Patents by Inventor Derek James Rotz

Derek James Rotz 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: 9020726
    Abstract: A torque management system and method is described by which the torque provided by an engine can be controlled based on a mass of the vehicle and, if available, instantaneous and/or predictive slope information. Also, in some modes of operation, torque can be controlled based on speed limit information for upcoming road segments to be traveled by a vehicle. In addition to controlling the maximum allowable torque, optionally the minimum allowable torque can also be controlled to prevent inadvertent decelerations of the vehicle. A driver/operator can optionally override the torque control and the history of override requests can optionally be used to adjust overrides of the system. A plurality of torque control approach sub-methods can be made available with the appropriate sub-mode being selected depending, for example, upon the extent of the available information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler Trucks North America LLC
    Inventors: Elmar Boeckenhoff, Dieter Reckels, Derek James Rotz, Shivkumar Duraiswamy
  • Patent number: 8602141
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprises at least one fuel cell that is selectively operated in response to conditions to provide power to electrical loads and/or to charge an electrical storage device such as a vehicle battery. One form of an alternator can be selectively engaged or disengaged to provide power to the electrical loads and/or to charge the electrical storage device. Either or both of the fuel cell and alternator can be operated to provide electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler Trucks North America LLC
    Inventors: Justin Yee, Mark S. Woolley, Cristin Paun, Shivkumar Duraiswamy, Maik Ziegler, Derek James Rotz, Matthew C. C. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20110246013
    Abstract: A power distribution system comprises at least one fuel cell that is selectively operated in response to conditions to provide power to electrical loads and/or to charge an electrical storage device such as a vehicle battery. One form of an alternator can be selectively engaged or disengaged to provide power to the electrical loads and/or to charge the electrical storage device. Either or both of the fuel cell and alternator can be operated to provide electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Justin Yee, Mark S. Woolley, Cristin Paun, Shivkumar Duraiswamy, Maik Ziegler, Derek James Rotz, Matthew C.C. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20110184642
    Abstract: A more fuel efficient route between two locations is determined from a plurality of possible different routes and displayed. The different routes can be made up of links or route segments that can begin and end with a node or link transition, each different route comprising at least one different link. In one specific example, a simulation is made utilizing map data, vehicle specific data including mass, traffic congestion and driver driving style characteristics to determine energy values which are stored in association with links and nodes. The stored energy values associated with the links and nodes of plural different routes are then combined, such as by summing, to determine a total energy value for each of the plural different routes. A route having a low energy value is then selected. At least a portion of the route can be displayed to an operator of a vehicle, whereby the operator of the vehicle can follow the displayed route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Derek James Rotz, Maik Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20110106388
    Abstract: A torque management system and method is described by which the torque provided by an engine can be controlled based on a mass of the vehicle and, if available, instantaneous and/or predictive slope information. Also, in some modes of operation, torque can be controlled based on speed limit information for upcoming road segments to be traveled by a vehicle. In addition to controlling the maximum allowable torque, optionally the minimum allowable torque can also be controlled to prevent inadvertent decelerations of the vehicle. A driver/operator can optionally override the torque control and the history of override requests can optionally be used to adjust overrides of the system. A plurality of torque control approach sub-methods can be made available with the appropriate sub-mode being selected depending, for example, upon the extent of the available information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Elmar Boeckenhoff, Dieter Reckels, Derek James Rotz, Shivkumar Duraiswamy