Patents by Inventor Wenbo Wang

Wenbo Wang 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).

  • Publication number: 20050279156
    Abstract: A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) testing system includes a DOC that is located in an exhaust system of a vehicle. A control module verifies proper operation of the DOC during a post-fuel injection process in an engine of the vehicle. The control module computes a predicted temperature of exhaust gases at an output of the DOC that corresponds with proper operation of the DOC during the post-fuel injection process, determines an actual temperature of the exhaust gases during the post-fuel injection process, and activates an alarm indicator when a difference between the predicted temperature and the actual temperature is greater than a first predetermined value. A first temperature sensor is located downstream from the DOC in the exhaust system. The first temperature sensor communicates with the control module, generates the actual temperature, and transmits the actual temperature to the control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Chuan He, Richard Jess, Jay Tolsma, John Van Gilder, Wenbo Wang
  • Publication number: 20050241297
    Abstract: A control system and method for optimizing fuel control in an internal combustion engine utilizes a signal from an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust downstream of a catalytic converter. An air/fuel mixture introduced into the engine is compensated based on the signal exceeding predetermined enabling thresholds. The predetermined rich or lean condition enable threshold represents an oxygen content so less or greater than desired that the normal closed loop control including regular secondary fuel trim is not sufficient enough to bring the outlet oxygen sensor signal back to the desired window quickly. A reduced or increased amount of fuel is introduced into the engine based on the signal exceeding the predetermined rich or lean enable threshold respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Igor Anilovich, Louis Avallone, Daniel Draper, Michael Emmorey, Brian Wallace
  • Patent number: 6871136
    Abstract: A method and control system for verifying cold start emissions reduction control in a vehicle using an internal combustion engine utilizes measured engine speed and commanded ignition timing to calculate an estimated actual engine-out thermal energy flow. An expected thermal energy flow is calculated based on designed engine speed and ignition timing. A residual energy flow is calculated based on a difference between the estimated actual thermal energy flow and the expected thermal energy flow. Meanwhile, a system quality-weighting factor is calculated based on several measured engine parameters. A qualified energy flow residual is calculated based on the system quality weight and the residual energy flow. The qualified energy residual flow is accumulated, averaged based on the accumulated quality weight, and then filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Richard B. Jess, Lyle E. Hamilton, Daniel G. Bolstrum, Matthew J. Roelle, John F. Van Gilder, David N. Belton, Richard W. Amann, Fang-Cheng J. Fu
  • Patent number: 6868666
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes a catalytic converter and an outlet sensor. The outlet sensor generates a sensor signal based on an oxygen level of exhaust gases exiting the catalytic converter. A controller communicates with an engine and the outlet sensor, and monitors the sensor signal during a predetermined period of engine operation. The controller commands an intrusive catalyst monitor test in a default order if the outlet sensor signal transitions through both thresholds during a predetermined period. The controller performs an intrusive outlet sensor test during cruise operation of the engine if the signal fails to transition through both thresholds during the catalyst monitor test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Frank, Igor Anilovich, Wenbo Wang
  • Publication number: 20040200208
    Abstract: A vehicle exhaust system includes a catalytic converter and an outlet sensor. The outlet sensor generates a sensor signal based on an oxygen level of exhaust gases exiting the catalytic converter. A controller communicates with an engine and the outlet sensor, and monitors the sensor signal during a predetermined period of engine operation. The controller commands an intrusive catalyst monitor test in a default order if the outlet sensor signal transitions through both thresholds during a predetermined period. The controller performs an intrusive outlet sensor test during cruise operation of the engine if the signal fails to transition through both thresholds during the catalyst monitor test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: David A. Frank, Igor Anilovich, Wenbo Wang
  • Patent number: 6802181
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to monitor secondary air injection and catalyst conversion efficiency. The method includes operating an engine in a rich condition after detecting an engine steady state condition. The secondary air injector injects air into an exhaust stream to simulate a lean engine condition. The injection of the air into the exhaust stream is ceased after both inlet and outlet sensors detect the lean condition. After ceasing air injection, a lag time is determined between the inlet sensor detecting the rich condition and the outlet sensor detecting the rich operating condition. An oxygen storage capacity of the catalytic converter is calculated based on the lag time. An efficiency of the catalytic converter is determined as a function of the storage capacity. Additionally, performance of the secondary air injector is monitored. If the inlet sensor fails to detect the lean condition after the secondary air injector is active, a fault is signaled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Matthew J. Roelle, Guojun Shi
  • Publication number: 20040134186
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to monitor secondary air injection and catalyst conversion efficiency. The method includes operating an engine in a rich condition after detecting an engine steady state condition. The secondary air injector injects air into an exhaust stream to simulate a lean engine condition. The injection of the air into the exhaust stream is ceased after both inlet and outlet sensors detect the lean condition. After ceasing air injection, a lag time is determined between the inlet sensor detecting the rich condition and the outlet sensor detecting the rich operating condition. An oxygen storage capacity of the catalytic converter is calculated based on the lag time. An efficiency of the catalytic converter is determined as a function of the storage capacity. Additionally, performance of the secondary air injector is monitored. If the inlet sensor fails to detect the lean condition after the secondary air injector is active, a fault is signaled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Wenbo Wang, Matthew J. Roelle, Guojun Shi