Patents by Inventor Christopher Alan Lear
Christopher Alan Lear 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: 10774919Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a transmission system including a differential and an electrically powered heating device configured to selectively warm a differential fluid of the differential. The electrically powered heating device is selectively powered to warm the differential fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2016Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Scott James Thompson, David Crist Gabriel, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Christopher Alan Lear
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Patent number: 10759255Abstract: Controlling a vehicle includes determining that an occupancy status of the vehicle is unoccupied, estimating a remaining unoccupied time, and controlling a climate-control system according to climate-control parameters based on at least the occupancy status and the remaining unoccupied time. A climate-control parameter is a value or set of values for an attribute or attributes of vehicle climate control, such as a power status for the climate-control system as a whole, a target temperature for a passenger cabin, power statuses corresponding to individual climate zones of the passenger cabin, and target temperatures for the individual climate zones.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Christopher Alan Lear, Chris James Hocking
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Patent number: 10487891Abstract: A vehicle includes a clutch to couple a motor and transmission, and a controller that, in response to a regenerative braking request and a temperature being within a first range, partially capacitizes the clutch for regenerative torque transfer therethrough with slip, and in response to another regenerative braking request and the temperature being within a second range less than the first, fully capacitizes the clutch prior to regenerative torque transfer therethough to preclude slip.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Bernard D. Nefcy, Todd McCullough, Christopher Alan Lear, Daniel Scott Colvin
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Patent number: 10322711Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a starter-generator, and a controller. The electric machine is coupled to a traction battery via an inverter. The starter-generator is mechanically coupled with an engine and electrically coupled with a low-voltage battery. And, the controller charges the low-voltage battery with power from the traction battery, and in response to a torque demand of the electric machine falling below a threshold defined by losses of the inverter, transitions to the starter-generator to charge the low-voltage battery.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Christopher Alan Lear, Scott James Thompson, Rajit Johri, Fazal Urrahman Syed
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Patent number: 10246073Abstract: A hybrid-electric vehicle includes a power system, a controller, a driver seat, a passenger seat, a back seat, and sensors. The controller is in communication with the sensors and the power system. The seats are coupled, directly or indirectly, to the power system. The sensors are configured to detect occupancy of the driver, passenger, and back seats. The controller is programmed to receive occupancy data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an operating parameter for the power system based on the occupancy status, and control the power system in accordance with the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Christopher Alan Lear, Chris James Hocking
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Patent number: 10155511Abstract: A control system for a modular hybrid electric vehicle operates an internal combustion engine at a torque level above the driver demanded torque improving the engine's efficiency. A traction motor driveably connected to the engine is operated at a torque level such that the combined torque satisfies the driver demand. The traction motor torque is limited to avoid inefficient combinations of speed and torque at which the motor is inefficient. During idle operation, the traction motor is operated at a torque determined from a battery state of charge and the engine is operated to maintain a predetermined speed. If the engine speed drops below a threshold, motor torque is adjusted to reduce the load on the engine to avoid stalling.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Christopher Alan Lear, Francis Thomas Connolly
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Patent number: 10081364Abstract: A system and method for controlling a transmission gear shift in a vehicle having a driveline and an electric motor operable to output torque to the driveline includes applying a negative motor torque to the driveline to reduce driveline oscillations resulting from the transmission gear shift. The negative motor torque is based on vehicle conditions occurring after the transmission gear shift has begun and before the transmission gear shift is complete.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Christopher Alan Lear, Mark Steven Yamazaki
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Publication number: 20180172137Abstract: An electrified vehicle includes a transmission system including a differential and an electrically powered heating device configured to selectively warm a differential fluid of the differential. The electrically powered heating device is selectively powered to warm the differential fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2016Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Scott James Thompson, David Crist Gabriel, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Christopher Alan Lear
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Patent number: 10000203Abstract: A vehicle includes and an engine, a motor, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission is configured is to receive power from the engine and the motor. The transmission is also configured to shift between gears based on a shift schedule. The controller is programmed to, in response to only the motor providing power to the transmission, adjust the shift schedule to narrow an operating speed range of the motor such that the motor speed maintains a peak range of an available motor power output.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Andrew E. Burt, Christopher Alan Lear, Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin
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Patent number: 9944289Abstract: A system and method for controlling a transmission gear shift during a braking event in a vehicle having an electric motor and friction brakes both operable to brake the vehicle includes the step of reducing friction braking to increase wheel torque during the braking event. The braking event includes both friction braking and regenerative braking. The reduction in friction braking to increase the wheel torque is based at least in part on a reduction in the wheel torque resulting from a change in gear ratio of a step-ratio transmission during the transmission gear shift.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Bernard D. Nefcy, Christopher Alan Lear
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Publication number: 20180093656Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine, a starter-generator, and a controller. The electric machine is coupled to a traction battery via an inverter. The starter-generator is mechanically coupled with an engine and electrically coupled with a low-voltage battery. And, the controller charges the low-voltage battery with power from the traction battery, and in response to a torque demand of the electric machine falling below a threshold defined by losses of the inverter, transitions to the starter-generator to charge the low-voltage battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Christopher Alan Lear, Scott James Thompson, Rajit Johri, Fazal Urrahman Syed
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Patent number: 9914449Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid powertrain that includes an engine and a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods adjust battery charging and discharging as well as engine and motor torque based on whether or not the vehicle is operating in a cruise control mode. In one example, curves that provide a basis for operating an engine and motor based on driver demand torque are compressed during a vehicle cruise control mode to improve powertrain efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Christopher Alan Lear, Scott James Thompson
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Publication number: 20180022182Abstract: Controlling a vehicle includes determining that an occupancy status of the vehicle is unoccupied, estimating a remaining unoccupied time, and controlling a climate-control system according to climate-control parameters based on at least the occupancy status and the remaining unoccupied time. A climate-control parameter is a value or set of values for an attribute or attributes of vehicle climate control, such as a power status for the climate-control system as a whole, a target temperature for a passenger cabin, power statuses corresponding to individual climate zones of the passenger cabin, and target temperatures for the individual climate zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Christopher Alan Lear, Chris James Hocking
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Publication number: 20170327104Abstract: A hybrid-electric vehicle includes a power system, a controller, a driver seat, a passenger seat, a back seat, and sensors. The controller is in communication with the sensors and the power system. The seats are coupled, directly or indirectly, to the power system. The sensors are configured to detect occupancy of the driver, passenger, and back seats. The controller is programmed to receive occupancy data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an operating parameter for the power system based on the occupancy status, and control the power system in accordance with the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2016Publication date: November 16, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Christopher Alan Lear, Chris James Hocking
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Patent number: 9802604Abstract: A method for operating a driveline of a vehicle includes adjusting operation of an electric machine to provide a torque difference between a driver demand torque and an engine output torque, when the electric machine is not operating in an operating range in which electric machine efficiency is less than a threshold efficiency. The operating range has a first, positive torque limit defining a positive extent of the operating range and a second, negative torque limit defining a negative extent of the operating range. In response to the torque difference being within the operating range and greater than zero, the torque output of the electric machine is maintained at the first torque limit, whereas in response to the torque difference being within the operating range and less than zero, the torque output of the electric machine is maintained at the second torque limit.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Alan Lear, Mark Steven Yamazaki
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Patent number: 9783188Abstract: A vehicle includes a generator, a battery, a transmission, and a controller. The generator is configured to recharge the battery at a maximum power output when a generator speed is above a threshold speed. The transmission is configured to downshift during regenerative braking such that the generator speed is maintained above the threshold speed. The controller is programmed to, in response to a decrease in battery temperature corresponding to a decrease in generator speed required to maintain the maximum power output, decrease the threshold speed.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Scott Colvin, Christopher Alan Lear, Bernard D. Nefcy, Andrew E. Burt
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Patent number: 9783183Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a motor selectively coupled to the engine, a transmission selectively coupled to the motor, and a controller. The motor is able to operate as a motor (to provide torque to the transmission) and a generator (to charge a battery). In one mode, the controller can command the engine to both propel the vehicle and provide torque to the motor to charge the battery. The controller estimates the maximum available engine torque in the current gear and maintains the vehicle in the current gear of the transmission. And, the controller commands the motor to charge the battery by a magnitude based on the difference between driver demanded torque and an estimated maximum available engine torque in a current gear of the transmission. This allows the engine to operate at (or near) its maximum torque output to fulfill driver demands and charge the battery while inhibiting downshifting.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Francis Thomas Connolly, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Christopher Alan Lear, Wei Liang
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Publication number: 20170227075Abstract: A vehicle includes a clutch to couple a motor and transmission, and a controller that, in response to a regenerative braking request and a temperature being within a first range, partially capacitizes the clutch for regenerative torque transfer therethrough with slip, and in response to another regenerative braking request and the temperature being within a second range less than the first, fully capacitizes the clutch prior to regenerative torque transfer therethough to preclude slip.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Bernard D. Nefcy, Todd McCullough, Christopher Alan Lear, Daniel Scott Colvin
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Patent number: 9728826Abstract: An exemplary method includes circulating a fluid through a heat exchanger and a battery pack when the battery pack requires cooling, and circulating the fluid through an exhaust gas heat recovery device and the battery pack when the battery pack requires heating. An exemplary system includes a battery pack, a heat exchanger, an exhaust gas heat recovery device, and a fluid valve moveable to a cooling position that permits a fluid to circulate between the heat exchanger and the battery pack and a heating position that permits the fluid to circulate between the exhaust gas heat recovery device and the battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Alan Lear, Sam Revach, Scott James Thompson, Robert Hasse
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Publication number: 20170197611Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid powertrain that includes an engine and a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods adjust battery charging and discharging as well as engine and motor torque based on whether or not the vehicle is operating in a cruise control mode. In one example, curves that provide a basis for operating an engine and motor based on driver demand torque are compressed during a vehicle cruise control mode to improve powertrain efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Christopher Alan Lear, Scott James Thompson