Patents by Inventor Patrick Barasa

Patrick Barasa 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: 9574483
    Abstract: An engine control system includes an injection determination module, a correction factor determination module, and a regeneration control module. The injection determination module determines a desired amount of hydrocarbons (HC) to inject into exhaust gas produced by an engine based a flow rate of the exhaust gas. The correction factor determination module determines a correction factor for the desired amount of HC based on engine speed and engine load. The regeneration control module controls injection of an adjusted amount of HC into the exhaust gas during regeneration of a particulate matter filter, wherein the adjusted amount of HC is based on the desired amount of HC and the correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Funk, Thomas Larose, Jr., Patrick Barasa, Michael V. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9371763
    Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas treatment system of a vehicle includes detecting a request to regenerate a particulate filter, and injecting hydrocarbons at an injection rate into a flow of exhaust gas upstream of an oxidation catalyst to heat the oxidation catalyst. The injection rate is increased at a current acceleration rate, and the current acceleration rate is reduced to define a reduced acceleration rate when the oxidation catalyst is quenched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., David Michael VanBuren, Patrick Barasa, Michael V. Taylor, Kari Jackson
  • Patent number: 9260996
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling an exhaust system includes determining an air to fuel ratio within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, measuring a temperature of an exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine into the exhaust system and determining a specific heat for the exhaust gas flow in a first segment of the exhaust system based on the temperature of the exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine and the air to fuel ratio, wherein the first segment is upstream of the particulate filter. The method also includes determining a first temperature of the exhaust gas in the first segment based on the specific heat for the exhaust gas flow and selectively controlling a regeneration process for the particulate filter using the determined temperature of the exhaust gas at the selected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8820051
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel tank, an internal combustion engine, an oxidation catalyst, a regenerable particulate filter in fluid communication with an outlet side of the oxidation catalyst, and a host machine. The host machine calculates an actual hydrocarbon level in the exhaust stream downstream of the particulate filter as a function of an actual energy input value and an actual output value of the oxidation catalyst, and subsequently executes a control action using the actual hydrocarbon level. A method for use aboard the vehicle includes using the host machine to calculate an actual hydrocarbon level in the exhaust stream downstream of the particulate filter, including solving a function of an actual energy input value and an actual energy output value of the oxidation catalyst, and executing a control action aboard the vehicle via the host machine using the actual hydrocarbon level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Barasa, Scot A. Douglas, Jason D. Mullins
  • Patent number: 8818691
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a fuel system in fluid communication with a cylinder to direct a fuel flow to be mixed with air in the cylinder and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the cylinder to receive an exhaust gas produced by the combustion process, wherein the exhaust system includes an oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter downstream of the oxidation catalyst. The system also includes a control module that determines an amount of energy to be provided by at least one of: a post-injection process, hydrocarbon injector, and heating device, wherein the amount of energy is based on a desired temperature at a selected location in the exhaust system, an exhaust gas flow rate, a temperature of the received exhaust gas, a flow rate and temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Jason Daniel Mullins, Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8745967
    Abstract: A system for controlling regeneration in an after-treatment component comprises a feedback module, an error module, a gain module, and a regeneration control module. The feedback module is configured for determining a rate of change of the value of a controlled parameter. The error module is in communication with the feedback module and is configured for determining a value of an error term by subtracting a value of a target parameter from the value of the controlled parameter. The gain module is configured for determining a value of a proportional gain factor by raising a mathematical constant ā€œeā€ to the negative power of the value of a tuned gain exponent and for determining a value of a derivative gain factor by multiplying the value of the proportional gain factor by a tuning factor. The regeneration control module is configured for determining a value of a rational control increment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Publication number: 20130291516
    Abstract: A system for controlling regeneration in an after-treatment component comprises a feedback module, an error module, a gain module, and a regeneration control module. The feedback module is configured for determining a rate of change of the value of a controlled parameter. The error module is in communication with the feedback module and is configured for determining a value of an error term by subtracting a value of a target parameter from the value of the controlled parameter. The gain module is configured for determining a value of a proportional gain factor by raising a mathematical constant ā€œeā€ to the negative power of the value of a tuned gain exponent and for determining a value of a derivative gain factor by multiplying the value of the proportional gain factor by a tuning factor. The regeneration control module is configured for determining a value of a rational control increment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8561393
    Abstract: A temperature of exhaust gas downstream of an oxidation catalyst is compared to a temperature of the exhaust gas upstream of the oxidation catalyst to determine if the downstream temperature is increasing over time or decreasing over time as hydrocarbons are injected into the flow of exhaust gas to regenerate a particulate filter. The oxidation catalyst is determined to be quenched when the temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the oxidation catalyst remains constant or decreases over time as the rate at which the hydrocarbons are injected into the exhaust gas increases. The oxidation catalyst is determined to not be quenched when the temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the oxidation catalyst increases over time as the rate at which the hydrocarbons are injected into the exhaust gas increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas LaRose, Jr., David Michael VanBuren, Kari Jackson, Patrick Barasa, Michael V. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8549839
    Abstract: An exhaust control system comprises an absorption rate estimation module, a desorption rate estimation module, a rate of change module, a release rate estimation module, and a fuel control module. The absorption rate estimation module estimates a hydrocarbon energy absorption rate of a component of an exhaust system. The desorption rate estimation module estimates a hydrocarbon energy desorption rate of the component. The rate of change module that determines a stored energy rate of change based on a difference between the hydrocarbon absorption and desorption rates. The release rate estimation module estimates a hydrocarbon energy release rate for the component based on the stored energy rate of change. The fuel control module controls a rate of fuel injection into the exhaust system upstream of an oxidation catalyst based on the hydrocarbon energy release rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Publication number: 20130245918
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a fuel system in fluid communication with a cylinder to direct a fuel flow to be mixed with air in the cylinder and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the cylinder to receive an exhaust gas produced by the combustion process, wherein the exhaust system includes an oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter downstream of the oxidation catalyst. The system also includes a control module that determines an amount of energy to be provided by at least one of: a post-injection process, hydrocarbon injector, and heating device, wherein the amount of energy is based on a desired temperature at a selected location in the exhaust system, an exhaust gas flow rate, a temperature of the received exhaust gas, a flow rate and temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Michael J. Paratore, JR., Jason Daniel Mullins, Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8527185
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and an exhaust system which ignites fuel from fuel injectors to purify exhaust gas. An air compressor delivers compressed intake air to the engine, and a turbine energizes the compressor. A controller calculates an engine thermal efficiency value using temperature and mass flow rate values from various sensors. The controller maintains a temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the turbine using the thermal efficiency value. A control system includes the sensors and a host machine operable for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas above the threshold using the thermal efficiency value. A method for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas includes measuring the inlet and outlet temperatures of an air intake system, measuring the mass flow rate of compressed intake air, and using the host machine to maintain the temperature of the gas using the thermal efficiency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Publication number: 20130186063
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling an exhaust system includes determining an air to fuel ratio within a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, measuring a temperature of an exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine into the exhaust system and determining a specific heat for the exhaust gas flow in a first segment of the exhaust system based on the temperature of the exhaust gas flow from the internal combustion engine and the air to fuel ratio, wherein the first segment is upstream of the particulate filter. The method also includes determining a first temperature of the exhaust gas in the first segment based on the specific heat for the exhaust gas flow and selectively controlling a regeneration process for the particulate filter using the determined temperature of the exhaust gas at the selected location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scot A. Douglas, Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8474245
    Abstract: An exhaust control system comprises a nominal specific heat module, a correction module, a specific heat determination module, and a convective loss estimation module. The nominal specific heat module determines a nominal specific heat of exhaust input to a component of an exhaust system based on a temperature of the exhaust input to the component and based on a predetermined oxygen content. The correction module determines a specific heat correction based on an oxygen content measured by a sensor. The specific heat determination module determines a specific heat of the exhaust based on the nominal specific heat and the specific heat correction. The convection loss estimation module estimates a convective energy loss rate associated with the component based on the specific heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Publication number: 20130139504
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling exhaust gas temperature in an exhaust system includes determining a flow rate of an exhaust gas received by the exhaust system, determining a temperature of the exhaust gas and determining a specific heat for the exhaust gas. The method also includes determining an amount of energy required to attain a desired temperature for the exhaust gas entering an exhaust device, wherein the amount of energy is based on the determined flow rate, temperature and specific heat for the exhaust gas and communicating a signal to control at least one of a fuel flow rate or an air flow rate based on the determined amount of energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Patent number: 8452518
    Abstract: An exhaust control system comprises a total loss determination module and a fuel control module. The total loss determination module determines a total energy loss rate of exhaust upstream of a location in an exhaust system based on a convective energy loss rate upstream of the location, a conductive energy loss rate upstream of the location, and an oxidation energy gain rate upstream of the location. The fuel control module receives a target temperature for the exhaust at the location and determines a target input energy rate based on the target temperature, a temperature of exhaust input to the exhaust system, and the total energy loss rate. The fuel control module controls a rate of fuel injection into the exhaust system upstream of an oxidation catalyst based on the target input energy rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Publication number: 20120240552
    Abstract: A method of controlling an exhaust gas treatment system of a vehicle includes detecting a request to regenerate a particulate filter, and injecting hydrocarbons at an injection rate into a flow of exhaust gas upstream of an oxidation catalyst to heat the oxidation catalyst. The injection rate is increased at a current acceleration rate, and the current acceleration rate is reduced to define a reduced acceleration rate when the oxidation catalyst is quenched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: THOMAS LAROSE, JR., DAVID MICHAEL VANBUREN, PATRICK BARASA, MICHAEL V. TAYLOR, KARI JACKSON
  • Publication number: 20120240553
    Abstract: A temperature of exhaust gas downstream of an oxidation catalyst is compared to a temperature of the exhaust gas upstream of the oxidation catalyst to determine if the downstream temperature is increasing over time or decreasing over time as hydrocarbons are injected into the flow of exhaust gas to regenerate a particulate filter. The oxidation catalyst is determined to be quenched when the temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the oxidation catalyst remains constant or decreases over time as the rate at which the hydrocarbons are injected into the exhaust gas increases. The oxidation catalyst is determined to not be quenched when the temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the oxidation catalyst increases over time as the rate at which the hydrocarbons are injected into the exhaust gas increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas LaRose, JR., David Michael VanBuren, Kari Jackson, Patrick Barasa, Michael V. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20120109488
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and an exhaust system which ignites fuel from fuel injectors to purify exhaust gas. An air compressor delivers compressed intake air to the engine, and a turbine energizes the compressor. A controller calculates an engine thermal efficiency value using temperature and mass flow rate values from various sensors. The controller maintains a temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the turbine using the thermal efficiency value. A control system includes the sensors and a host machine operable for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas above the threshold using the thermal efficiency value. A method for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas includes measuring the inlet and outlet temperatures of an air intake system, measuring the mass flow rate of compressed intake air, and using the host machine to maintain the temperature of the gas using the thermal efficiency value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa
  • Publication number: 20120036839
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel tank, an internal combustion engine, an oxidation catalyst, a regenerable particulate filter in fluid communication with an outlet side of the oxidation catalyst, and a host machine. The host machine calculates an actual hydrocarbon level in the exhaust stream downstream of the particulate filter as a function of an actual energy input value and an actual output value of the oxidation catalyst, and subsequently executes a control action using the actual hydrocarbon level. A method for use aboard the vehicle includes using the host machine to calculate an actual hydrocarbon level in the exhaust stream downstream of the particulate filter, including solving a function of an actual energy input value and an actual energy output value of the oxidation catalyst, and executing a control action aboard the vehicle via the host machine using the actual hydrocarbon level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Barasa, Scot A. Douglas, Jason Daniel Mullins
  • Publication number: 20120031080
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having an exhaust port, a regenerable particulate filter in fluid communication with the exhaust port, and a host machine which calculates a predicted peak temperature in the particulate filter. The host machine automatically executes a control action when the predicted peak temperature exceeds a calibrated threshold, thus preventing the peak temperature from being realized. A soot model may be used to estimate filter soot loads and corresponding burn rates, with the host machine extracting information from the soot model to calculate the predicted peak temperature. A system for use aboard the vehicle includes the particulate filter and host machine configured as noted above. A method for use aboard the vehicle includes calculating a predicted peak temperature in the particulate filter using the host machine, and automatically executing a control action when the predicted peak temperature exceeds a calibrated threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick Barasa