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: 20230264676
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 11679751
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 11654875
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11541775
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Xiaohong Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 11351975
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Xiaoyong Wang, Rajit Johri, Ryan Abraham McGee, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11345326
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jason Meyer, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11339740
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Judhajit Roy, Christopher John Teslak, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11292465
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Ming Cheng, Girish Gokul Chennupalli, Alex Szczepaniak, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11273713
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11247663
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: 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: 20220009474
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 11180125
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11181191
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gangarjun Veeramurthy, Jason Meyer, Jeffrey A. Doering, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20210300316
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jason Meyer, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 11110806
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Xiaohong Nina Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, William David Treharne
  • Publication number: 20210237614
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Xiaohong Duan, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Publication number: 20210221343
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10994721
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jason Meyer, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Bernard D. Nefcy
  • Publication number: 20210086623
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20210086736
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki