Patents by Inventor William L. Aldrich, III

William L. Aldrich, III 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: 7603224
    Abstract: A control system includes a cam position calculation module that determines intake and exhaust cam positions during operation of an engine. The engine includes a regeneration and fuel cut-off (FCO) mode. A cam position adjustment module generates alternate intake and exhaust cam positions during the regeneration and FCO mode. A cam positioning module positions the intake and exhaust cams based on lower values of the intake and exhaust cam positions and the alternate intake and exhaust cam positions, respectively, during the regeneration and FCO mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Lyle E. Hamilton, James L. Worthing, Donald D. Crites
  • Patent number: 7503877
    Abstract: A control system for enabling an engine to operate in a deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) mode is provided. The system includes: an enable module that selectively enables a DFCO mode based on an accelerator pedal position; and an engine speed module that regulates engine speed based on turbine speed during a predetermined time period after the DFCO mode is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P. Bhattarai, William L. Aldrich, III, James L. Worthing
  • Publication number: 20090045780
    Abstract: A hybrid control module comprises a vehicle load module and a hybrid battery discharge module. The vehicle load module determines a first power based on power delivered to an accessory power module (APM). The hybrid battery discharge module determines a discharge power based on the first power and selectively controls power consumed by an inverter based on the discharge power when a state of charge of a hybrid battery is less than a first threshold and greater than a second threshold. The inverter and the APM selectively receive power from the hybrid battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Brenton J. Bergkoetter, William L. Aldrich, III, Donald D. Crites, Damon R. Frisch
  • Publication number: 20090030585
    Abstract: A control system comprises a cam position calculation module that determines intake and exhaust cam positions during operation of an engine. The engine includes a regeneration and fuel cut-off (FCO) mode. A cam position adjustment module generates alternate intake and exhaust cam positions during the regeneration and FCO mode. A cam positioning module positions the intake and exhaust cams based on lower values of the intake and exhaust cam positions and the alternate intake and exhaust cam positions, respectively, during the regeneration and FCO mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich III, Lyle E. Hamilton, James L. Worthing, Donald D. Crites
  • Publication number: 20090024264
    Abstract: A hybrid engine control system comprises a hybrid engine control module and a torque mitigation module. The hybrid engine control module selectively stops an internal combustion engine (ICE). The hybrid engine control module selectively starts the ICE based upon driver inputs and non-driver inputs. The torque mitigation module reduces torque transfer from the ICE to a driveline while the ICE is started based upon the non-driver inputs and maintains torque transfer from the ICE to the driveline while the ICE is started based upon the driver inputs. A method comprises selectively stopping an internal combustion engine (ICE); selectively starting the ICE based upon driver inputs and non-driver inputs; reducing torque transfer from the ICE to a driveline while the ICE is started based upon the non-driver inputs; and maintaining torque transfer from the ICE to the driveline while the ICE is started based upon the driver inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: William L Aldrich, III, Goro Tamai, Mark A. Zerbini, Usman Khan
  • Publication number: 20090008172
    Abstract: A method of applying regenerative braking on a hybrid vehicle may include operating the hybrid vehicle in a cruise control mode to maintain a desired vehicle speed, determining whether an actual vehicle speed is greater than the desired vehicle speed, and braking the hybrid vehicle using a regenerative brake system. The braking may be applied during operation in the cruise control mode when the actual vehicle speed is determined to be greater than the desired vehicle speed to charge a battery system that powers an electric drive motor of the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Donald D. Crites
  • Patent number: 7465250
    Abstract: A method and article of manufacture is provided to control an automatic transmission which includes a hydraulic fluid circuit having an electrically-driven auxiliary hydraulic pressure pump. It includes determining the internal combustion engine is shut off during vehicle operation, and monitoring fluidic pressure at a plurality of locations in the hydraulic circuit. Operation of the electrically-driven auxiliary hydraulic pressure pump is commanded to an elevated voltage level when the engine is shut off and the fluidic pressures fail to register substantially proper pressure levels. It includes discontinuing operation of the electrically-driven auxiliary hydraulic pressure pump when the engine is subsequently commanded on, or when an elapsed measure of time has passed, or when the monitored fluidic pressures register substantially proper pressure levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, William L. Aldrich, III, Mark A. Zerbini
  • Patent number: 7267090
    Abstract: A method of performing a first start of an internal combustion engine of a hybrid electro-mechanical vehicle includes activating an auxiliary power module prior to the engine starting to direct power stored in a high voltage battery (used for powering the motor/generator(s) on the hybrid vehicle) through the auxiliary power module at a voltage level of a low voltage battery to assist the low voltage battery in powering a starter motor for starting the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, William L. Aldrich, III
  • Patent number: 7032393
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling the climate cooling in the passenger cabin of a hybrid motor vehicle. The apparatus includes an internal combustion engine capable of being started and temporarily stopped, an air conditioning compressor and a dedicated electric compressor motor coupled to drive the air conditioning compressor. Moreover, sensors are coupled to monitor selected parameters associated with the motor vehicle. An electronic controller is coupled to the internal combustion engine, the compressor motor and the sensors. The engine when running operates the compressor to provide cabin climate cooling. The controller responds to the selected parameters to selectively drive the compressor motor to selectively drive the compressor when the engine is temporarily stopped so that the climate cooling continues to be supplied to the cabin if certain monitored conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, William L. Aldrich, III
  • Patent number: 6857987
    Abstract: An idle speed compensation system for a vehicle includes an idle speed control system that varies airflow to an engine at idle and a transmission driven by the engine. A controller communicates with the idle speed control system, the engine, and the transmission. The controller generates an idle speed compensation signal based on a transmission load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Glenn P. O'Connell, Michael L. Velliky, Leonard G. Wozniak, Richard E. Parsons Jr.
  • Patent number: 6763296
    Abstract: A method is directed to controlling idle speed for an internal combustion engine. The method provides for monitoring a plurality of vehicle system signal inputs, determining a baseline load control signal based on the vehicle system signal inputs, determining a maximum load control signal based on the vehicle system signal inputs, determining an anticipated load control signal based on the vehicle system signal inputs, determining an idle speed control signal based on the baseline control signal and the anticipated control signal, modifying the idle speed control signal based on vehicle system signal inputs, and controlling the idle speed based on the modified idle speed control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Glenn P. O'Connell, Tony T. Hoang, Michael L. Velliky
  • Patent number: 5588327
    Abstract: A five-speed parallel-shaft clutch-to-clutch shifting automatic transmission has an hydraulically responsive clutch priority valve effective to exhaust fluid pressure from lower priority clutches upon undesirable simultaneous application two or more clutches. Two clutches associated with numerically nonadjacent gear ratios are supplied fluid pressure from a single solenoid controlled fluid valve vis-a-vis a two mutually exclusive state multiplex valve. The clutch priority valve is interposed between the solenoid controlled fluid valve and the multi-plex valve thereby rendering the two clutch states associated with the single solenoid valve indistinguishable by the clutch priority valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Saturn Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Downs, James K. Mainquist, Larry T. Nitz, William L. Aldrich, III
  • Patent number: 5233890
    Abstract: An improved control of a motor vehicle torque converter clutch (TCC) which detects a condition of TCC engagement when open converter operation is required, and activates an override mechanism to disengage the TCC independent of the normal TCC control in response to the detected condition. This ensures that the TCC is disengaged when open converter operation is required, thereby permitting continued operation of the vehicle in conditions where the vehicle would otherwise be inoperable. When unwanted TCC engagement is detected, the control activates a clutch priority valve by intentionally commanding the engagement of two or more range clutches. When so activated, the clutch priority valve exhausts all but one range clutch and hydraulically disables engagement the TCC. When the vehicle speed is sufficiently high to permit TCC engagement, all but one of the range clutch pressure commands are eliminated, and the clutch priority valve returns to a normal state to permit TCC engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Saturn Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Larry T. Nitz, Mark DeBacker