Patents by Inventor Randall S. Beikmann

Randall S. Beikmann 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: 10941722
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Shost, Louis J. Serrano, Steven E. Carlson, Vijay Srinivasan, Eric J. Defenderfer, Nitish J. Wagh, Randall S. Beikmann, Jinbiao Li, Xin Yuan, Li-Chun Chien
  • Publication number: 20190170074
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Mark A. SHOST, Louis J. SERRANO, Steven E. CARLSON, Vijay SRINIVASAN, Eric J. DEFENDERFER, Nitish J. WAGH, Randall S. BEIKMANN, Jinbiao LI, Xin YUAN, Li-Chun CHIEN
  • Patent number: 10247121
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: Tula Technology, Inc., GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Shost, Louis J. Serrano, Steven E. Carlson, Vijay Srinivasan, Eric J. Defenderfer, Nitish J. Wagh, Randall S. Beikmann, Jinbiao Li, Xin Yuan, Li-Chun Chien
  • Patent number: 9828921
    Abstract: An engine sound enhancement system includes a conduit in communication with at least one of an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold of an engine. An interface is arranged at least one of within the conduit and between an inlet of the conduit and the at least one of the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold. The interface is responsive to pulses within the at least one of the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold, wherein the interface is configured to transfer the pulses into the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: William Seldon, Scott M. Reilly, Grant Brady, Randall S. Beikmann
  • Patent number: 9726139
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a vibration prediction module and a firing sequence module. The vibration prediction module predicts a modal response of a vehicle based on a firing sequence of an engine when a cylinder of the engine is deactivated. The firing sequence module adjusts the firing sequence of the engine based on the predicted modal response of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Randall S. Beikmann
  • Publication number: 20170107921
    Abstract: An engine sound enhancement system includes a conduit in communication with at least one of an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold of an engine. An interface is arranged at least one of within the conduit and between an inlet of the conduit and the at least one of the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold. The interface is responsive to pulses within the at least one of the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold, wherein the interface is configured to transfer the pulses into the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: William Seldon, Scott M. Reilly, Grant Brady, Randall S. Beikmann
  • Patent number: 9599047
    Abstract: A firing module determines a target number of activated cylinders of an engine based on a torque request and a present gear ratio of a transmission. A combination identification module, based on the torque request, identifies a combination including a possible number of activated cylinders and a possible transmission gear ratio, wherein at least one of: the possible number of activated cylinders is different than the target number of activated cylinders; and the possible transmission gear ratio is different than the present gear ratio of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Randall S. Beikmann, Nitish J. Wagh
  • Patent number: 9556811
    Abstract: A system includes a cylinder control module that determines target numbers of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a period, determines, based on the target numbers and an engine speed, N predetermined sequences for controlling the cylinders of the engine during the period, determines whether a transition parameter is associated with at least one of the N predetermined subsequences and selectively adjusts at least one of the N predetermined subsequences based on the determination of whether a transition parameter is associated with at least two of the N predetermined sequences. The system further includes a cylinder actuator module that, during the period, controls the cylinders of the engine based on the N predetermined sequence and based on the at least one selectively adjusted predetermined sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nitish J. Wagh, Randall S. Beikmann
  • Patent number: 9458780
    Abstract: Based on a desired average number of activated cylinders per sub-period of a predetermined period including P sub-periods, a cylinder control module selects one of N predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation patterns. The selected cylinder activation/deactivation pattern corresponds to Q activated cylinders per sub-period, Q is an integer between zero and a total number of cylinders of an engine, inclusive, P is an integer greater than one, and the desired average number of active cylinders is a number between zero and the total number of cylinders of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Darrell W. Burleigh, Randall S. Beikmann
  • Patent number: 9458778
    Abstract: A ranking module determines N ranking values for N predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation sequences of an engine, respectively. N is an integer greater than or equal to two. A cylinder control module, based on the N ranking values, selects one of the N predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation sequences as a desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence for cylinders of the engine. The cylinder control module also: activates opening of intake and exhaust valves of first ones of the cylinders that are to be activated based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence; and deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of second ones of the cylinders that are to be deactivated based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence. A fuel control module provides fuel to the first ones of the cylinders and disables fueling to the second ones of the cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Randall S. Beikmann, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Patent number: 9416743
    Abstract: A target cylinder count module determines a target number of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a future period. The future period includes N sub-periods, and N is an integer greater than one. Based on the target number, a first sequence setting module generates a sequence indicating N target numbers of cylinders to be activated during the N sub-periods, respectively. A second sequence setting module retrieves N predetermined sequences for activating and deactivating cylinders during the N sub-periods, respectively, and generates a target sequence for activating and deactivating cylinders during the future period based on the N predetermined sequences. During the future period, a cylinder actuator module: activates opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are to be activated based on the target sequence; and deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are to be deactivated based on the target sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Randall S. Beikmann
  • Publication number: 20160146138
    Abstract: A firing module determines a target number of activated cylinders of an engine based on a torque request and a present gear ratio of a transmission. A combination identification module, based on the torque request, identifies a combination including a possible number of activated cylinders and a possible transmission gear ratio, wherein at least one of: the possible number of activated cylinders is different than the target number of activated cylinders; and the possible transmission gear ratio is different than the present gear ratio of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: RANDALL S. BEIKMANN, Nitish J. Wagh
  • Patent number: 9239024
    Abstract: A cylinder control module generates a desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence for a future period based on Q predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation sub-sequences used during a previous period, a desired number of cylinders to be activated during a predetermined period including the previous and future periods, and an operating condition. Q is an integer greater than zero. The cylinder control module activates and deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of first and second ones of the cylinders that are to be activated and deactivated based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence, respectively. A fuel control module provides and disables fuel to the first and second ones of the cylinders, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Randall S. Beikmann
  • Publication number: 20150369140
    Abstract: A system includes a cylinder control module that determines target numbers of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a period, determines, based on the target numbers and an engine speed, N predetermined sequences for controlling the cylinders of the engine during the period, determines whether a transition parameter is associated with at least one of the N predetermined subsequences and selectively adjusts at least one of the N predetermined subsequences based on the determination of whether a transition parameter is associated with at least two of the N predetermined sequences. The system further includes a cylinder actuator module that, during the period, controls the cylinders of the engine based on the N predetermined sequence and based on the at least one selectively adjusted predetermined sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: NITISH J. WAGH, RANDALL S. BEIKMANN
  • Patent number: 9140622
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a vibration prediction module and a firing sequence module. The vibration prediction module predicts a vibration response of a vehicle based on a firing sequence of an engine when a cylinder of the engine is deactivated. The firing sequence module adjusts the firing sequence of the engine based on the predicted vibration response of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Randall S. Beikmann
  • Publication number: 20150260117
    Abstract: In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller is described. The skip fire engine controller includes a skip fire module arranged to determine an operational firing fraction and associated cylinder load for delivering a desired engine output. The skip fire engine controller also includes a firing controller arranged to direct firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the selected operational firing fraction. Various methods, modules, lookup tables and arrangements related to the selection of a suitable operational firing fraction are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. SHOST, Louis J. SERRANO, Steven E. CARLSON, Vijay SRINIVASAN, Eric J. DEFENDERFER, Nitish J. WAGH, Randall S. BEIKMANN, Jinbiao LI, Xin YUAN, Li-Chun CHIEN
  • Publication number: 20140090623
    Abstract: A target cylinder count module determines a target number of cylinders of an engine to be activated during a future period. The future period includes N sub-periods, and N is an integer greater than one. Based on the target number, a first sequence setting module generates a sequence indicating N target numbers of cylinders to be activated during the N sub-periods, respectively. A second sequence setting module retrieves N predetermined sequences for activating and deactivating cylinders during the N sub-periods, respectively, and generates a target sequence for activating and deactivating cylinders during the future period based on the N predetermined sequences. During the future period, a cylinder actuator module: activates opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are to be activated based on the target sequence; and deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders that are to be deactivated based on the target sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: RANDALL S. BEIKMANN
  • Publication number: 20140069178
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a vibration prediction module and a firing sequence module. The vibration prediction module predicts a vibration response of a vehicle based on a firing sequence of an engine when a cylinder of the engine is deactivated. The firing sequence module adjusts the firing sequence of the engine based on the predicted vibration response of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Randall S. Beikmann
  • Publication number: 20140069379
    Abstract: A cylinder control module generates a desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence for a future period based on Q predetermined cylinder activation/deactivation sub-sequences used during a previous period, a desired number of cylinders to be activated during a predetermined period including the previous and future periods, and an operating condition. Q is an integer greater than zero. The cylinder control module activates and deactivates opening of intake and exhaust valves of first and second ones of the cylinders that are to be activated and deactivated based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence, respectively. A fuel control module provides and disables fuel to the first and second ones of the cylinders, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: RANDALL S. BEIKMANN
  • Publication number: 20140069381
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a vibration prediction module and a firing sequence module. The vibration prediction module predicts a modal response of a vehicle based on a firing sequence of an engine when a cylinder of the engine is deactivated. The firing sequence module adjusts the firing sequence of the engine based on the predicted modal response of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Randall S. Beikmann