Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. Follen

Kenneth M. Follen 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: 11981319
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving fuel economy and reducing emissions of a vehicle with an electric motor, an engine and an energy storage device are disclosed. The methods and systems involve obtaining lookahead information and current state information, wherein the lookahead information includes a predicted vehicle speed, and the current state information includes a current state of charge (SOC) for the energy storage device coupled to the electric motor; and determining, based on the lookahead information and the current state information, a target power split between the energy storage device and the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Archit N. Koti, Rohinish Gupta, Xing Jin, Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Manik Narula
  • Publication number: 20240132051
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method may include obtaining target fault data indicating a preselected fault for a vehicle having a hydrogen source. In addition, the method may include obtaining vehicle fault data indicating a fault of the vehicle. The method may include identifying a match between the fault and the preselected fault. Moreover, the method may include purging, in response to the identifying the match, hydrogen from the hydrogen source so as to reduce consequences of a battery thermal event by reducing the likelihood of a hydrogen-fueled fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Max Donald Carruthers, Steven James Mclaren, Abdul Ishaq, Tarkan Yapici, Mehfoos Yacoob, Thomas Stewart, Jithin Benjamin, J. Steven Kolhouse, Kenneth M. Follen, Ethan Charles Seifer, Hoseinali Borhan, Lisa A. Orth-Farrell, Joseph P. Chandraraj, Michael Stuglik
  • Publication number: 20240123990
    Abstract: A vehicle system, apparatus, and/or method is provided. The vehicle system includes a powertrain including a prime mover and a transmission, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the powertrain including an adaptive cruise control (ACC) controller. The electronic control system is configured to determine a speed profile for a vehicle-in-front of the vehicle system while operating the vehicle system along a route. In response to the speed profile for the vehicle-in-front, the electronic control system is further configured to modify one or more output parameters of the powertrain to control one or more of a vehicle speed, a vehicle acceleration, and a vehicle deceleration of the vehicle system to inhibit control of the one or more output parameters by the ACC controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Follen, Rohinish Gupta, Jonathan A. Dickson
  • Publication number: 20240010183
    Abstract: A system and method for power management of hybrid electric vehicles is provided. In some implementations, a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle may include an engine, a motor/generator (MG), a traction motor, an energy storage device, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the engine and the MG to control operation of the engine and the MG such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic reference SOC profile during a trip and an average engine power (AEP) is maintained above a threshold. In some instances, maintaining AEP above a threshold supports emission control of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Dat Duc Le, Carlos A. Lana, Kenneth M. Follen
  • Publication number: 20230391313
    Abstract: A series or range extender hybrid vehicle drive system is disclosed having a combustion engine with an exhaust aftertreatment device, a motor/generator, an electrical energy storage and a traction motor. The traction motor is driven using power from the energy storage and/or the engine. A controller of the system is operable to receive input data representative of a requested power from the drive system, a state of charge indication of the electrical energy storage and at least one of the oxygen level in exhaust gas from the engine and temperature in the exhaust gas. The controller is also operable to provide output signals to control torque and speed of the engine and motor/generator to minimize exhaust emissions output and any tracking error of the state of charge of the energy storage to a desired target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Dat Duc Le, Carlos Alcides Lana, Kenneth M. Follen
  • Publication number: 20230347779
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed that include: determining, by a controller, an estimated propulsion power for a vehicle at a future location of a route at a future time based on at least one of internal information regarding the vehicle, external static information regarding the route of the vehicle, or external dynamic information regarding one or more upcoming potential conditions along the route of the vehicle; determining, by the controller, a current state of charge of a battery; determining, by the controller, a desired state of charge of the battery at the future location without substantially changing an output power of an engine of the vehicle; and facilitating, by the controller, charging of the battery of the vehicle to achieve the desired state of charge of the battery at the future location without substantially changing the output power of the engine of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Vivek A. Sujan, Pinak Jayant Tulpule, Mugdha S. Sane
  • Patent number: 11794717
    Abstract: A system and method for power management of hybrid electric vehicles is provided. In some implementations, a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle may include an engine, a motor/generator (MG), a traction motor, an energy storage device, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the engine and the MG to control operation of the engine and the MG such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic reference SOC profile during a trip and an average engine power (AEP) is maintained above a threshold. In some instances, maintaining AEP above a threshold supports emission control of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Dat Duc Le, Carlos A. Lana, Kenneth M. Follen
  • Patent number: 11745616
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein include managing, by a controller, a state of charge of a battery of a hybrid vehicle at a particular location at a particular time based on a determined potential propulsion power for the vehicle; responsive to determining a downhill grade at the particular location, determining, by the controller, an amount of braking energy available during traversal of the downhill grade; and discharging, by the controller, the battery to direct energy to at least one of a generator or an electrified accessory of the hybrid vehicle before the downhill grade to enable reception of at least a portion of the determined amount of braking energy available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Vivek A. Sujan, Pinak Jayant Tulpule, Mugdha S. Sane
  • Publication number: 20230274648
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include one or more processing circuits including one or more memory devices coupled to one or more processors. The one or more memory devices are configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive a parameter regarding operation of a first vehicle of a first platoon; compare the parameter to a first predetermined threshold; responsive to determining that the parameter satisfies the first predetermined threshold, determine an exit parameter for the first vehicle; and cause the first vehicle to exit the first platoon based on the exit parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Anand Sujan, Phani Kiran Vajapeyazula, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Jingxuan Liu, Kenneth M. Follen
  • Patent number: 11718298
    Abstract: The enclosed disclosure relates to hybrid vehicles and systems with an engine, a drivetrain with a clutch and a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The controller receives lookahead information within a lookahead window and present state information of the hybrid vehicle. The controller determines a predicted coasting opportunity exceeding a predetermined threshold within the lookahead window and determines a cruise control reference speed, a power split between the engine and the electric machine, and a timing of enabling engine-off coasting during the coasting opportunity. The controller deactivates the engine and disengages the clutch at a start of the coasting opportunity when the engine-off coasting is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Rohinish Gupta, Jonathan A. Dickson, Kenneth M. Follen, Apurva Arvind Chunodkar, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Manik Narula
  • Patent number: 11682306
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include one or more processing circuits comprising one or more memory devices coupled to one or more processors, the one or more memory devices configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: determine at least one reason for a deserter to exit a first platoon; determine a deserter position within the first platoon; communicate the deserter exit to the first platoon after determination of the at least one reason for the deserter to exit the first platoon based at least in part on the deserter position; adapt a behavior of the first platoon to allow the deserter to exit the first platoon; and reconfigure the remaining vehicles from the first platoon into a second platoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Anand Sujan, Phani Kiran Vajapeyazula, Govindarajan Kothandaraman, Jingxuan Liu, Kenneth M. Follen
  • Publication number: 20230182756
    Abstract: A system and method of utilizing a power boost feature is disclosed. The power boost feature enables the vehicle to produce a greater amount of power when needed, for example, to provide launch assist or overtake assist in a vehicle. A power boost request processor may receive information from a plurality of information systems of the vehicle, including, for example, vehicle mass, enablement of an accelerator pedal kick down switch, an amount of time passed between power boost system functions as communicated by a timer, operation and/or status of a cooling system, system enablement, transmission enablement, vehicle speed, position of an accelerator pedal, grade of the road as communicated by a road-grade sensor, actual vehicle power, actual available vehicle power, available battery power, look ahead information, powertrain health, route information, existence of emission zones, weather, and advanced driver-assistance systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Harsha Ravindra ADEMANE, Kenneth M. FOLLEN, John P, KRESSE, III
  • Publication number: 20230150502
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improving predictive cruise control and predictive engine off coasting for a vehicle are provided. An apparatus includes one or more processing circuits having one or more memory devices coupled to one or more processors, the one or more memory devices configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive look ahead information and store the look ahead information in the one or more memory devices; receive vehicle information regarding operation of a vehicle including an engine; determine a coasting opportunity for the vehicle based on the look ahead information and the vehicle information; modulate a cruise control set speed based on the determined coasting opportunity; and turn the engine off during the determined coasting opportunity for the vehicle based on modulation of the cruise control set speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Dickson, Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, J. Steven Kolhouse, Manik Narula, Apurva Arvind Chunodkar
  • Patent number: 11535233
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed provide for receiving internal information, external static information, and external dynamic information of a hybrid vehicle, and selectively enable or disable a stop/start function for the engine of the hybrid vehicle based on the internal hybrid vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information. The stop/start function controls selective activation and deactivation of the engine during operation of the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Vivek A. Sujan, Pinak Jayant Tulpule, Mugdha S. Sane
  • Publication number: 20220388514
    Abstract: A method for managing emissions from a vehicle having an aftertreatment system is provided. The method includes: receiving, by a controller, information indicative of a temperature of an aftertreatment system of the vehicle and a power output of an engine of the vehicle; comparing, by the controller, the temperature of the aftertreatment system to a temperature threshold; comparing, by the controller, the power output to a power output threshold; and responsive to the comparisons, commanding, by the controller, an aftertreatment system heater to selectively engage and disengage to warm the aftertreatment system of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Kristopher R. Bare, Kenneth M. Follen, Xing Jin, Jinyong Luo, Manik Narula, Andrew W. Osburn, Anant Puri, Xiaobo Song, Ying Yuan
  • Publication number: 20220363281
    Abstract: A system includes a powertrain controller operatively coupled with and configured to control operation of a powertrain of a vehicle and for bidirectional communication via a wireless communication path. An optimization engine is configured to determine optimized powertrain operation parameters for the powertrain controller and for bidirectional communication via a second communication path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Harsha Ravindra Ademane, Kenneth M. Follen
  • Publication number: 20220363238
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a powertrain power management in a vehicle with an electric motor, and an engine are disclosed. The methods and systems involve a powertrain that is operatively coupled to the engine and the electric motor, and an optimizer module operatively coupled to the powertrain. The optimizer module receives an operator information to travel a route from a remote management module, receives current route information for the route from a mapping application in response to the operator information, measures current vehicle status information for the hybrid vehicle, and decides a power management strategy for the vehicle based on the current route information and the current vehicle status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Ke Li, Kenneth M. Follen, Anant Puri, John P. Kresse, III, Apurva Arvind Chunodkar
  • Publication number: 20220348185
    Abstract: A system and method for power management of hybrid electric vehicles is provided. In some implementations, a plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle may include an engine, a motor/generator (MG), a traction motor, an energy storage device, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the engine and the MG to control operation of the engine and the MG such that a state-of-charge (SOC) of the energy storage device tracks a dynamic reference SOC profile during a trip and an average engine power (AEP) is maintained above a threshold. In some instances, maintaining AEP above a threshold supports emission control of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Dat Duc Le, Carlos A. Lana, Kenneth M. Follen
  • Patent number: 11440528
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises an aftertreatment system configured to reduce constituents of an exhaust gas. The vehicle also includes a controller configured to determine a predicted load on the vehicle during a route, and adjust at least one of a temperature of the aftertreatment system or an amount of a reductant inserted into the aftertreatment system based on the predicted load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Archit N. Koti, Apurva A. Chunodkar, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Feng Liu, Kenneth M. Follen, Michael Haas, Pinak Jayant Tulpule, Vivek A. Sujan
  • Patent number: 11440432
    Abstract: A system is provided for performing an automated range estimation process for an electric vehicle using a processor. Included in the system is a range estimator configured to estimate an initial value of an energy required to travel a unit distance for the electric vehicle. The range estimator generates a first estimation model based on a correlation between a maximum all-electric-range and the energy required to travel a unit distance. Then, the first estimation model is adjusted based on one or more predetermined driving conditions. The maximum all-electric-range of the electric vehicle is updated based on the adjusted first estimation model. An estimated range of the electric vehicle is calculated based on the updated maximum all-electric-range of the electric vehicle and a fraction of total energy capability remaining in the electric vehicle. The estimated range of the electric vehicle is outputted and is used to control the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Anant Puri, Kenneth M. Follen