Patents by Inventor Steven Otis Pate

Steven Otis Pate 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: 9969374
    Abstract: A braking system in a hybrid vehicle is provided. The braking system includes a master cylinder having a first outlet, a second outlet, and a piston disposed therein and translatable from a proximal end to a distal end in response to brake pedal displacement. A brake fluid reservoir supplies hydraulic fluid to the master cylinder. A first fluid circuit connects the first outlet of the master cylinder to the brake fluid reservoir. A second fluid circuit connects the second outlet of the master cylinder to wheel brakes and supplies hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder to the wheel brakes in response to brake pedal displacement. The first outlet of the master cylinder is disposed between the second outlet and the proximal end of the master cylinder such that initial brake pedal displacement transfers brake fluid from the master cylinder to the fluid reservoir to inhibit hydraulic braking during regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adil Khan, Steven Otis Pate, Peter Francis Worrel, Clement Newman Sagan
  • Patent number: 9896079
    Abstract: A braking system in a hybrid vehicle is provided. The braking system includes a master cylinder having a first outlet, a second outlet, and a piston disposed therein and translatable from a proximal end to a distal end in response to brake pedal displacement. A brake fluid reservoir supplies hydraulic fluid to the master cylinder. A first fluid circuit connects the first outlet of the master cylinder to the brake fluid reservoir. A second fluid circuit connects the second outlet of the master cylinder to wheel brakes and supplies hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder to the wheel brakes in response to brake pedal displacement. The first outlet of the master cylinder is disposed between the second outlet and the proximal end of the master cylinder such that initial brake pedal displacement transfers brake fluid from the master cylinder to the fluid reservoir to inhibit hydraulic braking during regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adil Khan, Steven Otis Pate, Peter Francis Worrel, Clement Newman Sagan
  • Publication number: 20140354035
    Abstract: A braking system in a hybrid vehicle is provided. The braking system includes a master cylinder having a first outlet, a second outlet, and a piston disposed therein and translatable from a proximal end to a distal end in response to brake pedal displacement. A brake fluid reservoir supplies hydraulic fluid to the master cylinder. A first fluid circuit connects the first outlet of the master cylinder to the brake fluid reservoir. A second fluid circuit connects the second outlet of the master cylinder to wheel brakes and supplies hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder to the wheel brakes in response to brake pedal displacement. The first outlet of the master cylinder is disposed between the second outlet and the proximal end of the master cylinder such that initial brake pedal displacement transfers brake fluid from the master cylinder to the fluid reservoir to inhibit hydraulic braking during regenerative braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Adil Khan, Steven Otis Pate, Peter Francis Worrel, Clement Newman Sagan
  • Patent number: 6709075
    Abstract: Strategies other than immediate elimination of regenerative braking (FIG. 2) are invoked when an incipient wheel lock-up is detected, the ABS becomes active, and/or incipient wheel slip is detected. The strategies include: reducing the regenerative braking torque as a function of the coefficient of friction of a surface on which the vehicle is traveling (FIG. 3); and adjusting regenerative braking in relation to the rate at which wheel slip is changing (FIG. 4). Some of the strategies may be applied on an individual wheel basis (FIG. 5), and some of the strategies may be applied in conjunction with operating friction brakes of the vehicle to apply at least some of the reduction in regenerative braking torque as friction brake torque (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Steven Otis Pate
  • Patent number: 6588860
    Abstract: The amount of regenerative braking that is applied to the wheels (105) of a vehicle (100) is based on ambient temperature and a lift-throttle event. An ambient temperature sensor (108) monitors the temperature around the vehicle. Based on the temperature, a map is selected (204, 212, 214). If a lift-throttle event occurs, then the map is applied (206, 208). Compression regenerative braking is reduced to zero if an anti-lock braking system event occurs or if the throttle is re-applied, or both (216, 218, 220, 222).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Kosik, Steven Otis Pate, William F. Sanderson, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020167221
    Abstract: The amount of regenerative braking that is applied to the wheels (105) of a vehicle (100) is based on ambient temperature and a lift-throttle event. An ambient temperature sensor (108) monitors the temperature around the vehicle. Based on the temperature, a map is selected (204, 212, 214). If a lift-throttle event occurs, then the map is applied (206, 208). Compression regenerative braking is reduced to zero if an anti-lock braking system event occurs or if the throttle is re-applied, or both (216, 218, 220, 222).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Richard C. Kosik, Steven Otis Pate, William F. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 6309031
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system 10 has a brake pedal assembly 14, a sensor 18 or 22 for sensing effort applied to the brake pedal assembly and a brake actuator 26 for generating braking force to be applied to one or more brakes 12A-12D on the vehicle. The brake system further includes a position sensor for sensing a position signal, such as an adjustable brake pedal position sensor 40, a seat position sensor 42, a steering wheel position sensor 44, or a driver position sensor 46, which is generally indicative of the stature and/or comfort of the driver. The brake system further includes a controller 24 for automatically controlling the amount of braking force applied to the one or more brakes in the vehicle as a function of the sensed position. Accordingly, the brake system automatically adjusts the braking effort based on a sensed position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Dave James Lotito, Mark Alan Shehan, Steven Otis Pate