Patents by Inventor Kenneth K. Lang
Kenneth K. Lang 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).
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Patent number: 8924109Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes detecting vibration in a drivetrain of the vehicle with a fore/aft accelerometer during a launch event. An operating regime of the vehicle is identified concurrently with the detected vibration when the detected vibration is outside a predefined allowable range. A control strategy of the drivetrain is adjusted to define a revised control strategy to avoid the identified operating regime. The revised control strategy is applied to control the drivetrain to mitigate vibration in the drivetrain.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Kenneth K. Lang
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Patent number: 8831848Abstract: An electro-hydraulic clutch system for a motor vehicle includes a clutch mechanism that selectively engages an engine of the motor vehicle with a gear box, an actuator that pumps and retrieves hydraulic fluid to and from the clutch mechanism to activate the clutch mechanism, and a solenoid with a valve and/or a check ball that is disposed in the path of the hydraulic fluid between the actuator and the clutch mechanism. The solenoid has a normally closed position to prevent flow of the hydraulic fluid back to the actuator in the event of a system failure. The solenoid can also be used to reduce energy consumption in steady state conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Kenneth K. Lang, Hamid Vahabzadeh, Christian Rübsam
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Patent number: 8764606Abstract: An engine control module includes a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) module, an actuator control module, and a rolling neutral (RN) module. The DFCO module determines whether to disable provision of fuel to an engine when a vehicle speed is greater than zero and selectively generates a DFCO signal based on the determination. The actuator control module disables the provision of fuel to the engine when the DFCO signal is generated. The RN module selectively generates an RN mode signal in response to a determination that the DFCO module is not generating the DFCO signal. The actuator control module controls the provision of fuel to the engine based on a desired engine speed when the RN mode signal is generated. A transmission control module disengages first and second input clutches of a dual clutch transmission (DCT) to decouple the DCT from the engine when the RN mode signal is generated.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Inventors: Richard A. Weaver, Kenneth K. Lang
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Publication number: 20140165714Abstract: A gasket, spacer plate or separator plate for a motor vehicle transmission includes one or more integrated sensors. Such sensors can measure the pressure, flow rate, temperature, as well as any other desire performance characteristic, of the hydraulic fluid in the transmission. The sensors may be mounted on ports in the gasket, spacer plate or separator plate and/or the sensors can be microelectromechanical sensors (MEMS).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul A. Piorkowski, Kenneth K. Lang, Douglas R. Verner, John L. Dietz
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Patent number: 8702565Abstract: A vehicle having engine stop-start functionality includes a transmission, engine, and controller. The transmission includes a clutch, and the engine includes a crankshaft. The controller is in communication with the engine and the transmission, and is configured for detecting a commanded shut down of the engine, and then engaging the clutch to control a rate of deceleration of the crankshaft and stop the crankshaft within a calibrated range of a target stop position at the end of engine shut down. A method for controlling engine stop position includes detecting a commanded shut down of the engine, and engaging the clutch after detecting the commanded shut down to thereby control the rate of deceleration of the crankshaft and stop the crankshaft within a calibrated range of a target stop position at the end of shut down of the engine. The transmission may be automatic or it may be a dual-clutch transmission.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Amin Abboud, Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Kenneth K. Lang
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Patent number: 8612192Abstract: A vehicle simulation system includes a first simulation model that when executed simulates a software ring along with other software of a vehicle module. The vehicle simulation system further includes a second simulation model of the software ring. A bypass switch that has a first state and a second state. A bypass switching module switches the bypass switch between the first simulation model and the second simulation model based on a bypass signal and a ring enabling signal. A simulation control module executes code of a vehicle simulation model including software in-the-loop (SIL) testing of a selected one of the first simulation model and the second simulation model based on state of the bypass switch.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Inventors: Johan Larsson, Tobias Berndtson, Kenneth K. Lang, Xuefeng Tim Tao, Colin Hultengren, Michael A. Kropinski, Manmeet Mavi, Sriram Venkataramanan, David W. Wright
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Publication number: 20130332039Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes detecting vibration in a drivetrain of the vehicle with a fore/aft accelerometer during a launch event. An operating regime of the vehicle is identified concurrently with the detected vibration when the detected vibration is outside a predefined allowable range. A control strategy of the drivetrain is adjusted to define a revised control strategy to avoid the identified operating regime. The revised control strategy is applied to control the drivetrain to mitigate vibration in the drivetrain.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, Kenneth K. Lang
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Publication number: 20130317717Abstract: An electro-hydraulic clutch system for a motor vehicle includes a clutch mechanism that selectively engages an engine of the motor vehicle with a gear box, an actuator that pumps and retrieves hydraulic fluid to and from the clutch mechanism to activate the clutch mechanism, and a solenoid with a valve and/or a check ball that is disposed in the path of the hydraulic fluid between the actuator and the clutch mechanism. The solenoid has a normally closed position to prevent flow of the hydraulic fluid back to the actuator in the event of a system failure. The solenoid can also be used to reduce energy consumption in steady state conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2012Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Kenneth K. Lang, Hamid Vahabzadeh, Christian Rübsam
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Publication number: 20130023381Abstract: A vehicle having engine stop-start functionality includes a transmission, engine, and controller. The transmission includes a clutch, and the engine includes a crankshaft. The controller is in communication with the engine and the transmission, and is configured for detecting a commanded shut down of the engine, and then engaging the clutch to control a rate of deceleration of the crankshaft and stop the crankshaft within a calibrated range of a target stop position at the end of engine shut down. A method for controlling engine stop position includes detecting a commanded shut down of the engine, and engaging the clutch after detecting the commanded shut down to thereby control the rate of deceleration of the crankshaft and stop the crankshaft within a calibrated range of a target stop position at the end of shut down of the engine. The transmission may be automatic or it may be a dual-clutch transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Amin Abboud, Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Kenneth K. Lang
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Publication number: 20120304960Abstract: An engine control module includes a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) module, an actuator control module, and a rolling neutral (RN) module. The DFCO module determines whether to disable provision of fuel to an engine when a vehicle speed is greater than zero and selectively generates a DFCO signal based on the determination. The actuator control module disables the provision of fuel to the engine when the DFCO signal is generated. The RN module selectively generates an RN mode signal in response to a determination that the DFCO module is not generating the DFCO signal. The actuator control module controls the provision of fuel to the engine based on a desired engine speed when the RN mode signal is generated. A transmission control module disengages first and second input clutches of a dual clutch transmission (DCT) to decouple the DCT from the engine when the RN mode signal is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Richard A. Weaver, Kenneth K. Lang
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Patent number: 8306686Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system comprises a calculation module, an abnormal usage module, and memory. The calculation module calculates a vehicle usage value based on global positioning system (GPS) data and at least one data input, and calculates an expected vehicle usage value based on known vehicle characteristics and the GPS data. The abnormal usage module compares the vehicle usage value and the expected vehicle usage value. The memory stores an indicator based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Inventors: Randall B. Dlugoss, Kenneth K. Lang
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Publication number: 20110288841Abstract: A vehicle simulation system includes a first simulation model that when executed simulates a software ring along with other software of a vehicle module. The vehicle simulation system further includes a second simulation model of the software ring. A bypass switch that has a first state and a second state. A bypass switching module switches the bypass switch between the first simulation model and the second simulation model based on a bypass signal and a ring enabling signal. A simulation control module executes code of a vehicle simulation model including software in-the-loop (SIL) testing of a selected one of the first simulation model and the second simulation model based on state of the bypass switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Johan Larsson, Tobias Berndtson, Kenneth K. Lang, Xuefeng Tim Tao, Colin Hultengren, Michael A. Kropinski, Manmeet Mavi, Sriram Venkataramanan, David W. Wright
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Patent number: 7925405Abstract: A torque distribution system for a vehicle permits the transfer of torque between vehicle wheels using a selectively engagable clutch that is hydraulically engaged using hydraulic pressure provided by a hydraulic transmission pump driven by the engine, allowing for enhanced system functionality and reduced part content in comparison with known torque distribution systems. The system may include an “active-on-demand” clutch that is selectively engagable to transfer torque between a front differential and a rear differential (thereby transferring torque from the front wheels to the rear wheels) as well as an electronically-limited slip differential clutch selectively engagable to transfer torque from one front wheel to the other front wheel through the front differential. Utilization of the transmission hydraulic pump allows pressure to be provided to engage the clutch even when the wheels are stationary, i.e., to launch the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Clinton E. Carey, Craig S. Ross, Edmund F. Gaffney, Todd C. Schanz, Kenneth K. Lang, Paul A. Grougan
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Publication number: 20100274432Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system comprises a calculation module, an abnormal usage module, and memory. The calculation module calculates a vehicle usage value based on global positioning system (GPS) data and at least one data input, and calculates an expected vehicle usage value based on known vehicle characteristics and the GPS data. The abnormal usage module compares the vehicle usage value and the expected vehicle usage value. The memory stores an indicator based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2009Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Randall B. Dlugoss, Kenneth K. Lang
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Publication number: 20080046158Abstract: A torque distribution system for a vehicle permits the transfer of torque between vehicle wheels using a selectively engagable clutch that is hydraulically engaged using hydraulic pressure provided by a hydraulic transmission pump driven by the engine, allowing for enhanced system functionality and reduced part content in comparison with known torque distribution systems. The system may include an “active-on-demand” clutch that is selectively engagable to transfer torque between a front differential and a rear differential (thereby transferring torque from the front wheels to the rear wheels) as well as an electronically-limited slip differential clutch selectively engagable to transfer torque from one front wheel to the other front wheel through the front differential. Utilization of the transmission hydraulic pump allows pressure to be provided to engage the clutch even when the wheels are stationary, i.e., to launch the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Clinton E. Carey, Craig S. Ross, Edmund F. Gaffney, Todd C. Schanz, Kenneth K. Lang, Paul A. Grougan