Patents by Inventor Marsella L. White

Marsella L. White 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: 20190047641
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a body with a central plane extending vertically along a longitudinal center of the body, with first and second sides on opposing sides of the central plane. The vehicle additionally includes a first movable member coupled to the first side. The first movable member has a first stowed position and a first deployed position. In the first deployed position the first movable member induces a first pressure differential between the first side and the second side. The vehicle also includes a first actuator configured to move the first movable member between the first stowed position and the first deployed position. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to, in response to satisfaction of a first operating condition, control the first actuator to move the first movable member from the first stowed position to the first deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Mark R. Claywell, Maqsood Rizwan Ali Khan, Marsella L. White
  • Patent number: 10173664
    Abstract: A method of determining a regeneration schedule for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a plurality of yaw rate actuators. The method includes determining an allowable yaw rate change based on dynamic conditions of the hybrid vehicle, a combined mitigation potential of the yaw rate actuators, and a regeneration torque command that causes an actual yaw rate change. Determining the regeneration torque command includes comparing the allowable yaw rate change to the combined mitigation potential. If the combined mitigation potential is less than the allowable yaw rate change, the regeneration torque command causes or limits the actual yaw rate change to be lower than the allowable yaw rate change. If the combined mitigation potential is greater than the allowable yaw rate change, the regeneration torque command causes or limits the actual yaw rate change to be substantially equal to the allowable yaw rate change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Patent number: 10166855
    Abstract: A method of calculating an engine torque request value for a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving an regeneration torque request value corresponding to a regeneration torque to be generated by an energy recovery mechanism. The vehicle controller further receives a desired acceleration value, and calculates the engine torque request value based on the regeneration torque request value and the desired acceleration value. The vehicle controller may then operate the engine in accordance with the engine torque request value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Publication number: 20180257613
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chassis, a power system supported by the chassis, and a plurality of wheels supported by the chassis. At least one of the plurality of wheels is operatively connected to the power system. A plurality of brakes is operatively associated with corresponding ones of the plurality of wheels, and a simulated brake pedal is operatively associated with the plurality of brakes. The simulated brake pedal is hydraulically isolated from the plurality of brakes. A non-hydraulic braking feedback controller is operatively connected to the plurality of brakes and the simulated brake pedal. The non-hydraulic braking feedback controller selectively provides at least one of a tactile, an audible, and a visual feedback to a driver based on an activation of the simulated brake pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci, Anthony J. Rifici, Brian W. Quinn, Steven J. Weber, William K. Wise
  • Patent number: 9975436
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle having a first axle driven by an internal combustion engine, and a second axle independently driven by an electric device includes determining if the accelerator pedal is disposed in a depressed position or in a non-depressed position, and determining if a brake pedal is disposed in a depressed position or in a non-depressed position. An axle control strategy for controlling energy regeneration of an energy storage device is selected based on the position of the accelerator pedal being in either the depressed position or the non-depressed position, and the position of the brake pedal being in either the depressed position or the non-depressed position. A control signal is communicated to at least one of the first axle or the second axle to implement the selected axle control strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Patent number: 9873420
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes calculating a desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request based on a requested deceleration input from a driver. If current dynamic operating conditions of the vehicle are in a performance region that permits an increase to the regeneration torque request, the desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request is increased based on a regeneration torque overhead, to define a modified axle regeneration torque request. Modified torque values are output based on the modified axle regeneration torque request. If the torque control values will cause an estimated yaw rate that is less than a target yaw rate, then the modified torque values are applied. Otherwise, the modified torque values are re-defined until the estimated yaw rate is not greater than the target yaw rate, and the re-defined values of the modified torque values are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Patent number: 9751522
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes the following steps: (a) monitoring, via a controller, a magnitude and direction of a lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and longitudinal deceleration of the hybrid vehicle; (b) determining, via the controller, vehicle operating conditions in which a hybrid powertrain is allowed to operate in a regenerative state based, at least in part, on the magnitude and direction of the lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and longitudinal deceleration of the hybrid vehicle; and (c) commanding, via the controller, the hybrid powertrain to operate in the regenerative state when the hybrid vehicle is operating in the determined vehicle operating conditions. The vehicle operating conditions depend, at least in part, on operator commands and the current SOC of the energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Publication number: 20170072780
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle having a first axle driven by an internal combustion engine, and a second axle independently driven by an electric device includes determining if the accelerator pedal is disposed in a depressed position or in a non-depressed position, and determining if a brake pedal is disposed in a depressed position or in a non-depressed position. An axle control strategy for controlling energy regeneration of an energy storage device is selected based on the position of the accelerator pedal being in either the depressed position or the non-depressed position, and the position of the brake pedal being in either the depressed position or the non-depressed position. A control signal is communicated to at least one of the first axle or the second axle to implement the selected axle control strategy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Publication number: 20170072941
    Abstract: A method of determining a regeneration schedule for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a plurality of yaw rate actuators. The method includes determining an allowable yaw rate change based on dynamic conditions of the hybrid vehicle, a combined mitigation potential of the yaw rate actuators, and a regeneration torque command that causes an actual yaw rate change. Determining the regeneration torque command includes comparing the allowable yaw rate change to the combined mitigation potential. If the combined mitigation potential is less than the allowable yaw rate change, the regeneration torque command causes or limits the actual yaw rate change to be lower than the allowable yaw rate change. If the combined mitigation potential is greater than the allowable yaw rate change, the regeneration torque command causes or limits the actual yaw rate change to be substantially equal to the allowable yaw rate change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Publication number: 20170074193
    Abstract: A method of calculating an engine torque request value for a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving an regeneration torque request value corresponding to a regeneration torque to be generated by an energy recovery mechanism. The vehicle controller further receives a desired acceleration value, and calculates the engine torque request value based on the regeneration torque request value and the desired acceleration value. The vehicle controller may then operate the engine in accordance with the engine torque request value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Publication number: 20170072938
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes the following steps: (a) monitoring, via a controller, a magnitude and direction of a lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and longitudinal deceleration of the hybrid vehicle; (b) determining, via the controller, vehicle operating conditions in which a hybrid powertrain is allowed to operate in a regenerative state based, at least in part, on the magnitude and direction of the lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and longitudinal deceleration of the hybrid vehicle; and (c) commanding, via the controller, the hybrid powertrain to operate in the regenerative state when the hybrid vehicle is operating in the determined vehicle operating conditions. The vehicle operating conditions depend, at least in part, on operator commands and the current SOC of the energy storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci
  • Publication number: 20170072940
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes calculating a desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request based on a requested deceleration input from a driver. If current dynamic operating conditions of the vehicle are in a performance region that permits an increase to the regeneration torque request, the desired deceleration limited regeneration torque request is increased based on a regeneration torque overhead, to define a modified axle regeneration torque request. Modified torque values are output based on the modified axle regeneration torque request. If the torque control values will cause an estimated yaw rate that is less than a target yaw rate, then the modified torque values are applied. Otherwise, the modified torque values are re-defined until the estimated yaw rate is not greater than the target yaw rate, and the re-defined values of the modified torque values are applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marsella L. White, Michael G. Petrucci