Steven Leonard Plee

6456927, Sep 24, 2002

Mar 22, 1993

08/035348

David Frankowski - Woodhaven MI
Neil J. Adams - West Bloomfield MI
Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

G06F 1900

701111, 701101, 701102, 73 3501, 73 3504, 73 3503, 731173, 12340621, 12340629, 12340634, 12340637

A spectral method, and corresponding system, for knock detection includes acquiring ( ) spectral energy associated with vibration caused by a knocking condition from a running engine. Preferably, a sampled data system ( ) acquires the spectral energy by converting an output from an accelerometer ( ) into data samples ( ) in a digital form. Then from the acquired spectral energy, a knock variable is derived from magnitudes of spectral components, representing a characteristic of a combustion chamber located within the running engine. In a preferred embodiment the knock variable is derived from magnitudes of spectral components related by ratios corresponding to Bessel function coefficients. The preferred embodiment includes a Digital Signal Processor ( ) applying a Fast Fourier Transform method ( ) to estimate a spectral content used to determine the knock variable. Then, a knock indication is provided ( ) when the knock variable exceeds a magnitude of a predetermined threshold ( ). Other embodiments include provision for providing a knock indication when a knock variable ( ) derived from magnitudes of individual spectral components corresponding to characteristic knock spectra associated with acquired spectral energy exceeds a magnitude of a trended time weighted version of the knock variable by a predetermined magnitude ( ).

7089895, Aug 15, 2006

Jan 13, 2005

11/035194

Jeffrey D. Naber - Houghton MI, US
Robert W. Deutsch - Sugar Grove IL, US
David Frankowski - Monroe MI, US
Monroe Goble - Wyandotte MI, US
Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI, US

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

F01L 9/04

123 9011, 25112901, 25112915, 25112916

An apparatus and method for operating a plurality of valves in an engine uses valve actuators to move each valve. Accelerometers are used to detect acceleration of the valves and particularly the moment when they seat. A knock sensor detects an acoustic impulse made by the valves when they seat. A controller correlates signals from the sensor and accelerometers, wherein a signal from the sensor that correlates in time with a signal from an accelerometer indicates seating of the respective valve, which indicates a closure of the respective valve. The controller measures a magnitude of the acoustic impulse to be used as feedback in controlling the operation of the respective valve actuator, and provide softer landings of the valve.

55030076, Apr 2, 1996

Oct 5, 1992

7/955780

Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI
Donald J. Remboski - Northborough MA
Marvin L. Lynch - Detroit MI

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

G01M 1500

731173

A method for detecting a misfire condition by interpreting acceleration of an engine crankshaft (301) is described. The method teaches measurement of a first engine crankshaft acceleration, (405) proximate a first predetermined engine crankshaft angle, and provides a first reading (407) indicative of the first engine crankshaft acceleration, measurement of a second engine crankshaft acceleration, (417) proximate a second predetermined engine crankshaft angle, and provides a second reading (419) indicative of the second engine crankshaft acceleration, then combines (421) the first reading and the second reading and provides an acceleration coefficient (423) indicative of the combined readings. Then, a misfire is indicated (427) when the acceleration coefficient does not exceed a predetermined limit.

58060146, Sep 8, 1998

Nov 12, 1997

8/967116

Donald J. Remboski - Dearborn MI
Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI
Marvin L. Lynch - Detroit MI
Michael A. McClish - Northville MI

Motorola Inc. - Schaumburg IL

G01M 1500
G06F 1500

701111

A method and system of combustion control for an internal combustion engine (313) proximate an extinction limit includes measurement of acceleration behavior of the internal combustion engine and providing a measure of combustion variability dependent thereon. Preferably, the combustion variability measure is derived by one or more stochastically based methods (607). Operation of the internal combustion engine (313) is controlled dependent on the combustion variability measurement. Fuel, ignition, and exhaust gas recirculation may all be controlled by the derived combustion variability measurement to significantly reduce hydrocarbon (HC) and NO. sub. x emissions.

59152729, Jun 22, 1999

Aug 2, 1993

8/100418

John F. Foley - Novi MI
Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI
Donald J. Remboski - Dearborn MI

Motorola Inc. - Schaumburg IL

G01M 1500

73115

A method of detecting low compression pressure by interpreting acceleration of an engine crankshaft (201) is detailed. In a preferred embodiment, the method teaches measurement of intake manifold pressure. Then, a first engine crankshaft acceleration is measured, preferably proximate a maximum rate of compression, for a cylinder (113), and a first variable (307) indicative of the first engine crankshaft acceleration is provided. Then, a second engine crankshaft acceleration is measured, preferably proximate the cylinder's top-dead-center position (105), and a second variable (311) indicative of the second engine crankshaft acceleration is provided. Then, the method combines (313) the intake manifold pressure, the first variable, and the second variable and provides a compression pressure variable as a function of the combined variables. Other embodiments include subsets of the above variables to provide a compression pressure variable as a function of the combined variables. In all of the embodiments, a low compression pressure may be indicated (317) when the compression pressure variable does not exceed a predetermined limit for the associated cylinder.

58410252, Nov 24, 1998

Mar 31, 1995

8/415115

Donald J. Remboski - Dearborn MI
Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI
Marvin L. Lynch - Detroit MI
Michael A. McClish - Northville MI
Susan K. Sonday - Dearborn MI

Motorola Inc. - Schaumburg IL

G01M 1500

731173

A misfire detection method and apparatus includes measurement of combustion induced torque in an internal combustion engine and provision of time-ordered first, second, and third acceleration data samples dependent on the torque. A misfire is indicated when a magnitude of the second acceleration data sample has a magnitude less than a misfire threshold, and less than a magnitude of both the first and third acceleration data samples.

58583068, Jan 12, 1999

Jul 1, 1996

8/673887

Seajin Oh - Palo Alto CA
Jose Joseph - Palo Alto CA
Dao Duong - Fremont CA
Neil J. Adams - Novi MI
Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

G01N 2500
G01N 2520
G01N 2700
G01N 3100

422 51

A modified noble metal catalyst based calorimetric sensor for sensing non-methane hydrocarbons in an automotive exhaust gas stream includes a first sensing element (105) with an output that provides a signal (111) indicative of a concentration of indicative of non-methane hydrocarbons, hydrogen (H. sub. 2), and carbon monoxide (CO). A compensating sensing element (107) has an output that provides a compensating signal (113) indicative of a concentration of hydrogen (H. sub. 2) and carbon monoxide (CO). A circuit for combining the signal and the compensating signal provides a combined signal indicative of a measure of non-methane hydrocarbons in the automotive exhaust gas stream.

55157203, May 14, 1996

Jul 25, 1994

8/279966

Donald J. Remboski - Dearborn MI
Steven L. Plee - Brighton MI
Marvin L. Lynch - Detroit MI
Michael A. McClish - Northville MI
Susan K. Sonday - Dearborn MI

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

G01M 1500
G06F 1550
F02P 514

73116

An acceleration based misfire detection system with improved signal fidelity comprises a measurement device (421, 423, 425, 427) for determining an operating condition of the powertrain (401). The operating condition can include engine speed, engine load, as well as other conditions. A misfire detector (417) provides a misfire indication (419) dependent on an improved fidelity acceleration signal (415). The improved fidelity acceleration signal (415) is provided by either a median filter (413) operating on an acceleration signal (411) where the median filter's rank is programmable dependent on the determined operating condition of the powertrain, a highpass filter operating on an acceleration signal (411) where the highpass filter's order is programmable dependent on the determined operating condition of the powertrain, or from an acceleration determination device (409) acting on velocity information provided by a lowpass filter (407) operating on a velocity signal (406) where the lowpass filter's order is programmable dependent on the determined operating condition of the powertrain, or a combination of the above.