Patents by Inventor Marc H Sullivan

Marc H Sullivan 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: 10571023
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle park system in a shift out of park includes receiving a shift out of park request, and commanding a park actuator to rotate an actuator shaft operatively connected to a park pawl movable from an engaged position in which the park pawl is engaged with a park gear, to a disengaged position in which the park pawl is disengaged from the park gear. The method includes determining whether a detent lever operatively connected to the park pawl has moved towards an out of park position within a predetermined period of time after commanding the park actuator to rotate the actuator shaft, and then commanding an electric propulsion motor to apply torque to the transmission output shaft to assist the park actuator if the detent lever has not moved towards the out of park position within the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Marc H. Sullivan, Lawrence A. Kaminsky
  • Publication number: 20200032902
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle park system in a shift out of park includes receiving a shift out of park request, and commanding a park actuator to rotate an actuator shaft operatively connected to a park pawl movable from an engaged position in which the park pawl is engaged with a park gear, to a disengaged position in which the park pawl is disengaged from the park gear. The method includes determining whether a detent lever operatively connected to the park pawl has moved towards an out of park position within a predetermined period of time after commanding the park actuator to rotate the actuator shaft, and then commanding an electric propulsion motor to apply torque to the transmission output shaft to assist the park actuator if the detent lever has not moved towards the out of park position within the predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Marc H. Sullivan, Lawrence A. Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 9174645
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Beechie, Thomas F. Wentworth, Gregory A. Sbroglia, Bruce Geist, Mark C. Azzaretti, Marc H. Sullivan, In-Soo Suh, Mark J. Duty, Changwei Cao
  • Publication number: 20080288146
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to detect and reduce any high driveline torsional levels, such as due to the cylinder deactivation in variable displacement system engines or aggressive lock-up strategies for fuel efficiency, in automobile transmissions. The present disclosure utilizes a controller in an automobile to operate a computationally thrifty method for quickly detecting noise and vibration disturbances in the transmission. This quick detection enables fuel economic calibrations that aggressively reduce the disturbances by controlling slip in a launch device of the transmission. As problem disturbances arise, they are detected before occupants notice objectionable behavior. Once detected, the disturbances are reduced, such as by increasing launch device slip, which effectively intercepts the objectionable disturbances before they are transferred through the entire drivetrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Brian E. Beechie, Thomas F. Wentworth, Gregory A. Sbroglia, Bruce Geist, Mark C. Azzaretti, Marc H. Sullivan, In-Soo Suh, Mark J. Duty, Changwei Cao
  • Patent number: 7288046
    Abstract: Prior to transitioning a multiple-displacement engine from a full-displacement engine operating mode to a partial-displacement engine operating mode, a base slip rate of a torque converter coupled to the engine engine is increased by a predetermined slip rate offset. The engine is then transitioned to partial-displacement mode upon the earlier of either achieving the desired offset slip rate, or once a maximum time delay has occurred since the slip rate offset was enabled. An offset slip rate is maintained throughout partial-displacement engine operation, and through a transition back to a full-displacement mode. The slip rate offset is removed or disenabled once the engine is again operating in the full-displacement mode. The slip rate offset is either a calibratable constant or is determined as a function of one or more suitable engine or vehicle operating parameters affecting vehicle NVH levels, such as engine speed and vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Michael A Boone, Mark J Duty, John S Mitchell, Gregory M Pannone, Michael J Prucka, Marc H Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7044107
    Abstract: A method for enabling a transition of a multiple-displacement engine to a different engine operating displacement includes determining a temperature measure correlated with an instantaneous engine oil temperature at an engine start-up, for example, a detected engine coolant temperature at engine start-up; determining a start-up delay period based on the temperature measure, as with a lookup table of calibratable values; and enabling a displacement mode transition no earlier than when the engine run time since start-up exceeds the start-up delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J Duty, Michael J Prucka, Michael A Bonne, Gregory M Pannone, Marc H Sullivan