Patents by Inventor Aaron M. Sullivan

Aaron M. Sullivan 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).

  • Hybrid vehicle propulsion systems and methods
    Patent number: 10259448
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle propulsion includes an engine and a first electric machine, where each is configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. The propulsion system also includes a second electric machine coupled to the engine to provide torque to start the engine from an inactive state. A high-voltage power source is configured to power both of the first electric machine and the second electric machine over a high-voltage bus. The propulsion system further includes a controller programmed to deactivate the engine and propel the vehicle using the first electric machine in response to the vehicle being driven at a steady-state speed for a predetermined duration of time. The controller is also programmed to restart the engine using the second electric machine powered by the high-voltage power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao, Derek F. Lahr, Dongxu Li, Shifang Li, Chandra S. Namuduri, Thomas W. Nehl, Avoki M. Omekanda, Rashmi Prasad, Farzad Samie, Aaron M. Sullivan
  • Hybrid Vehicle Propulsion Systems And Methods
    Publication number: 20180050686
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle propulsion includes an engine and a first electric machine, where each is configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. The propulsion system also includes a second electric machine coupled to the engine to provide torque to start the engine from an inactive state. A high-voltage power source is configured to power both of the first electric machine and the second electric machine over a high-voltage bus. The propulsion system further includes a controller programmed to deactivate the engine and propel the vehicle using the first electric machine in response to the vehicle being driven at a steady-state speed for a predetermined duration of time. The controller is also programmed to restart the engine using the second electric machine powered by the high-voltage power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Venkata Prasad Atluri, Norman K. Bucknor, Robert S. Conell, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Lei Hao, Chunhao J. Lee, Derek F. Lahr, Dongxu Li, Shifang Li, Chandra S. Namuduri, Thomas W. Nehl, Avoki M. Omekanda, Bob R. Powell, JR., Rashmi Prasad, Farzad Samie, Neeraj S. Shidore, Aaron M. Sullivan