Patents by Inventor James T. Purcell

James T. Purcell 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).

  • Cross-checking processors for powertrain control systems using a dedicated serial data link
    Patent number: 7269491
    Abstract: An engine management system for a vehicle includes engine and transmission control modules that are connected to a serial vehicle data bus. A dedicated serial data bus is connected to the transmission control module and the engine control module. The engine and the transmission control modules perform processor validity and integrity checks over the dedicated data bus. In an alternate powertrain management system, engine and transmission control modules are connected to a serial vehicle data bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kerfegar Khurshed Katrak, Paul Alan Bauerle, Bruce A. Rogers, James L. Worthing, Mark Henry Costin, Robert J. Schaller, James T. Purcell, Timothy John Hartrey, Patrick J. O'Leary
  • Methods and apparatus for adjusting a throttle of a vehicle engine
    Patent number: 6659080
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a throttle of a vehicle engine. The apparatus comprises an input sensor configured to provide an input signal having a value that approximately corresponds to an operating level of the vehicle engine requested by an operator and a memory configured to store a maximum input value for the input sensor. The maximum input value provides the value of the input signal that approximately corresponds to a maximum operating level of the vehicle engine. The apparatus is further configured to receive the input signal and access the memory to retrieve the maximum input value and further configured to update the maximum input value with the value of the input signal if the value of the input signal is greater than the maximum input value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Henry Costin, Paul Alan Bauerle, Robert J. Schaller, John Norman Stockbridge, Mario Vincent Maiorana, Jr., James T. Purcell, Robert Charles Simon, Jr.
  • Cross-checking processors for powertrain control systems using a dedicated serial data link
    Publication number: 20030216848
    Abstract: An engine management system for a vehicle includes engine and transmission control modules that are connected to a serial vehicle data bus. A dedicated serial data bus is connected to the transmission control module and the engine control module. The engine and the transmission control modules perform processor validity and integrity checks over the dedicated data bus. In an alternate powertrain management system, engine and transmission control modules are connected to a serial vehicle data bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Kerfegar Khurshed Katrak, Paul Alan Bauerle, Bruce A. Rogers, James L. Worthing, Mark Henry Costin, Robert J. Schaller, James T. Purcell, Timothy John Hartrey, Patrick J. O'Leary
  • LIMITED ACCELERATION MODE FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20030024504
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor vehicle engine having an electronic throttle including positioning the electronic throttle in response to a requested throttle area, determining a fault in the vehicle engine, limiting the throttle area after a fault has been determined to control vehicle speed, limiting acceleration of the vehicle after the fault has been determined, and determining if the engine may be operated at full throttle after the fault has been determined to allow the vehicle to operate in a high power demand application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Alan Bauerle, Mark Henry Costin, Robert J. Schaller, James T. Purcell, Robert Charles Simon, Mario Vincent Maiorana
  • Limited acceleration mode for electronic throttle control
    Patent number: 6513492
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor vehicle engine having an electronic throttle including positioning the electronic throttle in response to a requested throttle area, determining a fault in the vehicle engine, limiting the throttle area after a fault has been determined to control vehicle speed, limiting acceleration of the vehicle after the fault has been determined, and determining if the engine may be operated at full throttle after the fault has been determined to allow the vehicle to operate in a high power demand application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Alan Bauerle, Mark Henry Costin, Robert J. Schaller, James T. Purcell, Robert Charles Simon, Jr., Mario Vincent Maiorana, Jr.
  • Methods and apparatus for adjusting a throttle of a vehicle engine
    Publication number: 20030019474
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a throttle of a vehicle engine. The apparatus comprises an input sensor configured to provide an input signal having a value that approximately corresponds to an operating level of the vehicle engine requested by an operator and a memory configured to store a maximum input value for the input sensor. The maximum input value provides the value of the input signal that approximately corresponds to a maximum operating level of the vehicle engine. The apparatus is further configured to receive the input signal and access the memory to retrieve the maximum input value and further configured to update the maximum input value with the value of the input signal if the value of the input signal is greater than the maximum input value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Henry Costin, Paul Alan Bauerle, Robert J. Schaller, John Norman Stockbridge, Mario Vincent Maiorana, James T. Purcell, Robert Charles Simon