Patents by Inventor Melvin R. TERECHENOK, JR.

Melvin R. TERECHENOK, JR. 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).

  • System and method for determining an oil contamination level of an engine based on a switching period of a valve lift actuator to improve engine startups
    Patent number: 9863332
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a switching period module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a start-stop control module. The switching period module determines a switching period that elapses as a valve lift actuator of an engine switches between a first valve lift position and a second valve lift position that is different than the first lift position. The switching period begins when a measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the first lift position and the switching period ends when the measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the second lift position. The valve lift control module controls the valve lift actuator based on the switching period. The start-stop control module determines whether to automatically stop the engine based on the switching period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jason T. Davis, Melvin R. Terechenok, Jr., Scott McLane, Sanjeev M. Naik, Kurt Alfred Wellenkotter, Douglas R. Verner, Joseph J. Moon, Kevin Andrew Gady
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN OIL CONTAMINATION LEVEL OF AN ENGINE BASED ON A SWITCHING PERIOD OF A VALVE LIFT ACTUATOR TO IMPROVE ENGINE STARTUPS
    Publication number: 20160333803
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a switching period module and at least one of a valve lift control module and a start-stop control module. The switching period module determines a switching period that elapses as a valve lift actuator of an engine switches between a first valve lift position and a second valve lift position that is different than the first lift position. The switching period begins when a measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the first lift position and the switching period ends when the measured position of the valve lift actuator corresponds to the second lift position. The valve lift control module controls the valve lift actuator based on the switching period. The start-stop control module determines whether to automatically stop the engine based on the switching period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jason T. DAVIS, Melvin R. TERECHENOK, JR., Scott MCLANE, Sanjeev M. NAIK, Kurt Alfred WELLENKOTTER, Douglas R. VERNER, Joseph J. MOON, Kevin Andrew GADY