Patents by Inventor Ronald E. Gaskins

Ronald E. Gaskins 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: 20190376455
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine includes providing an internal combustion engine having an exhaust camshaft phaser and a knock sensor. A second step includes starting the internal combustion engine and receiving a first knock sensor signal from the knock sensor. A third step includes determining a first octane rating based on the first knock sensor signal and an algorithm. A fourth step includes communicating a camshaft timing change to the exhaust camshaft phaser if the first octane rating is less than 100%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony E. Locano, Ronald E. Gaskins, Charles F. Maguire III, Timothy J. Clever
  • Patent number: 9233744
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a profile storage module, a profile playback module, and a speed control module. The profile storage module stores an acceleration profile specifying a manner of accelerating a marine vessel. The profile playback module, in response to a play command received from a vessel operator, retrieves the acceleration profile and adjusts a desired engine speed based on the acceleration profile. The speed control module controls an engine speed of the marine vessel based on the desired engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, MEDALLION INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Ronald E. Gaskins, Lance Norris
  • Patent number: 8989928
    Abstract: A system for a watercraft includes memory, a communications module, and a throttle control module. The memory includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening. The communications module selectively downloads a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory. The throttle control module generates the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and a selected one of the first and second mappings. A throttle actuator module opens a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Ronald E. Gaskins, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Lance Norris
  • Patent number: 8731749
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle that includes an engine includes a speed generation module, an airflow determination module, and a throttle control module. The speed generation module generates a desired engine speed during a period after a measured vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a desired vehicle speed, wherein the desired engine speed is based on a difference between the desired vehicle speed and the measured vehicle speed. The airflow determination module determines a desired airflow based on a difference between the desired engine speed and a measured engine speed. The throttle control module determines a desired throttle position based on the desired airflow, and commands a throttle of the engine to the desired throttle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Ronald E. Gaskins
  • Publication number: 20120191277
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a profile storage module, a profile playback module, and a speed control module. The profile storage module stores an acceleration profile specifying a manner of accelerating a marine vessel. The profile playback module, in response to a play command received from a vessel operator, retrieves the acceleration profile and adjusts a desired engine speed based on the acceleration profile. The speed control module controls an engine speed of the marine vessel based on the desired engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Ronald E. Gaskins, Lance Norris
  • Publication number: 20120191276
    Abstract: A system for a watercraft includes memory, a communications module, and a throttle control module. The memory includes a first mapping of measured accelerator position to desired throttle opening. The communications module selectively downloads a second mapping of the measured accelerator position to the desired throttle opening to the memory. The throttle control module generates the desired throttle opening based on the measured accelerator position and a selected one of the first and second mappings. A throttle actuator module opens a throttle valve based on the desired throttle opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Ronald E. Gaskins, Martin Payne, Christopher A. Koches, Lance Norris
  • Publication number: 20120191275
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle that includes an engine includes a speed generation module, an airflow determination module, and a throttle control module. The speed generation module generates a desired engine speed during a period after a measured vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a desired vehicle speed, wherein the desired engine speed is based on a difference between the desired vehicle speed and the measured vehicle speed. The airflow determination module determines a desired airflow based on a difference between the desired engine speed and a measured engine speed. The throttle control module determines a desired throttle position based on the desired airflow, and commands a throttle of the engine to the desired throttle position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Clever, Kevin A. Cansiani, Ronald E. Gaskins
  • Patent number: 8037672
    Abstract: A quantity of unburned fuel is provided through a combustion chamber of an engine and an exhaust conduit to a catalytic converter. The catalyst in the converter is determined to be non-operational if a post-catalyst temperature sensor does not indicate a sufficient temperature increase between readings before and after provision of the unburned fuel to the combustion chamber. The unburned fuel may be provided by withholding spark ignition to create a misfire in the combustion chamber or, particularly in a direct injection engine, by injecting the fuel during the exhaust stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Gaskins
  • Publication number: 20090090097
    Abstract: A quantity of unburned fuel is provided through a combustion chamber of an engine and an exhaust conduit to a catalytic converter. The catalyst in the converter is determined to be non-operational if a post-catalyst temperature sensor does not indicate a sufficient temperature increase between readings before and after provision of the unburned fuel to the combustion chamber. The unburned fuel may be provided by withholding spark ignition to create a misfire in the combustion chamber or, particularly in a direct injection engine, by injecting the fuel during the exhaust stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Ronald E. Gaskins
  • Patent number: 6701905
    Abstract: A fuel pressure control for an alternate-fuel engine utilizes adaptively learned corrections for fuel injection pulsewidth to dynamically adjust a base fuel pressure control signal. The resulting fuel pressure control can thus be characterized as open-loop with closed-loop correction based on air/fuel ratio error. The control dynamically adjusts the fuel pressure in a manner to optimize the air/fuel ratio control instead of controlling to a predetermined pressure, and fuel pressure measurement is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Gaskins
  • Patent number: 6694946
    Abstract: An idle stability control for a fuel injected internal combustion engine deactivates selected fuel injectors after specified idle conditions have been met for a predetermined period of time, and thereafter until the conditions are no longer met. The engine spark timing is temporarily modified on each transition to and from the control to reduce operator perception of the injector deactivation and reactivation. Additionally, the injector deactivation pattern is periodically adjusted following an overlap period during which all of the injectors are enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Gaskins
  • Patent number: 5606315
    Abstract: A microprocessor based electronic control module with an EEPROM for storing protected data allows the data to be used internally, and allows non-sensitive data to be accessed by external communication tools, but prohibits access to the protected data unless a password is first entered. Then the data may be read from memory and the data or the password may then be changed. For a given model of control module, an ID number is assigned to the password and stored in the module, and can be read to allow the user to find the corresponding password on a secure list available only to authorized personnel. When a password can not be found and it is necessary to change the protected data, the unit can be recovered by a recover procedure wherein the secure data is first erased and then the security is deactivated to grant free access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Gaskins