Patents by Inventor Thomas Chrostowski
Thomas Chrostowski 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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Publication number: 20240149726Abstract: Presented are articulating roof assemblies for electrical generator systems, methods for making/using such roof assemblies, and fuel cell powered electric vehicle charging stations with such roof assemblies. An electrical generator system includes a mobile or stationary rigid support frame with an electrical generator that is mounted to the support frame and operable to generate electric power. At least one charging cable is electrically connected to the generator in order to transfer the electric power to a load. A control circuit is communicatively connected to the generator and governs the creation and transfer of electric power. Mounted onto the rigid support frame is a roof assembly with one or more roof panels. Each roof panel is movable between an undeployed position, whereat the roof panel at least partially covers the generator, and a deployed position, whereat the roof panel is obliquely angled to and/or projects outwardly from the rigid support frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2022Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Alan B. Martin, Tom Jay Jerome, Thomas Chrostowski, Zhun Liu
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Patent number: 9809213Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction motor coupled to a driveline. An engine and a generator are coupled to the driveline through a planetary gearset. A controller commands the traction motor torque based on a difference between a driver torque demand and an estimated powertrain torque. The estimated powertrain torque is based on an error between actual and estimated engine speed and an error between actual and estimated generator speed. The estimated powertrain torque may be further based on commanded or estimated engine torque and generator torque. The estimated powertrain torque may utilize a state estimator to calculate internal states based on the errors.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wei Liang, Thomas Chrostowski, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Ming Lang Kuang
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Patent number: 9545843Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with mechanical and electro-mechanical power sources that use an intelligent controller adapted to reduce driveline oscillations while minimizing hybrid vehicle battery limit violations. Damping of driveline torque oscillations is accomplished and violations of battery power limits are avoided by filtering estimated engine power.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Ming Lang Kuang, Carol Louise Okubo, Thomas Chrostowski, Matthew D. Smith
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Patent number: 9278681Abstract: A method and system for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle include controlling torque in a traction motor in response to a provisional motor torque that has been adjusted based on a difference between a measured traction motor speed and a calculated vehicle speed and filtered to attenuate a resonant driveline frequency.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Wei Liang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Thomas Chrostowski, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Ming Lang Kuang, Fazal Urrahman Syed
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Publication number: 20150217755Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle in an Electric Vehicle (EV) mode that utilizes electric-only power to propel the vehicle. The controlling step may be based on a selection of a travel range reservation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Paul Stephen BRYAN, Thomas CHROSTOWSKI, Kent HANCOCK
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Publication number: 20150197234Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction motor coupled to a driveline. An engine and a generator are coupled to the driveline through a planetary gearset. A controller commands the traction motor torque based on a difference between a driver torque demand and an estimated powertrain torque. The estimated powertrain torque is based on an error between actual and estimated engine speed and an error between actual and estimated generator speed. The estimated powertrain torque may be further based on commanded or estimated engine torque and generator torque. The estimated powertrain torque may utilize a state estimator to calculate internal states based on the errors.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wei Liang, Thomas Chrostowski, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Ming Lang Kuang
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Patent number: 9067600Abstract: A vehicle powertrain system has an engine, a damper and an electric machine configured to be selectively mechanically coupled with the engine via damper. The vehicle powertrain system also has at least one controller programmed to filter a frequency content of a speed or torque command for the electric machine corresponding to a resonant frequency of the engine, damper and electric machine to reduce resonance of the engine, damper and electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wei Liang, Carol Louise Okubo, Thomas Chrostowski, Ming Lang Kuang
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Patent number: 8958936Abstract: A vehicle, a control system for a vehicle having a user interface, and a method of controlling a vehicle are provided. In response to input selecting an electric-only operating mode, an engine is disabled such that the vehicle is propelled by an electric machine. In response to detecting a predefined vehicle state while the electric-only operating mode is selected, the engine is re-enabled such that the vehicle is propelled by at least one of the engine and electric machine. In response to detecting an absence of the predefined vehicle state while the electric-only operating mode is selected, the engine is disabled such that the vehicle is propelled by the electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: William David Treharne, Paul Stephen Bryan, David Crist Gabriel, Thomas Chrostowski, Scott James Thompson
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Publication number: 20150032309Abstract: A vehicle powertrain system has an engine, a damper and an electric machine configured to be selectively mechanically coupled with the engine via damper. The vehicle powertrain system also has at least one controller programmed to filter a frequency content of a speed or torque command for the electric machine corresponding to a resonant frequency of the engine, damper and electric machine to reduce resonance of the engine, damper and electric machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Wei Liang, Carol Louise Okubo, Thomas Chrostowski, Ming Lang Kuang
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Publication number: 20140277875Abstract: A method and system for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle include controlling torque in a traction motor in response to a provisional motor torque that has been adjusted based on a difference between a measured traction motor speed and a calculated vehicle speed and filtered to attenuate a resonant driveline frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Wei Liang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Thomas Chrostowski, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Ming Lang Kuang, Fazal Urrahman Syed
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Publication number: 20140114513Abstract: A vehicle, a control system for a vehicle having a user interface, and a method of controlling a vehicle are provided. In response to input selecting an electric-only operating mode, an engine is disabled such that the vehicle is propelled by an electric machine. In response to detecting a predefined vehicle state while the electric-only operating mode is selected, the engine is re-enabled such that the vehicle is propelled by at least one of the engine and electric machine. In response to detecting an absence of the predefined vehicle state while the electric-only operating mode is selected, the engine is disabled such that the vehicle is propelled by the electric machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William David Treharne, Paul Stephen Bryan, David Crist Gabriel, Thomas Chrostowski, Scott James Thompson
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Publication number: 20140114514Abstract: A vehicle and a method for controlling the vehicle include a controller configured to, in response to a user command to delay electric-only operation of the vehicle, selectively operate an electric machine and an engine to propel the vehicle such that a state of charge of a traction battery electrically connected with the electric machine is generally maintained at a target value within a predefined range of states of charge. A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The controller is configured to (i) operate the powertrain in a charge deplete mode and a charge sustain mode, and (ii) in response to a user request, operate the powertrain in the charge sustain mode if the state of charge is within a predefined range of states of charge when the request is received.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2012Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dale Scott Crombez, William David Treharne, Paul Stephen Bryan, Thomas Chrostowski
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Patent number: 8527123Abstract: In a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the available energy from a battery may be inadequate to drive a motor to generate additional torque sufficient for driveability upon a request for an increase in wheel torque. The motor may then be operated in a lossy, inefficient mode. When the motor operates in the lossy mode, engine power can be increased such that the sum of the engine power and the maximum available battery power may exceed requested wheel power. The increased engine power may be dissipated as heat in the motor until an increase in wheel torque is requested, whereby the motor may switch from the lossy mode back to a normal, efficient mode. By switching back to the normal mode, the excessive engine power that was being dissipated as heat in the motor may contribute to the output torque of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Chrostowski, Joseph Youqing Xiang
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Publication number: 20120078455Abstract: In a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the available energy from a battery may be inadequate to drive a motor to generate additional torque sufficient for driveability upon a request for an increase in wheel torque. The motor may then be operated in a lossy, inefficient mode. When the motor operates in the lossy mode, engine power can be increased such that the sum of the engine power and the maximum available battery power may exceed requested wheel power. The increased engine power may be dissipated as heat in the motor until an increase in wheel torque is requested, whereby the motor may switch from the lossy mode back to a normal, efficient mode. By switching back to the normal mode, the excessive engine power that was being dissipated as heat in the motor may contribute to the output torque of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2010Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Thomas Chrostowski, Joseph Youqing Xiang
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Publication number: 20110010031Abstract: A control system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with mechanical and electro-mechanical power sources that use an intelligent controller adapted to reduce driveline oscillations while minimizing hybrid vehicle battery limit violations. Damping of driveline torque oscillations is accomplished and violations of battery power limits are avoided by filtering estimated engine power.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Ming Lang Kuang, Carol Louise Okubo, Thomas Chrostowski, Matthew D. Smith
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Patent number: 7112941Abstract: To protect against overuse of a motor, such as may be used to control seat position in an automotive vehicle, an estimated temperature of the motor is determined based on an ambient temperature, a current applied to the motor, a period of time during which the current is applied to the motor, and at least one thermal property. A voltage applied to the motor is reduced, such as by a motor controller, when the estimated motor temperature is greater than a safe operating temperature of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Lear CorporationInventor: Thomas Chrostowski
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Publication number: 20060066277Abstract: To protect against overuse of a motor, such as may be used to control seat position in an automotive vehicle, an estimated temperature of the motor is determined based on an ambient temperature, a current applied to the motor, a period of time during which the current is applied to the motor, and at least one thermal property. A voltage applied to the motor is reduced, such as by a motor controller, when the estimated motor temperature is greater than a safe operating temperature of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2004Publication date: March 30, 2006Applicant: LEAR CORPORATIONInventor: Thomas Chrostowski