. Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20160375732
    Abstract: An integrated sensing unit and method that involves wirelessly transmitting tire pressure sensor readings and wheel speed readings to a control module in a vehicle. Sensor circuitry for a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system can be used with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in an integrated sensing unit to facilitate the wireless transmittance of wheel speed data. In an exemplary embodiment, the wheel speed data from the integrated sensing unit provides a redundant measure of wheel speed that can prolong the availability of vehicle systems that rely upon wheel speed, despite a potential malfunction of one or more typical wheel speed sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Walter M. Lazar, II, John A. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8234055
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control system includes an engine movement module that selects from N engine rotation modes based on camshaft movement and crankshaft movement, where N is an integer greater than two, and where at least one of the N rotation modes is an assisted spinning mode. A diagnostic module enables one or more engine diagnostic modes based on the selected engine rotation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Kelly T. Jozefowicz, John A. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8181627
    Abstract: An engine system includes a throttle actuator module and a torque control module. The throttle actuator module controls a throttle actuator based on a desired throttle area. The torque control module determines an actuator torque. The torque control module determines a rate limited torque, a maximum torque, and a minimum torque based on the actuator torque and a predetermined rate of change. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is greater than the maximum torque. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is less than the minimum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin T. Sharples, Mark H. Costin, Timothy J. Hartrey, Christopher E. Whitney, Bahram Younessi, Weixin Yan, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard B. Jess, Joseph M. Stempnik, John A. Jacobs, Jinchun Peng, Leonard G. Wozniak, Vivek Mehta, Bruce A. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7856304
    Abstract: A method of achieving a desired torque output of an internal combustion engine includes determining a first air-per-cylinder (APC) value based on a first APC relationship and determining a second APC value based on a second APC relationship. An APC error is determined based on the second APC value. Operation of the engine is regulated based on the first APC value when the APC error is greater than a threshold error. Operation of the engine based on the second APC value when the APC error is not greater than the threshold error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Christopher E. Whitney, John A. Jacobs, Richard B. Jess
  • Patent number: 7717102
    Abstract: A method of determining reverse engine rotation includes calculating a ratio of on time to off time of a camshaft position signal during camshaft rotation, determining whether a predetermined camshaft state has been entered based on said ratio, comparing the most recently determined camshaft state with a predetermined camshaft state pattern for forward engine rotation and determining a engine rotation direction based on said comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventors: John A. Jacobs, Kelly T. Jozefowicz
  • Publication number: 20100075803
    Abstract: An engine system includes a throttle actuator module and a torque control module. The throttle actuator module controls a throttle actuator based on a desired throttle area. The torque control module determines an actuator torque. The torque control module determines a rate limited torque, a maximum torque, and a minimum torque based on the actuator torque and a predetermined rate of change. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is greater than the maximum torque. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is less than the minimum torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Sharples, Mark H. Costin, Timothy J. Hartrey, Christopher E. Whitney, Bahram Younessi, Weixin Yan, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard B. Jess, Joseph M. Stempnik, John A. Jacobs, Jinchun Peng, Leonard G. Wozniak, Vivek Mehta, Bruce A. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20090216420
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. The control system includes an engine movement module that selects from N engine rotation modes based on camshaft movement and crankshaft movement, where N is an integer greater than two, and where at least one of the N rotation modes is an assisted spinning mode. A diagnostic module enables one or more engine diagnostic modes based on the selected engine rotation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kelly T. Jozefowicz, John A. Jacobs
  • Publication number: 20090063004
    Abstract: A method of determining reverse engine rotation includes calculating a ratio of on time to off time of a camshaft position signal during camshaft rotation, determining whether a predetermined camshaft state has been entered based on said ratio, comparing the most recently determined camshaft state with a predetermined camshaft state pattern for forward engine rotation and determining a engine rotation direction based on said comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John A. Jacobs, Kelly T. Jozefowicz
  • Patent number: 7440838
    Abstract: A method of regulating operation of an internal combustion engine includes monitoring a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) of the engine, determining an engine torque based on the MAP, estimating an air per cylinder (APC) based on the torque, determining a volumetric efficiency of the engine based on the APC and regulating operation of the engine based on the volumetric efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Layne K. Wiggins, John A. Jacobs, Richard B. Jess, James L. Worthing
  • Publication number: 20080121211
    Abstract: A method of regulating operation of an internal combustion engine includes monitoring a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) of the engine, determining an engine torque based on the MAP, estimating an air per cylinder (APC) based on the torque, determining a volumetric efficiency of the engine based on the APC and regulating operation of the engine based on the volumetric efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Layne K. Wiggins, John A. Jacobs, Richard B. Jess, James L. Worthing
  • Publication number: 20080121212
    Abstract: A method of achieving a desired torque output of an internal combustion engine includes determining a first air-per-cylinder (APC) value based on a first APC relationship and determining a second APC value based on a second APC relationship. An APC error is determined based on the second APC value. Operation of the engine is regulated based on the first APC value when the APC error is greater than a threshold error. Operation of the engine based on the second APC value when the APC error is not greater than the threshold error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Christopher E. Whitney, John A. Jacobs, Richard B. Jess