Patents by Inventor Bryan Michael Bolger

Bryan Michael Bolger 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: 11964568
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a controller programmed to generate a command to an electric machine to reduce a torque output rate after an accelerator pedal is tipped out based upon a vehicle speed value and a wheel acceleration torque value. The torque output rate is initially reduced at a first rate, and is then reduced at a second rate slower than the first rate when the wheel acceleration torque value is greater than 0 Nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • 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: 20240042988
    Abstract: Responsive to accelerator pedal release and a speed of a vehicle being less than a threshold in a presence of indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced for at least a predetermined period of time during an absence of brake pedal engagement, a controller operates friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop. Responsive to accelerator pedal release and the speed being less than the threshold in an absence of the indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced and brake pedal engagement, the controller operates an electric machine and not the friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Joshua Hoop, Devin James O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11794715
    Abstract: Responsive to accelerator pedal release and a speed of a vehicle being less than a threshold in a presence of indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced for at least a predetermined period of time during an absence of brake pedal engagement, a controller operates friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop. Responsive to accelerator pedal release and the speed being less than the threshold in an absence of the indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced and brake pedal engagement, the controller operates an electric machine and not the friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Joshua Hoop, Devin James O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11794738
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicle includes an electrified propulsion system having an electric machine powered by a traction battery over an electrical distribution system (EDS). A controller is programmed to, reduce a speed limit of the vehicle from a maximum speed limit to an EDS speed limit in response to a measured average current of the EDS being within a threshold percentage of an average current limit of the EDS, and, in response to a measured speed of the vehicle exceeding the EDS speed limit, command a torque to the electric machine that is less than a driver-demanded torque such that the vehicle is propelled at a speed below the EDS speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary March, Bryan Michael Bolger, Gary Lepidi, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • Patent number: 11745737
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain and a controller. The controller, responsive to a parameter indicative of a grade on which the vehicle is travelling having a value greater than a threshold, and a given accelerator pedal input, commands the powertrain to produce an amount of drive torque for the vehicle that is based on the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • Patent number: 11724642
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a brake lamp, and a controller. The controller operates the electric machine to selectively brake the vehicle according to accelerator pedal input. The controller also activates the brake lamp responsive to the accelerator pedal input being less than a first threshold demand for at least a first predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua Hoop, Bryan Michael Bolger, Jacob Doan, Devin James O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11623629
    Abstract: A controller, responsive to accelerator pedal release and a speed of the vehicle being less than a threshold, operates an electric machine to provide braking torque according to a predetermined speed versus time profile that defines a predetermined duration for the speed to become zero and a target speed for each time instant during the predetermined duration such that, for a given one of the time instants, the electric machine increases the braking torque responsive to the speed being greater than the target speed and decreases the braking torque responsive to the speed being less than the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • 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: 11554678
    Abstract: Responsive to a target charge level, a target charge completion time, and a maximum charge rate being sufficient to achieve the target charge level during an available charge duration defined by the target charge completion time, a controller charges the traction battery at a selected rate less than the maximum rate such that the traction battery continuously receives charge until occurrence of the target charge completion time and the traction battery achieves the target charge level at but not before the target charge completion time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Bryan Michael Bolger, Angel Fernando Porras, Zachary March
  • Patent number: 11505195
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal. A controller is programmed to, in response to driver-demanded torque corresponding to a position of the accelerator pedal, selectively brake the vehicle via operation of the electric machine, in further response to a speed of the vehicle being greater than a threshold, limit a rate of change of the driver-demanded torque commanded to the powertrain based on a first rate limit, and, in further response to the speed being less than another threshold, limit a rate of change of the driver-demanded torque commanded to the powertrain based on a second rate limit that is higher than the first rate limit such that, for a given driver-demanded torque, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle is more responsive than when the first rate limit is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Bryan Michael Bolger
  • 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: 20220185126
    Abstract: Responsive to a target charge level, a target charge completion time, and a maximum charge rate being sufficient to achieve the target charge level during an available charge duration defined by the target charge completion time, a controller charges the traction battery at a selected rate less than the maximum rate such that the traction battery continuously receives charge until occurrence of the target charge completion time and the traction battery achieves the target charge level at but not before the target charge completion time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Charles Everett Badger, II, Bryan Michael Bolger, Angel Fernando Porras, Zachary March
  • 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: 20220126825
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicle includes an electrified propulsion system having an electric machine powered by a traction battery over an electrical distribution system (EDS). A controller is programmed to, reduce a speed limit of the vehicle from a maximum speed limit to an EDS speed limit in response to a measured average current of the EDS being within a threshold percentage of an average current limit of the EDS, and, in response to a measured speed of the vehicle exceeding the EDS speed limit, command a torque to the electric machine that is less than a driver-demanded torque such that the vehicle is propelled at a speed below the EDS speed limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Zachary March, Bryan Michael Bolger, Gary Lepidi, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov
  • Patent number: 11305773
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle includes monitoring the vehicle speed for a first threshold in conjunction with a driver request for negative torque, after which the method comprises increasing a friction braking ratio. The method further comprises monitoring the speed of the vehicle for a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is lower than the first, after which the method comprises solely using the friction braking for braking holding torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Bryan Michael Bolger, Angel Fernando Porras, Devin James O'Donnell, Dale Scott Crombez, Alexander McCollough
  • Publication number: 20220097671
    Abstract: Responsive to accelerator pedal release and a speed of a vehicle being less than a threshold in a presence of indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced for at least a predetermined period of time during an absence of brake pedal engagement, a controller operates friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop. Responsive to accelerator pedal release and the speed being less than the threshold in an absence of the indication that available powertrain torque has been reduced and brake pedal engagement, the controller operates an electric machine and not the friction brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Bryan Michael Bolger, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Joshua Hoop, Devin James O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20220097600
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a brake lamp, and a controller. The controller operates the electric machine to selectively brake the vehicle according to accelerator pedal input. The controller also activates the brake lamp responsive to the accelerator pedal input being less than a first threshold demand for at least a first predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua Hoop, Bryan Michael Bolger, Jacob Doan, Devin James O'Donnell