Patents by Inventor Steve Cicala

Steve Cicala 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).

  • Method for operation of a brake back-up system of a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11560129
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a brake back-up system (8) of a motor vehicle (2), with the steps: (S100) Reading in operating data (BD) of the motor vehicle (2), (S200) Evaluating the read-in operating data (BD) to identify malfunctions of a braking system of the motor vehicle (2), and (S300) Providing at least one actuation signal (AS, AS?) to influence components of a drive train of the motor vehicle (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gabrielle Jost, Ahmed Benmimoun, Jeffrey Tumavitch, Bradley D. Riedle, Steve Cicala
  • Method for Operation of a Brake Back-Up System of a Motor Vehicle
    Publication number: 20200122707
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a brake back-up system (8) of a motor vehicle (2), with the steps: (S100) Reading in operating data (BD) of the motor vehicle (2), (S200) Evaluating the read-in operating data (BD) to identify malfunctions of a braking system of the motor vehicle (2), and (S300) Providing at least one actuation signal (AS, AS?) to influence components of a drive train of the motor vehicle (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gabrielle Jost, Ahmed Benmimoun, Jeffrey Tumavitch, Bradley D. Riedle, Steve Cicala
  • Electronic adaptive swap-shift control for an automatic transmission for automotive vehicles
    Patent number: 7527578
    Abstract: A control system and control method for a swap-shift transmission having auxiliary and main gearsets wherein precise synchronization control of ratio changes of each gearset at the start and at the end of a swap-upshift progression is achieved using an adaptive control to adjust friction element pressure values and slip times for friction elements of each gearset, whereby shift synchronization is achieved throughout the operating life of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ihab Soliman, Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ken Sovel, Charles Suter, Bradley Riedle
  • ELECTRONIC ADAPTIVE SWAP-SHIFT CONTROL FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20080026911
    Abstract: A control system and control method for a swap-shift transmission having auxiliary and main gearsets wherein precise synchronization control of ratio changes of each gearset at the start and at the end of a swap-upshift progression is achieved using an adaptive control to adjust friction element pressure values and slip times for friction elements of each gearset, whereby shift synchronization is achieved throughout the operating life of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ihab Soliman, Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ken Sovel, Charles Suter, Bradley Riedle
  • Electronic adaptive swap-shift control for an automatic transmission for automotive vehicles
    Patent number: 7282012
    Abstract: A control system and control method for a swap-shift transmission having auxiliary and main gearsets wherein precise synchronization control of ratio changes of each gearset at the start and at the end of a swap-upshift progression is achieved using an adaptive control to adjust friction element pressure values and slip times for friction elements of each gearset, whereby shift synchronization is achieved throughout the operating life of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ihab Soliman, Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ken Sovel, Charles Suter, Bradley Riedle
  • Adaptive pressure control method for synchronous downshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission
    Patent number: 7216025
    Abstract: An adaptive pressure control method for synchronous downshifts in an automatic transmission that uses pressure actuated friction elements. The method uses characteristic parameters that determine downshift quality for both power-on downshifts and power-off downshifts. Selected measured variables are monitored to detect changes in the parameters. Adjustments for the friction elements are made in response to changes in the measured variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ihab Soliman, Charles Suter, Kurt Nickerson, Bradley Riedle
  • ELECTRONIC ADAPTIVE SWAP-SHIFT CONTROL FOR AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20060287158
    Abstract: A control system and control method for a swap-shift transmission having auxiliary and main gearsets wherein precise synchronization control of ratio changes of each gearset at the start and at the end of a swap-upshift progression is achieved using an adaptive control to adjust friction element pressure values and slip times for friction elements of each gearset, whereby shift synchronization is achieved throughout the operating life of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ihab Soliman, Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ken Sovel, Charles Suter, Bradley Riedle
  • Electronic adaptive swap-shift control for an automatic transmission for automotive vehicles
    Patent number: 7115069
    Abstract: A control system and control method for a swap-shift transmission having auxiliary and main gearsets wherein precise synchronization control of ratio changes of each gearset at the start and at the end of a swap-upshift progression is achieved using an adaptive control to adjust friction element pressure values and slip times for friction elements of each gearset, whereby shift synchronization is achieved throughout the operating life of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ihab Soliman, Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ken Sovel, Charles Suter, Bradley Riedle
  • Adaptive pressure control method for achieving synchronous upshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission
    Patent number: 6994647
    Abstract: An adaptive shift control method for a geared multiple ratio transmission having friction elements for clutches and brakes to establish and disestablish gear ratio changes wherein at least one ratio change involves engagement of one friction element in synchronism with disengagement of another friction element. Operating parameters are adapted throughout the life of the transmission to reduce synchronous errors by developing and learning pressure and time adjustments for the friction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steve Cicala, Brian Keyse, Ihab Soliman, Charles Suter, Kurt Nickerson, Bradley Riedle
  • Adaptive pressure control method for achieving synchronous upshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission
    Publication number: 20050107201
    Abstract: An adaptive shift control method for a geared multiple ratio transmission having friction elements for clutches and brakes to establish and disestablish gear ratio changes wherein at least one ratio change involves engagement of one friction element in synchronism with disengagement of another friction element. Operating parameters are adapted throughout the life of the transmission to reduce synchronous errors by developing and learning pressure and time adjustments for the friction elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicants: Ford Motor Company, Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Steve Cicala, Brian Keyse, Ihab Soliman, Charles Suter, Kurt Nickerson, Bradley Riedle
  • Electronic adaptive swap-shift control for an automatic transmission for automotive vehicles
    Publication number: 20050107212
    Abstract: A control system and control method for a swap-shift transmission having auxiliary and main gearsets wherein precise synchronization control of ratio changes of each gearset at the start and at the end of a swap-upshift progression is achieved using an adaptive control to adjust friction element pressure values and slip times for friction elements of each gearset, whereby shift synchronization is achieved throughout the operating life of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Ihab Soliman, Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ken Sovel, Charles Suter, Bradley Riedle
  • Adaptive pressure control method for synchronous downshifts in a multiple-ratio transmission
    Publication number: 20050107936
    Abstract: An adaptive pressure control method for synchronous downshifts in an automatic transmission that uses pressure actuated friction elements. The method uses characteristic parameters that determine downshift quality for both power-on downshifts and power-off downshifts. Selected measured variables are monitored to detect changes in the parameters. Adjustments for the friction elements are made in response to changes in the measured variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Brian Keyse, Steve Cicala, Ihab Soliman, Charles Suter, Kurt Nickerson, Bradley Riedle