Patents by Inventor Matthew Joseph Meinhart

Matthew Joseph Meinhart 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: 10189468
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain includes an electric machine coupled between an automatic gearbox and an engine. The vehicle includes paddle shifters configured to output a driver requested gear change. The hybrid powertrain is configured to selectively operate in an economy mode that optimizes fuel economy. While operating in the economy mode, a controller may selectively inhibit the driver requested gear change when the change may negatively impact fuel economy. In the economy mode, the driver requested gear change may be inhibited during a demand for braking. If the driver requested gear change is a downshift request, the downshift is inhibited and simulated using electric machine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Ming Lang Kuang, Brian Thomas Soo, Stuart N. Ford, Mark Davison, Matthew Joseph Meinhart
  • Patent number: 10011277
    Abstract: A path of a target object is predicted. A path of a non-moving host vehicle is predicted based on at least one of a predetermined host vehicle acceleration and a predetermined host vehicle speed. A threat number for the target is determined based at least in part on the predicted path of the host vehicle, the threat number indicating a probability of a collision between the target and the host vehicle. A brake is actuated when the threat number is above a threat number threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Alex Maurice Miller, Roger Arnold Trombley, Gang Song, Ahsan Qamar, Fangjun Jiang
  • Publication number: 20170349168
    Abstract: A path of a target object is predicted. A path of a non-moving host vehicle is predicted based on at least one of a predetermined host vehicle acceleration and a predetermined host vehicle speed. A threat number for the target is determined based at least in part on the predicted path of the host vehicle, the threat number indicating a probability of a collision between the target and the host vehicle. A brake is actuated when the threat number is above a threat number threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Alex Maurice Miller, Roger Arnold Trombley, Gang Song, Ahsan Qamar, Fangjun Jiang
  • Publication number: 20170247027
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain includes an electric machine coupled between an automatic gearbox and an engine. The vehicle includes paddle shifters configured to output a driver requested gear change. The hybrid powertrain is configured to selectively operate in an economy mode that optimizes fuel economy. While operating in the economy mode, a controller may selectively inhibit the driver requested gear change when the change may negatively impact fuel economy. In the economy mode, the driver requested gear change may be inhibited during a demand for braking. If the driver requested gear change is a downshift request, the downshift is inhibited and simulated using electric machine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Bernard D. NEFCY, Ming Lang KUANG, Brian Thomas SOO, Stuart N. FORD, Mark DAVISON, Matthew Joseph MEINHART
  • Patent number: 8942942
    Abstract: A controller for a generator set is disclosed. The controller may have a memory module having stored therein calibration factors associated with an offset error, a scale error, and a time delay error, and a processor module in communication with the memory module. The processor module may be configured to monitor at least one parameter of electric power directed from the generator set to a load, detect connection of the generator set to the load, and determine adjustments to the calibration factors after connection of the generator set to the load based on a comparison of the at least one parameter monitored by the processor module and measured at the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Ronald Folken, Michael Allen Dvorsky, Matthew Joseph Meinhart
  • Patent number: 8841787
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of gensets during a failsafe condition is provided. The method may include operating one or more of the gensets according to a modified isochronous control scheme, and operating a remainder of the gensets according an adaptive droop control scheme. The modified isochronous control scheme may include varying the frequency of each isochronous genset with respect to load for lower-range loads and upper-range loads, and maintaining the frequency of each isochronous genset at nominal frequencies for mid-range loads. The adaptive droop control scheme may include adjusting the frequency of each droop genset to match the frequency of the isochronous gensets, and varying the load of each droop genset with respect to frequency for lower-range loads and upper-range loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Folken, Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Andrew William Black
  • Publication number: 20140265354
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of gensets during a failsafe condition is provided. The method may include operating one or more of the gensets according to a modified isochronous control scheme, and operating a remainder of the gensets according an adaptive droop control scheme. The modified isochronous control scheme may include varying the frequency of each isochronous genset with respect to load for lower-range loads and upper-range loads, and maintaining the frequency of each isochronous genset at nominal frequencies for mid-range loads. The adaptive droop control scheme may include adjusting the frequency of each droop genset to match the frequency of the isochronous gensets, and varying the load of each droop genset with respect to frequency for lower-range loads and upper-range loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Keith Folken, Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Andrew William Black
  • Patent number: 8519565
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have at least one load discrete signal cable, a ramping discrete signal cable, a switching device, and a control module associated with a first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may be configured to detect a signal on the at least one load discrete signal cable generated by a second of the plurality of generator sets indicative of a load on the second of the plurality of generator sets, and to activate the switching device to implement an operational status change of the first of the plurality of generator sets based on the detection. The control module may also be configured to generate a signal on the ramping discrete signal cable to inhibit others of the plurality of generator sets from changing operational status during the operational status change of the first of the plurality of generator sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner, Matthew Joseph Meinhart, Keith Ronald Folken, Joydip Chakravarty, Douglas William Fisher
  • Patent number: 8478550
    Abstract: A calibration system for a generator set controller is disclosed. The calibration system may have a source of electric power, a controller in communication with the source and configured to monitor a parameter of the electric power and produce at least one output corresponding to the monitored parameter, and a power meter configured to measure the parameter of the electric power. The calibration system may also have a processor in communication with the source of electric power, the controller, and the power meter. The processor may be configured to direct electric power having a first test voltage from the source to the controller, and directly relate a value of the at least one output corresponding to the first test voltage and a value of the measured parameter to an offset error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Ronald Folken, Michael Allen Dvorsky, Matthew Joseph Meinhart
  • Publication number: 20120310580
    Abstract: A controller for a generator set is disclosed. The controller may have a memory module having stored therein calibration factors associated with an offset error, a scale error, and a time delay error, and a processor module in communication with the memory module. The processor module may be configured to monitor at least one parameter of electric power directed from the generator set to a load, detect connection of the generator set to the load, and determine adjustments to the calibration factors after connection of the generator set to the load based on a comparison of the at least one parameter monitored by the processor module and measured at the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Keith Ronald Folken, Michael Allen Dvorsky, Matthew Joseph Meinhart
  • Publication number: 20120019000
    Abstract: A calibration system for a generator set controller is disclosed. The calibration system may have a source of electric power, a controller in communication with the source and configured to monitor a parameter of the electric power and produce at least one output corresponding to the monitored parameter, and a power meter configured to measure the parameter of the electric power. The calibration system may also have a processor in communication with the source of electric power, the controller, and the power meter. The processor may be configured to direct electric power having a first test voltage from the source to the controller, and directly relate a value of the at least one output corresponding to the first test voltage and a value of the measured parameter to an offset error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Keith Ronald FOLKEN, Michael Allen Dvorsky, Matthew Joseph Meinhart