Patents by Inventor Bradford W. Bur
Bradford W. Bur 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).
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Patent number: 11560133Abstract: A system of a vehicle includes: a torque request module configured to determine a first engine torque request based on a driver input and to set a second engine torque request to a lesser one of (a) the first engine torque request and (b) an engine torque limit; and a torque limit module configured to, when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed, an accelerator pedal position is greater than a predetermined accelerator pedal position, and a brake torque request for braking of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined torque, set the engine torque limit to less than the first engine torque request.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Stefan M. Frick, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20220097674Abstract: A system of a vehicle includes: a torque request module configured to determine a first engine torque request based on a driver input and to set a second engine torque request to a lesser one of (a) the first engine torque request and (b) an engine torque limit; and a torque limit module configured to, when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed, an accelerator pedal position is greater than a predetermined accelerator pedal position, and a brake torque request for braking of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined torque, set the engine torque limit to less than the first engine torque request.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Stefan M. FRICK, Bradford W. BUR
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Patent number: 9719595Abstract: An active rev-matching system for a motor vehicle manual transmission includes an engine control module that monitors and adjusts an output speed of the motor vehicle's prime mover and at least one sensor that monitors movement of a shift linkage. When the at least one sensor determines the movement of the shift linkage is an in-gate downshift, the engine control module adjusts the available time for the engine control module to match the output speed of the prime mover to an input speed of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Bradford W. Bur, Edward J. Rodenbo, Shaun D. Hoffman, Richard I. Chang
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Patent number: 9624846Abstract: In a vehicle having a manual transmission, various sensors such as pedal and gearshift position sensors and accelerometers provide data to a control module such as an engine control module. The control module includes a microprocessor which calculates derivatives, i.e., the rate of change (first derivative) or the rate of change of the rate of change (second derivative) of the data from the sensors. Based on these derivatives, the microprocessor classifies the current driving activity into one of two, three or more modes, for example, track, sport and touring. During a shift, from the data from the gearshift sensor, the microprocessor determines whether an upshift or downshift is imminent or in progress and decreases or increases the engine speed to achieve zero or negligible cross clutch speed differential upon clutch engagement, rapidly if in the first (track) mode, less rapidly in the second (sport) mode and less rapidly still in the third (touring) mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20160377176Abstract: An active rev-matching system for a motor vehicle manual transmission includes an engine control module that monitors and adjusts an output speed of the motor vehicle's prime mover and at least one sensor that monitors movement of a shift linkage. When the at least one sensor determines the movement of the shift linkage is an in-gate downshift, the engine control module adjusts the available time for the engine control module to match the output speed of the prime mover to an input speed of the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: BRADFORD W. BUR, Edward J. Rodenbo, Shaun D. Hoffman, Richard I. Chang
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Publication number: 20160273461Abstract: In a vehicle having a manual transmission, various sensors such as pedal and gearshift position sensors and accelerometers provide data to a control module such as an engine control module. The control module includes a microprocessor which calculates derivatives, i.e., the rate of change (first derivative) or the rate of change of the rate of change (second derivative) of the data from the sensors. Based on these derivatives, the microprocessor classifies the current driving activity into one of two, three or more modes, for example, track, sport and touring. During a shift, from the data from the gearshift sensor, the microprocessor determines whether an upshift or downshift is imminent or in progress and decreases or increases the engine speed to achieve zero or negligible cross clutch speed differential upon clutch engagement, rapidly if in the first (track) mode, less rapidly in the second (sport) mode and less rapidly still in the third (touring) mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Patent number: 9322381Abstract: A remote start vehicle system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a remote start requester configured to request that the engine be started. The remote start requester is operable to request that the engine be started when the remote start requester is located outside of the vehicle. A control module is configured to cause the engine to be started upon request from the remote start requester. A sensor assembly is configured to sense a neutral gear state of the transmission, where the neutral gear state indicates whether the transmission is in neutral. The sensor assembly is configured to communicate the neutral gear state to the control module. The control module is configured to prevent the engine from being started if the neutral gear state indicates that the transmission is not in neutral. A method of remotely starting an engine is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Inc.Inventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Patent number: 9115684Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a starter control module and an abort module. When a clutch pedal is depressed and a user activates an ignition system, the starter control module engages a starter motor with an engine and applies current to the starter motor. The abort module selectively generates an abort signal when the clutch pedal is released. The starter control module disengages the starter motor and disables current flow to the starter motor when the abort signal is generated.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Inventors: Rafat F. Hattar, J. Michael Gwidt, Bradford W. Bur
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Patent number: 9103646Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an active fuel management (AFM) module, an expected engine speed determination module, and a disabling module. The AFM module selectively cuts off fuel to at least one cylinder of an engine and maintains valves of the at least one cylinder in closed positions. The expected engine speed determination module determines an expected engine speed based on a position of a shift lever of a manual transmission measured using a position sensor module. The disabling module selectively disables the AFM module based on the expected engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Inventors: Bradford W. Bur, William L. Cousins
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Publication number: 20140343812Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a starter control module and an abort module. When a clutch pedal is depressed and a user activates an ignition system, the starter control module engages a starter motor with an engine and applies current to the starter motor. The abort module selectively generates an abort signal when the clutch pedal is released. The starter control module disengages the starter motor and disables current flow to the starter motor when the abort signal is generated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Rafat F. Hattar, J. Michael Gwidt, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20140256509Abstract: A remote start vehicle system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a remote start requester configured to request that the engine be started. The remote start requester is operable to request that the engine be started when the remote start requester is located outside of the vehicle. A control module is configured to cause the engine to be started upon request from the remote start requester. A sensor assembly is configured to sense a neutral gear state of the transmission, where the neutral gear state indicates whether the transmission is in neutral. The sensor assembly is configured to communicate the neutral gear state to the control module. The control module is configured to prevent the engine from being started if the neutral gear state indicates that the transmission is not in neutral. A method of remotely starting an engine is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Patent number: 8746104Abstract: The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises at least one Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Christopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur, Kevin O'Connor, Mark Pickhard, Steven R. Stuve
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Patent number: 8739647Abstract: The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises two Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Christopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20130300403Abstract: The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises at least one Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Inventors: Christopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur, Kevin O'Connor, Mark Pickhard, Steven R. Stuve
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Patent number: 8478494Abstract: An engine speed matching system for a vehicle with a manual transmission includes a sensor that senses an input shaft speed of the manual transmission during a shift. A control module receives the input shaft speed, determines an engine speed, determines a desired engine speed based on the input shaft speed and the engine speed, and adjusts the engine speed based on the desired engine speed and the input shaft speed before the shift is completed.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Inventors: John W. Ellis, III, Paul C. Ong, Dave Howe, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20120152049Abstract: The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises two Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
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Publication number: 20120158270Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes an active fuel management (AFM) module, an expected engine speed determination module, and a disabling module. The AFM module selectively cuts off fuel to at least one cylinder of an engine and maintains valves of the at least one cylinder in closed positions. The expected engine speed determination module determines an expected engine speed based on a position of a shift lever of a manual transmission measured using a position sensor module. The disabling module selectively disables. the AFM module based on the expected engine speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Bradford W. Bur, William L. Cousins
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Publication number: 20120065851Abstract: An engine speed matching system for a vehicle with a manual transmission includes a sensor that senses an input shaft speed of the manual transmission during a shift. A control module receives the input shaft speed, determines an engine speed, determines a desired engine speed based on the input shaft speed and the engine speed, and adjusts the engine speed based on the desired engine speed and the input shaft speed before the shift is completed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: John W. Ellis, III, Paul C. Ong, Dave Howe, Bradford W. Bur