Patents by Inventor Vincent Holtz

Vincent Holtz 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).

  • Patent number: 8731790
    Abstract: A control system includes a shift detection module, a request generation module, and a request setting module. The shift detection module detects when a transmission is executing a shift. The request generation module generates a transmission torque request to cause an engine to increase a transmission input shaft speed to a desired speed at a desired gear ratio when the transmission is executing the shift. The request setting module selectively sets the transmission torque request equal to a default torque request when the transmission torque request is greater than a first torque and the engine is coupled to a drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Stephen Lewis Pudvay, Pascal Tissot, Vincent Holtz, Christopher J. Trush, Timothy J. Hartrey
  • Patent number: 8585552
    Abstract: A torque converter clutch control system is provided. The system includes: a mode determination module that selects one of a lock low slip regulation mode and a hard lock mode based on a lock request; and a pressure control module that regulates pressure to the torque converter during the lock low slip regulation mode such that a target slip is maintained and commands a maximum pressure to the torque converter during the hard lock mode to prevent slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Vincent Holtz, Jean Sieffert
  • Patent number: 8280600
    Abstract: A method is provided for calibrating an automatic transmission with a torque converter clutch. In order to avoid that the torque converter clutch still has capacity even if the pressure is commanded to be zero without modifying the behavior of the torque converter clutch behavior of all the production, the torque converter clutch minimum offset transmissions are detected and only on these transmissions the torque converter minimum clamp pressure is decreased by a pressure step and the torque converter clutch coast adapt reference cell is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David Wright, Pascal Tissot, Vincent Holtz, Nicolas Diss, Patrick Dromard
  • Publication number: 20120130609
    Abstract: A control system includes a shift detection module, a request generation module, and a request setting module. The shift detection module detects when a transmission is executing a shift. The request generation module generates a transmission torque request to cause an engine to increase a transmission input shaft speed to a desired speed at a desired gear ratio when the transmission is executing the shift. The request setting module selectively sets the transmission torque request equal to a default torque request when the transmission torque request is greater than a first torque and the engine is coupled to a drive wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Jess, Stephen Lewis Pudvay, Pascal Tissot, Vincent Holtz, Christopher J. Trush, Timothy J. Hartrey
  • Publication number: 20110184616
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the torque converter clutch (TCC) pressure during power downshift events. In order to provide a method for controlling the torque converter clutch (TCC) pressure during power downshift events, the present invention proposes that an inertia torque is computed at the beginning of the shift and that a pressure compensation is applied on the TCC during the downshift using the inertia torque. With such a pressure compensation it is possible to stay in regulation mode which improves both shift quality and fuel consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Vincent Holtz
  • Patent number: 7752021
    Abstract: A method of controlling hydraulic pressure to a torque converter is provided. The method includes: determining a slip error from a target slip value and a measured slip; integrating said slip error; determining a state space feedback control matrix for said measured slip; determining a state space feedback control matrix for said integrated slip error; and controlling pressure based on said state space feedback control matrix for said measured slip and said state space feedback control matrix for said integrated slip error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventors: Vincent Holtz, Maxence De Dreuille, Marc Rambert
  • Publication number: 20100145586
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the torque converter clutch (TCC) pressure during coast downshift events. In order to provide a method for controlling the TCC pressure during coast downshift events, it is proposed that coast pressure compensation is computed at the beginning of the shift and that the coast pressure compensation is applied on the TCC pressure during the coast downshift. With such pressure compensation it is possible to stay in regulation mode which improves both shift quality and fuel consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Vincent HOLTZ
  • Publication number: 20090325757
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided with a torque converter clutch (TCC) for regulating the slip between the engine speed and the transmission input speed and a method is provided for regulating the slip between the engine speed and the transmission input speed in an automatic transmission with a torque converter clutch. In order to improve the first time shift quality of transmissions, it is proposed that means are provided for learning the valve pressure offset. In first tests it could be stated that the first time shift quality can be considerably improved with a short test which takes place at the end of the vehicle production line. The longer the test time, the better the first time shift quality will be.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick DROMARD, Vincent HOLTZ, Pascal TISSOT, Nicolas DISS
  • Publication number: 20090198423
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided with an engine control module and a process for controlling an automatic transmission. In order to assure secure positive torque requests during lift foot upshifts, an automatic transmission is described which includes, but is not limited to a transmission control module with means for sending an upshift positive torque request on CAN and means for an upshift positive torque supervision preventing the transmission from requesting unexpected positive torque. The means for an upshift positive torque supervision are designed to differentiate upshift conditions under which the positive torque is not expected to occur from shift conditions where it is expected to occur. They allow secure positive torque requests during lift foot upshifts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Pascal TISSOT, Vincent HOLTZ
  • Publication number: 20090197736
    Abstract: A method is provided for calibrating an automatic transmission with a torque converter clutch. In order to avoid that the torque converter clutch still has capacity even if the pressure is commanded to be zero without modifying the behavior of the torque converter clutch behavior of all the production, the torque converter clutch minimum offset transmissions are detected and only on these transmissions the torque converter minimum clamp pressure is decreased by a pressure step and the torque converter clutch coast adapt reference cell is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David WRIGHT, Pascal TISSOT, Vincent HOLTZ, Nicolas DISS, Patrick DROMARD
  • Patent number: 7510507
    Abstract: A method of adapting a pressurized fluid supply to a torque converter clutch is provided. The method includes: learning a first pressure point related to an average of ramp pressure and an average of engine torque over a first time period; learning a second pressure point related to a second average of ramp pressure and a second average of engine torque over a second time period; determining a plurality of adapt values based on at least one of an extrapolation and an interpolation between the first pressure point and the second pressure point; and adapting the pressurized fluid to the torque converter clutch based on the plurality of adapt values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Trush, Jean Sieffert, Vincent Holtz
  • Publication number: 20080126043
    Abstract: A method of controlling hydraulic pressure to a torque converter is provided. The method includes: determining a slip error from a target slip value and a measured slip; integrating said slip error; determining a state space feedback control matrix for said measured slip; determining a state space feedback control matrix for said integrated slip error; and controlling pressure based on said state space feedback control matrix for said measured slip and said state space feedback control matrix for said integrated slip error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Vincent Holtz, Maxence De Dreuille, Marc Rambert
  • Publication number: 20080032859
    Abstract: A method of adapting a pressurized fluid supply to a torque converter clutch is provided. The method includes: learning a first pressure point related to an average of ramp pressure and an average of engine torque over a first time period; learning a second pressure point related to a second average of ramp pressure and a second average of engine torque over a second time period; determining a plurality of adapt values based on at least one of an extrapolation and an interpolation between the first pressure point and the second pressure point; and adapting the pressurized fluid to the torque converter clutch based on the plurality of adapt values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher J. Trush, Jean Sieffert, Vincent Holtz
  • Publication number: 20080032860
    Abstract: A torque converter clutch control system is provided. The system includes: a mode determination module that selects one of a lock low slip regulation mode and a hard lock mode based on a lock request; and a pressure control module that regulates pressure to the torque converter during the lock low slip regulation mode such that a target slip is maintained and commands a maximum pressure to the torque converter during the hard lock mode to prevent slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Vincent Holtz, Jean Sieffert
  • Patent number: 7302330
    Abstract: A method of dynamically controlling pressure to a torque converter clutch (TCC) of a torque converter coupled to a transmission is provided. The method includes: monitoring throttle position; monitoring engine speed; controlling pressure to the torque converter clutch to increase slip after the throttle position indicates a tip-in has occurred and when engine speed is low; regulating at least one of a transmission steady state pressure to the transmission and pressure to the torque converter to maintain the increased slip; and controlling pressure to the torque converter to reduce slip by engaging the torque converter clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Holtz, Jean Sieffert, Lionel Toussaint, Regis Casteran, Christopher J. Trush