Patents by Inventor Don K. St. John

Don K. St. John 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: 8760115
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle with an external power source, even when the overall power requested by the plug-in electric vehicle exceeds the overall power available from the external power source. In an exemplary embodiment, a method determines the overall power requested by one or more vehicle systems, and then compares that to the overall available power from the external power source. If the overall requested power exceeds the overall available power, then the power from the external power source is allocated or apportioned to the different vehicle systems according to an allocation process that may consider factors like predetermined priorities and current vehicle conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Kinser, Don K. St. John
  • Patent number: 8519562
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a power coupler for a plug-in electric vehicle during a charging process, where the method may perform one of several alerts in the event that the vehicle stops receiving power. In an exemplary embodiment, the method performs a theft alert when the power coupler is physically unplugged or disconnected (this is intended to dissuade people from stealing the power coupler), and it performs a power loss alert when there is a loss of electrical power at the wall (this is intended to notify the vehicle owner when there is a power outage, a tripped circuit breaker, or any other condition that prevents the vehicle from being charged). By distinguishing between possible theft situations and simple power loss situations, the method can perform or issue an alert that is better tailored to the particular conditions that triggered it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James C. Gibbs, Christopher A. Kinser, Don K. St. John
  • Publication number: 20120025842
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a power coupler for a plug-in electric vehicle during a charging process, where the method may perform one of several alerts in the event that the vehicle stops receiving power. In an exemplary embodiment, the method performs a theft alert when the power coupler is physically unplugged or disconnected (this is intended to dissuade people from stealing the power coupler), and it performs a power loss alert when there is a loss of electrical power at the wall (this is intended to notify the vehicle owner when there is a power outage, a tripped circuit breaker, or any other condition that prevents the vehicle from being charged). By distinguishing between possible theft situations and simple power loss situations, the method can perform or issue an alert that is better tailored to the particular conditions that triggered it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: James C. Gibbs, Christopher A. Kinser, Don K. St. John
  • Publication number: 20110043165
    Abstract: A system and method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle with an external power source, even when the overall power requested by the plug-in electric vehicle exceeds the overall power available from the external power source. In an exemplary embodiment, a method determines the overall power requested by one or more vehicle systems, and then compares that to the overall available power from the external power source. If the overall requested power exceeds the overall available power, then the power from the external power source is allocated or apportioned to the different vehicle systems according to an allocation process that may consider factors like predetermined priorities and current vehicle conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER A. KINSER, DON K. ST. JOHN
  • Patent number: 5955674
    Abstract: A diagnostic driveline vibration analyzing tool for measuring and characterizing the torsional vibration of a rotating component such as a transmission output shaft in a vehicle driveline. An electronic control unit and sensor cooperate to measure speed fluctuations occurring between the passing of adjacent teeth of a rotating gear. These time measurements are then filtered using an order tracked pass band filter to isolate frequencies of interest the results of which are then used to calculate a total torsional energy level by taking the root mean square of the filtered signal over a predetermined period of time. The total torsional energy level is then compared to a predetermined maximum amplitude and if the total torsional level exceeds this predetermined maximum amplitude then the operator is notified through a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. McGovern, David S. Totten, Don K. St. John, James M. Slicker
  • Patent number: 5199401
    Abstract: A control system for an engine throttle valve actuator uses an actuator position feedback loop with a compensation factor which applies a reverse voltage having an amplitude based on actuator momentum to a DC motor to effectuate an electrical braking action to achieve high speed response with positional accuracy. A separate position limiting feedback loop is used to prevent excessive actuator excursions. The engine throttle valve is controlled to a selected position by using a throttle valve position feedback loop and a compensation factor to provide a feedback signal to a summing junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Walter K. O'Neil, Donald R. Haefner, Wayne E. Klindt, Mark L. Leonard, Daniel R. Parks, Don K. St. John
  • Patent number: 5086264
    Abstract: The present invention maintains constant torque in an inverter driven AC induction motor during variations in rotor temperature. It is known that the torque output of a given AC induction motor is dependent upon rotor temperature. At rotor temperatures higher than the nominal operating condition the rotor impedance increases, reducing the rotor current and motor torque. In a similar fashion, the rotor impedance is reduced resulting in increased rotor current and motor torque when the rotor temperature is lower than the nominal operating condition. The present invention monitors the bus current from the DC supply to the inverter and adjusts the slip frequency of the inverter drive to maintain a constant motor torque. This adjustment is based upon whether predetermined conditions implying increased rotor temperature or decreased rotor temperature exist for longer that a predetermined interval of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Kelledes, Don K. St. John