Patents by Inventor Zhiping Steven Liu

Zhiping Steven Liu 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: 9534550
    Abstract: A cylinder control system of a vehicle includes a cylinder control module and an air per cylinder (APC) prediction module. The cylinder control module determines a desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence. The cylinder control module also activates and deactivates valves of cylinders of an engine based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence. The APC prediction module predicts an amount of air that will be trapped within a next activated cylinder in a firing order of the cylinders based on a cylinder activation/deactivation sequence of the last Q cylinders in the firing order. Q is an integer greater than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory P. Matthews, Zhiping Steven Liu, Daniel G. Brennan
  • Patent number: 9494092
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine air sensor, an engine air prediction module, and an engine actuator module. The engine air sensor measures an engine air parameter at a first rate. The engine air parameter includes at least one of a mass flow rate of air flowing into an intake manifold of an engine, a pressure within the intake manifold, and a mass of air within a cylinder of the engine. The engine air prediction module predicts the engine air parameter at a second rate that is greater than the first rate. The engine actuator module controls an actuator of the engine based on at least one of the measured engine air parameter and the predicted engine air parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Gregory P. Matthews, Anthony B. Will
  • Patent number: 9222427
    Abstract: A system includes a parameter module that determines at least one of a position of a throttle and a load of an engine. A cylinder status module generates a status signal indicating an activation status of each cylinder of the engine. The cylinder status module determines whether one or more of the cylinders are activated. A first pressure prediction module, when all of the cylinders are activated, predicts first intake port pressures for the cylinders of the engine according to a first model and based on the at least one of the position of the throttle and the engine load. A second pressure prediction module, when one or more of the cylinders is deactivated, predicts second intake port pressures for the deactivated cylinders according to a second model and based on the status signal and the at least one of the position of the throttle and the engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Gregory P. Matthews, Zhiping Steven Liu
  • Patent number: 9206727
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust treatment system of a vehicle is provided. The method includes: determining a modeled resistance of exhaust flow in the exhaust treatment system; determining a measured resistance of exhaust flow in the exhaust treatment system; evaluating the modeled resistance and the measured resistance to determine a fault status; and generating at least one of a warning signal and a message based on the fault status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Eugene V. Gonze, Janean E. Kowalkowski
  • Publication number: 20150260112
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes an engine air sensor, an engine air prediction module, and an engine actuator module. The engine air sensor measures an engine air parameter at a first rate. The engine air parameter includes at least one of a mass flow rate of air flowing into an intake manifold of an engine, a pressure within the intake manifold, and a mass of air within a cylinder of the engine. The engine air prediction module predicts the engine air parameter at a second rate that is greater than the first rate. The engine actuator module controls an actuator of the engine based on at least one of the measured engine air parameter and the predicted engine air parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: ZHIPING STEVEN LIU, Gregory P. Matthews, Anthony B. Will
  • Patent number: 8886440
    Abstract: A method and control module for controlling an engine includes a requested torque module that generates a requested torque and a turbo boost level module that determines a desired boost level based on the driver requested torque. The control module further includes a pulse determination module that determines a primary fuel injection pulsewidth and a secondary fuel injection pulsewidth based on the driver requested torque and the desired boost level and controls a first injection into the cylinder with the primary fuel injection pulsewidth and a second injection into the cylinder with the secondary fuel injection pulsewidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventors: Lee C. Walker, B. Jerry Song, Zhiping Steven Liu
  • Publication number: 20140069376
    Abstract: A system includes a parameter module that determines at least one of a position of a throttle and a load of an engine. A cylinder status module generates a status signal indicating an activation status of each cylinder of the engine. The cylinder status module determines whether one or more of the cylinders are activated. A first pressure prediction module, when all of the cylinders are activated, predicts first intake port pressures for the cylinders of the engine according to a first model and based on the at least one of the position of the throttle and the engine load. A second pressure prediction module, when one or more of the cylinders is deactivated, predicts second intake port pressures for the deactivated cylinders according to a second model and based on the status signal and the at least one of the position of the throttle and the engine load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: GREGORY P. MATTHEWS, Zhiping Steven Liu
  • Publication number: 20140069375
    Abstract: A cylinder control system of a vehicle includes a cylinder control module and an air per cylinder (APC) prediction module. The cylinder control module determines a desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence. The cylinder control module also activates and deactivates valves of cylinders of an engine based on the desired cylinder activation/deactivation sequence. The APC prediction module predicts an amount of air that will be trapped within a next activated cylinder in a firing order of the cylinders based on a cylinder activation/deactivation sequence of the last Q cylinders in the firing order. Q is an integer greater than one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: GREGORY P. MATTHEWS, Zhiping Steven Liu, Daniel G. Brennan
  • Publication number: 20140067230
    Abstract: A turbocharger control method includes: determining a first desired pressure ratio across a first compressor of a first turbocharger; based on the first desired pressure ratio, determining a first desired duty cycle for a first wastegate of the first turbocharger; determining a second desired pressure ratio across a second compressor of a second turbocharger based on the first desired pressure ratio; based on the second desired pressure ratio, determining a second desired duty cycle for a second wastegate of the second turbocharger; generating a first target duty cycle for the first wastegate based on the first desired duty cycle; opening the first wastegate based on the first target duty cycle; generating a second target duty cycle for the second wastegate based on the second desired duty cycle; and opening the second wastegate based on the second target duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Kevin Andrew Gady, Yue-Yun Wang
  • Patent number: 8538661
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a particulate filter of an exhaust treatment system is provided. The method includes: selectively enabling at least one of data collection and resistance evaluation based on a particulate matter level in the particulate filter; when data collection is enabled, computing a particulate filter resistance based on a linear regression model; and when resistance evaluation is enabled, evaluating an efficiency of the particulate filter based on the particulate filter resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Eugene V. Gonze
  • Patent number: 8468821
    Abstract: A system for a sequential turbocharger includes a loop control module, a set-point module, and a loop operation module. The loop control module generates a loop control mode signal based on an engine speed signal and an engine load signal. The loop control mode signal indicates one of a single-loop control mode and a dual-loop control mode. The set-point selection module determines at least one of a boost pressure set-point value and an exhaust pressure set-point value based on the loop control mode signal, the engine speed signal, and an engine torque signal. The loop operation module operates at least one of a variable geometry turbine and a bypass valve of the sequential turbocharger during the single-loop control mode based on the boost pressure set-point value, and during the dual-loop control mode based on the boost pressure set-point value and the exhaust pressure set-point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Anupam Gangopadhyay
  • Publication number: 20130138291
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust treatment system of a vehicle is provided. The method includes: determining a modeled resistance of exhaust flow in the exhaust treatment system; determining a measured resistance of exhaust flow in the exhaust treatment system; evaluating the modeled resistance and the measured resistance to determine a fault status; and generating at least one of a warning signal and a message based on the fault status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Eugene V. Gonze, Janean E. Kowalkowski
  • Patent number: 8364420
    Abstract: A flame temperature estimator includes an adiabatic flame temperature module that estimates an adiabatic flame temperature. A temperature reduction module estimates a temperature reduction for the adiabatic flame temperature based on an air-to-fuel ratio of an engine. A combustion temperature trend module generates a combustion temperature trend based on the temperature reduction and the adiabatic flame temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Daniele Ceccarini, Anupam Gangopadhyay, Andrea Baccile, Peter Fussey
  • Patent number: 8302397
    Abstract: A system for a sequential turbocharger includes a mode selection module, a feed-forward selection module, and a control loop module. The mode selection module generates a control mode signal based on an engine speed signal, an engine torque signal, and an engine mode signal. The control mode signal indicates one of an open-loop control mode and a closed-loop control mode. The feed-forward selection module determines a feed-forward value based on the control mode signal, the engine speed signal, and the engine torque signal. The control loop module determines a loop control value at least one of based on the feed-forward value, a variable geometry turbine (VGT) control signal, and an error signal; and based on a bypass valve (BPV) control signal and the error signal when the control mode signal transitions from the open-loop control mode to the closed-loop control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, B. Jerry Song, Anupam Gangopadhyay, Ping Ge
  • Patent number: 8276378
    Abstract: A method of controlling a turbocharger for an engine and a control system for the same includes a variable nozzle turbine control module operating a variable nozzle turbine of a high pressure turbocharger closed loop in a first load-engine speed region. The system also includes a high pressure turbine bypass valve control module operating a high pressure turbine bypass valve in a closed position in a first load-engine speed region. The variable nozzle turbine control module operates a variable nozzle turbine closed loop in a second load-engine speed region between the first load-speed region and a third load speed region. The high pressure turbine bypass valve module operates the high pressure turbine bypass valve in a transient region in the second load-engine speed region. The variable nozzle turbine control module operates the variable nozzle turbine open loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: B. Jerry Song, Ping Ge, Zhiping Steven Liu, Anupam Gangopadhyay
  • Publication number: 20120023911
    Abstract: A method of detecting failure of a substrate in a particulate filter includes comparing an absolute value of a difference between a theoretical temperature difference and an actual temperature difference between an upstream end and a downstream end of the particulate filter to a temperature differential threshold, and comparing an absolute value of a difference between a theoretical pressure difference and an actual pressure difference between the upstream end and the downstream end of the particulate filter to a pressure differential threshold. Failure of the substrate is indicated by one or both of the temperature difference and the pressure difference being greater than the temperature differential threshold and the pressure differential threshold respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Eugene V. Gonze
  • Publication number: 20110320103
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a particulate filter of an exhaust treatment system is provided. The method includes: selectively enabling at least one of data collection and resistance evaluation based on a particulate matter level in the particulate filter; when data collection is enabled, computing a particulate filter resistance based on a linear regression model; and when resistance evaluation is enabled, evaluating an efficiency of the particulate filter based on the particulate filter resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Eugene V. Gonze
  • Publication number: 20110257867
    Abstract: A method and control module for controlling an engine includes a requested torque module that generates a requested torque and a turbo boost level module that determines a desired boost level based on the driver requested torque. The control module further includes a pulse determination module that determines a primary fuel injection pulsewidth and a secondary fuel injection pulsewidth based on the driver requested torque and the desired boost level and controls a first injection into the cylinder with the primary fuel injection pulsewidth and a second injection into the cylinder with the secondary fuel injection pulsewidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee C. Walker, B. Jerry Song, Zhiping Steven Liu
  • Publication number: 20110113773
    Abstract: A system for a sequential turbocharger includes a loop control module, a set-point module, and a loop operation module. The loop control module generates a loop control mode signal based on an engine speed signal and an engine load signal. The loop control mode signal indicates one of a single-loop control mode and a dual-loop control mode. The set-point selection module determines at least one of a boost pressure set-point value and an exhaust pressure set-point value based on the loop control mode signal, the engine speed signal, and an engine torque signal. The loop operation module operates at least one of a variable geometry turbine and a bypass valve of the sequential turbocharger during the single-loop control mode based on the boost pressure set-point value, and during the dual-loop control mode based on the boost pressure set-point value and the exhaust pressure set-point value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiping Steven Liu, Anupam Gangopadhyay