Patents by Inventor VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
VOLVO CAR CORPORATION 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).
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Publication number: 20130213180Abstract: A gear shift lever knob includes a knob body forming a main portion of the gear shift lever knob. The knob body is made of a first material that allows light to pass through. The gear shift lever knob further includes a frame at least partly enclosing the knob body such that the knob body is externally visible. The frame is made of a second material different from the first material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2013Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130200603Abstract: A pedestrian protection airbag system for a vehicle includes an airbag that is adapted to be deployed along a windscreen and/or A-pillars of the vehicle, is inflatable to a deployed state and has projected periphery. The airbag system further comprises at least one tethering member connecting a first region of the airbag with a second region of the airbag along a path, the path being arranged within the projected periphery of the airbag when the airbag is in the deployed state. A vehicle comprising such a pedestrian protection airbag system and a method of deployment of an airbag of such a pedestrian protection airbag system are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2012Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: Volvo Car Corporation
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Publication number: 20130190944Abstract: A driver assisting system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system includes a processor and a display system. The display system is adapted to display information on a screen of a vehicle. The screen is adapted to show the environment in front of the vehicle or a representation thereof. The vehicle extends in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the longitudinal direction corresponding to the intended direction of vehicle travel. The processor is adapted to receive a first input data signal indicative of a velocity of the vehicle, and a second input data signal indicative of an actual performed and/or on-going and/or impending lateral position change of the vehicle. The processor is further adapted to process at least the first and the second input data signals to calculate an estimated vehicle path, and the display system is adapted to display the estimated vehicle path on the screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130188283Abstract: A method for protecting a super capacitor includes monitoring a charge level of the capacitor, monitoring a temperature of the capacitor, discharging the capacitor when the temperature is above a predetermined level, or discharging the capacitor down to a predetermined level when the capacitor has stayed charged over said level longer than a predetermined period, and directing the discharged power from the capacitor to a cooling device for cooling the capacitor. Also, a super capacitor system includes at least one super capacitor, a control unit and sensor for monitoring the temperature and the charge level of the capacitor. The system further includes a cooling device connected to the super capacitor for cooling the capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2013Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130174686Abstract: A steering column arrangement for a vehicle comprises a first portion rotatably supported by a second portion. The steering column arrangement further comprises a first electrical motor that is adapted to be operably connected to a vehicle control system. The steering column is arranged to be moved laterally and/or axially by the first electric motor. The steering column arrangement further comprises locking means arranged to lock the steering column thereby preventing rotation of the steering column. The locking means comprise a first locking member attached to the steering column and a second locking member arranged to be attached to the vehicle chassis, where the first electric motor is arranged to move the steering column to a locked position in which the first locking member and the second locking member are arranged to engage, thereby preventing rotation of the steering column.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2013Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130175893Abstract: A motor vehicle drive unit and an automotive vehicle comprising such a motor vehicle drive unit are provided. An electric motor has a rotor and a main stator rotatably mounted to a support structure. A first transmission provides an output to a first wheel axle shaft from the rotor. A second transmission provides an output to a second wheel axle shaft from the main stator. An auxiliary stator at least partially surrounds the main stator and is held stationary relative to the main rotatably mounted stator. A control unit is provided for controlling the auxiliary stator to add or subtract power to the main rotatably mounted stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2013Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130162030Abstract: An electrical power supply system for powering an electric load of a vehicle includes a main battery, a support battery and a battery control module. The battery control module includes a first terminal for connection to the main battery, a second terminal for connection to the support battery and a third terminal for connecting to the electric load. A switch is arranged between said second terminal and said third terminal. The battery control module is arranged to connect the support battery to the load by turning the switch conducting in case the voltage at the third terminal drops below a predetermined voltage. The system provides the automatic activation of a support energy source when the output voltage falls below a specified voltage threshold. The support battery supports the main battery when needed or acts as a redundant power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130160867Abstract: A fuel system vent valve comprises a housing with a first opening, and a float inside the housing. The float is movable between a first position in which the valve is open and a second position in which the float covers the first opening such that the valve is closed. The valve further comprises a liquid trap arranged above the housing such that it covers the first opening. The liquid trap comprises a housing in which is arranged a perimeter wall surrounding the first opening, the perimeter wall being arranged at a distance from the liquid trap housing thereby creating a first volume inside the wall and a second volume outside the wall. The first volume is larger than the second volume and the two volumes are connected via at least one gap between a top of the wall and a top of the liquid trap housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130166100Abstract: A system for controlling driving modes of a vehicle having a driver, where each of the driving modes is adapted to control a behaviour of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle in the driving mode, each of the driving modes being associated with a set of driving sub-modes. Each driving sub-mode is adapted to be activated by the vehicle in response to ambient circumstances. One of the driving modes is associated with a first and a second driving sub-mode, the first and second driving sub-modes being accompanied with a first and a second driver controlled setting respectively. The system also includes an input device for selection between the driving modes and for controlling the driver controlled settings. The first and second driver controlled settings are adapted to be manually set by the driver through the input device only upon activation of the accompanying driving sub-mode by the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130146018Abstract: A split bearing arrangement for reciprocating engines comprises a bedplate section and a block section made of materials differing in hardness. The bedplate section includes at least a bedplate section clamping surface made of an iron material, and has at least one positioning protrusion located on the bedplate section clamping surface. The block section, made of a material having a hardness which is less than the hardness of the iron material, is adapted to be clampable and forcibly pressed against the bedplate section. When the bedplate section is first pressed into the block section, at least one positioning groove located in a block section clamping surface is formed. The at least one positioning protrusion has two longitudinal concave surfaces, two transverse concave surfaces and a substantially flat upper surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2012Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: Volvo Car CorporationInventor: Volvo Car Corporation
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Publication number: 20130121786Abstract: A screw assembly element in a first part is provided for use when attaching the first part to a second part using a screw. The assembly element comprises a sleeve arranged in a hole in the first part, the sleeve being cylindrical. At least a portion of the first part extends into the inside of the sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130124047Abstract: A method for adaptation of a steering wheel torque overlay of a lane keeping aid system in a vehicle comprises requesting a controller steering wheel torque overlay Tr from a controller, measuring an applied steering wheel torque Ta applied on a steering wheel of the vehicle, determining a scaling factor ? as a function of the applied steering wheel torque Ta, and determining a corrective steering wheel torque overlay Tc based on the controller torque overlay Tr multiplied by the scaling factor ?. A system for adaptation of a steering wheel torque overlay, a lane keeping aid system comprising such a system, and a vehicle comprising such a lane keeping aid system are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130124046Abstract: An arrangement and a method are described for safeguarding driver attentiveness to the task of steering while operating a vehicle having a lane keeping aid system. The arrangement and method provide for measuring a pinion angle and a torsion bar torque when the lane keeping aid system is applying an overlaying steering torque. Driver applied torque is estimated from the measurements. A hands-off metric is calculated based on a relation between the measurements and the estimate. Hands-off is determined based on a comparison of the metric with a predefined threshold. The arrangement and method further provide for evaluating hands-on between torque interventions by the lane keeping aid system. An action is determined based on the determined hands-off and the evaluated hands-on and the action determined performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130119681Abstract: An inflatable, energy-absorbing device for positioning behind a deployable front surface of a vehicle includes at least one air bag. Each of the at least one air bag is made of a drop stitch material comprising at least an outer and an inner layer of fabric and an internal reinforcement in the form of one or more internal stitchings which extends/extend around the airbag between opposing surfaces of the outer and inner layers of fabric. The inflatable, energy-absorbing device is configured to, upon actuation thereof by means of a sensor system for detecting approaching or actual impacts, inflate and thereby deploy the front surface of the vehicle in the driving direction of the vehicle. A deployable soft nose structure is also disclosed. The deployable soft nose structure comprises a deployable front surface and at least one inflatable, energy-absorbing device as defined above, positioned behind deployable the front surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130124022Abstract: A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle powertrain includes an internal combustion engine and an electric vehicle traction motor, an engine lubrication oil pump in fluid communication with a lubrication oil flow circuit for the internal combustion engine, an electric oil pump drive motor drivingly connected to the lubrication oil pump, and a powertrain control module. The powertrain control module is configured to start the electric oil pump drive motor immediately upon the initial start of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130124053Abstract: A vehicle safety system includes a remote sensor detecting an object and a collision detector detecting a collision with the vehicle. An active safety module receives the remote sensor output and controls operation of an active vehicle safety system utilizing a first parameter set providing a first balance between suppression of false positive detections of imminent collision and acknowledgement of true positive detections of imminent collision, the first balance optimized for control of the active safety system. A passive safety module is connected in parallel with the active safety module to receive the sensor output and receives the detector output. The passive safety module utilizes a second parameter set to control operation of a passive vehicle safety system providing a second balance having, in relation to the first balance, a relatively lower suppression of false positive detections and a relatively higher acknowledgement of true positive detections.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: Volvo Car Corporation
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Publication number: 20130091779Abstract: A windshield for a vehicle comprises weakening means arranged to weaken the windshield so that the windshield collapses in a controlled manner in the event of the vehicle colliding with a person.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130090796Abstract: A motor assembly comprises an electric power train that is adapted to be connected to a power source and is also adapted to impart a torque to a wheel when the motor assembly is operating. The assembly further comprises a power determination means adapted to determine the amount of power supplied from the power source to the electric power train when the motor assembly is operating. In addition, the assembly comprises a rotational speed determination means adapted to determine a rotational speed of the wheel when the motor assembly is operating. Moreover, the assembly comprises a torque determination means adapted to determine a command torque value indicative of a requested torque to the wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2012Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20130087010Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a safety arrangement for a vehicle pedal, comprising a pedal structure including a pedal arm with an elongated shape for carrying a pedal plate; a bracket, which is fixedly connected to the pedal arm; a pedal hub, to be arranged in order to transfer a movement of the pedal structure to a vehicular system. The pedal structure is in a first position relative to the pedal hub during normal operation of the pedal structure. Further, the pedal structure is displaceable from the first position relative to the pedal hub to a second position relative to the pedal hub, wherein, when in the second position, the pedal structure is at least partly operatively decoupled from the pedal hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2012Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: Volvo Car Corporation
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Publication number: 20130085733Abstract: A NOx emission estimation method and arrangement for a diesel engine for estimating the amount of NOx generated in a combustion chamber of the diesel engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: VOLVO CAR CORPORATIONInventor: Volvo Car Corporation