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: 9566985
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Bon Ho Bae, Leah Dunbar, Kevin P. Houle, William R. Cawthorne, Andrew M. Zettel, Hanne Buur, Steven E. Schulz
  • Patent number: 9020713
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P. Houle, Paul A. Adam, Kathryn E. Mulligan
  • Patent number: 9008891
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P Houle, Andrew M. Zettel, Kathryn E Mulligan, Paul A Adam
  • Patent number: 8810418
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P Houle, Jean Marie Miller, Valerie Zelko Byrd, Kathryn E Mulligan
  • Publication number: 20140145850
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P. Houle, Jean Marie Miller, Valerie Zelko Byrd, Kathryn E. Mulligan
  • Patent number: 8706346
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Brian A. Welchko, Kevin P. Houle, Darren Crewes
  • Publication number: 20140095017
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kevin P. Houle, Andrew M. Zettel, Kathryn E. Mulligan, Paul A. Adam
  • Publication number: 20120203405
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Bon Ho Bae, Leah Dunbar, Kevin P. Houle, William R. Cawthorne, Andrew M. Zettel, Hanne Buur, Steven E. Schulz
  • Publication number: 20120109431
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Brian A. Welchko, Kevin P. Houle, Darren Crewes