Having An Electrical Device Between Input And Speed Regulator Patents (Class 123/399)
  • Patent number: 10343657
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal sensor assembly for use in a vehicle brake pedal including a base and a pedal arm pivotally mounted to the pedal base. A sensor housing includes a non-contacting pedal position sensor and a contacting pedal force sensor. The sensor housing is mounted to the base of the vehicle brake pedal. A magnet is mounted to the pedal arm. The pedal position sensor senses a change in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to a change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. A pedal force application member exerts a force against the pedal force sensor in response to the change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. The force sensor may be a piezoelectric element, a load cell, or a strain gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Street, Mike Smith
  • Patent number: 10348160
    Abstract: A centrally positioned cylindrical Neodymium magnet that has opposing magnetic poles, radially disposed on either side of a rotational axis extending along the length of the cylindrical magnet and is centered within a central opening of rectangular coil, where it is free to rotate about its axis in either direction. At least one focus magnet (typically a small disk magnet) having axially opposing magnetic poles, each being arrange across each side substantially along a line parallel to the rotational axis of the cylindrical magnet within the frame, to cause the cylindrical magnet's field to be pulled into a more concentrated alignment so that more moving magnetic field lines from the cylindrical magnet can cut through the coil windings when the cylindrical magnet is rotated by an externally applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GENEREN, INC.
    Inventor: David Deak, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10315647
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling driving of a vehicle using driving information of the vehicle including: collecting, by a collector, driving data of the vehicle; extracting, by an extractor, ordinary driving characteristics and distinguishing driving characteristics of the vehicle from the collected driving data; classifying, by a classifier, driving tendency of the vehicle based on the extracted driving characteristics; and controlling, by a controller, driving of the vehicle based on the classified driving tendency. The ordinary driving characteristics includes an average speed of the vehicle, the distinguishing driving characteristics includes standard deviation of speed of the vehicle, and the driving tendency of the vehicle includes driving environment of the vehicle and driving propensity of a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Do Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 10316988
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a positioner includes determining a pressure value corresponding to a particular state of an actuator, wherein the actuator is controlled by the positioner, and controlling a pressure within the actuator according to a set point pressure, wherein the set point pressure is based on the pressure value such that the particular state of the actuator is maintained. The method further includes receiving a measured value indicating an actual pressure within the actuator, and determining a bias of the positioner based on the measured value and the set point pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Junk
  • Patent number: 10308315
    Abstract: A saddle-ridden vehicle includes: a pair of frame members which are disposed on one side and on other side in a vehicle width direction so as to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction; an engine which is disposed between and supported by the pair of frame members; an air cleaner which cleans air for fuel combustion; a supercharger which compresses the air cleaned by the air cleaner; an intercooler which cools, using a cooling wind, the air compressed by the supercharger and supplies resulting air to the engine; and an exhaust wind duct which determines a discharge position or a discharge direction of the cooling wind discharged from the intercooler, and the exhaust wind duct is disposed above the engine on the one side in the vehicle width direction and extends to rear of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryohei Hamaguchi, Kazuhiro Okita
  • Patent number: 10300944
    Abstract: A sensor device including a first output circuit generating and outputting a first output signal that is generated as a signal sequence from a first main signal based on a detection value of a first main sensor element to a first sub signal based on a detection value of a first sub sensor element, a second output circuit generating and outputting a second output signal that is generated as a signal sequence from a second main signal based on a detection value of a second main sensor element to a second sub signal based on a detection value of a second sub sensor element, and an abnormality determiner determining abnormality of the device based on the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaharu Kozawa, Shuji Kuramitsu, Koichi Nakamura, Katsuhiko Hayashi, Masaya Taki, Toshimitsu Sakai
  • Patent number: 10296037
    Abstract: A pedal assembly for a vehicle, including a pedal arm, a pivot shaft operatively attached to the pedal arm and defining a pivot axis, and identical and housing components. The housing components each have a body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a mount formed on the body and adapted for attachment to the vehicle, a receiver formed on the body extending away from the outer surface, a coupler formed on the body extending away from the outer surface and disposed in spaced relation with the receiver, and a bore defined along the inner surface arranged between the receiver and the coupler to support at least a portion of the pivot shaft. Each respective receiver engages the corresponding coupler in an interlocked configuration with the bores being aligned about the pivot axis to rotatably support the pivot shaft for rotation about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Kongsberg Power Products Systems I, Inc.
    Inventor: Jesse Henrikson
  • Patent number: 10287994
    Abstract: A vehicle throttle control system includes a torque control system providing a desired torque for a throttle valve. A conversion module converts the desired torque to a desired throttle area and converts the desired throttle area to a target throttle position. A selection module determines which one of multiple MPC controllers should be used based on a current position of the throttle valve. A prediction module determines future state values using a mathematical model of a throttle body. A cost module determines a first cost for a first set of MPC target throttle duty cycle values. A control module identifies optimal sets of target throttle motor duty cycle values for each of the MPC controllers. The multiple MPC controllers control operation of a throttle valve duty cycle to achieve a target throttle opening area based on a first one of the target throttle motor duty cycle values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen P. Levijoki, Bin Xu, Gionata Cimini
  • Patent number: 10280834
    Abstract: A valve control device includes a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal to an actuator adjusting an opening degree of a valve via a prescribed transmission line, generates a PWM signal on the basis of a target opening degree supplied from the outside and a sensor signal that indicates a real opening degree of the valve, and supplies the PWM signal to the drive circuit. The valve control device includes a disconnection detection unit which detects, on the basis of the PWM signal and a monitor signal of the drive signal, whether the transmission line is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: KEIHIN CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Takuya Yahagi, Youichiro Shikine, Tomohide Ichikawa, Kensuke Yamamoto, Akihito Inoue
  • Patent number: 10273900
    Abstract: A method to determine reference actuator positions for a gasoline engine, includes entering a base torque request, a known spark advance, a known CAM position and a known exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve position into an inverse torque model to generate a first iteration desired air per cylinder (APC) value. The first iteration desired APC value is passed through a deadband filter to produce a filtered first iteration desired APC signal. A Predicted As Cal (PAC) spark advance is calculated for the filtered first iteration desired APC value. The PAC spark advance and the base torque request are modified, and data from a first lookup table is entered to generate a second iteration desired APC value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, David N. Hayden, Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Stephen P. Levijoki
  • Patent number: 10253704
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an air charging system is disclosed. A plurality of output parameters of the air charging system are monitored. An error between each one of the monitored output parameters and a target value thereof is calculated. Each one of the calculated errors is applied to a linear controller that yields a virtual input which is used to calculate a plurality of input parameters for the air charging system. Each one of the input parameters is used to determine the position of a corresponding actuator of the air charging system and operate of the actuators according to the determined position thereof. The inputs parameters are calculated with a non-linear mathematical model of the air charging system configured such that each one of the virtual inputs is in a linear relation with only one of the output parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Giuseppe Conte, Vincenzo Alfieri
  • Patent number: 10228707
    Abstract: A valve control device for controlling a drive device that drives a valve includes: an operation amount calculation unit that calculates an operation amount of the drive device at predetermined sampling intervals based on a control deviation between a target value of an opening degree of the valve and an actually measured value of an opening degree of the valve; a state determination unit that determines whether the valve is in a steady or transient state; and a first correction unit that outputs, if the state determination unit determines the valve is in the steady state, a predetermined first correction value corresponding to a sign of the control deviation to correct the operation amount calculated by the operation amount calculation unit with the first correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Munekazu Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10161775
    Abstract: A method can be used for determining fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, in real time. The method includes determining a fuel injection quantity of the internal combustion engine based on an oxygen concentration signal from an oxygen sensor and a MAF signal from a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. The MAF sensor is coupled to the intake line and is configured to measure and monitor the mass flow rate of intake air flowing through the intake line. The method further includes determining, via an engine control module (ECM), an instantaneous fuel flow of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel injection quantity. The method further includes communicating, via the ECM, the instantaneous fuel flow to a body control module (BCM) and determining, via the BCM, an average fuel economy of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Umberto Ferrara, Serena Tordin
  • Patent number: 10138860
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for controlling transitions between effective firing fractions during dynamic firing level modulation operation of an engine in order to help reduce undesirable NVH consequences and otherwise smooth the transitions. In general, both feed forward and feedback control are utilized in the determination of the effective firing fractions during transitions such that the resulting changes in the effective firing fraction better track cylinder air charge changing dynamics associated with the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Nagashima, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Louis J. Serrano
  • Patent number: 10125712
    Abstract: A propulsion system, control system, and method are provided that use model predictive control to generate an initial selected engine output torque value. A minimum torque limit is determined by selecting a minimum acceptable engine output torque. A maximum torque limit is determined by selecting a maximum acceptable engine output torque. A desired engine output torque value is set as: a) the minimum torque limit, if the initial selected engine output torque value is less than the minimum torque limit; b) the maximum torque limit, if the initial selected engine output torque value is greater than the maximum torque limit; or c) the initial selected engine output torque value, if the initial selected engine output torque value is neither greater than the maximum torque limit nor less than the minimum torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Bharath Pattipati, James L Worthing, Christopher E Whitney
  • Patent number: 10107232
    Abstract: A method for driving an internal combustion engine is a method for reducing nitrogen oxides in emissions of the internal combustion engine, and includes a process of introducing air, which has a low oxygen concentration and contains no emissions, into the internal combustion engine, and a process of mixing humidifying water with a hydrocarbon fuel and injecting the mixture into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine as an emulsion fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Shimizu, Hirokazu Ohno, Tomohiro Niihama, Masahiro Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 10093346
    Abstract: A motor controller includes an H-bridge circuit, a switching-element driving circuit, a motor-current detection circuit, a sample hold circuit executing a sample hold of an output of the motor-current detection circuit at every half period and outputting the output of the motor-current detection circuit as a first signal and a second signal, according to a PWM output timing of the switching-element driving circuit, and a motor-current calculation circuit selecting a signal that is larger between the first signal and the second signal as a selection signal, calculating a value of the selection signal as an absolute value of a motor current, determining a current direction based on a relation between the selection signal and a PWM output signal at a sample timing that the selection signal is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Ogoshi, Yuta Uozaki, Rei Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10067526
    Abstract: A vehicle operation pedal device including a pedal bracket attached to a vehicle, a pedal arm swingably supported by the pedal bracket about a substantially horizontal support axis, extending downward from the pedal bracket, and having at its lower end a pedal that is operated by being depressed with a foot, and an operation amount sensor disposed on the pedal bracket to detect a pedal arm operation amount, the vehicle operation pedal device having: a cover member including at least a lower wall portion extending from below the operation amount sensor toward a driver's seat and fixedly attached to the pedal bracket; and a reinforcing member made of a metal and fixedly attached to the pedal arm so as to be interposed between the lower wall portion and the operation amount sensor when in an initial state where the pedal arm is not operated by being depressed with the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Fukatsu, Masayuki Nagata, Shun Takamura
  • Patent number: 10040454
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a NOx storage catalytic converter that is disposed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle with an adaptive cruise control system, wherein regeneration of the NOx storage catalytic converter is started depending on the distance to a vehicle ahead. For this the motor vehicle is accelerated in a rich mode for regeneration if the distance to the vehicle ahead is large enough so that the regeneration will be completed during an acceleration phase in which the distance is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frederik De Smet, Jan Harmsen
  • Patent number: 10036342
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises an engine, a throttle body including a passage section and a throttle valve, and a throttle valve controller which controls opening or closing of the throttle valve, wherein the throttle valve controller includes: a memory section which contains therein a medium output control command such that the medium output control command continues to be stored in the memory section in a state in which electric power supply to the throttle valve controller is ceased, the medium output control command indicating an opening degree of the throttle valve, corresponding to a preset medium output range, and wherein the throttle valve controller controls opening or closing of the throttle valve, in accordance with the medium output control command read from the memory section, when an engine output meets a medium output condition in which the engine output is controlled to fall into the medium output range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Takeshita, Tetsuya Mori
  • Patent number: 10029569
    Abstract: When the driving force between a driven wheel of a wheel and the surface on which the vehicle is travelling exceeds the available traction, wheel slippage may occur. Wheel slippage may result in a loss of control of the vehicle. The present disclosure may facilitate the control of drive power sent to a driven wheel of a vehicle from consideration of a torque setting and a speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Arick Bakken, Paul Cairns, William Swick
  • Patent number: 10029676
    Abstract: A method for determining whether hands of an operator of a vehicle are positioned on a hand wheel of the vehicle is provided. The method generates a first frequency content below a first frequency from a hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a second frequency content above a second frequency from the hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a hands on wheel (HOW) estimate signal based on the first frequency content and the second frequency content. The method causes a system in a vehicle to operate based on the HOW estimate signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy W. Kaufmann, Daniel W. Fuesz, Michael K. Hales
  • Patent number: 10017178
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus of the invention is applied to a vehicle having at least one device configured to acquire a road situation information from an outside of the vehicle. The apparatus determines whether or not a particular situation regarding a vehicle traveling occurs on the basis of the road situation information. The particular situation being a situation that a driver of the vehicle should be alerted. The apparatus can perform an informing for alerting the driver and execute a cruise control for causing the vehicle to travel automatically without an operation of an acceleration operator of the vehicle. The apparatus performs the informing when the particular situation occurs, the cruise control is not executed and the acceleration operator is operated. The apparatus performs the informing when the particular situation occurs and the cruise control is executed, independently of whether or not the acceleration operator is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Morimoto, Katsuhiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10011272
    Abstract: A method to control an electric motor including the steps of: determining a target torque; calculating a target current by dividing the target torque by a torque constant; determining an equivalent impedance by means of a predetermined map; calculating the voltage drop by multiplying the target current by the equivalent impedance; calculating a counter-electromotive force by multiplying an actual rotation speed by a speed constant; determining a control voltage to be applied to the power supply terminals of the electric motor by adding the voltage drop to the counter-electromotive force; determining an offset parameter; and correcting the equivalent impedance provided by the predetermined map by applying the offset parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventors: Barbara Prina, Alessandro Barone
  • Patent number: 9976765
    Abstract: A method controls an operation of an air-conditioning system generating airflow in a conditioned environment. The method updates a model of airflow dynamics connecting values of flow and temperature of air conditioned during the operation of the air-conditioning system. The model is updated interactively iteratively to reduce an error between values of the airflow determined according to the model and values of the airflow measured during the operation. Next, the method models the airflow using the updated model and controls the operation of the air-conditioning system using the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Mouhacine Benosman, Petros Boufounos, Boris Kramer, Piyush Grover
  • Patent number: 9903283
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes providing a vehicle having an internal combustion gasoline engine including multiple cylinders and wherein the engine is capable of running on at least one of a plurality firing fractions, providing a vacuum offset (Offsetvac) to adjust airflow capacity for each of the plurality of firing fractions, determining a torque capacity of each of the plurality firing fractions and a plurality of available firing fractions that provides at least enough torque capacity to accommodate a current torque requested (Treq), determining a plurality of viable firing fractions of the plurality of available firing fractions, and determining and implementing an optimal firing fraction of the viable firing fractions if the optimal firing fraction provides enough fuel economy benefit over a current firing fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Allen B. Rayl, Jr., Donovan L. Dibble, Darrell W. Burleigh, Steven J. Haase
  • Patent number: 9879642
    Abstract: In a straddle type vehicle including a body frame, a power unit supported to the body frame, and a throttle body connected to the power unit and adjusting the intake air amount, a gyro sensor for detecting behavior of the vehicle is arranged in the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kato, Kazuhito Hotta
  • Patent number: 9851220
    Abstract: An assembly structure of a nonmagnetic member to which a position sensor arranged to to sense a rotation position of the rotation member, includes: a nonmagnetic member including a hollow portion; a cover which is fixed to an opening end portion of the hollow portion; and a retaining portion which is provided on an outer circumference portion of the hollow portion of the nonmagnetic member, and to which the position sensor is assembled from the opening end portion's side to be slid in a rotation axis direction, the cover restricting movements of the magnet holding portion and the position sensor in the rotation axis direction in a case where the cover is fixed to the nonmagnetic member in a state where the magnet holding portion and the position sensor are assembled to the nonmagnetic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Hikiji, Stefan Born
  • Patent number: 9822725
    Abstract: A control device of an engine includes an adjustment mechanism and a controller. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust an intake air amount. The controller is configured to save a first learning value in a volatile storage medium, the first learning value being obtained by learning an operation amount of the adjustment mechanism when the engine is idle. The controller is configured to control the adjustment mechanism according to the first learning value. The controller is configured to save a second learning value in a non-volatile storage medium, the second learning value being equal to the first learning value. The controller is configured to correct the first learning value using the second learning value after the first learning value is cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hamamoto, Daigo Ando, Shuichi Yasutomi, Kengo Hamada
  • Patent number: 9815457
    Abstract: In the case where a throttle valve has a sticking abnormality, a hybrid vehicle performs failsafe operation (limp home mode) with fixing the throttle valve to an opener position (S100) and sets a restoration diagnosis cooling water temperature T1 such as to decrease with a decrease in state of charge SOC of a battery (S120). When cooling water temperature Tw of the engine becomes equal to or higher than the restoration diagnosis cooling water temperature T1, the hybrid vehicle performs sticking restoration diagnosis to determine whether the throttle valve is restored from the sticking abnormality (S150). This allows for earlier diagnosis of whether the throttle valve is restored from the sticking abnormality at the lower state of charge SOC of the battery and enables the hybrid vehicle to return to normal operation at an earlier time. As a result, this ensures the more adequate sticking restoration diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami
  • Patent number: 9804059
    Abstract: Based on entry/exit pressures of a compressor detected by atmospheric/boost pressure sensors, a pressure ratio of compressor is calculated. Based on mass flow rate and entry temperature of intake air detected by intake air flow-rate/temperature sensors and entry pressure, a volumetric flow rate of intake air is calculated in environmental condition at a detection time using gas state equation, and is corrected into a volumetric flow rate under standard environmental condition thorough multiplication by a corrective coefficient based on entry temperature of intake air. Based on the corrected value and the calculated pressure ratio, a rotational frequency of compressor under standard environmental condition is read out in light of operating characteristic diagram for the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nakano, Hideyo Iwama
  • Patent number: 9798351
    Abstract: A vehicle pedal including a pedal body that has one longitudinal direction end portion disposed at a vehicle body floor side, and that is supported so as to be capable of pivoting about the one end portion, wherein: a friction regulating section is integrally formed to a tread portion of the pedal body; a first region and a second region are configured on the surface of the friction regulating section, a coefficient of friction of the second region in the longitudinal direction is greater than a coefficient of friction of the first region in the longitudinal direction; the first region configures another end portion side of the tread portion of the pedal body in the longitudinal direction; the second region configures one end portion side of the tread portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9791854
    Abstract: A device for computing correction for control parameter in a manufacturing process executed on a manufacturing apparatus includes circuitry which acquires an index representing fluctuation in a manufacturing apparatus, acquires an apparatus model and a process model, acquires an output from a sensor in the manufacturing apparatus, transforms the output into first fluctuation for a process element, transforms the index into second fluctuation for the process element based on the apparatus model, computes fluctuation for performance indicator from the first and second fluctuation based on the process model, computes correction for the performance indicator from control range for the performance indicator and the fluctuation for the performance indicator, and converts the correction for the performance indicator into correction for each process element based on the process model such that correction for control parameter in process executed on the manufacturing apparatus is computed from the correction converted
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takuo Yamamoto, Yuki Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9784188
    Abstract: A sensor module is adapted to be attached to an actuator body incorporating an electric actuator. The sensor module includes a sensor assembly, a sensor cover, and a connector housing. The sensor assembly includes a sensor detection part and a sensor housing. The sensor detection part is configured to detect a physical change amount of a driven body driven by the electric actuator and to convert the physical change amount into an electrical signal. The sensor housing incorporates the sensor detection part. The sensor cover is provided separately from the sensor housing and is attached to the actuator body. The sensor module is configured integrally by attaching the sensor assembly to the sensor cover. A connector terminal electrically connected to a connection terminal of the sensor detection part is insert-molded in the connector housing. The connector housing is provided integrally with the sensor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Nishimoto, Yoshiyuki Kono
  • Patent number: 9777676
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging a fuel vapor canister. In one example, a method may include during boosted engine operating conditions, utilizing regulated compressed air from an engine intake to purge fuel vapors stored in the fuel vapor canister. Further, during non-boosted condition, regulated air from the intake may be utilized to purge the fuel vapor canister. The purged fuel vapors and intake air may be delivered to upstream of a compressor when operating with boost, or to an intake manifold when operating without boost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Meisam Mehravaran
  • Patent number: 9765621
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine using a controller that controls an air flow path by adjusting at least one of a variable geometry turbine (VGT) and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow rate during engine operation. The method determines inputs, such as engine speed and fuel rate from the sensor data, and employs a switch based gain-scheduled explicit model predictive controller (MPC) responsive to the inputs to determine the air flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mike Xuli Huang, Ilya Kolmanovsky
  • Patent number: 9744854
    Abstract: A pedal operation amount display apparatus includes: a display device that is configured to display an accelerator operation amount of an accelerator pedal by an operating person by means of light emission of segments; and an assist reaction force calculation part that is configured to set a threshold operation amount as a target value of the accelerator operation amount; and a display control part that is configured to control the display device in a manner such that the accelerator operation amount corresponding to the threshold operation amount is constantly displayed by means of light emission of the segments. Even when the threshold operation amount is changed, the display control part keeps the light emission of the segments unchanged until the accelerator operation amount varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sato, Go Suzaki
  • Patent number: 9745014
    Abstract: An operating device of a straddle type vehicle has a controller for selecting a plurality of function menus of components mounted on the straddle type vehicle. Controller supporting portions support the controller, and are disposed in the front direction of a switch box. The controller has a controller operating portion which a rider can operate. The controller operating portion is positioned in the front direction of a grip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Osanai, Yutaka Kikuchi, Shiro Fukano, Masahiro Miki, Hiroshi Hayashi, Kota Nakahira, Tomohiro Hoshi, Manabu Ichikawa, Yoshitaka Suzuki, Tomoyuki Takewaka
  • Patent number: 9739682
    Abstract: A method for correcting calibration of a closure member on a valve assembly. The method can include comparing a calculated value to an expected value, each relating to a position of a closure member of the valve assembly relative to a seat of the valve assembly, the calculated value being calculated using a calibration variable and an input value corresponding to a measured position of the closure member. The method can also include identifying a deviation between the calculated value and the expected value. The method can further include changing the calibration variable from a first value to a second value in response to the deviation, the second value equating the calculated value at the input value with the expected value for the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Gene Schoonover, Justin Scott Shriver
  • Patent number: 9719429
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine of a vehicle having a driver-actuated accelerator pedal includes an economy mode activation module and a standard fueling module. The economy mode activation module is configured to compare throttle input data with defined limits. The throttle input data is controllable by a driver of the vehicle via positioning of the accelerator pedal. The economy mode activation module is configured to control the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine via an economy fuel map if the throttle input data falls within the defined limits for a defined amount of time. The standard fueling mode activation module is configured to control the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine via a standard fuel map if the throttle input data does not fall within the defined limits for the defined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew A. Morris
  • Patent number: 9695982
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing the risk of a moving machine colliding with an object involves a receiving antenna attached to the machine receiving an RF signal transmitted by a transmitting antenna attached to the object and energized by a power source. A processor operatively connected to the receiving antenna carries out a computer-implemented process under the direction of a set of program instructions stored in the memory component to determine the machine-object distance based on the strength of the RF signal at the receiving antenna. If the machine-object distance is less than a specified minimum safe distance, then the processor takes a preventative action such as actuating a sensory alarm, actuating a means for slowing the machine, or actuating an acoustic location device to more accurately determine the machine-object distance. The processor may also take a preventative action based on a state variable encoded in the RF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Darren Rivet
  • Patent number: 9638144
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for purging a fuel vapor canister. In one example, a method may include during boosted engine operating conditions, utilizing regulated compressed air from an engine intake to purge fuel vapors stored in the fuel vapor canister. Further, during non-boosted condition, regulated air from the intake may be utilized to purge the fuel vapor canister. The purged fuel vapors and intake air may be delivered to upstream of a compressor when operating with boost, or to an intake manifold when operating without boost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Meisam Mehravaran
  • Patent number: 9623870
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine and a brake booster amplifying a brake force by forming a negative pressure in a negative pressure tank by rotation of the engine. The running control device is configured to execute an engine brake running mode performed with the engine coupled to wheels such that an engine brake is applied by driven rotation of the engine and an inertia running mode performed with an engine brake force made lower than that of the engine brake running mode. The running control device executes a first inertia running mode performed with the rotation of the engine stopped and a second inertia running mode performed with the engine kept rotating as the inertia running mode in accordance with predefined respective execution conditions. The running control device comprises a prediction portion configured to predict a necessity of the negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9605607
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a filling (rl) of an internal combustion engine (2) including the camshaft phase adjustment in the case of a predefined setpoint filling (rlsol), including the following steps: carrying out the filling control based on an indicated pressure difference for obtaining a control variable (?Fuereg) for setting an air mass supply to the internal combustion engine (2); and ascertaining the indicated pressure difference (?pSR) as a difference between a predicted intake manifold pressure (psrpred) and an actual intake manifold pressure (pSR), the predicted intake manifold pressure (psrpred) corresponding to an intake manifold pressure which is necessary for reaching the setpoint filling (rlsol) at an aspiration curve which is predicted for a predefined time constant (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Isabelle Elsner, Sven Merkle, Matthias Pfau, Andreas Bethmann
  • Patent number: 9534547
    Abstract: An engine control system for a vehicle, includes a delay and rate limit module, a throttle control module, a phaser control module, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) control module. The delay and rate limit module applies a delay and a rate limit to a first torque request to produce a second torque request. The throttle control module determines a target throttle opening based on the second torque request and selectively adjusts a throttle valve based on the target throttle opening. The phaser control module determines target intake and exhaust phasing values based on the second torque request and selectively adjusts intake and exhaust valve phasers based on the target intake and exhaust phasing values, respectively. The EGR control module determines a target EGR opening based on the first torque request and selectively adjusts an EGR valve based on the target EGR opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Jeffrey M. Kaiser, Christopher E. Whitney, Gerald J. Hysko, Jr., David A. White, B. Jerry Song
  • Patent number: 9464881
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a displacement sensor and a displacement detection apparatus and method. The displacement detection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a receiving unit for receiving a plurality of receiver signals dependent on displacement of a coupler element, an acquisition unit for acquiring information about the displacement of the coupler element and information about a gap between the coupler element and a transmitting coil or the plurality of receiver coils by using the plurality of receiver signals, and a compensation unit for compensating for the acquired displacement information using the acquired gap information. The acquisition unit acquires the displacement information of the coupler element using one of the plurality of receiver signals, and acquires a compensation signal, independent of the displacement of the coupler element including the gap information, using remaining receiver signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Silicon Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Kyoung Lee, Jin Yong Jeon, Yoo Sung Kim, Jang Hyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9458801
    Abstract: A method for an evaporative emissions leak test, comprising: adjusting a pressure threshold based on a fuel volatility of a fuel contained in a fuel tank; and performing the evaporative emissions leak test based on the adjusted pressure threshold. By determining fuel volatility and adjusting a pressure threshold based on the fuel volatility, a more robust and accurate evaporative emissions leak test may be employed without adding additional components to a fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Rob Ognjanovski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9446767
    Abstract: A running control device of a vehicle includes an engine with a plurality of cylinders, and a clutch connecting/disconnecting a power transmission path between the engine and wheels, the running control device of a vehicle performing during an inertia running mode a neutral inertia running mode performed with the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels disconnected while the engine is kept operated, and a cylinder resting inertia running mode performed by resting at least a part of the cylinders of the engine while the power transmission path between the engine and the wheels is connected, the running control device of a vehicle increasing an operation region of performing the neutral inertia running mode in an operation region of performing the inertia running mode when idle learning performed in an idle operation state of the engine is incomplete, as compared to after completion of the idle learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Hirai, Rentaro Kuroki, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9441989
    Abstract: A position encoder includes a sensor unit and an encoder unit configured to follow a motion of a lever by means of a pusher so as to enable the sensor unit to capture said motion. The encoder unit and the sensor unit include separate housings connected to each other. The connection between the housings of the encoder unit and the sensor unit is implemented by means of a hollow riveted connection with at least one fastening element configured to be guided into the hollow space thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harry Kaiser, Eduard Maiterth
  • Patent number: 9441549
    Abstract: A control device for internal combustion engine mounted in a vehicle includes a throttle valve provided in an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and capable of changing a cross-sectional area of the intake passage, a variable valve capable of changing opening and closing timings of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine, basic target torque calculation means for calculating a basic target torque of the internal combustion engine according to an operating state of the internal combustion engine, vibration control target torque calculation means for calculating a vibration control target torque of the internal combustion engine to suppress vehicle vibration according to a vibration component of the vehicle, and cylinder intake air amount control means for controlling a cylinder intake air amount by controlling one of the throttle valve and the variable valve according to the vibration control target torque and controlling the other of the throttle valve and the variable valve according
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoya Onozato, Masahiro Iriyama, Takahiro Yoshino, Masahiro Arai, Kenji Suzuki