Patents by Inventor Ronald W. Van Diepen

Ronald W. Van Diepen 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: 10774930
    Abstract: A method and system for selecting a speed ratio for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) of a vehicle during braking. The method and system includes determining a Current Actual Speed Ratio of the CVT when the distance of a brake pedal travel exceeds a predetermined distance, determining, by a transmission control module (TCM), an amount of Available Speed Ratio Change (?r), a Current Ratio Change Capability (Current-{dot over (r)}), and a Predictive Ratio Change Capability (Predictive-{dot over (r)}). The method further includes the TCM calculating a Time to Reach the Minimum Under-drive Ratio (tUD), calculating a Predicted Velocity of the Vehicle (vPr) using (tUD), determining a Desired Speed Ratio of the CVT using the Predicted Velocity of the Vehicle (vPr), and actuating the CVT to the Desired Speed Ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xuefeng T. Tao, Steven P. Moorman, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Jeffrey M. DeSimone, Madhura N. Paranjape
  • Publication number: 20190128414
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission for a vehicle propulsion system includes a controller including an instruction set, the instruction set executable to determine whether a current inertia torque value is greater than a previous inertia torque value, execute control over one of a first clamp pressure and a second clamp pressure such that one of the first clamp pressure and the second clamp pressure corresponds to a current inertia torque value if the current inertia torque value is greater than a previous inertia torque value, and execute control over one of the first clamp pressure and the second clamp pressure such that said one of the first clamp pressure and the second clamp pressure corresponds to previous inertia torque value if the current inertia torque value is not greater than a previous inertia torque value for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Virinchi Mallela, Douglas A. Ward, Paul G. Otanez, Bret M. Olson, Ronald W. Van Diepen
  • Patent number: 9416869
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and controller. The controller executes a method to control a requested change-of-mind shift of the DCT to a second desired gear state. The requested shift is initiated after a prior-requested but not yet fully-executed shift of the DCT to a first desired gear state. The controller detects the requested shift, identifies the second desired gear state, and aborts the prior-requested shift immediately upon identifying the second desired gear state. The controller also shifts the DCT to the second desired gear state using a calibrated shift profile corresponding to the detected shift. The calibrated shift profile describes required oncoming and offgoing clutch torques needed for achieving the second desired gear state. Engine speed control may be used to synchronize engine and input shaft speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Harinath Atmaram, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Matthew D. Whitton, Mateusz Nowak
  • Publication number: 20160069453
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and a controller. The controller executes instructions embodying a method to control a requested change-of-mind shift of the DCT to a second desired gear state. The requested change-of-mind shift is initiated after a prior-requested but not yet fully-executed shift of the DCT to a first desired gear state. Execution of the instructions causes the controller to detect the requested change-of-mind shift, identify the second desired gear state, and abort the prior-requested shift to the first desired gear state immediately upon identifying the second desired gear state. The controller also shifts the DCT to the second desired gear state using a calibrated shift profile corresponding to the detected change-of-mind shift. The calibrated shift profile describes required oncoming and offgoing clutch torques needed for achieving the second desired gear state. Engine speed control may be used to synchronize engine and input shaft speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Harinath Atmaram, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Matthew D. Whitton, Mateusz Nowak
  • Patent number: 8900095
    Abstract: A method of commanding a synchronous gear shift begins by receiving a request to shift from a third gear to a first gear, and skipping a second gear having a gear ratio between the gear ratio of the first gear and the gear ratio of the third gear. Subsequently the method includes: reducing a torque command to a predetermined value; opening a clutch disposed on the input shaft of the transmission to decouple the transmission from the engine; transitioning the engine from a torque-control mode into a speed-control mode; commanding the engine to rotate at a speed dictated by the motion of the vehicle and the gear ratio of the first gear; closing the clutch to couple the transmission and the engine; and transitioning the engine back into the torque-control mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Christopher Harold Knieper, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Ning Jin, Matthew D. Whitton
  • Publication number: 20130310219
    Abstract: A method of commanding a synchronous gear shift begins by receiving a request to shift from a third gear to a first gear, and skipping a second gear having a gear ratio between the gear ratio of the first gear and the gear ratio of the third gear. Subsequently the method includes: reducing a torque command to a predetermined value; opening a clutch disposed on the input shaft of the transmission to decouple the transmission from the engine; transitioning the engine from a torque-control mode into a speed-control mode; commanding the engine to rotate at a speed dictated by the motion of the vehicle and the gear ratio of the first gear; closing the clutch to couple the transmission and the engine; and transitioning the engine back into the torque-control mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Christopher Harold Knieper, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Ning Jin, Matthew D. Whitton
  • Patent number: 8540606
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a power request determination module, a desired speed determination module, and a torque control module. The power request determination module determines a power request for an engine based on a request from a driver of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle. The desired speed determination module determines a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter of the engine, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip. The torque control module determines a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request and controls torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Ronald W. Van Diepen
  • Patent number: 8255139
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a pedal torque determination module, a driver interpretation module, and an actuation module. The pedal torque determination module determines a zero pedal torque based on a desired engine torque at a zero accelerator pedal position and a minimum torque limit for an engine system. The driver interpretation module determines a driver pedal torque based on the zero pedal torque and an accelerator pedal position. The actuation module controls at least one of a throttle area, spark timing, and a fuel command based on the driver pedal torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Klaus Pochner, Todd R. Shupe, Vivek Mehta, Ning Jin, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Robert C. Simon, Jr., Etsuko Muraji Stewart, Jun Lu, Enrico Tropschug, Jorg Bernards, Helmut Oswald
  • Patent number: 8160796
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a driver axle torque request module (DATRM) and a driver axle torque security module (DATSM). The DATRM determines a pedal torque request based on minimum and maximum scaling torques and a torque scalar. The DATRM determines a raw driver torque request. The DATRM selectively shapes raw driver torque request into a final driver torque request. The DATRM converts the final driver torque request into a first axle torque request. The DATSM selectively diagnoses a fault in the first axle torque request based on a minimum engine torque, the minimum scaling torque, a first comparison of the final driver torque request and the redundant final driver torque request, and a second comparison of the first axle torque request and a redundant axle torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Jinchun Peng, Mark H. Costin, Bryan D Lehman, Xuehan Kong, Jonathan Packard
  • Patent number: 8041478
    Abstract: A vehicle speed module includes a speed arbitration module that receives at least two of a wheel speed, a transmission output speed (TOS), and an electric motor speed (EMS), and that determines a vehicle speed based on a comparison of the at least two of the wheel speed, the TOS, and the EMS. A speed diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in one of a wheel speed sensor, a TOS sensor, and an EMS sensor based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Richard B. Jess, Daniel P. Grenn, Tracey A. Bagley-Reed, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Mark H. Costin, Michael A. Turley, Sandra J. Nelson, Bryan D. Lehman
  • Publication number: 20110118955
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle includes a power request determination module, a desired speed determination module, and a torque control module. The power request determination module determines a power request for an engine based on a request from a driver of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle. The desired speed determination module determines a desired speed of the engine based on a speed of a turbine in a torque converter of the engine, a state of a clutch in the torque converter, and one of the power request, a first amount of clutch slip, and a second amount of clutch slip. The torque control module determines a desired engine torque based on the desired engine speed and the power request and controls torque output of the engine based on the desired engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Ronald W. Van Diepen
  • Publication number: 20100217472
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a driver axle torque request module (DATRM) and a driver axle torque security module (DATSM). The DATRM determines a pedal torque request based on minimum and maximum scaling torques and a torque scalar. The DATRM determines a raw driver torque request. The DATRM selectively shapes raw driver torque request into a final driver torque request. The DATRM converts the final driver torque request into a first axle torque request. The DATSM selectively diagnoses a fault in the first axle torque request based on a minimum engine torque, the minimum scaling torque, a first comparison of the final driver torque request and the redundant final driver torque request, and a second comparison of the first axle torque request and a redundant axle torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Jinchun Peng, Mark H. Costin, Bryan D. Lehman, Xuehan Kong, Jonathan Packard
  • Patent number: 7689333
    Abstract: A vehicle diagnostics clearing system that detects a clear diagnostic faults flag and clears diagnostic faults from a control module includes a clear diagnostic faults flag monitoring module and a clear diagnostic faults module. The clear diagnostic faults flag monitoring module periodically monitors the clear diagnostic faults flag in the control module. When the clear diagnostic faults flag monitoring module detects that the clear diagnostic faults flag is set, the clear diagnostic faults module clears the diagnostic faults from the control module for a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Bauerle, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Joseph M. Stempnik, Kevin M. Baltes
  • Publication number: 20090276137
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises a pedal torque determination module, a driver interpretation module, and an actuation module. The pedal torque determination module determines a zero pedal torque based on a desired engine torque at a zero accelerator pedal position and a minimum torque limit for an engine system. The driver interpretation module determines a driver pedal torque based on the zero pedal torque and an accelerator pedal position. The actuation module controls at least one of a throttle area, spark timing, and a fuel command based on the driver pedal torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. WHITNEY, Klaus POCHNER, Todd R. SHUPE, Vivek MEHTA, Ning JIN, Ronald W. VAN DIEPEN, Robert C. SIMON, JR., Etsuko Muraji STEWART, Jun LU, Enrico TROPSCHUG, Jorg BERNARDS, Helmut OSWALD
  • Publication number: 20090234534
    Abstract: A vehicle speed module includes a speed arbitration module that receives at least two of a wheel speed, a transmission output speed (TOS), and an electric motor speed (EMS), and that determines a vehicle speed based on a comparison of the at least two of the wheel speed, the TOS, and the EMS. A speed diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in one of a wheel speed sensor, a TOS sensor, and an EMS sensor based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, Richard B. Jess, Daniel P. Grenn, Tracey A. Bagley-Reed, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Mark H. Costin, Michael A. Turley, Sandra J. Nelson, Bryan D. Lehman