Patents by Inventor Christopher Hopp

Christopher Hopp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11718302
    Abstract: A drive train control method includes transmitting a total time period of a stroke phase and a torque phase of an upshift from a transmission control unit of an automatic transmission to an engine control unit of an engine. The method also includes closing a first shift element of the automatic transmission and opening a second shift element of the automatic transmission during the upshift. A control pressure of the first shift element increases during the torque phase relative to the control pressure of the first shift element at an end of the stroke phase. A control pressure of the second shift element decreases during the torque phase relative to the control pressure of the second shift element at the end of the stroke phase. The method further includes, based at least in part on the total time period of the stroke and torque phases, increasing an actual torque of the engine during the upshift such that the actual torque of the engine increases to a higher gear torque prior to an end of the torque phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Frieder Mohr, Christian Villing, Thomas Stark, Yoshitaka Shitani, Matthew J. Tucker, Yasuhiro Gokan, Christopher Hopp, Ryuichi Mori, Makoto Kobayashi, Ryuji Murata
  • Publication number: 20210146931
    Abstract: A drive train control method includes transmitting a total time period of a stroke phase and a torque phase of an upshift from a transmission control unit of an automatic transmission to an engine control unit of an engine. The method also includes closing a first shift element of the automatic transmission and opening a second shift element of the automatic transmission during the upshift. A control pressure of the first shift element increases during the torque phase relative to the control pressure of the first shift element at an end of the stroke phase. A control pressure of the second shift element decreases during the torque phase relative to the control pressure of the second shift element at the end of the stroke phase. The method further includes, based at least in part on the total time period of the stroke and torque phases, increasing an actual torque of the engine during the upshift such that the actual torque of the engine increases to a higher gear torque prior to an end of the torque phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Frieder Mohr, Christian Villing, Thomas Stark, Yoshitaka Shitani, Matthew J. Tucker, Yasuhiro Gokan, Christopher Hopp, Ryuichi Mori, Makoto Kobayashi, Ryuji Murata
  • Patent number: 10364884
    Abstract: A gear shift mechanism controlled by a gear shift control device includes a plurality of engagement mechanisms and engages three engagement mechanisms to establish any one of a plurality of shift stages. The gear shift control device is adapted to change speed to a desired shift stage set by a manual operation. If a gear shift to the desired shift stage involves the skipping of one or more shift stages and the switching of two or more engagement mechanisms among the plurality of engagement mechanisms that are currently engaged, then the gear shift control device performs the gear shift to the desired shift stage such that the engagement mechanisms to be switched via a shift stage or stages to be skipped are switched one by one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuma Sasahara, Shintaro Kameda, Christopher Hopp
  • Publication number: 20180252312
    Abstract: A gear shift mechanism controlled by a gear shift control device includes a plurality of engagement mechanisms and engages three engagement mechanisms to establish any one of a plurality of shift stages. The gear shift control device is adapted to change speed to a desired shift stage set by a manual operation. If a gear shift to the desired shift stage involves the skipping of one or more shift stages and the switching of two or more engagement mechanisms among the plurality of engagement mechanisms that are currently engaged, then the gear shift control device performs the gear shift to the desired shift stage such that the engagement mechanisms to be switched via a shift stage or stages to be skipped are switched one by one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuma Sasahara, Shintaro Kameda, Christopher Hopp
  • Patent number: 9598065
    Abstract: An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The engine controller is in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism. The engine controller is configured to determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine and to communicate with the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder. The engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration to a second gear configuration requires a positive torque when the at least one cylinder is deactivated. The engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift between gear configurations and the positive torque are completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ryuichi Mori, Christopher Hopp, Kazuma Sasahara, Brian Flora, Christian Villing
  • Publication number: 20160101768
    Abstract: An engine controller for controlling an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders is provided. The engine controller is in signal communication with the internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, and a displacement adjusting mechanism. The engine controller is configured to determine an operating condition of the internal combustion engine and to communicate with the automatic transmission to shift to one of a plurality of gear configurations, and the displacement adjusting mechanism to one of activate and deactivate at least one cylinder. The engine controller determines that a shift from a first gear configuration to a second gear configuration requires a positive torque when the at least one cylinder is deactivated. The engine controller communicates with the displacement adjusting mechanism to activate the at least one deactivated cylinder such that the plurality of cylinders are activated before the shift between gear configurations and the positive torque are completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Ryuichi Mori, Christopher Hopp, Kazuma Sasahara, Brian Flora
  • Patent number: 7933705
    Abstract: A method of controlling a reduction of an amount of fuel supplied to an engine provided to a motor vehicle with an automatic transmission separated from the engine by a torque converter is provided. The method includes the step of sensing commencement of a deceleration state during which an amount of the fuel supplied to the engine is to be reduced to an amount that is less than an amount of fuel being delivered to the engine immediately prior to the deceleration state. Whether synchronization of an engine output shaft and a transmission input shaft is appropriate under the deceleration stat is also to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Christopher Hopp
  • Publication number: 20090099741
    Abstract: A method of controlling a reduction of an amount of fuel supplied to an engine provided to a motor vehicle with an automatic transmission separated from the engine by a torque converter is provided. The method includes the step of sensing commencement of a deceleration state during which an amount of the fuel supplied to the engine is to be reduced to an amount that is less than an amount of fuel being delivered to the engine immediately prior to the deceleration state. Whether synchronization of an engine output shaft and a transmission input shaft is appropriate under the deceleration stat is also to be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR COMPANY, LTD
    Inventor: Christopher Hopp