Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Stempnik

Joseph M. Stempnik 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: 9475388
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a torque module and a drag request evaluation module. The torque module controls torque output of an engine based on a driver torque request and increases the torque output based on a wheel drag torque request generated based on a driven wheel speed. The drag request evaluation module disables the increase of the torque output when the driven wheel speed is greater than an undriven wheel speed by more than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Michael L. Kociba, Joseph M. Stempnik, James L. Worthing, Katie C. Bonasse
  • Patent number: 8666642
    Abstract: A system for detecting memory corruption in an engine control module includes a variable selection module, an output module, an input module, and a response comparing module. The variable selection module selects a variable of a control system for testing. The output module outputs a predetermined value of said variable to a memory location where said variable is stored in said engine control module. The input module receives a response of said control system to said predetermined value when said predetermined value is written in said memory location. The response comparing module compares said response to a predetermined range and determines that said memory location is defective when said response is not within said predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, James A. Shore, Bryan D Lehman
  • Patent number: 8234049
    Abstract: A control module includes a predicted torque control module that determines a desired throttle area based on a transmission torque request and a desired predicted torque. A throttle security module determines a throttle limit based on the desired throttle area and the desired predicted torque and determines an adjusted desired throttle area based on the throttle limit. A throttle actuator module adjusts a throttle based on the adjusted desired throttle area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Mark H. Costin, Michael L. Kociba, Paul A. Bauerle, Bryan D. Lehman, William R. Mayhew, Andrew W. Baur
  • 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: 8170759
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a torque module and a chassis request evaluation module. The torque module controls a torque output of an engine based on a driver torque request and selectively increases the torque output based on a chassis torque request. The chassis request evaluation module selectively prevents the increase of the torque output based on at least one of a vehicle speed, a transmission state, and an accelerator pedal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Mark T. Hutchinson, Joseph M. Stempnik, Michael L. Kociba, Mark H. Costin, Paul A. Bauerle, Michael J. Pitsch
  • Patent number: 8160796
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a driver axle torque request module (DATRM) and a driver axle torque security module (DATSM). The DATRM determines a pedal torque request based on minimum and maximum scaling torques and a torque scalar. The DATRM determines a raw driver torque request. The DATRM selectively shapes raw driver torque request into a final driver torque request. The DATRM converts the final driver torque request into a first axle torque request. The DATSM selectively diagnoses a fault in the first axle torque request based on a minimum engine torque, the minimum scaling torque, a first comparison of the final driver torque request and the redundant final driver torque request, and a second comparison of the first axle torque request and a redundant axle torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Jinchun Peng, Mark H. Costin, Bryan D Lehman, Xuehan Kong, Jonathan Packard
  • Patent number: 8050813
    Abstract: A control system comprising a powertrain relay diagnostic module that determines a single continuous period that a powertrain relay voltage is less than an ignition relay voltage, that compares the single continuous period to a single predetermined period, and that diagnoses a powertrain relay out of correlation (OOC) error when the single continuous period is greater than or equal to the single predetermined period, and an ignition relay diagnostic module that diagnoses an ignition relay OOC error when the ignition relay voltage is less than the powertrain relay voltage for a first predetermined cumulative period within a first predetermined total period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Paul A. Bauerle, Debbie L. Makowske, Tracey A. Bagley-Reed, Sandra J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8047961
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a first module and a cylinder deactivation module. The first module selectively adjusts torque output by an engine based on a vehicle torque request that is greater than a driver torque request. The cylinder deactivation module selectively deactivates a cylinder of the engine when a difference between an estimated maximum torque output of the engine and the driver torque request is greater than a predetermined maximum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Michael L. Kociba, Joseph M. Stempnik, Andrew W. Baur
  • Patent number: 8050841
    Abstract: An air-per-cylinder (APC) security system for a vehicle comprises an APC determination module, an APC threshold determination module, and an APC diagnostic module. The APC determination module determines first and second APC values for first and second cylinders of an engine, respectively, based on mass airflow (MAF) into the engine. The APC threshold determination module determines an APC threshold based on the first APC value and a spark timing for the first cylinder. The APC diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in the APC determination module when the second APC value is greater than a sum of the first APC value and the APC threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: Mark H. Costin, Timothy J. Hartrey, Layne K. Wiggins, Bryan D. Lehman, Roberto De Paula, Joseph M. Stempnik
  • Patent number: 8046128
    Abstract: A fault clearing system and method for an engine control system includes a plurality of processor modules to control and monitor the engine and set a plurality of faults. The plurality of processor modules includes an electronic throttle control (ETC) module to control and monitor a throttle of the engine, and a plurality of engine sensors and ETC sensors. An ETC diagnostic module monitors the ETC sensors and engine sensors, with the ETC diagnostic module setting a low voltage induced fault. The ETC diagnostic module will also enter one of a plurality of low voltage states in response to the low voltage induced fault. The ETC diagnostic module selectively controls the ETC module and selectively clears the faults in the ETC module and plurality of processor modules upon entry into one of the low voltage states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Sharon L. Storch, Joseph M. Stempnik, Richard B. Jess, James L. Worthing, Daniel G. Bolstrum
  • Patent number: 8041478
    Abstract: A vehicle speed module includes a speed arbitration module that receives at least two of a wheel speed, a transmission output speed (TOS), and an electric motor speed (EMS), and that determines a vehicle speed based on a comparison of the at least two of the wheel speed, the TOS, and the EMS. A speed diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in one of a wheel speed sensor, a TOS sensor, and an EMS sensor based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Richard B. Jess, Daniel P. Grenn, Tracey A. Bagley-Reed, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Mark H. Costin, Michael A. Turley, Sandra J. Nelson, Bryan D. Lehman
  • Patent number: 7997251
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a status determination module that determines states of first and second throttle position sensors (TPSs), wherein a fault state includes when one of the first and second TPSs is one of outside of a predetermined range and out of correlation with the other of the first and second TPSs, for greater than a first predetermined period. A throttle actuation module opens a throttle when an engine manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is less than a predetermined MAP threshold, at least one of the first and second TPSs is in the fault state, and the other one of the first and second TPSs is within a second predetermined period from transitioning to the fault state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Jonathan Packard, Joseph M. Stempnik
  • Patent number: 8000855
    Abstract: A diagnostic system includes N dedicated diagnostic modules that each correspond with a respective one of multiple control systems. The N dedicated diagnostic modules each generate status signals indicating results of respective diagnostic tests. A diagnostic error time monitor determines an accumulated error time value between error events for each of the control systems based on the status signals. The diagnostic error time monitor selectively reports a fault to a respective one of the N dedicated diagnostic modules based on the accumulated error time value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Joseph M. Stempnik, Mingguang Yu, Mark H. Costin
  • Publication number: 20110196597
    Abstract: A system for detecting memory corruption in an engine control module includes a variable selection module, an output module, an input module, and a response comparing module. The variable selection module selects a variable of a control system for testing. The output module outputs a predetermined value of said variable to a memory location where said variable is stored in said engine control module. The input module receives a response of said control system to said predetermined value when said predetermined value is written in said memory location. The response comparing module compares said response to a predetermined range and determines that said memory location is defective when said response is not within said predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, James A. Shore, Bryan D. Lehman
  • Patent number: 7912621
    Abstract: A system includes an out of correlation (OOC) detection module that detects an OOC error between a first throttle position sensor (TPS) and a second TPS. An out of range (OOR) detection module that detects first and second OOR errors for the first and second TPS, respectively. An OOC counter sets an OOC error when an OOC count is greater than or equal to a first OOC value. An OOR counter sets first and second OOR errors when first and second OOR counts, respectively, are greater than or equal to a second OOR value that is less than the first OOC value. A control module increments the counters when the respective errors occur and sets at least one of the first and second OOR counts equal to the OOC count when at least one of the first and second OOR errors occur after the OOC error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Marco J. Gatti, Joseph M. Stempnik, Jonathan Packard, Anne M. Lemoigne, Pahngroc Oh, Daniel G. Bolstrum
  • Publication number: 20100229828
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a status determination module that determines states of first and second throttle position sensors (TPSs), wherein a fault state includes when one of the first and second TPSs is one of outside of a predetermined range and out of correlation with the other of the first and second TPSs, for greater than a first predetermined period. A throttle actuation module opens a throttle when an engine manifold absolute pressure (MAP) is less than a predetermined MAP threshold, at least one of the first and second TPSs is in the fault state, and the other one of the first and second TPSs is within a second predetermined period from transitioning to the fault state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Jonathan Packard, Joseph M. Stempnik
  • Publication number: 20100217472
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a driver axle torque request module (DATRM) and a driver axle torque security module (DATSM). The DATRM determines a pedal torque request based on minimum and maximum scaling torques and a torque scalar. The DATRM determines a raw driver torque request. The DATRM selectively shapes raw driver torque request into a final driver torque request. The DATRM converts the final driver torque request into a first axle torque request. The DATSM selectively diagnoses a fault in the first axle torque request based on a minimum engine torque, the minimum scaling torque, a first comparison of the final driver torque request and the redundant final driver torque request, and a second comparison of the first axle torque request and a redundant axle torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Jinchun Peng, Mark H. Costin, Bryan D. Lehman, Xuehan Kong, Jonathan Packard
  • Publication number: 20100204868
    Abstract: A control system comprising a powertrain relay diagnostic module that determines a single continuous period that a powertrain relay voltage is less than an ignition relay voltage, that compares the single continuous period to a single predetermined period, and that diagnoses a powertrain relay out of correlation (OOC) error when the single continuous period is greater than or equal to the single predetermined period, and an ignition relay diagnostic module that diagnoses an ignition relay OOC error when the ignition relay voltage is less than the powertrain relay voltage for a first predetermined cumulative period within a first predetermined total period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Paul A. Bauerle, Debbie L. Makowske, Tracey A. Bagley-Reed, Sandra J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7689333
    Abstract: A vehicle diagnostics clearing system that detects a clear diagnostic faults flag and clears diagnostic faults from a control module includes a clear diagnostic faults flag monitoring module and a clear diagnostic faults module. The clear diagnostic faults flag monitoring module periodically monitors the clear diagnostic faults flag in the control module. When the clear diagnostic faults flag monitoring module detects that the clear diagnostic faults flag is set, the clear diagnostic faults module clears the diagnostic faults from the control module for a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Joseph M. Stempnik, Kevin M. Baltes
  • 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