Patents by Inventor Jonathan Andrew Butcher

Jonathan Andrew Butcher 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: 9139088
    Abstract: A system an method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having a transmission coupled to vehicle wheels, an internal combustion engine, a planetary gearset coupled to the engine and to a differential output shaft to drive the vehicle wheels, a traction motor coupled through gearing to the differential output shaft and the planetary gearset, a generator coupled to the planetary gearset and electrically coupled to the fraction motor, a traction battery coupled to the generator and the traction motor, and at least one controller in communication with the engine, the traction motor, and the generator include limiting engine speed in response to a wheel slip event to an engine speed limit based on motor speed and generator speed to prevent the generator speed from exceeding a corresponding threshold when the wheel slip event terminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Shunsuke Okubo, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar
  • Patent number: 9106162
    Abstract: A hybrid-electric vehicle method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a traction battery, at least two electric-machines, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a faulted condition one of the electric-machines during a drive cycle, command the other of the electric-machines to function in a mode in which torque output is restricted to a threshold value that depends on a voltage of the battery to maintain vehicle propulsion during the drive cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rimma Isayeva, Balakrishna Rao, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Patent number: 9087418
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle in response to a diagnostic test performed to detect an incorrect cable connection of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Luedtke, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Rimma Paransky
  • Patent number: 9079582
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a non-selectable-gear transmission having an electric machine mechanically coupled to the engine. The vehicle may have one or more controllers programmed to, in response to a request for passive neutral mode, pull-down the engine and inhibit engine pull-up while disabling the electric machine such that the vehicle coasts with minimal rotational inertia and electrical losses. The one or more controllers may be further programmed to, in response to a subsequent request for drive mode during the passive neutral mode, permit engine pull-up while enabling the electric machine such that the vehicle resumes drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Stefan Paul Pototschnik, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Paul Stephen Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150142228
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle in response to a diagnostic test performed to detect an incorrect cable connection of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Richard Luedtke, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Rimma Paransky
  • Publication number: 20150100187
    Abstract: A method of controlling a motor in a hybrid electric vehicle mitigates the risk of an incorrectly wired or incorrectly connected wiring harness. Following the connection or re-connection of a wiring harness, the vehicle responds to a torque request by limiting the magnitude of the motor torque until the proper direction of torque is confirmed. A flag is then set to record that torque direction has been confirmed so that the vehicle can respond normally to future requests. Several events may indicate that a wiring harness has been re-connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Richard Light, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Daniel Richard Luedtke, Darko Acevski, Carlos Ayala, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar
  • Publication number: 20150066261
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a non-selectable-gear transmission having an electric machine mechanically coupled to the engine. The vehicle may have one or more controllers programmed to, in response to a request for passive neutral mode, pull-down the engine and inhibit engine pull-up while disabling the electric machine such that the vehicle coasts with minimal rotational inertia and electrical losses. The one or more controllers may be further programmed to, in response to a subsequent request for drive mode during the passive neutral mode, permit engine pull-up while enabling the electric machine such that the vehicle resumes drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Cusumano, Stefan Paul Pototschnik, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Paul Stephen Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150066333
    Abstract: A method for controlling an engine in a hybrid electric vehicle according to the present disclosure includes, in response to a drive motor being unavailable, commanding an engine power equal to the lesser of a first and a second power. The first power is sufficient to satisfy a driver wheel torque request at the current engine speed, and the second power corresponds to a maximum engine torque available at a target engine speed, where the target engine speed is selected to attain a desired battery state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Ming Lang Kuang, Paul Stephen Bryan
  • Publication number: 20150060173
    Abstract: A system an method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having a transmission coupled to vehicle wheels, an internal combustion engine, a planetary gearset coupled to the engine and to a differential output shaft to drive the vehicle wheels, a traction motor coupled through gearing to the differential output shaft and the planetary gearset, a generator coupled to the planetary gearset and electrically coupled to the fraction motor, a traction battery coupled to the generator and the traction motor, and at least one controller in communication with the engine, the traction motor, and the generator include limiting engine speed in response to a wheel slip event to an engine speed limit based on motor speed and generator speed to prevent the generator speed from exceeding a corresponding threshold when the wheel slip event terminates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shunsuke Okubo, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar
  • Publication number: 20150066260
    Abstract: A vehicle may include at least one electric machine, a traction battery, and a voltage boost converter electrically connecting the at least one electric machine and traction battery. The vehicle may further include at least one controller programmed to, in response to a request for drive mode while in a passive neutral mode, enable the boost converter and drive an output voltage of the boost converter to a predetermined target. The controller may be further programmed to, in response to the output voltage achieving the predetermined target, enable the at least one electric machine and drive a current through the at least one electric machine to zero such that an output torque of the at least one electric machine is approximately zero; and in response to the current achieving approximately zero, increase the current through the at least one electric machine such that the output torque is greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Paul Stephen Bryan, Carol Louise Okubo
  • Publication number: 20140277881
    Abstract: A system or method for controlling an engine in a hybrid vehicle include cranking the engine subject to a first torque limit in response to an engine start request, receiving an engine rotational position signal, and cranking the engine subject to a second torque limit in response to the engine rotational position signal indicating a number of engine revolutions being less than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Shunsuke Okubo, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20140277875
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle include controlling torque in a traction motor in response to a provisional motor torque that has been adjusted based on a difference between a measured traction motor speed and a calculated vehicle speed and filtered to attenuate a resonant driveline frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Thomas Chrostowski, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Ming Lang Kuang, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Patent number: 8712616
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with at least one wheel and a motor that is coupled to the wheel. The motor is configured to provide regenerative brake torque. The vehicle also includes at least one controller that is configured to predict future powertrain oscillation based on input indicative of a wheel speed and a total brake torque. The controller is also configured to control the motor to reduce the regenerative brake torque prior to the powertrain oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Dale Scott Crombez, Thomas Scott Gee
  • Publication number: 20140100726
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided including an electric machine and at least one controller. The controller, or controllers, are configured to, in response to a reset of the at least one controller while a speed of the vehicle is greater than a threshold value, provide a current command to the electric machine in accordance with calibration values calculated prior to the reset such that inoperability of the electric machine due to the reset is less than one second.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Reynolds, Daniel Robert Parks, Rimma Isayeva, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20140062348
    Abstract: A hybrid-electric vehicle method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a traction battery, at least two electric-machines, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a faulted condition one of the electric-machines during a drive cycle, command the other of the electric-machines to function in a mode in which torque output is restricted to a threshold value that depends on a voltage of the battery to maintain vehicle propulsion during the drive cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rimma Isayeva, Balakrishna Rao, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20140067173
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one electric machine and an inverter for selectively transmitting power to the electric machine. The inverter includes a power module. At least one controller controls the electric machine and the inverter. The controller at least temporarily disables the inverter during a power cycle such that power to the electric machine is inhibited. In response to the disabling of the inverter, the controller resets the duty cycle commands for the power module, and re-enables the inverter during the same power cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rimma Isayeva, William Reynolds, Jonathan Andrew Butcher
  • Publication number: 20140031169
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine, a generator, and a motor connected via a planetary gear set to detect lockup in the planetary gear set and control the powertrain in response. When torque is distributed in an electric mode of operation with the engine disabled, the generator is disabled based at least upon a difference between actual generator speed and an expected generator speed exceeding a threshold, indicating a lockup in the planetary gear set. When the engine is activated and distributes torque through the powertrain, the engine and the generator are disabled based at least upon a difference between engine acceleration and an expected engine acceleration exceeding a first threshold, and a difference between engine speed and ring gear speed being less than a second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Edward William Haran, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Kimberly Murphy
  • Publication number: 20130289809
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with at least one wheel and a motor that is coupled to the wheel. The motor is configured to provide regenerative brake torque. The vehicle also includes at least one controller that is configured to predict future powertrain oscillation based on input indicative of a wheel speed and a total brake torque. The controller is also configured to control the motor to reduce the regenerative brake torque prior to the powertrain oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Dale Scott Crombez, Thomas Scott Gee
  • Patent number: 8535201
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine, a generator, and a motor connected via a planetary gear set to detect lockup in the planetary gear set and control the powertrain in response. When torque is distributed in an electric mode of operation with the engine disabled, the generator is disabled based at least upon a difference between actual generator speed and an expected generator speed exceeding a threshold, indicating a lockup in the planetary gear set. When the engine is activated and distributes torque through the powertrain, the engine and the generator are disabled based at least upon a difference between engine acceleration and an expected engine acceleration exceeding a first threshold, and a difference between engine speed and ring gear speed being less than a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Edward William Haran, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Kimberly Murphy
  • Patent number: 8525467
    Abstract: An active motor damping system and method for dampening oscillations of a driveline in a vehicle includes generating a commanded torque indicative of an actual torque which would counteract the oscillations if delivered by a motor to the driveline. The commanded torque is adjusted as a function of a phase lag between the commanded torque and an actual torque which the motor would deliver in response to the commanded torque such that in response to the adjusted commanded torque the motor delivers the actual torque which counteracts the oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Scott Gee, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, William David Treharne