Patents by Inventor Shawn Scott Hawkins
Shawn Scott Hawkins 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: 9327707Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a torque machine rotatably coupled to an input member of a transmission includes operating the vehicle in a coasting mode in response to a driver-requested axle torque and commanding engine operation in an unfueled state. A controller is employed to operate the torque machine to spin the input member to control the engine during a transition across a predetermined engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shawn Scott Hawkins, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 9211786Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine drivingly connected to a first pair of drive wheels by a transmission. A first motor generator is coupled to the engine to provide drive torque to the transmission for driving the first pair of drive wheels. A second motor generator is drivingly connected to a flywheel by a planetary gear system. The planetary gear system is connected to a second pair of drive wheels.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Alan G. Holmes, Shawn Scott Hawkins, Steven A. Tarnowsky, Brendan M. Conlon
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Publication number: 20150258973Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a torque machine rotatably coupled to an input member of a transmission includes operating the vehicle in a coasting mode in response to a driver-requested axle torque and commanding engine operation in an unfueled state. A controller is employed to operate the torque machine to spin the input member to control the engine during a transition across a predetermined engine speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shawn Scott Hawkins, Shawn H. Swales
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Patent number: 8914180Abstract: A hybrid powertrain has an engine, a starter motor, and a gear train that connects the starter motor with the engine, and a motor/generator. A belt drive train connects the motor/generator with the engine. The powertrain has a first energy storage device with a first operating range of voltage and a second energy storage device with a second operating range of voltage at least partially in common with the first operating range of voltage. A controller places a switching device in an on-state so that the first energy storage device is connected with the second energy storage device or in an off-state in which the first energy storage device is disconnected from the second energy storage device. The controller causes the switching device to be in the off-state and the starter motor and the motor/generator to be powered with energy from the first energy storage device to restart the engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan G. Holmes, Shawn Scott Hawkins
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Publication number: 20140248985Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine drivingly connected to a first pair of drive wheels by a transmission. A first motor generator is coupled to the engine to provide drive torque to the transmission for driving the first pair of drive wheels. A second motor generator is drivingly connected to a flywheel by a planetary gear system. The planetary gear system is connected to a second pair of drive wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2013Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Alan G. HOLMES, Shawn Scott HAWKINS, Steven A. TARNOWSKY, Brendan M. CONLON
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Patent number: 8800521Abstract: An electric vehicle powertrain includes a battery configured to couple with an external power source, a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, and a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to controllably provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, with the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator. The power controller is configured to warm an engine fluid by determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and by providing the determined DC currents to the electric motor to resistively heat the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shawn Scott Hawkins, Christopher J. Twarog, Paul F. Turnbull
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Publication number: 20140052321Abstract: A hybrid powertrain has an engine, a starter motor, and a gear train that connects the starter motor with the engine, and a motor/generator. A belt drive train connects the motor/generator with the engine. The powertrain has a first energy storage device with a first operating range of voltage and a second energy storage device with a second operating range of voltage at least partially in common with the first operating range of voltage. A controller places a switching device in an on-state so that the first energy storage device is connected with the second energy storage device or in an off-state in which the first energy storage device is disconnected from the second energy storage device. The controller causes the switching device to be in the off-state and the starter motor and the motor/generator to be powered with energy from the first energy storage device to restart the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Alan G. Holmes, Shawn Scott Hawkins
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Patent number: 8606450Abstract: A hybrid powertrain has an engine, a starter motor, and a gear train that connects the starter motor with the engine, and a motor/generator. A belt drive train connects the motor/generator with the engine. The powertrain has a first energy storage device with a first operating range of voltage and a second energy storage device with a second operating range of voltage at least partially in common with the first operating range of voltage. A controller places a switching device in an on-state so that the first energy storage device is connected with the second energy storage device or in an off-state in which the first energy storage device is disconnected from the second energy storage device. The controller causes the switching device to be in the off-state and the starter motor and the motor/generator to be powered with energy from the first energy storage device to restart the engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Alan G. Holmes, Shawn Scott Hawkins
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Patent number: 8600595Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor, an alternating current (AC) power bus, a power inverter module (PIM), and a controller. The PIM includes a semiconductor die assembly with semiconductor power switches arranged in electrical parallel for delivering AC power to the motor via the bus. The controller determines an operating mode of the vehicle, selects and activates a designated one of the switches during a threshold low-current state of the PIM, and selects and activates all of the switches during a high-current state of the PIM. A PIM assembly for the vehicle includes the die assembly and controller. A method for optimizing energy efficiency of the vehicle includes providing the die assembly noted above, automatically determining the operating mode, and selecting and activating one of the switches when the operating mode corresponds to the threshold low-current state, and all of the electrical switches during the threshold high-current state of the PIM.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Sean E. Gleason, Mohammad N. Anwar, David P. Tasky, Shawn Scott Hawkins, Peter J. Savagian
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Patent number: 8589006Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a controller that implements a method of controlling oil delivery to the vehicle. The method includes increasing at least one of rate of flow of oil and pressure of oil flowing from an oil pump to a motor/generator or to a gearing arrangement that is operatively connected to the vehicle wheels, thereby increasing resistance to rotation of a rotor of the motor/generator or of the gearing arrangement and slowing the vehicle wheels as well as increasing the oil temperature to reduce friction losses. The controlled oil delivery is in response to a vehicle operating condition such as a condition indicative of a desired decrease in torque at the vehicle wheels or oil temperature below a predetermined temperature.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Shawn Scott Hawkins
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Publication number: 20130152892Abstract: An electric vehicle powertrain includes a battery configured to couple with an external power source, a power plant including at least one three-phase electric motor, and a power controller configured to receive electrical energy from the battery and to controllably provide electrical energy to the at least one electric motor. The electric motor includes a stator having a plurality of electrical windings and a rotor having a magnetic field orientation, with the rotor being configured to rotate relative to the stator. The power controller is configured to warm an engine fluid by determining the position of the rotor relative to the stator; determining a DC current for each of the three motor phases such that the electromagnetic field of the stator mirrors the magnetic field orientation of the rotor; and by providing the determined DC currents to the electric motor to resistively heat the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: SHAWN SCOTT HAWKINS, CHRISTOPHER J. TWAROG, PAUL F. TURNBULL
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Patent number: 8412396Abstract: A controller-executable method provides an electric-only (EV) launch mode in a vehicle having an accelerator pedal, an engine, a motor generator unit (MGU), a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and a belt alternator starter system adapted for selectively rotating the crankshaft using motor torque from the MGU. Execution of the method uses motor torque from the MGU, while the engine is off, to accelerate the crankshaft to above a calibrated launch speed when a threshold minimum force is applied to the pedal. A designated one of the odd- and even-gear clutches of the DCT are controlled until input torque to the DCT equals a calibrated level. The other DCT clutch may be modulated to dampen drivetrain oscillations. The vehicle launches in the EV launch mode via the designated DCT clutch when the crankshaft speed exceeds an input speed of the DCT. The vehicle and controller are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Shawn H. Swales, Hong Yang, Min-Joong Kim, Shawn Scott Hawkins, Amanda Luedtke
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Publication number: 20130066492Abstract: A hybrid powertrain has an engine, a starter motor, and a gear train that connects the starter motor with the engine, and a motor/generator. A belt drive train connects the motor/generator with the engine. The powertrain has a first energy storage device with a first operating range of voltage and a second energy storage device with a second operating range of voltage at least partially in common with the first operating range of voltage. A controller places a switching device in an on-state so that the first energy storage device is connected with the second energy storage device or in an off-state in which the first energy storage device is disconnected from the second energy storage device. The controller causes the switching device to be in the off-state and the starter motor and the motor/generator to be powered with energy from the first energy storage device to restart the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Alan G. Holmes, Shawn Scott Hawkins
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Publication number: 20130054058Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a controller that implements a method of controlling oil delivery to the vehicle. The method includes increasing at least one of rate of flow of oil and pressure of oil flowing from an oil pump to a motor/generator or to a gearing arrangement that is operatively connected to the vehicle wheels, thereby increasing resistance to rotation of a rotor of the motor/generator or of the gearing arrangement and slowing the vehicle wheels as well as increasing the oil temperature to reduce friction losses. The controlled oil delivery is in response to a vehicle operating condition such as a condition indicative of a desired decrease in torque at the vehicle wheels or oil temperature below a predetermined temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Shawn Scott Hawkins
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Publication number: 20120029741Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor, an alternating current (AC) power bus, a power inverter module (PIM), and a controller. The PIM includes a semiconductor die assembly with semiconductor power switches arranged in electrical parallel for delivering AC power to the motor via the bus. The controller determines an operating mode of the vehicle, selects and activates a designated one of the switches during a threshold low-current state of the PIM, and selects and activates all of the switches during a high-current state of the PIM. A PIM assembly for the vehicle includes the die assembly and controller. A method for optimizing energy efficiency of the vehicle includes providing the die assembly noted above, automatically determining the operating mode, and selecting and activating one of the switches when the operating mode corresponds to the threshold low-current state, and all of the electrical switches during the threshold high-current state of the PIM.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Sean E Gleason, Mohammad N Anwar, David P. Tasky, Shawn Scott Hawkins, Peter J. Savagian
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Publication number: 20110301791Abstract: A controller-executable method provides an electric-only (EV) launch mode in a vehicle having an accelerator pedal, an engine, a motor generator unit (MGU), a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and a belt alternator starter system adapted for selectively rotating the crankshaft using motor torque from the MGU. Execution of the method uses motor torque from the MGU, while the engine is off, to accelerate the crankshaft to above a calibrated launch speed when a threshold minimum force is applied to the pedal. A designated one of the odd- and even-gear clutches of the DCT are controlled until input torque to the DCT equals a calibrated level. The other DCT clutch may be modulated to dampen drivetrain oscillations. The vehicle launches in the EV launch mode via the designated DCT clutch when the crankshaft speed exceeds an input speed of the DCT. The vehicle and controller are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Shawn H. Swales, Hong Yang, Min-Joong Kim, Shawn Scott Hawkins, Amanda Luedtke