Patents by Inventor Robert W. Riegel

Robert W. Riegel 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).

  • Spark voltage limiting system for active fuel management
    Patent number: 8495984
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a variable displacement module that deactivates N of M cylinders of an engine during a fuel management mode. N is an integer and M is an integer greater than 1. A spark control module generates a spark timing signal for the N cylinders based on a pre-dwell time and a fuel management dwell modifier during the fuel management mode. The spark control module reduces dwell time of the N cylinders during the fuel management mode based on the fuel management dwell modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventors: Robert W. Riegel, Yujiro Suwa, Ronald M. Wozniak, Anthony L. Marks
  • System and method for detecting engine oil aeration and starvation based on engine vibration
    Patent number: 8473185
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a determination module and a detection module. The determination module, based on an engine vibration signal generated by an engine vibration sensor, determines a frequency of engine vibration and determines a crankshaft position corresponding to the engine vibration. The detection module detects engine oil aeration and starvation when the frequency and crankshaft position are greater than predetermined thresholds, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventors: Yujiro Suwa, Alan S. Miller, Robert W. Riegel
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ENGINE OIL AERATION AND STARVATION BASED ON ENGINE VIBRATION
    Publication number: 20120046848
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a determination module and a detection module. The determination module, based on an engine vibration signal generated by an engine vibration sensor, determines a frequency of engine vibration and determines a crankshaft position corresponding to the engine vibration. The detection module detects engine oil aeration and starvation when the frequency and crankshaft position are greater than predetermined thresholds, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yujiro Suwa, Alan S. Miller, Robert W. Riegel
  • SPARK VOLTAGE LIMITING SYSTEM FOR ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20110094475
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a variable displacement module that deactivates N of M cylinders of an engine during a fuel management mode. N is an integer and M is an integer greater than 1. A spark control module generates a spark timing signal for the N cylinders based on a pre-dwell time and a fuel management dwell modifier during the fuel management mode. The spark control module reduces dwell time of the N cylinders during the fuel management mode based on the fuel management dwell modifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Riegel, Yujiro Suwa, Ronald M. Wozniak, Anthony L. Marks