Patents by Inventor Wesley W. Wald

Wesley W. Wald 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: 9845759
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fault command module, a fuel control module, and a fault detection module. The fault command module selectively generates a command to induce a fuel system fault based on a user input. The fuel control module automatically adjusts a fuel correction factor to a target value outside of a first predetermined range in response to the command to induce a fuel system fault. The fuel control module actuates a fuel injector associated with a cylinder of an engine based on the fuel correction factor. The fault detection module detects a fuel system fault when the fuel correction factor is outside of the first predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eric Russell Clark, II, Wesley W. Wald, David E. Homyak, Ian J. MacEwen
  • Publication number: 20170159595
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a fault command module, a fuel control module, and a fault detection module. The fault command module selectively generates a command to induce a fuel system fault based on a user input. The fuel control module automatically adjusts a fuel correction factor to a target value outside of a first predetermined range in response to the command to induce a fuel system fault. The fuel control module actuates a fuel injector associated with a cylinder of an engine based on the fuel correction factor. The fault detection module detects a fuel system fault when the fuel correction factor is outside of the first predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Russell CLARK, II, Wesley W. Wald, David E. Homyak, Ian J. Mac Ewen
  • Patent number: 8583349
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a stage transition module and a control module. The stage transition module generates a command signal based on a fuel control signal. The command signal commands a fuel system of the engine to intrusively transition between rich and lean states during a diagnostic test that includes first, second, and third stages. The first, second, and third stages are defined based on transitions between the rich and lean states. The control module during the second and third stages detects: an error with a first oxygen sensor based on a comparison between the command signal and a first oxygen signal from the first oxygen sensor; an error with a second oxygen sensor based on a second oxygen signal from the second oxygen sensor; and an error with a catalytic converter based on the first and second oxygen signals and a manifold absolute pressure signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, John W. Siekkinen, Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Jeffry A. Helmick, John F. Van Gilder
  • Patent number: 8516796
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system of an engine includes a fuel control module and a diagnostic module. The fuel control module, in response to a request for a fuel inhibiting event, operates the engine in a first rich condition for a first period until a catalytic converter of the exhaust system is in a predetermined first rich state and subsequently operates the engine in a lean condition for a second period contiguous with the first period. The diagnostic module determines a catalyst efficiency of the catalytic converter based on an output of an oxygen sensor located downstream of said catalytic converter during the second period, and selectively adjusts a diagnostic status of the catalytic converter based on a comparison of the catalyst efficiency and a predetermined catalyst efficiency. The fuel inhibiting event may be a deceleration fuel-cutoff event. A related diagnostic method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Igor Anilovich
  • Patent number: 8127744
    Abstract: An engine control module includes a spark control module, an engine speed module, a residual determination module, and a metric determination module. The spark control module actuates spark plugs based on a commanded spark timing. The engine speed module determines a desired engine speed based on an engine temperature and a period of time an engine is in operation after a cold start. The residual determination module determines a desired spark timing based on the desired engine speed, and determines a residual spark timing based on a difference between the commanded spark timing and the desired spark timing. The metric determination module detects a spark timing fault based on the residual spark timing and a predetermined spark timing range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Wenbo Wang, Wesley W. Wald
  • Publication number: 20110120095
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system of an engine includes a fuel control module and a diagnostic module. The fuel control module, in response to a request for a fuel inhibiting event, operates the engine in a first rich condition for a first period until a catalytic converter of the exhaust system is in a predetermined first rich state and subsequently operates the engine in a lean condition for a second period contiguous with the first period. The diagnostic module determines a catalyst efficiency of the catalytic converter based on an output of an oxygen sensor located downstream of said catalytic converter during the second period, and selectively adjusts a diagnostic status of the catalytic converter based on a comparison of the catalyst efficiency and a predetermined catalyst efficiency. The fuel inhibiting event may be a deceleration fuel-cutoff event. A related diagnostic method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Igor Anilovich
  • Publication number: 20110106411
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a stage transition module and a control module. The stage transition module generates a command signal based on a fuel control signal. The command signal commands a fuel system of the engine to intrusively transition between rich and lean states during a diagnostic test that includes first, second, and third stages. The first, second, and third stages are defined based on transitions between the rich and lean states. The control module during the second and third stages detects: an error with a first oxygen sensor based on a comparison between the command signal and a first oxygen signal from the first oxygen sensor; an error with a second oxygen sensor based on a second oxygen signal from the second oxygen sensor; and an error with a catalytic converter based on the first and second oxygen signals and a manifold absolute pressure signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, John W. Siekkinen, Wesley W. Wald, Robert J. Genslak, Jeffry A. Helmick, John F. Van Gilder
  • Patent number: 7900439
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system including a catalyst and a post-catalyst oxygen sensor is provided. The system generally includes a fuel control module that commands fuel to transition from a rich condition to a lean condition and that commands fuel to transition from the lean condition to the rich condition. A first diagnostic module monitors the post-catalyst oxygen sensor during the transition from the rich condition to the lean condition. A second diagnostic module monitors the catalyst during the transition from the lean condition to the rich condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Igor Anilovich, Justin F. Adams, Jeffry A. Helmick, Edward Stuteville, Wesley W. Wald, Vidyapriya Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20100175664
    Abstract: An engine control module includes a spark control module, an engine speed module, a residual determination module, and a metric determination module. The spark control module actuates spark plugs based on a commanded spark timing. The engine speed module determines a desired engine speed based on an engine temperature and a period of time an engine is in operation after a cold start. The residual determination module determines a desired spark timing based on the desired engine speed, and determines a residual spark timing based on a difference between the commanded spark timing and the desired spark timing. The metric determination module detects a spark timing fault based on the residual spark timing and a predetermined spark timing range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Edward Stuteville, Wenbo Wang, Wesley W. Wald
  • Publication number: 20080302087
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an exhaust system including a catalyst and a post-catalyst oxygen sensor is provided. The system generally includes a fuel control module that commands fuel to transition from a rich condition to a lean condition and that commands fuel to transition from the lean condition to the rich condition. A first diagnostic module monitors the post-catalyst oxygen sensor during the transition from the rich condition to the lean condition. A second diagnostic module monitors the catalyst during the transition from the lean condition to the rich condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Robert J. Genslak, Igor Anilovich, Justin F. Adams, Jeffry A. Helmick, Edward Stuteville, Wesley W. Wald, Vidyapriya Srinivasan