Todd Mark Tumas

US Patent:

7063138, Jun 20, 2006

Filed:

May 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/853406

Inventors:

Munther M. Salim - Macomb MI, US
Gregory A. Major - Farmington Hills MI, US
Todd M. Tumas - Taylor MI, US
Gaurav Anand - Sterling Hts. MI, US
Balaji Maniam - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F25B 29/00
B60H 1/00
B60H 3/00
B60H 1/32

US Classification:

165202, 165 10, 165236, 62 59, 62244, 62406

Abstract:

The present invention concerns a method for cooling a passenger compartment in a hybrid vehicle that operates an engine intermittently during vehicle operation. The hybrid vehicle includes an HVAC system having an HVAC duct, a blower for directing a flow of air through the HVAC duct, an evaporator located within the HVAC duct, and a heater core. The heater core has a coolant inlet outlet and is located downstream of the evaporator in the HVAC duct. The method includes the steps of cooling a refrigerant; inducing a flow of the cooled refrigerant through the evaporator; blocking a flow of coolant through the coolant inlet and outlet to trap coolant in the heater core; activating the blower to move air through the evaporator and heater core; turning off the vehicle engine; measuring a duct outlet temperature; and starting the engine when the measured duct outlet temperature is above a predetermined temperature.

US Patent:

7567864, Jul 28, 2009

Filed:

Dec 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/312923

Inventors:

Lawrence P. Ziehr - Clarkston MI, US
Nathan Ampunan - Novi MI, US
Krishnaraj Inbarajan - Troy MI, US
Mark D. Nemesh - Troy MI, US
Todd M. Tumas - Taylor MI, US
Mark R. Willey - Grand Blanc MI, US

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60Q 1/02
G06F 19/00

US Classification:

701 49, 701 2, 701208, 315 82, 315 83, 340468

Abstract:

A method for controlling a vehicle's lighting functionality is disclosed herein. The method may include realizing a preferred vehicle lighting configuration and transmitting a signal to the vehicle via a radio frequency communication system. In response to the signal, the vehicle lighting system may alter a current vehicle lighting configuration to correspond with the preferred vehicle lighting configuration.

US Patent:

7908877, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Jul 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/175513

Inventors:

Michael H. Carlson - Madison Heights MI, US
Lawrence P. Ziehr - Clarkston MI, US
Todd M. Tumas - Taylor MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F25B 49/00
B60W 20/00

US Classification:

62157, 62231, 180 6527

Abstract:

A method of controlling a HVAC system for a hybrid vehicle having a refrigerant compressor driven by an engine is disclosed. The method may comprise: determining a requested air conditioning operating point for a passenger compartment; estimating a time to reach the requested operating point; based on the previous steps, estimating a maximum allowed compressor off time; determining if the allowed compressor off time is greater than a minimum engine off time; if the allowed compressor off time is greater than the engine off time, determining if the vehicle is entering an allowable engine off mode; if so, commencing engine shut-off mode; if engine shut-off is anticipated, prior to commencing the shut-off mode, adjusting the HVAC system to maximize cooling of the passenger compartment with minimum energy usage; and if the engine shut-off is commenced, monitoring the HVAC system to determine when engine restart is needed to maintain comfort.

US Patent:

20070131782, Jun 14, 2007

Filed:

Dec 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/296987

Inventors:

Lawrence Ziehr - Clarkston MI, US
Mark Nemesh - Troy MI, US
Todd Tumas - Taylor MI, US

International Classification:

F24D 19/10
B60H 1/32
B60H 1/00

US Classification:

23600100B, 062133000, 165203000

Abstract:

A vehicle HVAC system as described herein obtains solar intensity data from an onboard solar sensor, along with current vehicle position data from a telematics system or a GPS system. The current vehicle position data is processed to determine the current sun position, which is used to provide a real-time and accurate estimate of the solar intensity in the vehicle interior. Vehicle configuration information, including position data related to light-obstructing features such as pillars, may also influence the solar intensity estimate. The solar intensity estimate can be utilized to control the operation of the vehicle HVAC system.

US Patent:

20090107739, Apr 30, 2009

Filed:

Oct 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/930342

Inventors:

Gregory A. Major - Farmington Hills MI, US
Todd M. Tumas - Taylor MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60K 6/20
B60H 1/32
F25B 1/00

US Classification:

180 538, 62115, 62243, 903902, 903904

Abstract:

A hybrid electric vehicle having an air conditioning system, an engine and a belt-alternator-starter motor-generator, and a method of operation, is disclosed. A torque transfer assembly, such as a pulley and belt assembly, engages the engine and motor-generator, and includes a clutched member for selectively disconnecting the torque transfer between the engine and motor-generator. A refrigerant compressor includes a compressor shaft rotationally coupled to and driven by the motor-generator shaft. The compressor may be driven by the motor-generator when the engine is not operating.

US Patent:

20090236089, Sep 24, 2009

Filed:

Mar 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/050193

Inventors:

Gregory A. Major - Farmington Hills MI, US
Lawrence P. Ziehr - Clarkston MI, US
William R. Hill - Troy MI, US
Thomas K. Lockwood - Fenton MI, US
Todd M. Tumas - Taylor MI, US

Assignee:

GM BLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01P 7/04
G05D 23/00

US Classification:

165299, 123 4112, 165200

Abstract:

A method for controlling a fan in a vehicle includes comparing the current temperature of at least a first device and a second device to multiple temperature ranges for each of said devices and determining on the basis of said comparisons whether fan speed should be changed, increasing fan speed to a maximum fan speed if at least one of the comparisons indicates that the maximum fan speed is desired, increasing fan speed to a reference fan speed if at least one of the comparisons indicates that an increase in fan speed less than the maximum fan speed is desired, and decreasing fan speed to a reference fan speed if the comparisons indicate that a decrease in fan speed is desired.

US Patent:

20110251756, Oct 13, 2011

Filed:

Apr 12, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/758452

Inventors:

Gregory A. Major - Farmington Hills MI, US
William R. Hill - Troy MI, US
Todd M. Tumas - Taylor MI, US
Kenneth L. Porrett - Grand Blanc MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B60W 10/06
G06F 7/00
B60W 10/30
F02D 43/00

US Classification:

701 36, 701102

Abstract:

An accessory load control system for a vehicle, includes an actuator control module, a period estimation module, and a load control module. The actuator control module operates an internal combustion engine of the vehicle in a high-efficiency (HE) mode. The period estimation module estimates a period between a current time and a future time when an actual load on a crankshaft of the engine will reach a maximum engine load associated with the HE mode. The load control module selectively decreases engine loads applied by vehicle accessories, respectively, based on the period.

US Patent:

20120047929, Mar 1, 2012

Filed:

Aug 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/871664

Inventors:

GILLES M. DELORME - WHITBY, CA
THOMAS D. HAGEN - GRAND BLANC MI, US
TODD M. TUMAS - TAYLOR MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - DETROIT MI

International Classification:

B60H 1/00
F25D 21/02

US Classification:

62155, 701 36, 621762, 621766

Abstract:

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a defrost unit for a vehicle. A prediction is performed as to whether condensation has formed against a surface of the vehicle. The defrost unit is automatically activated when it is predicted that the condensation has formed against the surface. Another prediction is made as to whether condensation has dissipated from the surface while the defrost unit is operating. The defrost unit is automatically deactivated when it is predicted that the condensation has dissipated.