Patents by Inventor Davor D. Hrovat

Davor D. Hrovat 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: 10239529
    Abstract: A system includes a computing device programmed to receive a set of goals for a vehicle and identify a travel area for the vehicle for a time period. The computing device receives data indicating predictability of driving conditions of the travel area and determines that the predictability is sufficient to control the vehicle according to model predictive control. Controlling the vehicle includes determining instructions to control actuators related to the steering, propulsion and braking of the vehicle to minimize a cost function. The instructions are implemented for a first time slot. The time period is updated to remove the first time slot at the beginning and include an additional time slot at the end of the predetermined time period. The computing device determines an updated control solution, and implements the updated control solution for a second time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Jianbo Lu, Davor D. Hrovat
  • Publication number: 20170253241
    Abstract: A system includes a computing device programmed to receive a set of goals for a vehicle and identify a travel area for the vehicle for a time period. The computing device receives data indicating predictability of driving conditions of the travel area and determines that the predictability is sufficient to control the vehicle according to model predictive control. Controlling the vehicle includes determining instructions to control actuators related to the steering, propulsion and braking of the vehicle to minimize a cost function. The instructions are implemented for a first time slot. The time period is updated to remove the first time slot at the beginning and include an additional time slot at the end of the predetermined time period. The computing device determines an updated control solution, and implements the updated control solution for a second time slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Jianbo Lu, Davor D. Hrovat
  • Patent number: 9231998
    Abstract: A vehicle control and computation system interfaces a task controller in the vehicle with a vehicle-specific computation manager in a cloud network. A wireless data channel couples the task controller and the cloud network. The task controller performs operational tasks in the vehicle using data-related resources in the cloud network. Upon initiating one of the operational tasks, the task controller sends a handshake signal to the computation manager as a resource request. The computation manager calls at least one cloud-based agent from a database of predetermined agents in response to the handshake signal. The task controller completes the operational task via communication with the called agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Dimitar P. Filev, Davor D. Hrovat, John O. Michelini, Imad H. Makki
  • Publication number: 20150207859
    Abstract: A vehicle control and computation system interfaces a task controller in the vehicle with a vehicle-specific computation manager in a cloud network. A wireless data channel couples the task controller and the cloud network. The task controller performs operational tasks in the vehicle using data-related resources in the cloud network. Upon initiating one of the operational tasks, the task controller sends a handshake signal to the computation manager as a resource request. The computation manager calls at least one cloud-based agent from a database of predetermined agents in response to the handshake signal. The task controller completes the operational task via communication with the called agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Dimitar P. Filev, Davor D. Hrovat, John O. Michelini, Imad H. Makki
  • Patent number: 8882635
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle on an uphill incline includes automatically shifting a transmission to first gear, automatically stopping the engine, using wheel torque to maintain a one-way clutch engaged and to hold a transmission component against rotation, preventing vehicle rollback by automatically engaging a target gear and tying-up the transmission automatically restarting the engine, and automatically reengaging first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Davor D. Hrovat, Steven G. Thomas, Alex O. Gibson, Roger L. Huffmaster
  • Patent number: 8550961
    Abstract: A method for controlling an input clutch of a vehicle transmission during a tip-in includes using a current gear and rate of change of transmission input speed to determine a first torque modifier, if a peak or trough occurred in input speed, using the current gear and a difference between measured input speed and expected input speed to determine a second torque modifier, and changing a torque capacity of the clutch using said modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hong Jiang, Matthew J. Shelton, Zhengyu Dai, Davor D. Hrovat, Bradley D. Riedle, Alexander P. McDonnell
  • Patent number: 8398526
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes determining a desired clutch torque, a desired engine torque, a desired vehicle acceleration and a desired engine speed, determining a change in clutch torque and a change in engine torque with reference to the first and second errors and current operating conditions, applying to the clutch an updated clutch torque capacity whose magnitude is the sum of the desired clutch torque and the change in engine torque, and producing an updated engine torque whose magnitude is the sum of the desired engine torque and the change in engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davor D. Hrovat, Michael G. Fodor, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow, Jahan Asgari
  • Publication number: 20120312657
    Abstract: A method for controlling an input clutch of a vehicle transmission during a tip-in includes using a current gear and rate of change of transmission input speed to determine a first torque modifier, if a peak or trough occurred in input speed, using the current gear and a difference between measured input speed and expected input speed to determine a second torque modifier, and changing a torque capacity of said clutch using said modifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hong Jiang, Matthew J. Shelton, Zhengyu Dai, Davor D. Hrovat, Bradley D. Riedle, Alexander P. McDonnell
  • Publication number: 20120316029
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle on an uphill incline includes automatically shifting a transmission to first gear, automatically stopping the engine, using wheel torque to maintain a one-way clutch engaged and to hold a transmission component against rotation, preventing vehicle rollback by automatically engaging a target gear and tying-up the transmission automatically restarting the engine, and automatically reengaging first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Davor D. Hrovat, Steven G. Thomas, Alex O. Gibson, Roger L. Huffmaster
  • Patent number: 7998026
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes selecting a subject device that transmits torque between an input and an output, a providing a mathematical model of the subject device, such that the model employing only static relationships of engine speed and transmission input speed to a desired magnitude of torque produced by the subject device, using the model, the current engine speed and the current engine speed to determine the desired torque produced by the subject device, and adjusting the torque capacity of the clutch to the desired torque of the subject device determined from the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Fodor, Davor D. Hrovat, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow, Jahan Asgari
  • Publication number: 20100105523
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes determining a desired clutch torque, a desired engine torque, a desired vehicle acceleration and a desired engine speed, determining a change in clutch torque and a change in engine torque with reference to the first and second errors and current operating conditions, applying to the clutch an updated clutch torque capacity whose magnitude is the sum of the desired clutch torque and the change in engine torque, and producing an updated engine torque whose magnitude is the sum of the desired engine torque and the change in engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Davor D. Hrovat, Michael G. Fodor, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow, Jahan Asgari
  • Publication number: 20090186743
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission input clutch during a vehicle launch includes selecting a subject device that transmits torque between an input and an output, a providing a mathematical model of the subject device, such that the model employing only static relationships of engine speed and transmission input speed to a desired magnitude of torque produced by the subject device, using the model, the current engine speed and the current engine speed to determine the desired torque produced by the subject device, and adjusting the torque capacity of the clutch to the desired torque of the subject device determined from the model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Michael G. Fodor, Davor D. Hrovat, Jahan Asgari, Hong Jiang, Ian Oldknow