Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Brewbaker

Thomas A. Brewbaker 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).

  • Combustion control based on a signal from an engine vibration sensor
    Patent number: 7810469
    Abstract: Feedback control of an internal combustion engine is performed based on a signal from a vibration sensor and a crankshaft angle sensor. An energy factor can be computed based on these sensor signals. A vector of energy factor can be computed as a function of crank angle degree over a particular window of engine rotation of interest. Based on the energy factor vector, combustion phasing can be estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Vigild, Charles Tumelaire, Evangelos Karvounis, Daniel Roettger, Thomas Brewbaker, Michiel van Nieuwstadt, Michael Hopka, Diana Brehob
  • COMBUSTION CONTROL BASED ON A SIGNAL FROM AN ENGINE VIBRATION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20080053405
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of performing feedback control of the operation of an internal combustion engine based on a signal from a vibration sensor and a crankshaft angle sensor. An energy factor can be computed based on these sensor signals which provides an estimate of the combustion phasing and combustion intensity. A vector of energy factors can be computed as a function of crank angle degree over a particular window of engine rotation of interest. Based on the energy factor vector, combustion phasing can be estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Christian Vigild, Charles Turnelaire, Evangelos Karvounis, Daniel Roettger, Thomas Brewbaker, Michiel van Nieuwstadt, Michael Hopka, Diana Brehob
  • Method and system for controlling simultaneous diesel particulate filter regeneration and lean NOx trap desulfation
    Patent number: 6988361
    Abstract: A method and system for simultaneously regenerating a particulate filter coupled to an internal combustion engine and for desulfating a lean NOx trap disposed downstream of the particulate filter. The method includes adjusting at least one engine operating parameter to maintain a desired air fuel ratio for gases exiting the particulate filter in accordance with a difference between a reference set point air fuel ratio level and the air fuel ratio of gases exiting the particulate filter and wherein the reference set point level is changed between a rich air fuel ratio and a lean air fuel ratio as a function of the air fuel ratio of the gases exiting the lean NOx trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michiel van Nieuwstadt, John Cavataio, Thomas A. Brewbaker
  • Method and system for controlling simultaneous diesel particulate filter regeneration and lean NOx trap desulfation
    Publication number: 20050086933
    Abstract: A method and system for simultaneously regenerating a particulate filter coupled to an internal combustion engine and for desulfating a lean NOx trap disposed downstream of the particulate filter. The method includes adjusting at least one engine operating parameter to maintain a desired air fuel ratio for gases exiting the lean NOx trap in accordance with a difference between a reference set point air fuel ratio level and the air fuel ratio of gases exiting the lean NOx trap and wherein the reference set point level is changed between a rich air fuel ratio and a lean air fuel ratio as a function of the air fuel ratio of the exiting the lean NOx trap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventors: Michiel Nieuwstadt, John Cavataio, Thomas Brewbaker