Patents Examined by Gonzalo Laguarda
  • Patent number: 11964693
    Abstract: A vehicle having park assist includes a plurality of powered closure doors, each door having an actuator for moving the door between closed and open positions, a plurality of sensors located on the vehicle for sensing objects relative to the vehicle and generating sensed signals indicative of the sensed objects, and a transceiver for communicating with a parked vehicle. The vehicle also includes a controller processing the sensed signals, determining a distance and location of the sensed objects relative to the doors, and determining a parking location for the vehicle in a garage where the closure doors are free from contact with an object in the garage when in an open position and are free of contact with powered closure doors on the parked vehicle. An output is provided to assist a driver of the vehicle to park the vehicle in the garage in the determined parking location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry
  • Patent number: 11958471
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle includes: a drive-power distribution device for distributing a drive power from an engine to main and auxiliary drive wheels with a drive-power distribution ratio between the main drive wheels and auxiliary drive wheels; and a control apparatus for controlling an electric motor such that the drive-power distribution ratio becomes a target distribution ratio value, by setting an electric-current command value for driving an electric motor. The control apparatus is configured, in a drive-power transmitted state in which the drive power is transmitted to the drive-power distribution device, to execute a command-value reduction control operation for causing the electric motor to be driven with the electric-current command value being set to a value smaller than in a drive-power non-transmitted state in which the drive power is not being transmitted to the drive-power distribution device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Koji Takaira, Akinori Takahashi, Yuuki Makino
  • Patent number: 11959450
    Abstract: A system and method includes a secondary energy storage system (SESS) and a control system. The SESS is configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle and conductively connected via switch devices to a primary battery and a cranking device of the vehicle. The control system is configured to control the switch devices to close a conductive path to discharge electric current from the SESS for powering the cranking device to rotate an engine shaft during a cranking operation. The control system is configured to control the switch devices to open the conductive path and prevent discharge of electric current from the SESS after the cranking operation is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Worden, Jeffrey Louis Daigle
  • Patent number: 11945329
    Abstract: Presented are intelligent vehicle systems and logic for battery charge control and information display, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving vehicle location data indicating a real-time location of the vehicle and determining if the vehicle's real-time location is within a virtual geofence that delineates a predefined geographic area. If the real-time vehicle location is within the virtual geofence, the controller receives user location data indicating a real-time location of a vehicle user and determines if the user's real-time location is within a predefined proximity to the vehicle. If the user is within the predefined proximity to the vehicle, the controller responsively determines if a vehicle battery is charging; if so, the controller transmits a command signal to a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation related to the charging of the vehicle battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John Shpati, Jeeho J. Cha
  • Patent number: 11946425
    Abstract: The present invention provides an engine control device that sets a cam signal read value according to a cam signal output from a cam angle sensor, in a front-rear determination position; if the cam signal read value is alternately changed between 1 (LOW) and 2 (HIGH) in the front-rear determination position, sets the cam signal read value to the cam signal expected value; if the cam signal read value is not alternately changed between 1 (LOW) and 2 (HIGH), inverts the cam signal expected value in the control cycle of the previous time, and sets the resultant cam signal expected value; then, when the cam signal read value and the cam signal expected value are equal to each other, distinguishes the cylinders by using the cam signal read value; and when the cam signal read value and the cam signal expected value are different from each other, distinguishes the cylinders by using the cam signal expected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sho Sato, Akihito Kubota
  • Patent number: 11939929
    Abstract: An engine system includes an internal combustion engine, an electrical power system configured to provide electrical power in the engine system, and an electrified air system powered by the electrical power system to selectively increase a flow of intake air and exhaust gas to the engine. The electrified air system further includes an EGR pump operable to recirculate a portion of exhaust gas output from the engine and an electric turbocharger including a turbine, a compressor driven by the turbine via a shaft coupled therebetween, and an electrical machine coupled to the shaft. The electrical machine is configured to operate in a motoring mode to drive the shaft and cause the compressor to output boosted intake air to the engine and operate in a generating mode to transform rotational power from the shaft into electrical power that is provided back into the electrical power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE &COMPANY
    Inventors: Danan Dou, Eric J. Haaland
  • Patent number: 11919505
    Abstract: A control device can execute a first diagnosis process of, when first execution conditions are met, diagnosing whether an air-fuel ratio sensor has an abnormality while executing a motoring process, and a second diagnosis process of, when second execution conditions are met, diagnosing whether a GPF has an abnormality while executing the motoring process. In an execution determination process, the control device prohibits execution of both the first diagnosis process and the second diagnosis process when at least either the first execution conditions or the second execution conditions are not met, and permits execution of both the first diagnosis process and the second diagnosis process when both the first execution conditions and the second execution conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11923575
    Abstract: A fault diagnostic apparatus for a fuel cell electric vehicle and a method therefor are provided. The apparatus includes: a main relay connected to a fuel cell stack; a power converter connected to the main relay; a heater relay connected to the fuel cell stack and the main relay at one end and connected to a cathode oxygen depletion (COD) heater at the other end; and a fuel cell control unit (FCU) connected with the main relay, the power converter, and the heater relay. The FCU diagnoses a fault of the main relay based on an amount of change in stack voltage according to control to turn off and on the heater relay and a power of the power converter according to variable control of a voltage of the power converter, when the vehicle enters a shutdown sequence, and outputs the diagnosed result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Taek Kim, Chang Hwan Ye, Soon Gil Kweon, Hyo Jin Park
  • Patent number: 11912258
    Abstract: A transmission system for a vehicle including a drive, at least one wheel and at least one brake having an ABS system. The drive is configured to drive the at least one wheel and the at least one brake is configured to brake the at least one wheel. The power transmission system is configured to also drive the at least one wheel braked by the at least one brake during a braking process, which enters a control range of the ABS system, at the same time using a drive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Marcus Baum
  • Patent number: 11912262
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an air-conditioning (AC) compressor, an engine, a belt-integrated starter generator (BISG), and a controller. The controller, responsive to detecting a first AC compressor engagement condition, compares a first AC torque demand that is required to engage the AC compressor with an available torque from the BISG. The controller further, responsive to the available torque being insufficient to engage the AC compressor, engages the AC compressor using the available torque from the BISG and an engine torque from the engine to compensate a torque shortfall between the AC torque demand and the available torque by retarding spark timing and increasing air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Leroy, Nicholas Dashwood Crisp, Athul Raj, Grant Cooper
  • Patent number: 11905899
    Abstract: A skip fire control system for an engine of a vehicle includes a set of sensors configured to measure a set of operating parameters of the engine corresponding to a volumetric efficiency of the engine, a set of sub-systems having a set of operational states that affect transitions between different firing patterns/fractions of the engine, and a controller configured to, based on the set of operating parameters and the set of operational states of the set of sub-systems, determine a best firing pattern/fraction by taking into account losses or penalties to transition at least some of the set of operational states of the set of sub-systems to obtain a target firing pattern/fraction, and control the engine based on the target firing pattern/fraction to maximize an efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Srihari Kalluri, Mark A Shost
  • Patent number: 11904833
    Abstract: A boundary is at an engine drive restricted zone where operation of the internal combustion engine is restricted. An adjusting device adjusts of at least one of the temperature inside the cabin using electric power, the humidity inside the cabin using electric power, or the air pollution degree inside the cabin. In response to a prediction that (1) a host vehicle will enter the inside of the engine drive restricted zone and that (2a) the time period for the host vehicle to reach the boundary is within a preset time period or that (2b) the distance between the host vehicle and the boundary is within a preset distance, the value of at least one of the temperature inside the cabin, the humidity inside the cabin, and the air pollution degree inside the cabin is reduced before the host vehicle enters the inside of the engine drive restricted zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiki Yokoyama, Hiroya Chiba, Yoshiyuki Kageura, Masanori Shimada, Yoshihiro Sakayanagi, Sui Kurihashi, Hiroki Morita, Makoto Ogiso
  • Patent number: 11891900
    Abstract: Over-acceleration protection mechanism for ICE or turbine speed regulator with a bushing driven by the gears. The bushing, the component, the washer, the thread, are joined together. The component screws to the thread through the thread. The weights are fitted to the component through the pins and the safety clips, including the valve which is secured by the nut. The lid is screwed to the bushing by means of the screws, while the counterweights come out of the openings of the lid. The thrust bearing and the pressure spring are mounted on the component, adjusted by the screw. The device operates through the centrifugal force which forces the counterweights to rotate in its direction of rotation and to displace the valve by compressing the spring. Then the holes of the fittings communicate with each other, allowing the oil to pass through the joints and the tube and actuate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventor: Lampros Sarbanis
  • Patent number: 11885496
    Abstract: A fluid nozzle includes a first fluid circuit, a second fluid circuit spaced apart from the first fluid circuit and a fuel circuit. The fuel circuit is defined between the first and second fluid circuits and between a first fuel circuit wall and a second fuel circuit wall. A ring-shaped permeable barrier is positioned between the first and second fuel circuit walls configured and adapted to provide a controlled resistance to fuel flow. A fuel distributor includes a first fuel circuit wall and a second fuel circuit wall spaced apart from the first fuel circuit wall. A fuel circuit is defined between the first and second fuel circuit walls. A ring-shaped permeable barrier is positioned between first and second fuel circuit walls. A combustion assembly includes a combustor housing, a combustor dome positioned at an upstream end of the combustor housing, and a fluid nozzle positioned adjacent the combustor dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev A. Prociw, Jason Ryon, Philip E. O. Buelow
  • Patent number: 11859566
    Abstract: An emergency vehicle throttle management system includes a system controller having a main body, a processor, a memory, a multiplex connectivity component, a powertrain connectivity component, and a life safety connectivity component. The life safety connectivity component functioning to communicate directly with one of the life safety systems onboard the emergency vehicle. The powertrain connection component functioning to communicate with the powertrain components of the emergency vehicle which are mechanically coupled to the life safety system. The system controller including functionality for transmitting a powertrain resource request to the powertrain of the emergency vehicle in response to a throttle adjustment request received from the life safety system or a command from the throttle pedal of the vehicle. A throttle rule management unit evaluates error notifications received from the multiplex system, and selectively instructs the throttle source circuit to generate powertrain resource requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Bradley Busch
  • Patent number: 11845418
    Abstract: A method of controlling an engine and a transmission of a vehicle, which is a hybrid vehicle, includes the following steps that are carried out by a controller: determining whether the vehicle is under NCC (Neutral Coasting Control), determining whether an engine RPM reaches an engine RPM control point if it is determined that the NCC is in effect, determining an RPM and a gear stage of a vehicle transmission if it is determined that the engine RPM has reached the engine RPM control point, determining an engine target RPM of the vehicle, determining whether the engine RPM has reached a mild hybrid starter & generator (MHSG) control point, and controlling the MHSG according to a condition if it is determined that the engine RPM has reached the MHSG control point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Sung Park, Jaebin Lee, Tae Won Hwang
  • Patent number: 11845419
    Abstract: An electronic control system controls operation of a vehicle system by selectably controlling the vehicle system using engine start-stop controls in response to one or more engine start-stop conditions being met, controlling the vehicle system using neutral-at-stop controls in response to one or more neutral-at-stop conditions being met, and controlling the vehicle system using cylinder deactivation controls in response to the one or more neutral-at-stop conditions not being met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bailey, Jennifer K. Light-Holets
  • Patent number: 11846257
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine having piston-cylinder arrangements communicating with an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold, a turbocharger including a turbine in communication with the exhaust manifold and a compressor driven by the turbine and in communication with the intake manifold, and an EGR system including an EGR pump having an inlet side in communication with the exhaust manifold and an outlet side in communication with the intake manifold, and an EGR cooler that cools exhaust gas flowing through the EGR system. The engine system also includes a controller operably connected with the EGR pump and configured to selectively operate the EGR pump in a forward mode to flow exhaust gas therethrough in a first direction and in a reverse mode to substantially prevent flow of exhaust gas therethrough or provide a non-exhaust air flow therethrough in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Eric J. Haaland
  • Patent number: 11840986
    Abstract: A blocker door assembly for use in a gas turbine includes a panel, a core integrally formed with the panel, and a plurality of mounting structures extending from at least one of the panel and the core. The plurality of mounting structures are integrally formed with the core and the panel such that the panel, the core, and the mounting structures are co-molded from a thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kevin O'Brien Gaw, Dylan E. Jones, Michael H. Larson, Belur N. Shivashankara, Randy J. Grove, David John Barene, Jeston Lingelbach, Kory Shaffer, David W. Foutch
  • Patent number: 11834049
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle (1) is provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor (13) that drives the vehicle to travel, a generator (12) that supplies power to the electric motor, and an engine (11) that drives the generator. The method includes calculating an amount or factor of change in target driving force (Fd) for the vehicle, setting a change rate (NRu, NRd) of a rotational speed of the engine in accordance with the amount or factor of change in the target driving force, and controlling the rotational speed of the engine on the basis of the change rate of the rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ariyoshi, Satomi Eto