Patents by Inventor Davorin David Hrovat

Davorin David Hrovat 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).

  • Publication number: 20110184613
    Abstract: A speed ratio shaft control for multiple ratio vehicle transmission has controlled release of an off-going transmission clutch and controlled engagement of an on-coming transmission clutch during a speed ratio upshift, at least one clutch being a friction torque establishing clutch. A controller, using shift-timing software strategy, actively manages in real time a clutch torque level for each clutch so that transient torque disturbances in a transmission torque output shaft are mitigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Jahan Asgari, Davorin David Hrovat, Hong Jiang, Gregory Michael Pietron, Bradley Dean Riedle, Christopher John Teslak, Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 7503875
    Abstract: A gear ratio shift control and control method controls gear ratio upshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission for an automotive vehicle. Pressure actuated friction elements establish torque flow paths in transmission gearing as they are selectively engaged and released. A net torque reduction at a transmission torque output shaft during an upshift event is reduced by increasing transmission input torque prior to the start of the inertia phase of the upshift event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Marvin Paul Kraska, Gregory Michael Pletron, William Emil Tobler, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Bradley Dean Riedle, Ronald Thomas Cowan, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Publication number: 20080139362
    Abstract: A gear ratio shift control and control method controls gear ratio upshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission for an automotive vehicle. Pressure actuated friction elements establish torque flow paths in transmission gearing as they are selectively engaged and released. A net torque reduction at a transmission torque output shaft during an upshift event is reduced by increasing transmission input torque prior to the start of the inertia phase of the upshift event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Marvin Paul Kraska, Gregory Michael Pletron, William Emil Tobler, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Bradley Dean Riedle, Ronald Thomas Cowan, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Patent number: 7351183
    Abstract: A gear ratio shift control and control method controls gear ratio upshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission for an automotive vehicle. Pressure actuated friction elements establish torque flow paths in transmission gearing as they are selectively engaged and released. A net torque reduction at a transmission torque output shaft during an upshift event is reduced by increasing transmission input torque prior to the start of the inertia phase of the upshift event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Marvin Paul Kraska, Gregory Michael Pietron, William Emil Tobler, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Bradley Dean Riedle, Ronald Thomas Cowan, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Patent number: 7140619
    Abstract: A stability control system (24) for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors (28–37) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle to determine imminent rollover. A controller (26) coupled to an active suspension (49) controls a restoring torque in response to the rollover signal by controlling the active suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Michael Glenn Fodor
  • Patent number: 6941205
    Abstract: A control system for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body includes a sensor cluster having a housing oriented within the vehicle body. A roll rate sensor is positioned within the housing and generates a roll rate sensor signal corresponding to a roll angular motion of the sensor housing. A controller receives the roll rate sensor signal and generates a reference roll angle. The controller also compares the reference roll angle to the roll rate sensor signal and generates a roll rate sensor fault signal in response a fault determined in said roll rate sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Li Xu
  • Patent number: 6840887
    Abstract: A system is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In one example, a potential torque increase at high speed and low airflow that may be cause using electronically actuated valves is compensated for using multiple paths of the transmission. In this way, relatively constant output torque can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 6804584
    Abstract: A method for determining road bank angle in a vehicle includes a lateral acceleration sensor (22) that generates a lateral acceleration signal. A yaw rate sensor (18) generates a yaw rate signal. A roll rate sensor (23) generates a yaw rate signal. A controller (14) coupled to the sensors calculates a first roll angle signal in response to the roll rate signal and calculates a second roll angle signal corresponding to a suspension reference roll angle in response to the lateral acceleration signal. The controller calculates a bank angle signal in response to the lateral acceleration signal, the yaw rate signal, the steering wheel signal and the speed signal. The controller sums the first roll angle signal, the second roll angle signal and the bank angle signal to obtain a final roll angle estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongtei Eric Tseng, Davorin David Hrovat, Michael G. Fodor
  • Patent number: 6738702
    Abstract: A system is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In particular, during particulate filter regeneration, a potential torque increase is transmitted through multiple torque paths of the transmission to maintain output torque relatively constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Patent number: 6716137
    Abstract: A system is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In one example, a potential torque increase at high speed and low airflow that may be cause using electronically actuated valves is compensated for using multiple paths of the transmission. In this way, relatively constant output torque can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Patent number: 6716136
    Abstract: A system is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In one example, a potential torque increase due to a change in engine air-fuel ratio is minimized by transmitted torque through multiple transmission paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 6714851
    Abstract: A control system (13) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a longitudinal accelerometer (24) that generates a longitudinal acceleration signal corresponding to a longitudinal acceleration of a center of gravity (COG) of the vehicle body. A lateral velocity sensor (22) generates a lateral velocity signal corresponding to the lateral velocity of the vehicle body. A controller (14) is coupled to the yaw rate sensor (18), the longitudinal accelerometer (24) and the lateral velocity sensor (22). The controller (14) determines a longitudinal speed from the longitudinal acceleration signal. The controller determines a vehicle pitch angle in response to the longitudinal speed, the yaw rate signal and the lateral velocity signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Todd Allen Brown
  • Publication number: 20040059480
    Abstract: A control system for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body includes a sensor cluster having a housing oriented within the vehicle body. A roll rate sensor is positioned within the housing and generates a roll rate sensor signal corresponding to a roll angular motion of the sensor housing. A controller receives the roll rate sensor signal and generates a reference roll angle. The controller also compares the reference roll angle to the roll rate sensor signal and generates a roll rate sensor fault signal in response a fault determined in said roll rate sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Hongtei Erio Tseng, Li Xu
  • Publication number: 20040043866
    Abstract: A system is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In one example, a potential torque increase due to a change in engine air-fuel ratio is minimized by transmitted torque through multiple transmission paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Publication number: 20040041358
    Abstract: A stability control system (24) for an automotive vehicle as includes a plurality of sensors (28-37) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle to determine imminent rollover. A controller (26) coupled to an active suspension (49) controls a restoring torque in response to the rollover signal by controlling the active suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng, Michael Glenn Fodor
  • Publication number: 20040044457
    Abstract: A system is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In particular, during particulate filter regeneration, a potential torque increase is transmitted through multiple torque paths of the transmission to maintain output torque relatively constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Davorin David Hrovat
  • Publication number: 20040043864
    Abstract: A system is described for minimizing engine torque disturbances that would otherwise cause degraded drive feel by a vehicle driver. The system utilizes multiple torque transmission paths of a transaxle unit mounted to the engine. The system manipulates the torque transmitted by adjusting the clutches of multiple torque transmission paths so that the torque disturbance in the engine results in relatively constant vehicle drive torque. In one example, a potential torque increase at high speed and low airflow that may be cause using electronically actuated valves is compensated for using multiple paths of the transmission. In this way, relatively constant output torque can be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 6671587
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring dynamic movement of a vehicle (10) by employing multiple GPS satellites and determining velocity based change in the carrier frequency of multiple satellite signals. The apparatus includes at least two GPS receiving antennas (12a and 12b) installed on a vehicle (10) at known locations and a controller (20) for processing received GPS signals (16a-16c) and monitoring a carrier frequency associated with the GPS signals. The controller (20) determines a change in the carrier frequency of the GPS signals due to Doppler effect. The controller (20) further determines a first inertial velocity vector of each of the receiving antennas (12a and 12b) based on the change in carrier frequency, and determines angular rate of the vehicle based on the inertial velocity vectors. The controller (20) further determines vehicle longitudinal and lateral velocity and acceleration as a function of the inertial velocity vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Hongtei Eric Tseng, John Loring Yester
  • Patent number: 6651761
    Abstract: A system and method to control the coolant temperature of two independent cooling loops of a fuel cell vehicle by adjusting system pump speed, fan speed and radiator bypass valve position. Multiple feedback controllers coordinated by robust flip-flop logic are used, to minimize energy consumption and provide optimal control system performance even in the case of substantially different plant responses with respect to fan speed and valve position plant inputs. The system also includes a feed forward disturbance compensator, which reacts immediately to change in net power and vehicle speed disturbance variables, thereby reducing the variance of the temperature control error. Additionally, a feedback controller preset strategy is used to compensate for distinctive plant nonlinear effects such as bypass valve dead-zone and air-conditioning system's request for abrupt change of fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davorin David Hrovat, Jahanbakhsh Asgari, Josko Deur, William Samuel Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20030182025
    Abstract: A method for determining road bank angle in a vehicle includes a lateral acceleration sensor (22) that generates a lateral acceleration signal. A yaw rate sensor (18) generates a yaw rate signal. A roll rate sensor (23) generates a yaw rate signal. A controller (14) coupled to the sensors calculates a first roll angle signal in response to the roll rate signal and calculates a second roll angle signal corresponding to a suspension reference roll angle in response to the lateral acceleration signal. The controller calculates a bank angle signal in response to the lateral acceleration signal, the yaw rate signal, the steering wheel signal and the speed signal. The controller sums the first roll angle signal, the second roll angle signal and the bank angle signal to obtain a final roll angle estimate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Hongtei Eric Tseng, Davorin David Hrovat, Michael G. Fodor