Patents by Inventor Fabrizio Amisano

Fabrizio Amisano 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: 8103420
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle, according to which it is determined whether the vehicle is on a slope; it is detected whether the internal-combustion engine is turned on; it is detected whether the vehicle is stationary; a parking brake is activated automatically and independently of the action of the driver, by driving a respective servo control if the vehicle is on a slope, if the internal-combustion engine is turned on and if the vehicle is stationary; and the parking brake is disengaged automatically and independently of the action of the driver, by driving the corresponding servo control when the clutch is disengaged by a corresponding servo control for transmitting the torque generated by an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle to the driving wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Cesare Sola
  • Publication number: 20110259704
    Abstract: An automatic manual transmission having: at least one primary shaft; at least one secondary shaft; a plurality of gear pairs, each of which mechanically couples the primary shaft to the secondary shaft; a plurality of synchronizers, each of which is mounted coaxial to a shaft, is coupled to a gear of at least one gear pair, and is adapted to be actuated to engage the gear to the shaft; a plurality of forks, which actuate the synchronizers and are movable; a parking lock device which may be actuated to prevent the rotation of the secondary shaft; and a connecting device, which is mechanically connected on one side to a first fork and on the other side to the parking lock device to transmit the movement of the first fork to the parking lock device so as to control the activation and deactivation of the parking lock device itself by exploiting the movement of the first fork.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Medico, Andrea Palazzetti, Giovanni Luigi Antonini, Fabrizio Amisano
  • Patent number: 7967725
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power assisted propulsion system in a motor vehicle so as to perform a transition from a lower gear to a higher gear without interrupting a driving torque applied to driving wheels; the propulsion system displays an internal combustion engine provided with a drive shaft and a power assisted transmission including: a power assisted mechanical gearbox provided with a primary shaft connectable to the drive shaft and a secondary shaft coupled to a transmission shaft which transmits motion to the driving wheels; a power assisted clutch interposed between the drive shaft and the primary shaft of the gearbox to couple and decouple the drive shaft to the primary shaft of the gearbox; a power assisted brake; and an epicycloidal gear having three rotating elements: a first rotating element coupled to the drive shaft, a second rotating element coupled to the secondary shaft of the gearbox, and a third rotating element coupled to the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Aldo Sorniotti, Mauro Velardocchia
  • Publication number: 20100126291
    Abstract: A double-clutch gearbox includes two primary shafts and at least one secondary shaft. Each of a plurality of gear pairs mechanically couples the primary shaft to the secondary shaft and defines a respective gear. Each gear pair includes a primary gear mounted to the primary shaft and a secondary gear, which is mounted to the secondary shaft and permanently meshes with the primary gear. Synchronizers coaxially mounted to a shaft are coupled to a gear of at least one gear pair and adapted to be actuated to engage the gear with the shaft. Forks that actuate the synchronizers are movably mounted and have corresponding catches. A single control shaft is rotationally mounted about and can be slid axially along a longitudinal axis. A single gear actuator is connected to the control shaft to rotate the control shaft about and axially displace the control shaft along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: MAGNETI MARELLI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea PALAZZETTI, Fabrizio AMISANO, Giuseppe MEDICO
  • Publication number: 20090018737
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle presenting the steps of: verifying, at starting of an internal-combustion engine, whether a memory of calibrations contains the function of transmissibility of a clutch and/or the effective positions of engagement and selection of the gears in a gearchange; sending to the driver, if the memory of calibrations does not contain the function of transmissibility of the clutch and/or the effective positions of engagement and selection of the gears in the gearchange, a signal of start of a first self-calibration step, during which the driver must leave the internal-combustion engine turned on and the vehicle stationary; selecting and engaging a number of times, during the first self-calibration step, all the gears of the gearchange autonomously from the driver for determining the effective positions of engagement and selection of the gears in the gearchange; disengaging and engaging, during the first self-calibration step, the clutch with the gearchange in neutral and autonomously
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Cesare Sola
  • Publication number: 20080294320
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle, according to which it is determined whether the vehicle is on a slope; it is detected whether the internal-combustion engine is turned on; it is detected whether the vehicle is stationary; a parking brake is activated automatically and independently of the action of the driver, by driving a respective servo control if the vehicle is on a slope, if the internal-combustion engine is turned on and if the vehicle is stationary; and the parking brake is disengaged automatically and independently of the action of the driver, by driving the corresponding servo control when the clutch is disengaged by a corresponding servo control for transmitting the torque generated by an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle to the driving wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: MAGNETI MARELLI POWERTRAIN S . p . A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Cesare Sola
  • Publication number: 20080188347
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power assisted propulsion system in a motor vehicle so as to perform a transition from a lower gear to a higher gear without interrupting a driving torque applied to driving wheels; the propulsion system displays an internal combustion engine provided with a drive shaft and a power assisted transmission comprising in turn: a power assisted mechanical gearbox provided with a primary shaft connectable to the drive shaft and a secondary shaft connected to a transmission shaft which transmits motion to the driving wheels; a power assisted clutch interposed between the drive shaft and the primary shaft of the gearbox to connect and disconnect the drive shaft to the primary shaft of the gearbox; a power assisted brake; and an epicycloidal gear having three rotating elements: a first rotating element connected to the drive shaft, a second rotating element connected to the secondary shaft of the gearbox, and a third rotating element connected to the brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Aldo Sorniotti, Mauro Velardocchia
  • Patent number: 6847878
    Abstract: A method for the performance of the gear disengagement in a servo-controlled manual gear change, according to which an oscillation is generated with respect to the angular speed of a primary shaft of the gear change by abruptly opening the relative clutch and the disengagement of the gear is performed around the maximum amplitude of an oscillation half-wave, when this oscillation has caused the angular speed of the primary shaft to be relatively close to the angular speed that the primary shaft has to assume to carry out the engagement of the subsequent gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Cimmino, Fabrizio Amisano
  • Patent number: 6675083
    Abstract: Method for restoration of the drive torque during a change of gear, wherein the clutch is closed in order to adjust the angular speed of the drive shaft to match the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox; when the angular speed of the drive shaft is close to the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox, a reference profile is generated for the angular speed of the drive shaft, and the drive torque generated by the engine is controlled in order to make the angular speed of the drive shaft follow the reference profile, which has a final portion which is substantially tangent to the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Gabriele Serra
  • Patent number: 6589132
    Abstract: Device for controlling a clutch, which is connected to an actuator, which can activate the clutch itself; the control device comprises a position sensor, which can detect the position of the clutch, in order to supply a measuring position signal to a main control device, which receives as input information signals, and generates as output a control signal to control the actuator, a monitoring circuit, which can detect a state of malfunctioning of the position sensor, in order to supply a malfunctioning signal, and an auxiliary control device, which can be activated in the presence of a malfunctioning signal, in order to transfer control of the actuator from the main control device to the auxiliary control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Giovanni Tornatore
  • Patent number: 6424903
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a clutch of a vehicle wherein an actuator is connected to and provides for operating the clutch, the work position of which is determined by a position sensor which supplies a measured position signal to a control device receiving an information signal and supplying a control signal for the actuator; the control device has a monitor circuit for determining malfunctioning of the position sensor and supplying a fault signal; and a virtual sensor device for estimating the work position of the clutch to supply the control device, in the presence of the fault signal, with a virtual position signal instead of the measured position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Magneti Maralli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Giovanni Tornatore, Cesare Sola, Mauro Velardocchia
  • Publication number: 20020072448
    Abstract: Method for restoration of the drive torque during a change of gear, wherein the clutch is closed in order to adjust the angular speed of the drive shaft to match the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox; when the angular speed of the drive shaft is close to the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox, a reference profile is generated for the angular speed of the drive shaft, and the drive torque generated by the engine is controlled in order to make the angular speed of the drive shaft follow the reference profile, which has a final portion which is substantially tangent to the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Gabriele Serra
  • Publication number: 20020062187
    Abstract: A method for the performance of the gear disengagement in a servo-controlled manual gear change, according to which an oscillation is generated with respect to the angular speed of a primary shaft of the gear change by abruptly opening the relative clutch and the disengagement of the gear is performed around the maximum amplitude of an oscillation half-wave, when this oscillation has caused the angular speed of the primary shaft to be relatively close to the angular speed that the primary shaft has to assume to carry out the engagement of the subsequent gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Francesco Cimmino, Fabrizio Amisano
  • Publication number: 20020029104
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a clutch of a vehicle wherein an actuator is connected to and provides for operating the clutch, the work position of which is determined by a position sensor which supplies a measured position signal to a control device receiving an information signal and supplying a control signal for the actuator; the control device has a monitor circuit for determining malfunctioning of the position sensor and supplying a fault signal; and a virtual sensor device for estimating the work position of the clutch to supply the control device, in the presence of the fault signal, with a virtual position signal instead of the measured position signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Giovanni Tornatore, Cesare Sola, Mauro Velardocchia
  • Publication number: 20020016232
    Abstract: Device for controlling a clutch, which is connected to an actuator, which can activate the clutch itself; the control device comprises a position sensor, which can detect the position of the clutch, in order to supply a measuring position signal to a main control device, which receives as input information signals, and generates as output a control signal to control the actuator, a monitoring circuit, which can detect a state of malfunctioning of the position sensor, in order to supply a malfunctioning signal, and an auxiliary control device, which can be activated in the presence of a malfunctioning signal, in order to transfer control of the actuator from the main control device to the auxiliary control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Giovanni Tornatore
  • Patent number: 6151544
    Abstract: The control method comprises the stages of: generating a reference torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the desired value of the torque transmitted through the clutch; generating a reaction signal correlated to the position of an actuating member of the clutch, the position of the actuating member being comprised between a first end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely open and a second end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely closed; generating an estimated torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the estimated value of the torque transmitted through the clutch, on the basis of the reaction signal and a transmissibility function of the clutch; and generating a control signal for adjusting the position of the clutch as a function of the reference torque signal and the estimated torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Massimo Seminara
  • Patent number: 5908460
    Abstract: Control device for a transmission unit comprising a clutch and a gear shift which are coupled respectively to a first and a second actuator unit in order to operate the actuation of the clutch and the selection and engagement/disengagement of the gears. The device comprises a transmission control circuit in which a main microprocessor formulates control signals for the first and second actuator unit and an auxiliary microprocessor determines a state of malfunctioning of the main microprocessor in order to transfer the control of the transmission unit to the auxiliary microprocessor in the event of a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Francesco Cimmino, Giovanni Tornatore, Giorgio Alotto, Andrea Baldasso