Patents by Inventor Umberto Ferrara

Umberto Ferrara 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: 11415068
    Abstract: A system includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of exhaust gas produced by an engine, and a boost error module configured to determine a boost error of the engine. The system further includes a combustion control module configured to select at least one of a target boost pressure of the engine, a target EGR flow rate of the engine, and a target fuel injection parameter of the engine from a first set of target values when the exhaust gas temperature is less than a predetermined temperature and the boost error is less than a predetermined value, and to select the at least one of the target boost pressure, the target EGR flow rate, and the target fuel injection parameter from a second set of target values when the exhaust gas temperature is less than the predetermined temperature and the boost error is greater than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Umberto Ferrara, Filippo Lachina, Gianmaria Manassero, Domenico Maccarrone, Claudio Cortassa, Marco Cibella
  • Publication number: 20210047974
    Abstract: A system includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of exhaust gas produced by an engine, and a boost error module configured to determine a boost error of the engine. The system further includes a combustion control module configured to select at least one of a target boost pressure of the engine, a target EGR flow rate of the engine, and a target fuel injection parameter of the engine from a first set of target values when the exhaust gas temperature is less than a predetermined temperature and the boost error is less than a predetermined value, and to select the at least one of the target boost pressure, the target EGR flow rate, and the target fuel injection parameter from a second set of target values when the exhaust gas temperature is less than the predetermined temperature and the boost error is greater than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Umberto FERRARA, Filippo LACHINA, Gianmaria MANASSERO, Domenico MACCARRONE, Claudio CORTASSA, Marco CIBELLA
  • Patent number: 10590882
    Abstract: An injector driver module includes: a first node that is connected to a first terminal of a fuel injector; a first switch configured to, when closed, connect a first potential of a battery to the first node; a second switch configured to, when closed, connect a second potential that is greater than the first potential to the first node; a second node that is connected to a second terminal of the fuel injector; and a third switch configured to, when closed, connect a ground potential to the second node. A switch control module is configured to, starting at a target injecting timing for a fuel injection event of the fuel injector: maintain the third switch closed; and switch the second switch using a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having (i) a duty cycle that is less than 100 percent and (ii) a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Casasso, Tiziana Belvedere, Umberto Ferrara, Luca Chiapusso
  • Patent number: 10487768
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injections by a fuel injector in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. First and second fuel injections are applied in each cycle of a piston in the cylinder. First and second electronic control signals are applied to the fuel injector to generate first and second fuel injections by the fuel injector during a first cycle of the piston. A hydraulic fusion state of the generated first and second fuel injections is determined. A parameter of the applied first and second electronic control signals is adjusted in response to determining the hydraulic fusion state and applied to the fuel injector to generate first and second fuel injections by the fuel injector during a second cycle of the piston subsequent to the first cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gennaro Merlino, Angelo Cancellieri, Umberto Ferrara, Francesco Concetto Pesce, Alessandro Forina
  • Publication number: 20190211772
    Abstract: An injector driver module includes: a first node that is connected to a first terminal of a fuel injector; a first switch configured to, when closed, connect a first potential of a battery to the first node; a second switch configured to, when closed, connect a second potential that is greater than the first potential to the first node; a second node that is connected to a second terminal of the fuel injector; and a third switch configured to, when closed, connect a ground potential to the second node. A switch control module is configured to, starting at a target injecting timing for a fuel injection event of the fuel injector: maintain the third switch closed; and switch the second switch using a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having (i) a duty cycle that is less than 100 percent and (ii) a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paolo CASASSO, Tiziana BELVEDERE, Umberto FERRARA, Luca CHIAPUSSO
  • Publication number: 20190010889
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for optimizing current injection profiles used for solenoid injectors, such as during fuel injection. An example fuel injector system includes a solenoid injector and a controller that receives a request for energizing the solenoid for an energizing time. The controller, in response to the requested energizing time exceeding a predetermined threshold, holds an electrical current applied to the solenoid injector at a predetermined minimum holding value for a holding phase. Further, the controller in response to the requested energizing time being less than the predetermined threshold, applies a predetermined peak-current value to the solenoid injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Umberto Ferrara, Luca Chiapusso, Marco Borri
  • Patent number: 10161775
    Abstract: A method can be used for determining fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, in real time. The method includes determining a fuel injection quantity of the internal combustion engine based on an oxygen concentration signal from an oxygen sensor and a MAF signal from a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. The MAF sensor is coupled to the intake line and is configured to measure and monitor the mass flow rate of intake air flowing through the intake line. The method further includes determining, via an engine control module (ECM), an instantaneous fuel flow of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel injection quantity. The method further includes communicating, via the ECM, the instantaneous fuel flow to a body control module (BCM) and determining, via the BCM, an average fuel economy of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Umberto Ferrara, Serena Tordin
  • Publication number: 20180334983
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling fuel injections by a fuel injector in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. First and second fuel injections are applied in each cycle of a piston in the cylinder. First and second electronic control signals are applied to the fuel injector to generate first and second fuel injections by the fuel injector during a first cycle of the piston. A hydraulic fusion state of the generated first and second fuel injections is determined. A parameter of the applied first and second electronic control signals is adjusted in response to determining the hydraulic fusion state and applied to the fuel injector to generate first and second fuel injections by the fuel injector during a second cycle of the piston subsequent to the first cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gennaro MERLINO, Angelo CANCELLIERI, Umberto FERRARA, Francesco Concetto PESCE, Alessandro FORINA
  • Patent number: 10018142
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a compression-ignition engine having a combustion chamber. The method includes establishing, via an injection driver, electronic communication with a primary clock configured to generate a primary time signal. The method also includes commanding an injector to introduce into the combustion chamber injections of fuel having respective pulse widths timed using the primary time signal to generate combustion within the combustion chamber. The method additionally includes detecting a loss of the primary time signal and subsequently establishing an electronic communication between the injection driver and an auxiliary clock configured to generate an auxiliary time signal. Furthermore, the method includes commanding the injector to introduce into the combustion chamber a number of injections of fuel having respective pulse widths timed using the auxiliary time signal and thereby continuing combustion within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Umberto Ferrara, Luca Chiapusso, Raffaele Esposito, Marco Tiberio
  • Publication number: 20180170288
    Abstract: A method can be used for determining fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, in real time. The method includes determining a fuel injection quantity of the internal combustion engine based on an oxygen concentration signal from an oxygen sensor and a MAF signal from a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. The MAF sensor is coupled to the intake line and is configured to measure and monitor the mass flow rate of intake air flowing through the intake line. The method further includes determining, via an engine control module (ECM), an instantaneous fuel flow of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel injection quantity. The method further includes communicating, via the ECM, the instantaneous fuel flow to a body control module (BCM) and determining, via the BCM, an average fuel economy of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Umberto Ferrara, Serena Tordin