Patents by Inventor Mark N. Howell
Mark N. Howell 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: 9765746Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Youssef A. Ghoneim, Mark N. Howell
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Publication number: 20160356254Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: YOUSSEF A. GHONEIM, MARK N. HOWELL
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Patent number: 9506445Abstract: A method for monitoring the starter motor includes determining starter motor resistance associated with an engine starting event and determining a back-emf for the starter motor based upon the starter motor resistance. A state of health of the starter motor corresponding to the back-emf of the starter motor and engine cranking time is determined. Engine stop/start functionality is controlled based upon the state of health of the starter motor.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Youssef A. Ghoneim, Mark N. Howell
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Patent number: 9458815Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Youssef A. Ghoneim, Mark N. Howell
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Publication number: 20160217628Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of subsystems that are monitored during on-going operation. A method for monitoring a subsystem includes monitoring states of commanded and observed parameters for the subsystem. Deviations in the observed parameters are determined off-board the vehicle. The deviations are employed to determine magnitudes of subsystem operating signatures off-board the vehicle. The subsystem operating signatures are employed to identify presence of a subsystem fault and isolate the subsystem fault off-board the vehicle. The presence of the isolated fault is communicated to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2012Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: YOUSSEF A. GHONEIM, MARK N. HOWELL
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Patent number: 9349227Abstract: A method for detecting and locating an open-wire fault within a vehicle subsystem, is provided. The method compares an output voltage of a low-pass filter circuit of the vehicle subsystem to a threshold voltage; detects that an open-wire fault exists in the vehicle subsystem when the output voltage is not less than the threshold voltage; determines a capacitance value of the low-pass filter circuit; and performs a lookup, using the capacitance value, to determine the location of the detected open wire fault.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Timothy D. Julson, Mark N. Howell, Shuo Huang
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Publication number: 20160017857Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a starter is shown. A method for monitoring the starter includes determining electrical energy consumed by pinion and motor solenoids operative to activate and rotate a pinion gear of an electrically-powered motor meshingly engageable to a starter ring gear portion of a flywheel of the engine during an engine starting event. Current ringing in the pinion and motor solenoids is monitored during the engine starting even, and a fault is identified in the pinion and motor solenoids based upon the current ringing and the electrical energy consumption of the starter during the engine starting event.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2014Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventors: YOUSSEF A. GHONEIM, MARK N. HOWELL
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Patent number: 9189896Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for vehicular communications. The systems include a server and a controller in a vehicle. The controller is configured to receive data from vehicular components and transmit the data to the remote server. In a normal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with a normal frequency of events, while in an abnormal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with an abnormal frequency of events. The abnormal frequency is different from the normal frequency. The abnormal mode is set in response to an event trigger denoting a fault of at least one component.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, GENERAL MOTORS LLCInventors: Youssef A. Ghoneim, Mutasim A. Salman, Mark N. Howell, Yilu Zhang, Scott W. Otterson
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Patent number: 9097767Abstract: A system and method for determining the health of a DC motor, such as a DC motor on a vehicle. The method includes measuring a current output signal of the DC motor, determining a mean of the measured current signal over a predetermined time period and determining a variance estimation of the mean of the measured current. The method then uses the variance estimation to determine the health of the motor, including an end-of-life prediction of the motor, and uses the mean of the measured current to determine the performance (torque) of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Mark N. Howell, Pattada A. Kallappa, Avoki Omekanda
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Publication number: 20150211469Abstract: A method for monitoring the starter motor includes determining starter motor resistance associated with an engine starting event and determining a back-emf for the starter motor based upon the starter motor resistance. A state of health of the starter motor corresponding to the back-emf of the starter motor and engine cranking time is determined. Engine stop/start functionality is controlled based upon the state of health of the starter motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: YOUSSEF A. GHONEIM, MARK N. HOWELL
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Patent number: 9058038Abstract: A method includes collecting vehicle health data from a plurality of vehicles. A peer group is identified among the plurality of vehicles. The collected vehicle health data from the peer group into a collaborative vehicle health model, the collaborative vehicle health model being applicable to a current vehicle to predict a state of at least a component of the current vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yilu Zhang, Mark N. Howell, Xidong Tang, Fan Bai, Xinyu Du, Satnam Singh
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Publication number: 20150161829Abstract: A method for detecting and locating an open-wire fault within a vehicle subsystem, is provided. The method compares an output voltage of a low-pass filter circuit of the vehicle subsystem to a threshold voltage; detects that an open-wire fault exists in the vehicle subsystem when the output voltage is not less than the threshold voltage; determines a capacitance value of the low-pass filter circuit; and performs a lookup, using the capacitance value, to determine the location of the detected open wire fault.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: TIMOTHY D. JULSON, MARK N. HOWELL, SHUO HUANG
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Publication number: 20150161825Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for vehicular communications. The systems include a server and a controller in a vehicle. The controller is configured to receive data from vehicular components and transmit the data to the remote server. In a normal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with a normal frequency of events, while in an abnormal mode, the data is transmitted in accordance with an abnormal frequency of events. The abnormal frequency is different from the normal frequency. The abnormal mode is set in response to an event trigger denoting a fault of at least one component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: YOUSSEF A. GHONEIM, MUTASIM A. SALMAN, MARK N. HOWELL, YILU ZHANG, SCOTT W. OTTERSON
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Patent number: 9032935Abstract: A method for monitoring the fuel pump includes estimating a pump speed and a nominal pump motor current in relation to a pump motor control signal and a fuel pressure. An armature resistance and a back-emf constant for the electric motor are determined corresponding to the estimated pump speed, a monitored pump motor current, and the pump motor control signal. A nominal armature resistance and a nominal back-emf constant for the electric motor are adjusted in relation to a pump motor temperature. Residuals are calculated based upon the adjusted nominal armature resistance, the adjusted nominal back-emf constant for the electric motor, the estimated armature resistance and the estimated back-emf constant for the electric motor. The residuals are compared with corresponding thresholds. A fault in the electric motor is detected based upon the comparisons of the residuals with the corresponding thresholds.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Youssef A. Ghoneim, Mark N. Howell
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Patent number: 8775052Abstract: A method for isolating an actual sensor bias in a fuel delivery system having a fuel pump includes monitoring first, second and third fuel pump parameters, detecting first and second fuel pump sensor biases based on the monitored first, second and third fuel pump parameters, modeling a fourth fuel pump modeled parameter based on the monitored second and third fuel pump parameters, and isolating the actual sensor bias in one of the detected first and second fuel pump biases based on the monitored third fuel pump parameter and the modeled fourth fuel pump modeled parameter.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Youssef A. Ghoneim, Mark N. Howell
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Patent number: 8560165Abstract: A cooperative diagnostic and prognosis system for generating a prognosis of at least one component in a vehicle. An in-vehicle diagnostic unit determines a diagnostic signature of the component each time an occurrence of a condition is triggered and transmits the diagnostic signature to an off-board diagnostic unit. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit determines a SOH of the component and a rate-of-change in the SOH of the component. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit determines whether the rate-of-change in the SOH is greater than a threshold. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit requests additional information from the vehicle in response to the rate-of-change in the SOH being greater than the threshold. The additional information relating to operating parameter data associated with the component. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit receives the requested information and predicts a time-to-failure of the component.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Mutasim A. Salman, Yilu Zhang, Mark N. Howell, Xidong Tang, Youseff A. Ghoneim, Walter A. Dorfstatter
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Publication number: 20130262067Abstract: A method includes collecting vehicle health data from a plurality of vehicles. A peer group is identified among the plurality of vehicles. The collected vehicle health data from the peer group into a collaborative vehicle health model, the collaborative vehicle health model being applicable to a current vehicle to predict a state of at least a component of the current vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yilu ZHANG, Mark N. Howell, Xidong Tang, Fan Bai, Xinyu Du, Satnam Singh
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Publication number: 20130184929Abstract: A cooperative diagnostic and prognosis system for generating a prognosis of at least one component in a vehicle. An in-vehicle diagnostic unit determines a diagnostic signature of the component each time an occurrence of a condition is triggered and transmits the diagnostic signature to an off-board diagnostic unit. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit determines a SOH of the component and a rate-of-change in the SOH of the component. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit determines whether the rate-of-change in the SOH is greater than a threshold. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit requests additional information from the vehicle in response to the rate-of-change in the SOH being greater than the threshold. The additional information relating to operating parameter data associated with the component. The off-vehicle diagnostic unit receives the requested information and predicts a time-to-failure of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Mutasim A. Salman, Yilu Zhang, Mark N. Howell, Xidong Tang, Youssef A. Ghoneim, Walter A. Dorfstatter
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Publication number: 20130179104Abstract: A system and method for determining the health of a DC motor, such as a DC motor on a vehicle. The method includes measuring a current output signal of the DC motor, determining a mean of the measured current signal over a predetermined time period and determining a variance estimation of the mean of the measured current. The method then uses the variance estimation to determine the health of the motor, including an end-of-life prediction of the motor, and uses the mean of the measured current to determine the performance (torque) of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2012Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Mark N. Howell, Pattada Kallappa, Avoki Omekanda
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Publication number: 20130158833Abstract: A method for isolating an actual sensor bias in a fuel delivery system having a fuel pump includes monitoring first, second and third fuel pump parameters, detecting first and second fuel pump sensor biases based on the monitored first, second and third fuel pump parameters, modeling a fourth fuel pump modeled parameter based on the monitored second and third fuel pump parameters, and isolating the actual sensor bias in one of the detected first and second fuel pump biases based on the monitored third fuel pump parameter and the modeled fourth fuel pump modeled parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: YOUSSEF A. GHONEIM, MARK N. HOWELL