Patents by Inventor Rebecca J Darr

Rebecca J Darr 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: 9797288
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining if a diesel emission fluid is at least partially frozen, and determining if the vehicle is currently operating in a low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol. If the vehicle is not currently operating in the low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol, and the diesel emission fluid is at least partially frozen, then a temporary minimum diesel emission fluid mass may be defined to prevent entry of the vehicle into the low diesel emission fluid inducement protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca J Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Kyle E Crawford, Jason Daniel Mullins, Matthew King
  • Patent number: 9322312
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of regenerating an exhaust gas particulate filter in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes determining a soot accumulation in the particulate filter, determining a soot humidity and temperature correction factor, and adjusting, using the soot humidity and temperature correction factor, the soot accumulation to determine a corrected soot accumulation in the particulate filter. The method further includes performing a regeneration of the particulate filter when at least one of the following occurs: the corrected soot accumulation reaches a predetermined threshold, and the corrected soot accumulation indicates a contorted soot mass to flow resistance relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: John A. Catalogna, Rebecca J. Darr, Rahul Mital
  • Patent number: 9145816
    Abstract: A control method for an exhaust treatment system is provided. The method includes: selectively determining a fluid state from a plurality of fluid states based on a temperature of a fluid supply source; estimating an average consumption rate based on the fluid state; and evaluating a fluid supply within the fluid supply source based on the average consumption rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Matthew King
  • Patent number: 9140169
    Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of a compression-ignition engine comprises calculating an initial estimate of accumulated particulate matter based on a pressure-based soot accumulation model and a pressure drop index indicative of a decrease in pressure across the component. An adjusted estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the component is calculated based on the initial estimate and a soot prediction error inherent in the soot model. The adjusted estimate is compared to a predetermined threshold associated with the after-treatment component, and a remedial action is initiated when the adjusted estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component exceeds the predetermined threshold. The pressure-based soot accumulation model may be configured to predict soot accumulation in the absence of passive regeneration, and an adjusted kinetic burn model may be used to estimate a quantity of soot disposed through passive regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michelangelo Ardanese, Rebecca J Darr, Raffaello Ardanese, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Min Sun
  • Publication number: 20150252699
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of regenerating an exhaust gas particulate filter in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes determining a soot accumulation in the particulate filter, determining a soot humidity and temperature correction factor, and adjusting, using the soot humidity and temperature correction factor, the soot accumulation to determine a corrected soot accumulation in the particulate filter. The method further includes performing a regeneration of the particulate filter when at least one of the following occurs: the corrected soot accumulation reaches a predetermined threshold, and the corrected soot accumulation indicates a contorted soot mass to flow resistance relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: John A. Catalogna, Rebecca J. Darr, Rahul Mital
  • Patent number: 9091190
    Abstract: A method of correcting a soot mass estimate in a vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device includes monitoring an exhaust gas pressure drop across a particulate filter included with the vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device. Following the detection of a pressure drop, a controller may determine a soot mass estimate from the monitored pressure drop; determine an ash volume estimate representative of an amount of ash within the particulate filter; determine an ash correction factor from the soot mass estimate and the ash volume estimate; and calculate a corrected soot mass value by multiplying the ash correction factor with the soot mass estimate. If the corrected soot mass value exceeds a threshold, the controller may generate a corresponding particulate filter regeneration request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Christopher Whitt, Christopher C. Swoish, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Patent number: 9046019
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of regenerating a particulate filter includes flowing an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into a particulate filter and determining a particulate level in the particulate filter. The method also includes performing a primary regeneration when the particulate level is below a first value, the primary regeneration including flowing exhaust gas with a selected amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas into the particulate filter, and performing a secondary regeneration when the particulate level is above the first value, the secondary regeneration including flowing exhaust gas with an increased amount of nitrogen oxide into the particulate filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Larose, Jr., David Michael Van Buren, John A. Catalogna, Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Patent number: 8959898
    Abstract: A method of regenerating a particulate filter of an exhaust system is provided. The method includes determining a first regeneration mode based on a soot level; generating control signals to a first fuel injector associated with an engine based on the first regeneration mode; determining a second regeneration mode based on the soot level; and generating control signal to a second fuel injector associated with an exhaust stream of the exhaust system based on the second regeneration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul Jasinkiewicz, Rebecca J. Darr, James M. Perrin, Steve L. Melby
  • Patent number: 8893482
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine for determining a total amount of sulfur that is stored on at least one aftertreatment device is provided. The exhaust gas treatment system includes a control module that monitors operation of the internal combustion engine for an amount of fuel consumed and an amount of oil consumed by the internal combustion engine. The control module includes a sulfur adsorption module and a total sulfur storage module. The sulfur adsorption module determines a rate of sulfur adsorption in at least one aftertreatment device. The rate of sulfur adsorption is based on the amount of fuel consumed and the amount of oil consumed. The total sulfur storage module is in communication with the sulfur adsorption module. The total sulfur storage module determines the total amount of sulfur stored based on the rate of sulfur adsorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Funk, Rebecca J. Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Amr Radwan
  • Patent number: 8857152
    Abstract: A method unloads hydrocarbon emissions deposited by an exhaust gas on an after-treatment device that is employed in an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine. The method includes determining whether the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The method also includes increasing the preset idle speed by a predetermined value if the engine has been operating at a preset idle speed for a predetermined amount of time. The increasing of the engine idle speed increases a flow rate of the exhaust gas to the after-treatment device and unloads the deposited hydrocarbon emissions. A system for unloading hydrocarbon emissions deposited on an after-treatment device and a vehicle employing such a system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Whitt, Rebecca J. Darr, Thomas Larose, Jr., Sarah Funk
  • Patent number: 8844267
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust system, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) device, a first and a second NOx sensor configured to respectively measure an upstream and a downstream NOx level, and a controller or host machine. The controller, via the present method, calculates a NOx conversion efficiency rate of the SCR device using the NOx levels from the sensors. At the end of a key cycle when an accumulated amount of upstream NOx is less than a calibrated upstream NOx level, the controller determines if the NOx conversion efficiency rate is presently passing or failing. The accumulated upstream NOx is recorded in memory for use in calculating the NOx conversion efficiency rate during a subsequent key cycle only when the NOx conversion efficiency rate is presently passing at the end of the key cycle. A control system for the vehicle uses the controller and sensors as noted above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Levijoki, Rebecca J. Darr, Steve L. Melby
  • Patent number: 8745973
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a dosing control module and an offset determination module. The dosing control module actuates an injector to inject a first amount of reducing agent into exhaust gas produced by an engine during a period when a temperature of the exhaust gas is greater than a predetermined temperature threshold. The offset determination module determines an efficiency of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) material based on measured amounts of nitrogen oxide (NOx) during the period and expected NOx amounts, wherein the measured amounts of NOx are measured at locations upstream and downstream from the SCR material, and wherein the expected NOx amounts are based on the temperature of the exhaust gas and the first amount of reducing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Rebecca J Darr, Kyle E. Crawford, Paul Jasinkiewicz
  • Publication number: 20140033679
    Abstract: A method of correcting a soot mass estimate in a vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device includes monitoring an exhaust gas pressure drop across a particulate filter included with the vehicle exhaust aftertreatment device. Following the detection of a pressure drop, a controller may determine a soot mass estimate from the monitored pressure drop; determine an ash volume estimate representative of an amount of ash within the particulate filter; determine an ash correction factor from the soot mass estimate and the ash volume estimate; and calculate a corrected soot mass value by multiplying the ash correction factor with the soot mass estimate. If the corrected soot mass value exceeds a threshold, the controller may generate a corresponding particulate filter regeneration request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Christopher Sarsen, CHRISTOPHER WHITT, CHRISTOPHER C. SWOISH, REBECCA J. DARR
  • Patent number: 8621854
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment system for exhaust gas produced by an engine includes a condition control module, a load determination module, and an age determination module. The condition control module decreases a load on a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst below a predetermined load threshold and increases exhaust gas temperature (EGT) to a predetermined temperature. The load determination module increases injection of a dosing agent into the exhaust gas and determines a load on the SCR catalyst when dosing agent is detected downstream from the SCR catalyst. The age determination module determines an age of the SCR catalyst based the determined load and predetermined loads for first and second SCR catalysts, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Daniel Mullins, Kyle E. Crawford, Rebecca J Darr
  • Patent number: 8617495
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine to control desulfurization of at least one aftertreatment device is provided. The exhaust gas treatment system includes a desulfurization mode trigger module, a desulfurization control module, and an interrupt module. The desulfurization mode trigger module is configured to set a desulfurization request based on one or more trigger conditions. The desulfurization control module is configured to control desulfurization of at least one aftertreatment device based on the desulfurization request. The interrupt module is configured to interrupt the desulfurization of at least one aftertreatment device based on an interrupt condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Funk, Rebecca J Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Amr Radwan
  • Publication number: 20130298529
    Abstract: A method for controlling regeneration within an after-treatment component of an engine includes receiving a signal that is responsive to a change in pressure across an after-treatment component and calculating an estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component using a soot accumulation model calibrated to simulate operation of the engine at a reference condition. A soot model correction factor is based at least in part on an environmental temperature correction and is applied to the estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component to produce a temperature-compensated estimate of accumulated particulate matter in the after-treatment component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher C. Swoish, Christopher Whitt, Douglas Christopher Sarsen, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Publication number: 20130239553
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine for determining a total amount of sulfur that is stored on at least one aftertreatment device is provided. The exhaust gas treatment system includes a control module that monitors operation of the internal combustion engine for an amount of fuel consumed and an amount of oil consumed by the internal combustion engine. The control module includes a sulfur adsorption module and a total sulfur storage module. The sulfur adsorption module determines a rate of sulfur adsorption in at least one aftertreatment device. The rate of sulfur adsorption is based on the amount of fuel consumed and the amount of oil consumed. The total sulfur storage module is in communication with the sulfur adsorption module. The total sulfur storage module determines the total amount of sulfur stored based on the rate of sulfur adsorption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Funk, Rebecca J. Darr, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Amr Radwan
  • Patent number: 8505284
    Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment system for an internal combustion engine is provided and includes an exhaust gas conduit, a hydrocarbon supply, a particulate filter (“PF”), at least one sensor, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a control module. The PF is in fluid communication with the exhaust gas conduit and has a filter structure for removal of particulates in the exhaust gas. The filter structure has an innermost region and an outermost region. The PF is selectively regenerated during operation of the internal combustion engine. The PF has a stratified temperature structure that causes the particulates trapped at the innermost region of the PF burn off before the particulates trapped in the outermost region of the PF during regeneration. The control module has a memory with an infinite stage temperature control curve stored thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jianwen Li, Rahul Mital, Michael V. Taylor, Thomas Larose, Jr., Thomas J. Sobtzak, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Patent number: 8509983
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a level of diesel-exhaust-fluid (DEF) in a reservoir that is operatively connected to a catalyst for a diesel engine. The method is employed in a vehicle in order to facilitate a refill of the reservoir. The method includes sensing a level of diesel fuel in a fuel tank via a sensor operatively connected to the tank. The method also includes determining whether the vehicle is on an incline using the sensed level of diesel fuel in the fuel tank. The method additionally includes determining the level of DEF in the reservoir if the vehicle is determined to be substantially not on an incline. A system is also provided for detecting a level of DEF in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthew King, Rebecca J. Darr
  • Patent number: 8484955
    Abstract: An amount of particulate matter accumulated in a particulate filter of an exhaust system is estimated by preloading a memory location with a plurality of hybrid models. Each hybrid model estimates an amount of particulate matter accumulated in the particulate filter between a pair of operating points. An estimated amount of particulate matter accumulated in the particulate filter is stored in the memory location for each hybrid model. Each hybrid model is ranked based on estimation accuracy during operating conditions and the highest ranked hybrid model is selected. The estimated amount of particulate matter accumulated in the particulate filter corresponding to the highest ranked hybrid model is added to the soot estimation value stored in the memory location that corresponds to a ranked hybrid model to provide a soot estimation value of a cumulative estimated amount of particulate matter contained in the particulate filter for the ranked hybrid model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Raffaello Ardanese, Rebecca J. Darr, Michelangelo Ardanese, Paul Jasinkiewicz, Christopher Whitt