Brian R Carl

US Patent:

20040167689, Aug 26, 2004

Filed:

Nov 10, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/344976

Inventors:

William Bromley - Lapeer MI, US
Brian Carl - Rochester Hills MI, US
Sam Chang - West Bloomfield MI, US
Brian Crull - Clarkston MI, US
Andrew Ditchfield - New Hudson MI, US
Dennis Essenmacher - Royal Oak MI, US
Michael Kapolka - Sterling Heights MI, US

International Classification:

G06F007/00

US Classification:

701/029000

Abstract:

A remote vehicle diagnostics, monitoring, configuration and reprogramming tool is provided. The system includes a fleet of vehicles equipped with wireless mobile communications means that enable fleet managers to remotely diagnose, monitor and reprogram vehicles in their fleet via an Internet Web-based browser environment. Each vehicle within the fleet is equipped with a smart device that is coupled to the data bus within each vehicle. Date commands relating to the vehicle's parameters (e.g., diagnostic parameters such as max road speed, engine RPM, coolant temperature, air inlet temperature, etc.) are sent and received using satellite and terrestrial wireless communications technology. The invention allows users to remotely perform total fleet logistics and eliminates (or reduces) the need to physically bring fleet vehicles to a repair, maintenance or configuration facility.

US Patent:

20050060070, Mar 17, 2005

Filed:

Apr 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/823804

Inventors:

Michael Kapolka - Sterling Heights MI, US
Sam Chang - West Bloomfield MI, US
Andrew Smith - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Brian Crull - Oak Park MI, US
Dennis Essenmacher - Royal Oak MI, US
Andrew Ditchfield - New Hudson MI, US
William Bromley - Lapeer MI, US
Brian Carl - Rochester Hills MI, US
Gregory Dils - Tiffin IA, US
Hassanayn El-Hajj - Coralville IA, US
Gregory Kelsey - Cedar Rapids IA, US
Mark Brown - Iowa City IA, US
Nik Neymeyer - Marion IA, US

Assignee:

NNT, Inc. - Sterling Heights MI

International Classification:

G06F019/00

US Classification:

701029000, 701033000, 340438000

Abstract:

A system, method, and computer program product is provided for remote vehicle diagnostics, telematics, monitoring, configuring, and reprogramming. The system includes an on-board unit disposed on at least one vehicle, an application-service-provider infrastructure, and an interface. The on-board unit is operable to send and receive data corresponding to at least one vehicle operating characteristic. Located on the application-service-provider infrastructure is an application suite. The application suite includes at least one modular application each of which has an associated function that processes said data obtained via the on-board unit. The interface is operable to select from the application suite at least one of the modular applications that will use the associated function to diagnose, monitor, configure, reprogram, and/or obtain telematic information from the at least one vehicle.

US Patent:

20160091071, Mar 31, 2016

Filed:

Sep 26, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/497426

Inventors:

- Dearborn MI, US
Jacob Martin Povirk - Franklin MI, US
Jihong Guo - Ann Arbor MI, US
Patrick Meloche - Northville MI, US
Brian Carl - Farmington Hills MI, US

International Classification:

F16H 48/24
F16H 57/04
F16H 48/08

Abstract:

A locking differential includes a dog clutch configured to selectively couple a carrier to an axle shaft in response to magnetic forces generated by electrical current in a coil. A method of operating the differential is adapted to avoid failed engagement attempts that could potentially damage the dog clutch. If a driver commands engagement of the locking feature while a differential speed, a controller waits to command engagement of the dog clutch until the differential speed decreases below a threshold. The controller measures or infers a temperature of the differential fluid and adjusts the threshold to higher values when the temperature is cold.