Patents by Inventor Steven George Malson

Steven George Malson 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: 6231479
    Abstract: A torque-based clutch engagement controller for achieving smooth friction clutch engagement in a multiple-ratio transmission for an automotive vehicle driveline comprising a torque measuring circuit that determines torque inputs for the controller as a function of measured engine torque and turbine acceleration, means for determining the torque commanded by the vehicle operator as a function of engine throttle position, means for comparing the desired torque commanded by the operator to the input torque values, and means for converting the torque values to a pressure value as a function of the difference between the desired torque and the input torque whereby the pressure developed by the system applies a friction clutch so that engagement of the clutch occurs rapidly with optimum smoothness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin Paul Kraska, Steven George Malson, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Patent number: 6078856
    Abstract: A self-organizing fuzzy logic controller develops an adaptive pressure adder that modifies the magnitude of pressure supplied to a friction element of an automatic transmission. The controller uses a turbine speed versus engine torque table in KAM to store the adaptive pressure adder for each shift. Tables in KAM represent fuzzy rules which are altered based on shift performance criteria to produce a self-organizing fuzzy logic controller. The criteria, which define shift performance, include the ratio change slip time and the initial ratio change time divided by the desired slip time (called target ratio). The desired slip time is determined from a calibratable matrix. After a shifting event, an adaptive pressure adjustment is determined for the next shifting event having the same conditions. A two-input (slip time and target ratio) fuzzy logic controller is used to determine the pressure adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven George Malson
  • Patent number: 5951615
    Abstract: A self-organizing fuzzy logic controller develops an adaptive pressure adder that modifies the magnitude of pressure supplied to a friction element of an automatic transmission. The controller uses a turbine speed versus engine torque table in KAM to store the adaptive pressure adder for each shift. Tables in KAM represent fuzzy rules which are altered based on shift performance criteria to produce a self-organizing fuzzy logic controller. The criteria, which define shift performance, include the ratio change slip time and torque converter turbine speed flare. The desired slip time is determined from a calibratable matrix. After a shifting event, an adaptive pressure adjustment is determined for the next shifting event of the same types. A two-input (slip time and turbine speed flare) fuzzy logic controller is used to determine the pressure adjustment. The adaptive pressure adjustment from the fuzzy controller is then increased if stage time is greater than a calibratable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven George Malson
  • Patent number: 5910175
    Abstract: A self-organizing fuzzy logic controller develops an adaptive pressure adder that modifies the magnitude of pressure supplied to a friction element of an automatic transmission. The controller uses a turbine speed versus engine torque table in KAM to store the adaptive pressure adder for each shift. Tables in KAM represent fuzzy rules which are altered based on shift performance criteria to produce a self-organizing fuzzy logic controller. The criteria, which define shift performance, include the ratio change slip time and the initial ratio change time divided by the desired slip time (called target ratio). The desired slip time is determined from a calibratable matrix. After a shifting event, an adaptive pressure adjustment is determined for the next shifting event having the same conditions. A two-input (slip time and target ratio) fuzzy logic controller is used to determine the pressure adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven George Malson