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Michael John Cullen, Northville US

Michael John Cullen, Northville, MI US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080295513Adaptive Learning System and Method of Vane Position for a Variable Geometry Turbocharger - A method of operation for an engine system having a variable geometry turbocharger with a vane, the vane having a variable position is provided. The method includes adjusting a vane of the variable geometry turbocharger through a range of operation by stepping through a plurality of vane positions and holding at each of the plurality of positions, the range spanning from a substantially minimum position to a substantially maximum position of the variable geometry turbocharger, and adjusting operation of the engine based on a response to the vane adjustment.12-04-2008
20090118092Transmission Shifting Responsive to Borderline Knock Limits - A method for operating an engine and transmission in a vehicle is described. The method comprises up-shifting the transmission based on whether engine knock limits spark advance at engine conditions after the up-shift. Further, the method may include accounting for differences in fuel types, and their effects on engine knock in future gears.05-07-2009
20090192684VEHICLE TRAJECTORY CONTROL SYSTEM - A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission is described. The method is suited for a transmission having at least one gear in which an over-running clutch is present. The invention describes a method for adjusting an engine operating parameter to maintain transmission input speed at or below a synchronous transmission input speed when the transmission is in the gear with the over-running clutch. The synchronous transmission input speed is based on transmission state and transmission output speed. Alternatively, vehicle speed can be used in place of transmission output speed.07-30-2009
20100057324Ignition Energy Management With Ion Current Feedback To Correct Spark Plug Fouling - A system and method for operating an engine having ionization signal sensing include detecting plug fouling and controlling the engine using progressively more aggressive control strategies if the fouling condition persists. A first control strategy may be used when the number of engine starts or running time are below corresponding thresholds and a second strategy otherwise. The first strategy may employ progressively more aggressive control procedures to eliminate spark plug deposits that may include repetitive sparking, exhaust cycle sparking, increasing engine loading, advancing spark timing, increasing air/fuel ratio, and increasing idle speed, for example. The second strategy may include similar corrective actions employed in a different order and/or to a lesser degree in an attempt to eliminate plug fouling without any noticeable change in engine operation or performance as perceived by the vehicle operator. The control strategies may be applied to individual cylinders, cylinder banks, or all cylinders.03-04-2010
20100274455TRANSMISSION SHIFTING RESPONSIVE TO BORDERLINE KNOCK LIMITS - A method for operating an engine and transmission in a vehicle is described. The method comprises up-shifting the transmission based on whether engine knock limits spark advance at engine conditions after the up-shift. Further, the method may include accounting for differences in fuel types, and their effects on engine knock in future gears.10-28-2010
20100317487VEHICLE TRAJECTORY CONTROL SYSTEM - Systems and methods for controlling a throttle plate to adjust airflow to the engine are provided. A transmission having an input speed and an output speed and including a clutch and a driver-selectable transmission lever is controlled to adjust engine speed to a synchronous speed in a future gear ratio in response to driver foot pedal positions and driver-selectable transmission lever positions.12-16-2010
20110144888ENGINE CONTROL WITH VALVE DEACTIVATION MONITORING USING EXHAUST PRESSURE - A system or method for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine operable in a reduced displacement mode with at least one valve or cylinder selectively deactivated include controlling the engine in response to detecting opening of an exhaust valve after deactivation based measured or inferred exhaust pressure changes after deactivation. In one embodiment, controlling the engine includes reactivating one or more deactivated cylinders/valves, inhibiting subsequent deactivation, and/or storing a diagnostic code in a computer readable storage medium in response to detecting valve opening after deactivation.06-16-2011

Patent applications by Michael John Cullen, Northville, MI US