Scott L Blackburn

6633153, Oct 14, 2003

Aug 2, 2002

10/209910

Scott Evart Blackburn - Temperance MI

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

H02J 700

320132, 320130

The method is directed to preserve the starter/alternator in an IC engine installation from potential failure owing to insufficient electrical charge in the system energy storage device. The system controller monitors starter/alternator controller signals relating to energy storage device charge level and whether the starter/alternator is available for operation. When monitored charge is detected to be insufficient to operate the starter/alternator, the starter/alternator is disabled and the system controller provides this information to the vehicle operator as a warning signal that the starter/alternator is disabled. Once the operator has effected a remedy (i. e. , recharging or replacing the energy charging device), the starter/alternator is again made available for operation.

6703808, Mar 9, 2004

Oct 31, 2001

09/984788

Scott Blackburn - Temperance MI
John Hickey - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Ottawa Lake MI

H02P 705

318701, 318254

A system and method to smoothly limit the top speed of the generator motor at which power is provided. The system according to this invention consists primarily of an engine, which supplies mechanical power to a switched reluctance motor with position sensing capability, which delivers electrical power to an inverter. The inverter contains a digital signal processor (DSP) controller to control the delivery of electrical power to the battery in the generation mode. Signal information regarding motor speed and current is delivered from the switched reluctance motor with position sensing capability to the DSP controller and signal information regarding current and voltage is delivered from the battery to the DSP controller. In the preferred embodiment, the switched reluctance machine will have position sensing capability to monitor the position of the rotor in relation to the stator, and sensors to monitor the phase currents and bus current. A digital signal processor (DSP) will be used in order to meet the precise position-based control requirements.

6800952, Oct 5, 2004

Nov 26, 2002

10/303711

Scott Evart Blackburn - Temperance MI
Eric Keith Manning - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F02N 1700

290 36R, 290 37 R, 290 38 R, 1231793

A system of preserving a starter/alternator in an I. C. engine system installation from excessive operation in the starter mode is disclosed. The system describes a method of comparing the respective rotational speeds of the starter/alternator and I. C. engine in starter mode first to each other and then, if the same, to a predetermined threshold speed. If an overspeed condition is detected, disabling the starter/alternator in starter mode. In addition, if a predetermined number of I. C. engine start sequences have occurred without successful I. C. engine operation, the starter mode is disabled for a predetermined period of time. If several start failures have been detected, the starter/alternator can be disabled until a repair of the I. C. engine fault can be made. Where the respective rotational speeds of the starter/alternator and I. C.

6800953, Oct 5, 2004

Nov 8, 2002

10/290154

Scott Evart Blackburn - Temperance MI
Eric Keith Manning - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

H02P 100

290 37A, 290 31, 290 40 A, 322 14

A starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprises a starter/alternator assembly operatively coupled to the engine and capable of being operated in a starter mode for starting the engine and in a generator mode for generating electric power when driven by the engine. The starter/alternator assembly includes a starter/alternator machine drivingly connected to the engine, an inverter provided for controlling an output of the starter/alternator machine to selectively choose either the starting mode or the generation mode, and a starter/alternator speed sensor for monitoring a rotational speed of a rotor of the starter/alternator machine that is electrically connected to the starter/alternator inverter. A method of controlling the engine starting apparatus controls transition of the starter/alternator assembly from the starter mode to the generator mode in response to the rotational speed of the starter/alternator machine directly sensed by the starter/alternator speed sensor.

6801020, Oct 5, 2004

Nov 26, 2002

10/303721

Scott Evart Blackburn - Temperance MI

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

H02H 706

322 25, 322 19, 322 24, 322 28, 290 40 A, 290 40 C

The system is directed to preserving an IC engine installation from potential overload and failure in response to electrical load increases passed along by an associated engine driven digitally controlled starter/alternator. The system controller monitors starter/alternator output and phase current and/or regulates the rate of change of output current in response to increasing electrical load. In an instance where monitored rates of output current change exceed predetermined thresholds, the response rate of the starter/alternator, i. e. , rate of change of output current, is set at a predetermined threshold so as to prevent the braking effect of the increasing electrical load from stalling the I. C. engine or causing other operational failure.

6809428, Oct 26, 2004

Jun 21, 2002

10/176049

Scott Evart Blackburn - Temperance MI
Eric Keith Manning - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F02N 1108

290 37R, 290 36 R, 290 37 A

A system and method for protecting a component of an I. C. engine system by controlling a starter/alternator in response to the components temperature. The system describes a method of comparing the temperature of the component to a predetermined threshold temperature and, if the temperature exceeds the threshold, disabling the starter/alternator. According to the present invention the temperature of the vehicle battery, starter/alternator motor and starter/alternator inverter may be protected. The starter/alternator is controlled/disabled according to mode of operation.

6825576, Nov 30, 2004

Jun 18, 2002

10/173303

Scott Evart Blackburn - Temperance MI
Eric Keith Manning - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F02N 1106

290 40A, 290 40 R, 290 40 B, 290 36 R, 290 37 A

A method and apparatus for preserving a starter/alternator in an I. C. engine system installation from repeated operation in the starter mode by detecting and preventing an I. C. engine stall by disabling the generator function of the starter/alternator. The system describes a method of comparing the detected rotational speed of the starter/alternator in generator mode with a reference rotational incipient stall speed of the system I. C. engine. If the I. C. engine speed falls below a threshold stall speed, the generator function of the starter/alternator is disabled. In addition, a second detected speed of the I. C. engine is detected following the disabling of the generator function to determine if the I. C. engine has resumed an engine speed above a second threshold speed, whereupon the generating function is restored.

6834631, Dec 28, 2004

Mar 8, 2004

10/793768

Scott Evart Blackburn - Temperance MI
Eric Keith Manning - Toledo OH

Dana Corporation - Toledo OH

F02N 1700

1231793, 474135

The present invention is directed to determining and controlling the appropriate moment at which a combined starter/alternator should transition from start-up mode to alternator/generator mode following an IC engine start-up sequence. The method relies on either belt/chain tensioner position or the position of the belt/chain itself to determine when the IC engine has achieved self-sustaining operation and signal the starter/alternator to transition from start-up to generator mode.