Patents by Inventor Kurt Howard NICKERSON
Kurt Howard NICKERSON 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: 11845438Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The transmission has gears and clutches configured to shift between the gears. The controller is programmed to operate the clutches during wide-open throttle events to upshift the gears at shift points corresponding to engine speeds. The controller is further programmed to adapt the shift points by increasing the shift points over a series of the wide-open throttle events from initial values to mature values.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Conor Edward Sullivan, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Thaddeus Hill, Cory Benson Laroche, Donald Gerald Levens
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Patent number: 11402017Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a transmission having an input shaft operably coupled to the engine, an output shaft operably coupled to wheels of the vehicle, a primary pump, and a secondary pump. The primary and secondary pumps are each configured to supply pressurized fluid to a valve body of the transmission. A controller is programmed to, in response to a loss of pressure of the primary pump and a speed of the output shaft exceeding a first threshold, shift the transmission to a neutral state, energize the secondary pump once the transmission is in the neutral state, and command the engine to idle speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Edward Katynski, Jerry Lee Aeschliman, Jr., David Gilewski, Stephen John Bettley, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Robert E. Meyer
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Patent number: 11400913Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch and a step-ratio transmission is described. In one example, the method includes shifting the step-ratio transmission to neutral and accelerating an engine to an expected input shaft speed of the step-ratio transmission via applying full output capacity of an electric machine to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Corey James Blue, Scott James Thompson, Kendrick Morrison, Scott Patrick Ries, Steve Michael Cicala, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Patent number: 11181060Abstract: A method for downshifting a vehicle having an automatic transmission is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not conditions are met for a power matching downshift. If conditions are met for a power matching downshift, output power of a powertrain propulsion torque source at an end of the power matching downshift is adjusted to an output power of the powertrain propulsion torque source at the beginning of the power matching downshift plus an offset power.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bradley Dean Riedle, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Jianping Zhang, Kendrick Morrison, David H. Schmitt, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Charles Suter
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Publication number: 20210246844Abstract: A method for downshifting a vehicle having an automatic transmission is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not conditions are met for a power matching downshift. If conditions are met for a power matching downshift, output power of a powertrain propulsion torque source at an end of the power matching downshift is adjusted to an output power of the powertrain propulsion torque source at the beginning of the power matching downshift plus an offset power.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Bradley Dean Riedle, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Jianping Zhang, Kendrick Morrison, David H. Schmitt, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Charles Suter
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Patent number: 11077856Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, an actual total number of transmission gear downshifts are counted to determine whether or not a transmission clutch characterization is immature. The transmission clutch characterization may be adjusted if it is determined to be immature.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jaewon Choi, Jianping Zhang, Steve Michael Cicala, Kendrick Morrison, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Patent number: 10995852Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of friction elements selectively engageable to establish power flow paths within the transmission. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to, during a boost phase of a shift, command a first hydraulic boost pressure for a plurality of control loop cycles to an oncoming one of the friction elements (oncoming friction element) and subsequently command a second hydraulic boost pressure less than the first hydraulic boost pressure for only a single control loop cycle that defines an end of the boost phase to the oncoming friction element.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jaewon Choi, Stephen Michael Cicala, Bradley D Riedle, Eric Frank Banners, Cory Benson Laroche, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Publication number: 20210107444Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch and a step-ratio transmission is described. In one example, the method includes shifting the step-ratio transmission to neutral and accelerating an engine to an expected input shaft speed of the step-ratio transmission via applying full output capacity of an electric machine to the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2019Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Corey James Blue, Scott James Thompson, Kendrick Morrison, Scott Patrick Ries, Steve Michael Cicala, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Patent number: 10953892Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline that includes a step ratio transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that may be operated in a step ratio mode are disclosed. In one example, engagement speeds for transmission gears are adjusted as a function of vehicle mass, road grade, and requested braking torque.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thaddeus Hill, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Jeffrey Randolph Holmes, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Publication number: 20200391758Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline that includes a step ratio transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that may be operated in a step ratio mode are disclosed. In one example, engagement speeds for transmission gears are adjusted as a function of vehicle mass, road grade, and requested braking torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2019Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Thaddeus Hill, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Jeffrey Randolph Holmes, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Publication number: 20200386279Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of friction elements selectively engageable to establish power flow paths within the transmission. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to, during a boost phase of a shift, command a first hydraulic boost pressure for a plurality of control loop cycles to an oncoming one of the friction elements (oncoming friction element) and subsequently command a second hydraulic boost pressure less than the first hydraulic boost pressure for only a single control loop cycle that defines an end of the boost phase to the oncoming friction element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Jaewon CHOI, Stephen Michael CICALA, Bradley D RIEDLE, Eric Frank BANNERS, Cory Benson LAROCHE, Kurt Howard NICKERSON
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Publication number: 20200377103Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, an actual total number of transmission gear downshifts are counted to determine whether or not a transmission clutch characterization is immature. The transmission clutch characterization may be adjusted if it is determined to be immature.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Jaewon Choi, Jianping Zhang, Steve Michael Cicala, Kendrick Morrison, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Patent number: 10829098Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Publication number: 20200017078Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that perform automatic downhill snub braking. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes an electronic powertrain controller to cause a deceleration of a vehicle in response to a first request from an electronic cruise controller, the first request responsive to a change in grade of a driving surface and an electronic brake controller to apply snub braking to the vehicle in response to a second request received from the electronic cruise controller, the second request responsive to a speed of the vehicle reaching a maximum speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Donald A. Perlick, Bang Kim Cao, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Patent number: 10131357Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission, each controlled by controllers that communicate with one another. When the vehicle is coasting in certain gears, a one-way clutch over-runs. When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal (tips in), the transmission controller adjusts a transmission torque demand limit which is communicated to the engine controller. In response, the engine controller adjusts the engine torque, resulting in a smooth re-engagement of the one-way clutch.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kurt Howard Nickerson, Bradley Dean Riedle, Kendrick Morrison, Jianping Zhang, Cory Benson LaRoche
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Publication number: 20180229728Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission, each controlled by controllers that communicate with one another. When the vehicle is coasting in certain gears, a one-way clutch over-runs. When the driver depresses the accelerator pedal (tips in), the transmission controller adjusts a transmission torque demand limit which is communicated to the engine controller. In response, the engine controller adjusts the engine torque, resulting in a smooth re-engagement of the one-way clutch.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2017Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Kurt Howard Nickerson, Bradley Dean Riedle, Kendrick Morrison, Jianping Zhang, Cory Benson LaRoche
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Patent number: 10023190Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission coupled to the engine. The transmission has a first neutral state in which a first combination of clutches are engaged and a second neutral state in which a second combination of clutches are engaged. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to the transmission being in the first neutral state and an engine-torque request exceeding a threshold value, shift the transmission to the second neutral state.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Stephen Michael Cicala, Charles William Suter, Bradley Dean Riedle, Leonidas Kiliaris, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Kurt Howard Nickerson
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Publication number: 20180118214Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes an engine and a transmission coupled to the engine. The transmission has a first neutral state in which a first combination of clutches are engaged and a second neutral state in which a second combination of clutches are engaged. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to the transmission being in the first neutral state and an engine-torque request exceeding a threshold value, shift the transmission to the second neutral state.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2016Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Alexander Phillip McDONNELL, Stephen Michael CICALA, Charles William SUTER, Bradley Dean RIEDLE, Leonidas KILIARIS, Markian Oleh DIAKIW, Kurt Howard NICKERSON
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Patent number: 9945475Abstract: A vehicle includes an accelerator pedal moveable across a plurality of predefined positions and a controller programmed to, responsive to the pedal reaching a tip-in position, command a downshift to a downshift gear from an initial gear. A difference between the initial and downshift gears exceeds a number of predefined positions crossed upon moving to the tip-in position when a rate of change of pedal position exceeds a predefined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2017Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Markian Oleh Diakiw, Leonidas Kiliaris, Philip Joseph Wiethe, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Brian Michael O'Neil, Cory Benson LaRoche
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Patent number: 9631723Abstract: When a vehicle driver selects reverse while a vehicle is moving forward, a transmission controller applies friction shift elements within the transmission to create a partial tie-up condition to decelerate the vehicle. Once the vehicle slows below a threshold speed, the controller engages a selectable one way brake and releases some of the friction shift elements to engage a reverse gear ratio.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Karl M. Jungbluth, Christopher Marcus Williams, Kurt Howard Nickerson