Patents by Inventor Thomas Dovheim

Thomas Dovheim 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).

  • Apparatus and method for accurate detection of locomotive fuel injection pump solenoid closure
    Patent number: 7467619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for detecting a closing of a solenoid. The system includes a capacitive charge circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid. The capacitive charge circuit conditions the current flow through the solenoid to increase the current in response to the closing of the solenoid. The invention also relates to a system and method that includes detecting a current through the solenoid and determining a current slope characteristic. The current slope characteristic is a function of the current and time. The method also includes conditioning an electrical characteristic of the solenoid such that the conditioning is in response to a current slope parameter. The current slope parameter defines a change in the current after removal of an electrical charge to the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Esa Sheikh, Suresh Baddam Reddy, Samraj Jabez Dhinagar, Bo Nilson Almstedt, Andreas Peterson, Thomas Dovheim, Lennart Rudander
  • Apparatus and method for accurate detection of locomotive fuel injection pump solenoid closure
    Patent number: 7328690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for detecting a closing of a solenoid. The system includes a capacitive charge circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid. The capacitive charge circuit conditions the current flow through the solenoid to increase the current in response to the closing of the solenoid. The invention also relates to a system and method that includes detecting a current through the solenoid and determining a current slope characteristic. The current slope characteristic is a function of the current and time. The method also includes conditioning an electrical characteristic of the solenoid such that the conditioning is in response to a current slope parameter. The current slope parameter defines a change in the current after removal of an electrical charge to the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Esa Sheikh, Suresh Baddam Reddy, Samraj Jabez Dhinagar, Bo Nilson Almstedt, Andreas Peterson, Thomas Dovheim, Lennart Rudander
  • Apparatus and Method for Accurate Detection of Locomotive Fuel Injection Pump Solenoid Closure
    Publication number: 20080006235
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for detecting a closing of a solenoid. The system includes a capacitive charge circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid. The capacitive charge circuit conditions the current flow through the solenoid to increase the current in response to the closing of the solenoid. The invention also relates to a system and method that includes detecting a current through the solenoid and determining a current slope characteristic. The current slope characteristic is a function of the current and time. The method also includes conditioning an electrical characteristic of the solenoid such that the conditioning is in response to a current slope parameter. The current slope parameter defines a change in the current after removal of an electrical charge to the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ahmed Sheikh, Suresh Reddy, Samraj Dhinagar, Bo Almstedt, Andreas Peterson, Thomas Dovheim, Lennart Rudander
  • Solenoid control using voltage control of freewheel current decay
    Patent number: 7023682
    Abstract: In a vehicle fuel-injection system, additional voltage is applied to an otherwise current-controlled valve solenoid so as to increase the time window over which freewheeling current in the solenoid decreases from a pull-in level to a hold level. The time during which the Beginning of Injection Pulse (BIP) signal is detected is thereby increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Dovheim
  • Apparatus and method for accurate detection of locomotive fuel injection pump solenoid closure
    Publication number: 20050066940
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for detecting a closing of a solenoid. The system includes a capacity charge circuit electrically coupled to the solenoid. The capacity charge circuit conditions the current flow through the solenoid to increase the current in response to the closing of the solenoid. The invention also relates to a system and method that includes detecting a current through the solenoid and determining a current slope characteristic. The current slope characteristic is a function of the current and time. The method also includes conditioning an electrical characteristic of the solenoid such that the conditioning is in response to a current slope parameter. The current slope parameter defines a change in the current after removal of an electrical charge to the solenoid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Ahmed Sheikh, Suresh Reddy, Samraj Dhinagar, Bo Almstedt, Andreas Peterson, Thomas Dovheim, Lennart Rudander
  • Solenoid control using voltage control of freewheel current decay
    Publication number: 20040201945
    Abstract: In a vehicle fuel-injection system, additional voltage is applied to an otherwise current-controlled valve solenoid so as to increase the time window over which freewheeling current in the solenoid decreases from a pull-in level to a hold level. The time during which the Beginning of Injection Pulse (BIP) signal is detected is thereby increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Dovheim