David F 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:

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:

6828560, Dec 7, 2004

Filed:

Jan 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/059401

Inventors:

David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Han-Sheng Lee - Bloomfield Hills MI
Dan W. Chilcott - Greentown IN
Hamid R. Borzabadi - Noblesville IN
Qin Jiang - Kokomo IN
James H. Logsdon - Kokomo IN

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

G01J 508

US Classification:

250353

Abstract:

An infrared sensor including an absorber for absorbing incident infrared power to produce a signal representing the temperature of a target object, a frame supporting a membrane which carries the absorber, the frame including a plurality of reflecting surfaces disposed about the circumference of an opening over which the membrane spans for reflecting incident infrared power toward the absorber. By concentrating incident infrared power through reflection, the temperature difference between the absorber and the surrounding frame is increased, thereby producing an increased electrical output from the sensor.

US Patent:

6880392, Apr 19, 2005

Filed:

May 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/150675

Inventors:

Han-Sheng Lee - Bloomfield Hills MI, US
David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI, US
Charles Robert Harrington - Troy MI, US
Rick Daniel Kerr - Fenton MI, US

Assignee:

Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Troy MI

International Classification:

G01M019/00

US Classification:

731181

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for determining an approximation to a measure of the volatility of fuel on-board a vehicle having an internal combustion engine. The method includes the steps of measuring at least one characteristic of the fuel corresponding to a temperature of the fuel, a volume of the fuel, and a concentration of oxygenates within the fuel; determining an approximation of the a measure of the volatility of the sample volume of fuel using a linear function based on the at least one measured characteristic of the fuel corresponding to temperature, volume, and concentration of oxygenates of the fuel. Preferably, at least one temperature measurement is associated with a predetermined volume of the sample as the sample is evaluated. The method can include determining whether a fuel contains ethanol, and if not, whether the fuel is a winter blend of fuel or a summer blend of fuel. The method to determine whether ethanol is present can include the steps of bringing the fuel into contact with a sensing element; measuring a characteristic of the fuel corresponding to concentration of oxygenates, such as the change in capacitance or resistance of the sensing element; and calculating the dielectric constant or the conductivity of the sample respectively.