Patents by Inventor Christopher Balton

Christopher Balton 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: 11149663
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein that provide for controlling torque in a vehicle. In some embodiments, desired torque values are generated and are compared to an amount of torque currently being generated by an engine. If a different amount of torque is desired, an engine speed target is altered in a linear fashion, and then converted back to a torque request to be provided to an engine ECU for implementation. Techniques disclosed herein may cause changes in torque demand to be limited in such a way to cause predictable and smooth changes in engine speed, even when engine speed and torque do not have a linear relationship to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc.
    Inventors: Riley Sparman Kilfoyle, Christopher Balton, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Patent number: 10690240
    Abstract: A computer system (e.g., an on-board vehicle computer system) creates or updates a mapping of transmission gears and respective driveline ratios during operation of the vehicle. The system obtains a current engine speed and vehicle speed and calculates a current driveline ratio for the vehicle based on the current engine speed and vehicle speed. If the driveline is engaged, the system updates the mapping based at least in part on the current driveline ratio. Performing the update may include adding a new transmission gear or updating an existing transmission gear in the mapping, or removing a duplicate transmission gear from the mapping. Applications include cruise control, predictive cruise control, predictive shifting, and selecting a gear for a specific purpose (e.g., for descending a hill).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Jordan Mosher, Christopher Balton, Christopher Douglas
  • Publication number: 20200165988
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein that provide for controlling torque in a vehicle. In some embodiments, desired torque values are generated and are compared to an amount of torque currently being generated by an engine. If a different amount of torque is desired, an engine speed target is altered in a linear fashion, and then converted back to a torque request to be provided to an engine ECU for implementation. Techniques disclosed herein may cause changes in torque demand to be limited in such a way to cause predictable and smooth changes in engine speed, even when engine speed and torque do not have a linear relationship to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Riley Sparman Kilfoyle, Christopher Balton, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Patent number: 10570832
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein that provide for controlling torque in a vehicle. In some embodiments, desired torque values are generated and are compared to an amount of torque currently being generated by an engine. If a different amount of torque is desired, an engine speed target is altered in a linear fashion, and then converted back to a torque request to be provided to an engine ECU for implementation. Techniques disclosed herein may cause changes in torque demand to be limited in such a way to cause predictable and smooth changes in engine speed, even when engine speed and torque do not have a linear relationship to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Riley Sparman Kilfoyle, Christopher Balton, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Publication number: 20190195351
    Abstract: A computer system (e.g., an on-board vehicle computer system) creates or updates a mapping of transmission gears and respective driveline ratios during operation of the vehicle. The system obtains a current engine speed and vehicle speed and calculates a current driveline ratio for the vehicle based on the current engine speed and vehicle speed. If the driveline is engaged, the system updates the mapping based at least in part on the current driveline ratio. Performing the update may include adding a new transmission gear or updating an existing transmission gear in the mapping, or removing a duplicate transmission gear from the mapping. Applications include cruise control, predictive cruise control, predictive shifting, and selecting a gear for a specific purpose (e.g., for descending a hill).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Jordan Mosher, Christopher Balton, Christopher Douglas
  • Publication number: 20190055893
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed herein that provide for controlling torque in a vehicle. In some embodiments, desired torque values are generated and are compared to an amount of torque currently being generated by an engine. If a different amount of torque is desired, an engine speed target is altered in a linear fashion, and then converted back to a torque request to be provided to an engine ECU for implementation. Techniques disclosed herein may cause changes in torque demand to be limited in such a way to cause predictable and smooth changes in engine speed, even when engine speed and torque do not have a linear relationship to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Riley Sparman Kilfoyle, Christopher Balton, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
  • Publication number: 20140277971
    Abstract: A system and method for generating vehicle fuel economy estimates. Information describing a path of travel and a vehicle are received from a user. A detailed representation of the path of travel is obtained. Road condition information for segments of the path of travel is obtained, and the path of travel is verified as being traversable by the described vehicle. This information is used to generate a drive cycle profile, which contains at least the simulated path traversed by the vehicle, the speed of the vehicle along segments of the path, and any ambient conditions taken into account when predicting the speed of the vehicle. One or more drive cycle profiles are used to generate a fuel economy estimate for the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Kevin S. Oshiro, John D. Duffy, Christopher Balton
  • Publication number: 20140121933
    Abstract: In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a method of limiting a vehicle speed is provided. The method includes limiting the speed of the vehicle to a predetermined limit under normal operating conditions. The method further includes selectively engaging an override condition in response to an operator generated input. During the override condition, the vehicle can exceed the predetermined limit by a specified offset. The override condition is not available when the vehicle has traveled in the override condition for a predetermined number of miles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Zachary Slaton, Christopher Balton, Michael Repko, Suresh Kumar
  • Patent number: 8406971
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an amount of torque generated by an engine of a vehicle. The amount of torque may be controlled by limiting an amount of fuel or air or a combination thereof being provided to the engine. In some situations, controlling the amount of torque generated by the engine may be utilized to gradually limit the vehicle's acceleration, which in turn, may influence driver shifting strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Balton, Zachary Slaton, Nathan Paul, Ethan A. Ott
  • Publication number: 20120059560
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an amount of torque generated by an engine of a vehicle. The amount of torque may be controlled by limiting an amount of fuel or air or a combination thereof being provided to the engine. In some situations, controlling the amount of torque generated by the engine may be utilized to gradually limit the vehicle's acceleration, which in turn, may influence driver shifting strategies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Christopher Balton, Zachary Slaton, Nathan Paul, Ethan A. Ott