Kerfegar K Katrak

US Patent:

6739314, May 25, 2004

Filed:

Feb 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/368895

Inventors:

Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI
Allen B. Rayl - Waterford MI
Donovan L. Dibble - Utica MI
Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI
Kevin J. Storch - Brighton MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02D 900

US Classification:

123396, 123399, 123198 F, 123481

Abstract:

An engine control system and method monitors torque increase during cylinder deactivation for a displacement on demand engine. A timer is started at cylinder deactivation. A controller adjusts throttle position and determines whether cylinder deactivation completes within a predetermined time. The controller adjusts throttle position based on the status of an enable condition. The controller determines if engine speed and vehicle acceleration are each within a threshold. The controller operates the throttle in a preload operating mode if the enable condition is met and operates the throttle in a normal operating mode if the enable condition is not met.

US Patent:

6808471, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

May 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/431698

Inventors:

Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI
Mark H. Costin - Bloomfield Township MI
Donovan L. Dibble - Utica MI
Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI
Vivek Mehta - Bloomfield Hills MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60K 4104

US Classification:

477107, 123481

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus are provided for ensuring that a throttle increase accompanying a change in the number of active cylinders of an internal combustion engine will not occur too long with more than a selected fraction of all the cylinders activated, so as to not startle a driver. The apparatus comprises an electronic controller that generates the throttle increase if less than all the cylinders are requested to be activated. A determination is made as to whether the number of cylinders being fueled is equal to or less than the selected fraction. A timer is started if the number of cylinders being fueled is greater than the selected fraction. The throttle increase is turned off if the amount of time measured by the timer exceeds a threshold before the number of cylinders being fueled becomes either less than or equal to the selected fraction.

US Patent:

6810853, Nov 2, 2004

Filed:

Oct 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/685324

Inventors:

Kevin C. Wong - Ann Arbor MI
Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI
Todd R. Shupe - Milford MI
Edward J. Tully - Royal Oak MI
Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02D 4100

US Classification:

12333914, 1233391

Abstract:

An electronic throttle control (ETC) system to control an idle speed of an engine includes an accessory that increases a load on the engine and a controller that generates an idle request signal based on the increased load. The controller compares the idle request signal to an idle maximum signal and sets an idle command signal equal to the idle request signal if the idle request signal is less than the idle maximum signal. The controller determines the idle command signal based on the idle request signal, a previous idle command signal and the idle maximum increase signal if the idle request signal is greater than the idle maximum signal.

US Patent:

6843229, Jan 18, 2005

Filed:

Jun 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/464269

Inventors:

Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI, US
Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI, US
Kevin J. Storch - Brighton MI, US
Kevin C. Wong - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02D 4100

US Classification:

123396, 123681, 123436, 123481, 123198 F

Abstract:

An engine control system for monitoring torque increase during cylinder deactivation for a displacement on demand (DOD) engine includes a throttle and a controller. The controller adjusts a preload of the throttle prior to a cylinder deactivation event and determines whether a DOD fault is present during the cylinder deactivation event. The controller one of operates the engine without the preload in the deactivated mode and switches the engine back to the activated mode if the fault is present for a predetermined time. The controller cancels the preload if the DOD fault is present and resets the preload if the predetermined period has not expired. The DOD fault includes one of an engine speed fault, a transmission gear fault and a fueled cylinder fault.

US Patent:

6957140, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Jul 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/891462

Inventors:

Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI, US
Joseph M. Stempnik - Warren MI, US
Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI, US
Donovan L. Dibble - Utica MI, US
James L. Worthing - Munith MI, US
John N. Stockbridge - Novi MI, US
Edward J. Tully - Royal Oak MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02D041/14

US Classification:

701110, 123399

Abstract:

A throttle control system for a vehicle includes a driver input that generates a control signal and a control module that generates a throttle control signal based on the control signal. The control module determines whether the throttle control signal is within one of a first and a second region, determines a compensation factor from a first look-up table when the throttle control signal is within the first region and determines the compensation factor from a second look-up table when the throttle control signal is within the second region. The control module calculates a compensated throttle control signal based on the compensation factor.

US Patent:

6999870, Feb 14, 2006

Filed:

Jul 21, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/895642

Inventors:

Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI, US
Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI, US
John N. Stockbridge - Novi MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F02D 11/10
G08B 21/00

US Classification:

701115, 701 99, 701102

Abstract:

A control system includes a device having a position between minimum and maximum positions. First and second position sensors sense the position of the device and generate first and second position values. A sensor module generates a first signal waveform based on the first position value and a second signal waveform based on the second position value. The sensor module varies a frequency of the first signal waveform based on the first position value and a frequency of the second signal waveform based on the second position value. A control module communicates with the sensor module and determines the first and second position values based on the frequencies of the first and second signal waveforms, respectively. The sensor module increases the frequency of the first signal waveform and decreases the frequency of the second signal waveform as the device moves from the minimum position to the maximum position.

US Patent:

7027914, Apr 11, 2006

Filed:

Apr 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/819724

Inventors:

Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI, US
Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI, US
Joseph M. Stempnik - Warren MI, US
Kevin T. Sharples - Pinckney MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701114, 701115, 307 103

Abstract:

An engine control system includes an ignition switch that selectively initiates an ignition signal and an operating mode of an engine. A powertrain relay selectively generates a PR load signal based on the ignition signal and the operating mode. A control module enables an ignition signal diagnostic system when the operating mode is a RUN mode, the ignition signal is generated and the PR load signal is generated.

US Patent:

7042363, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Mar 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/794939

Inventors:

Kerfegar K. Katrak - Fenton MI, US
Paul A. Bauerle - Fenton MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G08B 21/00

US Classification:

340644, 307 91, 200 5 R

Abstract:

Systems, methods and devices are described that provide a three-state control signal across a single electrical conductor. A three-position switch provides an output signal that selects between the first reference voltage, a second reference voltage and an intermediate voltage. The output from the switch is transmitted to a voltage divider circuit that produces a predetermined result when the switch output corresponds to the intermediate state. The output of the voltage divider is then provided to an analog-to-digital converter to decode the state of the switch. The three-state control signal may be used, for example, to place a vehicle component such as a windshield temperature controller or rear-window defogger into a desired one of three operating states. Similarly, the three-state concepts may be widely applied in many automotive, industrial, consumer electronics and other settings.