Patents by Inventor Tom C. Ender

Tom C. Ender 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: 9163602
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power steering (EPS) system coupled to a steering wheel of a vehicle. A current sensor senses EPS current drawn by the EPS system. A engine control module controls operation of an engine of the vehicle and includes an auto start/stop module to selective y start and stop the engine independent from user input to start and stop the engine. The auto start/stop module selectively delays an auto engine stop based on the EPS current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David D. Killy, Tom C. Ender
  • Publication number: 20150142265
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power steering (EPS) system coupled to a steering wheel of a vehicle. A current sensor senses EPS current drawn by the EPS system. A engine control module controls operation of an engine of the vehicle and includes an auto start/stop module to selective y start and stop the engine independent from user input to start and stop the engine. The auto start/stop module selectively delays an auto engine stop based on the EPS current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: DAVID D. KILLY, TOM C. ENDER
  • Patent number: 7254472
    Abstract: A method of preventing undesirable vehicle behavior in a vehicle torque control system that includes determining an expected axle torque based on a vehicle speed, a powerplant profile, an accelerator pedal position and/or a cruise control signal. The method also includes estimating an actual axle torque of a powerplant based on a powerplant maximum torque, a throttle position and powertrain inefficiencies and converting the expected axle torque to an expected acceleration and the actual axle torque to an actual acceleration based on a wheel radius and a road load. The method further includes regulating a torque output of a powerplant when a rate-of-change in a difference between the expected acceleration and the estimated actual acceleration is greater than a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Larsen, Gene Dimarco, Timothy J. Hartrey, Tom C. Ender