Patents by Inventor Scott Alan Westfall

Scott Alan Westfall 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).

  • Block heater detection for improved startability
    Patent number: 8886444
    Abstract: A method of starting an internal combustion engine includes sensing a temperature of an engine coolant at an engine block of the internal combustion engine, and sensing a temperature of a secondary engine component remote from the engine block when the internal combustion engine is not running. A numerical difference between the temperature of the engine coolant and the temperature of the secondary engine component is calculated. A start parameter setting used to control the start of the internal combustion engine is adjusted based upon both the sensed temperature of the engine coolant and the numerical difference between the sensed temperature of the engine coolant and the sensed temperature of the secondary engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Holbert, Scott Alan Westfall
  • BLOCK HEATER DETECTION FOR IMPROVED STARTABILITY
    Publication number: 20130035840
    Abstract: A method of starting an internal combustion engine includes sensing a temperature of an engine coolant at an engine block of the internal combustion engine, and sensing a temperature of a secondary engine component remote from the engine block when the internal combustion engine is not running. A numerical difference between the temperature of the engine coolant and the temperature of the secondary engine component is calculated. A start parameter setting used to control the start of the internal combustion engine is adjusted based upon both the sensed temperature of the engine coolant and the numerical difference between the sensed temperature of the engine coolant and the sensed temperature of the secondary engine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Holbert, Scott Alan Westfall