Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Braman

Timothy J. Braman 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).

  • Fuel pump prime activated by door sensor
    Patent number: 9228516
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel system including a first fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel tank and a second fuel pump in fluid communication with the first fuel pump. A pump control module selectively turns on the first fuel pump when a door opens before an engine is started, the engine is not cranking and a rail pressure of the first fuel pump is less than a predetermined rail pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dean R. Kwapis, Rafat F. Hattar, Maher El-Jaroudi, Timothy J. Braman
  • Adaptive engine speed control to prevent engine from roll and stall
    Patent number: 9074537
    Abstract: An adaptive engine speed control system includes an idle condition module that determines whether the engine is idling and determines whether an actual engine speed is different than a desired engine speed. The desired engine speed corresponds to a commanded engine speed. A torque reserve determination module adjusts at least one of a torque reserve and the desired engine speed based on the determination of whether the engine is idling and the determination that the actual engine speed differs from the desired engine speed. The torque reserve corresponds to a quantity of torque reserved to respond to an anticipated future load on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Thomas C. Pelton, Alfred E. Spitza, Jr., Timothy J. Braman, Matthew M. Manning, Krishnendu Kar
  • ADAPTIVE ENGINE SPEED CONTROL TO PREVENT ENGINE FROM ROLL AND STALL
    Publication number: 20140136074
    Abstract: An adaptive engine speed control system includes an idle condition module that determines whether the engine is idling and determines whether an actual engine speed is different than a desired engine speed. The desired engine speed corresponds to a commanded engine speed. A torque reserve determination module adjusts at least one of a torque reserve and the desired engine speed based on the determination of whether the engine is idling and the determination that the actual engine speed differs from the desired engine speed. The torque reserve corresponds to a quantity of torque reserved to respond to an anticipated future load on the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Thomas C. Pelton, Alfred E. Spitza, JR., Timothy J. Braman, Matthew M. Manning, Krishnendu Kar
  • FUEL PUMP PRIME ACTIVATED BY DOOR SENSOR
    Publication number: 20140067242
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel system including a first fuel pump in fluid communication with a fuel tank and a second fuel pump in fluid communication with the first fuel pump. A pump control module selectively turns on the first fuel pump when a door opens before an engine is started, the engine is not cranking and a rail pressure of the first fuel pump is less than a predetermined rail pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dean R. Kwapis, Rafat F. Hattar, Maher El-Jaroudi, Timothy J. Braman
  • CAM phaser and DOD coordination for engine torque control
    Patent number: 6966287
    Abstract: A torque control system for regulating operation of a displacement on demand engine that is operable in an activated mode and a deactivated mode includes a throttle that regulates air flow into the engine and a cam phaser that regulates a torque output of the engine. A first module determines a throttle area based on a desired deactivated manifold absolute pressure (MAP) and a desired mass air flow (MAF) and a second module determines a desired cam phaser position based on an engine speed and a transitional air per cylinder (APC) that is determined based on one of a desired deactivated APC and desired activated APC. A third module generates a throttle control signal to control the throttle based on the throttle area and a fourth module generates a cam phaser control signal to control the cam phaser based on the desired cam phaser position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Richard H. Clutz, Donovan L. Dibble, Bahram Younessi, Gregory J. York, Kevin J. Storch, Timothy J. Braman
  • Method and apparatus to correct a cam phaser fault
    Patent number: 6912981
    Abstract: A method of correcting a cam phaser system failure including detecting a cam phaser system fault and generating a control signal to correct said cam phaser system fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Thomas Davis, Timothy J. Braman
  • Method and apparatus to correct a cam phaser fault
    Publication number: 20040035380
    Abstract: A method of correcting a cam phaser system failure including detecting a cam phaser system fault and generating a control signal to correct said cam phaser system fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Jason Thomas Davis, Timothy J. Braman