Patents by Inventor Daniel E Nicholson

Daniel E Nicholson 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).

  • Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle in a coasting mode
    Patent number: 10960883
    Abstract: A powertrain system for a vehicle is described, and includes an internal combustion engine that is selectively coupled to a driveline. The engine is configured to operate in a coasting mode, wherein the coasting mode includes operating the powertrain system with the engine in an OFF state and decoupled from the driveline. Devices are configured to monitor an output torque request, vehicle speed, and vehicle operating conditions. An executable instruction set monitors the vehicle speed and the output torque request. The engine is controlled to operate in the coasting mode when the output torque request is within the predetermined torque region and the vehicle speed is greater than a minimum speed threshold. The engine is controlled to discontinue operating in the coasting mode in response to the output torque request being outside the torque region of the vehicle speed being less than a minimum speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P Bhattarai, Daniel E Nicholson
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A VEHICLE IN A COASTING MODE
    Publication number: 20200086872
    Abstract: A powertrain system for a vehicle is described, and includes an internal combustion engine that is selectively coupled to a driveline. The engine is configured to operate in a coasting mode, wherein the coasting mode includes operating the powertrain system with the engine in an OFF state and decoupled from the driveline. Devices are configured to monitor an output torque request, vehicle speed, and vehicle operating conditions. An executable instruction set monitors the vehicle speed and the output torque request. The engine is controlled to operate in the coasting mode when the output torque request is within the predetermined torque region and the vehicle speed is greater than a minimum speed threshold. The engine is controlled to discontinue operating in the coasting mode in response to the output torque request being outside the torque region of the vehicle speed being less than a minimum speed threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, Birendra P Bhattarai, Daniel E Nicholson