Patents by Inventor Luca Scavone

Luca Scavone 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).

  • Publication number: 20130325227
    Abstract: A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes an electric motor in electrical communication with a traction battery, a diesel engine in power-flow communication with the electric motor and with an automatic transmission, and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are configured to provide a combined torque to the automatic transmission. The powertrain further includes an exhaust aftertreatment device in fluid communication with the diesel engine. The controller is configured to: receive a regeneration request from the exhaust aftertreatment device; determine if a state-of-charge of the fraction battery is within a predetermined range of a target value; initiate a regeneration event if the state-of-charge of the traction battery is within the predetermined range of the target value; receive an immediate torque request from the automatic transmission; and provide a torque command to the electric motor in response to the immediate torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Luca Scavone, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20130325228
    Abstract: A hybrid diesel-electric powertrain includes a diesel engine in power flow communication with an electric motor and a controller. The diesel engine and electric motor are each configured to generate a respective torque in response to a provided torque command. The controller is in communication with the electric motor, the diesel engine, and an accelerator pedal, and configured to receive a driver torque request from the accelerator pedal. In response to the driver torque request, the controller is further configured to command the diesel engine to generate an output torque that is less than a smoke limit torque, and command the electric motor to generate an output torque equal to the difference between the driver torque request and the output torque of the diesel engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Luca Scavone, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20120296555
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes injecting a quantity of fuel in the engine per engine cycle. A total value of the fuel quantity is evaluated as the sum of a fuel quantity base value and a fuel quantity correction value. The fuel quantity base value is determined based on a requested value of engine torque to be generated in the engine cycle. The fuel quantity correction value is determined based on an engine torque error in a previous engine cycle, which is calculated as a difference between a value of engine torque generated in the previous engine cycle and the requested value of engine torque for the previous engine cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Luca SCAVONE, Alberto CORSIATTO
  • Patent number: 8306722
    Abstract: A control system includes an engine speed control module, a fuel control module, and an air control module. The engine speed control module controls an actual speed of an engine based a desired power to be generated by combustion in the engine, wherein the desired power is a product of a desired speed of the engine and a desired torque output of the engine. When operating in a fuel lead mode, the fuel control module controls fuel flow in the engine by adjusting a desired fuel mass for each activated cylinder of the engine based on the desired power. The air control module controls air flow in the engine based on an actual air/fuel ratio of the engine resulting from the desired fuel mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Krishnendu Kar, Massimiliano Maira, Luca Scavone, Michael Livshiz
  • Publication number: 20120191314
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the engine torque delivered during engine operation. The method includes, but is not limited to setting a brake torque request value during the engine operation, deriving a request fuel quantity value on the basis of the brake torque request value. The comparison of the value of the brake torque requested with a measured and/or estimated brake torque value allows calculating a brake torque error value, which directly or indirectly modifies the request fuel quantity injected in the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Manuel TUGNOLO, Luca SCAVONE, Alberto CORSIATTO, Luca CHIAPUSSO
  • Publication number: 20110195817
    Abstract: A control system includes an engine speed control module, a fuel control module, and an air control module. The engine speed control module controls an actual speed of an engine based a desired power to be generated by combustion in the engine, wherein the desired power is a product of a desired speed of the engine and a desired torque output of the engine. When operating in a fuel lead mode, the fuel control module controls fuel flow in the engine by adjusting a desired fuel mass for each activated cylinder of the engine based on the desired power. The air control module controls air flow in the engine based on an actual air/fuel ratio of the engine resulting from the desired fuel mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Krishnendu Kar, Massimiliano Maira, Luca Scavone, Michael Livshiz