Patents by Inventor Shuanita Robinson

Shuanita Robinson 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).

  • Weak refuel detection system and method for virtual flex fuel sensor system
    Patent number: 7739903
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in one implementation, is directed to a method of estimating composition of fuel in the fuel tank of a vehicle. A refuel event is detected. A determination is made whether a volume of fuel added to the fuel tank satisfies a first threshold. A fuel composition estimation is suspended if the refuel event satisfies the first threshold. A total volume of fuel is accumulated based on a plurality of refuel events satisfying the first threshold. A new fuel composition is estimated based on the accumulated total volume of fuel satisfying a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventors: Mark D. Carr, Frank W. Schipperijn, Shuanita Robinson
  • Virtual fuel sensor for dual fuel tank applications
    Patent number: 7735476
    Abstract: A method comprises detecting a status of a transfer pump for transferring fuel between a first fuel source and a second fuel source; receiving a fuel trim value and a vehicle operating parameter; and calculating a fuel composition of one of the first fuel source and second fuel source based on the fuel trim value, the transfer pump status and the vehicle operating parameter. A control module comprises a secondary pump transfer module detecting a status of a transfer pump for transferring fuel between a first fuel source and a second fuel source; and a fuel composition estimation module in communication with the secondary pump transfer module, receiving a fuel trim value and a vehicle operating parameter, and calculating a fuel composition of one of the first fuel source and second fuel source based on the fuel trim value, the transfer pump status, and the vehicle operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventors: Mark D. Carr, Louis A. Avallone, Julian R. Verdejo, Jeffrey A. Sell, Shuanita Robinson
  • VIRTUAL FUEL SENSOR FOR DUAL FUEL TANK APPLICATIONS
    Publication number: 20090071447
    Abstract: A method comprises detecting a status of a transfer pump for transferring fuel between a first fuel source and a second fuel source; receiving a fuel trim value and a vehicle operating parameter; and calculating a fuel composition of one of the first fuel source and second fuel source based on the fuel trim value, the transfer pump status and the vehicle operating parameter. A control module comprises a secondary pump transfer module detecting a status of a transfer pump for transferring fuel between a first fuel source and a second fuel source; and a fuel composition estimation module in communication with the secondary pump transfer module, receiving a fuel trim value and a vehicle operating parameter, and calculating a fuel composition of one of the first fuel source and second fuel source based on the fuel trim value, the transfer pump status, and the vehicle operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Carr, Louis A. Avallone, Julian R. Verdejo, Jeffrey A. Sell, Shuanita Robinson
  • WEAK REFUEL DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL FLEX FUEL SENSOR SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20090056430
    Abstract: The present disclosure, in one implementation, is directed to a method of estimating composition of fuel in the fuel tank of a vehicle. A refuel event is detected. A determination is made whether a volume of fuel added to the fuel tank satisfies a first threshold. A fuel composition estimation is suspended if the refuel event satisfies the first threshold. A total volume of fuel is accumulated based on a plurality of refuel events satisfying the first threshold. A new fuel composition is estimated based on the accumulated total volume of fuel satisfying a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Carr, Frank W. Schipperijn, Shuanita Robinson