Patents by Inventor Shaun D. Hoffman

Shaun D. Hoffman 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: 10612473
    Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes a transmission having manually selectable gear ratios, a manually operable clutch for selectively connecting the transmission to an engine for receiving torque from the engine and transmitting that torque through the transmission for propelling the vehicle, a clutch position sensor that generates a clutch position signal and a controller that is programmed to receive the clutch position signal, determine an actual engine output torque, determine an actual clutch torque capacity value based upon the actual engine output torque and the clutch position signal, determine a difference between the actual clutch torque capacity value and a clutch torque capacity from a torque to position table corresponding to the clutch position signal, determine an adjusted clutch torque capacity based upon the determined difference, and control an operation of the engine based upon the adjusted clutch torque capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shaun D. Hoffman, Jameson M. Collins
  • Patent number: 10589746
    Abstract: A method for mitigating clunk in a driveline of a vehicle system during a declutch event includes determining a current torque request of a prime mover based on an accelerator pedal position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle system. The method includes determining a clutch pedal position and determining, via a controller, a clutch pedal speed based on a change of the clutch pedal position over time. The method further includes modifying, via the controller, the current torque request to obtain a modified torque request based on the clutch pedal position and the clutch pedal speed such that a stored potential energy in the driveline is minimized by a time that the clutch pedal of the vehicle system is disengaged during the declutch event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek W. Johnson, David T. Hanner, Shaun D. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20200062263
    Abstract: A method for mitigating clunk in a driveline of a vehicle system during a declutch event includes determining a current torque request of a prime mover based on an accelerator pedal position of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle system. The method includes determining a clutch pedal position and determining, via a controller, a clutch pedal speed based on a change of the clutch pedal position over time. The method further includes modifying, via the controller, the current torque request to obtain a modified torque request based on the clutch pedal position and the clutch pedal speed such that a stored potential energy in the driveline is minimized by a time that the clutch pedal of the vehicle system is disengaged during the declutch event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek W. Johnson, David T. Hanner, Shaun D. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20190226409
    Abstract: A vehicle propulsion system includes a transmission having manually selectable gear ratios, a manually operable clutch for selectively connecting the transmission to an engine for receiving torque from the engine and transmitting that torque through the transmission for propelling the vehicle, a clutch position sensor that generates a clutch position signal and a controller that is programmed to receive the clutch position signal, determine an actual engine output torque, determine an actual clutch torque capacity value based upon the actual engine output torque and the clutch position signal, determine a difference between the actual clutch torque capacity value and a clutch torque capacity from a torque to position table corresponding to the clutch position signal, determine an adjusted clutch torque capacity based upon the determined difference, and control an operation of the engine based upon the adjusted clutch torque capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Shaun D. Hoffman, Jameson M. Collins
  • Patent number: 10106164
    Abstract: A method for shifting between a low speed range and a high speed range for a two-speed transfer case in a four-wheel drive vehicle includes determining a target transmission gear ratio and a desired transfer case range based on the current vehicle speed and the initial transfer case range. The transmission is shifted to the target transmission gear ratio when it is determined that the vehicle speed is in an appropriate range. The transfer case input torque is reduced to a minimum value, and the transfer case is shifted to neutral. The method further includes adjusting the engine speed and transmission gear setting to control the transmission output shaft speed to a desired range. The transfer case is shifted from neutral to the desired transfer case range when the transmission output shaft speed is within the desired range of transmission output shaft speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Peter J. Giles, Shaun D. Hoffman, Anthony Capobianco
  • Publication number: 20180057005
    Abstract: A method for shifting between a low speed range and a high speed range for a two-speed transfer case in a four-wheel drive vehicle includes determining a target transmission gear ratio and a desired transfer case range based on the current vehicle speed and the initial transfer case range. The transmission is shifted to the target transmission gear ratio when it is determined that the vehicle speed is in an appropriate range. The transfer case input torque is reduced to a minimum value, and the transfer case is shifted to neutral. The method further includes adjusting the engine speed and transmission gear setting to control the transmission output shaft speed to a desired range. The transfer case is shifted from neutral to the desired transfer case range when the transmission output shaft speed is within the desired range of transmission output shaft speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Peter J. Giles, Shaun D. Hoffman, Anthony Capobianco
  • Patent number: 9719595
    Abstract: An active rev-matching system for a motor vehicle manual transmission includes an engine control module that monitors and adjusts an output speed of the motor vehicle's prime mover and at least one sensor that monitors movement of a shift linkage. When the at least one sensor determines the movement of the shift linkage is an in-gate downshift, the engine control module adjusts the available time for the engine control module to match the output speed of the prime mover to an input speed of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Bradford W. Bur, Edward J. Rodenbo, Shaun D. Hoffman, Richard I. Chang
  • Publication number: 20160377176
    Abstract: An active rev-matching system for a motor vehicle manual transmission includes an engine control module that monitors and adjusts an output speed of the motor vehicle's prime mover and at least one sensor that monitors movement of a shift linkage. When the at least one sensor determines the movement of the shift linkage is an in-gate downshift, the engine control module adjusts the available time for the engine control module to match the output speed of the prime mover to an input speed of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: BRADFORD W. BUR, Edward J. Rodenbo, Shaun D. Hoffman, Richard I. Chang