Patents by Inventor Michael L. Kociba

Michael L. Kociba 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: 10539066
    Abstract: A vehicle charge air cooler of a vehicle engine air induction system. The vehicle engine air induction system could also be equipped with a turbocharger or a supercharger located upstream of the vehicle charge air cooler. The vehicle charge air cooler has an inlet housing. The inlet housing includes an inlet chamber and a resonator chamber. The inlet housing includes an inlet chamber and at least one resonator chamber. The inlet chamber is defined by an exterior wall of the inlet housing and at least one in interior wall disposed within the inlet housing. The resonator chamber includes an insulation material, an exterior wall region, and an interior wall wherein the insulation material is disposed between the interior and exterior walls. The interior wall defines at least one aperture and divides the resonator chamber from the inlet chamber. The insulating material is configured to attenuate sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shawn M. Owen, Michael L. Kociba
  • Patent number: 9475388
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a torque module and a drag request evaluation module. The torque module controls torque output of an engine based on a driver torque request and increases the torque output based on a wheel drag torque request generated based on a driven wheel speed. The drag request evaluation module disables the increase of the torque output when the driven wheel speed is greater than an undriven wheel speed by more than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Michael L. Kociba, Joseph M. Stempnik, James L. Worthing, Katie C. Bonasse
  • Patent number: 9146210
    Abstract: A control system includes a temperature determination module and a heater control module. The temperature determination module determines a temperature of an oxygen sensor in an exhaust system of an engine. The heater control module applies a heat cycle to combust deposits on the oxygen sensor by activating a heating element of the oxygen sensor to increase the temperature of the oxygen sensor to greater than 800 degrees Celsius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventors: Bradley Gibson, Michael L. Kociba, Eric M. Hall
  • Patent number: 9133785
    Abstract: An oxygen sensor system for a vehicle includes a pump control module, a correction module, and a fuel control module. While fueling of an engine is cut off, the pump control module selectively turns ON an air pump that pumps ambient air into an exhaust system of the vehicle upstream of a universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor and a catalyst. The correction module receives an output of the UEGO sensor, selectively determines a correction for the output of the UEGO sensor when the air pump is ON and the fuel is cut off, and adjusts the output of the UEGO sensor based on the correction to produce a corrected output. The fuel control module, during fueling of the engine, selectively controls the fueling based on the corrected output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventors: Michael L. Kociba, Bradley Gibson, Eric M. Hall, Geoffrey McNabb
  • Publication number: 20130289848
    Abstract: An oxygen sensor system for a vehicle includes a pump control module, a correction module, and a fuel control module. While fueling of an engine is cut off, the pump control module selectively turns ON an air pump that pumps ambient air into an exhaust system of the vehicle upstream of a universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor and a catalyst. The correction module receives an output of the UEGO sensor, selectively determines a correction for the output of the UEGO sensor when the air pump is ON and the fuel is cut off, and adjusts the output of the UEGO sensor based on the correction to produce a corrected output. The fuel control module, during fueling of the engine, selectively controls the fueling based on the corrected output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Kociba, Bradley Gibson, Eric M. Hall, Geoffrey McNabb
  • Patent number: 8550054
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine of a vehicle includes generating a first torque request. The method includes generating a second torque request that is greater than and based on the first torque request, increasing a torque output of the engine based on the second torque request at a first rate and during a first period, and increasing the torque output of the engine based on the first torque request at a second rate and during a second period. The first period is distinct from and before the second period, and the first rate is greater than the second rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Michael L. Kociba, Richard B. Jess, Zhong Li, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Michael Livshiz
  • Patent number: 8340888
    Abstract: A control system for a powertrain includes an energy determination module and a speed control module. The energy determination module determines a rotational energy input to the powertrain during a first period of a negative lash event of the powertrain. The speed control module selectively limits an increase in a rotational speed of the engine to a first predetermined rate based on the rotational energy during a second period of the negative lash event following the first period. The rotational energy is based on an acceleration rate of the rotational speed, and the speed control module limits the increase when the acceleration rate is greater than a predetermined acceleration rate. The speed control module further selectively increases the rotational speed at a second predetermined rate during a third period beginning at an end of the second period. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventors: Michael L. Kociba, Ning Jin, Andrew W. Baur, Daniel N Wehrwein
  • Patent number: 8311718
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a derivative module and a slip remediation module. The derivative module determines a mathematical derivative of a driven wheel speed of a vehicle. The slip remediation module, when the mathematical derivative is more negative than a predetermined deceleration, at least one of disables regenerative braking being performed by one or more electric motors, increases an axle torque request, and unlocks a torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Paul A. Bauerle, Christopher E. Whitney, James L. Worthing, Michael L. Kociba
  • Patent number: 8234049
    Abstract: A control module includes a predicted torque control module that determines a desired throttle area based on a transmission torque request and a desired predicted torque. A throttle security module determines a throttle limit based on the desired throttle area and the desired predicted torque and determines an adjusted desired throttle area based on the throttle limit. A throttle actuator module adjusts a throttle based on the adjusted desired throttle area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Mark H. Costin, Michael L. Kociba, Paul A. Bauerle, Bryan D. Lehman, William R. Mayhew, Andrew W. Baur
  • Publication number: 20120102917
    Abstract: A control system includes a temperature determination module and a heater control module. The temperature determination module determines a temperature of an oxygen sensor in an exhaust system of an engine. The heater control module applies a heat cycle to combust deposits on the oxygen sensor by activating a heating element of the oxygen sensor to increase the temperature of the oxygen sensor to greater than 800 degrees Celsius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley Gibson, Michael L. Kociba, Eric M. Hall
  • Patent number: 8170759
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a torque module and a chassis request evaluation module. The torque module controls a torque output of an engine based on a driver torque request and selectively increases the torque output based on a chassis torque request. The chassis request evaluation module selectively prevents the increase of the torque output based on at least one of a vehicle speed, a transmission state, and an accelerator pedal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Mark T. Hutchinson, Joseph M. Stempnik, Michael L. Kociba, Mark H. Costin, Paul A. Bauerle, Michael J. Pitsch
  • Publication number: 20110276256
    Abstract: A control system for a powertrain includes an energy determination module and a speed control module. The energy determination module determines a rotational energy input to the powertrain during a first period of a negative lash event of the powertrain. The speed control module selectively limits an increase in a rotational speed of the engine to a first predetermined rate based on the rotational energy during a second period of the negative lash event following the first period. The rotational energy is based on an acceleration rate of the rotational speed, and the speed control module limits the increase when the acceleration rate is greater than a predetermined acceleration rate. The speed control module further selectively increases the rotational speed at a second predetermined rate during a third period beginning at an end of the second period. A related method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kociba, Ning Jin, Andrew W. Baur, Daniel N. Wehrwein
  • Patent number: 8047961
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a first module and a cylinder deactivation module. The first module selectively adjusts torque output by an engine based on a vehicle torque request that is greater than a driver torque request. The cylinder deactivation module selectively deactivates a cylinder of the engine when a difference between an estimated maximum torque output of the engine and the driver torque request is greater than a predetermined maximum torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Michael L. Kociba, Joseph M. Stempnik, Andrew W. Baur
  • Publication number: 20110132324
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine of a vehicle includes generating a first torque request. The method includes generating a second torque request that is greater than and based on the first torque request, increasing a torque output of the engine based on the second torque request at a first rate and during a first period, and increasing the torque output of the engine based on the first torque request at a second rate and during a second period. The first period is distinct from and before the second period, and the first rate is greater than the second rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kociba, Richard B. Jess, Zhong Li, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Michael Livshiz
  • Publication number: 20110060487
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a derivative module and a slip remediation module. The derivative module determines a mathematical derivative of a driven wheel speed of a vehicle. The slip remediation module, when the mathematical derivative is more negative than a predetermined deceleration, at least one of disables regenerative braking being performed by one or more electric motors, increases an axle torque request, and unlocks a torque converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Paul A. Bauerle, Christopher E. Whitney, James L. Worthing, Michael L. Kociba
  • Publication number: 20090287378
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle comprises a torque module and a drag request evaluation module. The torque module controls torque output of an engine based on a driver torque request and increases the torque output based on a wheel drag torque request generated based on a driven wheel speed. The drag request evaluation module disables the increase of the torque output when the driven wheel speed is greater than an undriven wheel speed by more than a predetermined speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: RICHARD B. JESS, MICHAEL L. KOCIBA, JOSEPH M. STEMPNIK, JAMES L. WORTHING, KATIE C. BONASSE
  • Publication number: 20090234545
    Abstract: A control module includes a predicted torque control module that determines a desired throttle area based on a transmission torque request and a desired predicted torque. A throttle security module determines a throttle limit based on the desired throttle area and the desired predicted torque and determines an adjusted desired throttle area based on the throttle limit. A throttle actuator module adjusts a throttle based on the adjusted desired throttle area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Mark H. Costin, Michael L. Kociba, Paul A. Bauerle, Bryan D. Lehman, William R. Mayhew, Andrew W. Baur
  • Publication number: 20090227420
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a first module and a cylinder deactivation module. The first module selectively adjusts torque output by an engine based on a vehicle torque request that is greater than a driver torque request. The cylinder deactivation module selectively deactivates a cylinder of the engine when a difference between an estimated maximum torque output of the engine and the driver torque request is greater than a predetermined maximum torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Bahram Younessi, Michael L. Kociba, Joseph M. Stempnik, Andrew W. Baur
  • Publication number: 20090228178
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a torque module and a chassis request evaluation module. The torque module controls a torque output of an engine based on a driver torque request and selectively increases the torque output based on a chassis torque request. The chassis request evaluation module selectively prevents the increase of the torque output based on at least one of a vehicle speed, a transmission state, and an accelerator pedal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Mark T. Hutchinson, Joseph M. Stempnik, Michael L. Kociba, Mark H. Costin, Paul A. Bauerle, Michael J. Pitsch