David A Lambert

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.

US Patent:

57090823, Jan 20, 1998

Filed:

May 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/654049

Inventors:

Stephen Joel Harris - Bloomfield Hills MI
David Kay Lambert - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 328

US Classification:

60276

Abstract:

The invention includes an on-board diagnostic system for monitoring exhaust gas from an automotive combustion engine and includes a sample port connected to the exhaust piping, preferably downstream from the catalytic converter. The exhaust port leads to a sample cell to which an infrared spectrometry system is operably connected to measure the concentration of hydrocarbons in the sample cell. An air pump is connected to the exhaust port and communicates with the sample cell. The air pump is operated to continuously purge the sample cell by pushing small amounts of clean air through the sample cell into the exhaust.

US Patent:

52438589, Sep 14, 1993

Filed:

Aug 12, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/743961

Inventors:

James C. Erskine - Birmingham MI
David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Charles R. Harrington - Troy MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01F 168

US Classification:

7320426

Abstract:

An airflow sensor formed on a silicon chip comprises a silicon base covered with an insulating polyimide layer, a lineal resistance heater on the chip energized with current pulses to propagate thermal waves, and a thermistor on the chip downstream of the heater to detect the arrival of each thermal wave. Circuitry determines flow rate as a function of the measured propagation time of the thermal wave. The thermistor may be replaced by a bridge of four resistive elements of which only one or two are sensitive to the thermal wave. The thermistor material is platinum, polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon which exhibit high temperature coefficients of resistance.

US Patent:

52398609, Aug 31, 1993

Filed:

May 13, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/699018

Inventors:

Stephen J. Harris - Birmingham MI
Stephen J. Swarin - Rochester MI
Michel F. Sultan - Troy MI
David K. Lambert - Sterling Heights MI
Michael D. Jack - Goleta CA

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI
Santa Barbara Research Center - Goleta CA

International Classification:

G01N 2135

US Classification:

73 6148

Abstract:

An alcohol sensing device is provided for determination of the alcohol content within an alcohol/gasoline fuel mixture which is being provided for the operation of an internal combustion engine. The sensing device uses infrared spectrometry measuring techniques. The infrared sensing device determines the ratio of light absorption by the alcohol/gasoline mixture at two discrete wavelengths within the near-infrared spectrum. The two particular wavelengths of interest are preferably chosen so that at one of the infrared wavelengths, alcohol is strongly absorbing while the gasoline exhibits very little absorption, and at the second wavelength both the alcohol and the gasoline exhibit are essentially non-absorbing. An alternating current is used to switch the light beam between two power settings so as to vary the intensity of transmitted light at both wavelengths. The light beam is transmitted through the alcohol/gasoline fuel mixture so that the two discrete wavelengths traverse the same optical path.