Patents by Inventor Steven C Wante

Steven C Wante 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).

  • Patent number: 12188397
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a component coated with a pollutant reduction catalyst configured to remove pollutants from a flow of air over the component, a catalyst temperature sensor coupled to the component, a general temperature sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an active grille shutter (AGS) system having a plurality of movable grille shutters. A controller is configured to determine an efficiency of the pollutant reduction catalyst based on signals from the catalyst temperature sensor, the general temperature sensor, the vehicle speed sensor, and the AGS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Roger C Sager, Steven C Wante, Aurora J White, Robert L Roy, Daniel E Hornback, Matthew T Bartlett
  • Publication number: 20250003362
    Abstract: An engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass passage and a bypass catalytic converter. An emissions control system includes a controller in signal communication with an oxygen sensor disposed downstream of the bypass catalytic converter. The emissions control system performs a diagnostic of the bypass catalytic converter, by the controller, including (i) monitoring signals from the downstream oxygen sensor for a predetermined time period during an engine cold start condition, (ii) determining a curve plotting oxygen content at the downstream oxygen sensor over the predetermined time period, based on the signals from the downstream oxygen sensor, (iii) determining a number of times the curve crosses a predetermined setpoint over the predetermined time period, and (iv) comparing the number to a predetermined threshold to determine if the bypass catalytic converter has failed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Steven C Wante, Roger C Sager
  • Patent number: 12180870
    Abstract: An engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass passage and a bypass catalytic converter. An emissions control system includes a controller in signal communication with an oxygen sensor disposed downstream of the bypass catalytic converter. The emissions control system performs a diagnostic of the bypass catalytic converter, by the controller, including (i) monitoring signals from the downstream oxygen sensor for a predetermined time period during an engine cold start condition, (ii) determining a curve plotting oxygen content at the downstream oxygen sensor over the predetermined time period, based on the signals from the downstream oxygen sensor, (iii) determining a number of times the curve crosses a predetermined setpoint over the predetermined time period, and (iv) comparing the number to a predetermined threshold to determine if the bypass catalytic converter has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Steven C Wante, Roger C Sager
  • Patent number: 12092003
    Abstract: An engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass passage and a bypass catalytic converter. An emissions control system includes a controller in signal communication with an oxygen sensor disposed downstream of the bypass catalytic converter. The emissions control system performs a diagnostic of the bypass catalytic converter, by the controller, including (i) monitoring signals from the downstream oxygen sensor for a predetermined time period during an engine cold start condition, (ii) determining a curve plotting oxygen content at the downstream oxygen sensor over the predetermined time period, based on the signals from the downstream oxygen sensor, (iii) calculating an accumulated area under the curve over the predetermined time period, and (iv) comparing the calculated accumulated area to a predetermined threshold to determine if the bypass catalytic converter has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Steven C Wante, Roger C Sager
  • Patent number: 12055080
    Abstract: An engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass catalytic converter. An emissions control system includes a controller in signal communication with a first oxygen sensor disposed upstream of the bypass catalytic converter, and a second oxygen sensor disposed downstream of the bypass catalytic converter. The emissions control system performs a diagnostic of the bypass catalytic converter, including (i) monitoring signals from the first and second oxygen sensors for a predetermined time period during an engine cold start condition, (ii) determining a signal average of the first oxygen sensor (iii) determining a signal average of the second oxygen sensor, (iv) determining a difference between the signal averages of the first and second oxygen sensors, and (v) comparing the difference to a predetermined threshold to determine if the bypass catalytic converter has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Steven C Wante, Roger C Sager
  • Patent number: 12012882
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass passage and a bypass catalytic converter. An emissions control system includes a controller in signal communication with a first oxygen sensor disposed upstream of the bypass catalytic converter, and a second oxygen sensor disposed downstream. The emissions control system performs a diagnostic of the bypass catalytic converter, by the controller, including (i) monitoring signals from the first and second oxygen sensors for a predetermined time period during an engine cold start condition, (ii) determining a ratio of oxygen content at the second oxygen to the first oxygen sensor based on the signals from the first and second oxygen sensors, and (iii) comparing the determined ratio to a predetermined threshold ratio to determine if the bypass catalytic converter has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Steven C Wante, Roger C Sager
  • Patent number: 11994051
    Abstract: An engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass passage and a bypass catalytic converter. An emissions control system includes a controller in signal communication with a first temperature sensor disposed upstream of the bypass catalytic converter, and a second temperature sensor disposed downstream of the bypass catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Steven C Wante, Roger C Sager, Jeff Brand
  • Publication number: 20240093634
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a component coated with a pollutant reduction catalyst configured to remove pollutants from a flow of air over the component, a catalyst temperature sensor coupled to the component, a general temperature sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an active grille shutter (AGS) system having a plurality of movable grille shutters. A controller is configured to determine an efficiency of the pollutant reduction catalyst based on signals from the catalyst temperature sensor, the general temperature sensor, the vehicle speed sensor, and the AGS system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Roger C Sager, Steven C Wante, Aurora J White, Robert L Roy, Daniel E Hornback, Matthew T Bartlett