Patents by Inventor STEVEN E. MULDOON
STEVEN E. MULDOON 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: 11757391Abstract: A motor drive system of a vehicle includes: an inverter that receives power from a power source via a bus, where the inverter is connected to a motor of the vehicle; a driver that drives the inverter; a filter that filters a current signal received from the bus to generate a filtered signal; and a control module that operates in an impedance determination mode. The impedance determination mode includes: based on the filtered signal, controlling the driver and the inverter to generate a pulsed signal applied to the power source; determining a current level and a voltage of the power source due to generation of the pulsed signal, and determining impedance based on the current level and the voltage. The control modules are configured to: determine a characterization parameter of the power source based on the impedance; and perform a control operation or a countermeasure based on the characterization parameter.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Lei Hao, Yue-Yun Wang, Steven E. Muldoon
-
Publication number: 20230268860Abstract: A motor drive system of a vehicle includes: an inverter that receives power from a power source via a bus, where the inverter is connected to a motor of the vehicle; a driver that drives the inverter; a filter that filters a current signal received from the bus to generate a filtered signal; and a control module that operates in an impedance determination mode. The impedance determination mode includes: based on the filtered signal, controlling the driver and the inverter to generate a pulsed signal applied to the power source; determining a current level and a voltage of the power source due to generation of the pulsed signal, and determining impedance based on the current level and the voltage. The control modules are configured to: determine a characterization parameter of the power source based on the impedance; and perform a control operation or a countermeasure based on the characterization parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2022Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Lei HAO, Yue-Yun WANG, Steven E. MULDOON
-
Publication number: 20230142690Abstract: A monitoring system for a battery system includes a battery system including a battery pack. The battery pack includes M battery modules, where M is an integer greater than zero. Each of the M battery modules includes C battery cells, where C is an integer greater than one. T temperature sensors configured to generate sensed temperatures of the M battery modules, where T is greater than or equal to M and less than M times C. A battery management module configured to perform battery impedance measurements on the C battery cells of the M battery modules; generate estimated temperatures for each of the C battery cells of the M battery modules based on the battery impedance measurements; and selectively detect at least one of the C battery cells having a cell outlier temperature based on the estimated temperatures of the C battery cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Steven E. MULDOON, Yue-Yun Wang, Lei Hao
-
Publication number: 20230148115Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle includes a plurality of battery modules, each of the plurality of battery modules including a respective management module, and a master management module configured to communicate with the management modules and with a battery control module. Each of the management modules includes a communication interface configured to transmit data to the master management module and receive data from the master management module and a diagnostic module configured to monitor operating parameters of a respective one of the plurality of battery modules, detect a fault associated with the respective one of the plurality of battery modules based on the operating parameters, and selectively output a signal indicative of the detected fault.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Steven E. MULDOON, Yue-Yun Wang, Bin Li, Lei Hao
-
Patent number: 11505206Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive data from a plurality of sensors in a vehicle, the sensors including a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers; and to determine a location of the vehicle and a direction of motion of the vehicle based on the data and a history of locations of the vehicle in prior N seconds, where N is a number greater than 0. The instructions configure the processor to determine a permitted driving direction for the vehicle based on the location of the vehicle and a map database; and to detect whether the vehicle is moving in a wrong direction based on the permitted driving direction and the direction of motion of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Bharatkumar Hegde, Steven E. Muldoon
-
Publication number: 20220185312Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions which when executed by the processor configure the processor to receive data from a plurality of sensors in a vehicle, the sensors including a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver, accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers; and to determine a location of the vehicle and a direction of motion of the vehicle based on the data and a history of locations of the vehicle in prior N seconds, where N is a number greater than 0. The instructions configure the processor to determine a permitted driving direction for the vehicle based on the location of the vehicle and a map database; and to detect whether the vehicle is moving in a wrong direction based on the permitted driving direction and the direction of motion of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Bharatkumar HEGDE, Steven E. Muldoon
-
Patent number: 11167759Abstract: Operating a subject vehicle equipped with an adaptive cruise control system includes setting initial states for control parameters, including setting a desired vehicle speed and determining a desired following gap range, wherein the desired following gap range is associated with a lead vehicle. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the initial states for the control parameters. Operation also includes monitoring for presence of the lead vehicle. Upon detecting presence of the lead vehicle, an actual following gap is determined between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the initial states of the control parameters associated with the adaptive cruise control system are adjusted based upon the actual following gap between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the desired following gap range. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the adjusted initial states of the control parameters.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Junfeng Zhao, Yiran Hu, Dongxu Li, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
-
Patent number: 10915159Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining a current operating situation of the vehicle, and identifying a subset of a plurality of sensors of the vehicle needed to provide data to enable a vehicle control function for the current operating situation of the vehicle. A remainder of the plurality of sensors is disengaged to reduce electric energy usage by the vehicle while the vehicle is operating in the current operating situation of the vehicle. A sampling rate for the selected subset of sensors may be reduced to further reduce energy usage of the vehicle. Additionally, an energy reduction processing strategy may be implemented to reduce a processor frequency or a voltage of a computing device used to provide the vehicle control function to further reduce energy usage of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Steven E. Muldoon, Wei Tong, Shige Wang
-
Publication number: 20200324766Abstract: Operating a subject vehicle equipped with an adaptive cruise control system includes setting initial states for control parameters, including setting a desired vehicle speed and determining a desired following gap range, wherein the desired following gap range is associated with a lead vehicle. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the initial states for the control parameters. Operation also includes monitoring for presence of the lead vehicle. Upon detecting presence of the lead vehicle, an actual following gap is determined between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the initial states of the control parameters associated with the adaptive cruise control system are adjusted based upon the actual following gap between the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle, and the desired following gap range. Operation is controlled via the adaptive cruise control system based upon the adjusted initial states of the control parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Junfeng Zhao, Yiran Hu, Dongxu Li, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
-
Patent number: 10746558Abstract: A system and method for routing based on a predicted connectivity quality is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a controller, map information corresponding to a geographical area. The method also includes receiving, by the controller, wireless connectivity information corresponding to the geographical area. The method also includes generating output data of at least one route between a starting location and a destination location within the geographical area. The generating is based on the wireless connectivity information.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Steven E. Muldoon, Yiran Hu, Junfeng Zhao, Vivek Vijaya Kumar
-
Patent number: 10676088Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a powertrain control system. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, the measured data relating to distance dependent speed values, and receiving information from one or more vehicle modules, the vehicle module information relating to distance independent speed values. The method further includes building a speed trajectory profile for a horizon window that includes a plurality of speed change regions represented by at least some distance dependent speed values or at least some distance independent speed values, and creating a synthesized speed profile for the horizon window by processing the speed trajectory profile. The synthesized speed profile optimizes efficiency of the powertrain control system at each of the plurality of speed change regions.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Junfeng Zhao, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
-
Publication number: 20200089241Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems and control logic for predictive route planning and adaptive control, methods for manufacturing/operating such systems, and motor vehicles with real-time eco-routing and automated driving capabilities. A method for controlling operation of a vehicle includes determining vehicle origin and destination information, and identifying candidate routes for traversing from the origin to the destination. Road-level data, including speed and topology data, is received for each candidate route. Total energy uses are estimated for propelling the vehicle from the origin to the destination across each of the candidate routes. This estimating includes evaluating respective road-level data of each candidate route against a memory-stored table that correlates energy consumption to speed, turn angle, and/or gradient.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Chi-Kuan Kao, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang, Edward Gundlach
-
Publication number: 20190375403Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a powertrain control system. The method includes receiving data measured from a plurality of sensors, the measured data relating to distance dependent speed values, and receiving information from one or more vehicle modules, the vehicle module information relating to distance independent speed values. The method further includes building a speed trajectory profile for a horizon window that includes a plurality of speed change regions represented by at least some distance dependent speed values or at least some distance independent speed values, and creating a synthesized speed profile for the horizon window by processing the speed trajectory profile. The synthesized speed profile optimizes efficiency of the powertrain control system at each of the plurality of speed change regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Yiran Hu, Junfeng Zhao, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-Fang Chang
-
Publication number: 20190302877Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining a current operating situation of the vehicle, and identifying a subset of a plurality of sensors of the vehicle needed to provide data to enable a vehicle control function for the current operating situation of the vehicle. A remainder of the plurality of sensors is disengaged to reduce electric energy usage by the vehicle while the vehicle is operating in the current operating situation of the vehicle. A sampling rate for the selected subset of sensors may be reduced to further reduce energy usage of the vehicle. Additionally, an energy reduction processing strategy may be implemented to reduce a processor frequency or a voltage of a computing device used to provide the vehicle control function to further reduce energy usage of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Steven E. Muldoon, Wei Tong, Shige Wang
-
Publication number: 20190234750Abstract: A system and method for routing based on a predicted connectivity quality is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a controller, map information corresponding to a geographical area. The method also includes receiving, by the controller, wireless connectivity information corresponding to the geographical area. The method also includes generating output data of at least one route between a starting location and a destination location within the geographical area. The generating is based on the wireless connectivity information.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2018Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Steven E. Muldoon, Yiran Hu, Junfeng Zhao, Vivek Vijaya Kumar
-
Patent number: 10215576Abstract: A method for generating energy-optimized travel routes with a vehicle navigation system includes generating candidate travel routes between a route origin and one or more route destinations, and then dividing each candidate travel route into a plurality of route segments. The method includes estimating expected travel speeds along each segment using cloud information and calculating an expected energy efficiency over each of the candidate travel routes using one or more vehicle-specific energy efficiency models. The travel routes are displayed via the navigation system, including a trace of the energy-optimized travel routes and an expected or relative energy efficiency along the energy-optimized travel routes. A vehicle includes the navigation system and a powertrain. A powertrain controller may control vehicle speed over a selected route to maintain an optimally energy-efficient speed.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jun-mo Kang, Yiran Hu, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-fang Chang, Dongxu Li, Junfeng Zhao
-
Patent number: 10208699Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine is described and includes a pressure sensor that is disposed to monitor in-cylinder combustion pressure. A method, executed as a control routine in an attached controller, includes monitoring engine speed, engine load, temperature and combustion pressure. Combustion variation parameters are determined based upon the combustion pressure. A desired state for a combustion parameter can be determined based upon the engine speed, the engine load, and the temperature, and an adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter can be determined based upon the combustion variation parameters, wherein the adjustment to the desired state is selected to achieve acceptable states for the combustion variation parameters. Operation of the internal combustion engine is controlled based upon the desired state for the combustion parameter and the adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Jun-mo Kang, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-fang Chang
-
Publication number: 20190010890Abstract: A direct-injection internal combustion engine is described and includes a pressure sensor that is disposed to monitor in-cylinder combustion pressure. A method, executed as a control routine in an attached controller, includes monitoring engine speed, engine load, temperature and combustion pressure. Combustion variation parameters are determined based upon the combustion pressure. A desired state for a combustion parameter can be determined based upon the engine speed, the engine load, and the temperature, and an adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter can be determined based upon the combustion variation parameters, wherein the adjustment to the desired state is selected to achieve acceptable states for the combustion variation parameters. Operation of the internal combustion engine is controlled based upon the desired state for the combustion parameter and the adjustment to the desired state for the combustion parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2017Publication date: January 10, 2019Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Jun-mo Kang, Steven E. Muldoon, Chen-fang Chang
-
Patent number: 10099702Abstract: A vehicle is described, and includes a drivetrain system including an internal combustion engine and a geartrain, an accessory device, and a route monitoring system. A controller includes an instruction set to monitor operation of the accessory device, and a request to operate the accessory device. When the request to operate the accessory device includes a request to activate the accessory device based upon not exceeding a limit for an operating parameter of the accessory device, the instruction set executes to determine a horizon for the vehicle based upon the projected path for the vehicle, determine a projected road load and a speed constraint based upon the horizon for the vehicle, and determine a projected axle torque command based upon the projected road load. A first routine determines a first command for operating the accessory device that minimizes fuel consumption and meets the projected axle torque command.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Steven E. Muldoon, Dongxu Li, Yiran Hu, Jun-mo Kang, Chen-fang Chang
-
Patent number: 10081360Abstract: A vehicle engine system includes a combustion engine configured to provide a propulsion torque to satisfy a propulsion demand in response to a driver input. The engine system also includes a controller programmed to receive data indicative of at least one upcoming driving event, and issue a command to impart a predetermined velocity profile based on the upcoming driving event. The predetermined velocity profile is arranged to optimize a performance attribute of the combustion engine and preempt the driver input.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Yiran Hu, Steven E. Muldoon, Jun-mo Kang, Chen-fang Chang, Dongxu Li, Junfeng Zhao, Jay H. Sim