Patents by Inventor Scott D. Biggs

Scott D. Biggs 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: 10408287
    Abstract: A clutch-to-clutch transmission monitoring system for an automobile vehicle includes a control software generating a control signal. A monitor is in communication with the control software. A pre-compute monitor is in communication with the control software. The pre-compute monitor also receives the input data and outputs an operating threshold signal to the control software. The operating threshold signal defines allowed operating bounds for at least one component in communication with the monitor. A post-compute monitor is in communication with both the control software and the pre-compute monitor. The post-compute monitor receives both the control signal and the operating threshold signal. The post-compute monitor compares the control signal to the operating threshold signal to identify if the control signal violates the allowed operating bounds defined by the pre-compute monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Biggs, Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Brian W. Hanselman, Greg J. Perantoni
  • Publication number: 20180328421
    Abstract: A clutch-to-clutch transmission monitoring system for an automobile vehicle includes a control software generating a control signal. A monitor is in communication with the control software. A pre-compute monitor is in communication with the control software. The pre-compute monitor also receives the input data and outputs an operating threshold signal to the control software. The operating threshold signal defines allowed operating bounds for at least one component in communication with the monitor. A post-compute monitor is in communication with both the control software and the pre-compute monitor. The post-compute monitor receives both the control signal and the operating threshold signal. The post-compute monitor compares the control signal to the operating threshold signal to identify if the control signal violates the allowed operating bounds defined by the pre-compute monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Scott D. Biggs, Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Brian W. Hanselman, Greg J. Perantoni
  • Patent number: 10041586
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, a transmission having an electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) system, a user interface device that generates an electric range selection (ERS) signal in response to a selected operating range, and a controller. The controller processes the ERS signal and determines the operating range and executes a remedial control action when the incorrect powerflow is detected. The remedial action may include interrupting powerflow. A control apparatus includes the user interface device and controller. A method includes determining if a powerflow fault condition is present, including comparing clutches commanded on against a calibrated list of clutches not permitted to be on, and one or both of comparing a measured speed ratio to an expected speed ratio and comparing actual switch states of mode valves to states commanded by the ETRS system. The method includes executing the remedial control action when the incorrect powerflow is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Moussa Ndiaye, Jill A. Hampton, Joel H. Gunderson, Angela G. Hundley, Scott D. Biggs
  • Patent number: 10030765
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, transmission, drive axle, and controller. The controller identifies clutches involved in establishing or maintaining a requested gear state, and detects an impending fault condition of the transmission. The controller also executes a pre-remedial control action in response to the impending fault condition, and places the transmission in a hydraulic default mode when the remedial control action does not clear the fault condition after a calibrated duration. A system includes the transmission and controller. A method for providing pre-remedial control of a transmission includes identifying clutches of the transmission that are involved in establishing or maintaining a requested gear state, and detecting an impending fault condition. The method further includes executing a pre-remedial control action in response to the impending fault condition and placing the transmission in a hydraulic default mode if the remedial control action does not clear the fault condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Scott D. Biggs, Moussa Ndiaye, Patrick M. Gibson, Brian W. Hanselman
  • Patent number: 9938917
    Abstract: A propulsion system controller for a vehicle that includes a prime mover operable for generating an input torque on an input shaft, and a transmission connected to the prime mover that is configured to receive the input torque from the input shaft and produce an output torque on an output shaft. The controller is programmed to generate a torque phase ratio, rationalize the generated torque phase ratio, and submit a torque request to the prime mover that is based upon a desired output torque divided by the rationalized torque phase ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F Lochocki, Jr., Scott D Biggs, Jonathan P Kish, Mark A Schang, Ryan Z Goode
  • Publication number: 20180094595
    Abstract: A propulsion system controller for a vehicle that includes a prime mover operable for generating an input torque on an input shaft, and a transmission connected to the prime mover that is configured to receive the input torque from the input shaft and produce an output torque on an output shaft. The controller is programmed to generate a torque phase ratio, rationalize the generated torque phase ratio, and submit a torque request to the prime mover that is based upon a desired output torque divided by the rationalized torque phase ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Scott D. Biggs, Jonathan P. Kish, Mark A. Schang, Ryan Z. Goode
  • Publication number: 20170276239
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, a transmission having an electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) system, a user interface device that generates an electric range selection (ERS) signal in response to a selected operating range, and a controller. The controller processes the ERS signal and determines the operating range and executes a remedial control action when the incorrect powerflow is detected. The remedial action may include interrupting powerflow. A control apparatus includes the user interface device and controller. A method includes determining if a powerflow fault condition is present, including comparing clutches commanded on against a calibrated list of clutches not permitted to be on, and one or both of comparing a measured speed ratio to an expected speed ratio and comparing actual switch states of mode valves to states commanded by the ETRS system. The method includes executing the remedial control action when the incorrect powerflow is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Moussa Ndiaye, Jill A. Hampton, Joel H. Gunderson, Angela G. Hundley, Scott D. Biggs
  • Publication number: 20170276238
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, transmission, drive axle, and controller. The controller identifies clutches involved in establishing or maintaining a requested gear state, and detects an impending fault condition of the transmission. The controller also executes a pre-remedial control action in response to the impending fault condition, and places the transmission in a hydraulic default mode when the remedial control action does not clear the fault condition after a calibrated duration. A system includes the transmission and controller. A method for providing pre-remedial control of a transmission includes identifying clutches of the transmission that are involved in establishing or maintaining a requested gear state, and detecting an impending fault condition. The method further includes executing a pre-remedial control action in response to the impending fault condition and placing the transmission in a hydraulic default mode if the remedial control action does not clear the fault condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Scott D. Biggs, Moussa Ndiaye, Patrick M. Gibson, Brian W. Hanselman
  • Patent number: 9587684
    Abstract: A method of regulating a clutch assembly that has a set of clutch plates and a clutch piston with a fluid seal in an automatic transmission that includes a hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The method includes commanding the hydraulic circuit via the controller to apply a first hydraulic force to the clutch piston to displace the clutch piston relative to the set of clutch plates in order to affect a shift between speed-ratios in the transmission. The method also includes determining a drag force of the fluid seal. The method also includes determining a velocity of the displaced clutch piston that results from the drag force of the fluid seal acting counter to the displacement of the clutch piston. The method additionally includes regulating the clutch assembly to compensate for the determined drag force of the fluid seal acting counter to the displacement of the clutch piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David C. Webert, Scott D. Biggs
  • Publication number: 20160238086
    Abstract: A method of regulating a clutch assembly that has a set of clutch plates and a clutch piston with a fluid seal in an automatic transmission that includes a hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The method includes commanding the hydraulic circuit via the controller to apply a first hydraulic force to the clutch piston to displace the clutch piston relative to the set of clutch plates in order to affect a shift between speed-ratios in the transmission. The method also includes determining a drag force of the fluid seal. The method also includes determining a velocity of the displaced clutch piston that results from the drag force of the fluid seal acting counter to the displacement of the clutch piston. The method additionally includes regulating the clutch assembly to compensate for the determined drag force of the fluid seal acting counter to the displacement of the clutch piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: David C. Webert, Scott D. Biggs
  • Patent number: 9222531
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, transmission, and controller. The transmission, e.g., a DCT or 8-speed automatic transmission, includes an input member, an output member, gear sets, and a plurality of clutches. The controller monitors the transmission for a threshold tie-up condition via a method, which includes processing clutch control input signals and a gearbox status signal to identify the clutches involved in a present operating mode of the transmission, e.g., a shift, neutral, or fixed gear. The controller determines the torque capacity of each involved clutch, compares the determined clutch torque capacities to respective calibrated clutch torque capacities, and executes a control action in response to a threshold tie-up condition. The threshold tie-up condition is present when the determined clutch torque capacities exceed the calibrated clutch torque capacity for at least one of the involved clutches for longer than a calibrated duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Biggs, Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Moussa Ndiaye, Patrick Alan Lewis, Jeffrey Nicholas Trush
  • Publication number: 20150233432
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a prime mover, transmission, and controller. The transmission, e.g., a DCT or 8-speed automatic transmission, includes an input member, an output member, gear sets, and a plurality of clutches. The controller monitors the transmission for a threshold tie-up condition via a method, which includes processing clutch control input signals and a gearbox status signal to identify the clutches involved in a present operating mode of the transmission, e.g., a shift, neutral, or fixed gear. The controller determines the torque capacity of each involved clutch, compares the determined clutch torque capacities to respective calibrated clutch torque capacities, and executes a control action in response to a threshold tie-up condition. The threshold tie-up condition is present when the determined clutch torque capacities exceed the calibrated clutch torque capacity for at least one of the involved clutches for longer than a calibrated duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Biggs, Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Moussa Ndiaye, Patrick Alan Lewis, Jeffrey Nicholas Trush
  • Patent number: 9068518
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having a crankshaft which rotates at an engine speed, a transmission having a rotatable input member, a transmission control module (TC), and an engine control module (ECM) in communication with the TCM. The TCM is programmed to execute a transmission-to-engine speed monitoring and control method which includes transmitting an engine speed request to the ECM which requests a positive increase in the engine speed, and terminating the request when the request is active for more than a first calibrated timeout duration. The TCM also terminates the request when the request is active for more than a second calibrated duration that is less than the first calibrated duration, the transmission is not in neutral, and both a shift of the transmission and an acceleration of the input member are not active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, Jr., Scott D. Biggs, Shih-Ying Sheu
  • Publication number: 20150032360
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having a crankshaft which rotates at an engine speed, a transmission having a rotatable input member, a transmission control module (TC), and an engine control module (ECM) in communication with the TCM. The TCM is programmed to execute a transmission-to-engine speed monitoring and control method which includes transmitting an engine speed request to the ECM which requests a positive increase in the engine speed, and terminating the request when the request is active for more than a first calibrated timeout duration. The TCM also terminates the request when the request is active for more than a second calibrated duration that is less than the first calibrated duration, the transmission is not in neutral, and both a shift of the transmission and an acceleration of the input member are not active.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Scott D. Biggs, Shih-Ying Sheu