Patents by Inventor Nicholas J. Kalweit

Nicholas J. Kalweit 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: 11299142
    Abstract: Presented are hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains and control logic for vehicle response management, methods for making/operating HEV powertrains, and motor vehicles equipped with HEV powertrains. A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain includes receiving data indicative of a motor speed of a traction motor and torque commands for the motor, an engine, and an engine disconnect clutch (EDC). A vehicle controller uses a state observer module to estimate a jerk response based on the motor speed, and determines if the EDC is in a torque-transmitting active state. Responsive to the EDC being in the active state, the controller calculates an incremental feedback control signal that is predicted to reduce the estimated jerk based on the engine, motor, and clutch torque commands. One or more torque command signals are transmitted to the engine, motor and/or EDC to modulate a torque output thereof based on the incremental feedback control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anab A. Akanda, Nicholas J. Kalweit
  • Publication number: 20210053553
    Abstract: Presented are hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains and control logic for vehicle response management, methods for making/operating HEV powertrains, and motor vehicles equipped with HEV powertrains. A method of controlling a hybrid powertrain includes receiving data indicative of a motor speed of a traction motor and torque commands for the motor, an engine, and an engine disconnect clutch (EDC). A vehicle controller uses a state observer module to estimate a jerk response based on the motor speed, and determines if the EDC is in a torque-transmitting active state. Responsive to the EDC being in the active state, the controller calculates an incremental feedback control signal that is predicted to reduce the estimated jerk based on the engine, motor, and clutch torque commands. One or more torque command signals are transmitted to the engine, motor and/or EDC to modulate a torque output thereof based on the incremental feedback control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Anab A. Akanda, Nicholas J. Kalweit
  • Patent number: 10865708
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a cylinder control module configured to: determine a target sequence for at least activating and deactivating cylinders of an engine based on a torque request; and activate and deactivate the cylinders of the engine according to the target sequence. A values module is configured to determine, based on the target sequence, a plurality of coefficients and an offset value. An indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) determination module is configured to determine an IMEP of a first cylinder based on: the plurality of coefficients; the offset value; and a plurality of engine speeds at a predetermined crankshaft positions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Colby T. Stanley, Xiangkun Kong, David S. Mathews, Nicholas J. Kalweit
  • Publication number: 20200248618
    Abstract: An engine control system of a vehicle includes a cylinder control module configured to: determine a target sequence for at least activating and deactivating cylinders of an engine based on a torque request; and activate and deactivate the cylinders of the engine according to the target sequence. A values module is configured to determine, based on the target sequence, a plurality of coefficients and an offset value. An indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) determination module is configured to determine an IMEP of a first cylinder based on: the plurality of coefficients; the offset value; and a plurality of engine speeds at a predetermined crankshaft positions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Colby T. Stanley, Xiangkun Kong, David S. Mathews, Nicholas J. Kalweit
  • Patent number: 10731582
    Abstract: A method, system, and engine are configured to determine a parameter based on rotational speeds of a crankshaft, over at least three cylinder combustion cycles. The method, system, and engine determine two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a leading cylinder combustion cycle, two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a middle cylinder combustion cycle, and two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a following cylinder combustion cycle. The method, system, and engine are configured to determine a calculated metric based on each of the determined leading estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, the determined middle estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, and the determined following estimated crankshaft rotational speeds. An engine parameter, such as misfire, is then determined based on the calculated metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J Kalweit, Julian R Verdejo, David S Mathews
  • Patent number: 10099569
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing a plug-in vehicle fleet having a plurality of battery packs across the vehicle fleet. Each vehicle includes a battery pack. The system includes sensors for measuring battery performance data and includes an open-circuit voltage, charging current, and/or temperature of the battery pack, a GPS receiver, a user interface, and a controller. The controller executes a method to monitor degradation of each battery pack using a variety of current and historical data points. The controller then controls a charging operation of each battery pack in a fleet via a charging control signal sent to a particular vehicle in the fleet. The controller also then determines the new location for each particular vehicle in a fleet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Todd P. Lindemann, Danielle A. Cory, Rachel A. White, Vukasin Denic, Nicholas J. Kalweit, Eric F. Gorski
  • Publication number: 20180135544
    Abstract: A method, system, and engine are configured to determine a parameter based on rotational speeds of a crankshaft, over at least three cylinder combustion cycles. The method, system, and engine determine two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a leading cylinder combustion cycle, two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a middle cylinder combustion cycle, and two or more estimated crankshaft rotational speeds at two or more positions in a following cylinder combustion cycle. The method, system, and engine are configured to determine a calculated metric based on each of the determined leading estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, the determined middle estimated crankshaft rotational speeds, and the determined following estimated crankshaft rotational speeds. An engine parameter, such as misfire, is then determined based on the calculated metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Kalweit, Julian R. Verdejo, David S. Mathews
  • Publication number: 20180086223
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing a plug-in vehicle fleet having a plurality of battery packs across the vehicle fleet. Each vehicle includes a battery pack. The system includes sensors for measuring battery performance data and includes an open-circuit voltage, charging current, and/or temperature of the battery pack, a GPS receiver, a user interface, and a controller. The controller executes a method to monitor degradation of each battery pack using a variety of current and historical data points. The controller then controls a charging operation of each battery pack in a fleet via a charging control signal sent to a particular vehicle in the fleet. The controller also then determines the new location for each particular vehicle in a fleet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Todd P. Lindemann, Danielle A. Cory, Rachel A. White, Vukasin Denic, Nicholas J. Kalweit, Eric F. Gorski