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).
-
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
-
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
-
Patent number: 10619584Abstract: 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: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jerry F. Fuschetto, Matthew A. Younkins, Ihab S. Soliman, Mark Wilcutts
-
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
-
Publication number: 20200040788Abstract: 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: October 16, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Matthew A. YOUNKINS, Shikui Kevin CHEN, Mark A. WILCUTTS
-
Patent number: 10494971Abstract: 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: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen, Mark A. Wilcutts
-
Patent number: 10400691Abstract: 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: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: 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
-
Publication number: 20190178135Abstract: 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: February 14, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Matthew A. YOUNKINS, Shikui Kevin CHEN, Mark A. WILCUTTS
-
Publication number: 20190145329Abstract: 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: January 14, 2019Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Louis J. SERRANO, Xin YUAN, John W. PARSELS, Mohammad R. PIRJABERI, Mark A. WILCUTTS, Masaki NAGASHIMA
-
Patent number: 10253706Abstract: Methods, devices, estimators, controllers and algorithms are described for estimating working chamber air charge during engine operations. The described approaches and devices are well suited for use in dynamic firing level modulation controlled engines. Manifold pressure is estimated for a time corresponding to an induction event associated with a selected working cycle. The manifold pressure estimate accounts for impacts from one or more intervening potential induction events that will occur between the time that the manifold pressure is estimated and the time that the induction event associated with the selected working cycle occurs. The estimated manifold pressure is used in the estimation of the air charge for the selected working cycle. The described approach may be used to individually calculate the air charge for each induction event at any time that the engine is operating in a mode that can benefit from the individual cylinder air charge estimations.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Allan J. Kotwicki, Joel D. Van Ess, Mark A. Wilcutts
-
Patent number: 10247072Abstract: 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: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Younkins, Shikui Kevin Chen, Mark A. Wilcutts
-
Patent number: 10221786Abstract: 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: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Louis J. Serrano, Xin Yuan, John W. Parsels, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Mark A. Wilcutts, Masaki Nagashima
-
Publication number: 20190055894Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventors: Louis J. SERRANO, Vijay SRINIVASAN, Geoffrey ROUTLEDGE, Mark A. SHOST, Biswa R. GHOSH, Mark A. WILCUTTS, Matthew A. YOUNKINS, Ying REN
-
Publication number: 20180266347Abstract: 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: May 17, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Jerry F. FUSCHETTO, Matthew A. YOUNKINS, Ihab S. SOLIMAN, Mark WILCUTTS
-
Publication number: 20180202379Abstract: 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: March 12, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Masaki NAGASHIMA, Mohammad R. PIRJABERI, Louis J. SERRANO, Xin YUAN, John W. PARSELS, Mark A. WILCUTTS
-
Publication number: 20180163650Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Louis J. SERRANO, Vijay SRINIVASAN, Geoffrey ROUTLEDGE, Mark A. SHOST, Biswa R. GHOSH, Mark A. WILCUTTS, Matthew A. YOUNKINS
-
Patent number: 9982611Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines based on skip fire operation of the engine are described. In one aspect the skip fire decisions are made on a working cycle by working cycle basis. During selected skipped working cycles, the corresponding cylinders are deactivated such that air is not pumped through the cylinder during the selected skipped working cycles. In some implementations, the cylinders are deactivated by holding associated intake and exhaust valves closed such that an air charge is not present in the working chamber during the selected skipped working cycles.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Adya S. Tripathi, Chester J. Silvestri, Christopher W. Chandler, Christopher C. Hand, Joshua P. Switkes, Mark A. Wilcutts, Matthew A. Younkins
-
Publication number: 20170370310Abstract: Methods, devices, estimators, controllers and algorithms are described for estimating working chamber air charge during engine operations. The described approaches and devices are well suited for use in dynamic firing level modulation controlled engines. Manifold pressure is estimated for a time corresponding to an induction event associated with a selected working cycle. The manifold pressure estimate accounts for impacts from one or more intervening potential induction events that will occur between the time that the manifold pressure is estimated and the time that the induction event associated with the selected working cycle occurs. The estimated manifold pressure is used in the estimation of the air charge for the selected working cycle. The described approach may be used to individually calculate the air charge for each induction event at any time that the engine is operating in a mode that can benefit from the individual cylinder air charge estimations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Allan J. KOTWICKI, Joel D. VAN ESS, Mark A. WILCUTTS
-
Patent number: 9790867Abstract: Methods and arrangements for transitioning an engine between a deceleration cylinder cutoff (DCCO) state and an operational state are described. In one aspect, transitions from DCCO begin with reactivating cylinders to pump air to reduce the pressure in the intake manifold prior to firing any cylinders. In another aspect, transitions from DCCO, involve the use of an air pumping skip fire operational mode. After the manifold pressure has been reduced, the engine may transition to either a cylinder deactivation skip fire operational mode or other appropriate operational mode. In yet another aspect a method of transitioning into DCCO using a skip fire approach is described. In this aspect, the fraction of the working cycles that are fired is gradually reduced to a threshold firing fraction. All of the working chambers are then deactivated after reaching the threshold firing fraction.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: 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
-
Patent number: 9664130Abstract: Various methods and arrangements for determining a combustion control parameter for a working chamber in an engine are described. In one aspect, an engine controller includes a firing counter that stores a firing history for the working chamber. A combustion control module is used to determine a combustion control parameter, which is used to help manage combustion in the working chamber. The combustion control parameter is determined based at least in part on the firing history.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Wilcutts, Xin Yuan, Joshua P. Switkes, Li-Chun Chien, Steven E. Carlson, Christopher W. Chandler, Christopher C. Hand, Matthew A. Younkins, Adya S. Tripathi