Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Ford Motor Company Limited

Gm Global Technology Operations LLC

Tula Technology, Inc.

Easydam, LLC

Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.

Ford Global Tech., Inc.

Visteon Global Tech., Inc

Allan Joseph Kotwicki

John David Russell

Brian D Rutkowski

Ross Dykstra Pursifull

Freeman Carter Gates

Donald James Lewis

Michael John Cullen

George Blaha

Gerhard Allan Dage

Allan J Lippa

Joel D Van Ess

Charles Francis Weber

Hossein Bina

Michael P Falandino

Jeffrey A Doering

Allan Roy Gale

Douglas R Hamburg

Furqan Zafar Shaikh

Steven Joseph Szwabowski

Shikui Kevin Chen

Jacobus Hendrik Visser

Daniel M Kabat

Mohammad R Pirjaberi

Daniel Lawrence Meyer

Siamak Hashemi

Philip Thomas Koneda

Woong-chul Yang

Rodney John Tabaczynski

Philip W Husak

Thomas P Warner

Michael Howard Parsons

Robert Scott Bailey

Yin Chen

Bryan Christopher Stoll

Carina Eva Irene Bjornsson

Carol S Smith

Jeffrey Allen Doering

Alex O'Connor Gibson

Marvin Paul Kraska

Brad Alan Boyer

Clay Wesley Maranville

Yan Wang

Brent Edward Sealy

Mark A Wilcutts

David Charles Weber

Thomas Scott Gee

Vladimir V Kokotovic

Yong-Wha Kim

Giuseppe Domenico Suffredini

Xiaoguo Tang

Paul Joseph Szuszman

Thomas A Schubert

Kenneth J Henry

Paul A Crosby

Ross Dykstre Pursifull

Susan J Lloyd

Edward L Christensen

Methods, devices, estimators, controllers and algorithms are described for estimating working chamber air charge during engine operations. The described approaches and devices are well suited for use in dynamic firing level modulation controlled engines. Manifold pressure is estimated for a time corresponding to an induction event associated with a selected working cycle. The manifold pressure estimate accounts for impacts from one or more intervening potential induction events that will occur between the time that the manifold pressure is estimated and the time that the induction event associated with the selected working cycle occurs. The estimated manifold pressure is used in the estimation of the air charge for the selected working cycle. The described approach may be used to individually calculate the air charge for each induction event at any time that the engine is operating in a mode that can benefit from the individual cylinder air charge estimations.

Air charge estimation for use in engine control

In one aspect, an engine controller for an engine including multiple working chambers is described. The engine controller includes a mass air charge determining unit that estimates a mass air charge or amount of air to be delivered to a working chamber. Firing decisions made for a firing window of one or more firing opportunities are used to help determine the mass air charge. The engine controller also includes a firing controller, which is arranged to direct firings to deliver a desired output. Fuel is delivered to a working chamber based on the estimated mass air charge.

Manifold pressure and air charge model

A variety of methods and arrangements for detecting failure of the commanded air induction in an internal combustion engine are described. In some embodiments, the intake manifold pressure is monitored. An air induction event generates a fluctuation in the intake manifold pressure, which is recorded. The signal is processed through a diagnostic filter to help determine whether the actual induction matched the commanded induction. In other embodiments, measured crankshaft acceleration is compared with estimated crankshaft acceleration. If the two quantities differ by a threshold amount an induction fault is detected. The two detection methods may also be combined. The describe approaches are particularly well suited for use in engines operating in a skip fire mode with cylinder deactivation and/or a dynamic firing level modulation mode.

Induction diagnostics for skip fire engines

Induction diagnostics for skip fire engine

A tear-resistant dental dam is provided. The tear-resistant dental dam includes a first thermoplastic elastomeric sheet and a second thermoplastic elastomeric sheet disposed on the first thermoplastic elastomeric sheet. The first and second thermoplastic elastomeric sheets have a grid pattern of weld joint regions configured to couple together the first and second thermoplastic elastomeric sheets. The grid pattern of weld joint regions define a plurality of unwelded regions of the first and second thermoplastic elastomeric sheets.

Tear-resistant dental dams

A tear-resistant dental dam is provided. The tear-resistant dental dam includes a first elastomeric sheet and a second elastomeric sheet disposed on the first elastomeric sheet. The first and second elastomeric sheets have a grid pattern of weld joint regions configured to couple together the first and second elastomeric sheets. The grid pattern of weld joint regions define a plurality of unwelded regions of the first and second elastomeric sheets.

A method is provided for controlling an engine via an outlet control device of an intake manifold, such as via variable valve lift operation. The engine may further include an inlet control device, such as an electronic throttle, as well as coordination between the inlet and outlet control devices for controlling airflow in the engine.

Vehicle control system

A method for providing intake air to an engine in a vehicle comprises delivering compressed fresh air and EGR to the engine via first and second throttle valves coupled to an intake manifold of the engine. During a higher engine-load condition, an EGR exhaust flow is cooled in a heat exchanger and the cooled EGR exhaust flow is admitting to the intake manifold. During a lower engine-load condition, fresh air is warmed in the heat exchanger, and the warmed fresh air is admitted to the intake manifold.

Warming intake air using EGR cooler in dual-throttle boosted engine system

A method of operation for an engine including an electrically actuated engine valve in a cylinder head, with at least an actuator coupled to the valve, the method including applying a potential to generate a current indicative of temperature in the actuator at least partially during a substantially non-moving condition of the actuator and adjusting a timing of the application of the potential based on valve location in the cylinder head.

Temperature sensing coordination with engine valve timing using electric valve actuator

An integrated gaseous fuel delivery system is provided. The system includes a storage tank to hold a gaseous fuel and a pressure regulation system disposed interior the storage tank and configured to regulate a pressure of gaseous fuel delivered from the storage tank.

Integrated gaseous fuel delivery system

A method for controlling an engine having an intake manifold and an outlet control device coupled to the manifold for controlling flow exiting the manifold and entering at least one cylinder of the engine, the engine further having an inlet control device for controlling flow entering the manifold, the method comprising determining a driver torque command; calculating a desired cylinder charge based on said driver torque command; adjusting the outlet control device to provide said desired cylinder charge; and adjusting the inlet control device based on intake manifold pressure.

A system and method for controlling electromechanical valves operating in an engine is presented. According to the method, valve operation can be improved by heating the valves, at least during some conditions.

Operation of electrically actuated valves at lower temperatures

Growing community of inventors

Williamsburg, MI, United States of America

Allan Joseph Kotwicki