Alan J Houtman

20070296567, Dec 27, 2007

Jan 24, 2007

11/626488

Goro Tamai - West Bloomfield MI, US
Mark A. Zerbini - Canton MI, US
Alan J. Houtman - Milford MI, US

B60Q 1/00

340439

A fuel economy (FE) indicator lamp regulation system for a hybrid electric vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes an FE indicator lamp, a first module that calculates an instantaneous FE of the hybrid electric vehicle and a second module that determines a velocity of the hybrid electric vehicle. A third module switches the FE indicator lamp between an on state and an off state based on the instantaneous FE and the vehicle speed.

20180201243, Jul 19, 2018

Jan 19, 2017

15/410598

- Detroit MI, US
ERIC E. KRUEGER - CHELSEA MI, US
PATRICK J. MONSERE - HIGHLAND MI, US
EDWARD T. HEIL - HOWELL MI, US
ROBERT L. NISONGER - MILFORD MI, US
CONSTANDI J. SHAMI - ANN ARBOR MI, US
ALAN J. HOUTMAN - MILFORD MI, US

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

B60T 8/32
B60T 17/22
B60T 8/172
B60T 8/17
B60T 8/18

Systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle using a specific torque of a brake system. In one embodiment, a method of using a specific torque of a brake system for a vehicle includes: determining a brake pressure of the brake system during a braking operation; determining a deceleration of the vehicle during the braking operation; determining a vehicle mass and a wheel radius; estimating a specific torque of the brake system based on the brake pressure and the deceleration; and operating the vehicle based on the specific torque.

20180194353, Jul 12, 2018

Jan 10, 2017

15/402673

- Detroit MI, US
Alan J. Houtman - Milford MI, US
Christopher C. Chappell - Commerce Township MI, US
Brandon C. Pennala - Howell MI, US

B60W 30/18
B60T 7/04
B60T 8/171
B60T 8/172
B60T 17/22
B60W 10/06
B60W 10/18
B60W 50/04

A vehicle includes a fault-tolerant braking system that controls a brake assembly which is configured to adjust a braking force applied to one or more wheels. The fault-tolerant braking system further includes a brake-by-wire (BBW) system and a vehicle control module (VCM). The BBW system is configured to control the brake assembly in response to a braking request. The VCM is configured to detect a fault of at least one of the brake assembly and the BBW system. In response to detecting the fault, the VCM selectively operates the vehicle between a normal operating mode and at least one degraded driving mode that limits operation of at least one of the vehicle engine and the vehicle transmission compared to the normal operating mode.

20180141530, May 24, 2018

Nov 22, 2016

15/359075

- Detroit MI, US
Kevin S. Kidston - New Hudson MI, US
Alan J. Houtman - Milford MI, US

B60T 13/74
B60T 7/04

A brake-by-wire system includes a controller, a brake assembly, a pedal assembly, and a hydraulic backup assembly. The brake assembly includes a brake and an actuator connected to the brake when the system is in a normal mode. The pedal assembly is coupled to the brake when the system is in a backup mode, and is coupled to the controller when in the normal mode. The controller receives braking signals from the pedal assembly and outputs a command signal to the actuator. The actuator drives the brake in the normal mode. The backup assembly includes a hydraulic line in controlled fluid communication with the brake and pedal assembly. A valve is in a normal position that isolates the pedal assembly from the brake when in the normal mode, and is in a backup position that provides communication between the pedal assembly and the brake when in the backup mode.

20180093648, Apr 5, 2018

Sep 30, 2016

15/282145

- Detroit MI, US
Alan J. Houtman - Milford MI, US
Paul A. Kilmurray - Wixom MI, US
Christopher C. Chappell - Commerce Township MI, US
Grant A. Browning - Brighton MI, US
Jordan M. Krell - Royal Oak MI, US

B60T 7/06
B60T 7/04

A brake pedal emulator extends and is connected between a support structure and a brake pedal along a centerline. The emulator includes a hydraulic cylinder, a piston head, and a variable flow communicator. An outer casing of the cylinder engages one of the structure and the pedal. The piston head engages the other of the structure and the pedal, and the communicator is carried between the casing and the piston head. A first chamber is defined at least in-part by the casing and a first side of the piston head, and a second chamber is defined at least in-part by the casing and an opposite second side of the piston head. The piston head is in sealed and slides with respect to the casing, and the communicator is adapted to provide fluid communication between the first and second chambers that varies with axial displacement of the piston head.

20180056959, Mar 1, 2018

Aug 29, 2016

15/250346

- Detroit MI, US
Christopher C. Chappell - Commerce Township MI, US
Paul A. Kilmurray - Wixom MI, US
Patrick J. Monsere - Highland MI, US
Eric E. Krueger - Chelsea MI, US
Alan J. Houtman - Milford MI, US
Kevin S. Kidston - New Hudson MI, US
Michael C. Roberts - Auburn Hills MI, US
Steven J. Weber - Mount Clemens MI, US

B60T 13/74
B60T 17/18

A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electronic brake system (EBS) controllers. The brake assemblies each include an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The EBS controllers are located remotely from one another. Each EBS controller has integrated therein an electronic actuator driver unit that includes an electronic power circuit configured to drive at least one of the electro-mechanical actuators. A first EBS controller is configured to drive a first group of electro-mechanical actuators, and a second EBS controller is configured to drive a second group of electro-mechanical actuators that exclude the electro-mechanical actuators of the first group.

20180056960, Mar 1, 2018

Aug 29, 2016

15/250411

- Detroit MI, US
Brandon C. Pennala - Howell MI, US
Christopher C. Chappell - Commerce Township MI, US
Alan J. Houtman - Milford MI, US
Kevin S. Kidston - New Hudson MI, US
Patrick J. Monsere - Highland MI, US
Michael C. Roberts - Auburn Hills MI, US
Paul A. Kilmurray - Wixom MI, US
Steven J. Weber - Mount Clemens MI, US

B60T 13/74
B60T 17/18

A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies and a plurality of electrical power circuits. Each brake assembly includes an electro-mechanical actuator configured to adjust a torque force applied to a wheel of the vehicle. The electrical power circuits are located remotely from one another. Each power circuit is configured to drive a respective actuator. The vehicle further includes a first electronic brake system (EBS) controller and a second EBS controller. The first EBS controller is configured to output a first data command signal to control a first group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second EBS controller is configured to output a second data command signal to control a second group of power circuits among the plurality of power circuits. The second group excludes the power circuits from the first group.

20180056961, Mar 1, 2018

Aug 29, 2016

15/250488

- Detroit MI, US
Brandon C. Pennala - Howell MI, US
Christopher C. Chappell - Commerce Township MI, US
Alan J. Houtman - Milford MI, US
Kevin S. Kidston - New Hudson MI, US
Patrick J. Monsere - Highland MI, US
Michael C. Roberts - Auburn Hills MI, US
Paul A. Kilmurray - Wixom MI, US
Steven J. Weber - Mount Clemens MI, US

B60T 13/74
B60T 17/22
B60T 17/18

A vehicle includes a plurality of electronic brake system (EBS) controllers configured to detect at least one braking event, and a plurality of brake assemblies. Each brake assembly is coupled to a respective wheel of the vehicle and includes an enhanced smart actuator. The enhanced smart actuator further includes an electro-mechanical actuator, and at least one power circuit. The electro-mechanical actuator is configured to adjust a torque force applied to the respective wheel. The at least one electronic power circuit is configured to output a high-frequency switched high-power current drive signal that drives the electro-mechanical actuator. The EBS controllers control a first group of enhanced smart actuators independently from a second group of enhanced smart actuators that exclude the enhanced smart actuators of the first group.