Patents by Inventor David A. Provenza
David A. Provenza 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: 9889827Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for preventing vehicle roll. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining a first switch state; determining a second switch state; evaluating the first switch state and the second switch state to determine whether a condition of a mechanical linkage between a range selection device and a transmission has occurred; and selectively generating at least one of a control signal to control an electronic park brake and a notification message based on the determination.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: David A. Provenza, Michael A. Van Camp, William A. Arnold
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Publication number: 20160318489Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for preventing vehicle roll. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining a first switch state; determining a second switch state; evaluating the first switch state and the second switch state to determine whether a condition of a mechanical linkage between a range selection device and a transmission has occurred; and selectively generating at least one of a control signal to control an electronic park brake and a notification message based on the determination.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2015Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: DAVID A. PROVENZA, MICHAEL A. VAN CAMP, WILLIAM A. ARNOLD
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Patent number: 9394991Abstract: A default-to-park mechanism for a transmission includes an output member, a rotatable plate, a latching mechanism, and a biasing member. The output member is rotatable to park, reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The rotatable plate is coaxial with the output member. The plate and the output member interfere with one another such that the plate is moved in a first direction of rotation by the output member and the output member is moved in a second direction of rotation by the plate. The plate is releasably held by the latching mechanism to prevent rotation in the second direction of rotation when the output member is in the reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The biasing member biases the plate to rotate in the second direction of rotation to return the output member to the park position when the plate is released by the latching mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2014Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Swaita, David A. Provenza, Brian Ganter, Robert DiTommaso, Karthik Kayyer, William Harrop
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Patent number: 9139170Abstract: A hinge pillar assembly includes a hinge pillar including a panel. The panel including a body side outer door shut face and a defining an inner cavity and an access opening in communication with the inner cavity. The access opening is positioned in the body side outer door shut face and provides access to the manual park release actuator at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The hinge pillar assembly further includes a cover removably coupled to the hinge pillar. The cover closes the access opening when coupled to the hinge pillar. The hinge pillar assembly further includes a manual park release actuator at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The manual park release actuator is operatively coupled to a transmission and is configured to move relative to the hinge pillar to shift the transmission from a Park mode to an Out-of-Park mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Todd D. Albertson, David A. Provenza, William A. Biondo
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Publication number: 20150226317Abstract: A mode selection system for switching between different operating modes of a transmission includes a rotary transmission selector for switching between a neutral mode, a forward drive mode, and a reverse drive mode. A park selector for selecting a park mode of the transmission is separate and remotely located from the rotary transmission selector. The rotary transmission selector is axially moveable along a central axis between a reference position and an axially depressed position. The rotary transmission selector is rotatable about the central axis. However, the rotary transmission selector is only rotatable about the central axis when depressed into the axially depressed position. The rotary transmission selector is mono-stable, and automatically returns to a reference position when released.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2014Publication date: August 13, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: David A. Provenza, William A. Arnold, Michael A. Van Camp, Orson S. Wang
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Publication number: 20150143938Abstract: A default-to-park mechanism for a transmission includes an output member, a rotatable plate, a latching mechanism, and a biasing member. The output member is rotatable to park, reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The rotatable plate is coaxial with the output member. The plate and the output member interfere with one another such that the plate is moved in a first direction of rotation by the output member and the output member is moved in a second direction of rotation by the plate. The plate is releasably held by the latching mechanism to prevent rotation in the second direction of rotation when the output member is in the reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The biasing member biases the plate to rotate in the second direction of rotation to return the output member to the park position when the plate is released by the latching mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2014Publication date: May 28, 2015Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Swaita, David A. Provenza, Brian Ganter, Robert DiTommaso, Karthik Kayyer, William Harrop
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Publication number: 20150114792Abstract: A hinge pillar assembly includes a hinge pillar including a panel. The panel including a body side outer door shut face and a defining an inner cavity and an access opening in communication with the inner cavity. The access opening is positioned in the body side outer door shut face and provides access to the manual park release actuator at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The hinge pillar assembly further includes a cover removably coupled to the hinge pillar. The cover closes the access opening when coupled to the hinge pillar. The hinge pillar assembly further includes a manual park release actuator at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The manual park release actuator is operatively coupled to a transmission and is configured to move relative to the hinge pillar to shift the transmission from a Park mode to an Out-of-Park mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Todd D. Albertson, David A. Provenza, William A. Biondo