Backup, Interrupt, Reset, Or Test Patents (Class 701/114)
  • Patent number: 9430884
    Abstract: A device includes a processor in communication with a first port, a second port and a third port. The first port is configured to communicate via a diagnostic cable with an electronic control unit of a vehicle. The diagnostic able cable has a first end configured to connect to a vehicle port and a second end configured to connect to the first port. The processor is configured to selectively test the communication capability of the diagnostic cable when the first end of the diagnostic cable is connected to the third port and the second end of the diagnostic cable is connected to the first port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: DREW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Drew, Brian Herron
  • Patent number: 9421787
    Abstract: The liquid discharge device includes a supply path which guides a liquid accumulated in a liquid accumulating unit to a liquid ejection head, a supply pump which feeds a liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid accumulating unit through the supply path, a damper which has a liquid chamber and an air chamber sectioned via a flexible membrane, and a pressure sensor, a pressure value is acquired from the pressure sensor in a state where the air chamber is open to atmosphere, and whether or not there is abnormality in the pressure sensor is determined based on comparison between a hydraulic head pressure between the damper and the pressure sensor, and the pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Arimoto
  • Patent number: 9328691
    Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an engine is provided that utilizes a number of preset operating parameters. The method determines an operating mode of the engine. The method determines an operating state of the engine. A plurality of engine parameter settings is retrieved from a memory in response to the determined operating mode and the determined operating state of the engine. The plurality of engine parameter settings are applied to at least one control algorithm of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC.
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Seiberlich, Michael James McNulty, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Jeremy Grant Schipper
  • Patent number: 9309855
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a meshing process of a meshing pinion of a starter motor for a vehicle drive, in which an armature of the starter motor is moved by a magnet, has the following steps: detecting a solenoid signal when a solenoid of the magnet is energized in order to obtain a signal profile, in particular a current profile; generating a differential profile by differentiating the signal profile; determining zero crossings in the differential profile; and monitoring the meshing process on the basis of the determined zero crossings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Casey, Tony Rocco
  • Patent number: 9285057
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for process device calibration. An example method includes determining if a first position of a process control device is a first end position, and in response to the first position being the first end position, calculating a second end position of the process control device based on the first end position and configuration information. The example method further includes calculating a partial stroke zone of the process control device based on the first end position and the second end position, and determining when a current position of the process control device is within the partial stroke zone. The example method also includes, when the current position is within the partial stroke zone, calculating an output bias based on a control signal and a summed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Felix Amirthasamy, James L. Snowbarger
  • Patent number: 9243576
    Abstract: A system and a method for controlling NOx may include predicting NOx generation amount by using a virtual sensor; comparing the NOx prediction amount with a predetermined NOx target amount; and controlling the NOx generation amount so as for the NOx prediction amount to follow the NOx target amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Jun Yu, Kihoon Nam, Kyoungchan Han, KyoungDoug Min, Junyong Lee, Wonah Park
  • Patent number: 9234446
    Abstract: A reduction in the accuracy of a failure determination of a filter due to a reduction in the detection accuracy of a PM sensor is suppressed. To this end, provision is made for an NOx selective reduction catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine to reduce NOx by means of a reducing agent supplied thereto, a supply device to supply urea water as the reducing agent from an upstream side of the NOx selective reduction catalyst, a PM sensor to detect an amount of particulate matter in an exhaust gas at the downstream side of the NOx selective reduction catalyst, and a control unit to make an amount of production of intermediate products from the urea water supplied from the supply device to ammonia smaller when an amount of particulate matter is detected by the PM sensor than when not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Shimode, Makoto Ogiso, Kazuya Takaoka, Daisuke Shibata
  • Patent number: 9230371
    Abstract: A fault diagnostic system of a vehicle includes an error module, a proportional integral (PI) module, and a fault module. The error module determines an error based on a difference between a sample of a signal generated by an exhaust gas oxygen sensor and a target value of the sample. The PI module determines a proportional correction based on the error, determines an integral correction based on the error, and determines a fueling correction based on the proportional and integral corrections. The fault module selectively diagnoses a fault based on the integral correction and the fueling correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jecks, Steven Ward Majors, Ian J. MacEwen
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9194321
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a starter control module, an engine speed module, and a sensor diagnostic module. The starter control module generates a starter engage signal to engage a starter of an engine. The engine speed module determines a speed of the engine based on input from at least one of a camshaft position sensor and a crankshaft position sensor. The sensor diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in the at least one of the camshaft position sensor and the crankshaft position sensor based on a rate of change in the engine speed before the starter engage signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas F. Porlick, Kevin A. Sherwin, Layne K. Wiggins
  • Patent number: 9175586
    Abstract: By raising a temperature of an element portion of a particulate matter sensor (8) that is arranged in an exhaust passage (4) of an internal combustion engine (2), a heat generation amount that results from the combustion of particulate matters is detected, during a removal treatment of removing, through combustion, particulate matters that are deposited on the element portion. Besides, an amount of particulate matters that are deposited on the element portion of the particulate matter sensor (8) is detected on the basis of an output of the particulate matter sensor (8), before the start of this removal treatment. On the other hand, an amount of particulate matters that are deposited on the element portion before the start of the removal treatment is detected in accordance with the heat generation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Hashida, Hiroki Nishijima
  • Patent number: 9153081
    Abstract: Of a counter apparatus, a first microcomputer and a second microcomputer communicate with each other and receive a crank signal with pulses. The first microcomputer detects a first pulse count number at a detection time point and transmits it to the second microcomputer. The second microcomputer detects a second pulse count number at a determination time point, which is an allowable delay time period later from the detection time point. The allowable delay time period is expected to elapse from the detection time point to when the first pulse count number is received by the second microcomputer. The second pulse count number is compared with a determination value, which is the sum of (i) the first pulse count number and (ii) the largest integer not greater than the quotient of T2/T1, T1 being a pulse period of the crank signal, T2 being the allowable delay time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiromichi Kato
  • Patent number: 9145134
    Abstract: Provided is a method and a system for controlling engine start of a hybrid vehicle based on acceleration demanded power of a driver. More specifically, a variance of an output signal of an accelerator pedal sensor (APS) senses manipulation of an accelerator pedal reflecting an acceleration demand of a driver. When the variance of the output signal of the accelerator pedal sensor is a positive threshold value, acceleration demanded power corresponding to the output signal of the accelerator pedal sensor is calculated in a section in which the variance is positive and the calculated acceleration demanded power is accumulated. The accumulated acceleration demanded power is then compared with a set power value, and the engine is started to switch from the EV mode to the HEV mode when the accumulated acceleration demanded power is equal to or greater than the set power value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Tae Wook Park, Yong Kak Choi, Il Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 9109527
    Abstract: A device for diagnosing an exhaust gas sensor, in particular a linear oxygen probe, for an internal combustion engine. A diagnostic unit is configured to control a first and a second current source in a coordinated manner in order to generate a first and a second current. Each of the currents has a predefined polarity sign, and is designed to determine the first and/or second and/or third voltages applied at a first and/or second and/or third terminal when first and second currents flow and put the amounts of the voltages in relation to the coordinated currents such that line interruptions and/or short circuits can be detected at the first and/or second and/or third terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Barnikow, Frank Friedhof, Ekkehart-Peter Wagner
  • Patent number: 9109504
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for controlling a wastegate in the presence of a degraded wastegate valve sensor. In one example, responsive to feedback from a wastegate valve sensor being unavailable, a wastegate valve is moved to an at least partially open position in part via exhaust pressures responsive to a desired boost being within a first range. Responsive to feedback from the wastegate valve sensor being unavailable, the wastegate valve is moved toward a fully closed position at a rate responsive to boost pressure dynamics responsive to the desired boost being within a second, different range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Wang, Hamza Derbas
  • Patent number: 9080520
    Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus, an engine torque calculating unit calculates a developing engine torque Te, and a torque increase/decrease amount calculating unit calculates a torque increase or decrease amount Tmax of an engine which can be increased or decreased. A mode coefficient setting unit sets a mode coefficient k corresponding to a driving mode, and an allowable inertia calculating unit multiplies the torque increase or decrease amount Tmax by the mode coefficient k to calculate an allowable inertia torque Timax. A shift speed calculating unit calculates a shift speed V1 of a continuously variable transmission at which the allowable inertia torque Timax is generated, and an upper-limit shift speed setting unit sets an upper-limit shift speed V2 based on the shift speed V1. A shift control unit performs shift control of the continuously variable transmission at a shift speed not exceeding the upper-limit shift speed V2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Ajimoto
  • Patent number: 9080516
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a timing control module and a diagnostic module. The timing control module controls engine valve timing by sending fluid to an advancing chamber of a cam phaser to adjust the cam phaser to an advanced position and by sending fluid to a retarding chamber of the cam phaser to adjust the cam phaser to a retarded position. The diagnostic module identifies a fault in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism based on a first difference between an advancing pressure of the advancing chamber and a retarding pressure of the retarding chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Liyun Zheng, Andrew P. Bagnasco, Gregory J. York
  • Patent number: 9046557
    Abstract: In the development of a vehicle component, provision may be made for a component to be tested during a test drive. Thus, the behavior of the vehicle component in the event of failure of a sensor, for example, can be tested. The aim is to enable systematic checking of a mode of operation of a vehicle component. An isolation adapter has a terminal for the vehicle component and a switching device that has a plurality of switch contacts to which a respective test circuit can be connected. An electrical connection between the terminal and at least one of the switch contacts can be produced by switching the switching device. Even during switching, there is always an electrical connection to at least one of the switch contacts. The isolation adapter may also have a display unit that mechanically detects a switching position of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christian Pauli
  • Patent number: 9043046
    Abstract: A data processing device includes a memory, an arithmetic circuit that accesses the memory by outputting an access control signal CTRL that controls access to the memory, a first data storage unit that stores first data used when a self-diagnosis is performed, a read-modify-write circuit that generates second data by replacing a part of the first data stored in the first data storage unit with modify data outputted from the arithmetic circuit, and a determination unit that diagnoses a failure of the read-modify-write circuit by comparing the second data with an expected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Hosotani
  • Patent number: 9031768
    Abstract: A method for functional diagnosis of a separator for separating oil present in a blow-by has from a crankcase in a combustion engine is provided. The crankcase includes a crankcase pressure sensor, and is in fluid communication with the separator. The method includes the steps of detecting a first output signal of the crankcase pressure sensor at a first operational point or interval, and comparing the first output signal of the crankcase pressure sensor with at least one reference value or signal, wherein the comparison between said first output signal of the crankcase pressure sensor and the at least one reference value or signal provides the functional diagnosis of the separator. A method can perform a functional diagnosis without the use of additional sensors or complex algorithms and as a consequence manufacturing costs can be held at a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Lagerlöf, Flemming Jeppesen
  • Patent number: 9020736
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fault diagnosis apparatus for an airflow meter for determining that the airflow meter has a fault when a divergence ratio, i.e., a divergence value of an estimated intake-air quantity with respect to an actual intake-air quantity obtained by the airflow meter is greater than a fault-determination reference value determined based on a rotation speed of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus determines that the airflow meter is normal when the engine speed is higher than or equal to a predetermined speed under a specific condition that the divergence value is less than or equal to the reference value, and also maintains a current determination result when the engine speed is less than the predetermined speed under the specific condition, thereby determining, based on the engine speed, whether the airflow meter is normal or the current determination result is maintained, and thus improving the fault-diagnosis accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Sekine
  • Patent number: 9014951
    Abstract: A method and a system for correcting an engine torque based on a vehicle load may include: determining whether a vehicle load determination condition is satisfied continuously for a predetermined maintaining time, determining an average engine torque for the predetermined maintaining time if the vehicle load determination condition is satisfied continuously, determining whether the average engine torque is larger than a predetermined engine torque, determining a ratio of the average engine torque and the predetermined engine torque if the average engine torque is larger than the predetermined engine torque, determining a correction factor using the ratio of the average engine torque and the predetermined engine torque, and determining the engine torque using the correction factor and a predetermined normal torque filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Hwan Jang
  • Patent number: 9008950
    Abstract: Disclosed is a common rail fuel injection control apparatus that is used in an engine that drives power equipment, an actual measurement temperature difference that is a difference between a pre-pressurization temperature of the fuel and a post-pressurization release temperature of the fuel is obtained, and it is determined that a pressure sensor is failed when an absolute value of a difference between a representative temperature difference set in advance as a difference between the pre-pressurization temperature of the fuel and the post-pressurization release temperature of the fuel, and the actual measurement temperature difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kaneko, Kota Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9002617
    Abstract: A feedback control system is provided and includes a controller to control an operation of a motive element in accordance with current and previous measured states. The controller includes a servo, a processor and an event trigger controller. The event trigger controller is configured to cause the processor to command the servo to perform model based control (MBC) executions in an event a difference between the current and previous measured states exceeds a threshold based on the previous measured state or the current measured state exceeds a limit, and skip the MBC executions in an event the difference does not exceed the threshold and the current measured state does not exceed the limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Olgu Tanriverdi
  • Patent number: 9002618
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus includes a variable valve timing device and a valve timing controller to control the variable valve timing device in a manner that an actual VCT phase coincides with a target VCT phase. When the target VCT phase is set into a predetermined phase, learning means learn the predetermined phase as a reference phase. When determining means determine that there is a learning requirement of the reference phase, enlarging means enlarge an engine operation area where the target VCT phase is set into the reference phase by shifting the target VCT phase to the reference phase in an area where the target VCT phase is close to the reference phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Hirata
  • Patent number: 8996280
    Abstract: In a method for operating a fuel injector, a transition range of the characteristics curve of the injector is detected individually and adapted continuously, so that a monotonous characteristics curve is formed, with whose aid high metering precision of the injector is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Joos, Ruben Schlueter, Jens Neuberg, Helerson Kemmer, Holger Rapp, Haris Hamedovic, Joerg Koenig, Anh-Tuan Hoang, Bernd Wichert, Achim Hirchenhein
  • Patent number: 8996285
    Abstract: A system for detecting malfunction of a variable valve lift apparatus may include an engine provided with the variable valve lift apparatus controlling lift of a valve, a vibration sensor which detects vibrations generated in closing of the valve and outputs corresponding vibration signals, and a control portion which receives the vibration signals and determines the malfunction of the variable valve lift apparatus according to the vibration signals to be detected within a predetermined crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hong Kil Baek
  • Patent number: 8989994
    Abstract: A method for fault diagnosis in a fuel injection system having first and second fuel injectors. The method includes initiating a current flow in the first and second fuel injectors. Further, a rise duration of the current flow to reach a threshold level is measured. The method further includes comparing the rise duration and a preset duration. The fuel injection system is controlled based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Love, Frank Lombardi, Daniel R. Puckett, Kiran S. Prakash, Aaron L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8958974
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an exhaust gas sensor coupled in an engine exhaust is provided. The method comprises indicating exhaust gas sensor degradation based on a difference between a first set of estimated parameters of a rich operation model and a second set of estimated parameters of a lean operation model, the estimated parameters based on commanded lambda and determined lambda values collected during selected operating conditions. In this way, sensor degradation may be indicated with data collected in a non-intrusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Michael Casedy, Hassene Jammoussi
  • Patent number: 8955309
    Abstract: A method for adapting a thermal model of a catalyst is provided. The method comprises adjusting an amount of exhaust gas reductant upstream of the catalyst based on a thermal model of the catalyst, the thermal model including heat input from exothermic catalyst reactions, an amount of the exothermic heat input adjusted responsive to an estimated temperature from the thermal model and a measured temperature downstream of the catalyst. In this way, a thermal model for catalyst activity and catalyst operating parameters may be adjusted to ensure optimal catalyst function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser Mohamed sayed Yacoub
  • Patent number: 8949001
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is configured to execute an air-fuel ratio control based on an output of an air-fuel ratio detector provided in an exhaust passage through which exhaust gas from a plurality of cylinders flows. The control apparatus includes an abnormal lean deviation detection portion configured to detect whether an abnormal lean deviation is occurring in at least one specific cylinder among the plurality of cylinders, the exhaust gas from the at least one specific cylinder influencing the air-fuel ratio detector more strongly than the exhaust gas from each of a rest of the plurality of cylinders; and an enriching control portion configured to execute an enriching control for the at least one specific cylinder when the abnormal lean deviation detection portion detects that the abnormal lean deviation is occurring in the at least one specific cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150032361
    Abstract: This invention relates to an engine for a vehicle using alternative fuel, preferably gas, comprising an engine (5) having a spark ignited ignition system (2) wherein said ignition system (2) includes misfire detection by means of a sensor device (4) providing information to a control system (20), connected to or within said ignition system (2), and wherein said combustion includes diluted operation to optimize emissions wherein said sensor device (4) includes an ion sensing measurement means (40) arranged to measure an ion current in said engine (5) and that said ignition system (2) has a built-in function to detect misfiring through an analysis of the ion current of the engine (5) during combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SEM AB
    Inventors: Jõrgen Bengtsson, Lars-Åke Andersson, Bert Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 8942911
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an error detection module and a remedial control module. The error detection module detects whether an accelerator of the vehicle is stuck is based on vehicle speed, a position of the accelerator, and one of a pressure applied to a brake of the vehicle and a status of a parking brake of the vehicle. The remedial control module, when the accelerator is stuck, at least one of resets the position of the accelerator and decreases torque output of a powertrain system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventors: William E. Debs, Brian S. Schang, J. Oscar Aparicio, Jr., Paul A. Bauerle, Joseph E. Ploucha, Daniel G. Bolstrum
  • Publication number: 20150025781
    Abstract: System for detecting leakage within a canister purge valve of an evaporative emission control system. The system includes a power train control module connected to the canister purge valve, configured to command the canister purge valve between open and closed positions. In addition, the system includes a flow meter having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with ambient air surrounding the vehicle, and the outlet is in fluid communication with an inlet of the canister purge valve. The system further includes a control module operatively connected to the flow meter. The control module is programmed to analyze flow through the flow meter; compare the measured flow to predetermined flow data; and to indicate whether that flow exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: RUSSELL RANDALL PEARCE, DENNIS SEUNG-MAN YANG, AED M. DUDAR
  • Patent number: 8935114
    Abstract: A method for determining a closing time of a valve having a coil drive, in particular a direct injection valve for an engine of a motor vehicle, has the steps: (a) switching off a current flow through a coil (L_inj) of the coil drive, so that the coil (L_inj) is depowered, (b) capturing a time curve (110) of a voltage induced in the non-powered coil (L_inj), wherein the induced voltage is generated by decaying eddy currents in a magnetic circuit of the coil drive and by a motion of the armature relative to the coil (L_inj), (c) evaluating the captured time curve (110) of the voltage induced in the coil (L_inj), and (d) determining the closing time based on the evaluated time curve (110). A corresponding device and a computer program for determining the closing time of a valve with a coil drive can be provided accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Beer, Stephan Bolz
  • Patent number: 8935081
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a first pressure module and a blockage indication module. The first pressure module receives a signal from a pressure sensor that measures pressure within a fuel vapor purge system. The first pressure module generates a first pressure based on the signal at a first time and generates a second pressure based on the signal at a second time. The second time is after the first time. The blockage indication module indicates whether a blockage is present in the fuel vapor purge system between the pressure sensor and a fuel tank based on a difference between the first and second pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Jackson, William R. Cadman, David Edward Prout
  • Patent number: 8930121
    Abstract: A method that includes in-vehicle systems and practices for determining whether a NOx sensor in an exhaust stream is performing properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Yue-Yun Wang, Scott T Feldmann
  • Patent number: 8924131
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a diagnostic module for an exhaust gas sensor in a vehicle is provided. The exhaust gas sensor is located in an exhaust pathway in the vehicle. The diagnostic module may be configured to perform a signal range verification of an oxygen sensor portion of the exhaust gas sensor. A controller is operatively connected to the exhaust gas sensor and to the vehicle engine. The controller disables the diagnostic module when one or more entry conditions are satisfied. The entry conditions may include requiring the engine speed to be greater than a fuel cut-off threshold, the fuel cut-off threshold being the engine speed at which the fuel to the engine is terminated. The entry conditions may include: no fuel being delivered to the engine; and a vehicle exhaust brake mode being activated such that the exhaust pathway from the engine is obstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Janean E. Kowalkowski, Jason J. Chung, Scott T. Feldmann, Chad E. Marlett
  • Patent number: 8924127
    Abstract: A ground engaging vehicle including a frame, an engine, a controller, an accelerator, a position sensor and an interpreter. The engine is supported by the frame and the engine includes a throttle. The controller is in communication with the engine. The position sensor is associated with the accelerator. The position sensor generates a first signal corresponding to a position of the accelerator. The interpreter receives the first signal from the position sensor and generates a second signal dependent upon the first signal. The interpreter communicates the second signal to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Kristen D. Cadman, Elizabeth H. Steenbergen, Steve G. Fleischmann, Dennis P Reiter
  • Patent number: 8903623
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine including a first and a second bank of cylinders. One example method comprises, adjusting engine injection timing based on a first temperature of a first intake of the first bank and a second temperature of a second intake of the second bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan John Goes, Shawn Gallagher, Eric Dillen, Rajani Boddu
  • Patent number: 8897996
    Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing a clogging of an injector in an internal combustion engine equipped with a fuel rail and with a plurality of fuel injectors hydraulically connected to the fuel rail. The method includes, but is not limited to determining a value of a pressure drop in the fuel rail due to a quantity of fuel injected by a tested injector, and diagnosing the clogging of the tested injector if the determined pressure drop value is lower than a threshold value of this pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Antonio Massaro
  • Patent number: 8887684
    Abstract: An idling stop apparatus is provided which can prevent a voltage of a battery from being lowered even when a microcomputer is reset. In an idling stop apparatus when a reset condition is established, reset information indicating that the reset condition is established is stored in a latch circuit and a microcomputer disables an idling stop function when the reset information is stored. The reset information is stored in the latch circuit even when the microcomputer is being reset or even after the microcomputer is reset. Accordingly, the microcomputer after the reset can disable the idling stop function. As a result, it is possible to prevent the voltage of the battery from being lowered due to the idling stop function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Ryoh Izumoto, Motoki Komiya, Yuichiro Shimizu, Yoshinori Shibachi
  • Patent number: 8881707
    Abstract: A fuel pressure varies according to whether a fuel pressure sensor and a high-pressure pump have a malfunction or not. In view of this, a first threshold Perr1 is defined for determining whether the fuel pressure sensor has a malfunction and a second threshold Perr2 is defined for determining whether the high-pressure pump has a malfunction. The second threshold Perr2 is greater than the first threshold Perr1. By comparing a detection value of the fuel pressure sensor with the first and the second threshold, a malfunction in the fuel pressure sensor and a malfunction in the high-pressure pump are distinguished from each other. A first fail-safe control or a second fail-safe control is executed according to a portion having a malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Katsurahara
  • Patent number: 8880322
    Abstract: A vehicle including an internal combustion engine provided with a plurality of cylinders, and a control unit that determines that an abnormality of the internal combustion engine has occurred when an atmospheric pressure has a first value and an operation state represented by at least one of an output shaft revolution speed and a load of the internal combustion engine is within a preset region and determines that an abnormality of the internal combustion engine has occurred when the atmospheric pressure has a second value that is lower than the first value and the operation state is outside the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kato, Yusuke Fujitsu
  • Patent number: 8874349
    Abstract: A sensor control apparatus including a gas sensor having a sensor element, a housing and a base part formed of a resin. The apparatus includes a heating part and a control part. When the control part determines that a predetermined automatic stop condition has been satisfied, the control part switches from a control for maintaining the temperature of the sensor element at an activating temperature to a control in a stop state for reducing at least one of voltage and current supplied to the heating part so as to set a temperature of the base part to a value equal to or lower than a shape holding temperature of the resin. Also disclosed is a sensor control method for holding a temperature of a sensor element to an activating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Tajima, Satoshi Ishikawa, Kunihiko Yonezu
  • Patent number: 8855889
    Abstract: A method for open-loop and closed-loop control of an internal combustion engine (1) in which the rail pressure (pCR) is controlled via a low pressure-side suction throttle (4), as the first pressure-adjusting element in a rail pressure control loop. A rail pressure disturbance variable (VDRV) is generated to influence the rail pressure (pCR) via a high-pressure side pressure control valve (12), as the second pressure-adjusting element, by which fuel is redirected from the rail (6) into the fuel tank (2). The position of the high-pressure side pressure control valve (12) is determined by a PWM signal (PWMDV), which, when normal mode is set, is calculated as a function of the resulting target volume flow and, when protective mode is set, is temporarily set to a maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Dölker
  • Patent number: 8836544
    Abstract: Multifunctional displays for a marine vessel having a propulsion system can include a sequential indicator, a first portion, a second portion and a transition portion between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion depicts changes in a characteristic of a first component of the propulsion system during a first operational mode of the propulsion system. The second portion depicts changes in a characteristic of a second component of the propulsion system during a second operational mode of the propulsion system. The transition portion depicts a change in operation of propulsion system between the first operational mode and the second operational mode. A marine vessel icon has first and second icons depicting changes in characteristics of the first and second components. The icon changes position when the operational mode of the marine vessel changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel J. Balogh
  • Patent number: 8825348
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system including an exhaust gas passageway which routes a flow of exhaust gas from an exhaust gas source to an intake manifold; an exhaust gas passageway valve which controls flow to the intake manifold; a cooling system coupled with the exhaust passageway positioned at a location upstream of the exhaust gas source and downstream of the intake manifold and operable to transfer heat from the flow of exhaust gas to a coolant in flow communication with the cooling system; a bypass passageway coupled with the exhaust gas passageway and bypassing the cooling system; a bypass valve operable to control flow through the bypass passageway; at least one valve operation sensor; and a controller operable to control the bypass valve to direct the flow of exhaust gas to the bypass passageway during exhaust gas recirculation based on a signal from the valve operation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Harden, T. Andrew Craig, James Eickmeyer, Amit Ashok Surve, Timothy R. Evans, Kerk B. McKeon, Scott A. Henry
  • Patent number: 8818693
    Abstract: The present invention provides an engine system control device to be applied to an engine system provided with an engine having a variable compression ratio mechanism capable of changing a compression ratio. In the case where generation of failure in a compression ratio control system is detected, determination of a state of a member placed in an intake and exhaust system of the engine is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Kimura, Hiroshi Sawada, Toru Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 8812214
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine control device the present invention provides is a control device that can realize both of request torque and a request A/F for each of cylinder groups with high precision, even when the request A/F differs at each of the cylinder groups. The present control device sets a reference A/F within a range from the leanest A/F to the richest A/F out of the request A/Fs to the respective cylinder groups. The present control device calculates a target air quantity for realizing the request torque under the reference A/F, based on data that defines a relation between engine output torque and an air quantity in relation to an A/F. The present control device controls a throttle opening in accordance with the target air quantity, and controls fuel injection amounts of the respective cylinders in accordance with the request A/F s to the respective cylinder groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Kaoru Shokatsu, Masashi Shibayama, Hajime Kawakami