Patents by Inventor Kenneth P. Dudek

Kenneth P. Dudek 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: 8571785
    Abstract: A fuel control system of an engine system comprises a pre-catalyst exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor, a setpoint generator module, a sensor offset module, and a control module. The pre-catalyst EGO sensor generates a pre-catalyst EGO signal based on an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas. The setpoint generator module generates a desired pre-catalyst equivalence ratio (EQR) signal based on a desired EQR of the exhaust gas. The sensor offset module determines an offset value of the pre-catalyst EGO sensor. The control module generates an expected pre-catalyst EGO signal based on the desired pre-catalyst EQR signal and the offset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventors: Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Kenneth P. Dudek, Sharon Liu, Stephen Yurkovich, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Yann G. Guezennec, Yiran Hu
  • Patent number: 8347866
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a saturation determination module, an adjustment factor generation module, and a fuel control module. The saturation determination module determines when a first exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor is saturated, wherein the first EGO sensor is located upstream from a catalyst. The adjustment factor generation module generates an adjustment factor for an integral gain of a fuel control module when the first EGO sensor is saturated. The fuel control module adjusts a fuel command for an engine based on differences between expected and measured amounts of oxygen in exhaust gas produced by the engine, a proportional gain, the integral gain, and the integral gain adjustment factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Patent number: 8346458
    Abstract: A method for calibrating an engine control module includes sampling a first signal from a first oxygen sensor located upstream from a catalyst. The first signal indicates an oxygen content of exhaust gas produced by an engine. The method further includes predicting a response of a second oxygen sensor located downstream from the catalyst using a model of the catalyst and the first signal and sampling a second signal from the second oxygen sensor. The method further includes determining a component of the second signal based on a difference between samples of the second signal and the predicted response. The component is due to gases other than oxygen. Additionally, the method includes calibrating the engine control module based on the component of the second signal. The engine control module controls an amount of fuel injected into the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Patent number: 8265858
    Abstract: A calibration method comprises: determining a steady-state (SS) delay period from a first mapping of SS delay period indexed by air per cylinder (APC); determining a predicted delay period based on first and second dynamic compensation variables; outputting a theoretical delay period based on a calibration APC; determining the theoretical delay period from a second mapping of theoretical delay period indexed by APC; generating the calibration APC; populating the first mapping based on the theoretical delay and the calibration APC; determining the first and second dynamic compensation variables based on comparisons of the theoretical delay and the SS delay period; and selectively adjusting an amount of fuel provided to the cylinder based on the predicted delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Patent number: 8224557
    Abstract: A system includes a cylinder equivalence ratio (EQR) module, a location estimation module, a sensor module, and a fuel control module. The cylinder EQR module determines a first EQR corresponding to a first exhaust gas expelled from a first cylinder and determines a second EQR corresponding to a second exhaust gas expelled from a second cylinder. The location estimation module determines when the first and second exhaust gases mix in an exhaust manifold to form a third exhaust gas having a third EQR. The sensor module estimates an EQR of a fourth exhaust gas based on the third EQR. The fourth exhaust gas is located at an oxygen sensor in the exhaust manifold. The fuel control module controls an amount of fuel supplied to an engine based on a difference between the estimated EQR and an EQR corresponding to measurements from the oxygen sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventors: Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Patent number: 8186336
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a proportional correction module and a variable proportional gain determination module. The proportional correction module generates a proportional correction for a fuel command to an engine based on a variable proportional gain and a difference between expected and measured amounts of oxygen in exhaust gas produced by the engine. The variable proportional gain determination module determines the variable proportional gain based on a nominal gain and an amount of time since a polarity of the difference has changed, wherein the nominal gain is based on engine operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Patent number: 8113187
    Abstract: A steady-state (SS) delay module determines a SS delay period for SS operating conditions based on an air per cylinder. A dynamic compensation module determines a predicted delay period based on first and second dynamic compensation variables for dynamic operating conditions, the SS delay period, a previous predicted delay period. The first dynamic compensation variable corresponds to a period between a first time when fuel is provided for a cylinder of an engine and a second time when exhaust gas resulting from combustion of the fuel and air is expelled from the cylinder. The SS and predicted delay periods correspond to a period between the first time and a third time when the exhaust gas reaches an exhaust gas oxygen sensor located upstream of a catalyst. A final equivalence ratio module adjusts fuel provided to the cylinder after the third time based on the predicted delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Patent number: 8096271
    Abstract: A control module and system includes a camshaft position module that determines a camshaft position change of a crankshaft. The control module also includes a cam phaser velocity module determines a cam phaser velocity based on the camshaft position change. A cam phaser velocity module determines a compensation factor based on the cam phaser velocity. A cam position compensation module generates a corrected cam position signal based on the compensation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: Yiran Hu, Kenneth P. Dudek, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Yann G. Guezennec, Stephen Yurkovich, Layne K. Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7937209
    Abstract: A fuel control system of an engine system comprises a pre-catalyst exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor and a control module. The pre-catalyst EGO sensor determines a pre-catalyst EGO signal based on an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas. The control module determines at least one fuel command and determines at least one expected oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas. The control module determines a final fuel command for the engine system based on the pre-catalyst EGO signal, the fuel command, and the expected oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Dudek, Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Louis A. Avallone, Igor Anilovich
  • Patent number: 7925421
    Abstract: A fuel control system of an engine includes a simulation module and a control module. The simulation module generates a simulated pre-catalyst exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor signal based on a simulated oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas. The simulation module determines a simulated pre-catalyst equivalence ratio (EQR) for the exhaust gas based on the simulated pre-catalyst EGO sensor signal. The control module generates a desired pre-catalyst EGO sensor signal based on a desired oxygen concentration of the exhaust gas. The control module determines a desired pre-catalyst EQR based on the desired pre-catalyst EGO sensor signal. The control module determines a cost function based on the simulated pre-catalyst EQR and the desired pre-catalyst EQR. The fuel control system is calibrated based on the cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: Sharon Liu, Kenneth P. Dudek, Sai Rajagopalan, Stephen Yurkovich, Yiran Hu, Yann G. Guezennec, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler
  • Publication number: 20110082635
    Abstract: A method for calibrating an engine control module includes sampling a first signal from a first oxygen sensor located upstream from a catalyst. The first signal indicates an oxygen content of exhaust gas produced by an engine. The method further includes predicting a response of a second oxygen sensor located downstream from the catalyst using a model of the catalyst and the first signal and sampling a second signal from the second oxygen sensor. The method further includes determining a component of the second signal based on a difference between samples of the second signal and the predicted response. The component is due to gases other than oxygen. Additionally, the method includes calibrating the engine control module based on the component of the second signal. The engine control module controls an amount of fuel injected into the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Sai S.V. Rajagopalan, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Publication number: 20110073087
    Abstract: A steady-state (SS) delay module determines a SS delay period for SS operating conditions based on an air per cylinder. A dynamic compensation module determines a predicted delay period based on first and second dynamic compensation variables for dynamic operating conditions, the SS delay period, a previous predicted delay period. The first dynamic compensation variable corresponds to a period between a first time when fuel is provided for a cylinder of an engine and a second time when exhaust gas resulting from combustion of the fuel and air is expelled from the cylinder. The SS and predicted delay periods correspond to a period between the first time and a third time when the exhaust gas reaches an exhaust gas oxygen sensor located upstream of a catalyst. A final equivalence ratio module adjusts fuel provided to the cylinder after the third time based on the predicted delay period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Publication number: 20110077845
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a proportional correction module and a variable proportional gain determination module. The proportional correction module generates a proportional correction for a fuel command to an engine based on a variable proportional gain and a difference between expected and measured amounts of oxygen in exhaust gas produced by the engine. The variable proportional gain determination module determines the variable proportional gain based on a nominal gain and an amount of time since a polarity of the difference has changed, wherein the nominal gain is based on engine operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Publication number: 20110077844
    Abstract: A calibration method comprises: determining a steady-state (SS) delay period from a first mapping of SS delay period indexed by air per cylinder (APC); determining a predicted delay period based on first and second dynamic compensation variables; outputting a theoretical delay period based on a calibration APC; determining the theoretical delay period from a second mapping of theoretical delay period indexed by APC; generating the calibration APC; populating the first mapping based on the theoretical delay and the calibration APC; determining the first and second dynamic compensation variables based on comparisons of the theoretical delay and the SS delay period; and selectively adjusting an amount of fuel provided to the cylinder based on the predicted delay period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Publication number: 20110073085
    Abstract: A system includes a cylinder equivalence ratio (EQR) module, a location estimation module, a sensor module, and a fuel control module. The cylinder EQR module determines a first EQR corresponding to a first exhaust gas expelled from a first cylinder and determines a second EQR corresponding to a second exhaust gas expelled from a second cylinder. The location estimation module determines when the first and second exhaust gases mix in an exhaust manifold to form a third exhaust gas having a third EQR. The sensor module estimates an EQR of a fourth exhaust gas based on the third EQR. The fourth exhaust gas is located at an oxygen sensor in the exhaust manifold. The fuel control module controls an amount of fuel supplied to an engine based on a difference between the estimated EQR and an EQR corresponding to measurements from the oxygen sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sai S.V. Rajagopalan, Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Publication number: 20110073089
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a saturation determination module, an adjustment factor generation module, and a fuel control module. The saturation determination module determines when a first exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor is saturated, wherein the first EGO sensor is located upstream from a catalyst. The adjustment factor generation module generates an adjustment factor for an integral gain of a fuel control module when the first EGO sensor is saturated. The fuel control module adjusts a fuel command for an engine based on differences between expected and measured amounts of oxygen in exhaust gas produced by the engine, a proportional gain, the integral gain, and the integral gain adjustment factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen Yurkovich, Yann G. Guezennec
  • Publication number: 20100300387
    Abstract: A control module and system includes a camshaft position module that determines a camshaft position change of a crankshaft. The control module also includes a cam phaser velocity module determines a cam phaser velocity based on the camshaft position change. A cam phaser velocity module determines a compensation factor based on the cam phaser velocity. A cam position compensation module generates a corrected cam position signal based on the compensation factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yiran Hu, Kenneth P. Dudek, Shawn W. Midlam-Mohler, Yann G. Guezennec, Stephen Yurkovich, Layne K. Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7809490
    Abstract: A fuel control system of an engine system comprising a pre-catalyst exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor and a control module. The pre-catalyst EGO sensor determines a pre-catalyst EGO signal based on an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas. The control module determines a dither signal. The control module determines a fuel command based on the pre-catalyst EGO signal and the dither signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Sharon Liu, Kenneth P. Dudek, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Patent number: 7793641
    Abstract: A fuel control system for regulating fuel to cylinders of an internal combustion engine during an engine start and crank-to-run transition includes a first module that determines a plurality of step-ahead cylinder air masses (GPOs) for a cylinder based on a plurality of GPO prediction models. A second module regulates fueling to a cylinder of the engine based on the plurality of step-ahead GPOs until a combustion event of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Stephen Yurkovich, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen K. Fulcher, Robert X. Monchamp, Jon C. Miller
  • Patent number: 7647162
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an internal combustion engine includes a first module that determines a corrected injected fuel mass based on an engine temperature and a measured burned fuel mass and a second module that determines a raw injected fuel mass based on the corrected injected fuel mass and the engine temperature. A third module regulates fueling to a cylinder of the engine based on the raw injected fuel mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Stephen Yurkovich, Kenneth P. Dudek, Stephen K. Fulcher, Robert X. Monchamp