Resistance Or Override Acts On Input Connection To Regulator Patents (Class 123/396)
  • Patent number: 11975721
    Abstract: A mobile work machine has a drive unit for driving at least one drive element and/or a working element. The drive unit is hydromechanical drive unit with at least one internal combustion engine and hydraulic energy transmission unit with at least one hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor. In normal operation, the motor shaft of the internal combustion engine rotates at a normal speed (n_0). Conversely, in a limit temperature operation in which a sensed actual operating temperature of the internal combustion engine or another part of the drive unit is higher than or equal to a target limit temperature (T_limit), an electrical control unit and/or electronic control unit controls the internal combustion engine in such a way that the motor shaft of the internal combustion engine rotates at a first speed (n_target) that is higher than the normal speed (n_0) of the motor shaft in normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Weidemann GmbH
    Inventors: Max Weymann, Andreas Albach
  • Patent number: 11614038
    Abstract: A control method can be used for securing continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) startability when a CVVD error is recognized by a CVVD controller during an operation of a CVVD system. The control method includes performing engine startability securing control for solving the CVVD error by applying a starting air volume to starting of an engine through at least one of a valve position fixing value, a valve position threshold, or an immediately previous valve position value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Min-Kyu Won, Chung-Hun Ha
  • Patent number: 11541753
    Abstract: A vehicular pedal device includes a stroke characteristic control unit that controls a stroke characteristic of the vehicular pedal with respect to a pedaling force of a driver. the stroke characteristic control unit changes the stroke characteristic of the vehicular pedal to a stepped stroke characteristic when the vehicle is under automatic speed control, and the stepped stroke characteristic has a stepping force step corresponding to an override stroke position at which override of automatic speed control is started by operation of the vehicular pedal by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Fuwamoto, Tomoyuki Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11448143
    Abstract: An apparatus of controlling a vehicle and a method thereof are provided. The operating region of an engine is operated with theoretical air-fuel ratio. The apparatus includes a supercharger that supplies compressed air to a the combustion chamber of the engine and a spark plug that ignites mixed air supplied to the combustion chamber. An intake valve selectively opens and closes the combustion chamber for inflowing the mixed air therein. A variable valve apparatus adjusts an opening timing and closing timing of the intake valve and a controller adjusts an ignition timing of the spark plug and the closing timing of the intake valve through the variable valve apparatus based on the operating region of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yeongseop Park, Dong Hee Han, Jong Il Park, Hyunjin Kang, Heechang Oh, JaUn Ku, Seungwoo Hong, Jonghyeok Lee, Kwanhee Lee, Dongwon Jung, Jaeheun Kim
  • Patent number: 11408529
    Abstract: A coupling device couples a drive shaft of a pivot drive (30) of an exhaust gas stream exhaust flap (10) for an internal combustion engine with a pivot shaft (14), which is rotatable about a pivot axis (A) and carries a flap member (16). The coupling device includes a coupling element (46) with a first coupling area (42) positive-locking engaging with a drive shaft (34) and with a second coupling area (44) positive-locking engaging with a pivot shaft. A prestressing element (58) is supported in relation to the coupling element and in relation to a support element (66) and prestresses the coupling element in a direction of a coupling axis (K), axially away from the support element and in a circumferential direction. A preassembly-blocking device (78) holds the support element under axial prestress and circumferential prestress in a preassembled position in relation to the coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: PUREM GMBH
    Inventors: Steffen Schmitt, Annika Zeumer, Andreas Wacker
  • Patent number: 11401872
    Abstract: A valve gear includes a gear portion configured to rotate by drive torque transmitted from an actuator, a boss portion provided on the gear portion and having a cylindrical outer wall, and one or more extension portions extending in an axial direction from the gear portion on a radial outer side of the boss portion. A coiled spring including a first hook provided at end portion on a gear portion side, and a second hook provided at end portion on an opposite side to the gear portion so that the first hook and the second hook are respectively locked to each other on opposite sides in a circumferential direction of the extension portion. A valve gear subassembly formed by assembling the valve gear and the spring is housed in a valve gear accommodating chamber of the body, and the second hook of the spring is locked to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, DENSO DAISHIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Higuchi, Kenichi Ishihara
  • Patent number: 11204617
    Abstract: A small boat includes an output that outputs to an engine controller an output signal having an output value at which a throttle opening degree increases as an operation amount of a throttle operator increases, and outputs to the engine controller the output signal having, as an upper limit, a limit output value at which the throttle opening degree is smaller than that at a maximum output value at which the throttle opening degree is maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukitaka Okamoto, Chihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11181055
    Abstract: A throttle-controlled intake system is disclosed that provides a driver of a vehicle with greater control over engine functions and vehicle performance. The throttle-controlled intake system includes a control module that is coupled with an aircharger air intake. The control module processes input signals from a throttle pedal of the vehicle and sends modified throttle position signals to a throttle body of the vehicle so as to increase throttle responsiveness of the vehicle. The throttle-controlled intake system further includes a wiring harness and a signal adjuster. The wiring harness electrically couples the control module with the throttle pedal and the throttle body. The control module sends signals directly to the throttle body of the engine, bypassing an electronic control unit of the vehicle. The signal adjuster includes a rheostat that enables manual adjustment of the throttle responsiveness of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: K&N Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Richard Fiello, Gilbert Heck, Steve Williams
  • Patent number: 11105272
    Abstract: A throttle device includes a default mechanism. The default mechanism includes: a defining portion arranged on the body to define the default position; a first rotation body which rotates integrally with the valve shaft; a second rotation body which can rotate relative to the valve shaft and which engages with the defining portion to limit the rotation in a valve-closing direction; a first urging spring which is interposed between the first rotation body and the body and urges the first rotation body in the valve-closing direction; and a second urging spring which is interposed between the first rotation body and the second rotation body, and urges so as to draw the first rotation body in a valve-opening direction and draw the second rotation body in the valve-closing direction to engage the two with each other and to maintain the engagement during the non-operation of the drive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sho Moriya, Keigo Suzuki, Masaki Hiei
  • Patent number: 11041652
    Abstract: A system including a valve positioned in a conduit, wherein the valve is configured to change fluid flow through the conduit. The system includes an actuator having a motor that is configured to selectively rotate the valve toward a desired valve orientation. The system is configured to receive a request for a desired valve orientation, control the motor to move the valve into the desired valve orientation, and sense a condition corresponding to a current valve orientation following movement by the motor. The system is configured to determine if the sensed condition indicates that the current valve orientation matches the desired valve orientation from the request, and, responsive to determining that the current valve orientation does not match the desired valve orientation from the request, control the motor to selectively rotate the valve in a direction to move the valve towards the desired valve orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 10982581
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing the presence or absence of a catalyst substrate within a catalyst can or housing. The methods and systems described a persistence of excitation metric that is a basis for judging whether or not the catalyst can is empty. If it is determined that the catalyst can or housing is empty, mitigating control actions may be performed via a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Santillo, Andrew Bagnasco, Mrdjan Jankovic
  • Patent number: 10954876
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes: an internal combustion engine including an electronically-controlled throttle valve configured to change throttle opening degrees in a step-wise manner among at least three selectable opening degrees, and being mounted on a vehicle; and a control device configured to control the vehicle. The control device includes a required throttle opening degree setting component and a first throttle opening degree selecting component. The first throttle opening degree selecting component is configured to: select, at the time of acceleration of the vehicle, a first throttle opening degree that is greater than the required throttle opening degree and is the closest to the required throttle opening degree; and select, at the time of deceleration of the vehicle, a second throttle opening degree that is smaller than the required throttle opening degree and is the closest to the required throttle opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Sasaki, Naoto Kato
  • Patent number: 10919398
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a high voltage battery that stores electric power; a battery box that stores the high voltage battery; a battery disposition section in which the battery box is provided; a power drive unit that controls acceleration and deceleration of an electric vehicle so that a request of a driver is implemented; and a water sensor that detects water in the battery disposition section. In response to detection of water by the water sensor, the power drive unit performs acceleration and deceleration limit control to limit acceleration and deceleration of the electric vehicle so that the acceleration or deceleration rate of the electric vehicle is maintained lower than or equal to a predetermined limited acceleration or deceleration rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Higaki, Yoshimichi Tsubata, Kazuto Yamane, Daijiro Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 10911077
    Abstract: An encoder that receives, from a control device, a request signal for requesting position data and transmits a response signal including the position data to the control device by serial communication, at a predetermined communication cycle, includes: a response signal generating unit configured to generate a response signal including the position data and associated data associated with the position data; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the generated response signal. The transmitting unit is configured to transmit the associated data prior to transmission of the position data when transmitting the response signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takurou Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10890125
    Abstract: A method for an alternate control of a continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) malfunction may include a CVVD failsafe control to resolve a calculation error of a cylinder charge amount due to a hardware failure of a CVVD system with the cylinder charge amount determined by any one of flow rate alternate, flow rate deviation correction, and valve duration update if the hardware failure is recognized by a CVVD controller, and to apply the cylinder charge amount to secure an air amount for a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Min-Kyu Won
  • Patent number: 10882632
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a constant temperature of an engine in an unmanned aerial system with an autothrottle limiting device comprises an autopilot for issuing a throttle command, an autothrottle limiting device for automatically limiting an upper limit of the throttle command issued by the autopilot, and a rotary engine for feeding an internal temperature of the engine back to the autothrottle limiting device. The system is applicable to all kinds of unmanned aerial systems employing an air-cooling rotary engine, uses the existing autopilot of the unmanned aerial system without modification, and improves the reliability and life of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: KOREAN AIR LINES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Kie Choi, Shin Je Cho, Sang Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10794305
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control method includes a valve duty differentiated control including: detecting, by a controller, an engine operation region, a mixer region, and an external factor region as a valve control condition for an EGR valve duty correction variable for controlling an EGR system; applying, by the controller, the EGR valve duty correction variable to an EGR valve duty, which is set by a target air amount to an intake air amount, to calculate a minimum EGR valve duty; and outputting, by the controller, the calculated minimum EGR valve duty to an EGR valve as the EGR valve duty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun-Woo Noh, Jin-Suk Kang, Ki-Min Park
  • Patent number: 10738713
    Abstract: A throttle valve abnormality determination device includes a permission/rejection determination unit configured to determine whether or not to permit a sticking determination of a throttle valve. The determination unit is configured to prohibit the sticking determination if a first temperature, which is a temperature in a passage through which intake air flows, is less than or equal to a freezing temperature at which the throttle valve may be frozen when an engine is started and, after prohibiting the sticking determination, permit the sticking determination if an integrated value of a heat amount conversion value based on a second temperature, which is a temperature in the passage, and an intake air amount exceeds a threshold value when the second temperature is greater than or equal to a de-freezing temperature at which a frozen portion of the throttle valve is de-frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Motoyoshi Kaneta
  • Patent number: 10577776
    Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper rotating body mounted on the lower traveling body, an internal-combustion engine including a supercharger and being controlled at a constant revolution speed, a hydraulic pump coupled to the internal-combustion engine, a hydraulic actuator to be driven by a hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump, a control valve system including multiple flow control valves for controlling a flow of the hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump, and a controller that controls an absorbing horsepower of the hydraulic pump. The controller is configured to increase a boost pressure of the supercharger before a load is applied to the hydraulic actuator by controlling a specific flow control valve in the control valve system to limit or block the flow of the hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump and thereby increasing a discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO(S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Sugaya
  • Patent number: 10513971
    Abstract: An ECM determines a failure exist and a failure site in a control valve device from first and second failure diagnoses. In the first failure diagnosis, a failure is determined to have occurred if an opening amount that represents an absolute value of a difference between a detected opening amount and a target opening amount of a valve body is greater than a preset threshold when the target opening amount of the valve body is constant for a predetermined time. In the second failure diagnosis, a failure is determined to have occurred if an opening amount that represents the absolute value of the difference between the opening amount of the valve body when fully open or fully closed and the detected opening amount is greater than the preset threshold when a portion rotating integrally with the valve body has been pressed against a stopper continuously for a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Iijima, Osamu Ooki
  • Patent number: 10428889
    Abstract: A torsion spring that is used in a throttle valve device increasing and decreasing an opening degree of an intake passage or an exhaust passage of an internal-combustion engine includes: two coil springs connected with each other so that torsion directions are opposite from each other; and a hook disposed between the two coil springs. Of the two coil springs, one side spring arranged at one side in an axial direction biases a valve object to a closing side, and the other side spring arranged at the other side in the axial direction biases the valve object to an opening side. In at least one coil spring of the two coil springs, a dimension of a clearance between the at least one coil spring and the hook connected with each other is larger than an average value of clearances between coil turns of the at least one coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Higuchi, Tohru Shimizu, Tadashi Komiyama
  • Patent number: 10394739
    Abstract: A communication system includes a first communication apparatus connected to first and second communication paths and at least one second communication apparatus connected to the second communication path. The first communication apparatus includes first and second communication units configured to perform communication with the first and second communication paths, respectively, and a control unit configured to receive a first frame storing a diagnosis request from the first communication path, specify, among the at least one second communication apparatus, a second communication apparatus to process the diagnosis request, determine whether the first communication apparatus can process the diagnosis request instead of the specified second communication apparatus, acquire, if it is determined that the diagnosis request can be processed, a diagnosis result by processing the diagnosis request, and transmit a frame storing the diagnosis result to the first communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Wakita
  • Patent number: 10378669
    Abstract: Provided is a throttle valve control device having sufficient reliability while having three attachment holes of the throttle valve control device. A throttle valve control device 1 includes a throttle body 2 having an intake passage 3, drives a throttle valve 8 for controlling an intake air flow rate or a pressure, disposed in the intake passage, with a motor 4 via a throttle gear 10, and is attached externally with a bolt inserted into an attachment hole formed in the throttle body. The throttle valve control device 1 is characterized in that only three attachment holes are formed in the throttle body, one attachment hole 19 among the three attachment holes is formed closer to a center of gravity of the throttle valve control device than the other two attachment holes 20 and 21, and the one attachment hole is formed between the motor and a throttle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Ogata
  • Patent number: 10364767
    Abstract: During idle operation of an engine, on satisfaction of a predetermined condition including a condition that a vehicle speed is not higher than a reference value, a hybrid vehicle controls the engine with adjusting a throttle position such that a rotation speed of the engine becomes equal to target idle rotation speed or is in a predetermined rotation speed range including the target idle rotation speed. On non-satisfaction of predetermined condition, the hybrid vehicle controls the engine with setting the throttle position to a fixed value, The reference value is set to provide larger value when the rotation speed of the engine becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined rotation speed that is lower than the target idle rotation speed and is higher than a resonance rotation speed of the vehicle, compared with a value when the rotation speed of the engine is higher than the predetermined rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Asuka Tsunoda, Takashi Suzuki, Tomoya Suzuki, Takahiro Nishigaki, Kenya Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10326340
    Abstract: A driving apparatus having an electric motor configured to rotate a rotating shaft (27) by a supplied current, the driving apparatus comprising: a control board (49) which is positioned relative to the electric motor, and on which electronic components for controlling the electric motor is mounted; a plurality of first terminals (58, 59, 60) which are mounted on the control board (49), the first terminals (58, 59, 60) carrying a current; a plurality of second terminals (44, 45, 46) connected to the respective first terminals (58, 59, 60), the second terminals (44, 45, 46) carrying a current, the second terminals (44, 45, 46) being disposed outside the rotating shaft (27) in a radial direction of the rotating shaft (27) and arranged along a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Iso, Naoki Kojima
  • Patent number: 10260403
    Abstract: In a control system for an internal combustion engine, the waste gate actuator controls the opening and closing of a waste gate valve according to operation amount controlled by the control device, an actual position of the waste gate actuator detected by the position sensor for detecting the position of the waste gate actuator which correlates to the actual open position of a waste gate valve is inputted to the control device, the control device performs control for limiting the operation amount to stop to predetermined opening deviation in the direction toward open side from open side stopper position of the waste gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Takahashi, Takahiko Ono
  • Patent number: 10253703
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method for controlling the rotational speed of an engine operating as the power source of a work machine, preferably an agricultural harvester, wherein a change in the load required from the engine during operation of the machine results in the controlled change of the engine speed towards a target value defined by a control curve, wherein the controlled change takes place according to one of a plurality of active control characteristics, depending on the degree of change in the engine speed detected as a direct consequence of the load change. A faster or slower speed change may for example be selected, and/or the target value may be continuously updated. According to a further embodiment, the control curve is referenced to the crop load, being the part of the load related to crop processing. The invention is related also to a machine equipped with a control mechanism configured to implement the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Ward M. R. Byttebier
  • Patent number: 10155505
    Abstract: A force-feedback assembly includes a first shaft with a shaft end. The first shaft is movable between a shaft first position and a shaft second position. The force-feedback assembly also includes a compliant element arranged to exert a return force on the first shaft and bias the first shaft toward the shaft first position. The force-feedback assembly additionally includes a ramp in sliding engagement with the shaft end. The force-feedback assembly further includes an operator input device operatively coupled to the ramp. The operator input device has a device first position and a device second position. Moving the operator input device from the device first position to the device second position slides the ramp relative to the shaft end and moves the first shaft from the shaft first position to the shaft second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brian D. Christoff, John K. Dagg, Michael L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 10145311
    Abstract: The Intelligent Fault Tolerant Throttle Body prevents unintended acceleration of vehicles. This invention solves this emergency by returning the throttle plate to a safe position when commanded by a driver Emergency Button or by brake actuation. The device is installed on a conventional throttle body and comprises an Emergency Button (EB) and a Throttle Motor Controller (TMC). The TMC is a micro controller contained inside the throttle body assembly that intercepts and modifies signals from the engine control unit (ECU) to the Throttle Body Motor (TBM) and monitors the brake switch signal and the throttle position sensor (TPS). The TMC has an internal accelerometer and a throttle pedal sensor input as well as other sensors which are used as additional confirmation of a true unintended acceleration condition and not resulting from ECU, wiring or sensor failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: James Reynolds, Paul Janson
  • Patent number: 10111291
    Abstract: A drive circuit supplies a drive current to a second light source. A dummy load circuit is connected to a control line to which a lighting control signal, which instructs the second light source 304 to be turned on and off, is input, and the dummy load circuit sinks a dummy load current IDUMMYLOAD which decreases as a temperature increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kotaro Matsui
  • Patent number: 10071633
    Abstract: A control device for an electric vehicle including a traveling motor which is configured to transmit a driving force to driving wheels, includes: a control unit having a suppression mode function for suppressing a traveling state amount of the vehicle when an abnormality occurs in an electrically driven system of the vehicle. The suppression mode function includes a first suppression state and a second suppression state, and a suppression degree in the second suppression state is smaller than a suppression degree in the first suppression state. In accordance with a kind of the abnormality in the electrically driven system, the control unit is configured to cause the vehicle to be in the first suppression state or is configured to cause the vehicle to be in the first suppression state after causing the vehicle to be in the second suppression state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriyoshi Aiba
  • Patent number: 10060360
    Abstract: A valve comprises a coupling device having a driven member bound to the drive shaft of a flap, a driving member bound to an output shaft of an actuator, and an elastic member. The driving member comprises attachments that hooks up the elastic member to the driving member in a temporary position in which the elastic member is elastically loaded. The driven member comprises at least one release member that at least partly releases the elastic member of the attachments when the coupling device is brought to an intermediate state or the elastic member, when the coupling device is in the intermediate state, may be at least partly released from the attachments. The elastic member once released, adopts a definitive use position under the effect of relaxation of the elastic load, the coupling device then adopting the operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FAURECIA SYSTEMES D'ECHAPPEMENT
    Inventors: Gilbert Delplanque, Julien Cambillard, Alain Mercier
  • Patent number: 10036332
    Abstract: An electrically-operated actuator rotates a valve toward its closing side or opening side. A valve urging part urges the valve from a fully-closed position toward the opening side. An ACT control part controls the electrically-operated actuator to drive. A set load of the valve urging part is smaller than a set load that is capable of returning the valve from a fully-closed position to an intermediate position only by urging force of the valve urging part. When a position of the valve at time of turning off an IG switch for stopping operation of an internal-combustion engine is on the closing side of the intermediate position, the ACT control part shifts the valve to the intermediate position by the electrically-operated actuator after the IG switch is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuta Fujinaka, Takashi Kobayashi, Kazushi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9835095
    Abstract: An electronic switching module for connecting first and second throttle assemblies to an electronic control module of a vehicle that controls an engine of the vehicle includes first throttle assembly ports adapted to receive first throttle primary sensor position data and first throttle secondary sensor position data and second throttle assembly ports adapted to receive second throttle primary sensor position data and second throttle secondary sensor position data. A controller is connected to the first and second throttle assembly ports and an electronic control module port and is adapted to receive and compare the first throttle primary sensor position data and the first throttle secondary sensor position data and send an engine idle signal to the electronic control module via the electronic control module port when the comparison does not show a first predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Fontaine Modification Company
    Inventors: Brandon Hall, Howard Moore
  • Patent number: 9726281
    Abstract: A compact and lightweight range switching apparatus is provided by suppressing the increase in the size of components in the range switching apparatus. The range switching apparatus includes: a motor mounted in a housing; a pinion placed on a shaft of the motor; a sector-shaped gear wheel having an opening inside which a gear engaging the pinion is formed; and an output shaft rotatably supporting the gear wheel in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Kurita, Takuya Uryu, Chiaki Sugano, Masayuki Aota
  • Patent number: 9719432
    Abstract: A control apparatus for the internal combustion engine has a multicore processor mounted with a plurality of the cores, calculates various tasks regarding an operation of the internal combustion engine, and distributes the tasks to the plurality of the cores respectively to perform a calculation, and a controller that makes the number of cores for use in the calculation smaller while fuel cutoff is carried out than before the fuel cutoff is carried out. The controller selects, as a designated core, at least one of the cores for use in a specific calculation associated with combustion of the internal combustion engine. The controller stops the designated core from being used while fuel cutoff is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hayato Nakada
  • Patent number: 9677480
    Abstract: An automotive internal combustion engine electronic control unit for performing safety-related functions with a predetermined automotive safety integrity level, including: a microcontroller and an integrated circuit distinct from and communicating with the microcontroller. The microcontroller performs one or more safety-related functions with the same automotive safety integrity level as required to the automotive engine electronic control unit. The integrated circuit performs one or more safety-related functions with an automotive safety integrity level that is lower than that of the microcontroller. The integrated circuit performs, for each performed safety-related function, a corresponding diagnosis function for detecting failures in the performance of the safety-related function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A
    Inventors: Piero Carbonaro, Giovanni Dallara, Alessandro Fusari, Alberto Pezzoli, Francesco Traversi, Loris Lambertini
  • Patent number: 9624858
    Abstract: A method, comprising: setting an engine intake airflow parameter based on an engine oil viscosity index. In this way, engine operating conditions that depend on engine friction and engine intake airflow, such as engine idling speed and engine friction torque, may be determined and implemented with an increased consistency. This in turn may decrease the possibility of engine stalls and improve engine performance, particularly at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 9624837
    Abstract: An adaptive valve assembly includes a pipe defining a passageway for conducting engine exhaust gases, a pivot shaft supported by the pipe, and a valve body coupled to the pivot shaft. The valve body is moveable between an open position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is increased and a closed position where exhaust gas flow through the passageway is reduced. A resilient member biases the valve body toward the closed position. A retainer cooperates with the resilient member to define a valve stop for the valve body when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies, USA, LLC
    Inventor: Kwin Abram
  • Patent number: 9523320
    Abstract: Various methods for inferring oil viscosity and/or oil viscosity index in an internal combustion engine are provided. In one aspect, a new control method comprises: after engine shutdown, learning engine oil viscosity based on time to drain the oil back into an engine sump and oil temperature during the draining, and correcting an engine operating parameter based on the learned oil viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 9487087
    Abstract: An energy-optimized acceleration control is provided for a motor vehicle having an internal-combustion engine and/or an electric drive motor, a transmission unit and an accelerator element to be operated by the driver for accelerating the motor vehicle. In the course of the restoring force, when the accelerator element is operated, an inflection point with an increased restoring force is provided. The acceleration control is set up for operating the motor vehicle in two different operating modes, wherein during operation of the accelerator element leading to a reaching of the inflection point, the acceleration control changes into an energy-optimized acceleration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Spannheimer, Dirk Wisselmann
  • Patent number: 9481375
    Abstract: An input control signal is adjusted to account for a portion of the input control signal that may be attributable to unintended forces. Such unintended forces may include, but are not limited to, one or more of operator initiated unintended forces, vehicle-generated unintended forces, and extra-vehicular unintended forces. The amount by which the input control signal is adjusted correlates to a determined probability. The probability is an indicator as to how likely the input control value is affected by unintended forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Pedal Logic LP
    Inventors: Marc Lurie, Attila Vass
  • Patent number: 9436175
    Abstract: A method for controlling the movement of a component or machine element inhibited by friction, an adaptive pilot control being carried out, in which a variable pilot control value is applied to the manipulated variable to compensate for a friction influence, the change of the pilot control value being determined as a function of an actual value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Silberbauer, Gerald Zimmermann, Klaus Zimmermann, Robert Neuburger
  • Patent number: 9423802
    Abstract: An electronic control unit reduces output of an engine using a detection value of an acceleration sensor such that acceleration of a vehicle does not exceed a predetermined threshold value. In a case where there is an abnormality in the acceleration sensor, the electronic control unit sets the acceleration threshold value to be greater than that in a case where there is no abnormality, and the electronic control unit limits the vehicle speed to a predetermined value or slower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Minase, Masashi Takagi, Motonari Ohbayashi, Hiroshi Shimada, Toshihiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 9189009
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal feedback system is provided that supplies the driver with a tactile indicator, via a change in pedal resistance, when a monitored vehicle characteristic such as battery pack capacity falls below a preset level. The change in pedal resistance is achieved by preloading the accelerator pedal's spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: ATIEVA, INC.
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Gauthier
  • Patent number: 9145841
    Abstract: In a low-pressure EGR system, a mechanical stopper limits a rotation range of a low-pressure EGR regulating valve at a limit opening degree of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve on its fully-open side and outside an EGR amount adjustment opening degree range of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve. After an engine is stopped, a failure detection unit rotates the low-pressure EGR regulating valve to its fully-open position to such an extent that rotation of a linking device is prevented by the mechanical stopper, and is configured to determine that a failure has occurred when an opening degree of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve detected by a low-pressure EGR opening sensor is different from the limit opening degree of the low-pressure EGR regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinsuke Miyazaki, Takaaki Oohashi, Koji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9068517
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises an air control module and a spark control module. The air control module controls a throttle valve based on a first desired torque when the throttle valve is in an operable state. The spark control module controls spark advance based on the first desired torque and a second desired torque when the throttle valve is in a fault state. The throttle valve is maintained in a predetermined fault position when in the fault state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Paul A. Bauerle, Ning Jin, Todd R. Shupe, Robert C. Simon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9038597
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control apparatus has a construction which does not use a mechanical mechanism to restrict an operating angle of an electronic throttle valve, and continues motor control so as to prevent rapid opening and closing of the electronic throttle valve, even if an angle detection unit becomes abnormal. Upon detection of an abnormality, a control unit (1) controls, without using pieces of angle information (?1, ?2) after the detection of the abnormality, a motor (2) for driving the electronic throttle valve (3) based on angle information (?b) before the angle detection unit (6) becomes abnormal, information of electric power supplied to the motor (2) before the angle detection unit (6) becomes abnormal, a period of time (Tbc) until the abnormality of the angle detection unit (6) is detected, and a preset rate of change of a throttle angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichiro Fukuoka
  • Publication number: 20150114346
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a throttle based on an intake oxygen sensor output. In one example, a method may include adjusting a position of a throttle based on a dilution threshold and a total aircharge dilution level, the total dilution aircharge level based on an output of an intake oxygen sensor. Additionally, spark timing may be adjusted based on the total aircharge dilution level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, Michael Howard Shelby, James Alfred Hilditch, Jason Williams
  • Patent number: 8746210
    Abstract: A helical torsion return spring and a throttle body assembly for urging a throttle plate of a throttle body assembly to a default position when a throttle motor of the throttle body assembly is disabled. The return spring includes a middle portion, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first spring leg, and a second spring leg. The throttle body assembly includes a throttle shaft, a first bushing, a second bushing, and the spring defined above. A first end portion center axis defined by the first end portion and a second end portion center axis defined by the second end portion are offset from a middle portion center axis defined by the middle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank A. Nicholas