Patents Assigned to FCA US LLC
  • Automatic transmission park control system
    Patent number: 11708906
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic park control system includes a park piston and a park control valve disposed in a valve body of a transmission of a vehicle and configured to control a supply of hydraulic fluid pressure to control the park piston and to operate such that (i) no single element failure of the transmission will cause the transmission to shift from a park state to a non-park state or (ii) to shift from a drive, reverse, or neutral state to the park state, (iii) the transmission is able to remain in the non-park state and remain in or transition to the neutral state when a controller of the transmission is malfunctioning while the transmission is operating in the drive, reverse, and neutral states, and (iv) the transmission is able to quickly transition to the park state while an engine/motor driven pump of the transmission is off or not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Zhe Xie
  • Aerodynamic vehicle side step
    Patent number: 11702151
    Abstract: A side step for a vehicle includes an inner side coupled to or adjacent to a vehicle body, an outer side, a top side, a bottom side, a front end and a rear end, where the front end is adapted to be arranged closer to a front of a vehicle than the rear end. An air guide is provided at one or both of the front end and the rear end, the air guide projects outwardly relative to a central portion of the side step that is spaced from the air guide, and the air guide projects outwardly from one or both of the top side and bottom side, and the air guide is thicker, in a vertical direction, at said one or both of the front end and rear end than is the air guide at a location between the front end and rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Arturo Guzman-Magana, Santiago Antonelli, Shawn Miller, Robert J May
  • Multiple position accessory mount
    Patent number: 11702016
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, an accessory mount for a vehicle includes a first base, a support and a connector coupling the support to the first base. The first base has a first retainer with one or more retention features. The support has a second retainer that has one or more retention features that overlap one or more of the one or more retention features of the first retainer in different positions of the support relative to the first base. At least one of the first retainer and second retainer is movable relative to the other to decouple the first retainer and second retainer without removing the connector from the first base to enable movement of the support to multiple positions relative to the first base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Cole T Schaenzer, Jacob L Carpenter
  • Vehicle center of gravity height detection and vehicle mass detection using light detection and ranging point cloud data
    Patent number: 11702085
    Abstract: Vehicle center of gravity (CoG) height and mass estimation techniques utilize a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor configured to emit light pulses and capture reflected light pulses that collectively form LIDAR point cloud data and a controller configured to estimate the CoG height and the mass of the vehicle during a steady-state operating condition of the vehicle by processing the LIDAR point cloud data to identify a ground plane, identifying a height difference between (i) a nominal distance from the LIDAR sensor to the ground plane and (ii) an estimated distance from the LIDAR sensor to the ground plane using the processed LIDAR point cloud data, estimating the vehicle CoG height as a difference between (i) a nominal vehicle CoG height and the height difference, and estimating the vehicle mass based on one of (i) vehicle CoG metrics and (ii) dampening metrics of a suspension of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Ayyoub Rezaeian, Dalong Li
  • Cylinder head with integrated turbocharger
    Patent number: 11692505
    Abstract: A cylinder head assembly includes a cast cylinder head and a turbocharger housing integrally cast with the cylinder head. The integrated cylinder head and turbocharger housing includes: (i) a compact low wetted area to provide an uninterrupted flow path pointed directly at a catalyst face to facilitate achieving cold start emissions targets, (ii) a casting core assembly with specific core geometry and steps for assembly to enable core assembly while meeting all cylinder head and integrated turbine housing functional requirements, (iii) an oxygen sensor disposed pre-turbine in an integrated exhaust manifold, and (iv) a fully integrated PCV make-up air system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Michael P Schmidt, Douglas Trudeau, Constantin Hagiu, Brian Jacobs
  • Pre-chamber spark control with two ignition sources
    Patent number: 11686251
    Abstract: A combustion control system and method for a turbulent jet ignition engine is presented. A controller is configured to access a trained feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) configured to model a first spark from a first ignition source and maximum brake torque (MBT) based on measured operating parameters, generate the first spark and MBT using the ANN, generate a second spark from a second ignition device, and determine a target spark timing. The ANN can be further configured to receive an input related to spark stagger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: William P Attard, Shawali Chaudhury, Qun Wei
  • Stamping apparatus having a part-time draw bead
    Patent number: 11684962
    Abstract: A stamping apparatus that includes an upper die, a blank-holding binder, and fixed lower die. The fixed lower die features a drawing punch and the upper die features a corresponding cavity. The fixed lower die includes a stake bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. The blank-holding binder includes a draw bead and a corresponding depression is present on the upper die. In the stamping process, the draw bead engages a blank in a first stage, causing the blank to begin to stretch into the shape of the drawing punch with a greater tightened partially finished panel shape. In a second stage, the draw bead disengages the blank as the blank is drawn towards the drawing punch. In a final stage, the stake bead engages the blank to tighten the blank around the drawing punch into a final shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Dajun Zhou, Chunlei Wang, Robert D Miller, Kaiping Li, Yongjun Zhou, Richard J Siemen
  • Techniques for vehicle lane level localization using a high-definition map and perception sensors
    Patent number: 11679766
    Abstract: Lane level localization techniques for a vehicle utilize a plurality of perception sensor systems each configured to perceive a position of the vehicle relative to its environment, a map system configured to maintain map data that includes lane lines, and a controller configured to detect a position of the vehicle and a first set of lane lines using the plurality of perception sensors, detect a second set of lane lines using the position of the vehicle and the map data, obtain an aligned set of lane lines based on the first and second sets of lane lines, and use the aligned set of lane lines for an autonomous driving feature of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Zijian Wang, Peter Isho, Mohammad Huq, Stephen W Horton
  • Robust control of rolling engine start-stop
    Patent number: 11680534
    Abstract: Rolling engine start-stop (RESS) system and methods for a vehicle include a set of sensors configured to measure a set of operating parameters of the vehicle comprising at least (i) driver input via brake pedal of the vehicle, (ii) vehicle speed, and (iii) a steering angle of the vehicle and a controller configured to, based on the set of operating parameters, determine a target vehicle speed for stopping an engine of the vehicle, and based on the steering angle of the vehicle, selectively stopping the engine of the vehicle when the vehicle speed falls to the determined target vehicle speed, wherein stopping the engine of the vehicle at the determined target vehicle speed decreases noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) caused by stopping the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Papeeha Thombare, Nandanshri Bagadi, Ryan Masters, Nicholas Hansen, Andre Lorico, Drushan Mavalankar, Shuonan Xu
  • Intake and charge air cooling system with passive variable charge enabler
    Patent number: 11680515
    Abstract: An air cooling system for a vehicle engine includes an air intake configured to receive intake air for delivery to the engine, a first coolant loop thermally coupled to the air intake to provide cooling to the intake air, and a pump for circulating coolant through the first coolant loop. A second coolant loop is thermally coupled to the air intake to provide further cooling to the intake air, and undergoes a vapor compression cycle. A compressor circulates coolant through the second coolant loop. The first and second coolant loops are separate loops using a common condenser. A passive variable charge enabler assembly is configured to remove coolant circulating in the system when the compressor is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Vetrivel Chandrasekaran
  • Method of supervisory control for power management of a parallel two motor hybrid powertrain
    Patent number: 11679752
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle and method of its control include a parallel hybrid powertrain including an engine, a transmission, a battery system, a first electric motor coupled to the engine by a first clutch between the engine and the first electric motor, a second electric motor coupled to the transmission and to the first electric motor by a second clutch between the first and second electric motors, and a controller configured to control the parallel hybrid powertrain for optimal operation across a plurality of different propulsion and charging modes, including calculating cost values for each of the engine and the first and second electric motors and selecting optimal propulsion and charging modes based on the calculated cost values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Meng Li, Yang Liang
  • Voltage estimation for automotive battery charging system control
    Patent number: 11670952
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling charging of a battery of a vehicle comprise receiving, from a positive (B+) voltage sensor, a B+ voltage signal indicative of a voltage at a B+ terminal of an alternator of the vehicle, receiving, from an intelligent battery sensor (IBS), an IBS voltage signal indicative of a voltage at a positive terminal of the battery, applying high pass and low pass filters to the B+ voltage signal and the IBS voltage signals, respectively, estimating a voltage of the battery using both the filtered B+ voltage signal and the filtered IBS voltage signal, adjusting a target voltage for the battery based on the estimated battery voltage, and controlling charging of the battery using the adjusted target voltage to mitigate overcharging and undercharging of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Paul Yih
  • Vehicle convertible top systems
    Patent number: 11648831
    Abstract: A modular, multi-component hard top assembly for a vehicle having an interior with front passenger seating, rear passenger seating, and a rear cargo area is provided. In one example implementation, the hard top assembly includes a base frame configured to removably couple to a body of the vehicle, and a plurality of removable roof panels selectively coupleable to the base frame to create a substantially contiguous roof over the vehicle interior. Each removable roof panel of the plurality of removable roof panels is separately removable from the base frame to provide an open air configuration at that specific location of the hard top assembly while enabling a user to detach, remove, and transport a smaller portion of the hard top assembly without assistance or specialized equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Michael S Boyle, Mikil L Sockow, David C Fischer, Richard T Stuedemann
  • Vehicle half door assemblies
    Patent number: 11639088
    Abstract: A multi-component door assembly for a vehicle includes a lower door portion rotatably coupled to a body of the vehicle and including at least one receiving aperture defined therein, and an upper door portion selectively removable from the lower door portion and including at least one post configured to be received within the at least one receiving aperture for removably coupling the upper door portion to the lower door portion. At least one trim cap is configured to selectively cover and conceal the at least one receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jason E Schultz, Robert J Reagle
  • Vehicle wheel
    Patent number: D987521
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Brett Tippmann
  • Motor vehicle lower bumper fascia insert
    Patent number: D988930
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Malachowski, Eugenio Sellaro-Neto, Alexander Tannen, Chris Piscitelli, Mark D. Hall, Mark T. Allen
  • Grille for radiator
    Patent number: D988943
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Lou L. Gasevski, Kohl J. Kohrman, Mark C. Trostle, Brian H. Nielander
  • Vehicle wheel
    Patent number: D988964
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Adam Hubers, Tome Jovanoski
  • Vehicle wheel
    Patent number: D988965
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Nicolas Ren Stone, Tome Jovanoski
  • Automobile interior
    Patent number: D988973
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Chris A. Benjamin, Dwayne Jackson, Zhe Garrison, Ludwin Cruz