Patents by Inventor Julian R. Verdejo

Julian R. Verdejo 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: 10731582
    Abstract: A method, system, and engine are configured to determine a parameter based on rotational speeds of a crankshaft, over at least three cylinder combustion cycles. The method, system, and engine determine two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a leading cylinder combustion cycle, two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a middle cylinder combustion cycle, and two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a following cylinder combustion cycle. The method, system, and engine are configured to determine a calculated metric based on each of the determined leading estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, the determined middle estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, and the determined following estimated crankshaft rotational speeds. An engine parameter, such as misfire, is then determined based on the calculated metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J Kalweit, Julian R Verdejo, David S Mathews
  • Patent number: 10605187
    Abstract: An LPV/MPC engine control system is disclosed that includes an engine control unit connected to multiple sensors. The engine control unit receives, from the sensors, signals indicative of desired engine torque and engine torque output, and determines, from these signals, optimal engine control commands using a piecewise LPV/MPC routine. This routine includes: determining a nonlinear and a linear system model for the engine assembly, minimizing a control cost function in a receding horizon for the linear system model, determining system responses for the nonlinear and linear system models, determining if a norm of an error function between the system responses is smaller than a calibrated threshold, and if the norm is smaller than the predetermined threshold, applying the linearized system model in a next sampling time for a next receding horizon to determine the optimal control command. Once determined, the optimal control command is output to the engine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ruixing Long, Julian R. Verdejo, Jyh-shin Chen
  • Patent number: 10519880
    Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a torque request for an engine based on driver input. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the torque request, each of the sets of possible target values including target effective throttle area percentage; determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, respectively; determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets, respectively, the target values including a target pressure ratio across the throttle valve. A target area module determines a target opening area of the throttle valve based on the target effective throttle area percentage ratio. A throttle actuator module controls the throttle valve based on the target opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nicola Pisu, Vincenzo Alfieri, Julian R. Verdejo, Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Ning Jin
  • Patent number: 10415491
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle, includes a model predictive control (MPC) module that identifies sets of possible target values based on an engine torque request, determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets; and a first actuator module that controls a first engine actuator based on a first one of the target values. The MPC module determines at least one of the predicted operating parameters at a future point in time based on a predicted value of engine rpm, which is determined based on a plurality of recent engine rpm measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Zhaojian Li, Julian R. Verdejo, Michael E. Deffenbaugh
  • Publication number: 20180355811
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle, includes a model predictive control (MPC) module that identifies sets of possible target values based on an engine torque request, determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets; and a first actuator module that controls a first engine actuator based on a first one of the target values. The MPC module determines at least one of the predicted operating parameters at a future point in time based on a predicted value of engine rpm, which is determined based on a plurality of recent engine rpm measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Zhaojian Li, Julian R. Verdejo, Michael E. Deffenbaugh
  • Publication number: 20180328299
    Abstract: An LPV/MPC engine control system is disclosed that includes an engine control unit connected to multiple sensors. The engine control unit receives, from the sensors, signals indicative of desired engine torque and engine torque output, and determines, from these signals, optimal engine control commands using a piecewise LPV/MPC routine. This routine includes: determining a nonlinear and a linear system model for the engine assembly, minimizing a control cost function in a receding horizon for the linear system model, determining system responses for the nonlinear and linear system models, determining if a norm of an error function between the system responses is smaller than a calibrated threshold, and if the norm is smaller than the predetermined threshold, applying the linearized system model in a next sampling time for a next receding horizon to determine the optimal control command. Once determined, the optimal control command is output to the engine assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ruixing Long, Julian R. Verdejo, Jyh-shin Chen
  • Publication number: 20180298838
    Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a torque request for an engine based on driver input. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the torque request, each of the sets of possible target values including target effective throttle area percentage; determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, respectively; determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets, respectively, the target values including a target pressure ratio across the throttle valve. A target area module determines a target opening area of the throttle valve based on the target effective throttle area percentage ratio. A throttle actuator module controls the throttle valve based on the target opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Nicola Pisu, Vincenzo Alfieri, JR., Julian R. Verdejo, Gary Robert Cygan, JR., Ning Jin
  • Patent number: 10094300
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine actuator control module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a cylinder activation module. The valve lift control module adjusts a target lift state of a valve actuator of an engine to adjust an amount by which at least one of an intake valve of a cylinder of the engine and an exhaust valve of the cylinder is lifted from a valve seat. The cylinder activation module determines a target number of activated cylinders in the engine. The engine actuator control module that controls a first actuator of the engine at a present time based on at least one of the target lift state at a future time and the target number of activated cylinders at the future time. The first actuator is different than the valve actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Julian R. Verdejo
  • Patent number: 10060373
    Abstract: An LPV/MPC engine control system is disclosed that includes an engine control unit connected to multiple sensors. The engine control unit receives, from the sensors, signals indicative of desired engine torque and engine torque output, and determines, from these signals, optimal engine control commands using a piecewise LPV/MPC routine. This routine includes: determining a nonlinear and a linear system model for the engine assembly, minimizing a control cost function in a receding horizon for the linear system model, determining system responses for the nonlinear and linear system models, determining if a norm of an error function between the system responses is smaller than a calibrated threshold, and if the norm is smaller than the predetermined threshold, applying the linearized system model in a next sampling time for a next receding horizon to determine the optimal control command. Once determined, the optimal control command is output to the engine assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ruixing Long, Julian R. Verdejo, Jyh-shin Chen
  • Publication number: 20180202380
    Abstract: An LPV/MPC engine control system is disclosed that includes an engine control unit connected to multiple sensors. The engine control unit receives, from the sensors, signals indicative of desired engine torque and engine torque output, and determines, from these signals, optimal engine control commands using a piecewise LPV/MPC routine. This routine includes: determining a nonlinear and a linear system model for the engine assembly, minimizing a control cost function in a receding horizon for the linear system model, determining system responses for the nonlinear and linear system models, determining if a norm of an error function between the system responses is smaller than a calibrated threshold, and if the norm is smaller than the predetermined threshold, applying the linearized system model in a next sampling time for a next receding horizon to determine the optimal control command. Once determined, the optimal control command is output to the engine assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yue-Yun Wang, Ruixing Long, Julian R. Verdejo, Jyh-shin Chen
  • Publication number: 20180135544
    Abstract: A method, system, and engine are configured to determine a parameter based on rotational speeds of a crankshaft, over at least three cylinder combustion cycles. The method, system, and engine determine two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a leading cylinder combustion cycle, two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a middle cylinder combustion cycle, and two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a following cylinder combustion cycle. The method, system, and engine are configured to determine a calculated metric based on each of the determined leading estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, the determined middle estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, and the determined following estimated crankshaft rotational speeds. An engine parameter, such as misfire, is then determined based on the calculated metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Kalweit, Julian R. Verdejo, David S. Mathews
  • Patent number: 9845752
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a filtering module and an indicated work module. The filtering module generates engine speeds based on positions of teeth of a toothed wheel that rotates with a crankshaft and based on a crankshaft position signal generated by a crankshaft position sensor. The crankshaft position sensor generates the crankshaft position signal based on rotation of the toothed wheel. The indicated work module generates an indicated work for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine based on squares of first and second ones of the engine speeds and outputs the indicated work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Nicholas John Kalweit, John V. Bowman, David S. Mathews, Jeffrey A. Morgan, Tameem K. Assaf, James R. Reeder, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9765703
    Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a first torque request for a spark ignition engine based on driver input. A torque conversion module converts the first torque request into a second torque request. A setpoint control module generates air and exhaust setpoints for the spark ignition engine based on the second torque request. A model predictive control (MPC) module identifies sets of possible target values based on the air and exhaust setpoints, generates predicted parameters based on a model of the spark ignition engine and the sets of possible target values, respectively, selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the predicted parameters, and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets. A throttle actuator module controls opening of a throttle valve based on a first one of the target values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Kevin C. Wong, Paul R. Nahra, Julian R. Verdejo
  • Patent number: 9541019
    Abstract: A prediction module generates predicted engine operating parameters for a set of possible target values based on a plurality of values indicative of states of the engine and a first set of predetermined values set based on characteristics of the engine. A parameter estimation module determines one or more estimated operating parameters of the vehicle based on the plurality of values indicative of states of the engine and a second set of predetermined values. A cost module determines a cost for the set of possible target values based on the predicted engine operating parameters. A selection module, based on the cost, selects the set of possible target values from a group including the set of possible target values and N other sets of possible target values, wherein N is an integer greater than zero, and sets target values based on the selected set of possible target values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Julian R. Verdejo, Alberto Bemporad, Daniele Bernardini, Ruixing Long, Jyh-Shin Chen
  • Patent number: 9528453
    Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a torque request for an engine based on driver input. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the torque request, each of the sets of possible target values including target pressure ratios across a throttle valve; determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, respectively; determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets, respectively, the target values including a target pressure ratio across the throttle valve. A target area module determines a target opening area of the throttle valve based on the target pressure ratio. A throttle actuator module controls the throttle valve based on the target opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technologies Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Klaus Pochner, Julian R. Verdejo
  • Publication number: 20160363057
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine actuator control module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a cylinder activation module. The valve lift control module adjusts a target lift state of a valve actuator of an engine to adjust an amount by which at least one of an intake valve of a cylinder of the engine and an exhaust valve of the cylinder is lifted from a valve seat. The cylinder activation module determines a target number of activated cylinders in the engine. The engine actuator control module that controls a first actuator of the engine at a present time based on at least one of the target lift state at a future time and the target number of activated cylinders at the future time. The first actuator is different than the valve actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Gary Robert CYGAN, JR., Julian R. VERDEJO
  • Patent number: 9482173
    Abstract: An indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) module determines IMEPs for combustion cycles of cylinders of an engine, respectively. A coldstart indication module indicates whether the engine is in a cold state after a startup of the engine. A fueling correction module, when the engine is in the cold state, selectively increases a fueling correction for one of the cylinders based on the IMEP of the one of the cylinders. An equivalence ratio (EQR) module selectively increases an EQR of the one of the cylinders based on the fueling correction for the one of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Julian R. Verdejo, Bruce F. Hunter, Daniel G. Brennan
  • Patent number: 9388754
    Abstract: A control system includes a control module that receives a first request corresponding to a control value for at least one of a plurality of actuators, selectively receives a second request associated with a predicted future control value for at least one of the plurality of actuators, determines a target value for the actuator based on the first request if the second request was not received, and generates a reference signal representing the second request if the second request was received. The reference signal indicates at least one of a predicted increase in the control value and a predicted decrease in the control value. A model predictive control module receives the reference signal and adjusts one of the plurality of actuators associated with the predicted future control value based on the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Julian R. Verdejo, Christopher E. Whitney, Alberto Bemporad, Daniele Bernardini
  • Patent number: 9347381
    Abstract: An engine control method includes: generating a first predicted engine output torque and a first predicted mass of air per cylinder (APC) based on a model of the spark ignition engine and a first set of possible target values determined based on an engine torque request; generating a second predicted engine output torque and a second predicted mass of APC based on the model of the spark ignition engine and a second set of possible target values determined based on the engine torque request; determining a first cost for the first set of possible target values; determining a second cost for the second set of possible target values; selecting one of the first and second sets based on the first and second costs; and setting target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the first and second sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ruixing Long, Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Julian R. Verdejo, Christopher E. Whitney, Ning Jin, Alberto Bemporad, Daniele Bernardini
  • Publication number: 20160131061
    Abstract: A torque requesting module generates a torque request for an engine based on driver input. A model predictive control (MPC) module: identifies sets of possible target values based on the torque request, each of the sets of possible target values including target pressure ratios across a throttle valve; determines predicted operating parameters for the sets of possible target values, respectively; determines cost values for the sets of possible target values, respectively; selects one of the sets of possible target values based on the cost values; and sets target values based on the possible target values of the selected one of the sets, respectively, the target values including a target pressure ratio across the throttle valve. A target area module determines a target opening area of the throttle valve based on the target pressure ratio. A throttle actuator module controls the throttle valve based on the target opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher E. WHITNEY, Klaus Pochner, Julian R. Verdejo