Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Porrett
Kenneth L. Porrett 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).
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Patent number: 9356466Abstract: A thermal conditioning system for an inductive charging system. An open enclosure charging unit includes at least one surface generating an electromagnetic field for inductively charging a portable device. A primary conduit coupled to the open enclosure charging unit. The primary conduit outputs conditioned air to the open enclosure charging unit. The conditioned air output by the primary conduit maintains a temperature of the portable device at a predetermined temperature range within the open enclosure charging unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Taeyoung Han, Chih-Hung Yen, Shailendra Kaushik, Bahram Khalighi, Dan Lascu, Kenneth L. Porrett
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Publication number: 20140293538Abstract: A thermal conditioning system for an inductive charging system. An open enclosure charging unit includes at least one surface generating an electromagnetic field for inductively charging a portable device. A primary conduit coupled to the open enclosure charging unit. The primary conduit outputs conditioned air to the open enclosure charging unit. The conditioned air output by the primary conduit maintains a temperature of the portable device at a predetermined temperature range within the open enclosure charging unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Taeyoung Han, Chih-Hung Yen, Shailendra Kaushik, Bahram Khalighi, Dan Lascu, Kenneth L. Porrett
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Patent number: 8798856Abstract: An accessory load control system for a vehicle, includes an actuator control module, a period estimation module, and a load control module. The actuator control module operates an internal combustion engine of the vehicle in a high-efficiency (HE) mode. The period estimation module estimates a period between a current time and a future time when an actual load on a crankshaft of the engine will reach a maximum engine load associated with the HE mode. The load control module selectively decreases engine loads applied by vehicle accessories, respectively, based on the period.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Inventors: Gregory A. Major, William R. Hill, Todd M. Tumas, Kenneth L. Porrett
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Patent number: 8332098Abstract: A method of controlling a power input to a compressor clutch, via an A/C clutch voltage controller, that selectively drives an A/C compressor in a vehicle HVAC system is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: determining a first electric power level needed to cause the compressor clutch to move to a full engagement position from a compressor clutch non-engagement position; applying the first electric power level to the compressor clutch to cause the compressor clutch to move to the full engagement position; determining a second electric power level, which is lower than the first electric power level, needed to maintain the compressor clutch in the full engagement position; and applying the second electric power level to the compressor clutch to maintain the compressor clutch in the full engagement position.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gregory A. Major, Kenneth L. Porrett, John I. Frey, Shawn L. Boozer, Edwin J. Stanke
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Patent number: 8302417Abstract: A system and method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system having an engine driven, fixed capacity refrigerant compressor and a compressor clutch is disclosed. The method may comprises setting a preliminary evaporator air temperature target; charging a cold storage apparatus in the vehicle air conditioning system; determining if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold; if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold, determining a new evaporator air temperature target by: determining a maximum allowable dewpoint evaporator air temperature for maintaining a passenger compartment humidity below a predetermined value; determining a maximum allowable mode evaporator air temperature based on a mode to which the vehicle air conditioning system is set; and setting the evaporator air temperature target to the lower of the dewpoint evaporator air temperature and the mode evaporator air temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Gregory A. Major, John I. Frey, Kenneth L. Porrett
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Publication number: 20110251756Abstract: An accessory load control system for a vehicle, includes an actuator control module, a period estimation module, and a load control module. The actuator control module operates an internal combustion engine of the vehicle in a high-efficiency (HE) mode. The period estimation module estimates a period between a current time and a future time when an actual load on a crankshaft of the engine will reach a maximum engine load associated with the HE mode. The load control module selectively decreases engine loads applied by vehicle accessories, respectively, based on the period.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Major, William R. Hill, Todd M. Tumas, Kenneth L. Porrett
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Patent number: 7861547Abstract: A method of operating a HVAC system in a vehicle having an engine that operates in a high efficiency mode and a less efficient mode is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: operating a refrigerant compressor to cool a passenger compartment and charge a cold thermal storage apparatus; determining if a cold charge in the storage apparatus has exceeded a threshold; enabling compressor cycling if the cold charge in the storage apparatus has exceeded the threshold; detecting if the engine is operating in the high efficiency mode; determining an amount of HVAC loads on the engine; determining a proximity of the engine operation to a switching point from the high efficiency mode to the less efficient mode; and conducting a HVAC load shed if the HVAC load reduction allows the engine to stay below the switching point and the compressor cycling is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Gregory A. Major, Harry E. Eustice, Kenneth L. Porrett, Edwin J. Stanke, Todd J. Gordon
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Publication number: 20100106362Abstract: A method of controlling a power input to a compressor clutch, via an A/C clutch voltage controller, that selectively drives an A/C compressor in a vehicle HVAC system is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: determining a first electric power level needed to cause the compressor clutch to move to a full engagement position from a compressor clutch non-engagement position; applying the first electric power level to the compressor clutch to cause the compressor clutch to move to the full engagement position; determining a second electric power level, which is lower than the first electric power level, needed to maintain the compressor clutch in the full engagement position; and applying the second electric power level to the compressor clutch to maintain the compressor clutch in the full engagement position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Major, Kenneth L. Porrett, John I. Frey, Shawn L. Boozer, Edwin J. Stanke
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Publication number: 20090293521Abstract: A method of operating a HVAC system in a vehicle having an engine that operates in a high efficiency mode and a less efficient mode is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of: operating a refrigerant compressor to cool a passenger compartment and charge a cold thermal storage apparatus; determining if a cold charge in the storage apparatus has exceeded a threshold; enabling compressor cycling if the cold charge in the storage apparatus has exceeded the threshold; detecting if the engine is operating in the high efficiency mode; determining an amount of HVAC loads on the engine; determining a proximity of the engine operation to a switching point from the high efficiency mode to the less efficient mode; and conducting a HVAC load shed if the HVAC load reduction allows the engine to stay below the switching point and the compressor cycling is enabled.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Major, Harry E. Eustice, Kenneth L. Porrett, Edwin J. Stanke, Todd J. Gordon
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Publication number: 20090266094Abstract: A system and method of operating a vehicle air conditioning system having an engine driven, fixed capacity refrigerant compressor and a compressor clutch is disclosed. The method may comprises setting a preliminary evaporator air temperature target; charging a cold storage apparatus in the vehicle air conditioning system; determining if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold; if the cold storage apparatus has reached a predetermined threshold, determining a new evaporator air temperature target by: determining a maximum allowable dewpoint evaporator air temperature for maintaining a passenger compartment humidity below a predetermined value; determining a maximum allowable mode evaporator air temperature based on a mode to which the vehicle air conditioning system is set; and setting the evaporator air temperature target to the lower of the dewpoint evaporator air temperature and the mode evaporator air temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Gregory A. Major, John I. Frey, Kenneth L. Porrett