Patents by Inventor Kevin P. Houle
Kevin P. Houle 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: 9566985Abstract: A method for monitoring an electrically-powered torque machine configured to generate torque in a hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring signal outputs of a resolver configured to monitor rotational position of the torque machine. Upon detecting a fault warning state associated with the signal outputs of the resolver, a motor torque capacity of the torque machine is derated. Upon a clearing of the fault warning state, a torque ramp-up state to increase the motor torque capacity of the torque machine is executed. Notice of an incidence of a fault associated with the signal outputs of the resolver is provided only when the motor torque capacity fails to achieve a threshold motor torque capacity within a threshold recovery time period while executing the torque ramp-up state.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Wei D. Wang, Bon Ho Bae, Leah Dunbar, Kevin P. Houle, William R. Cawthorne, Andrew M. Zettel, Hanne Buur, Steven E. Schulz
-
Patent number: 9020713Abstract: A transmission assembly in a vehicle includes a transmission configured to receive a transmission fluid. A controller operatively connected to the transmission and configured to store a first look-up table defining respective warm-up calibration factors (Fw) for a respective first set of ambient temperatures. The controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for determining a current temperature (TTF) of the transmission fluid. The vehicle is keyed off and then keyed on after a key-off time duration (te), the controller being deactivated when the vehicle is keyed off and activated when the vehicle is keyed on. The controller is configured to determine the current temperature of the transmission fluid (TTF) based at least partially on the first look-up table and a key-on temperature (TTFkey-on) of the transmission fluid.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Kevin P. Houle, Paul A. Adam, Kathryn E. Mulligan
-
Patent number: 9008891Abstract: A method of rationalizing a plurality of temperature sensors associated with a plurality of electrical systems of a vehicle includes: maintaining each of the respective electrical systems of the vehicle in a non-operational state for a predetermined period of time; receiving a temperature reading from each of the plurality of temperature sensors following the predetermined period of time; computing a master-reference temperature value from the plurality of received temperature readings; determining a difference between each of the respectively received temperature readings and the computed master-reference temperature value; comparing each determined difference to a threshold; and providing an indicator if one or more of the determined differences exceeds the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Kevin P Houle, Andrew M. Zettel, Kathryn E Mulligan, Paul A Adam
-
Patent number: 8810418Abstract: A hybrid vehicle powertrain including a hybrid transmission in power-flow communication with an electric traction motor, a fluid pump, and a flow controller electrically connected to the fluid pump. The fluid pump is configured to supply fluid at an adjustable fluid flow rate to the hybrid transmission and the electric traction motor in response to a command from the flow controller. The flow controller is electrically connected to the fluid pump and configured to controllably modulate the operating speed of the fluid pump to adjust the fluid flow rate. If the difference between an expected rate of speed change of the fluid pump and the actual rate of speed change exceeds a threshold, the flow controller may limit the total amount of electrical power supplied to the electric traction motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Kevin P Houle, Jean Marie Miller, Valerie Zelko Byrd, Kathryn E Mulligan
-
Publication number: 20140145850Abstract: A hybrid vehicle powertrain including a hybrid transmission in power-flow communication with an electric traction motor, a fluid pump, and a flow controller electrically connected to the fluid pump. The fluid pump is configured to supply fluid at an adjustable fluid flow rate to the hybrid transmission and the electric traction motor in response to a command from the flow controller. The flow controller is electrically connected to the fluid pump and configured to controllably modulate the operating speed of the fluid pump to adjust the fluid flow rate. If the difference between an expected rate of speed change of the fluid pump and the actual rate of speed change exceeds a threshold, the flow controller may limit the total amount of electrical power supplied to the electric traction motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Kevin P. Houle, Jean Marie Miller, Valerie Zelko Byrd, Kathryn E. Mulligan
-
Patent number: 8706346Abstract: A method to control a powertrain having an electric motor includes monitoring a torque command to the motor, predicting a motor torque for the motor based upon the torque command, monitoring an actual motor torque of the motor, comparing the actual motor torque to the predicted torque, and indicating a motor fault when the actual motor torque and the predicted torque differ by more than a calibratable threshold.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Wei D. Wang, Brian A. Welchko, Kevin P. Houle, Darren Crewes
-
Publication number: 20140095017Abstract: A method of rationalizing a plurality of temperature sensors associated with a plurality of electrical systems of a vehicle includes: maintaining each of the respective electrical systems of the vehicle in a non-operational state for a predetermined period of time; receiving a temperature reading from each of the plurality of temperature sensors following the predetermined period of time; computing a master-reference temperature value from the plurality of received temperature readings; determining a difference between each of the respectively received temperature readings and the computed master-reference temperature value; comparing each determined difference to a threshold; and providing an indicator if one or more of the determined differences exceeds the threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Kevin P. Houle, Andrew M. Zettel, Kathryn E. Mulligan, Paul A. Adam
-
Publication number: 20120203405Abstract: A method for monitoring an electrically-powered torque machine configured to generate torque in a hybrid powertrain system includes monitoring signal outputs of a resolver configured to monitor rotational position of the torque machine. Upon detecting a fault warning state associated with the signal outputs of the resolver, a motor torque capacity of the torque machine is derated. Upon a clearing of the fault warning state, a torque ramp-up state to increase the motor torque capacity of the torque machine is executed. Notice of an incidence of a fault associated with the signal outputs of the resolver is provided only when the motor torque capacity fails to achieve a threshold motor torque capacity within a threshold recovery time period while executing the torque ramp-up state.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2011Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Wei D. Wang, Bon Ho Bae, Leah Dunbar, Kevin P. Houle, William R. Cawthorne, Andrew M. Zettel, Hanne Buur, Steven E. Schulz
-
Publication number: 20120109431Abstract: A method to control a powertrain having an electric motor includes monitoring a torque command to the motor, predicting a motor torque for the motor based upon the torque command, monitoring an actual motor torque of the motor, comparing the actual motor torque to the predicted torque, and indicating a motor fault when the actual motor torque and the predicted torque differ by more than a calibratable threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Brian A. Welchko, Kevin P. Houle, Darren Crewes