Richard Keith Moote, 612380 Marquis Ct, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

6389874, May 21, 2002

Sep 16, 1999

09/397750

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

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01D 1800

73 102

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.

6732029, May 4, 2004

Apr 24, 2002

10/131753

Colleen M Donahue - Manchester MI
Yi Cheng - Ypsilanti MI
Gary L Seitz - Chelsea MI
David A Barkman - Chelsea MI
Robert T Forgiel - Tecumseh MI
David P Ploucha - Ann Arbor MI
Richard K Moote - Ann Arbor MI
Zhong Li - Ann Arbor MI
Howard W Krausman - Dexter MI

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G06F 1900

701 33, 731181, 701 29, 701101, 702183

A method of determining the quality of subsystems of an electronic engine control system is provided. The method monitors an engine parameter representative of a subsystem of interest and compares the parameter to at least one quality limit. The at least one quality limit represents an acceptable performance boundary for a fully functional engine control system. The method then indicates, based on the result of the comparison, whether the subsystem is of satisfactory quality. The method is arranged, without limitation, to determining the quality of start time, start flare, idle control during transmission shift, and speed control.

6860144, Mar 1, 2005

Feb 18, 2003

10/368272

Wei Wang - Troy MI, US
Douglas M Stander - Grosse Pt. Woods MI, US
David J Carlson - Williamston MI, US
Chris J Booms - Milford MI, US
Thomas W Stephens - Dearborn MI, US
William E Leisenring - Tecumseh MI, US
Richard K Moote - Ann Arbor MI, US
Danny K Schuelke - Grass Lake MI, US
Mark J Poublon - Shelby Township MI, US
Craig A Summers - Northville MI, US
Jason E Wielenga - Jackson MI, US

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01M015/00

73119R, 73116, 73 497

A non-intrusive method and arrangement for detecting the aging of an oxygen sensor, without increasing tailpipe emissions, is provided. The method detects an aging oxygen sensor, located between a motor vehicle engine and a catalytic converter, by sampling a series of oxygen level signals taken over a calibratable time block only when at least one engine operating condition satisfies a predetermined criterion whereunder the method will not intrude upon the engine controller's ability to minimize undesirable exhaust emissions. After a series of signal processing, the samplings are then compared to calibratable thresholds in order to determine the aging degree of the oxygen sensor.

6922985, Aug 2, 2005

Jan 21, 2003

10/348553

Wei Wang - Troy MI, US
Jason E Wielenga - Jackson MI, US
Bill Leisenring - Tecumseh MI, US
Douglas M Stander - Grosse Pt. Woods MI, US
Dave Carlson - Williamston MI, US
Mark J Poublon - Shelby Township MI, US
Chris J Booms - Milford MI, US
Tom Stephens - Dearborn MI, US
Craig Summers - Northville MI, US
Danny K Schuelke - Grass Lake MI, US
Richard K Moote - Ann Arbor MI, US

DaimlerChrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

F01N003/00

60277, 60274, 60276, 60285, 701103, 701107

In a motor vehicle having an engine with an exhaust catalyst and an oxygen sensor upstream of the catalyst and an oxygen sensor downstream of the catalyst, a method for detecting whether the catalyst has aged. Over a test block period of time, the method periodically obtains upstream data points from an oxygen sensor located upstream of the catalyst and from and oxygen sensor located downstream of the catalyst. Absolute differences are calculated between consecutive pairs of the upstream data points and the downstream data points. A ratio between the sums of absolute differences is then calculated, and the ratio is used to determine whether the catalyst has aged.

6041278, Mar 21, 2000

Oct 29, 1997

8/958403

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

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

G01M 1500

701103

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.

5249559, Oct 5, 1993

Dec 24, 1992

7/996468

Gregory T. Weber - Commerce Township, Oakland County MI
Richard K. Moote - Ann Arbor MI
Terry R. Gutermuth - St. Clair Shores MI
James R. Tamm - Ann Arbor MI

Chrysler Corporation - Highland Park MI

F02M 300

123339

Many internal combustion engines have an auxiliary means for controlling airflow into the engine at idle, such as an Automatic Idle Speed (AIS) motor to compensate for changing load requirements. A method is disclosed for controlling the AIS motor and in turn engine idle speed to compensate for changing loads due to the operation of the air conditioner. The method recognizes the relationship between ambient temperature and pressures generated within the air conditioning compressor and the compensation necessary to maintain a smooth idle speed. The method also utilizes adaptive learning to relate a "looked up" of the air conditioner to the current value of auxiliary air flow required by a warmed up engine.

5881703, Mar 16, 1999

Oct 29, 1997

8/958411

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

Chrysler Corporation - Auburn Hills MI

F02D 4116

123686

The present invention provides a flexible fuel compensation system for controlling operating parameters of an internal combustion engine based on a learned value of the percent alcohol content of the fuel using an oxygen feedback system. The methodology determines a fuel composition multiplier based on the percent alcohol content and implements gasoline operating parameters for the internal combustion engine if the fuel composition multiplier is less than a first threshold value, mixed gasoline/alcohol operating parameters if the fuel composition multiplier is greater than the first threshold value, and high concentration alcohol operating parameters if the fuel composition multiplier is greater than a second threshold value for a number of comparison checks. After a predetermined period, the fuel composition multiplier is updated and re-compared to the first and second thresholds and the appropriate one of the aforementioned operating parameters is implemented. A third update of the fuel composition multiplier is made if the determined fuel composition multiplier is less than the actual percent alcohol content of the fuel by more than a given amount.

5003944, Apr 2, 1991

May 14, 1990

7/522624

Richard K. Moote - Ann Arbor MI
Gregory T. Weber - Farmington Hills MI
William O. Robinson - Detroit MI

Chrysler Corporation - Highland Park MI

F02D 4104

123299

The present invention is a method of firing fuel injectors for an engine of an automotive vehicle. The method includes the steps of determining whether injection timing for firing fuel injectors has changed from one predetermined state to another predetermined state of a distributor reference signal, firing the injectors for a predetermined time period and delivering a calculated amount of fuel for the one predetermined state if the injection timing has not changed. The method also includes determining whether a need for transition fuel has ended if the injection timing has changed and firing the fuel injectors for another predetermined time period and delivering a calculated amount of transition fuel at another predetermined state if the need for transition fuel has not ended. The method further includes firing the fuel injectors for another predetermined time period and delivering a calculated amount of fuel for the another predetermined state either after completion of the firing of transition fuel or if the need for transition fuel has ended.