Patents by Inventor Kurt Howard NICKERSON

Kurt Howard NICKERSON 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: 11845438
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The transmission has gears and clutches configured to shift between the gears. The controller is programmed to operate the clutches during wide-open throttle events to upshift the gears at shift points corresponding to engine speeds. The controller is further programmed to adapt the shift points by increasing the shift points over a series of the wide-open throttle events from initial values to mature values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Conor Edward Sullivan, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Thaddeus Hill, Cory Benson Laroche, Donald Gerald Levens
  • Patent number: 11400913
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch and a step-ratio transmission is described. In one example, the method includes shifting the step-ratio transmission to neutral and accelerating an engine to an expected input shaft speed of the step-ratio transmission via applying full output capacity of an electric machine to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Corey James Blue, Scott James Thompson, Kendrick Morrison, Scott Patrick Ries, Steve Michael Cicala, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 11402017
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a transmission having an input shaft operably coupled to the engine, an output shaft operably coupled to wheels of the vehicle, a primary pump, and a secondary pump. The primary and secondary pumps are each configured to supply pressurized fluid to a valve body of the transmission. A controller is programmed to, in response to a loss of pressure of the primary pump and a speed of the output shaft exceeding a first threshold, shift the transmission to a neutral state, energize the secondary pump once the transmission is in the neutral state, and command the engine to idle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Edward Katynski, Jerry Lee Aeschliman, Jr., David Gilewski, Stephen John Bettley, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Robert E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 11181060
    Abstract: A method for downshifting a vehicle having an automatic transmission is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not conditions are met for a power matching downshift. If conditions are met for a power matching downshift, output power of a powertrain propulsion torque source at an end of the power matching downshift is adjusted to an output power of the powertrain propulsion torque source at the beginning of the power matching downshift plus an offset power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Dean Riedle, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Jianping Zhang, Kendrick Morrison, David H. Schmitt, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Charles Suter
  • Publication number: 20210246844
    Abstract: A method for downshifting a vehicle having an automatic transmission is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not conditions are met for a power matching downshift. If conditions are met for a power matching downshift, output power of a powertrain propulsion torque source at an end of the power matching downshift is adjusted to an output power of the powertrain propulsion torque source at the beginning of the power matching downshift plus an offset power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Bradley Dean Riedle, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Jianping Zhang, Kendrick Morrison, David H. Schmitt, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Charles Suter
  • Patent number: 11077856
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, an actual total number of transmission gear downshifts are counted to determine whether or not a transmission clutch characterization is immature. The transmission clutch characterization may be adjusted if it is determined to be immature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jaewon Choi, Jianping Zhang, Steve Michael Cicala, Kendrick Morrison, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 10995852
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of friction elements selectively engageable to establish power flow paths within the transmission. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to, during a boost phase of a shift, command a first hydraulic boost pressure for a plurality of control loop cycles to an oncoming one of the friction elements (oncoming friction element) and subsequently command a second hydraulic boost pressure less than the first hydraulic boost pressure for only a single control loop cycle that defines an end of the boost phase to the oncoming friction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jaewon Choi, Stephen Michael Cicala, Bradley D Riedle, Eric Frank Banners, Cory Benson Laroche, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20210107444
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch and a step-ratio transmission is described. In one example, the method includes shifting the step-ratio transmission to neutral and accelerating an engine to an expected input shaft speed of the step-ratio transmission via applying full output capacity of an electric machine to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Corey James Blue, Scott James Thompson, Kendrick Morrison, Scott Patrick Ries, Steve Michael Cicala, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 10953892
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline that includes a step ratio transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that may be operated in a step ratio mode are disclosed. In one example, engagement speeds for transmission gears are adjusted as a function of vehicle mass, road grade, and requested braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thaddeus Hill, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Jeffrey Randolph Holmes, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20200391758
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline that includes a step ratio transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that may be operated in a step ratio mode are disclosed. In one example, engagement speeds for transmission gears are adjusted as a function of vehicle mass, road grade, and requested braking torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Thaddeus Hill, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Jeffrey Randolph Holmes, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20200386279
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of friction elements selectively engageable to establish power flow paths within the transmission. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to, during a boost phase of a shift, command a first hydraulic boost pressure for a plurality of control loop cycles to an oncoming one of the friction elements (oncoming friction element) and subsequently command a second hydraulic boost pressure less than the first hydraulic boost pressure for only a single control loop cycle that defines an end of the boost phase to the oncoming friction element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jaewon CHOI, Stephen Michael CICALA, Bradley D RIEDLE, Eric Frank BANNERS, Cory Benson LAROCHE, Kurt Howard NICKERSON
  • Publication number: 20200377103
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, an actual total number of transmission gear downshifts are counted to determine whether or not a transmission clutch characterization is immature. The transmission clutch characterization may be adjusted if it is determined to be immature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Jaewon Choi, Jianping Zhang, Steve Michael Cicala, Kendrick Morrison, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 10829098
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20200017078
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 10131357
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission, each controlled by controllers that communicate with one another. When the vehicle is coasting in certain gears, a one-way clutch over-runs. When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal (tips in), the transmission controller adjusts a transmission torque demand limit which is communicated to the engine controller. In response, the engine controller adjusts the engine torque, resulting in a smooth re-engagement of the one-way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Howard Nickerson, Bradley Dean Riedle, Kendrick Morrison, Jianping Zhang, Cory Benson LaRoche
  • Publication number: 20180229728
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission, each controlled by controllers that communicate with one another. When the vehicle is coasting in certain gears, a one-way clutch over-runs. When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal (tips in), the transmission controller adjusts a transmission torque demand limit which is communicated to the engine controller. In response, the engine controller adjusts the engine torque, resulting in a smooth re-engagement of the one-way clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Kurt Howard Nickerson, Bradley Dean Riedle, Kendrick Morrison, Jianping Zhang, Cory Benson LaRoche
  • Patent number: 10023190
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission coupled to the engine. The transmission has a first neutral state in which a first combination of clutches are engaged and a second neutral state in which a second combination of clutches are engaged. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to the transmission being in the first neutral state and an engine-torque request exceeding a threshold value, shift the transmission to the second neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Stephen Michael Cicala, Charles William Suter, Bradley Dean Riedle, Leonidas Kiliaris, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Publication number: 20180118214
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission coupled to the engine. The transmission has a first neutral state in which a first combination of clutches are engaged and a second neutral state in which a second combination of clutches are engaged. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to the transmission being in the first neutral state and an engine-torque request exceeding a threshold value, shift the transmission to the second neutral state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Stephen Michael CICALA, Charles William SUTER, Bradley Dean RIEDLE, Leonidas KILIARIS, Markian Oleh DIAKIW, Kurt Howard NICKERSON
  • Patent number: 9945475
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an accelerator pedal moveable across a plurality of predefined positions and a controller programmed to, responsive to the pedal reaching a tip-in position, command a downshift to a downshift gear from an initial gear. A difference between the initial and downshift gears exceeds a number of predefined positions crossed upon moving to the tip-in position when a rate of change of pedal position exceeds a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Markian Oleh Diakiw, Leonidas Kiliaris, Philip Joseph Wiethe, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Brian Michael O'Neil, Cory Benson LaRoche
  • Patent number: 9631723
    Abstract: When a vehicle driver selects reverse while a vehicle is moving forward, a transmission controller applies friction shift elements within the transmission to create a partial tie-up condition to decelerate the vehicle. Once the vehicle slows below a threshold speed, the controller engages a selectable one way brake and releases some of the friction shift elements to engage a reverse gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karl M. Jungbluth, Christopher Marcus Williams, Kurt Howard Nickerson