Patents by Inventor Conor Edward SULLIVAN
Conor Edward 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).
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Patent number: 11845438Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The transmission has gears and clutches configured to shift between the gears. The controller is programmed to operate the clutches during wide-open throttle events to upshift the gears at shift points corresponding to engine speeds. The controller is further programmed to adapt the shift points by increasing the shift points over a series of the wide-open throttle events from initial values to mature values.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Conor Edward Sullivan, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Thaddeus Hill, Cory Benson Laroche, Donald Gerald Levens
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Patent number: 11618459Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain, an inertial measurement unit configured to measure inertial forces exerted onto the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control the torque at the powertrain based on a mapped relationship between the inertial forces and a vehicle velocity, wherein the mapped relationship utilizes at least one mapping parameter. The controller is further programmed to estimate a mass of the vehicle based on the mapping parameter.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Yuji Fujii, Ankit Saini, Yijing Zhang, Weitian Chen, Akshay Bichkar, Conor Edward Sullivan, Hong Jiang, Thirumal Nagadi, Jose Velazquez Alcantar
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Patent number: 11078970Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of friction clutches and a selectable one-way clutch. The transmission also includes a controller programmed to, in response to detecting a component fault, switch the selectable one-way clutch from a passive state to an active state by commanding engagement of a first subset of the friction clutches to establish a slip elimination state. The controller is also programmed to, following establishment of the slip elimination state, command the selectable one-way clutch to the active state.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dongdong Dee Li, Stephen Michael Cicala, Conor Edward Sullivan, Richard Reynolds Hathaway
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Patent number: 11041534Abstract: Ideally, when a transmission is in Neutral, no torque should be exerted on the vehicle wheels by the powertrain. However, even with all clutches in a gearbox disengaged, some torque may be transmitted from a turbine shaft to the transmission output due to clutch drag and transmission component inertia. To avoid transmitting torque, a subset of clutches may be engaged to produce an input tie-up state, this holding the turbine shaft against rotation while permitting rotation of the output element.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stephen Michael Cicala, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Conor Edward Sullivan, Dongdong Dee Li, Timothy Fedullo, Bradley Dean Riedle, Scott Joseph Gittins, Peter Wincek
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Patent number: 10821957Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with active and passive states. Successful transition from the active state to the passive state is only possible when there is no torque tending to cause overrunning. After commanding a transition from the active state to the passive state, a controller partially engages a first friction clutch to induce a torque tending away from overrunning until a lash crossing is detected. Then, the controller releases the first clutch and partially applies a second clutch to induce a torque toward overrunning. When slip is detected, indicating successful achievement of the passive state, the second clutch is released.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy Fedullo, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Bradley Dean Riedle
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Patent number: 10794435Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with an active state and a passive state. To avoid occupant discomfort and hardware damage, transitions from the passive state to the active state must only be commanded when no or very little slip is present across the selectable one-way clutch. Several methods are presented to eliminate slip, depending on vehicle speed. When the vehicle is stationary, full engagement of a clutch that causes slip to be proportional to vehicle speed eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving backwards, partial engagement of the above clutch eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving forwards, full engagement of all but one clutch of a tie-up condition and partial engagement of the remaining clutch of the tie-up condition brings the vehicle to a stop and eliminates slip.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Timothy Fedullo, Abhay Mane, Bradley Dean Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead
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Publication number: 20200032863Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of friction clutches and a selectable one-way clutch. The transmission also includes a controller programmed to, in response to detecting a component fault, switch the selectable one-way clutch from a passive state to an active state by commanding engagement of a first subset of the friction clutches to establish a slip elimination state. The controller is also programmed to, following establishment of the slip elimination state, command the selectable one-way clutch to the active state.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Dongdong Dee Li, Stephen Michael Cicala, Conor Edward Sullivan, Richard Reynolds Hathaway
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Publication number: 20200032864Abstract: Ideally, when a transmission is in Neutral, no torque should be exerted on the vehicle wheels by the powertrain. However, even with all clutches in a gearbox disengaged, some torque may be transmitted from a turbine shaft to the transmission output due to clutch drag and transmission component inertia. To avoid transmitting torque, a subset of clutches may be engaged to produce an input tie-up state, this holding the turbine shaft against rotation while permitting rotation of the output element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Stephen Michael CICALA, Markian Oleh DIAKIW, Conor Edward SULLIVAN, Dongdong Dee LI, Timothy FEDULLO, Bradley Dean RIEDLE, Scott Joseph GITTINS, Peter WINCEK
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Publication number: 20200031331Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with active and passive states. Successful transition from the active state to the passive state is only possible when there is no torque tending to cause overrunning. After commanding a transition from the active state to the passive state, a controller partially engages a first friction clutch to induce a torque tending away from overrunning until a lash crossing is detected. Then, the controller releases the first clutch and partially applies a second clutch to induce a torque toward overrunning. When slip is detected, indicating successful achievement of the passive state, the second clutch is released.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventors: Timothy Fedullo, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Bradley Dean Riedle
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Publication number: 20200032862Abstract: A transmission includes a selectable one-way clutch with an active state and a passive state. To avoid occupant discomfort and hardware damage, transitions from the passive state to the active state must only be commanded when no or very little slip is present across the selectable one-way clutch. Several methods are presented to eliminate slip, depending on vehicle speed. When the vehicle is stationary, full engagement of a clutch that causes slip to be proportional to vehicle speed eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving backwards, partial engagement of the above clutch eliminates slip. When the vehicle is moving forwards, full engagement of all but one clutch of a tie-up condition and partial engagement of the remaining clutch of the tie-up condition brings the vehicle to a stop and eliminates slip.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy Fedullo, Abhay Mane, Bradley Dean Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead
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Patent number: 10358134Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a torque converter, an oncoming clutch, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a torque of the oncoming clutch exceeding an estimated average by a threshold during an engagement, increase the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedforward command and adjust the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedback command to compensate for deviations in the torque generated by the feedforward command during the engagement.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Bradley Dean Riedle, Charles William Suter, Conor Edward Sullivan, Stephen Michael Cicala
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Patent number: 10295054Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The first neutral has more engaged clutches than the second. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from a drive gear to the first neutral and a clutch of the drive gear being failed-on, shift to the second neutral.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Randall Armstead, Stephen Michael Cicala, Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Dongdong Dee Li, Conor Edward Sullivan
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Patent number: 10295053Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Dongdong Dee Li, Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Bradley D. Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan
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Publication number: 20180119805Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Stephen Michael CICALA, John Randall ARMSTEAD, Dongdong Dee LI, Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Bradley D. RIEDLE, Conor Edward SULLIVAN
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Publication number: 20180119806Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The first neutral has more engaged clutches than the second. A controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from a drive gear to the first neutral and a clutch of the drive gear being failed-on, shift to the second neutral.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: John Randall ARMSTEAD, Stephen Michael CICALA, Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Dongdong Dee LI, Conor Edward SULLIVAN
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Publication number: 20180118212Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a torque converter, an oncoming clutch, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a torque of the oncoming clutch exceeding an estimated average by a threshold during an engagement, increase the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedforward command and adjust the torque of the oncoming clutch via a feedback command to compensate for deviations in the torque generated by the feedforward command during the engagement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Alexander Phillip MCDONNELL, Bradley Dean RIEDLE, Charles William SUTER, Conor Edward SULLIVAN, Stephen Michael CICALA
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Patent number: 9835208Abstract: A transmission includes a first hydraulic clutch, a second hydraulic clutch, a third hydraulic clutch, a pump and a controller. The first, second, and third hydraulic clutches are configured to established a parked-ready condition upon engagement of all three clutches. The pump is configured to generate hydraulic fluid pressure. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start an engine that powers the pump, engage the first and second clutches. The controller is further programmed to, in response to engagement of the first and second clutches and obtaining operating hydraulic fluid pressure, engage the third clutch.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Stephen Michael Cicala, Charles William Suter, Conor Edward Sullivan, Oguz Hasan Dagci
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Publication number: 20170219028Abstract: A transmission includes a first hydraulic clutch, a second hydraulic clutch, a third hydraulic clutch, a pump and a controller. The first, second, and third hydraulic clutches are configured to established a parked-ready condition upon engagement of all three clutches. The pump is configured to generate hydraulic fluid pressure. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start an engine that powers the pump, engage the first and second clutches. The controller is further programmed to, in response to engagement of the first and second clutches and obtaining operating hydraulic fluid pressure, engage the third clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Alexander Phillip MCDONNELL, Stephen Michael CICALA, Charles William SUTER, Conor Edward SULLIVAN, Oguz Hasan DAGCI