Patents by Inventor Brandon Jay Woodland

Brandon Jay Woodland 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: 11938842
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and friction brakes. A vehicle controller is programmed to, with the vehicle being in a one-pedal driving mode: in response to a braking torque capacity of the powertrain exceeding a target braking torque that is based on a position of the accelerator pedal, command a torque, that is equal to the target braking torque, from the powertrain such that the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain without application of the friction brakes, and, in response to the braking torque capacity of the powertrain being less than the target braking torque, command torques from the powertrain and the friction brakes such that the target braking torque is satisfied and the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain and the friction brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Bryan Michael Bolger, Alexander McCollough, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Publication number: 20230085556
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and friction brakes. A vehicle controller is programmed to, with the vehicle being in a one-pedal driving mode: in response to a braking torque capacity of the powertrain exceeding a target braking torque that is based on a position of the accelerator pedal, command a torque, that is equal to the target braking torque, from the powertrain such that the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain without application of the friction brakes, and, in response to the braking torque capacity of the powertrain being less than the target braking torque, command torques from the powertrain and the friction brakes such that the target braking torque is satisfied and the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain and the friction brakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Bryan Michael Bolger, Alexander McCollough, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Patent number: 11597391
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an accelerator pedal, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to propel and brake the vehicle according to a one-pedal driving operation. The controller is programmed to, in response to depressing the accelerator pedal, command a desired torque to the electric machine. The controller is further programmed to, adjust the desired torque based on a gradient of a road surface that the vehicle is positioned on. The controller is further programmed to, in response to movement of the electric machine in a direction that is opposite to a desired direction while the adjusted desired torque is being applied, increase the adjusted desired torque by a compensation torque such that movement of the electric machine transitions to the desired direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Bryan Michael Bolger, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Patent number: 11498429
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and friction brakes. A vehicle controller is programmed to, with the vehicle being in a one-pedal driving mode: in response to a braking torque capacity of the powertrain exceeding a target braking torque that is based on a position of the accelerator pedal, command a torque, that is equal to the target braking torque, from the powertrain such that the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain without application of the friction brakes, and, in response to the braking torque capacity of the powertrain being less than the target braking torque, command torques from the powertrain and the friction brakes such that the target braking torque is satisfied and the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain and the friction brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Bryan Michael Bolger, Alexander McCollough, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Patent number: 11427201
    Abstract: A vehicle includes active grill shutters and a controller. The active grill shutters are configured to open to increase a drag on the vehicle and to close to decrease the drag on the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to regenerative braking via an electric machine and an absence of friction braking, transition or maintain the active grill shutters to or in a closed position. The controller is further programmed to, in response to friction braking, transition or maintain the active grill shutters to or in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, Zachary March, Bryan Michael Bolger, Joseph James Gallo
  • Publication number: 20220176967
    Abstract: A vehicle includes active grill shutters and a controller. The active grill shutters are configured to open to increase a drag on the vehicle and to close to decrease the drag on the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to regenerative braking via an electric machine and an absence of friction braking, transition or maintain the active grill shutters to or in a closed position. The controller is further programmed to, in response to friction braking, transition or maintain the active grill shutters to or in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, Zachary March, Bryan Michael Bolger, Joseph James Gallo
  • Publication number: 20220097528
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and friction brakes. A vehicle controller is programmed to, with the vehicle being in a one-pedal driving mode: in response to a braking torque capacity of the powertrain exceeding a target braking torque that is based on a position of the accelerator pedal, command a torque, that is equal to the target braking torque, from the powertrain such that the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain without application of the friction brakes, and, in response to the braking torque capacity of the powertrain being less than the target braking torque, command torques from the powertrain and the friction brakes such that the target braking torque is satisfied and the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain and the friction brakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Bryan Michael Bolger, Alexander McCollough, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Publication number: 20220097701
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an accelerator pedal, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to propel and brake the vehicle according to a one-pedal driving operation. The controller is programmed to, in response to depressing the accelerator pedal, command a desired torque to the electric machine. The controller is further programmed to, adjust the desired torque based on a gradient of a road surface that the vehicle is positioned on. The controller is further programmed to, in response to movement of the electric machine in a direction that is opposite to a desired direction while the adjusted desired torque is being applied, increase the adjusted desired torque by a compensation torque such that movement of the electric machine transitions to the desired direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Bryan Michael Bolger, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Patent number: 11130403
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, an electric machine, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to propel the vehicle and to brake the vehicle via regenerative braking. The controller is programmed to, in response to releasing the accelerator pedal, increase a regenerative braking torque of the electric machine to a first value. The controller is further programmed to, in response to depressing the brake pedal, increase the regenerative braking torque of the electric machine from the first value to a second value. The controller is further programmed to, in response to a speed of the vehicle decreasing to less than a first threshold, decrease the regenerative braking torque of the electric machine from the second value to the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • Patent number: 8667797
    Abstract: A heat engine system configured to extract thermal energy from a heat source, convert a first portion of the thermal energy to work using an expansion device, and reject a second portion of the thermal energy to a heat sink. The system utilizes a second fluid to inhibit a temperature drop of the first fluid within the expansion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, James E. Braun, Eckhard A. Groll, W. Travis Horton
  • Publication number: 20120006022
    Abstract: A heat engine system configured to extract thermal energy from a heat source, convert a first portion of the thermal energy to work using an expansion device, and reject a second portion of the thermal energy to a heat sink. The system utilizes a second fluid to inhibit a temperature drop of the first fluid within the expansion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, James E. Braun, Eckhard A. Groll, W. Travis Horton