Patents by Inventor Mark Steven Yamazaki
Mark Steven Yamazaki 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).
-
Publication number: 20230264676Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting driver demand wheel torque of a vehicle. The driver demand wheel torque may be adjusted as a function of a minimum wheel torque. The minimum wheel torque may be determined according to a plurality of torques that may be evaluated in three different phases.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering
-
Patent number: 11679751Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting driver demand wheel torque of a vehicle. The driver demand wheel torque may be adjusted as a function of a minimum wheel torque. The minimum wheel torque may be determined according to a plurality of torques that may be evaluated in three different phases.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yanan Zhao, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering
-
Patent number: 11654875Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, friction brakes, a drivetrain, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to recharge a battery during regenerative braking. The friction brakes are configured to apply torque to wheels of the vehicle to slow the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to and during an anti-locking braking event, generate a signal indicative of a total torque demand to brake the vehicle based on a difference between a desired wheel slip ratio and an actual wheel slip ratio, adjust a regenerative braking torque based on a product of the signal and a regenerative braking weighting coefficient, adjust a friction braking torque based on a product of the signal and a friction braking weighting coefficient, and further adjust the regenerative braking torque based on a closed-loop control of an estimated regenerative braking torque feedback.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 11541775Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric machine, and a controller. The battery has a state of charge. The electric machine is configured to draw electrical power from the battery to propel the vehicle in response to an acceleration request and to deliver electrical power to the battery to recharge the battery. The controller is programmed to adjust an estimation of battery state of charge based on a feed forward control that includes a coulomb counting algorithm, a first feedback control that includes a first battery model, and a second feedback control that includes a second battery model. The controller is further programmed to control the electrical power flow between the battery and the electric machine based on the estimation of the state of charge of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yixin Yao, Xiaohong Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Richard Dyche Anderson
-
Patent number: 11351975Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a battery, and at least one controller. The vehicle may further comprise a port for supplying power to a load external to the vehicle. The controller is programmed to operate the engine at a power level based on a difference between a battery voltage and a reference voltage such that a power output by the electric machine reduces the difference. The power level may define an engine operating point that minimizes fuel consumption. The operating point may be an engine torque and an engine speed. The power level may be further based on a state of charge of the battery. The electric machine may be operated to cause the engine to rotate at an engine speed corresponding to the selected power level. The difference may be caused by varying power drawn by a load external to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wei Liang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Xiaoyong Wang, Rajit Johri, Ryan Abraham McGee, Ming Lang Kuang
-
Patent number: 11345326Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes starting an engine via expansion stroke combustion in response to a request to urgently start the engine. In addition, the method includes adjusting a position of a compression relief valve in response to a predicted urgency of an engine start.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jason Meyer, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang
-
Patent number: 11339740Abstract: Systems and methods for operating an engine that may selectively enter and exit a fuel cut-off mode are described. In one example, the method holds the engine in the fuel cut-off mode even though a propulsive effort pedal is applied. An electric machine may provide torque to a vehicle driveline while the engine is in the fuel cut-off mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yanan Zhao, Judhajit Roy, Christopher John Teslak, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 11292465Abstract: A traffic controller includes a controller configured to reject a request and issue a speed requirement based on a priority to cause a speed of a one of a plurality of vehicles to be within a speed band before entering a road. The rejection is responsive to receiving the speed request from the one approaching the road having priority less than a predetermined threshold and outside of a speed band and a predetermined acceleration band of vehicles on the road.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yanan Zhao, Ming Cheng, Girish Gokul Chennupalli, Alex Szczepaniak, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 11273713Abstract: A vehicle includes an axle, electric machine, friction, brakes, and a controller. The axle has an input shaft to an open differential and output shaft extending out of the open differential. The electric machine is secured to the input shaft and wheels are secured to the output shafts. The controller is programmed to, in response to an anti-locking braking event, generate a signal indicative of a total torque demand to brake the vehicle based on a difference between a desired and an actual wheel slip ratio, adjust a regenerative braking torque of the electric machine based on signal and a regenerative braking weighting coefficient to maintain or drive actual wheel slip toward the desired wheel slip, and adjust a friction braking torque of the friction brakes based on the signal and a friction braking weighting coefficient to drive actual wheel slip at or toward the desired wheel slip.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 11247663Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine restart operations occurring during a transmission shift in a hybrid vehicle. Engine speed is controller during cranking and run-up to approach a transmission input shaft speed that is based on the future gear of the transmission shift. Engine speed is controlled via adjustments to spark, throttle, and/or fuel, to expedite engine speed reaching the synchronous speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Wei Liang, Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Scott Thompson, David Oshinsky, Dennis Reed, Adam Banker
-
Publication number: 20220009474Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting driver demand wheel torque of a vehicle. The driver demand wheel torque may be adjusted as a function of a minimum wheel torque. The minimum wheel torque may be determined according to a plurality of torques that may be evaluated in three different phases.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2020Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering
-
Patent number: 11180125Abstract: A vehicle includes an axle, an electric machine, a first wheel, a second wheel, a first friction brake, a second friction brake, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to and during an anti-locking braking event, generate first and second signals indicative of a braking torque demand at the first and second wheels, respectively, based on a difference between a desired wheel slip ratio and an actual wheel slip ratio of the first and second wheels, respectively, adjust a regenerative braking torque of the electric machine based on a product of the first signal and a regenerative braking weighting coefficient, adjust a first friction braking torque based on a product of the first signal and a friction braking weighting coefficient, and adjust a second friction braking torque based on the second signal and dynamics of the first and second output shafts.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 11181191Abstract: A vehicle includes a multi-speed transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, an actuator, and a torque converter having an impeller selectively coupled to the actuator and a turbine coupled to the input shaft. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to an estimated torque ratio between the impeller and output shaft of the transmission being less than a minimum torque ratio between the impeller and output shaft of the transmission during a shift of the transmission, command torque to the actuator based on a driver-demanded wheel torque and the minimum torque ratio, and, in response to the estimated torque ratio exceeding the minimum torque ratio during the shift of the transmission, command another torque to the actuator based on the driver-demanded wheel torque and the estimated torque ratio.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gangarjun Veeramurthy, Jason Meyer, Jeffrey A. Doering, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Publication number: 20210300316Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes starting an engine via expansion stroke combustion in response to a request to urgently start the engine. In addition, the method includes adjusting a position of a compression relief valve in response to a predicted urgency of an engine start.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jason Meyer, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang
-
Patent number: 11110806Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller, responsive to a command to enter a highway, confirmation the traction battery can output power to accelerate the vehicle to enter the highway via an entrance at a same speed as traffic on the highway in a vicinity of the entrance, and an increase in temperature beyond a threshold of the traction battery predicted to occur on the highway due to expected commands to maintain the same speed on the highway with power from the traction battery, increases cooling of the traction battery prior to entering the highway.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yanan Zhao, Xiaohong Nina Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, William David Treharne
-
Publication number: 20210237614Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery, an electric machine, and a controller. The battery has a state of charge. The electric machine is configured to draw electrical power from the battery to propel the vehicle in response to an acceleration request and to deliver electrical power to the battery to recharge the battery. The controller is programmed to adjust an estimation of battery state of charge based on a feed forward control that includes a coulomb counting algorithm, a first feedback control that includes a first battery model, and a second feedback control that includes a second battery model. The controller is further programmed to control the electrical power flow between the battery and the electric machine based on the estimation of the state of charge of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Yixin Yao, Xiaohong Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Richard Dyche Anderson
-
Publication number: 20210221343Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, friction brakes, a drivetrain, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to recharge a battery during regenerative braking. The friction brakes are configured to apply torque to wheels of the vehicle to slow the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to and during an anti-locking braking event, generate a signal indicative of a total torque demand to brake the vehicle based on a difference between a desired wheel slip ratio and an actual wheel slip ratio, adjust a regenerative braking torque based on a product of the signal and a regenerative braking weighting coefficient, adjust a friction braking torque based on a product of the signal and a friction braking weighting coefficient, and further adjust the regenerative braking torque based on a closed-loop control of an estimated regenerative braking torque feedback.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2020Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 10994721Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine selectively coupled by an upstream clutch to an electric machine, which is selectively coupled by a downstream clutch to a step-ratio transmission, include at least one controller programmed to control the engine and the electric machine in response to entering a lash zone in anticipation of a wheel torque reversal to adjust a gain applied to an active motor damping torque controller to reduce driveline oscillations and backlash.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jason Meyer, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Bernard D. Nefcy
-
Publication number: 20210086623Abstract: A vehicle includes an axle, electric machine, friction, brakes, and a controller. The axle has an input shaft to an open differential and output shaft extending out of the open differential. The electric machine is secured to the input shaft and wheels are secured to the output shafts. The controller is programmed to, in response to an anti-locking braking event, generate a signal indicative of a total torque demand to brake the vehicle based on a difference between a desired and an actual wheel slip ratio, adjust a regenerative braking torque of the electric machine based on signal and a regenerative braking weighting coefficient to maintain or drive actual wheel slip toward the desired wheel slip, and adjust a friction braking torque of the friction brakes based on the signal and a friction braking weighting coefficient to drive actual wheel slip at or toward the desired wheel slip.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
-
Publication number: 20210086736Abstract: A vehicle includes an axle, an electric machine, a first wheel, a second wheel, a first friction brake, a second friction brake, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to and during an anti-locking braking event, generate first and second signals indicative of a braking torque demand at the first and second wheels, respectively, based on a difference between a desired wheel slip ratio and an actual wheel slip ratio of the first and second wheels, respectively, adjust a regenerative braking torque of the electric machine based on a product of the first signal and a regenerative braking weighting coefficient, adjust a first friction braking torque based on a product of the first signal and a friction braking weighting coefficient, and adjust a second friction braking torque based on the second signal and dynamics of the first and second output shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki