Patents by Inventor Robert Douglas Shafto

Robert Douglas Shafto 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).

  • Publication number: 20110295489
    Abstract: An engine control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes a mode control module and an actuator control module. The mode control module selectively initiates an engine startup event when an engine startup command is generated. The actuator control module cranks an engine during the engine startup event, provides fuel to a first cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked, and selectively disables fuel to a second cylinder of the engine while the engine is being cranked. The second cylinder is after the first cylinder in a firing order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Publication number: 20110290216
    Abstract: A control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes a transmission load module, a target engine speed module, and an actuator control module. The transmission load module determines a load imposed on an engine through a transmission. The target engine speed module selectively determines a target engine speed during an engine startup event based on the load. The actuator control module controls at least one engine actuator based on the target engine speed during the engine startup event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM CLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Publication number: 20110295495
    Abstract: An engine control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes an auto-stop/start module and an actuator control module. The auto-stop/start module selectively generates an auto-stop command for shutting down an engine while an ignition is in an ON state. The actuator control module disables fuel to the engine when the auto-stop command is generated and closes a throttle valve to a predetermined throttle opening when the auto-stop command is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Publication number: 20110295494
    Abstract: An engine system includes a stop-start module that generates a shut down signal to shut down an engine. A friction module that generates a friction signal based on the engine shut down signal. The friction signal indicates an estimate of a sum of friction forces between components of the engine. A position module estimates a position of the engine and generates a position signal. An energy module estimates kinetic energy of the engine based on the friction signal and the position signal. A cylinder deactivation module stops the engine based on the kinetic energy in at least one of (i) a predetermined position and (ii) a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Publication number: 20110295474
    Abstract: An engine system of a vehicle includes an engine torque module. The engine torque module determines an engine output torque profile including predicted torque outputs based on an accelerator signal and an engine state variable. A load control module determines a dynamic transmission load profile based on the engine output torque profile and an engine speed profile. The dynamic transmission load profile includes transmission loads as a function of engine speed during an auto-start of an engine. A compensation module generates a torque compensation signal based on the dynamic transmission load profile. An actuator module compensates for a change in a transmission load based on the torque compensation signal and during a transition of the engine from a cranking state to an idle state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: QI MA, ROBERT DOUGLAS SHAFTO, RONALD F. LOCHOCKI, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110054744
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a combustion torque determination module, a friction torque determination module, and a control module. The combustion torque determination module determines a combustion torque of an engine based on pressure inside a cylinder of the engine during an engine cycle. The friction torque determination module determines friction torque of the engine based on the combustion torque, acceleration of an engine crankshaft, effective inertia of the engine crankshaft, and a pumping loss in the cylinder during the engine cycle. The control module adjusts an operating parameter of the engine based on the friction torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Patent number: 7809490
    Abstract: A fuel control system of an engine system comprising a pre-catalyst exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor and a control module. The pre-catalyst EGO sensor determines a pre-catalyst EGO signal based on an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas. The control module determines a dither signal. The control module determines a fuel command based on the pre-catalyst EGO signal and the dither signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Sharon Liu, Kenneth P. Dudek, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Patent number: 7654248
    Abstract: An engine torque control module comprises a derivative module and a cylinder torque module. The derivative module determines a derivative term for a first cylinder of an internal combustion engine based on rotation of a crankshaft and determines an average derivative term for the first cylinder based upon the derivative term. The cylinder torque module determines an operating condition of the first cylinder based on the average derivative term, adjusts a torque output of the first cylinder based on the operating condition, and adjusts a torque output of a second cylinder based on the operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Randall J. Guild, David S. Mathews, Todd R. Shupe, Robert Douglas Shafto, Kevin C. Wong, Karen A. Blandino
  • Publication number: 20090048759
    Abstract: A fuel control system of an engine system comprising a pre-catalyst exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensor and a control module. The pre-catalyst EGO sensor determines a pre-catalyst EGO signal based on an oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas. The control module determines a dither signal. The control module determines a fuel command based on the pre-catalyst EGO signal and the dither signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sharon Liu, Kenneth P. Dudek, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Publication number: 20080133111
    Abstract: An engine torque control module comprises a derivative module and a cylinder torque module. The derivative module determines a derivative term for a first cylinder of an internal combustion engine based on rotation of a crankshaft and determines an average derivative term for the first cylinder based upon the derivative term. The cylinder torque module determines an operating condition of the first cylinder based on the average derivative term, adjusts a torque output of the first cylinder based on the operating condition, and adjusts a torque output of a second cylinder based on the operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Buslepp, Douglas R. Verner, Randall J. Guild, David S. Mathews, Todd R. Shupe, Robert Douglas Shafto, Kevin C. Wong, Karen A. Blandino