Patents by Inventor Lucien Koopmans

Lucien Koopmans 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: 20070095326
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that can be operated in compression ignition mode, comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters, is disclosed. During compression ignition mode, the control unit controls the fuel injector to perform a first fuel injection before, and a second fuel injection after top dead center of the piston stroke during or after a negative valve overlap period. A method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4) having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a computer to implement a compression ignition for an internal combustion engine is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Patent number: 7194996
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated in compression ignition mode, the engine comprising a fuel injector for each cylinder; a fuel injection controller for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves and sensors for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit controls the fuel injector to perform a first fuel injection before top dead center of the exhaust stroke during a period of negative valve overlap, and a second fuel injection during the piston compression stroke. The control unit may perform a switch between a first fuel injection strategy and at least one further fuel injection strategy in response to a change in load demand on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Lucien Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20060241848
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that can be operated in compression ignition mode, comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters, is disclosed. During compression ignition mode, the control unit controls the fuel injector to perform a first fuel injection before, and a second fuel injection after top dead center of the piston stroke during or after a negative valve overlap period. A method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4) having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a computer to implement a compression ignition for an internal combustion engine is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20060213193
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine provided with at least one cylinder and comprising a fuel injection system, an intake air charging system for supplying air under pressure to an air intake manifold, a controller for controlling the fuel injection system, a spark ignition system and the intake air charger. The control unit is adapted to switch the engine from a first combustion mode using a higher manifold pressure to a second combustion mode using a lower manifold pressure, and further adapted to control the intake air charging system to cause a surge in the intake air, in order to evacuate the higher manifold pressure. The invention further relates to a method for controlling the internal combustion engine and a vehicle provided with such an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventor: Lucien Koopmans
  • Patent number: 7089912
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine operable in compression ignition mode, said engine comprising a fuel supply means, a piston in each cylinder causing ignition during compression ignition mode, at least one inlet and one exhaust valve, a control unit that controls the valve timing and fuel quantity, and at least one sensor for measuring an engine operation parameter. The following steps are performed when switching from spark ignition to compression ignition mode: controlling the exhaust and intake valves to perform a negative valve overlap to retain exhaust residual gas, determining a current combustion phasing timing, and correcting the combustion phasing by increasing the retained exhaust residual gas fraction by stepwise control of a combustion related parameter. The invention further relates to an arrangement and a computer readable device for controlling the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Lucien Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20060174853
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine that can be operated in compression ignition mode, the engine comprising a fuel injector for each cylinder; a fuel injection controller for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves and sensors for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit controls the fuel injector to perform a first fuel injection before top dead center of the exhaust stroke during a period of negative valve overlap, and a second fuel injection during the piston compression stroke. The control unit may perform a switch between a first fuel injection strategy and at least one further fuel injection strategy in response to a change in load demand on the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventor: Lucien Koopmans
  • Patent number: 7059296
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and various sensors (12–16) for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit (4) is arranged to select a ?-value from a map stored in the control unit, which value is a function of engine load and engine speed, and to compare the actual ?-value with the selected ?-value; whereby the control unit is arranged to adjust the intake manifold pressure as a function of the difference between the said ?-values in order to obtain the selected ?-value. The invention further relates to a method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20050188955
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine operable in compression ignition mode, said engine comprising a fuel supply means, a piston in each cylinder causing ignition during compression ignition mode, at least one inlet and one exhaust valve, a control unit that controls the valve timing and fuel quantity, and at least one sensor for measuring an engine operation parameter. The following steps are performed when switching from spark ignition to compression ignition mode: controlling the exhaust and intake valves to perform a negative valve overlap to retain exhaust residual gas, determining a current combustion phasing timing, and correcting the combustion phasing by increasing the retained exhaust residual gas fraction by stepwise control of a combustion related parameter. The invention further relates to an arrangement and a computer readable device for controlling the combustion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventor: Lucien Koopmans
  • Patent number: 6910449
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that can be operated in compression ignition mode, comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters, is disclosed. During compression ignition mode, the control unit controls the fuel injector to perform a first fuel injection before, and a second fuel injection after top dead center of the piston stroke during or after a negative valve overlap period. A method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4) having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a computer to implement a compression ignition for an internal combustion engine is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20050090966
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and various sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit (4) is arranged to select a ?-value from a map stored in the control unit, which value is a function of engine load and engine speed, and to compare the actual ?-value with the selected ?-value; whereby the control unit is arranged to adjust the intake manifold pressure as a function of the difference between the said ?-values in order to obtain the selected ?-value. The invention further relates to a method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Patent number: 6840237
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and various sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit (4) is arranged to select a ?-value from a map stored in the control unit, which value is a function of engine load and engine speed, and to compare the actual ?-value with the selected ?-value; whereby the control unit is arranged to adjust the intake manifold pressure as a function of the difference between the said ?-values in order to obtain the selected ?-value. The invention further relates to a method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20040173180
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine that can be operated in compression ignition mode, comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters, is disclosed. During compression ignition mode, the control unit controls the fuel injector to perform a first fuel injection before, and a second fuel injection after top dead center of the piston stroke during or after a negative valve overlap period. A method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4) having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a computer to implement a compression ignition for an internal combustion engine is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Publication number: 20040134462
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel injector (2) for each cylinder; a fuel injection control unit (4) for controlling fuel injection quantity and a piston (5) in each cylinder whose compression action causes a mixture of air and fuel to be ignited. The engine is further provided with inlet and outlet valves (6, 7) and various sensors (12-16) for measuring various engine operating parameters. During compression ignition mode, the control unit (4) is arranged to select a &lgr;-value from a map stored in the control unit, which value is a function of engine load and engine speed, and to compare the actual &lgr;-value with the selected &lgr;-value; whereby the control unit is arranged to adjust the intake manifold pressure as a function of the difference between the said &lgr;-values in order to obtain the selected &lgr;-value. The invention further relates to a method for operating the engine and a computer readable storage device (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Hans Strom, Lucien Koopmans
  • Patent number: 6466022
    Abstract: A method of measuring the particle content, in particular the soot particle content, in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine using a sensor arranged in contact with the exhaust gases. The sensor detects in at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine an electrical quantity, the size of which is dependent on the particle content in the exhaust gases. The level of a measurement signal output from the sensor, the signal is dependent on the detected quantity, is determined and compared with a desired value level of a signal which corresponds to a desired particle content in the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Lucien Koopmans