Patents by Inventor Eugene Fleming

Eugene Fleming 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: 9428076
    Abstract: An automobile having an energy conversion unit, an energy storage unit, a user selection unit, a global positioning system, and a control unit. The automobile can operate in a default charging mode, which is either the charge depletion mode or the charge sustaining mode. Upon a user input, the energy conversation unit and/or the energy storage unit can operate in an extended charging mode or a forced charging mode. In the extended charging mode, the state of charge (SOC) is increased or decreased over a predetermined charging range. In the forced charging mode, the SOC is increased until a predetermined charge limit is reached. The automobile can also use global positioning system signals to operate in the charge depletion mode, the charge sustaining mode, the extended charging mode, and/or the forced charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco
  • Publication number: 20150025730
    Abstract: A more efficient and/or flexible operation of plug-in electric vehicles is disclosed. An automobile having an energy conversion unit, an energy storage unit, a user selection unit, a global positioning system, and a control unit. The automobile can operate in a default charging mode, which is either the charge depletion mode or the charge sustaining mode. Upon a user input, the energy conversation unit and/or the energy storage unit can operate in an extended charging mode or a forced charging mode. In the extended charging mode, the SOC is increased or decreased over a predetermined charging range. In the forced charging mode, the SOC is increased until a predetermined charge limit is reached. The automobile can also use global positioning system signals to operate in the charge depletion mode, the charge sustaining mode, the extended charging mode, and/or the forced charging mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco
  • Patent number: 8855840
    Abstract: The automobile may have an energy conversion unit, an energy storage unit, a user selection unit, a global positioning system, and a control unit. The automobile can operate in a default charging mode, which is either the charge depletion mode or the charge sustaining mode. Upon user input, the energy conversation unit and/or the energy storage unit can operate in an extended charging mode or a forced charging mode. In the extended charging mode, the state of charge is increased or decreased over a predetermined charging range. In the forced charging mode, the state of charge is increased until a predetermined charge limit is reached. The system and method can also use global positioning system signals to operate in the charge depletion mode, the charge sustaining mode, the extended charging mode, and/or the forced charging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco
  • Patent number: 8694217
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for adjusting a gear map. The present invention can be an automobile including a continuously variable transmission system, an ignition detecting ignition data, and/or a display unit. The continuously variable transmission system can include a continuously variable transmission, a memory storing a gear map including virtual gears, a gear adjustment mode input unit detecting gear adjustment mode data, and/or a processor. The processor can control the continuously variable transmission to operate at a desired engine speed for a specific automobile speed using the gear map. The processor can adjust the gear map using the gear adjustment mode data, and/or the ignition data. The processor can control the display unit to display information to prompt the user to supply the gear adjustment mode data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco, Christopher Bartlett Gregg
  • Patent number: 8560143
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting a pedal map, the system includes an automobile which has a pedal map adjustment unit. The pedal map adjustment unit includes a processor, an accelerator pedal, a memory, an input unit, a speed detection unit, and/or a power train. The memory can store a pedal map, which indicates a desired output of the powertrain at particular speed value. The accelerator pedal can collect pedal data, the input unit can collect input data, and the speed detection unit can collect speed data. The processor, using the pedal data and the speed data can adjust pedal curves in the pedal map to intersect with a road load pedal angle curve. The road load pedal angle curve can indicate a pedal depression amount required to maintain the automobile at a particular speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco
  • Publication number: 20120083976
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for adjusting a gear map. The present invention can be an automobile including a continuously variable transmission system, an ignition detecting ignition data, and/or a display unit. The continuously variable transmission system can include a continuously variable transmission, a memory storing a gear map including virtual gears, a gear adjustment mode input unit detecting gear adjustment mode data, and/or a processor. The processor can control the continuously variable transmission to operate at a desired engine speed for a specific automobile speed using the gear map. The processor can adjust the gear map using the gear adjustment mode data, and/or the ignition data. The processor can control the display unit to display information to prompt the user to supply the gear adjustment mode data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco, Christopher Bartlett Gregg
  • Publication number: 20120053796
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for adjusting a pedal map. The present invention can include an automobile which has a pedal map adjustment system. The pedal map adjustment system can include a processor, a pedal system, a memory, a user input unit, a speed detection unit, and/or a power train. The memory can store a pedal map, which indicates a desired output of the powertrain at particular speed value. The pedal system can collect pedal data, the user input unit can collect user input data, and the speed detection unit can collect speed data. The processor, using the pedal data and the speed data can adjust pedal curves in the pedal map to intersect with a road load pedal angle curve. The road load pedal angle curve can indicate a pedal depression amount required to maintain the automobile at a particular speed value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco
  • Publication number: 20110190968
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a more efficient and/or flexible operation of plug-in electric vehicles. The present invention includes an automobile having an energy conversion unit, an energy storage unit, a user selection unit, a global positioning system, and a control unit. The automobile can operate in a default charging mode, which is either the charge depletion mode or the charge sustaining mode. Upon a user input, the energy conversation unit and/or the energy storage unit can operate in an extended charging mode or a forced charging mode. In the extended charging mode, the SOC is increased or decreased over a predetermined charging range. In the forced charging mode, the SOC is increased until a predetermined charge limit is reached. The present invention can also use global positioning system signals to operate in the charge depletion mode, the charge sustaining mode, the extended charging mode, and/or the forced charging mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Eugene Fleming, Avernethy Francisco
  • Patent number: D364711
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Eugene Fleming