Patents by Inventor Nicholas Girardi

Nicholas Girardi 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: 11060429
    Abstract: A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) control system includes: a target module configured to determine a target rate of injection of a DEF by a DEF injector; an adjustment module configured to determine an adjustment based on a concentration of urea in the DEF; an adjusting module configured to adjust the target rate based on the adjustment to produce an adjusted rate of injection of the DEF by the DEF injector; and an injector control module configured to control injection of the DEF by the DEF injector based on the adjusted rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Girardi, Sarah Funk, David P. Quigley
  • Publication number: 20210033010
    Abstract: A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) control system includes: a target module configured to determine a target rate of injection of a DEF by a DEF injector; an adjustment module configured to determine an adjustment based on a concentration of urea in the DEF; an adjusting module configured to adjust the target rate based on the adjustment to produce an adjusted rate of injection of the DEF by the DEF injector; and an injector control module configured to control injection of the DEF by the DEF injector based on the adjusted rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas GIRARDI, Sarah Funk, David P. Quigley
  • Patent number: 10801433
    Abstract: Methods for determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) for vehicle engines coupled to driveshafts via clutched transmissions are provided and include: determining an idle condition of the engine, generating one or more fuel requests during the idle condition, and determining an IFR based on a clutch control parameter and a fuel request generated during the idle condition. The idle condition of the engine is determined based on a vehicle speed and an engine speed if the vehicle speed and engine speed are below respective thresholds. An IFR is determined if a fuel request falls outside a range, and/or if the clutch control parameter is such that the clutch does not substantially impart load to the engine. The idle fuel request range is determined based on a combustion mode of the engine and/or a gear state of the transmission. The method further includes implementing a control action after determining an IFR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Girardi, Neil Anderson
  • Patent number: 10794253
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a coolant pump that pumps coolant to a second radiator that is different than a first radiator that receives coolant from an engine of the vehicle. A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injector injects a DEF into an exhaust system and receives coolant output from the second radiator. A fuel heat exchanger transfers heat between coolant and fuel flowing therethrough. An engine control module is configured to determine a temperature of the DEF injector, control a duty cycle of the coolant pump, determine a vaporized condition of the coolant based on a DEF injector temperature, optionally further, in response to determining a vaporized condition of the coolant, implement a vapor purge by oscillating the duty cycle of the coolant pump, and optionally further identify a low-coolant condition of the coolant control system based on the vapor purges implemented during a time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas C. Sarsen, Thomas LaRose, Jr., Nicholas Girardi
  • Publication number: 20200088145
    Abstract: An exemplary fuel filtering assembly includes a housing having a sidewall, a first surface, a strainer element, a first orifice, and a second orifice. The sidewall and the first surface define a fluid well. The strainer element is disposed in the fluid well and the first orifice and the second orifice are disposed in a channel defined by a first flow guidance member, a second flow guidance member, and a flow separating member. The first orifice is positioned at a first end of the channel and the second orifice is positioned at a second end of the channel opposite the first end and the first orifice is separated from the second orifice by the flow separating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: William L. Villaire, Edward J. Strzelecki, Manoj R. Chaudhari, Nicholas Girardi
  • Publication number: 20190383187
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a coolant pump that pumps coolant to a second radiator that is different than a first radiator that receives coolant from an engine of the vehicle. A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injector injects a DEF into an exhaust system and receives coolant output from the second radiator. A fuel heat exchanger transfers heat between coolant and fuel flowing therethrough. An engine control module is configured to determine a temperature of the DEF injector, control a duty cycle of the coolant pump, determine a vaporized condition of the coolant based on a DEF injector temperature, optionally further, in response to determining a vaporized condition of the coolant, implement a vapor purge by oscillating the duty cycle of the coolant pump, and optionally further identify a low-coolant condition of the coolant control system based on the vapor purges implemented during a time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Douglas C. Sarsen, Thomas LaRose, JR., Nicholas Girardi
  • Publication number: 20190323446
    Abstract: Methods for determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) for vehicle engines coupled to driveshafts via clutched transmissions are provided and include: determining an idle condition of the engine, generating one or more fuel requests during the idle condition, and determining an IFR based on a clutch control parameter and a fuel request generated during the idle condition. The idle condition of the engine is determined based on a vehicle speed and an engine speed if the vehicle speed and engine speed are below respective thresholds. An IFR is determined if a fuel request falls outside a range, and/or if the clutch control parameter is such that the clutch does not substantially impart load to the engine. The idle fuel request range is determined based on a combustion mode of the engine and/or a gear state of the transmission. The method further includes implementing a control action after determining an IFR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Nicholas Girardi, Neil Anderson
  • Publication number: 20190211740
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a coolant pump that pumps coolant to a heat exchanger. A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injector injects a DEF into an exhaust system and receives coolant output from the heat exchanger. A fuel heat exchanger transfers heat between coolant and fuel flowing through the fuel heat exchanger. An engine control module is configured to determine a first requested speed for DEF injector cooling, determine a second requested speed for fuel cooling, and based on at least one of the first and second requested speeds, selectively increase at least one of: opening of a valve that controls a flow rate of fuel flowing from the fuel rail to the fuel tank, a flow rate of fuel from fuel injectors of an engine to the fuel tank, and a target speed of the coolant pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas LAROSE, JR., Nicholas Girardi, Douglas C. Sarsen, Michael A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10329995
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a coolant pump that pumps coolant to a heat exchanger. A diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injector injects a DEF into an exhaust system and receives coolant output from the heat exchanger. A fuel heat exchanger transfers heat between coolant and fuel flowing through the fuel heat exchanger. An engine control module is configured to determine a first requested speed for DEF injector cooling, determine a second requested speed for fuel cooling, and based on at least one of the first and second requested speeds, selectively increase at least one of: opening of a valve that controls a flow rate of fuel flowing from the fuel rail to the fuel tank, a flow rate of fuel from fuel injectors of an engine to the fuel tank, and a target speed of the coolant pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., Nicholas Girardi, Douglas C. Sarsen, Michael A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10166665
    Abstract: A hand tool for releasing a quick-detach coupling (QDC) from engagement with a mating component includes a handle having first and second spaced-apart forks defining a gap therebetween, a generally U- or V-shaped elastic element attached to the handle and having first and second arms with distal ends disposed adjacent opposite sides of the gap, and first and second contact elements attached to the ends of the respective arms and projecting toward the gap. The tool is adapted to be positioned adjacent to and urged toward a QDC so the forks encircle the QDC. Outward pressure on the contact elements causes the elastic arms to flex outwardly until the contact elements come to bear against and depress latch tabs on the surface of the QDC, thereby releasing a latching mechanism of the QDC so that it may then be pulled axially out of engagement with a mating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott J. Szymusiak, Nicholas Girardi, Donald M. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 9845717
    Abstract: A method for an exhaust system is provided, comprising adjusting reductant injection responsive to a reductant concentration, the reductant concentration based on concentration sensor readings and vehicle motion. If the reductant freezes, the reductant may stratify, leading to inaccurate concentration sensor readings. Vehicle motion may mix the reductant, thereby ensuring an accurate concentration measurement which may then be used to adjust reductant injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Girardi, Scott Donald Cooper, Cory Scott Hendrickson, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Publication number: 20170197303
    Abstract: A hand tool for releasing a quick-detach coupling (QDC) from engagement with a mating component includes a handle having first and second spaced-apart forks defining a gap therebetween, a generally U- or V-shaped elastic element attached to the handle and having first and second arms with distal ends disposed adjacent opposite sides of the gap, and first and second contact elements attached to the ends of the respective arms and projecting toward the gap. The tool is adapted to be positioned adjacent to and urged toward a QDC so the forks encircle the QDC. Outward pressure on the contact elements causes the elastic arms to flex outwardly until the contact elements come to bear against and depress latch tabs on the surface of the QDC, thereby releasing a latching mechanism of the QDC so that it may then be pulled axially out of engagement with a mating component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Scott J. Szymusiak, Nicholas Girardi, Donald M. Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20160115838
    Abstract: A method for an exhaust system is provided, comprising adjusting reductant injection responsive to a reductant concentration, the reductant concentration based on concentration sensor readings and vehicle motion. If the reductant freezes, the reductant may stratify, leading to inaccurate concentration sensor readings. Vehicle motion may mix the reductant, thereby ensuring an accurate concentration measurement which may then be used to adjust reductant injection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas Girardi, Scott Donald Cooper, Cory Scott Hendrickson, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt