Patents by Inventor Yue-Ming Chen

Yue-Ming Chen 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: 10480391
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes first and second target flowrate modules, a target speed module, and a speed control module. The first target flowrate module determines a first target flowrate of coolant through an engine. The second target flowrate module, when a change in heat input to the engine is greater than a predetermined value, sets a second target flowrate to greater than the first target flowrate. The target speed module determines a target speed of an engine coolant pump based on the second target flowrate. The speed control module controls a speed of the engine coolant pump based on the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Ben W. Moscherosch
  • Patent number: 10087815
    Abstract: A system includes a temperature estimation module and a pump control module. The temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of coolant flowing through an engine. The temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of a cylinder wall in the engine based on the estimated coolant temperature and a measured coolant temperature. The pump control module controls a coolant pump to adjust an actual rate of coolant flow through the engine based on the estimated cylinder wall temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sanjeev M. Naik, Yue-Ming Chen, Irina N. Dmitrieva
  • Patent number: 9964022
    Abstract: A system includes a coolant management module that, determines whether an engine of a vehicle is off, determines, in response to a determination that the engine is off, whether a heater associated with the engine is on, receives one of a plurality of engine coolant temperature (ECT) measurements and a respective location associated with the received ECT measurement, and communicates the respective location and an instruction to direct engine coolant flow from the respective location to one of the heater and engine. The system also includes a coolant control module that selectively actuates one or more coolant control valves based on the respective location and the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Christopher Harold Knieper
  • Patent number: 9957875
    Abstract: A target speed module determines a target speed of an engine coolant pump of the vehicle. A speed adjustment module determines a speed adjustment based on a position of a valve, wherein a backpressure of the engine coolant pump changes when the position of the valve changes. An adjusted target speed module determines an adjusted target speed for the engine coolant pump based on the target speed and the speed adjustment. A speed control module controls a speed of the engine coolant pump based on the adjusted target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9869223
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for optimizing fuel economy during an engine warm up phase of operation of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust manifold may have a coolant jacket through which a coolant may flow. A temperature of the coolant in the exhaust manifold may be determined to detect when it is at a predetermined maximum threshold, which represents a temperature threshold just below a temperature at which the coolant will begin to boil. When this threshold is reached, then a determination may be made as to a minimum rate of flow of the coolant through the exhaust manifold which maintains the coolant at about the predetermined maximum threshold, and the coolant may be flowed through the exhaust manifold at the determined minimum rate of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9840962
    Abstract: A system including a target module determining a target temperature of coolant at an input of an engine for a maximum amount of fuel efficiency. A mode module disables closed loop control based on temperatures of coolant entering the engine and at an output of a radiator. An open loop module determines first and second temperatures of coolant at inputs of a coolant control valve that receive coolant from the radiator and a channel that bypasses the radiator. A ratio module determines a ratio based on the first and second temperatures and the temperatures of the coolant entering the engine and at the radiator output. A closed loop module generates a correction value based on the target temperature and the temperature of the coolant entering the engine. A position module adjusts the coolant control valve based on the ratio, the correction value and whether closed loop control is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Sanjeev M. Naik
  • Patent number: 9745889
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a heat transfer rate module, a desired flow rate module, a flow rate adjustment module, and a pump control module. The heat transfer rate module determines a rate of heat transfer from an engine to coolant flowing through the engine based on a cylinder wall temperature and a measured coolant temperature. The desired flow rate module determines a desired rate of coolant flow through the engine based on the heat transfer rate. The flow rate adjustment module determines a coolant flow rate adjustment based on a desired coolant temperature and the measured coolant temperature. The pump control module controls a coolant pump to adjust an actual rate of coolant flow through the engine based on the desired coolant flow rate and the coolant flow rate adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sanjeev M. Naik, Yue-Ming Chen, Irina N. Dmitrieva
  • Patent number: 9719408
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving fuel economy in an internal combustion engine. The method may involve sensing a temperature of an engine block and determining a block thermal energy representing an ability of the block to reject heat. An open loop control scheme may be used together with the block thermal energy to predict if a coolant in the block is about to enter a boiling condition and, when this is about to occur, to open a block valve to permit a flow of coolant through the block. A closed loop control scheme may be used together with the sensed temperature of the block to determine if a coolant boiling condition is about to occur, and to control the block valve to permit a flow of coolant through the block which is just sufficient to prevent the onset of coolant boiling in the block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Ben W. Moscherosch
  • Patent number: 9719406
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a coolant valve control module and a pump control module. The coolant valve control module determines a position of a coolant valve. The pump control module determines a speed of a coolant pump based on the position of the coolant valve and a desired coolant output temperature, measures a coolant output temperature, determines a difference between the desired coolant output temperature and the measured coolant output temperature, generates a correction factor based on the difference between the desired coolant output temperature and the measured coolant output temperature, and applies the correction factor to the speed of the coolant pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan
  • Patent number: 9611780
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a fraction module, and a coolant valve control module. The fraction module determines an oil fuel fraction based on an amount of fuel in an amount of engine oil. The coolant valve control module, based on the oil fuel fraction, selectively actuates a coolant valve to enable coolant flow from an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM) of an engine to an engine oil heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Michael J. Paratore, Jr., Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9599011
    Abstract: A pump current module determines a first current flowing through an electric engine coolant pump based on a coolant valve position. A current error module receives a second current flowing through the electric engine coolant pump measured using a current sensor and determines a current error based on a difference between the first current and the second current. A fault module indicates whether a fault is present based on the current error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 9581075
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a target pressure module and a thermostat valve control module. The target pressure module determines a target pressure of coolant in a coolant path between a thermostat valve and at least one of an engine oil heat exchanger and a transmission fluid heat exchanger. The thermostat valve control module closes the thermostat valve and blocks coolant flow out of an engine when a temperature of coolant within the engine is less than a predetermined temperature. When the temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature, the thermostat valve control module controls opening of the thermostat valve to the coolant path based on the target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, George M. Claypole, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20170022879
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a fraction module, and a coolant valve control module. The fraction module determines an oil fuel fraction based on an amount of fuel in an amount of engine oil. The coolant valve control module, based on the oil fuel fraction, selectively actuates a coolant valve to enable coolant flow from an integrated exhaust manifold (IEM) of an engine to an engine oil heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Michael J. PARATORE, JR., Yue-Ming CHEN
  • Patent number: 9540987
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a coolant valve, a valve control module, and a fault diagnostic module. The coolant valve includes a first valve chamber, a second valve chamber, and a partition disposed between the first and second valve chambers. The coolant valve further includes a first end stop disposed on a first outer perimeter surface of the first valve chamber and a second end stop disposed on a second outer perimeter surface of the second valve chamber. The valve control module rotates the coolant valve in a first direction and in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction. The fault diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in the coolant valve based on a measured position of the coolant valve as the coolant valve is rotated in the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Vijay Ramappan, Yue-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20170002721
    Abstract: A system includes a temperature estimation module and a pump control module. The temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of coolant flowing through an engine. The temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of a cylinder wall in the engine based on the estimated coolant temperature and a measured coolant temperature. The pump control module controls a coolant pump to adjust an actual rate of coolant flow through the engine based on the estimated cylinder wall temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Sanjeev M. NAIK, Yue-Ming CHEN, Irina N. DMITRIEVA
  • Publication number: 20170002720
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a heat transfer rate module, a desired flow rate module, a flow rate adjustment module, and a pump control module. The heat transfer rate module determines a rate of heat transfer from an engine to coolant flowing through the engine based on a cylinder wall temperature and a measured coolant temperature. The desired flow rate module determines a desired rate of coolant flow through the engine based on the heat transfer rate. The flow rate adjustment module determines a coolant flow rate adjustment based on a desired coolant temperature and the measured coolant temperature. The pump control module controls a coolant pump to adjust an actual rate of coolant flow through the engine based on the desired coolant flow rate and the coolant flow rate adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Sanjeev M. NAIK, Yue-Ming CHEN, Irina N. DMITRIEVA
  • Publication number: 20160376978
    Abstract: A system including a target module determining a target temperature of coolant at an input of an engine for a maximum amount of fuel efficiency. A mode module disables closed loop control based on temperatures of coolant entering the engine and at an output of a radiator. An open loop module determines first and second temperatures of coolant at inputs of a coolant control valve that receive coolant from the radiator and a channel that bypasses the radiator. A ratio module determines a ratio based on the first and second temperatures and the temperatures of the coolant entering the engine and at the radiator output. A closed loop module generates a correction value based on the target temperature and the temperature of the coolant entering the engine. A position module adjusts the coolant control valve based on the ratio, the correction value and whether closed loop control is disabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Yue-Ming CHEN, Vijay RAMAPPAN, Sanjeev M. NAIK
  • Publication number: 20160281584
    Abstract: A system includes a coolant management module that, determines whether an engine of a vehicle is off, determines, in response to a determination that the engine is off, whether a heater associated with the engine is on, receives one of a plurality of engine coolant temperature (ECT) measurements and a respective location associated with the received ECT measurement, and communicates the respective location and an instruction to direct engine coolant flow from the respective location to one of the heater and engine. The system also includes a coolant control module that selectively actuates one or more coolant control valves based on the respective location and the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Christopher Harold Knieper
  • Publication number: 20160201547
    Abstract: A coolant control system of a vehicle includes a coolant valve control module and a pump control module. The coolant valve control module determines a position of a coolant valve. The pump control module determines a speed of a coolant pump based on the position of the coolant valve and a desired coolant output temperature, measures a coolant output temperature, determines a difference between the desired coolant output temperature and the measured coolant output temperature, generates a correction factor based on the difference between the desired coolant output temperature and the measured coolant output temperature, and applies the correction factor to the speed of the coolant pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. GONZE, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan
  • Publication number: 20160053665
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving fuel economy in an internal combustion engine. The method may involve sensing a temperature of an engine block and determining a block thermal energy representing an ability of the block to reject heat. An open loop control scheme may be used together with the block thermal energy to predict if a coolant in the block is about to enter a boiling condition and, when this is about to occur, to open a block valve to permit a flow of coolant through the block. A closed loop control scheme may be used together with the sensed temperature of the block to determine if a coolant boiling condition is about to occur, and to control the block valve to permit a flow of coolant through the block which is just sufficient to prevent the onset of coolant boiling in the block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Yue-Ming Chen, Vijay Ramappan, Ben W. Moscherosch