Patents by Inventor Barbara Shuler

Barbara Shuler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9296368
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for determining an effective brake pedal position for a vehicle. A determination is made as to whether automatic braking is occurring for a vehicle. If the automatic braking is occurring, a measure of braking is determined for the vehicle. The effective pedal position of the brake pedal is determined to be a position of the brake pedal that would be expected to be required to attain the measure of braking if automatic braking were not occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Bret J. Keller, Barbara A. Shuler, Eric E. Krueger
  • Publication number: 20150120159
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for determining an effective brake pedal position for a vehicle. A determination is made as to whether. automatic braking is occurring for a vehicle. If the automatic braking is occurring, a measure of braking is determined for the vehicle. The effective pedal position of the brake pedal is determined to be a position of the brake pedal that would be expected to be required to attain the measure of braking if automatic braking were not occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: PATRICK J. O'LEARY, BRET J. KELLER, BARBARA A. SHULER, ERIC E. KRUEGER
  • Patent number: 9014941
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pamela I. Labuhn, Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler, James Heath Holbrook
  • Patent number: 8762023
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pamela L. Labuhn, Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler, James Heath Holbrook
  • Publication number: 20140172266
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pamela I. LABUHN, Patrick J. O'LEARY, Barbara A. SHULER, James HEATH HOLBROOK
  • Publication number: 20130238212
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pamela L. LABUHN, Patrick J. O'LEARY, Barbara A. SHULER, James HEATH HOLBROOK
  • Patent number: 8521377
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle speed module that determines a speed of a vehicle. An engine control module receives a first target speed signal and a torque request signal from an adaptive cruise control (ACC) module. The ACC module is separate from the engine control module. A first comparison module compares the first target speed signal to the speed of the vehicle to generate a first assessment signal. A first target speed module sets a second target speed signal equal to one of the first target speed signal and a predetermined value based on the first assessment signal. The engine control module controls an engine to provide an engine output torque based on at least one of the torque request signal and the second target speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Patent number: 8452513
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pamela I. Labuhn, Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler, James Heath Holbrook
  • Patent number: 8437938
    Abstract: An axle torque control system includes an axle torque request module that receives an axle torque request and that selectively outputs the axle torque request. An axle torque conversion module receives the axle torque request and converts the axle torque request to an engine torque request. A rate limit module receives the engine torque request and a pedal engine torque request and selectively adjusts the engine torque request based on the pedal engine torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Vivek Mehta, Barbara A. Shuler, Patrick J. O'Leary, Jun Lu
  • Patent number: 8301355
    Abstract: A cruise control system comprises a passing detection module and a speed regulator module. The passing detection module selectively detects execution of a passing maneuver based on an accelerator pedal position (APP) measured by an APP sensor and actuation of a Set/Coast input to the cruise control system when a vehicle speed is greater than a target speed. The speed regulator module regulates the vehicle speed based on the target speed and updates the target speed to the vehicle speed when the passing maneuver is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Patent number: 8255134
    Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system for a vehicle includes a deceleration module, a downshift trigger module, and a shift module. The deceleration module determines a deceleration rate based on a speed of at least one of the vehicle and an engine of the vehicle. The downshift trigger module generates a threshold signal based on the deceleration rate. The shift module generates a downshift signal when the speed is less than the threshold signal and while the vehicle is operating in a manual transmission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Patent number: 8099221
    Abstract: A method and control module for operating a vehicle powertrain in response to a cruise control includes a primary closed loop control module generating a primary closed loop control signal and a primary torque request signal based on the primary closed loop control signal. The control module also includes a secondary closed loop control module generating a secondary closed loop control signal and a secondary torque request signal based on the secondary closed loop control signal. A transmission control module controls a transmission based on the primary torque request control signal and the secondary torque request signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Publication number: 20110093174
    Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system for a vehicle includes a deceleration module, a downshift trigger module, and a shift module. The deceleration module determines a deceleration rate based on a speed of at least one of the vehicle and an engine of the vehicle. The downshift trigger module generates a threshold signal based on the deceleration rate. The shift module generates a downshift signal when the speed is less than the threshold signal and while the vehicle is operating in a manual transmission mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Publication number: 20100299041
    Abstract: A cruise control system comprises a passing detection module and a speed regulator module. The passing detection module selectively detects execution of a passing maneuver based on an accelerator pedal position (APP) measured by an APP sensor and actuation of a Set/Coast input to the cruise control system when a vehicle speed is greater than a target speed. The speed regulator module regulates the vehicle speed based on the target speed and updates the target speed to the vehicle speed when the passing maneuver is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Publication number: 20100286886
    Abstract: A method and control module for operating a vehicle powertrain in response to a cruise control includes a primary closed loop control module generating a primary closed loop control signal and a primary torque request signal based on the primary closed loop control signal. The control module also includes a secondary closed loop control module generating a secondary closed loop control signal and a secondary torque request signal based on the secondary closed loop control signal. A transmission control module controls a transmission based on the primary torque request control signal and the secondary torque request signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. O'Leary, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Publication number: 20100204897
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Pamela I. LABUHN, Patrick J. O'LEARY, BARBARA A. SHULER, JAMES HEATH HOLBROOK
  • Patent number: 7686736
    Abstract: A control system for regulating operation of a vehicle having a transmission driven by an engine during a cruise control mode includes a first module that determines an operating point of the vehicle and that compares the operating point to one of a shift line and a torque converter clutch (TCC) release line. A second module regulates a throttle of the engine to maintain the operating point a threshold distance from the one of the shift line and the TCC release line, when the operating point is at the threshold distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Stamm, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Publication number: 20090182478
    Abstract: An axle torque control system includes an axle torque request module that receives an axle torque request and that selectively outputs the axle torque request. An axle torque conversion module receives the axle torque request and converts the axle torque request to an engine torque request. A rate limit module receives the engine torque request and a pedal engine torque request and selectively adjusts the engine torque request based on the pedal engine torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Vivek Mehta, Barbara A. Shuler, Patrick J. O'leary, Jun Lu
  • Patent number: 7343897
    Abstract: An engine control system includes an engine with an output shaft. A power take-off device interfaces with the output shaft and provides rotational power to an auxiliary device. A user input device includes a first engine speed control that commands an increase in engine speed by a first amount to increase the rotational power to the auxiliary device when a user selects the first engine speed control. A second engine speed control commands an increase in engine speed by a second amount that is greater than the first amount to increase the rotational power to the auxiliary device when the user selects the second engine speed control. The user input device includes a speed cancellation control that commands a reversal of a net increase in the speed of the engine that is commanded via the user input device when the user selects the speed cancellation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerfegar K. Katrak, Donald A. Eveleth, Barbara A. Shuler
  • Patent number: 7305295
    Abstract: A throttle limit control for an internal combustion engine throttle control is disclosed. Rate limiting is applied to prevent excessive rates of change in throttle actuation. Throttle pedal authority is continually maintained and throttle headroom is not compromised thereby. Application to various systems including conventional and adaptive cruise systems and power take-off systems is envisioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Kerfegar K. Katrak, Barbara A. Shuler, Patrick J. O'Leary