Patents by Inventor Eric Frank Banners

Eric Frank Banners 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).

  • Powertrain torque control during a transmission shift
    Patent number: 11866049
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission is configured to transfer power from the engine to at least one drive wheel to propel the vehicle. The controller programmed to, in response to a command to shift the transmission, reduce a torque of the engine from a desired engine torque to a reduced value based on a flare at an input to the transmission during the shift. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the reduced value exceeding a threshold, retard an engine spark and maintain operation of all cylinders of the engine to reduce the torque of the engine during the shift. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the reduced value being less than the threshold, retard the engine spark and shutdown at least one cylinder of the engine to reduce the torque of the engine during the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cory Benson LaRoche, Bradley Dean Riedle, Stephen Michael Cicala, Jianping Zhang, Eric Frank Banners, Mehran Namazkar
  • Systems and methods for controlling friction elements
    Patent number: 10995852
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of friction elements selectively engageable to establish power flow paths within the transmission. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to, during a boost phase of a shift, command a first hydraulic boost pressure for a plurality of control loop cycles to an oncoming one of the friction elements (oncoming friction element) and subsequently command a second hydraulic boost pressure less than the first hydraulic boost pressure for only a single control loop cycle that defines an end of the boost phase to the oncoming friction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jaewon Choi, Stephen Michael Cicala, Bradley D Riedle, Eric Frank Banners, Cory Benson Laroche, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING FRICTION ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20200386279
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of friction elements selectively engageable to establish power flow paths within the transmission. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to, during a boost phase of a shift, command a first hydraulic boost pressure for a plurality of control loop cycles to an oncoming one of the friction elements (oncoming friction element) and subsequently command a second hydraulic boost pressure less than the first hydraulic boost pressure for only a single control loop cycle that defines an end of the boost phase to the oncoming friction element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jaewon CHOI, Stephen Michael CICALA, Bradley D RIEDLE, Eric Frank BANNERS, Cory Benson LAROCHE, Kurt Howard NICKERSON
  • Method for controlling a transmission coupled to an engine that may be automatically stopped
    Patent number: 9238457
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a transmission coupled to an engine during an engine start are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a transmission tie-up force in response to an indication of transmission slip. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Steve Michael Cicala, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Eric Frank Banners, Hong Jiang, Donald G. Levens
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TRANSMISSION COUPLED TO AN ENGINE THAT MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY STOPPED
    Publication number: 20150038294
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a transmission coupled to an engine during an engine start are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a transmission tie-up force in response to an indication of transmission slip. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Steve Michael Cicala, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Eric Frank Banners, Hong Jiang, Donald G. Levens
  • Method for controlling a transmission coupled to an engine that may be automatically stopped
    Patent number: 8864623
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a transmission coupled to an engine during an engine start are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a transmission tie-up force in response to an indication of transmission slip. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Steve Michael Cicala, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Eric Frank Banners, Hong Jiang, Donald G. Levens
  • METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TRANSMISSION COUPLED TO AN ENGINE THAT MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY STOPPED
    Publication number: 20120115679
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a transmission coupled to an engine during an engine start are presented. In one example, a method adjusts a transmission tie-up force in response to an indication of transmission slip. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Steve Michael Cicala, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Eric Frank Banners, Hong Jiang, Donald G. Levens