Jing L Liu

6971340, Dec 6, 2005

May 20, 2004

10/849688

Lixin Peng - Rochester Hills MI, US
Jing Ping Liu - Rochester Hills MI, US
Wang Yanmin - Troy MI, US

Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Dearborn MI

F02B071/02

123 46R, 12317924, 12317931

A method for starting an engine uses an actuator, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic pump-motor or an electric linear alternator-starter to move the pistons to a position where the inlet ports are opened. This ensures that air is present in the cylinder in a space where fuel will be admitted and combustion will occur. This strategy compresses, with a minimum actuator capacity, such air to a state that the pressure and temperature satisfy the ignition requirements. The air stores kinetic energy of the moving pistons that partially form the air spring force of the opposite cylinder and partially from the actuator. Accumulation, cycle by cycle, of this stored energy accelerates the piston motion, increases the piston displacement, and increases the compression ratio. The cylinder pressure and temperature increas cycle by cycle until the fuel ignition conditions are satisfied. The actuator force is a periodic force preferably having a frequency that is the same or nearly the same as the natural frequency of the system that includes the inertia of the pistons and other masses reciprocating with the pistons and the variable spring, represented by the compressible air spring in the combustion chamber.

20100023534, Jan 28, 2010

Jul 25, 2008

12/179640

Jing Liu - Troy MI, US
Chengyin Yuan - Rochester Hills MI, US
Fangming Gu - Rochester Hills MI, US
Stephan R. Biller - Birmingham MI, US
Jerome O. Schroeder - Romeo MI, US
Richard C. Immers - Rochester Hills MI, US
Jeffrey J. Byrnes - Lake Orion MI, US

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

G01R 31/3177
G06F 11/25
G06F 17/30

707100, 714735, 714E11155, 707E17044

A method is provided for certifying safety logic code in a manufacturing automation system. A plurality of safety related test scenarios is provided for testing the safety logic code in the manufacturing automation system. A processing unit is configured for communication with the logic controller. The processing unit generates logic input signals in response to the plurality of safety related test scenarios and provides the logic input signals to the logic controller. Execution of the plurality of safety related test scenarios via the safety logic code is triggered in response to the processing unit providing the logic input signals to the logic controller. Response output signals are generated by the logic controller in response to the safety related test scenarios being executed by the safety logic code. Compliancy of the safety logic code is determined by evaluating response output signals and associated logic input signals to a predetermined standard.

20100286797, Nov 11, 2010

May 11, 2009

12/463579

Jing Liu - Troy MI, US
Chengyin Yuan - Rochester Hills MI, US
Fangming Gu - Rochester Hills MI, US
Stephan R. Biller - Birmingham MI, US
Demet C. Wood - Farmington Hills MI, US
Daniel B. Aufderheide - Rochester MI, US

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

G05B 9/02
G06F 11/00
G06G 7/66

700 21, 714741, 714E1102

A method for testing the safety automation logic used in a manufacturing cell includes recording control signals of a safety-related component such as an E-Stop, light curtain, gate lock, or a safety mat using a host machine, and then disconnecting the component from the host machine. The recorded test signals are transmitted to an automation controller in accordance with a test scenario from a test scenario generator module (TSGM) to emulate operation of the component. The automation logic may be certified using the playback of the recorded test signals. A system for testing the safety automation logic includes the controller, host machine, and TSGM. The host machine records the control signals and plays back the test signals on the controller to emulate operation of the component. The automation control logic may be certified using the test signals, e.g., by comparing these to the test specification or standard.