Patents by Inventor Paul S. Lombardo
Paul S. Lombardo 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: 10900458Abstract: A method of stopping an engine crankshaft includes selecting a target angular position at which the engine crankshaft is to be stopped and detecting an actual angular position of the engine crankshaft and a rotational speed of the engine crankshaft. A stopping torque in calculated based on the actual angular position of the engine crankshaft and the rotational speed of the engine crankshaft. The stopping torque is applied to the engine crankshaft via a motor/generator operably connected to the engine crankshaft. The engine crankshaft is stopped at the target angular position via the application of the stopping torque.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Paul S. Lombardo, David W. Walters, Chunhao J. Lee, Chandra S. Namuduri, Neeraj S. Shidore, Thomas W. Nehl
-
Publication number: 20200355152Abstract: A method of stopping an engine crankshaft includes selecting a target angular position at which the engine crankshaft is to be stopped and detecting an actual angular position of the engine crankshaft and a rotational speed of the engine crankshaft. A stopping torque in calculated based on the actual angular position of the engine crankshaft and the rotational speed of the engine crankshaft. The stopping torque is applied to the engine crankshaft via a motor/generator operably connected to the engine crankshaft. The engine crankshaft is stopped at the target angular position via the application of the stopping torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Paul S. Lombardo, David W. Walters, Chunhao J. Lee, Chandra S. Namuduri, Neeraj S. Shidore, Thomas W. Nehl
-
Patent number: 10815954Abstract: An engine starter system includes a starter including a multi-phase brushless electric motor and an electronic commutator assembly. A controller includes an instruction set that is executable in response to a command to execute an engine starting event. Operation includes determining a desired starting profile, controlling the starter to engage a rotatable member of the engine, and monitoring the rotational speed of the electric motor via a rotor position sensing circuit. The starter inverter is dynamically controlled to control the electric motor to spin the rotatable member of the internal combustion engine responsive to the desired starting profile, including dynamically controlling the starter inverter to control the electric motor to control the spin of the engine responsive to the desired starting profile to prevent occurrence of an engine speed flare event during the engine starting event.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Paul S. Lombardo, Jeffrey R. Aldrich, Chunhao J. Lee, Neeraj S. Shidore
-
Patent number: 10677212Abstract: A method of controlled stopping an internal combustion engine having a stop-start mode and starter assembly includes detecting when the stop-start mode is active. The method also includes monitoring current rotational speed and position of the engine. The method additionally includes determining when the current rotational position is within a predetermined range of a target stop rotational position and the current rotational speed is less than a threshold rotational speed, and afterward energizing the starter assembly to engage the engine. The method also includes establishing a time delay following energizing the starter assembly to confirm engagement of the starter assembly with the engine. Furthermore, the method includes applying a torque by the starter assembly to stop the engine at the target stop position. A vehicle powertrain employing the engine equipped with the stop-start mode, the starter assembly, and an electronic controller configured to execute the method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Paul S. Lombardo, Chunhao J. Lee, Alexandru Rajala, Neeraj S. Shidore, Farzad Samie, Norman K. Bucknor, Dongxu Li
-
Patent number: 10597020Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain includes an electric machine delivering torque to an engine in an engine start event having initial cranking and transition phases. In response to a request for an engine start event, a controller commands delivery of the motor torque to the crankshaft. In the initial cranking phase the controller regulates crankshaft acceleration from zero speed up to a target cranking speed in a closed-loop manner via a predetermined fixed profile. In the transition phase, the crankshaft accelerates from the target cranking speed to a target idle speed using a feed-forward torque value blended, using a calibration table, from a predetermined engine drag torque to a reported engine torque. In the transition phase the controller periodically adjusts a speed trajectory of the crankshaft, with the magnitude and frequency of adjustment based on combustion of the engine and calibration of the feed-forward torque.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Anthony L. Christman, Michael D. Potts, Paul S. Lombardo, Anthony Burt, Jeffrey R. Aldrich
-
Publication number: 20190338742Abstract: A method of controlled stopping an internal combustion engine having a stop-start mode and starter assembly includes detecting when the stop-start mode is active. The method also includes monitoring current rotational speed and position of the engine. The method additionally includes determining when the current rotational position is within a predetermined range of a target stop rotational position and the current rotational speed is less than a threshold rotational speed, and afterward energizing the starter assembly to engage the engine. The method also includes establishing a time delay following energizing the starter assembly to confirm engagement of the starter assembly with the engine. Furthermore, the method includes applying a torque by the starter assembly to stop the engine at the target stop position. A vehicle powertrain employing the engine equipped with the stop-start mode, the starter assembly, and an electronic controller configured to execute the method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Paul S. Lombardo, Chunhao J. Lee, Alexandru Rajala, Neeraj S. Shidore, Farzad Samie, Norman K. Bucknor, Dongxu Li
-
Publication number: 20190338743Abstract: An engine starter system includes a starter including a multi-phase brushless electric motor and an electronic commutator assembly. A controller includes an instruction set that is executable in response to a command to execute an engine starting event. Operation includes determining a desired starting profile, controlling the starter to engage a rotatable member of the engine, and monitoring the rotational speed of the electric motor via a rotor position sensing circuit. The starter inverter is dynamically controlled to control the electric motor to spin the rotatable member of the internal combustion engine responsive to the desired starting profile, including dynamically controlling the starter inverter to control the electric motor to control the spin of the engine responsive to the desired starting profile to prevent occurrence of an engine speed flare event during the engine starting event.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao, Chandra S. Namuduri, Paul S. Lombardo, Jeffrey R. Aldrich, Chunhao J. Lee, Neeraj S. Shidore
-
Publication number: 20190176799Abstract: A hybrid electric powertrain includes an electric machine delivering torque to an engine in an engine start event having initial cranking and transition phases. In response to a request for an engine start event, a controller commands delivery of the motor torque to the crankshaft. In the initial cranking phase the controller regulates crankshaft acceleration from zero speed up to a target cranking speed in a closed-loop manner via a predetermined fixed profile. In the transition phase, the crankshaft accelerates from the target cranking speed to a target idle speed using a feed-forward torque value blended, using a calibration table, from a predetermined engine drag torque to a reported engine torque. In the transition phase the controller periodically adjusts a speed trajectory of the crankshaft, with the magnitude and frequency of adjustment based on combustion of the engine and calibration of the feed-forward torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Anthony L. Christman, Michael D. Potts, Paul S. Lombardo, Anthony Burt, Jeffrey R. Aldrich
-
Patent number: 9631585Abstract: An automated method for diagnosing an EGHR having a coolant path, an exhaust path, a heat exchanger, and a valve. The coolant path passes through the heat exchanger and the valve selectively directs the exhaust path through the heat exchanger. The method includes monitoring an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature of the coolant path, determining an instantaneous coolant power from the monitored inlet temperature and outlet temperature, and integrating the instantaneous coolant power to determine a total energy recovered by the coolant path. The method monitors an instantaneous exhaust power, determines an instantaneous available EGHR power from the instantaneous exhaust power, and integrates the instantaneous available EGHR power to determine a nominal EGHR energy. A differential is calculated between the nominal EGHR energy and the total energy recovered by the coolant path. If the calculated differential is greater than an allowable tolerance, an EGHR error signal is sent.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Brian L. Spohn
-
Patent number: 9631872Abstract: A thermal management system having a first heating device, such as a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and a second heating device, such as an internal combustion engine (ICE), for a vehicle is provided. The system may allow waste heat within an ICE to be stored in a RESS, and may cool the RESS by depositing heat in the ICE. The RESS and the ICE are located in a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit, respectively. The system also includes a third coolant circuit interconnected with the first coolant circuit, and in thermal communication with the second coolant circuit via a first heat exchanger. The first and third coolant circuits are configured to circulate a first coolant, and the second coolant circuit is configured to circulate a second coolant. The RESS and the ICE are each configured to selectively operate as a heat source or a heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Bryan M. Styles, Mark D. Nemesh
-
Patent number: 9618242Abstract: A thermal storage heat pump system transfers heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle from at least one of a thermal storage device and ambient air. Heat from the thermal storage device is absorbed by a first coolant flowing through it, and is transferred to a refrigerant via a first heat exchanger. The heat is then transferred from the refrigerant to a second coolant via a second heat exchanger, and then from the second coolant to air flowing into the passenger compartment via a heater core. Heat from ambient air is absorbed by the refrigerant via a third heat exchanger. The heat source is determined by at least one of the thermal storage device temperature, ambient air temperature, and ambient air humidity. At start-up of the vehicle, heat transfer to the refrigerant and to the second coolant is controlled based on low-side and high-side pressure measurements of the refrigerant.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Brian P. Lemon
-
Patent number: 9381911Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle with a hybrid powertrain with an engine and a motor/generator includes monitoring net axle torque on the drive axle, monitoring vehicle deceleration rate, monitoring vehicle speed, and controlling the motor/generator to stop rotation of the engine crankshaft when the vehicle speed is non-zero and below a predetermined vehicle speed auto-stop enable threshold if torque percentage braking torque is greater than a predetermined percentage braking torque and the vehicle deceleration rate is greater than a predetermined threshold vehicle deceleration rate. A hybrid vehicle has a controller with a processor that executes a stored algorithm to carry out the method.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2014Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Paul S. Lombardo, Jeffrey R. Aldrich
-
Patent number: 9327577Abstract: A heat pump system, including a thermal storage medium, for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, and a corresponding method for providing heat to a vehicle passenger compartment. The vehicle may have an electric only vehicle mode wherein the vehicle may occupy one of an active electric drive state and an inactive state. The heat pump system may include a thermal storage medium configured to store heat produced during the inactive state. The thermal storage medium may be a device which has a thermal capacity exchangeable with a fluid medium such as an Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) or a phase change material. The heat stored by the thermal storage medium during the vehicle charge event may be transmitted from the thermal storage medium to the passenger compartment via the heat pump system during the active electric drive state.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Brian P. Lemon, Mark D. Nemesh, Bryan M. Styles
-
Publication number: 20160052510Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle with a hybrid powertrain with an engine and a motor/generator includes monitoring net axle torque on the drive axle, monitoring vehicle deceleration rate, monitoring vehicle speed, and controlling the motor/generator to stop rotation of the engine crankshaft when the vehicle speed is non-zero and below a predetermined vehicle speed auto-stop enable threshold if torque percentage braking torque is greater than a predetermined percentage braking torque and the vehicle deceleration rate is greater than a predetermined threshold vehicle deceleration rate. A hybrid vehicle has a controller with a processor that executes a stored algorithm to carry out the method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Paul S. Lombardo, Jeffrey R. Aldrich
-
Publication number: 20150285202Abstract: An internal combustion engine is configured to execute autostop and autostart routines. The engine is controlled during execution of the autostop routine to decrease quantity of combustibles in cylinder charges and increase dilution of the cylinder charges with the engine operating in a fuel cutoff mode and to achieve a stopped engine position that minimizes likelihood of auto-ignition during a subsequent autostart event.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Brian L. Spohn, Michael William Roblin, Paul S. Lombardo
-
Publication number: 20150073680Abstract: An automated method for diagnosing an EGHR having a coolant path, an exhaust path, a heat exchanger, and a valve. The coolant path passes through the heat exchanger and the valve selectively directs the exhaust path through the heat exchanger. The method includes monitoring an inlet temperature and an outlet temperature of the coolant path, determining an instantaneous coolant power from the monitored inlet temperature and outlet temperature, and integrating the instantaneous coolant power to determine a total energy recovered by the coolant path. The method monitors an instantaneous exhaust power, determines an instantaneous available EGHR power from the instantaneous exhaust power, and integrates the instantaneous available EGHR power to determine a nominal EGHR energy. A differential is calculated between the nominal EGHR energy and the total energy recovered by the coolant path. If the calculated differential is greater than an allowable tolerance, an EGHR error signal is sent.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Brian L. Spohn
-
Patent number: 8932743Abstract: A method of operating a RESS thermal system in a vehicle having a coolant loop for directing a coolant through a RESS and a refrigerant loop configured to selectively cool the coolant flowing through a chiller in the coolant loop, including: determining a current target temperature range for the RESS based on a current vehicle operating mode and ambient temperature; determining a temperature of the RESS; determining if the temperature of the RESS needs to increase or decrease to be within the current target temperature range; if the determination is made that the temperature of the RESS needs to increase, determining if an active heating or a passive heating of the coolant will be employed, the active heating using a greater amount of energy over a shorter time period than the passive heating; and activating the determined active heating or passive heating of the coolant.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Matthew Simonini, Stephen L. Shen, Matthew J. Martinchick, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Keith D. Buford, Paul S. Lombardo, Jonathan K. Williams, Jason J. Nolte
-
Publication number: 20140216689Abstract: A thermal management system having a first heating device, such as a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), and a second heating device, such as an internal combustion engine (ICE), for a vehicle is provided. The system may allow waste heat within an ICE to be stored in a RESS, and may cool the RESS by depositing heat in the ICE. The RESS and the ICE are located in a first coolant circuit and a second coolant circuit, respectively. The system also includes a third coolant circuit interconnected with the first coolant circuit, and in thermal communication with the second coolant circuit via a first heat exchanger. The first and third coolant circuits are configured to circulate a first coolant, and the second coolant circuit is configured to circulate a second coolant. The RESS and the ICE are each configured to selectively operate as a heat source or a heat sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Bryan M. Styles, Mark D. Nemesh
-
Publication number: 20140208789Abstract: A heat pump system for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment, and a thermal storage medium is provided. A method for providing heat to a vehicle passenger compartment is also provided. The vehicle may have an electric only vehicle mode wherein the vehicle may occupy one of an active electric drive state and an inactive state. The heat pump system may include a thermal storage medium configured to store heat produced during the inactive state. The thermal storage medium may be a device which has a thermal capacity exchangeable with a fluid medium such as an Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) or a phase change material. The heat stored by the thermal storage medium during the vehicle charge event may be transmitted from the thermal storage medium to the passenger compartment via the heat pump system during the active electric drive state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Brian P. Lemon, Mark D. Nemesh, Bryan M. Styles
-
Publication number: 20140196485Abstract: A thermal storage heat pump system transfers heat to a passenger compartment of a vehicle from at least one of a thermal storage device and ambient air. Heat from the thermal storage device is absorbed by a first coolant flowing through it, and is transferred to a refrigerant via a first heat exchanger. The heat is then transferred from the refrigerant to a second coolant via a second heat exchanger, and then from the second coolant to air flowing into the passenger compartment via a heater core. Heat from ambient air is absorbed by the refrigerant via a third heat exchanger. The heat source is determined by at least one of the thermal storage device temperature, ambient air temperature, and ambient air humidity. At start-up of the vehicle, heat transfer to the refrigerant and to the second coolant is controlled based on low-side and high-side pressure measurements of the refrigerant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Paul S. Lombardo, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Brian P. Lemon