David Lee Lambert

US Patent:

6401528, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Sep 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/397326

Inventors:

David Kay Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Dean A. Drake - Fenton MI
Peter John Groblicki - Shelby Township, Macomb County MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01M 1900

US Classification:

731181

Abstract:

A process and apparatus are disclosed for estimating evaporative fuel emission losses from a vehicle having a hydrocarbon-fueled engine operating under control of a microprocessor-based powertrain controller, a fuel tank with an evaporated fuel emission control system comprising a fuel vapor adsorbtion means connected to the tank and engine, and a diagnostic system that detects malfunctions in the vapor adsorbtion means. The process and apparatus measures temperature inside the vehicle passenger compartment at successive times when the engine is not running and determines the lowest temperature during partial diurnal and diurnal cooling cycles and uses such temperature along with any malfunction data to estimate evaporated fuel loss during a test period.

US Patent:

6439468, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

Jul 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/909117

Inventors:

David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Dale Lee Partin - Ray Township MI
Taeyoung Han - Bloomfield Hills MI
Michel Farid Sultan - Troy MI

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F24F 7007

US Classification:

236 493, 236 91 C

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a system for acoustically controlling an automotive or aircraft vehicles automatic climate control system. The acoustic HVAC control system determines an average air temperature using an ultrasonic transducer. The transducer transmits and receives an ultrasonic pulse along a pre-selected path within the vehicles interior and concurrently measures the interval time between sending and receiving the pulse. An average air temperature is calculated based on the interval time. The determined average air temperature is evaluated against a pre-selected setpoint temperature and determines whether the vehicles automatic climate control system controller controls an air blower fan speed, discharge temperature, and air delivery mode to the cabin to adjust the vehicles interior air temperature near an occupant to a desired temperature. The average air velocity along the pre-selected path can also be determined from the difference in interval times for ultrasonic pulses traveling in opposite directions along the pre-selected path.

US Patent:

6564624, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Aug 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/924873

Inventors:

Yingjie Lin - El Paso TX
Han-Sheng Lee - Bloomfield Hills MI
Su-Chee Simon Wang - Troy MI
David Kay Lambert - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

G01M 1500

US Classification:

731181

Abstract:

A sensor and method for measuring the volatility of liquid gasoline by estimating its driveability index includes a sensing element having an interdigitated array of electrically conducting capacitor plates arranged to retain a predetermined volume of gasoline, the volatility of which is to be measured. The sensing element is mounted in a vehicle to be in contact with the flow of gasoline while the engine is running so that a volume certain of gasoline is drawn between and remains within the electrically conducting plates when the engine is turned off. The sensing element is connected to circuitry used to measure the change in capacitance of the sensing element as a function of time while simultaneously measuring the temperature change of the sensing element as the volume of gasoline retained by the sensing element is evaporated over time. The measurements obtained by the circuitry are used in estimating the drivability index of the gasoline.

US Patent:

6588253, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Aug 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/932333

Inventors:

David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Charles Robert Harrington - Troy MI
Han-Sheng Lee - Bloomfield Hills MI
Da Yu Wang - Troy MI

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F02D 4500

US Classification:

73 5301, 73 6141, 73 6146, 73 6177, 324 711, 324690, 137341

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for determining a volatility of a fuel sample. A fuel sample is collected in a container and heated for a time period using a heater device. Periodically during the heating, the capacitance of the fuel sample and the temperature of the heater device are determined. After a time period passes, the volatility of the fuel sample is determined using the capacitance decrease and the temperature increase. Specifically, a voltage across the heater device is used, along with the current through the heater device to determine the resistance of the heater device, which gives the temperature of the heater device and the sample. The capacitance and temperature are compared to values derived from experimentation for fuels of varying DI. The first measurement of capacitance with a known sample volume can be used to determine the MTBE or ethanol content in gasoline fuels.

US Patent:

6679226, Jan 20, 2004

Filed:

Nov 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/997371

Inventors:

David H. Burke - Flint MI
Michael J. Niemiec - Brighton MI
Charles R. Harrington - Troy MI
David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Han-Sheng Lee - Bloomfield Hills MI
Su-Chee S. Wang - Troy MI

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

F02M 3704

US Classification:

123509, 123514

Abstract:

A fuel sensor system for a vehicle includes a fuel pump adapted to be disposed in a fuel tank to pump fuel from the fuel tank to an engine of the vehicle. The fuel sensor system also includes a fuel sensor adapted to be disposed in the fuel tank to measure a property index of the fuel. The fuel sensor system further includes a jet pump connected to the fuel pump to fill the fuel sensor with a fuel sample of the fuel.

US Patent:

6724324, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Aug 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/643236

Inventors:

David Kay Lambert - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

H03K 1794

US Classification:

341 33, 324663, 340562

Abstract:

A capacitive sensor including a first electrode that has at least one conducting surface being disposed for receiving an alternating current signal, and a second electrode that has at least one conducting surface being disposed to generate an input signal for a detecting device. The sensor further includes a middle electrode that has at least one conducting surface placed between the first electrode and the second electrode, as well as being grounded to a ground. The at least one conducting surface of the middle electrode, the at least one conducting surface of the first electrode, and the at least one conducting surface of the second electrode are contained within a holding material holding within itself the first electrode, the second electrode and the middle electrode.

US Patent:

6781388, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Sep 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/963862

Inventors:

Da Yu Wang - Troy MI
Ying Jie Lin - El Paso TX
David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

G01R 2726

US Classification:

324690, 324663, 324688

Abstract:

A sensor includes a substrate consisting essentially of a non-conductive material, a first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on a first surface of the substrate, wherein the first electrode includes a first major portion traversing a length of the substrate and a finger extending from the major portion, wherein the second electrode includes a second major portion traversing the length of the substrate and a finger extending from the second major portion, wherein the first electrode finger extends toward the second electrode major portion and the second electrode finger extends toward the first electrode major portion and is substantially parallel to the first finger, and a third electrode connected to a ground, wherein the third electrode is interposed between and about the first and second electrodes.

US Patent:

6793389, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Oct 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/065447

Inventors:

Abhijeet V. Chavan - Carmel IN
James H. Logsdon - Kokomo IN
Dan W. Chilcott - Greentown IN
Han-Sheng S. Lee - Bloomfield Hills MI
David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Timothy A. Vas - Kokomo IN

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

G01K 702

US Classification:

374179, 374163, 374183, 374121, 136213

Abstract:

An integrated sensor comprising a thermopile transducer and signal processing circuitry that are combined on a single semiconductor substrate, such that the transducer output signal is sampled in close vicinity by the processing circuitry. The sensor comprises a frame formed of a semiconductor material that is not heavily doped, and with which a diaphragm is supported. The diaphragm has a first surface for receiving thermal (e. g. , infrared) radiation, and comprises multiple layers that include a sensing layer containing at least a pair of interlaced thermopiles. Each thermopile comprises a sequence of thermocouples, each thermocouple comprising dissimilar electrically-resistive materials that define hot junctions located on the diaphragm and cold junctions located on the frame. The signal processing circuitry is located on the frame and electrically interconnected with the thermopiles. The thermopiles are interlaced so that the output of one of the thermopiles increases with increasing temperature difference between the hot and cold junctions thereof, while the output of the second thermopile decreases with increasing temperature difference between its hot and cold junctions.