Patents Assigned to FCA US LLC
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Patent number: 12188391Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine with an exhaust system includes one or more oxygen (O2) sensors disposed proximate to a catalytic converter, a first bias circuit configured to provide a first bias voltage to the one or more O2 sensors, and a second bias circuit configured to provide a second bias voltage to the one or more O2 sensors. A controller is programmed to: upon detecting a cold start condition, connect the one or more O2 sensors to the first bias circuit to receive the first bias voltage to rapidly detect a usable signal indicating light off of the one or more O2 sensors, to thereby facilitate initiation of a closed loop feedback control to reduce exhaust emissions; and subsequently connect the one or more O2 sensors to the second bias circuit to receive the second bias voltage to operate in the closed loop feedback control.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2024Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: David E Lemaster, Matthew L Bresler, Steven L Talley
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Patent number: 12188397Abstract: A vehicle includes a component coated with a pollutant reduction catalyst configured to remove pollutants from a flow of air over the component, a catalyst temperature sensor coupled to the component, a general temperature sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an active grille shutter (AGS) system having a plurality of movable grille shutters. A controller is configured to determine an efficiency of the pollutant reduction catalyst based on signals from the catalyst temperature sensor, the general temperature sensor, the vehicle speed sensor, and the AGS system.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Roger C Sager, Steven C Wante, Aurora J White, Robert L Roy, Daniel E Hornback, Matthew T Bartlett
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Patent number: 12188530Abstract: A hydraulic piston position determination system for a vehicle includes a hydraulic piston actuator configured to move a piston member in response to a hydraulic fluid pressure to engage/disengage a friction member, a hydraulic solenoid valve configured to control the hydraulic fluid pressure at the hydraulic piston actuator by regulating a flow of hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid supply system, and a controller configured to control the hydraulic piston actuator by controlling the hydraulic solenoid valve according to an actual duty cycle based on a flow demand change associated with the hydraulic piston actuator, and determine a position of the hydraulic piston actuator based on (i) a magnetic reluctance change and (ii) a difference between the actual duty cycle and a steady-state duty cycle for the hydraulic solenoid valve.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2023Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: William R Mayhew, Steven B Christ, Niranjan Das
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Patent number: 12188404Abstract: A control system for an engine comprising an electric turbocharger and a wastegate is presented. The system is configured to variably open and close to control the flow of exhaust gas in an exhaust system of the engine at a turbine of the electric turbocharger; and a controller that obtains parameters including an exhaust flow rate through the exhaust system. The controller uses the parameters to (i) determine a desired speed of the electric turbocharger to satisfy no flow of the exhaust gas through the turbine; (ii) command the electric turbocharger to rotate in a reverse direction at the desired speed to achieve no flow of the exhaust gas through the turbine; (iii) determine whether an exhaust gas treatment system (ETS) has reached a desired temperature; and (iv) command the electric turbocharger to rotate in a forward direction based on the ETS reaching the desired temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2023Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Kenneth E Hardman, Ryan M Sturgeon
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Patent number: 12181031Abstract: A two-speed gearbox assembly includes a housing, a first planetary gear set configured to operably connect to an output of an electric motor, a second planetary gear set rotationally coupled to an output of the first planetary gear set, and a third gear set rotationally coupled to an output of the second planetary gearset. A first clutch is configured to selectively couple the first planetary gear set to the second planetary gear set, and a second clutch is configured to selectively ground a portion of the second planetary gear set to the housing. The gearbox assembly is selectively switchable between (i) an on-road first gear where the first clutch is engaged and the second clutch is disengaged, and (ii) an off-road second gear where the first clutch is disengaged and the second clutch is engaged to provide sustained high torque and low speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Sandeep Makam, Pradeep Attibele, Donald F Schmanski
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Patent number: 12180905Abstract: A vehicle including an air intake system including an air snorkel that is configured to provide air to the engine, a brake duct configured for receipt of ambient air located exterior to the vehicle and to direct the ambient air to a brake assembly to cool the brake assembly, an auxiliary duct having a first end coupled to the brake duct and a second end coupled to the air snorkel, and a valve located between the auxiliary duct and the brake duct. The valve is configured to permit the ambient air to cool the brake assembly when the valve is in an open position, and the valve is configured to permit the ambient air to enter the auxiliary duct and travel to the air intake system when the valve is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Sreekanth Surapaneni, Suresh Vemuri
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Patent number: 12179609Abstract: Control systems and methods for an electrified powertrain of an electrified vehicle include performing, by a main control system, a sequence of first processes based on an initial input including a set of signals indicative of at least one of a driver torque request and expected vehicle behavior and other intermediary inputs to generate a sequence of first outputs and performing, by a secondary monitoring system distinct from the main control system, a sequence of second processes based on the initial input and other intermediary inputs to generate a sequence of second outputs. The secondary monitoring system then attempts to rationalize each first output relative to its respective second output. Based on the rationalization, one of these outputs is used as an intermediary output in the sequence until a rationalized final output is obtained and used to generate control commands for torque actuators of the electrified powertrain.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Feisel Weslati, Behrouz Ashrafi, Jaihyun Lee
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Patent number: 12180870Abstract: An engine system includes an internal combustion engine, a main exhaust aftertreatment system with a main catalytic converter, and a light-off catalyst bypass system with a bypass passage and a bypass catalytic converter. An emissions control system includes a controller in signal communication with an oxygen sensor disposed downstream of the bypass catalytic converter. The emissions control system performs a diagnostic of the bypass catalytic converter, by the controller, including (i) monitoring signals from the downstream oxygen sensor for a predetermined time period during an engine cold start condition, (ii) determining a curve plotting oxygen content at the downstream oxygen sensor over the predetermined time period, based on the signals from the downstream oxygen sensor, (iii) determining a number of times the curve crosses a predetermined setpoint over the predetermined time period, and (iv) comparing the number to a predetermined threshold to determine if the bypass catalytic converter has failed.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2023Date of Patent: December 31, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Steven C Wante, Roger C Sager
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Patent number: 12172627Abstract: A park electronic securement (e-securement) system for a battery electric vehicle (BEV) includes an electric vehicle control unit (EVCU) connected to a park pawl system of the BEV and configured to, when there is at least one of a plurality of malfunctions of an electrical system including a high voltage battery, a DC-DC converter, and a low voltage battery, receive power from a redundant power source voltage provided by the high voltage battery via the DC-DC converter and command either the park pawl system or an electric park brake to transition the BEV to a park state and, when there are none of the plurality of malfunctions of the electrical system, receive power from the low voltage battery for control of the park pawl system to transition the BEV to the park state when requested.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Abhilash Gudapati, Abhilash Valson
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Patent number: 12172525Abstract: An electrified powertrain that generates and transfers drive torque to a driveline of a hybrid vehicle includes first and second electric motors, an internal combustion engine (ICE), a first, second and third planetary gear set, and multiple clutches. The first planetary gear set is selectively coupled for rotation with the second electric motor, the first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first carrier and a first ring gear, wherein the first carrier is coupled to the driveline. The second planetary gear set is selectively coupled for rotation with the second electric motor output, the second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second carrier and a second ring gear. An input split device comprises the third planetary gear set that is selectively coupled for rotation with one of the first electric motor and the ICE.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2024Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Sachin Bhide, Omkar D Rane, Matthew Tolkacz
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Patent number: 12172245Abstract: A welding backing insert (20) includes a body (22), a retention member (24) and an insertion member (26). The retention member (24) includes at least one leg (28) being deflectable to enable insertion into a hollow profile structural extrusions (14). At least one leg (28) tries to return to its original position exerting a force on the hollow profile structural extrusion (14) to retain the backing insert (20) in the hollow profile structural extrusion (14). The insertion member (26) projects from the body for inserting into a second hollow profile structural extrusion (14). A gap-control joint spacer (50) projects from the body to provide a gap between adjacent hollow profile structural extrusions.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Mark R Fistler, Justin G Hunt
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Patent number: 12162483Abstract: A vehicle includes a body including suspension components, multiple wheels coupled to the body, a suspension sensor coupled to one of the suspension components or at least one of said multiple wheels, a camera, a display connected to the camera to display at least part of the camera view, a processor receiving inputs from the suspension sensor, and memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes a program from which an actual horizontal wheel position relative to a path of travel of the vehicle is determined as a function of a vertical position of the at least one of said multiple wheels. And the processor causes an image representative of the actual horizontal wheel position to appear on the display, and wherein vertical is in the direction of gravity and horizontal is perpendicular to the direction of gravity.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2021Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Colin M Cole, Aleksander M Tonkovich
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Patent number: 12157473Abstract: Electrified powertrain control techniques include, in response to a detected cold start request for an engine, controlling one or more electric motors to generate drive torque to physically power an engine for a period to increase a temperature within a primary combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine, and after the period, starting the engine by combusting a primary charge of fuel/air within the primary combustion chamber using a turbulent jet ignition (TJI) system to combust a pre-charge of fuel/air in a respective pre-chamber of the cylinder using a respective first spark plug and expelling heat energy therefrom into the primary combustion chamber of the cylinder, thereby eliminating a need for a respective second park plug of the TJI system that is associated with the cylinder and configured to heat and promote combustion within the primary combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2022Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventor: Ronald A Reese, II
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Patent number: 12158097Abstract: A thermal accumulator assembly (TAA) for a vehicle waste heat recovery system (WHRS) utilizing a two-phase coolant includes a hermetically sealed housing having a separator plate dividing an interior of the housing into a higher pressure first chamber and a lower pressure second chamber. A pressure control valve is disposed between the first and second chambers. A first inlet port is connected to the first chamber and configured to receive a first flow of coolant. A first outlet port is connected to the first chamber and configured to a second flow of liquid coolant to a heat generating component in the WHRS. A second inlet port is connected to the first chamber and configured to receive a third flow of heated coolant from the heat generating component. A second outlet port is connected to the second chamber and configured to supply a fourth flow of vapor coolant to the WHRS.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: December 3, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Matthew T Bartlett, Michael Wiland, Tim Scott
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Patent number: 12147261Abstract: In at least some implementations, an interface device for control of multiple movements includes a drive controller and a steering controller. The drive controller is adapted to be movable about a pivot axis relative to a base. The steering controller carried by the drive controller for movement with the drive controller and rotatable relative to the drive controller about an axis of rotation that is not parallel to the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Travis D Bechtel, Brandon Brady, Zachary Luetzen
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Patent number: 12145459Abstract: A smart energy manager for an electrified vehicle is provided. In one exemplary implementation, the smart energy manager includes a control unit, a vehicle-to-control unit power cable assembly, a vehicle-to-vehicle power cable assembly, an A/C charge power cable assembly and an offboard power panel A/C sourcing cable assembly. The control unit has a control unit housing including a user interface panel. The vehicle-to-control unit power cable assembly has a first end electrically coupled to the control unit and a second end having a first charge connector configured to electrically couple to a charging port of the electrified vehicle. The control unit is configured to selectively and alternatively route power based on an input at the user interface panel indicative of an operational mode relative to the electrified vehicle and a second charge connector; an A/C plug or a power panel.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Nallaperumal Subbiah Subbulakshmi, Mohanasajiv Vijayan, Archana Kasture
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Patent number: 12146566Abstract: Grade based transmission park pawl unloading techniques include in response to detecting a request to shift a transmission of a vehicle out of a park state, determining a set of load parameters using a set of sensors configured to monitor the set of load parameters of the vehicle, the set of load parameters including at least a grade of a surface that the vehicle is on and a weight of the vehicle, based on the set of load parameters, activating a series of a plurality of clutches of the transmission to cause the transmission to transfer or output a desired amount of drive torque in a desired direction to unload the park pawl, and when the park pawl is unloaded, shifting the transmission out of the park state without any noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) associated with the previous loading of the park pawl.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventor: Corey Allard
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Patent number: D1051773Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Mark C Trostle, Jeffrey R Aneiros, Lou L Gasevski, Mark Coletti, Rimon Ghobrial
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Patent number: D1051774Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: FCA US LLCInventors: Mark C. Trostle, Jeffrey R. Aneiros, Anthony L Vincent
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Patent number: D1057626Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2023Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: FCA US LLCInventor: Michael H Nicholas