Patents by Inventor Matthew John Shelton

Matthew John Shelton 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: 20190276024
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 10407056
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle. In one example, a method includes cranking an engine of the vehicle by controlling a capacity of a clutch of a dual clutch transmission positioned downstream of the engine and compensating for driveline disturbance resulting from the cranking via controlling an electric machine positioned downstream of the dual clutch transmission. In this way, engine starting may be conducted under a variety of vehicle operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stan L. Bower, Kenneth Miller, Jason Meyer, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton
  • Patent number: 10336333
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 10155512
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing driveline mode change busyness for a hybrid vehicle are presented. The systems and methods may delay a driveline mode change in response to a time since a change from a first desired vehicle speed to a second vehicle speed, or alternatively, driveline mode changes may be initiated in response to an estimated time to change from the first desired vehicle speed to the second desired vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, James William Loch McCallum, Felix Nedorezov, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton
  • Publication number: 20180257633
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that may include an internal combustion engine, a rear drive unit electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, torque capacity of an on-coming clutch is adjusted during an inertia phase of a power-on upshift to improve shift smoothness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton, Christopher John Teslak, Kenneth James Miller
  • Publication number: 20180259058
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a driveline that includes a dual clutch transmission are described. In one example, clutches of the dual clutch transmission may be cooled via activating and adjusting a flow rate of an electric pump. Further, driveline operating modes may be entered or exited in response to clutch operating conditions so that driveline robustness may be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jeffrey Doering, Matthew John Shelton, Steven A. Frait, Walter J. Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20180257635
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, a rear drive unit electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, inertia torque compensation is provided to counter inertia torque during a power-on upshift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton, Christopher John Teslak, Kenneth James Miller
  • Publication number: 20180244261
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission, where the transmission is downstream of the engine, and where the electric machine is downstream of the transmission. In one example, while the vehicle is being propelled solely via the electric machine, one or more gears of the transmission may be pre-engaged or selected, to prepare the driveline for an engine start event. In this way, driveline torque disturbance and delays in torque requests may be reduced or avoided upon a request for an engine start event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jason Meyer, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Matthew John Shelton, Todd McCullough
  • Publication number: 20180244263
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for starting an engine in a hybrid vehicle. In one example, a method includes cranking an engine of the vehicle by controlling a capacity of a clutch of a dual clutch transmission positioned downstream of the engine and compensating for driveline disturbance resulting from the cranking via controlling an electric machine positioned downstream of the dual clutch transmission. In this way, engine starting may be conducted under a variety of vehicle operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Stan L. Bower, Kenneth Miller, Jason Meyer, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton
  • Publication number: 20180245692
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adapting a pressure to torque transfer function of a clutch of a dual clutch transmission. In one example, a method includes operating a first clutch of the dual clutch transmission at a selected capacity to change a speed of a first transmission input shaft to a desired speed, adjusting values of a torque transfer function of the first clutch based on a rate of the speed change, and maintaining driver demanded wheel torque during the adjusting via controlling torque output of an electric motor positioned in the driveline. In this way, the method may be used to adapt both positive and negative torque transfer functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Matthew John Shelton, Michael Glenn Fodor
  • Publication number: 20180229712
    Abstract: Systems and methods are shown for meeting wheel torque demand in a hybrid vehicle with an engine, a dual clutch transmission coupled to a driveline of the vehicle downstream of the engine, and an electric machine coupled to the driveline downstream of the dual clutch transmission. In one example, a method comprises transferring transmission input torque through a clutch of the dual clutch transmission controlled to a first capacity, and in response to a desired transmission input torque exceeding the capacity, increasing torque output of the electric machine coupled downstream of the dual clutch transmission to assist in meeting a wheel torque demand. In this way, a driver-requested increase in acceleration may be met under conditions where transmission input torque is limited by clutch capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew John Shelton, Jeffrey Doering, Kevin Ray Ruybal
  • Patent number: 10005462
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Hong Jiang, Kirk Pebley
  • Publication number: 20180119808
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting clutch pressures and electric machine torques as a function of a stability metric threshold(s) in order to balance performance and charging of an onboard energy storage device. In one example, a method comprises during an upshift of a transmission from a first gear to a second gear, adjusting a clutch pressure of the transmission to adjust slippage of a clutch in response to a vehicle stability control parameter exceeding a threshold. In this way, torque delivered to a transmission output shaft may be reduced, which may increase vehicle stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Jason Meyer, Matthew John Shelton, Michael Glenn Fodor, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Publication number: 20180001896
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander O`Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 9834217
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving operation of a vehicle driveline that includes an engine and an automatic transmission with a torque converter are presented. In one non-limiting example, the engine may be stopped while a vehicle in which the engine operates is rolling. A transmission coupled to the engine may be shifted as the vehicle rolls so that vehicle response may be improved if a driver requests an increase of engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Steven Anatole Frait, Matthew John Shelton, Kirk Pebley, Hong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20170305408
    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: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Bernard D. NEFCY, Daniel Scott COLVIN, Matthew John SHELTON, Mark Steven YAMAZAKI, Marvin Paul KRASKA
  • Patent number: 9731706
    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: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin, Matthew John Shelton, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 9707963
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes a manual transmission are presented. In one example, a clutch actuator that responds to a position of a manual operated clutch pedal is adjusted to operate a clutch so that the vehicle may be stopped, while the engine is running or not, without the driver applying the clutch pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Matthew John Shelton, Michael Glenn Fodor, Bradley Dean Riedle, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 9707953
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving transmission shifting of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, output torque of an electric machine is adjusted in response to a downshift of a fixed step ratio transmission during regenerative braking. The output torque of the electric machine may be adjusted in response to a phase of the transmission shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Colvin, Marvin Paul Kraska, Matthew John Shelton
  • Patent number: 9656657
    Abstract: A parallel hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a motor separated along a driveshaft by a clutch. The motor can operate (either alone or in combination with the engine) to provide positive drive torque to the wheels. The motor can also act as a generator and provide negative torque when converting mechanical energy from the driveshaft into mechanical energy to be stored in a battery. The clutch selectively couples the motor to the engine. Torque and its effects on the clutch can vary dramatically when the motor changes from providing positive and negative torque, and vice versa, while the engine is running. At least one controller in the vehicle is programmed to, while the engine is running, initiate an increase in pressure at the clutch in response to an anticipated change in torque provided by the motor from positive to negative or from negative to positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Xiaoyong Wang, Matthew John Shelton