The Chrysler Group on June 18 announced the winners of its annual Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award. Each year the Chrysler Group recognizes employee inventions patented during the year as part of the process of selecting the winner(s) of the annual the Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award.
Finalists for the Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award are selected by the Chrysler Group Patent Review Committee, which evaluates each patent issued during the proceeding year. Then, each voting member ranks the finalists. The Corporate Intellectual Property Office counts the votes to determine the final cut.
“It is with great pleasure today that I honor many of the great inventors within our company,” said Frank Klegon, executive vice president of product development, Chrysler Group. “The contributions of these individuals and many more like them represent the passion and creativity that is uniquely Chrysler.”
First place for the 2006 Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award was given to Joel A. Baker, Michael A. Bonne, Eugenio DiValentin, Mark J. Duty, Alan G. Falkowski, Constantin Hagiu, Glen D. Hendershott, Mark Koeroghlian, Zhong Li, Mark M. McElwee, Gregory L. Ohl, Gregory M. Pannone, Michael J. Prucka, Marc H. Sullivan and Dahai Wang for U.S. Patent Nos. 7,013,866; 7,085,647; 7,044,101; 7,028,661; 7,025,035; 7,044,107; 7,021,273; 7,107,828 and 7,040,265, issued during 2006 as various patents on the HEMI Multi-displacement System. The focus of these patents include a method for controlling airflow in an intake manifold, a method for estimating output toque of a multi-displacement engine, a method for controlling reactivation of a multi-displacement engine, a method for controlling the temperature of cylinders to be reactivated, a method for controlling multi-displacement engines, a method for enabling transition of a multi-displacement engine, a method for enabling cylinder deactivation, and a method for controlling an actuator and an engine having an internally located lifter oil gallery.
Second place was awarded to Chris J. Booms, William B. Blomquist and Roger C. Sager for U.S. Patent No. 7,131,322, issued Nov. 7, 2006, titled “Vehicle Evaporative System Diagnostic.” It focuses on a diagnostic method for an evaporative emission control system that determines functionality of a vacuum switch based on timing for the switch to operate in response to purging of vacuum. The method also provides for determining functionality of a purge valve based on certain monitored engine operating conditions.
Two patents tied for third place, including U.S. Patent No. 7,097,587, issued Aug. 29, 2006, and titled “Ratio Selection Method for a Continuously Variable Transmission” by Mark J. Duty, Fadi S. Kanafani and Gregory L. Ohl. The goal behind this is providing a method for selecting a gear ratio by determining a blend factor (a ratio reflective of an operator’s desired performance) to allow calculation of a blended desired engine speed based on the blend factor and engine speeds determined from two different variograms.
Also tied for third place is U.S. Patent No. 7,136,789, issued Nov. 14, 2006, and titled “Method for Producing a Constraint – Satisfied Cam Acceleration Profile” by Bruce Geist, Ronald G. Mosier and William F. Resh. The focus is to provide a method for generating an acceleration profile for a cam that satisfies a plurality of valve motion constraints. The method uses a plurality of specified points of desired valve acceleration versus cam angle to generate a draft curve. A set of equations are developed for each of the plurality of constraints that allow a point on the draft curve to be varied and the curve reformed to provide a cam profile that is constraint-satisfied.
Other finalists include Kim M. Lyon for “Torque Sensor-based Engine and Powertrain Control System,” U.S. Patent No. 7,111,611, issued Sept. 26, 2006; George A. Guba for “Apparatus and Method for a Valet Key Based Passive Security System,” U.S. Patent No. 7,075,409, issued July 7, 2006 and Kevin M. Tourneur and Gayle B. Morris for their “Open Automotive Door Alert,” U.S. Patent No. 7,068,160, issued June 27, 2006.
The Chrysler Group has presented patent awards since the early 1980s and the Walter P. Chrysler Technology Award has at its core the search for products and ideas that continue to give the Chrysler Group its competitive edge in all aspects of technology and business. Inventions that will improve quality, eliminate waste, reduce costs and speed up development are key to the selection process. Past Chrysler Group innovations have included four-wheel hydraulic brakes, electric window controls and electronic fuel injection. And a little something called the HEMI Engine, now with Multi-displacement System (MDS). Last year’s winner was a patent titled “Underfloor Stowage of a Folding Seat in a Vehicle” — better known as a Stow ’n Go system — which allows a seat to be folded and put away, creating a completely flat floor surface.
