Patents by Inventor Scott C. Mrdeza

Scott C. Mrdeza 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: 10274040
    Abstract: An active damping system for a driveline includes a prop shaft configured to transmit engine power from an engine to a load, a sealed damper housing, and an active damping fluid contained within the sealed damper housing. A viscosity of the active damping fluid is changeable based on a torsional vibration of the prop shaft. The active damping system further includes a piston fixed to a side of the prop shaft and in communication with the active damping fluid. The piston is configured to rotate about an axis of the prop shaft. The system further includes a viscosity changing unit in communication with the active damping fluid, and a controller operatively connected to the viscosity changing unit. The controller is configured to cause the viscosity changing unit to change a viscosity of the active damping fluid. The viscosity of the active damping fluid changes the torsional vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Mao, Hai Xu, Jeffrey N. Heaton, Scott C. Mrdeza
  • Publication number: 20190111783
    Abstract: An exemplary method to disengage a brake transmission shift interlock feature of a vehicle includes the steps of receiving vehicle characteristic data from at least one vehicle sensor, determining a current road grade, determining a vehicle brake pressure target, receiving vehicle brake pressure data from at least one vehicle sensor, and generating a control signal to disengage the brake transmission shift interlock feature if the vehicle brake pressure reaches the vehicle brake pressure target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Dennis M. Reich, Scott C. Mrdeza
  • Patent number: 10259320
    Abstract: An exemplary method to disengage a brake transmission shift interlock feature of a vehicle includes the steps of receiving vehicle characteristic data from at least one vehicle sensor, determining a current road grade, determining a vehicle brake pressure target, receiving vehicle brake pressure data from at least one vehicle sensor, and generating a control signal to disengage the brake transmission shift interlock feature if the vehicle brake pressure reaches the vehicle brake pressure target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dennis M. Reich, Scott C. Mrdeza
  • Publication number: 20190011013
    Abstract: A system includes a vibration damper coupled for rotation with a rotating body. The vibration damper includes one or more fluid pockets. A reactive fluid is arranged in the one or more fluid pockets. The reactive fluid is configured to undergo a property change upon being exposed to a selected force. A force producing mechanism is fixedly mounted relative to the vibration damper, the force producing mechanism being operable to selectively produce the selected force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Scott C. Mrdeza, Xiaofeng Mao, Hai Xu, Jeffrey N. Heaton
  • Patent number: 10137874
    Abstract: A brake pedal emulator for a brake-by-wire system of a vehicle extends and connects between a support structure and a brake pedal operatively engaged to the support structure. The brake pedal emulator includes a hydraulic cylinder having a magneto-rheological hydraulic fluid and an electrical element configured to carry an electrical current for controlling a viscosity of the magneto-rheological hydraulic fluid and thereby controlling a first force exerted by the hydraulic cylinder when actuated by the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Scott C. Mrdeza, Michael C. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20180291979
    Abstract: An active damping system for a driveline includes a prop shaft configured to transmit engine power from an engine to a load, a sealed damper housing, and an active damping fluid contained within the sealed damper housing. A viscosity of the active damping fluid is changeable based on a torsional vibration of the prop shaft. The active damping system further includes a piston fixed to a side of the prop shaft and in communication with the active damping fluid. The piston is configured to rotate about an axis of the prop shaft. The system further includes a viscosity changing unit in communication with the active damping fluid, and a controller operatively connected to the viscosity changing unit. The controller is configured to cause the viscosity changing unit to change a viscosity of the active damping fluid. The viscosity of the active damping fluid changes the torsional vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Mao, Hai Xu, Jeffrey N. Heaton, Scott C. Mrdeza
  • Patent number: 10029669
    Abstract: A powertrain includes a propulsion system having first and second torque sources, and first and second drive axles respectively connected to and independently driven by the first and second torque sources. A permissible range of torque contribution from the torque sources to the respective first and second drive axles is defined by a component torque window. The powertrain includes sensors for detecting a dynamic driving maneuver of a vehicle having the powertrain. A controller executes a method to adjust a size and/or orientation of a chassis torque window during the detected dynamic driving maneuver, determine an optimally efficient axle torque operating point that falls on a torque line within the component torque window in proximity to the chassis torque window, and command the torque contribution via transmission of torque control signals to the first and second torque sources to achieve the optimally efficient axle torque operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Mao, Thomas A. Klingler, Eric E. Krueger, William R. Cawthorne, R. Travis Schwenke, Scott C. Mrdeza
  • Publication number: 20180037202
    Abstract: A brake pedal emulator for a brake-by-wire system of a vehicle extends and connects between a support structure and a brake pedal operatively engaged to the support structure. The brake pedal emulator includes a hydraulic cylinder having a magneto-rheological hydraulic fluid and an electrical element configured to carry an electrical current for controlling a viscosity of the magneto-rheological hydraulic fluid and thereby controlling a first force exerted by the hydraulic cylinder when actuated by the brake pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Scott C. Mrdeza, Michael C. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20170137012
    Abstract: A powertrain includes a propulsion system having first and second torque sources, and first and second drive axles respectively connected to and independently driven by the first and second torque sources. A permissible range of torque contribution from the torque sources to the respective first and second drive axles is defined by a component torque window. The powertrain includes sensors for detecting a dynamic driving maneuver of a vehicle having the powertrain. A controller executes a method to adjust a size and/or orientation of a chassis torque window during the detected dynamic driving maneuver, determine an optimally efficient axle torque operating point that falls on a torque line within the component torque window in proximity to the chassis torque window, and command the torque contribution via transmission of torque control signals to the first and second torque sources to achieve the optimally efficient axle torque operating point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Mao, Thomas A. Klingler, Eric E. Krueger, William R. Cawthorne, R. Travis Schwenke, Scott C. Mrdeza