Patents by Inventor O. Kent Thiel

O. Kent Thiel 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: 5999864
    Abstract: A method of power management for a hybrid powertrain system includes the step of determining a storage power from a power flow into or out of an energy storage apparatus. The method also includes the step of determining an actual level of energy stored in the energy storage apparatus, determining a desired level of energy stored in the energy storage apparatus, and determining an energy storage level error from a difference between the desired level of energy stored and the actual level of energy stored. The method further includes the step of determining an engine power change from the energy storage level error and an actual storage power flow, determining an engine power setting from the engine power change, and modifying the engine by the engine power setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: O. Kent Thiel, Arthur J. Buglione
  • Patent number: 5935042
    Abstract: A method is provided for adaptively determining a torque-related (K-factor) value for a torque converter in a vehicle and providing adaptive torque management to an automatic transmission. The torque-related K-factor value is computed for a given torque converter as a function of engine speed and difference in torque measured with the vehicle operating in idle neutral and drive. The vehicle dynamically learns the K-factor value and manages torque applied to the transmission by limiting the engine output speed as a function of the learned torque-related K-factor and vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher P. Thomas, Kathryn A. Wolfe, Bruce H. Teague, O. Kent Thiel, Howard W. Krausman