Shean P Huff

US Patent:

6389874, May 21, 2002

Filed:

Sep 16, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/397750

Inventors:

Shean P. Huff - Ann Arbor MI
Jerry Kennie - Canton MI
Richard K. Moote - Ann Arbor MI
John M. Prevost - Jackson MI

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

G01D 1800

US Classification:

73 102

Abstract:

A method is provided for monitoring the integrity of a fuel composition sensor in a flexible fueled vehicle. At ignition-on, the fuel composition sensor is tested for electrical and rationality viability. After ignition-on, the fuel composition is periodically, non-intrusively, tested for potential rationality errors. Should the non-intrusive testing indicate that a potential error exists, the fuel composition sensor is intrusively tested for rationality errors. If the intrusive test detects that the fuel composition sensor is malfunctioning, the engine control system converts to a limp-in mode and sets the engine operating parameters based on feedback from an exhaust gas oxygen sensor system.

US Patent:

6714856, Mar 30, 2004

Filed:

Oct 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/982060

Inventors:

Shean P Huff - Knoxville TN
John M Prevost - Spring Arbor MI

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

G06G 770

US Classification:

701114, 123 1 A, 73116

Abstract:

A method for checking the accuracy of an oxygen sensor based determination of the alcohol content of the fuel of a flexible fueled vehicle. Following the addition of fuel to the flexible fueled vehicle two alcohol concentration possibilities are calculated. The two alcohol concentration possibilities are then used to calculate thresholds for the determining if the oxygen sensor based determination falls within the thresholds. If the oxygen sensor based determination does not fall within the thresholds then action is taken to counteract an inaccurate determination of alcohol concentration.

US Patent:

7469693, Dec 30, 2008

Filed:

Mar 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/691539

Inventors:

Ronald L. Graves - Knoxville TN, US
Brian H. West - Knoxville TN, US
Shean P. Huff - Knoxville TN, US

Assignee:

UT-Battelle, LLC - Oak Ridge TN

International Classification:

F02D 41/04
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

123673, 123679, 701109

Abstract:

A method and system controls engine-out exhaust species of a combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. The method typically includes various combinations of steps such as controlling combustion parameters in individual cylinders, grouping the individual cylinders into a lean set and a rich set of one or more cylinders, combusting the lean set in a lean combustion parameter condition having a lean air:fuel equivalence ratio, combusting the rich set in a rich combustion parameter condition having a rich air:fuel equivalence ratio, and adjusting the lean set and the rich set of one or more cylinders to generate net-lean combustion. The exhaust species may have elevated concentrations of hydrogen and oxygen.

US Patent:

62692933, Jul 31, 2001

Filed:

Dec 14, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/210977

Inventors:

Colt R. Correa - Lake Orion MI
Maurice B. Leising - Clawson MI
Shean P. Huff - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

B60K 4122

US Classification:

701 51

Abstract:

An interactive engine and automatic transmission control system is provided wherein spark and air control are used to control engine speed to maintain a small positive torque on the transmission before and after coast down shifts. More particularly, a transmission controller is electrically coupled to an engine controller in a motor vehicle such that information can be passed therebetween. Such information includes a start of shift signal, a phase of the shift signal (i. e. , clutch release phase, speed change phase, or clutch application phase), and a shift complete signal. In addition, the transmission controller identifies the type of shift that is occurring (i. e. , fourth gear to third, third to second, or second to first), transmission oil temperature and the acceleration (braking) rate of the vehicle to the engine controller. During the three phases of a coast down shift, air flow control is used to supply an appropriate amount of air to the engine so that closed loop spark control can be used to adjust the speed of the engine. By maintaining the engine speed slightly above the turbine speed just before and just after a coast down shift, very little torque is transmitted through the transmission during the shift.

US Patent:

6041278, Mar 21, 2000

Filed:

Oct 29, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/958403

Inventors:

Jerry Kennie - Canton MI
Yi Cheng - Jackson MI
Mark E. Hope - Ann Arbor MI
Shean Huff - Ann Arbor MI
Robert J. Nankee - Canton MI
Mary Joyce - Farmington Hills MI
Dennis A. Krozek - Novi MI
Richard K. Moote - Ann Arbor MI
Roland T. Richardson - Detroit MI
William D. Rotramel - Plymouth MI
Gary L. Seitz - Chelsea MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

G01M 1500

US Classification:

701103

Abstract:

A method is provided for triggering a system for learning the percent alcohol content of a fuel used in a motor vehicle capable of operating on more than one type of fuel. The fuel composition learning system is triggered each time fuel is added to the vehicle's fuel tank, each time the engine is started when the fuel volume in the fuel tank falls below a given value or if a fuel level sending unit malfunction has been detected. The fuel composition learning system is also triggered if an error is detected in the value of the learned percent alcohol content of the fuel.

US Patent:

59412178, Aug 24, 1999

Filed:

Oct 29, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/959819

Inventors:

Yi Cheng - Jackson MI
Shean P. Huff - Ann Arbor MI
Dennis A. Krozek - Novi MI
Gary L. Seitz - Chelsea MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F02D 4104

US Classification:

123494

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of compensating for changing fuels in a flexible fueled vehicle using a fuel composition sensor. The methodology detects and models an alcohol concentration transition at fuel injector tips following a fuel addition. The methodology improves the accuracy of engine fueling during an alcohol concentration change by delaying the application of a fuel composition multiplier until the fuel analyzed by the fuel composition sensor actually reaches the injectors.

US Patent:

62571745, Jul 10, 2001

Filed:

Feb 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/251497

Inventors:

Shean Huff - Ann Arbor MI
Yi Cheng - Jackson MI
Robert J. Nankee - Canton MI
Mary Joyce - Farmington Hills MI
Jerry Kennie - Canton MI
Roland T. Richardson - Detroit MI
Gary L. Seitz - Chelsea MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F02B 7512

US Classification:

123 1A

Abstract:

The present invention provides a flexible fuel compensation system for determining the percent alcohol content of fuel in a flexible fueled vehicle at the instance of fueling and in an open loop operating mode. According to the invention, two estimated percent alcohol content values are calculated based on the old fuel mixture's alcohol content and two fueling possibilities. A first value is calculated for the possibility that E85 fuel was added to the tank and a second value is calculated for the possibility that E0 fuel was added to the tank. If the inferred ethanol content increases above a positive threshold during closed loop operation, the system assumes that E85 fuel has been added to the tank. Conversely, if the inferred ethanol content decreases below a negative threshold, the system assumes that E0 fuel was added to the tank. Accordingly, if the vehicle is shut down before a more accurate ethanol content determination is complete, the inferred ethanol content follows either the first or second estimated alcohol content value until the system reaches a closed loop operating condition.

US Patent:

60003677, Dec 14, 1999

Filed:

Feb 18, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/252406

Inventors:

Shean P. Huff - Ann Arbor MI
Zhong Li - Ann Arbor MI

Assignee:

DimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F02B 7512

US Classification:

123 1A

Abstract:

A method is provided for controlling the combustion parameters of an internal combustion engine without a PCV solenoid during a boil-off condition. The methodology records the temperature of the engine when the vehicle is turned off. When the vehicle is restarted, the methodology determines the amount the engine has cooled since it was shut down. Based on the difference in engine temperature and the current engine temperature, the methodology determines the amount of boil-off corruption remaining. The methodology then determines a new boil-off corruption fuel multiplier based on the amount of boil-off corruption remaining. The new boil-off corruption fuel multiplier is used to modify fuel control until the boil-off condition ceases.