Patents by Inventor Michael C. Zumbaugh

Michael C. Zumbaugh 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).

  • Patent number: 10961971
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for reducing cold start emissions of a motor vehicle. A brushless DC motor is coupled to an engine for cranking the engine. In response to receiving a cold start signal from a cold start actuator, the motor controller activates the brushless DC motor to crank the engine for a cold start duration and increase fuel pressure. In response to a motor controller receiving an auto start signal from an auto start actuator, the motor controller activates the brushless DC motor to crank the engine for an auto start duration that is shorter than the cold start duration. In response to determining that the cold start duration or the auto start duration has expired, an engine controller activates the fuel delivery system to deliver fuel to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Wei Zeng, Chandra Namuduri, Sharon Xiaobin Li, Michael C. Zumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20210025364
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for reducing cold start emissions of a motor vehicle. A brushless DC motor is coupled to an engine for cranking the engine. In response to receiving a cold start signal from a cold start actuator, the motor controller activates the brushless DC motor to crank the engine for a cold start duration and increase fuel pressure. In response to a motor controller receiving an auto start signal from an auto start actuator, the motor controller activates the brushless DC motor to crank the engine for an auto start duration that is shorter than the cold start duration. In response to determining that the cold start duration or the auto start duration has expired, an engine controller activates the fuel delivery system to deliver fuel to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Lei Hao, Wei Zeng, Chandra Namuduri, Sharon Xiaobin Li, Michael C. Zumbaugh
  • Patent number: 8347867
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel starvation detection module and a fuel pump protection module. The fuel starvation detection module detects when a fuel pump is delivering less than a predetermined amount of fuel based on a fuel level in a fuel tank, a fuel pressure in the fuel pump, and an air/fuel (A/F) ratio of the engine. The fuel pump protection module decreases an amount of fuel supplied to the engine during a period after detecting that the fuel pump is delivering less than the predetermined amount of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Michael C. Zumbaugh, Kauser Ferdous, Jon C. Miller
  • Patent number: 8146569
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a combustion control module and an engine startup module. The combustion control module selectively controls a spark timing and airflow into an engine based on a counter value. The engine startup module, when the counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value, controls an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture provided to the engine during an engine cranking period based on a fuel rail pressure and controls the EQR during an engine running period based on the fuel rail pressure and an engine runtime period. The counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after the engine is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventors: Michael C. Zumbaugh, Jon C. Miller, Robert C. Gibson, Mark D. Carr, Michael J. Lucido, Michael N. Kotsonas
  • Publication number: 20100326413
    Abstract: A fuel control system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel starvation detection module and a fuel pump protection module. The fuel starvation detection module detects when a fuel pump is delivering less than a predetermined amount of fuel based on a fuel level in a fuel tank, a fuel pressure in the fuel pump, and an air/fuel (A/F) ratio of the engine. The fuel pump protection module decreases an amount of fuel supplied to the engine during a period after detecting that the fuel pump is delivering less than the predetermined amount of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael C. Zumbaugh, Kauser Ferdous, Jon C. Miller
  • Publication number: 20100288231
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a combustion control module and an engine startup module. The combustion control module selectively controls a spark timing and airflow into an engine based on a counter value. The engine startup module, when the counter value is one of greater than and less than a predetermined final value, controls an equivalence ratio (EQR) of an air/fuel mixture provided to the engine during an engine cranking period based on a fuel rail pressure and controls the EQR during an engine running period based on the fuel rail pressure and an engine runtime period. The counter value is set to the predetermined final value after the engine is started for a first time after the engine is assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
    Inventors: MICHAEL C. ZUMBAUGH, JON C. MILLER, ROBERT C. GIBSON, MARK D. CARR, MICHAEL J. LUCIDO, MICHAEL N. KOTSONAS