Patents by Inventor Michael R. Tidwell

Michael R. Tidwell 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: 20240093656
    Abstract: Method and system for detecting a high friction within a flow control device of a fuel system are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving a service test sequence to execute a service test, performing, in response to receiving the service test sequence, the service test to generate test data, the service test including a first test cycle with a first dither level and a second test cycle with a second dither level, wherein the second dither level is different from the first dither level. The method further includes determining whether a performance difference between the first test cycle and the second test cycle exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the test data and detecting, in response to determining that the performance difference exceeds the predetermined threshold, a presence of high friction within the flow control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Michael R. Tidwell, Sarah E. Gnau, Eric Gonzalez, Abhishek Javvaji
  • Patent number: 10900438
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an input module structured to interpret a fuel pressure command indicative of a target fuel pressure within an accumulator and a target fuel injection characteristic, a pump module structured to control a pump assembly to provide fuel to the accumulator to maintain the target fuel pressure within the accumulator, an injector module structured to control a plurality of fuel injectors to inject fuel into an engine based on the target fuel injection characteristic, a pressure module structured to interpret pressure data regarding an actual fuel pressure within the accumulator and to determine a pressure difference between the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and a modulation module structured to determine a final fuel injection command responsive to the pressure difference exceeding a first magnitude threshold where the final fuel injection command is based on the pressure difference and the target fuel injection characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Bays, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Publication number: 20190234340
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an input module structured to interpret a fuel pressure command indicative of a target fuel pressure within an accumulator and a target fuel injection characteristic, a pump module structured to control a pump assembly to provide fuel to the accumulator to maintain the target fuel pressure within the accumulator, an injector module structured to control a plurality of fuel injectors to inject fuel into an engine based on the target fuel injection characteristic, a pressure module structured to interpret pressure data regarding an actual fuel pressure within the accumulator and to determine a pressure difference between the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and a modulation module structured to determine a final fuel injection command responsive to the pressure difference exceeding a first magnitude threshold where the final fuel injection command is based on the pressure difference and the target fuel injection characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Bays, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Patent number: 10260447
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an input module structured to interpret a fuel pressure command indicative of a target fuel pressure within an accumulator and a target fuel injection characteristic, a pump module structured to control a pump assembly to provide fuel to the accumulator to maintain the target fuel pressure within the accumulator, an injector module structured to control a plurality of fuel injectors to inject fuel into an engine based on the target fuel injection characteristic, a pressure module structured to interpret pressure data regarding an actual fuel pressure within the accumulator and to determine a pressure difference between the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and a modulation module structured to determine a final fuel injection command responsive to the pressure difference exceeding a first magnitude threshold where the final fuel injection command is based on the pressure difference and the target fuel injection characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Bays, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Publication number: 20170191440
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an input module structured to interpret a fuel pressure command indicative of a target fuel pressure within an accumulator and a target fuel injection characteristic, a pump module structured to control a pump assembly to provide fuel to the accumulator to maintain the target fuel pressure within the accumulator, an injector module structured to control a plurality of fuel injectors to inject fuel into an engine based on the target fuel injection characteristic, a pressure module structured to interpret pressure data regarding an actual fuel pressure within the accumulator and to determine a pressure difference between the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and a modulation module structured to determine a final fuel injection command responsive to the pressure difference exceeding a first magnitude threshold where the final fuel injection command is based on the pressure difference and the target fuel injection characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Bays, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Patent number: 9599059
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an input module structured to interpret a fuel pressure command indicative of a target fuel pressure within an accumulator and a target fuel injection characteristic, a pump module structured to control a pump assembly to provide fuel to the accumulator to maintain the target fuel pressure within the accumulator, an injector module structured to control a plurality of fuel injectors to inject fuel into an engine based on the target fuel injection characteristic, a pressure module structured to interpret pressure data regarding an actual fuel pressure within the accumulator and to determine a pressure difference between the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and a modulation module structured to determine a final fuel injection command responsive to the pressure difference exceeding a first magnitude threshold where the final fuel injection command is based on the pressure difference and the target fuel injection characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Bays, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Publication number: 20160298569
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an input module structured to interpret a fuel pressure command indicative of a target fuel pressure within an accumulator and a target fuel injection characteristic, a pump module structured to control a pump assembly to provide fuel to the accumulator to maintain the target fuel pressure within the accumulator, an injector module structured to control a plurality of fuel injectors to inject fuel into an engine based on the target fuel injection characteristic, a pressure module structured to interpret pressure data regarding an actual fuel pressure within the accumulator and to determine a pressure difference between the target fuel pressure and the actual fuel pressure, and a modulation module structured to determine a final fuel injection command responsive to the pressure difference exceeding a first magnitude threshold where the final fuel injection command is based on the pressure difference and the target fuel injection characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Mark N. Bays, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Patent number: 8554454
    Abstract: A method for testing a fuel injector including providing an engine with a common rail fuel injection system having one or more fuel injectors; operating the engine at a selected set of operating conditions; conducting a motoring event; allowing a first settling duration; measuring a first rail pressure; operating a first selected injector including operating the first selected injector singly in response to a selected fuel quantity, a selected number of combustion cycles, and a selected number of injections per combustion cycle; allowing a second settling duration; measuring a second rail pressure; calculating a pressure difference value in response to the first rail pressure and the second rail pressure; inferring an amount of fuel delivered by the first selected injector in response to the pressure difference value; and evaluating a first performance factor of the first selected injector in response to the amount of fuel delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney J. Hemmerlein, Michael R. Tidwell, Anand Manthena
  • Publication number: 20110313639
    Abstract: A method for testing a fuel injector including providing an engine with a common rail fuel injection system having one or more fuel injectors; operating the engine at a selected set of operating conditions; conducting a motoring event; allowing a first settling duration; measuring a first rail pressure; operating a first selected injector including operating the first selected injector singly in response to a selected fuel quantity, a selected number of combustion cycles, and a selected number of injections per combustion cycle; allowing a second settling duration; measuring a second rail pressure; calculating a pressure difference value in response to the first rail pressure and the second rail pressure; inferring an amount of fuel delivered by the first selected injector in response to the pressure difference value; and evaluating a first performance factor of the first selected injector in response to the amount of fuel delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Rodney J. Hemmerlein, Michael R. Tidwell, Anand Manthena
  • Patent number: 6288816
    Abstract: A miniature optical scanner includes an electromagnetic drive having stationary magnets and stationary drive coils to minimize the rotational inertia of the scanner and increase the scanner's resonant frequency. The scanner is such that the resonant frequency is manually tunable as well as automatically adjustable to compensate for variables causing frequency drift. The optical scan angle is increased by employing a multiplying mirror with the optical scanner. For a two axis scanning system, the multiplying mirror may be formed of a second optical scanner to increase the optical scan angle relative to both of the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Charles D. Melville, Thomas A. Furness, III, Michael R. Tidwell, Joel S. Kollin, Richard S. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5751465
    Abstract: A miniature optical scanner includes an electromagnetic drive having stationary magnets and stationary drive coils to minimize the rotational inertia of the scanner and increase the scanner's resonant frequency. The scanner is such that the resonant frequency is manually tunable as well as automatically adjustable to compensate for variables causing frequency drift. The optical scan angle is increased by employing a multiplying mirror with the optical scanner. For a two axis scanning system, the multiplying mirror may be formed of a second optical scanner to increase the optical scan angle relative to both of the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Charles D. Melville, Thomas A. Furness, III, Michael R. Tidwell
  • Patent number: 5596339
    Abstract: A virtual retinal display utilizes photon generation and manipulation to create a panoramic, high resolution, color virtual image that is projected directly onto the retina of the eye. The virtual retinal display includes a source of photons, the photons being modulated with video information and scanned by a scanning system in a raster type of pattern directly onto the retina of the user's eye. A single, monofilament optical fiber of very small diameter couples light from the photon generator to the scanning system so as to provide to the scanning system a point source of light at the fiber's exit aperture. The photon generator may utilize coherent or non-coherent light. Further, the photon generator may utilize color light emitters so as to scan a colored virtual image directly onto the retina of the user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Thomas A. Furness, III, Charles D. Melville, Michael R. Tidwell