Patents by Inventor Kevin J. McKay

Kevin J. McKay 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: 11435332
    Abstract: A method for reducing sensor noise in an automobile vehicle NOx sensor offset diagnostic includes: connecting an exhaust system to an engine of an automobile vehicle; sensing a condition of the exhaust system using at least one NOx sensor; identifying when the at least one NOx sensor is at a low noise condition; and running a diagnostic to identify conditions of the at least one NOx sensor. The method further includes selecting one of the low noise condition as the engine in an after-run condition or as the engine in an engine idle condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David P. Quigley, Sarah Funk, Kevin J. McKay, Scott R. Zechiel, Ruggiero Chiariello
  • Publication number: 20220099642
    Abstract: A method for reducing sensor noise in an automobile vehicle NOx sensor offset diagnostic includes: connecting an exhaust system to an engine of an automobile vehicle; sensing a condition of the exhaust system using at least one NOx sensor; identifying when the at least one NOx sensor is at a low noise condition; and running a diagnostic to identify conditions of the at least one NOx sensor. The method further includes selecting one of the low noise condition as the engine in an after-run condition or as the engine in an engine idle condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: David P. Quigley, Sarah Funk, Kevin J. McKay, Scott R. Zechiel, Ruggiero Chiariello
  • Patent number: 9777613
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for regulating an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system for a diesel engine. The method includes detecting the engine's cold start when the engine's exhaust gas flow directed into the AT system is at a temperature below a threshold value. The method also includes determining flow-rates of the engine's exhaust gas and its fuel supply. The method additionally includes determining a magnitude of exhaust gas energy using the determined exhaust gas flow-rates and the fuel supply over an elapsed time following the cold start. The method also includes integrating a detected temperature of the exhaust gas over the elapsed time and comparing the determined magnitude of exhaust gas energy with the integrated temperature. Furthermore, the method includes regulating operation of the AT system using the determined exhaust gas temperature when the determined magnitude of exhaust gas energy is within a predetermined value of the integrated exhaust gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J McKay, Igor Anilovich
  • Patent number: 9670830
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an internal combustion engine includes monitoring thermal efficiency in a heat exchanger of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with a flow control valve commanded to a first, open state and monitoring thermal efficiency in the heat exchanger with the flow control valve commanded to a second, closed state. The flow control valve is evaluated based upon the monitored efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKay, Chad E. Marlett, Steve L. Melby
  • Publication number: 20170074187
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for regulating an exhaust after-treatment (AT) system for a diesel engine. The method includes detecting the engine's cold start when the engine's exhaust gas flow directed into the AT system is at a temperature below a threshold value. The method also includes determining flow-rates of the engine's exhaust gas and its fuel supply. The method additionally includes determining a magnitude of exhaust gas energy using the determined exhaust gas flow-rates and the fuel supply over an elapsed time following the cold start. The method also includes integrating a detected temperature of the exhaust gas over the elapsed time and comparing the determined magnitude of exhaust gas energy with the integrated temperature. Furthermore, the method includes regulating operation of the AT system using the determined exhaust gas temperature when the determined magnitude of exhaust gas energy is within a predetermined value of the integrated exhaust gas temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKay, Igor Anilovich
  • Patent number: 9574971
    Abstract: A method for assessing a cold start emission reduction (CSER) strategy applied to an engine system is provided. The method determines a first accumulation value based on an estimated output signal that would result from applying a first control command to the engine system. The method determines a second accumulation value based on a measured output signal resulting from applying a second control command that implements the CSER strategy to the engine system. The method compares the first accumulation value and the second accumulation value. The method determines whether the applying the second command to the engine system achieved a performance threshold of the CSER strategy based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKay, Steve L. Melby, Chad E. Marlett
  • Patent number: 9506414
    Abstract: A cold start emissions reduction diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes a coolant temperature module including a coolant temperature input, and a memory module having a coolant temperature look-up table. The cold start controller also includes a cold start emissions reduction module configured to selectively compare coolant temperature values with desired emission values in the look-up table to determine at least one of a fuel injection timing and a fuel injection quantity to establish a desired cold start emissions profile. A fuel injection monitoring module is configured and disposed to sense changes in fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity, and an emission reduction diagnostic model module is configured and disposed to determine emission parameters based on the changes in the one of the fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity sensed by the fuel injection monitoring module during a cold start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Steve L. Melby, Kevin J. McKay
  • Patent number: 9422859
    Abstract: A method of adapting operation of a variable geometry turbocharger having a variable position vane mechanism with movable vanes is disclosed. The method includes performing at time T1 a vane sweep between open-limit and closed-limit positions to identify an initial range of movement of the mechanism and storing in controller's memory the initial range of movement. The method additionally includes performing at time T2 a vane sweep between the open-limit and closed-limit positions to identify a current range of movement of the mechanism and storing in controller's memory the current range of movement. The method also includes comparing the current range with the initial range. Furthermore, the method includes replacing in controller's memory the initial range with the current range if the current range is equal to or greater than a predetermined range to thereby adapt the operation of the turbocharger to the mechanism's wear between T1 and T2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Kevin J. McKay, Lorenzo Pataccia
  • Publication number: 20160123278
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an internal combustion engine includes monitoring thermal efficiency in a heat exchanger of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system with a flow control valve commanded to a first, open state and monitoring thermal efficiency in the heat exchanger with the flow control valve commanded to a second, closed state. The flow control valve is evaluated based upon the monitored efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKay, Chad E. Marlett, Steve L. Melby
  • Patent number: 9309823
    Abstract: A system and method of operating an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of a vehicle includes controlling an EGR valve actuable between an EGR enabled position and an EGR disabled position, such that with the EGR valve in the EGR enabled position a portion of exhaust gas emitted from an engine is directed through an EGR cooler for recirculation into the engine, and with the EGR valve in the EGR disabled position the exhaust gas is not recirculated through the engine. An EGR coolant temperature is predicted based on measured engine speed, vehicle speed, outside ambient temperature, and commanded fuel level of the vehicle. The EGR valve is actuated to the EGR disabled position when the predicted EGR coolant temperature is equal or greater than an EGR coolant temperature threshold. The EGR coolant temperature is predicted without direct measurement of engine coolant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Kevin J. McKay, Yun Xiao, Steve L Melby
  • Publication number: 20150369105
    Abstract: A method for assessing a cold start emission reduction (CSER) strategy applied to an engine system is provided. The method determines a first accumulation value based on an estimated output signal that would result from applying a first control command to the engine system. The method determines a second accumulation value based on a measured output signal resulting from applying a second control command that implements the CSER strategy to the engine system. The method compares the first accumulation value and the second accumulation value. The method determines whether the applying the second command to the engine system achieved a performance threshold of the CSER strategy based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin J. McKay, Steve L. Melby, Chad E. Marlett
  • Publication number: 20150252720
    Abstract: A method of adapting operation of a variable geometry turbocharger having a variable position vane mechanism with movable vanes is disclosed. The method includes performing at time T1 a vane sweep between open-limit and closed-limit positions to identify an initial range of movement of the mechanism and storing in controller's memory the initial range of movement. The method additionally includes performing at time T2 a vane sweep between the open-limit and closed-limit positions to identify a current range of movement of the mechanism and storing in controller's memory the current range of movement. The method also includes comparing the current range with the initial range. Furthermore, the method includes replacing in controller's memory the initial range with the current range if the current range is equal to or greater than a predetermined range to thereby adapt the operation of the turbocharger to the mechanism's wear between T1 and T2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Kevin J. McKay, Lorenzo Pataccia
  • Publication number: 20150198105
    Abstract: A system and method of operating an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system of a vehicle includes controlling an EGR valve actuable between an EGR enabled position and an EGR disabled position, such that with the EGR valve in the EGR enabled position a portion of exhaust gas emitted from an engine is directed through an EGR cooler for recirculation into the engine, and with the EGR valve in the EGR disabled position the exhaust gas is not recirculated through the engine. An EGR coolant temperature is predicted based on measured engine speed, vehicle speed, outside ambient temperature, and commanded fuel level of the vehicle. The EGR valve is actuated to the EGR disabled position when the predicted EGR coolant temperature is equal or greater than an EGR coolant temperature threshold. The EGR coolant temperature is predicted without direct measurement of engine coolant temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Kevin J. McKay, Yun Xiao, Steve L. Melby
  • Publication number: 20150094933
    Abstract: A cold start emissions reduction diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes a coolant temperature module including a coolant temperature input, and a memory module having a coolant temperature look-up table. The cold start controller also includes a cold start emissions reduction module configured to selectively compare coolant temperature values with desired emission values in the look-up table to determine at least one of a fuel injection timing and a fuel injection quantity to establish a desired cold start emissions profile. A fuel injection monitoring module is configured and disposed to sense changes in fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity, and an emission reduction diagnostic model module is configured and disposed to determine emission parameters based on the changes in the one of the fuel injection timing and fuel injection quantity sensed by the fuel injection monitoring module during a cold start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Steve L. Melby, Kevin J. McKay