Patents by Inventor Larry D. Laws
Larry D. Laws 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: 9971865Abstract: A method that may be used to operate a hybrid vehicle in a mountainous or other environment where roads have significant grades or inclines. In this kind of setting, standard methods for managing power within the hybrid vehicle may be insufficient when driving the hybrid vehicle up and down substantial inclines and declines; this can be particularly true if the driver attempts to maintain the hybrid vehicle at higher speeds. Thus, this method may use a power management scheme that is specifically adapted to address this kind of situation and can adjust or change target values accordingly, such as those that pertain to a state-of-charge (SOC) for the hybrid vehicle battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Larry D. Laws, John P. Blanchard
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Patent number: 9352739Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle, particularly one that includes both a primary and an auxiliary power source. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method seeks to decouple or disassociate a driver's engagement of an accelerator pedal with activation of an auxiliary power source, such as an internal combustion engine. This way, if the driver aggressively engages the accelerator pedal while the hybrid vehicle is being propelled by a battery and an electrical motor, the method will delay activation of the internal combustion engine so that the two events do not appear to be linked or connected to one another. Delaying activation of the internal combustion engine while the electric motor is under a heavy stress load may also improve the drive quality of the hybrid vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: James C. Gibbs, Kevin A. Dietrich, Larry D. Laws, Keith W. Weishuhn, John P. Blanchard
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Patent number: 9156359Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an automobile electrical system including a solar subsystem. Components collect and store solar energy in an advanced energy storage subsystem including a base portion and, in some embodiments, a solar-energy buffer. The components use the solar energy selectively to meet vehicle loads, including selectively using one or more of: energy obtained directly from the solar subsystem; energy from the advanced energy storage system; and energy from a high-voltage energy converter such as an alternator or accessory power module.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Michael Gerard Rubbo, Larry D. Laws
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Publication number: 20150260286Abstract: A system includes a control module that determines a current gear of a vehicle. An active fuel management (AFM) and shift module determines an upshift vehicle speed threshold and a downshift vehicle speed threshold based in part on the current gear, selectively provides an indication to a driver to perform a vehicle upshift or an indication to the driver to perform a vehicle downshift based on a comparison between a vehicle speed and each of the upshift vehicle speed threshold and a downshift vehicle speed threshold, and selectively provides the indication to the driver to perform the vehicle downshift based on a determination that AFM is not enabled in the current gear and that AFM would be enabled in response to the vehicle downshift.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Larry D. Laws, Ronald W. Knoebel, Craig W. Stumpf, Daniel Molnar
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Patent number: 9079507Abstract: A method of and device for determining driving range for a vehicle operating with a rechargeable energy storage supply. The method includes performing a calculation based on a limited number of input parameters, including a driving distance, average speed, location and time of day. Other determinations, such as the possibility of using a battery power-depleting climate control system, as well as battery capacity and climate data for various seasonal and location factors may also be used in the calculations.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Irvin T. Smith, Brian K. Bartnick, Larry D. Laws, George K. Perekattu
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Publication number: 20140095018Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an automobile electrical system including a solar subsystem. Components collect and store solar energy in an advanced energy storage subsystem including a base portion and, in some embodiments, a solar-energy buffer. The components use the solar energy selectively to meet vehicle loads, including selectively using one or more of: energy obtained directly from the solar subsystem; energy from the advanced energy storage system; and energy from a high-voltage energy converter such as an alternator or accessory power module.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Michael Gerard Rubbo, Larry D. Laws
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Publication number: 20120209463Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle, particularly one that includes both a primary and an auxiliary power source. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method seeks to decouple or disassociate a driver's engagement of an accelerator pedal with activation of an auxiliary power source, such as an internal combustion engine. This way, if the driver aggressively engages the accelerator pedal while the hybrid vehicle is being propelled by a battery and an electrical motor, the method will delay activation of the internal combustion engine so that the two events do not appear to be linked or connected to one another. Delaying activation of the internal combustion engine while the electric motor is under a heavy stress load may also improve the drive quality of the hybrid vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: James C. Gibbs, Kevin A. Dietrich, Larry D. Laws, Keith W. Weishuhn, John P. Blanchard
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Publication number: 20120109413Abstract: A method of and device for determining driving range for a vehicle operating with a rechargeable energy storage supply. The method includes performing a calculation based on a limited number of input parameters, including a driving distance, average speed, location and time of day. Other determinations, such as the possibility of using a battery power-depleting climate control system, as well as battery capacity and climate data for various seasonal and location factors may also be used in the calculations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2011Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Irvin T. Smith, Brian K. Bartnick, Larry D. Laws, George K. Perekattu
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Publication number: 20110213517Abstract: A method that may be used to operate a hybrid vehicle in a mountainous or other environment where roads have significant grades or inclines. In this kind of setting, standard methods for managing power within the hybrid vehicle may be insufficient when driving the hybrid vehicle up and down substantial inclines and declines; this can be particularly true if the driver attempts to maintain the hybrid vehicle at higher speeds. Thus, this method may use a power management scheme that is specifically adapted to address this kind of situation and can adjust or change target values accordingly, such as those that pertain to a state-of-charge (SOC) for the hybrid vehicle battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2010Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Larry D. Laws, John P. Blanchard