Patents by Inventor Mark A. WILCUTTS
Mark A. WILCUTTS 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).
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Patent number: 11555461Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Wilcutts, Xi Luo, Anastasios Arvanitis
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Patent number: 11549455Abstract: An internal combustion engine operates so that it delivers zero or negative torque. The engine operates in either a deceleration cylinder cut off (DCCO) mode or skip cylinder compression braking mode. In the skip cylinder compression braking mode, selected working cycles of selected working chambers are operated in a compression release braking mode. Accordingly, individual working chambers are sometimes not fired and sometimes operated in the compression release braking mode while the engine is operating in the skip cylinder compression braking mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., Cummins Inc.Inventors: Steven E. Carlson, Louis J. Serrano, Mark A. Wilcutts, Vijay Srinivasan
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Patent number: 11359562Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2021Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, John W. Parsels, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Mark A. Wilcutts, Masaki Nagashima
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Patent number: 11352966Abstract: Controllers and methods for managing transitions into and/or out of a cylinder cut off mode are described. In some embodiments, a skip fire based transition into a cylinder cut off mode is used in which the fraction of working cycles that are fired is gradually reduced to a threshold firing fraction. Once the threshold firing fraction has been reached, all of the working chambers are deactivated.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Steven E. Carlson, Xin Yuan, Siamak Hashemi, Vijay Srinivasan, Srihari Kalluri, Andrew W. Phillips, Mark A. Wilcutts, Louis J. Serrano, Shikui Kevin Chen
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Patent number: 11333053Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for controlling the exhaust gas temperature of a lean burn, skip fire controlled internal combustion engine are described. In one aspect, an engine controller includes an aftertreatment system monitor and a firing timing determination unit. The aftertreatment monitor obtains data relating to a temperature of one or more aftertreatment elements, such as a catalytic converter. Based at least partly on this data, the firing timing determination unit generates a firing sequence for operating the engine in a skip fire manner such that the temperature of the aftertreatment element is controlled within its effective operating range.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen, Mark A. Wilcutts
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Publication number: 20220120230Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2020Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Mark A. WILCUTTS, Xi LUO, Anastasios ARVANITIS
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Patent number: 11261807Abstract: Various methods and arrangements for improving fuel economy and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire controlled engine are described. An engine controller dynamically selects a gas spring type for a skipped firing opportunity. Determination of the skip/fire pattern and gas spring type may be made on a firing opportunity by firing opportunity basis.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2021Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jerry F. Fuschetto, Matthew A. Younkins, Ihab S. Soliman, Mark A. Wilcutts, Steven E. Carlson, Louis J. Serrano
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Publication number: 20210396189Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Louis J. SERRANO, Xin YUAN, John W. PARSELS, Mohammad R. PIRJABERI, Mark A. WILCUTTS, Masaki NAGASHIMA
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Patent number: 11136928Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, John W. Parsels, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Mark A. Wilcutts, Masaki Nagashima
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Publication number: 20210301703Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for controlling the exhaust gas temperature of a lean burn, skip fire controlled internal combustion engine are described. In one aspect, an engine controller includes an aftertreatment system monitor and a firing timing determination unit. The aftertreatment monitor obtains data relating to a temperature of one or more aftertreatment elements, such as a catalytic converter. Based at least partly on this data, the firing timing determination unit generates a firing sequence for operating the engine in a skip fire manner such that the temperature of the aftertreatment element is controlled within its effective operating range.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen, Mark A. Wilcutts
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Patent number: 11060430Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for controlling the exhaust gas temperature of a lean burn, skip fire controlled internal combustion engine are described. In one aspect, an engine controller includes an aftertreatment system monitor and a firing timing determination unit. The aftertreatment monitor obtains data relating to a temperature of one or more aftertreatment elements, such as a catalytic converter. Based at least partly on this data, the firing timing determination unit generates a firing sequence for operating the engine in a skip fire manner such that the temperature of the aftertreatment element is controlled within its effective operating range.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen, Mark A. Wilcutts
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Publication number: 20210199061Abstract: Various methods and arrangements for improving fuel economy and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire controlled engine are described. An engine controller dynamically selects a gas spring type for a skipped firing opportunity. Determination of the skip/fire pattern and gas spring type may be made on a firing opportunity by firing opportunity basis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Jerry F. FUSCHETTO, Matthew A. YOUNKINS, Ihab S. SOLIMAN, Mark A. WILCUTTS, Steven E. CARLSON, Louis J. SERRANO
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Patent number: 10954877Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a dynamic firing level modulation manner. A smoothing torque is determined by adaptive control that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2020Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Masaki Nagashima, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, John W. Parsels, Mark A. Wilcutts
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Publication number: 20210071605Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Louis J. SERRANO, Xin YUAN, John W. PARSELS, Mohammad R. PIRJABERI, Mark A. WILCUTTS, Masaki NAGASHIMA
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Publication number: 20210040904Abstract: Controllers and methods for managing transitions into and/or out of a cylinder cut off mode are described. In some embodiments, a skip fire based transition into a cylinder cut off mode is used in which the fraction of working cycles that are fired is gradually reduced to a threshold firing fraction. Once the threshold firing fraction has been reached, all of the working chambers are deactivated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Steven E. Carlson, Xin Yuan, Siamak Hashemi, Vijay Srinivasan, Srihari Kalluri, Andrew W. Phillips, Mark A. Wilcutts, Louis J. Serrano, Shikui Kevin Chen
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Patent number: 10830166Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a skip fire manner. A smoothing torque is determined that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the skip fire firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2019Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, John W. Parsels, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Mark A. Wilcutts, Masaki Nagashima
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Publication number: 20200318566Abstract: An internal combustion engine operates so that it delivers zero or negative torque. The engine operates in either a deceleration cylinder cut off (DCCO) mode or skip cylinder compression braking mode. In the skip cylinder compression braking mode, selected working cycles of selected working chambers are operated in a compression release braking mode. Accordingly, individual working chambers are sometimes not fired and sometimes operated in the compression release braking mode while the engine is operating in the skip cylinder compression braking mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Steven E. CARLSON, Louis J. SERRANO, Mark A. WILCUTTS, Vijay SRINIVASAN
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Publication number: 20200158044Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a dynamic firing level modulation manner. A smoothing torque is determined by adaptive control that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: Masaki NAGASHIMA, Mohammad R. PIRJABERI, Louis J. SERRANO, Xin YUAN, John W. PARSELS, Mark A. WILCUTTS
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Patent number: 10634076Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing noise or vibration generated by an internal combustion engine are described. An engine controller is arranged to operate the working chambers of the engine in a cylinder output level modulation manner A noise/vibration reduction unit actively control of a device that is not a part of the powertrain. The device is controlled in a feed forward manner to alter an NVH characteristic of the vehicle in a desired manner based at least in part on a characteristic of the cylinder output level modulation operation of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Vijay Srinivasan, Geoffrey Routledge, Mark A. Shost, Biswa R. Ghosh, Mark A. Wilcutts, Matthew A. Younkins, Ying Ren
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Patent number: 10578037Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in a skip fire engine control system are described. In one aspect, a firing sequence is used to operate the engine in a dynamic firing level modulation manner. A smoothing torque is determined by adaptive control that is applied to a powertrain by an energy storage/release device. The smoothing torque is arranged to at least partially cancel out variation in torque generated by the firing sequence. Various methods, powertrain controllers, arrangements and computer software related to the above operations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Masaki Nagashima, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, John W. Parsels, Mark A. Wilcutts