Patents Examined by Johnny H. Hoang
  • Patent number: 11965476
    Abstract: Systems and methods for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the method selects one or more electric machines to start an engine. The method may reference a data structure, such as a matrix or table, and the matrix or table outputs which of the one or more electric machines is applied to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maruthi Ravichandran, Calvin Trescott, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Jeffrey Doering
  • Patent number: 11964649
    Abstract: A brake system and a control method therefor are disclosed. A brake system is provided including a main brake system, auxiliary brake system, signal bus, and communications unit. The main brake system distributes braking force to each of vehicle wheels. The auxiliary brake system operates in place of the main brake system when having a malfunction. The signal bus includes wired device(s) arranged between the main brake system and the auxiliary brake system and transmits a signal regarding a presence or absence of malfunction between the main brake system and auxiliary brake system. The communications unit transmits operation state information between the main brake system and the auxiliary brake system. Responsive to the detected malfunction signal of the main brake system through the signal bus, the auxiliary brake system performs a preparation for providing the braking force to each vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 11959448
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether to use engine start-stop systems during trail or other off-road driving are provided. Systems and methods may utilize various vehicle sensors (e.g., lidar, forward-facing cameras, accelerometers, sonar sensors, etc.) to detect when it is appropriate to command engine stop for fuel economy while driving off-road. To determine appropriateness, the vehicle may evaluate obstacles, ground clearance, and/or vehicle inclination. A method may include measuring accelerations/inclinations of a vehicle, comparing an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disabling a start-stop system of the vehicle based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas S. Hawley
  • Patent number: 11959536
    Abstract: A system for managing vehicle body and wheel motion control with a dual clutch differential includes sensors and actuators disposed on the vehicle, the sensors measuring real-time static and dynamic data and the actuators altering static and dynamic behavior of the motor vehicle. A control module executes program code portions stored in memory. The program code portions receive the real-time static and dynamic data; selectively prioritize torque output from a prime mover of the vehicle through the differential to driven wheels of the vehicle to control a body and the driven wheels; model and estimate clutch torque for each clutch of the dual clutch differential; model and estimate a joint clutch torque, a tire force, and corner torque; and generate a torque output for each clutch of the dual clutch differential that is selected to maintain one or more of body control, wheel control, and stability of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, University of Waterloo
    Inventors: Reza Hajiloo, Amir Khajepour, Seyedalireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, Seyedeh Asal Nahidi, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Ehsan Mohammadbagher
  • Patent number: 11951968
    Abstract: An EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) control apparatus may include: a first EPB switch of an EPB; a first controller connected to two terminals among the plurality of terminals of the first EPB switch, and configured to calculate a first signal value by combining signals received from the two terminals, and diagnose the state of the first EPB switch according to the first signal value, and a second controller connected to the other two terminals among the plurality of terminals of the first EPB switch, and configured to calculate a second signal value by combining signals received from the two terminals, and diagnose the state of the first EPB switch according to the second signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Lee, Jung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11946227
    Abstract: A working machine includes a controller configured or programmed to perform an automatic deceleration for automatically decelerating a left traveling motor and a right traveling motor rotated at a second speed by shifting from the second speed to the first speed, and to determine a deceleration threshold that is used for judging whether the automatic deceleration has to be performed or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Nagao, Yuji Fukuda, Ryota Hamamoto, Hiroaki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11945604
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a control computer, load determining unit, first central inertial measurement device and a second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit is coupled to the first inertial measurement device and the second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit can receive instantaneous first accelerations detected by the first inertial measurement device and instantaneous second accelerations detected by the at least one second inertial measurement device and from this to determine instantaneous loads acting on the aircraft and to store them in a memory unit and/or to transmit them to an external unit. The load determining unit can determine expected maneuver accelerations. The load determining unit can subtract the expected maneuver accelerations from detected first accelerations and second accelerations and determine externally induced dynamic accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Cyrille Vidy, Christoph Meisner, Christian Stolz, Holger Hickethier
  • Patent number: 11939892
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device includes: a driving rotating body that rotates with a crankshaft; a driven rotating body that rotates with a camshaft; a reduction mechanism configured to change a relative rotation phase of the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body by a driving force of an actuator; and a filter unit capable of capturing a foreign matter contained in lubricating fluid supplied into the reduction mechanism. The reduction mechanism includes: an internal gear portion having internal teeth formed inward in a radial direction, and an external gear portion having external teeth formed outward in the radial direction to mesh with the internal teeth. The driven rotating body has a supply hole penetrating in an axial direction. The filter unit has holes penetrating in the axial direction, and the holes are arranged in a flow path of the lubricating fluid connected to the supply hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahito Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11939932
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a static flow rate of a piezo-electric injector of an injection system. The piezo-electric injector includes a needle and a piezo-electric actuator designed to control a valve of the injector. The injection system includes an electric generator designed to send electric current pulses to the piezo-electric actuator of the injector, and a voltage sensor designed to measure voltage values at the terminals of the piezo-electric actuator. The method includes the following steps: sending during a phase of closure of the needle of an electric current pulse such that the piezo-electric actuator is positioned in contact with the valve, without giving rise to the opening thereof; measurement of a plurality of voltage values of the piezo-electric actuator; and determining a static flow rate of the piezo-electric injector on the basis of a plurality of voltage values measured of the piezo-electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Quentin Dussardier, Morgan Drouyer, Edouard Gambier
  • Patent number: 11933240
    Abstract: Operating an internal combustion engine system includes feeding a stream of pressurized intake air to a plurality of cylinders in an engine for combustion with a methanol fuel. An engine parameter indicative of at least one of an exhaust NOx level or a change to the exhaust NOx level of the engine is monitored, and water injected into an intake conduit for the engine based on the monitored engine parameter to limit the exhaust NOx level of the engine. Related apparatus and control logic is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenth I Svensson, David Todd Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11933244
    Abstract: Systems and methods regarding a ducted fuel injection (DFI) combustion system for an internal combustion engine can control an injection timing of a fuel injector to output fuel injections through at least one duct and into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injection timing can include one or more pilot injections according to a predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) for a combustion cycle; and a main injection into the combustion chamber for the combustion cycle after all of the one or more pilot injections. A first amount of the fuel injected for the main injection can be greater than a second amount of fuel injected for the one or more pilot injections. The predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) of the one or more pilot injections can be from 85 to 40 degrees BTDC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Charlie Kim
  • Patent number: 11933257
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel supply passage configured to receive a pressurized fuel, a nozzle orifice downstream of the fuel supply passage, and an injection valve positionable to open the nozzle orifice and to close the nozzle orifice. The injection valve has a first configuration with a first lift and a second configuration with a second lift, the first lift being different than the second lift. The fuel injection system includes a fluid-actuated lift control valve configured to cause the injection valve to change from the first configuration to the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew O. Marrack
  • Patent number: 11927164
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11920522
    Abstract: Based upon a measured first resistance, a first delta curve is selected. Based upon a measured second resistance, a second delta curve is selected. A first fuel valve position (FVP) is received from a first position sensor, and the first FVP is applied to the first delta curve to obtain a first offset. A second FVP is received from a second position sensor, and the second FVP is applied to the second delta curve to obtain a second offset. The first offset is applied to the first measured FVP to obtain the first compensated FVP and the second offset is applied to the second measured FVP to obtain the second compensated FVP. The first compensated FVP and the second compensated FVP are correlated to obtain a final compensated FVP, which is applied to a desired fuel valve position to obtain a final fuel valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GE Avio S.r.l.
    Inventors: Diego di Leo, Lorenzo Cipolla, Simone Recchia, Cristian Lai
  • Patent number: 11913391
    Abstract: A controller for an internal combustion engine is configured to calculate a water collection amount based on a temperature of intake air flowing through an intake passage, the water collection amount being an amount of water that collects on a wall surface of the intake passage, cause a water injection valve to inject water to the intake passage when an intake valve is open, and cause the water injection valve to inject water when the intake valve is closed in addition to when the intake valve is open in a case in which the water collection amount is less than a specified value that has been defined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Suzuki, Tomihisa Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11913395
    Abstract: An intelligent control method for engine initiation, including: determining whether a current driving mode satisfies a predetermined driving mode; when the current driving mode satisfies the predetermined driving mode, acquiring a current remaining capacity of a battery; determining whether the current remaining capacity is greater than a predetermined capacity threshold value; when the current remaining capacity is greater than the predetermined capacity threshold value, not starting an engine, otherwise, acquiring a catalyst temperature and a vehicle operating state; determining, according to the vehicle operating state, whether the catalyst temperature is less than a predetermined temperature threshold value; when the catalyst temperature is not less than the predetermined temperature threshold value, driving the engine to rotate clockwise to start same in a fuel cut-off manner, otherwise, heating a catalyst by a heating plate until the catalyst temperature is not less than the predetermined temperature th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD., NINGBO GEELY ROYAL ENGINE COMPONENTS CO., LTD., Aurobay Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Conghui An, Yiqiang Liu, Zhiwei Qiao, Changming Jin, Zhengxing Dai, Jiang Tang, Junjie Guo
  • Patent number: 11898515
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle engine fuel system. In one embodiment the method comprises indicating degradation of each of a low-pressure fuel pump and a fuel filter based on a comparison of a pressure differential between a high-pressure pump pressure setting to an actual pressure and a demanded fuel flow to an engine, the indication distinguishing between pump ageing and filter degradation. The method may include adjusting operation of the low-pressure fuel pump in response to the comparison of the high-pressure pump pressure setting and pressure of fuel entering a high-pressure pump. In one example, the fuel filter may be positioned to filter fuel drawn from a fuel tank before entering the low-pressure fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yun Xing, John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Natalie Remisoski
  • Patent number: 11891968
    Abstract: An improved ball valve for use between dual fuel tanks having a non-circular outlet aperture leading to the fuel line and engine that can allow fuel to pass therethrough even when the ball contained within the valve rests in the opening of the outlet aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: FLEX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl R. Scrudders, Brandon Nisewonger
  • Patent number: 11885273
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for ascertaining the flow through a timer valve. The method includes detecting the pressure upstream of the timer valve during an evacuation of a container arranged upstream of the timer valve, ascertaining the flow through the timer valve based on the detected pressure upstream of the timer valve and based on the temperature and the volume of the gas in the container. The method also includes comparing the flow ascertained during the evacuation and a modeled flow and/or comparing a variable dependent on the ascertained flow and a variable dependent on the modeled flow. Additionally, the method includes adapting the model in the event of a discrepancy between the flow ascertained during the evacuation and the modeled flow and/or in the event of a discrepancy between the variable dependent on the ascertained flow and the variable dependent on the modeled flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Vitesco Technoloiges GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Gruenbeck, Tobias Hirthammer
  • Patent number: 11873775
    Abstract: An injection amount variation of a plurality of fuel injection valves is reduced regardless of a state of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Itaba, Osamu Mukaihara, Takao Miyake, Takuya Watai