Patents by Inventor Piergiacomo Traversa
Piergiacomo Traversa 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).
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Patent number: 11458828Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine configured with a belt starter generator or an electric machine of a hybrid powertrain. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder and a piston, which together delimit a working chamber. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuation system for actuation of inlet valves of the working chambers, controlling the opening time and/or the closing time and/or the lift. A strategy for operating the internal combustion engine with a negative drive torque or when shutting down or when starting up the internal combustion includes controlling the inlet valves of individual or all working chambers in such a way that the transfer of fresh air from an intake section to an exhaust manifold is controlled and that the drag torque of the internal combustion is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Daniel Wolf, Piergiacomo Traversa
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Patent number: 11207964Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder and a piston, which runs in the cylinder, together delimiting a working chamber. The working chamber is supplied with fresh air from an intake section via an inlet valve and is connected to an exhaust manifold via exhaust valves. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuation system for the actuation of the inlet valves, controlling the opening time and/or the closing time and/or the lift. A strategy for shutting down the internal combustion engine includes controlling the inlet valves of individual or all working chambers in such a way that the transfer of fresh air from the intake section to the exhaust manifold is reduced or avoided and that the drag torque of the intake combustion engine is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Daniel Wolf, Piergiacomo Traversa
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Patent number: 10996274Abstract: An electronic circuit configured to control an electromagnetic actuator with an electric coil, comprising at least one first electronic switching element, a capacitor, and a diode connected to the first electronic switching element, the capacitor, and the electrical coil to form a step-up converter, wherein the capacitor is configured to be charged to a voltage that is greater than an operating voltage of the electronic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Fabio De Giacomo, Weigang Wang, Piergiacomo Traversa
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Publication number: 20200362783Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder and a piston, which runs in the cylinder, together delimiting a working chamber. The working chamber is supplied with fresh air from a intake section via an inlet valve and is connected to an exhaust manifold via exhaust valves. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuation system for the actuation of the inlet valves, controlling the opening time and/or the closing time and/or the lift. A strategy for shutting down the internal combustion engine includes controlling the inlet valves of individual or all working chambers in such a way that the transfer of fresh air from the intake section to the exhaust manifold is reduced or avoided and that the drag torque of the internal combustion engine is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Daniel Wolf, Piergiacomo Traversa
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Publication number: 20200307368Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an internal combustion engine configured with a belt starter generator or an electric machine of a hybrid powertrain. The internal combustion engine includes a cylinder and a piston, which together delimit a working chamber. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuation system for actuation of inlet valves of the working chambers, controlling the opening time and/or the closing time and/or the lift. A strategy for operating the internal combustion engine with a negative drive torque or when shutting down or when starting up the internal combustion includes controlling the inlet valves of individual or all working chambers in such a way that the transfer of fresh air from an intake section to an exhaust manifold is controlled and that the drag torque of the internal combustion is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2018Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Daniel Wolf, Piergiacomo Traversa
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Patent number: 10643775Abstract: A magnetic core and an electric coil, wherein the magnetic core is configured to move by supplying current to the electric coil to allow electrical energy to be transformed into mechanical energy and an electromagnetic actuator operates a valve body to move, and a controller configured to measure a current flowing through the electric coil, select a temporal evaluation section of a course of the current, wherein the current changes from a current value at a beginning of the temporal section to a current value at an end of the section, wherein the evaluation section lasts for a duration period, form an evaluation product from at least the current value at the beginning of the section, the current value at the end of the section, and the duration period of the section, and detect an error function of the actuator by comparing the evaluation product with an evaluation product limit.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Weigang Wang, Piergiacomo Traversa, Michael Elicker
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Patent number: 10458566Abstract: A method for simulating malfunctioning solenoid valves is disclosed. A current flows through a solenoid valve in order to achieve opening and closing. The closing is forced after the current supplied to the solenoid valve is activated at an activation time, and the opening is forced after the current is deactivated. The current is applied with a charging current strength before activation for a charging phase, and after activation, the current is increased to peak current strength and subsequently reduced to a holding current strength. The current strength is reduced to a deactivation current strength, after which the current strength increases again. A variation of the value or duration of the current strength or an application of an additional magnetic force is used to simulate a premature activation, a delayed activation, a premature deactivation, or a delayed deactivation.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Piergiacomo Traversa, Gerulf Pedersen
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Publication number: 20190277914Abstract: An electronic circuit configured to control an electromagnetic actuator with an electric coil, comprising at least one first electronic switching element, a capacitor, and a diode connected to the first electronic switching element, the capacitor, and the electrical coil to form a step-up converter, wherein the capacitor is configured to be charged to a voltage that is greater than an operating voltage of the electronic circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: September 12, 2019Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Fabio DE GIACOMO, Weigang WANG, Piergiacomo TRAVERSA
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Publication number: 20180268978Abstract: A magnetic core and an electric coil, wherein the magnetic core is configured to move by supplying current to the electric coil to allow electrical energy to be transformed into mechanical energy and an electromagnetic actuator operates a valve body to move, and a controller configured to measure a current flowing through the electric coil, select a temporal evaluation section of a course of the current, wherein the current changes from a current value at a beginning of the temporal section to a current value at an end of the section, wherein the evaluation section lasts for a duration period, form an evaluation product from at least the current value at the beginning of the section, the current value at the end of the section, and the duration period of the section, and detect an error function of the actuator by comparing the evaluation product with an evaluation product limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2016Publication date: September 20, 2018Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventors: Weigang WANG, Piergiacomo TRAVERSA, Michael ELICKER
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Publication number: 20180023720Abstract: The invention relates to a method for simulating malfunctioning solenoid valves for an internal combustion engine by influencing an activation time and a deactivation time of the solenoid valve. A current with a specified modifiable current strength flows through the solenoid valve in order to achieve an opening and closing process. The closing process is forced after the current supplied to the solenoid valve is activated at the activation time, and the opening process is forced after the current supplied to the solenoid valve is deactivated at the deactivation time. The current is applied with a charging current strength prior to the activation time for the duration of a charging phase, and after the activation time, the current is increased to peak current strength and subsequently reduced to a holding current strength.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2016Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Piergiacomo Traversa, Gerulf Pedersen
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Patent number: 9291077Abstract: An operation control system for a solenoid valve of a combustion engine having at least one solenoid valve to hydraulically couple and decouple actuation forces of a cam with a gas valve of a cylinder. A driving unit operates the solenoid valve, and a first detection device monitors a status of the solenoid valve by supplying a status signal to a control unit during an engine intake cycle phase of the cylinder. A second detection device analyzing a system parameter corresponding to the cylinder and supplying a control signal during an engine cycle phase other than the engine intake cycle phase. The control unit delays the status signal based on the status signal to temporally synchronize the status signal with the control signal, or a secondary control signal based thereon, and compares the status signal with the control signal or the secondary signals with each other using an AND-Function.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventor: Piergiacomo Traversa
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Publication number: 20130284131Abstract: An operation control system for a solenoid valve of a combustion engine having at least one solenoid valve to hydraulically couple and decouple actuation forces of a cam with a gas valve of a cylinder. A driving unit operates the solenoid valve, and a first detection device monitors a status of the solenoid valve by supplying a status signal to a control unit during an engine intake cycle phase of the cylinder. A second detection device analyzing a system parameter corresponding to the cylinder and supplying a control signal during an engine cycle phase other than the engine intake cycle phase. The control unit delays the status signal based on the status signal to temporally synchronize the status signal with the control signal, or a secondary control signal based thereon, and compares the status signal with the control signal or the secondary signals with each other using an AND-Function.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventor: Piergiacomo Traversa
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Publication number: 20120006289Abstract: In order for the viscosity of the engine oil to be determined as directly as possible, particularly in the case of a motor vehicle with hydraulic control of the gas exchange valves, provision is made for a time period which a hydraulic component, in particular a solenoid valve, requires to move from a first position to a second position to be used as a measure of the viscosity. In particular, an electrical control signal for the solenoid valve is evaluated in the process. An additional sensor arrangement is not required. The determined viscosity is preferably actively used for controlling the gas exchange valves.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Andreas PETZ, Piergiacomo TRAVERSA, Marco DI PACE, Ilia TARASSOV
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Publication number: 20110282597Abstract: A method for determining a viscosity parameter of a motor oil in an internal combustion engine, wherein a plurality of operating parameters characterizing an operating state of the internal combustion engine are detected and/or determined for an electronic engine control. Several parameters allowing at least a rough prediction on the viscosity of the motor oil are each evaluated for an individual prediction on the viscosity of the motor oil at different times from these operating parameters, and changes in the individual predictions for comparable working points of the internal combustion engine relative to a state of new motor oil are detected. The viscosity parameter is determined from the changes in the several individual predictions. A corresponding control device for the electronic engine control is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Piergiacomo Traversa
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Publication number: 20110277542Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic viscosity variable of an engine oil in an internal combustion engine with hydraulic control of the gas exchange valves where a provision is made for an oxygen concentration, which is measured in an exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, or a comparison variable, which is derived from the oxygen concentration, to be used as a measure of the characteristic viscosity variable, in particular the viscosity itself. This allows, particularly in the case of electrohydraulic actuation of the gas exchange valves, a statement to be made about the currently actual property of the engine oil used, without additional hardware components being required.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KGInventor: Piergiacomo TRAVERSA
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Patent number: 7058538Abstract: A method for determining the stroke end instant of the shutter during the deactivation phase of an electro-valve. The method comprises the following steps: assessment of nominal deactivation time and deduction from time of the assessed instant in which the deactivated shutter reaches the stroke end position, application of an appreciable current flow through the coil during shutter motion, after coil deactivation, adjusted in a time range comprising the assessed nominal deactivation instant, acquisition of a convenient number of current samples, identification of two adequate interpolation curves for acquired data, which approximate the development of the samples acquired before and after the instant in which the shutter reaches the stroke end, respectively, determination of the intersection point of the interpolation curves, from which the intersection instant can be inferred, and identification of shutter stroke end instant with the intersection instant.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Piergiacomo Traversa, Alberto Pisoni
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Publication number: 20050146408Abstract: The invention describes a method for determining the stroke end instant of the shutter during the deactivation phase of an electro-valve. The proposed method comprises the following steps: assessment of nominal deactivation time and deduction from said time of the assessed instant in which the deactivated shutter reaches the stroke end position, application of an appreciable current flow through the coil during shutter motion, after coil deactivation, adjusted in a time range comprising said assessed nominal deactivation instant, acquisition of a convenient number of current samples, identification of two adequate interpolation curves for acquired data, which approximate the development of the samples acquired before and after the instant in which the shutter reaches the stroke end, respectively, determination of the intersection point of said interpolation curves, from which the intersection instant can be inferred, identification of shutter stroke end instant with said intersection instant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2004Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Piergiacomo Traversa, Alberto Pisoni