Patents by Inventor Michael William Roblin

Michael William Roblin 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: 9242629
    Abstract: Method to control a clutch device within a transmission selectively coupling an internal combustion engine to a driveline includes controlling slip of the clutch device in response to an engine autostart event. Controlling slip includes adjusting a commanded fill pressure to the clutch device to a first predetermined magnitude that exceeds a pressure threshold until the clutch device is filled, decreasing the commanded fill pressure from the first predetermined magnitude to a second predetermined magnitude below the pressure threshold, and adjusting the commanded fill pressure in accordance with a first ramping profile and in accordance with a subsequent second ramping profile when a transmission input speed achieves a desired first transmission input speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael William Roblin, Kristopher J. Kokko, Tony T. Hoang, Brian L Spohn, Min K. Kim
  • Publication number: 20150285202
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is configured to execute autostop and autostart routines. The engine is controlled during execution of the autostop routine to decrease quantity of combustibles in cylinder charges and increase dilution of the cylinder charges with the engine operating in a fuel cutoff mode and to achieve a stopped engine position that minimizes likelihood of auto-ignition during a subsequent autostart event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian L. Spohn, Michael William Roblin, Paul S. Lombardo
  • Patent number: 8942899
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine rotatably coupled via an input member to a transmission. The transmission has a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic fluid pump directly mechanically coupled to the input member. A computer-implemented method for operating the powertrain system includes, in response to a command to execute an engine autostop maneuver, determining an engine speed ramping profile to achieve a desired stopped engine position. Hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit is controlled in response to the engine speed ramping profile and engine speed during said engine autostop maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian L. Spohn, Michael William Roblin
  • Publication number: 20140315683
    Abstract: Method to control a clutch device within a transmission selectively coupling an internal combustion engine to a driveline includes controlling slip of the clutch device in response to an engine autostart event. Controlling slip includes adjusting a commanded fill pressure to the clutch device to a first predetermined magnitude that exceeds a pressure threshold until the clutch device is filled, decreasing the commanded fill pressure from the first predetermined magnitude to a second predetermined magnitude below the pressure threshold, and adjusting the commanded fill pressure in accordance with a first ramping profile and in accordance with a subsequent second ramping profile when a transmission input speed achieves a desired first transmission input speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: MICHAEL WILLIAM ROBLIN, KRISTOPHER J. KOKKO, TONY T. HOANG, BRIAN L. SPOHN
  • Patent number: 8447449
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a belt, and a controller. The engine is configured to output torque via a crankshaft. The motor is configured to apply torque to and/or receive torque from the engine via an output shaft. The belt is operably disposed on the crankshaft of the engine and the output shaft of the motor. Rotation of the output shaft is transferred to the crankshaft via the belt. The controller is configured to identify a slip event by comparing a speed of the motor to a speed of the engine. The controller is further configured to count the number of slip events and diagnose a belt failure if the number of slip events exceeds a predetermined number of slip events over a predetermined number of drive cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael Prucka, Stanley D. Sullivan, Andrew M. Zettel, John G. Noetzel, Michael William Roblin
  • Publication number: 20120158226
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a belt, and a controller. The engine is configured to output torque via a crankshaft. The motor is configured to apply torque to and/or receive torque from the engine via an output shaft. The belt is operably disposed on the crankshaft of the engine and the output shaft of the motor. Rotation of the output shaft is transferred to the crankshaft via the belt. The controller is configured to identify a slip event by comparing a speed of the motor to a speed of the engine. The controller is further configured to count the number of slip events and diagnose a belt failure if the number of slip events exceeds a predetermined number of slip events over a predetermined number of drive cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Prucka, Stanley D. Sullivan, Andrew M. Zettel, John G. Noetzel, Michael William Roblin