Patents by Inventor Mark Steven Yamazaki

Mark Steven Yamazaki 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).

  • Publication number: 20210086736
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an axle, an electric machine, a first wheel, a second wheel, a first friction brake, a second friction brake, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to and during an anti-locking braking event, generate first and second signals indicative of a braking torque demand at the first and second wheels, respectively, based on a difference between a desired wheel slip ratio and an actual wheel slip ratio of the first and second wheels, respectively, adjust a regenerative braking torque of the electric machine based on a product of the first signal and a regenerative braking weighting coefficient, adjust a first friction braking torque based on a product of the first signal and a friction braking weighting coefficient, and adjust a second friction braking torque based on the second signal and dynamics of the first and second output shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10948034
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a driveline disconnect clutch for a hybrid vehicle shifting are presented. In one example, pressure of a working fluid supplied to the driveline disconnect clutch is adjusted in response to a rate of change in accelerator pedal position. Further, pressure of the working fluid may be decreased responsive to selected operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Francis Thomas Connolly, Xiaoyong Wang, Hong Jiang, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20200391597
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller, responsive to a command to enter a highway, confirmation the traction battery can output power to accelerate the vehicle to enter the highway via an entrance at a same speed as traffic on the highway in a vicinity of the entrance, and an increase in temperature beyond a threshold of the traction battery predicted to occur on the highway due to expected commands to maintain the same speed on the highway with power from the traction battery, increases cooling of the traction battery prior to entering the highway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Yanan ZHAO, Xiaohong Nina DUAN, Mark Steven YAMAZAKI, William David TREHARNE
  • Patent number: 10836372
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control system and method include a controller programmed to, while a transmission is in PARK or NEUTRAL, start an engine, close a disconnect clutch selectively coupling the engine to an electric machine, and control the electric machine to charge a traction battery in response to the accelerator pedal position exceeding an idle position and being less than a threshold. The controller controls transmission impeller speed in response to accelerator pedal position exceeding the threshold to allow revving the engine in response to accelerator pedal. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes starting an engine, closing a clutch between the engine and an electric machine, and controlling the engine and the electric machine to either: i) charge a traction battery or ii) rev the engine based on accelerator pedal position relative to a threshold above an idle position while the transmission is in PARK or NEUTRAL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Mathew Alan Boesch, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 10829114
    Abstract: A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to track a target in lidar point cloud data by minimizing an error function based on a smoothed target position, a smoothed target velocity, a smoothed target acceleration and a measured target position. The processor can be further programmed to operate a vehicle based on tracking the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Yucong Lin
  • Patent number: 10821966
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a motor, and a controller. The engine and motor are each configured to deliver torque to a torque converter impeller. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a demanded impeller torque exceeding an upper motor torque threshold while the motor alone is delivering torque to the impeller, increase motor torque to a value that is less than the threshold and that depends on a torque converter bypass clutch torque capacity and a torque converter turbine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10821963
    Abstract: A control strategy is provided for a hybrid vehicle that will increase drivability during low or decreasing driver demands. Coordination between shifting the transmission and stopping or (non-demand) starting of the engine can increase drivability. The vehicle includes a motor/generator with one side selectively coupled to the engine and another side selectively coupled to the transmission. The control strategy acts when an engine start or stop is requested while driver demand is decreasing and a shift of the transmission is demanded. To inhibit these events from proceeding simultaneously, the control strategy delays the engine from starting or stopping until the transmission has finished shifting, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin, Matthew John Shelton, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 10774919
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a transmission system including a differential and an electrically powered heating device configured to selectively warm a differential fluid of the differential. The electrically powered heating device is selectively powered to warm the differential fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Scott James Thompson, David Crist Gabriel, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Christopher Alan Lear
  • Patent number: 10759303
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes an electric powertrain having an electric machine and a traction battery. A vehicle controller is programmed to command power to the electric machine to propel the vehicle along a segment of a route according to a predetermined speed profile that is derived from a predicted heat generation of the battery for the segment such that actual temperatures of the battery remain below a temperature threshold for the segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina Duan, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10752288
    Abstract: A vehicle includes motors each configured to drive a front wheel of the vehicle, an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) between rear wheels of the vehicle, and a controller to, responsive to vehicle turning and a power of each of the motors being less than a maximum value, alter operation of the motors to increase a difference between the powers. Otherwise, the controller operates the eLSD to bias torque toward one of the rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Girish Gokul Chennupalli, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10737700
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a step-ratio automatic transmission having clutches engageable to provide forward and reverse gears, an electric machine selectively coupled to the transmission, a main pump powered by the electric machine and supplying oil to actuate selected transmission clutches, a gear selector configured for selecting a transmission gear, and a controller configured to stop the electric machine when the gear selector selects park or neutral, to operate the electric machine in a speed control mode using a higher controller gain in response to the gear selector selecting forward or reverse while the electric machine is stopped until the electric machine and the main pump reach a first speed threshold to reduce engagement delay of at least one of the transmission clutches, and to operate the electric machine using a lower controller gain when the electric machine and the main pump exceed the first speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Wang, Rajit Johri, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Ming Lang Kuang, Wei Liang
  • Publication number: 20200247401
    Abstract: A system, comprising a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to track a target in lidar point cloud data by minimizing an error function based on a smoothed target position, a smoothed target velocity, a smoothed target acceleration and a measured target position. The processor can be further programmed to operate a vehicle based on tracking the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yixin Yao, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Yucong Lin
  • Patent number: 10703215
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a vehicle powertrain includes an engine and an electric machine mechanically coupled by a clutch. The powertrain also includes a torque converter configured to fluidly couple the electric machine to an output shaft. A controller is programmed to command a rotational speed output of the electric machine to the torque converter based on a predicted torque delivered across the clutch. The controller is further programmed to modify the command based on a difference between the commanded rotational speed output and an actual rotational speed output of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Ming Lang Kuang, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Publication number: 20200164874
    Abstract: A traffic controller includes a controller configured to reject a request and issue a speed requirement based on a priority to cause a speed of a one of a plurality of vehicles to be within a speed band before entering a road. The rejection is responsive to receiving the speed request from the one approaching the road having priority less than a predetermined threshold and outside of a speed band and a predetermined acceleration band of vehicles on the road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Yanan ZHAO, Ming CHENG, Girish Gokul CHENNUPALLI, Alex SZCZEPANIAK, Mark Steven YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10632986
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle has a powertrain including an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission coupled to controller(s) that control torque disturbances arising from changing output torques of the engine, electric machine, and transmission. A torque disturbance threshold is adjusted for driver comfort, and is used to respond to torque demand signals from the vehicle systems, including a battery charging subsystem, and a driver. The controller(s) respond to battery charge and driver demand torque signals, among others, and adjust engine and electric machine torque at a controlled rate and magnitude, using charge-torque-slew-rate, charge-torque, and other limits. Battery charging is similarly managed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Chen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200079353
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine restart operations occurring during a transmission shift in a hybrid vehicle. Engine speed is controller during cranking and run-up to approach a transmission input shaft speed that is based on the future gear of the transmission shift. Engine speed is controlled via adjustments to spark, throttle, and/or fuel, to expedite engine speed reaching the synchronous speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Wei Liang, Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Scott Thompson, David Oshinsky, Dennis Reed, Adam Banker
  • Publication number: 20200062126
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes an electric powertrain having an electric machine and a traction battery. A vehicle controller is programmed to command power to the electric machine to propel the vehicle along a segment of a route according to a predetermined speed profile that is derived from a predicted heat generation of the battery for the segment such that actual temperatures of the battery remain below a temperature threshold for the segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaohong Nina DUAN, Yanan ZHAO, Mark Steven YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 10556497
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a current vehicle speed exceeding a first threshold, reduce a parameter indicative of state of charge (SOC) of the battery by an offset amount that varies with an amount of predicted distance for which a predicted vehicle speed profile is less than a second threshold to prompt charging of the battery to increased SOC values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Yanan Zhao, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Ming Lang Kuang, Mark Davison
  • Patent number: 10549745
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain including an engine and an electric machine, and controllers configured to derate powertrain output torque below a nominal maximum to a fault-torque limit, in response to a vehicle fault or issue. The vehicle and controllers are also configured to transiently increase powertrain torque output above the fault-torque limit in response to a torque demand that exceeds the limit, and which is needed to enable a predicted vehicle maneuver. The controller also establishes a predicted duration for the predicted interim vehicle maneuver and for override of the fault-torque limit and delivery of the additional torque from the torque-demand signal and other signals. The predicted duration includes a time span to maneuver through roadway obstacles and traffic, but does not exceed a limited operation time or a limited power output established by the controller from the vehicle issue or fault identified by the fault signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chen Zhang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Mark Davison
  • Patent number: 10543832
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving engine restart operations occurring during a transmission shift in a hybrid vehicle. Engine speed is controller during cranking and run-up to approach a transmission input shaft speed that is based on the future gear of the transmission shift. Engine speed is controlled via adjustments to spark, throttle, and/or fuel, to expedite engine speed reaching the synchronous speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Wei Liang, Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Scott Thompson, David Oshinsky, Dennis Reed, Adam Banker