Patents by Inventor Todd E. Damon
Todd E. Damon 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).
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Patent number: 9057621Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain controller, an energy storage system (ESS), a traction motor, an electrical device such as an HVAC system and/or auxiliary system, and a navigation system. The navigation system generates a recommended eco-route or other travel route. The navigation system receives vehicle state information including a current powertrain state from the controller and a power load value from the device(s), including a state of charge of the ESS. The vehicle state information is used to select between a charge-depleting and a charge-sustaining costing model. The route is generated using the selected model, and then displayed. The navigation system includes a host machine which selects the model and generates the route, and a display screen for displaying the route. A method for generating the route includes receiving the current powertrain state and power load values, and using the state information to select between the charge-depleting and charge-sustaining models.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Edward D. Tate, Jr., Scott E. Jackson, Todd E. Damon
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Patent number: 8909468Abstract: The described method and system provide for utilizing portals during GPS navigation to avoid unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculation in problem areas. The method and system are described in the context of a GPS unit that is part of a telematics unit in a vehicle. If the route calculated by the GPS unit includes certain problem areas such as tunnels and stacked bridges, the GPS unit may utilize portals to process GPS navigation through those areas. When a user enters a portal, normal GPS navigation is suspended and certain features are disabled. For example, the user will not longer receive Turn-by-Turn (TBT) directions, off-route notifications, error notifications, and route recalculation notifications, until the GPS unit determines that the user has arrived at a second portal or until the user manually re-enables those features. The portals should be preferably located at the inlets and outlets to the problem areas.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Todd E. Damon, Mathew Cucuzella
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Patent number: 8805611Abstract: The described method and system provide for treatment of certain areas as neutral zones during GPS navigation to avoid unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculation. A GPS unit determines whether the user has entered a geographic region designated as a neutral zone, and does not provide the user with off-route notifications while the user is within the neutral zone. Not providing off-route notifications may be implemented by the GPS device by considering the user to be within the calculated route while the user is within a neutral zone, or by disabling off-route notifications (and route recalculation) while the user is within the neutral zone. The neutral zone may be defined by a set of GPS coordinates. The neutral zone may further be polygonal, and the size of the neutral zone may be based on the accuracy of the GPS device.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: General Motors LLCInventors: Todd E. Damon, Mathew Cucuzella
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Patent number: 8645066Abstract: The described method and system provide for GPS navigation utilizing variable route corridors. The method may be implemented at a GPS-capable device (e.g. a telematics unit in one implementation) or through a call center that provides navigation services to a telecommunications device (e.g. a telematics unit in another implementation). A user input corresponding to an intended destination is received and a route to the intended destination is calculated with a variable route corridor. The variable route corridor is calculated based on map features, such as other streets not on the route, the width of streets on the route, and map data inaccuracies. In preferred implementations, the system and method are implemented within the context of a GPS unit that is part of a telematics unit in a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2011Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: General Motors LLC.Inventor: Todd E. Damon
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Publication number: 20130013197Abstract: The described method and system provide for GPS navigation utilizing variable route corridors. The method may be implemented at a GPS-capable device (e.g. a telematics unit in one implementation) or through a call center that provides navigation services to a telecommunications device (e.g. a telematics unit in another implementation). A user input corresponding to an intended destination is received and a route to the intended destination is calculated with a variable route corridor. The variable route corridor is calculated based on map features, such as other streets not on the route, the width of streets on the route, and map data inaccuracies. In preferred implementations, the system and method are implemented within the context of a GPS unit that is part of a telematics unit in a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: General Motors LLCInventor: Todd E. Damon
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Publication number: 20130013196Abstract: The described method and system provide for GPS navigation utilizing a previously stored position as a starting port when current position information is not available. The method may be implemented at a GPS-capable device (e.g. a telematics unit in one implementation) or through a call center that provides navigation services to a telecommunications device (e.g. a telematics unit in another implementation). A user input corresponding to an intended destination is received, it is determined whether current position information of the user is available; and, if not available, a route to the intended destination is calculated based on a previously stored position of the user. It may further be determined whether current position information of the user subsequently becomes available, and, when available, it may further be determined whether the user is on the calculated route that was based on the previously stored position of the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2011Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS LLCInventors: Christopher L. Dow, Todd E. Damon
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Publication number: 20120316771Abstract: The described method and system provide for utilizing portals during GPS navigation to avoid unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculation in problem areas. The method and system are described in the context of a GPS unit that is part of a telematics unit in a vehicle. If the route calculated by the GPS unit includes certain problem areas such as tunnels and stacked bridges, the GPS unit may utilize portals to process GPS navigation through those areas. When a user enters a portal, normal GPS navigation is suspended and certain features are disabled. For example, the user will not longer receive Turn-by-Turn (TBT) directions, off-route notifications, error notifications, and route recalculation notifications, until the GPS unit determines that the user has arrived at a second portal or until the user manually re-enables those features. The portals should be preferably located at the inlets and outlets to the problem areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: General Motors LLCInventors: Todd E. Damon, Mathew Cucuzella
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Publication number: 20120316770Abstract: The described method and system provide for treatment of certain areas as neutral zones during GPS navigation to avoid unnecessary off-route notifications and route recalculation. A GPS unit determines whether the user has entered a geographic region designated as a neutral zone, and does not provide the user with off-route notifications while the user is within the neutral zone. Not providing off-route notifications may be implemented by the GPS device by considering the user to be within the calculated route while the user is within a neutral zone, or by disabling off-route notifications (and route recalculation) while the user is within the neutral zone. The neutral zone may be defined by a set of GPS coordinates. The neutral zone may further be polygonal, and the size of the neutral zone may be based on the accuracy of the GPS device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: General Motors LLCInventors: Todd E. Damon, Mathew Cucuzella
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Publication number: 20120179315Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain controller, an energy storage system (ESS), a traction motor, an electrical device such as an HVAC system and/or auxiliary system, and a navigation system. The navigation system generates a recommended eco-route or other travel route. The navigation system receives vehicle state information including a current powertrain state from the controller and a power load value from the device(s), including a state of charge of the ESS. The vehicle state information is used to select between a charge-depleting and a charge-sustaining costing model. The route is generated using the selected model, and then displayed. The navigation system includes a host machine which selects the model and generates the route, and a display screen for displaying the route. A method for generating the route includes receiving the current powertrain state and power load values, and using the state information to select between the charge-depleting and charge-sustaining models.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicants: GENERAL MOTORS LLC, GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Edward D. Tate, Jr., Scott E. Jackson, Todd E. Damon