Having An Electrical Device Between Input And Speed Regulator Patents (Class 123/399)
  • Patent number: 8744731
    Abstract: An electronic digital governor assembly includes a case, a printed circuit board housed within said case, the printed circuit board having control circuitry configured for controlling at least one parameter of an energy production device, and a user interface including a digital display for displaying a value of the at least one parameter and at least one button for selectively adjusting the value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Governors America Corp.
    Inventors: Dan Wertz, Kevin A. Batson, Dae Kon Yi, Sean Lavin, Paul Cappa
  • Patent number: 8733319
    Abstract: When control to maintain a constant engine rotation number is executed, the electronic control unit constantly monitors an error of detected throttle position data with respect to a desired throttle control value, executes a first stage of a failure judgment method to judge that a failure of a throttle control system has occurred in a case where an absolute value of the error exceeds a predetermined threshold value continuously for a predetermined time or longer, and executes a second stage of the failure judgment method to judge that a serious failure has occurred in the system in a case where a detected engine rotation number exceeds a predetermined rotation number continuously for a predetermined time or longer, to perform predetermined operations in accordance with the judgment results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Buso Takigawa, Umerujan Sawut, Tohti Gheyret, Norichika Kojima, Tsutomu Murakami
  • Patent number: 8726891
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including a compressor and a boost tank selectably coupled to an intake manifold. The method comprises admitting air from the compressor to the intake manifold via a main throttle valve, storing some air from the compressor in a boost tank, and discharging some of the air stored in the boost tank to the intake manifold via an auxiliary throttle valve distinct from the main throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8720414
    Abstract: Throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensing assemblies and a method of integrating a throttle position sensor assembly with a throttle body assembly are described. The method comprises the steps of: i) press-fitting a sensor element onto a shaft of a throttle plate of a throttle body assembly; ii) engaging one or more inwardly extending members of the sensor element with one or more recessed portions formed on the shaft of the throttle plate; and iii) disposing an inductive rotary position sensor proximate the sensor element, wherein the press-fit engagement and one or more inwardly extending members limit axial and rotational movement of the sensor element with respect to the throttle plate, and wherein the inductive rotary position sensor detects a relative position of the sensor element for the purpose of ascertaining a position of the throttle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Cowan, John Norman Stockbridge
  • Patent number: 8714138
    Abstract: A motorcycle having a head pipe, a vehicle body frame including a pair of left and right main flames extending rearward from the head pipe, and an engine below the vehicle body frame and including a cylinder having an inclined cylinder axis, and an intake device. The intake device has an air cleaner box above the engine and the main frames; a throttle body provided with throttle bores and a valve shaft penetrating the throttle bores, the throttle body is located on a rear side of the engine between the pair of left and right main frames and guides intake air from the air cleaner box to the engine; and a measuring device located on a rear side of the throttle body which rotates about a rotational shaft parallel to the valve shaft to measure a throttle operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsushi Uchiyama, Ikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8700247
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes an engine, an electric machine, and a transmission. A method to control the powertrain includes monitoring operation of the powertrain, determining whether conditions necessary for growl to occur excluding motor torque and engine torque are present, and if the conditions are present controlling the powertrain based upon avoiding a powertrain operating region wherein the growl is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wise, Chihang Lin, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8688355
    Abstract: A required intake air flow rate is converted to a post-model required intake air flow rate (BMtsm) by a base-system normative model, and the inverse model of an intake system model is used to calculate a base-system required throttle opening degree (BTA) so as to achieve the post-model required intake air flow rate (BMtsm). On the other hand, the required in-take air flow rate (Mt) is converted to a post-model required intake air flow rate (HMtsm) by a high-response-system normative model, and the inverse model of the intake system model is used to calculate a high-response-system required throttle opening degree (HTA) so as to achieve the post-model required intake air flow rate (HMTsm). Then, a target throttle opening degree (TAt) is set so as to fall within the range from the base-system required throttle opening degree (BTA) to the high-response-system required throttle opening degree (HTA) and the reduce a variation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Yamamoto, Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato
  • Publication number: 20140083394
    Abstract: A rotation angle sensor detects a rotation angle of a pedal by its first Hall IC and second Hall IC, which are disposed between two magnets and output voltages varying with magnetic flux changes. When the rotation angle of the pedal is an accelerator full-closure rotation angle or more, the first Hall IC generates a first voltage V1, which is twice as large as a second voltage V2 of the second Hall IC. When the rotation angle is less than 0°, the first Hall IC fixes the first voltage irrespective of the rotation angle. An ECU determines that the rotation angle is abnormal indicating that the pedal rotates in an accelerator closing direction beyond an accelerator full-closure position, when an output difference G1 calculated as G1=V1/2?V2 is more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidekazu WATANABE, Masahiro MAKINO, Takehiro SAITO
  • Patent number: 8667781
    Abstract: A vehicle control device applied to a vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an electrically heated catalyst which is warmed by applying a current, and includes a catalyst carrier supporting a catalyst and a carrier retention unit that retains the catalyst carrier and has an electrical insulation property. The control unit performs a control of suppressing a supply of an unburned gas from the internal combustion engine to the electrically heated catalyst so that the carrier retention unit is maintained at a lower temperature than the catalyst, when a condition for performing a fuel cut of the internal combustion engine during a deceleration is satisfied. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a rapid cooling of the catalyst, and it becomes possible to maintain a temperature of the carrier retention unit at a lower temperature than a temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mamoru Yoshioka, Noriaki Kumagai, Naoya Takagi
  • Publication number: 20140053807
    Abstract: A motor control device includes a drive circuit to drive an H-bridge circuit to control a current fed to a motor, a drive command signal generator to generate a drive command signal including a pulse signal having predetermined drive frequency and duty for sending a command to drive the motor, a current detection circuit operable to output a comparison output signal based on comparison between a current detection signal of a motor current and a target value signal, a latch circuit to hold a current detection result based on an ON signal of the drive command signal and the comparison output signal, a gate circuit to drive the drive circuit based on the ON signal of the drive command signal and a latch output signal from the latch circuit, and a control unit that changes the duty of the drive command signal based on the current detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventor: Yusuke USUI
  • Patent number: 8660773
    Abstract: A delay time is provided in a calculation process until an instructed throttle opening is outputted after a required cylinder inside air filling efficiency is inputted. When calculation timing of a fuel injection quantity comes, an actual cylinder inside air filling efficiency which is achieved in a time ahead by the delay time from the present time is estimated by using an air response model. When a read-ahead time from the present time to closing timing of an intake valve exceeds the delay time, a change amount of the actual cylinder inside air filling efficiency which occurs by the time the read-ahead time elapses from a time point when the delay time elapses is estimated by using an air response model with a deviation between an estimated actual cylinder inside air filling efficiency after the delay time and a target cylinder inside air filling efficiency as a step input value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hayato Nakada
  • Patent number: 8655573
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided that can successfully achieve a desired acceleration by avoiding an absence of torque of the internal combustion engine due to an influence of EGR gas when the torque increases toward a required torque. A required throttle valve opening degree TAreq is set based on a required torque TQreq in accordance with a required throttle valve opening degree map that defines a relation between the required torque TQreq and the required throttle valve opening degree TAreq. In addition, a required EGR valve opening degree EGRreq is set based on a required load factor KLreq in accordance with a required EGR valve opening degree map that defines a relation between the required load factor KLreq and the required EGR valve opening degree EGRreq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hokuto
  • Patent number: 8640566
    Abstract: A reduction in the size of a housing for containing a magnetic sensor is provided for a throttle device for a vehicle in which the turning amount of a throttle grip is detected by use of the magnetic sensor. An extension part of the throttle grip is provided at its outer periphery with an enlarged diameter part for holding magnets of the magnetic sensor. A right switch box is provided with Hall sensors of the magnetic sensor, and the enlarged diameter part and each of the Hall sensors are opposed to each other in the axial direction of a right handle bar. The throttle grip is urged toward the throttle full-closing position by a grip urging mechanism. The throttle full-closing position is maintained by only an urging force exerted from the grip urging mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Soda, Hiroto Hibi, Tetsuya Kondo
  • Patent number: 8627916
    Abstract: A saddle riding vehicle having an accelerator operator includes an accelerator operation amount detecting unit connected to a second end portion of an accelerator cable having a first end portion connected to the accelerator operator, the accelerator operation amount detecting unit is disposed at a location less susceptible to the effect from an external force and steering of the steering handlebar with a space to permit removal of screws and other parts that may be dropped during the assembly process. An accelerator operation amount detecting unit includes a rotatable member connected to an accelerator cable so as to be rotated according to displacement of the accelerator cable and a cover plate extending in a longitudinal direction to cover the rotatable member from an upward direction. The accelerator operation amount detecting unit is disposed near a head pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shinde, Keiichiro Niizuma, Masato Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20130333665
    Abstract: A method for supplying vacuum in an engine is disclosed. The method includes controlling a throttle valve positioned upstream of a supercharger arranged in series with and upstream of a turbocharger to draw a fluid from a vacuum line positioned intermediate the throttle valve and a supercharger inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8612116
    Abstract: A target TH opening degree change amount calculating unit 26 calculates a change amount of a target throttle opening degree ?THCMD. In accordance with whether or not the change amount of the target throttle opening degree ?THCMD is not less than a predetermined control start threshold, a collision prevention process determining unit 27 determines whether a throttle grip 21 has been operated to rapidly close. When the rapid closing operation of the throttle grip 21 is detected, a change-amount basic value calculating unit 28 calculates a change-amount basic value of the target throttle opening degree. A correction term calculating unit 29 inputs to a multiplying unit 30 a correction term for correcting the change-amount basic value. The multiplying unit 30 multiplies the change-amount basic value by the correction term, and outputs a change amount of the target throttle opening degree thus calculated. The correction term can be set, for example, to have a value not more than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Yukihiro Asada
  • Patent number: 8596244
    Abstract: A display system for an automotive vehicle indicates the position of a throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Freeman Thomas, Mark Gorman, Sven Etzelsberger
  • Patent number: 8594905
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. In the control system, a target intake air amount is calculated according to a target output torque of the engine, and an intake air amount of the engine is controlled according to the target intake air amount. An ignition timing of the engine is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Shiomi, Hiroshi Yatani, Takaaki Fukusako
  • Patent number: 8584649
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes an ISS control unit provided with an ISS determination unit for inputting at least an engine cooling water temperature, vehicle speed, and brake information, and target opening setting unit for setting a target opening in an idle stop/start control period. A throttle control unit is provided with a proportional gain correction coefficient operator for correcting a proportional gain to a value that is larger than a proportional gain outside the idle stop/start control period, a throttle opening feedback controller for performing throttle opening feedback control based on an opening deviation between a target opening and an actual opening, and a PWM driver outputting a voltage proportional to the operation amount, to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8577584
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which a setpoint torque to be output by the internal combustion engine is restricted to a specifiable torque, in particular in response to an error in the control of the internal combustion engine. An engine speed of the internal combustion engine is determined as a function of at least one performance quantity of the internal combustion engine, and the specifiable torque is modified as a function of the determined engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Gwinner, Gholamabas Esteghlal
  • Patent number: 8554451
    Abstract: A stop control system for an internal combustion engine, which controls a stop position of a piston of the engine, is provided. An valve opening amount of an intake air flow rate control valve is determined based on the detected engine rotational speed and the detected crank angle after the ignition switch is turned off, and the intake air flow rate control valve is controlled so that the valve opening amount of the intake air flow rate control valve coincides with the determined valve opening amount. For example, the valve opening amount of the intake air flow rate control valve is determined according to the crank angle at the time the engine rotational speed decreases to reach a predetermined range, and the intake air flow rate control valve is controlled to be opened. With this control, the intake air amount of the engine is increased so that the stop position of the piston coincides with the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanta Tsuji, Atsushi Mitsui, Fumio Hara
  • Patent number: 8544447
    Abstract: One aspect is an electronic throttle control system including an electronic control unit configured to receive actuation signals indicative of a user action and to generate an actuation signal indicative of the user action. A throttle plate motor is configured to receive the actuation signal from the electronic control unit and to move a throttle plate in response thereto. A throttle position sensor is configured to sense the actual position of the throttle plate and to generate an actual position signal indicative of the throttle plate position. A throttle modifier is coupled between the throttle position sensor and the electronic control unit and configured to modify the actual position signal into a modified position signal, and to send the modified position signal to the electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: V&H Performance, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Heath, Jorge A. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8534255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve unit for at least one of influencing and controlling a gas flow in an internal combustion engine comprising at least one valve member for modifying a cross-section of a gas flow-carrying channel through which a fluid flows and a drive train for rotatingly driving the at least one valve member. The drive train comprises an input shaft, which is drivingly coupled to a drive device in the mounted state, and at least one valve member shaft which is non-rotationally connected to the valve member. It is especially advantageous if the drive train comprises at least one phase adjuster for drivingly coupling the input shaft and the valve member shaft, a rotational position of the shafts in relation to each other being adjustable by the phase adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Elsasser, Uwe Grass, Bernd Mahr, Marco Warth
  • Patent number: 8521403
    Abstract: A method and a device for interrupting unintended acceleration or unintended maintenance of vehicle speed comprising providing a driver operated fuel delivery disconnect system, said fuel delivery disconnect system comprising an electronic module programmed to temporarily disconnect electrical feed to a fuel delivery mechanism. The temporary interruption of the electrical feed places the vehicle in an idle mode without disrupting other vehicle control systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Donald R. Cook
  • Patent number: 8516992
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a throttle control device includes an axel 43 for opening and closing a throttle valve 41, an axel sensor 52 for detecting an operation amount of the axel 43, a throttle control portion 71 for controlling the throttle valve 41, a memory portion 72 for storing a plurality of control modes 81, 82, and 83 in which a targeted throttle opening degree for the operation amount is determined, a change-over switch 122 for instructing the changing of the control mode, a judgment portion 73a for judging whether or not the operation amount of the axel 43 is equal to or less than the predetermined operation amount, and a changing portion 73b for changing the control mode when the switch 122 is operated and the operation amount of the axel 43 is equal to or less than the predetermined operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Akatsuka
  • Patent number: 8511279
    Abstract: A spark ignition type internal combustion engine of the present invention is provided with a variable closing timing mechanism which can change a closing timing of an intake valve after suction bottom dead center wherein the amount of intake air fed into a combustion chamber is controlled mainly by changing the closing timing of the intake valve. At the time of engine cold start, the closing timing of the intake valve is advanced compared with the time of engine warm operation. At the time of engine cold start, the air-fuel mixture which is taken into a combustion chamber is blown back into the engine intake passage whereby the air-fuel ratio varies among cylinders, but according to the spark ignition type internal combustion engine of the present invention, it is possible to suppress such variation in the air-fuel ratio among cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Akihisa, Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8499741
    Abstract: A throttle control device includes a throttle body having at least three air-intake passages aligned in line as being opened and closed respectively by a throttle valve, plural motors including a first motor which commonly operates the throttle valves placed at bilateral end sides among the throttle valves aligned in line and a second motor which operates a throttle valve placed at the inner side between the throttle valves at the bilateral end sides, and a transmitting portion which transmits operational force of the first motor to a first throttle shaft fixed to one throttle valve of the throttle valves at the bilateral end sides and to a second throttle shaft fixed to the other throttle valve thereof so as to rotate the first throttle shaft and the second throttle shaft in synchronization with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Mikuni Corporation
    Inventors: Michihiko Ishikawa, Riki Murasaka, Hiroyuki Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8499744
    Abstract: During travel of a vehicle, an apparatus acquires vehicle velocity information detected by a vehicle velocity sensor and a reference accelerator opening degree and an estimated gear position from a reference accelerator opening degree table indicative of relationship between vehicle velocities and accelerator opening degrees during travel of the vehicle at cruising velocity. The apparatus also acquires an estimated number of prime mover rotations at the vehicle velocity from a vehicle-velocity vs. number-of-prime-mover-rotation correlation table, and then calculates a difference between the estimated number of prime mover rotations and an actual number of prime mover rotations detected by a number-of-prime-mover-rotation sensor. Further, a value, obtained by multiplying the calculated difference by a compensating coefficient determined in accordance with characteristics specific to the vehicle, is added to the reference accelerator opening degree, to thereby calculate an estimated accelerator opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 8496084
    Abstract: A throttle sensor mounting structure for suppressing the influence on the arrangement of a lighting device located on the front side of a head pipe. A throttle sensor mounting structure in a saddle seat type vehicle includes a handle, a throttle grip rotatably mounted on the handle, a throttle sensor for detecting an operational amount of the throttle grip, a controller for controlling a power unit according to a detection value from the throttle sensor, a pair of right and left main frames extending to the rear from a head pipe, and a headlight provided on the front side of the head pipe. The throttle sensor is located on the rear side of the head pipe and between the right and left main frames so as to be superimposed on the main frames as viewed in a side elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takamura, Hiroshi Maeda, Yusuke Funayose, Masao Yoshinaga, Sho Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8498800
    Abstract: An engine control unit includes an anomaly judging section for judging whether or not there is any anomaly in throttle sensors based on the output of the throttle sensors, a throttle motor driving section for controlling the driving of a throttle motor, and a fuel injection control section for controlling the amount of fuel injection at the time of starting an engine by using the fuel injection map for starting. The throttle motor driving section stops the driving of the throttle motor if the throttle sensors are judged to be anomalous, and the fuel injection control section switches the fuel injection map for starting in a normal state into the fuel injection map for starting in an anomalous state at the time of restarting the engine after stopping the engine in a state wherein the throttle sensors are judged to be anomalous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tsuyuguchi, Akihiko Hamazaki, Toru Takeda
  • Publication number: 20130174807
    Abstract: A speed-reducing-gear device includes a plurality of gears, which are arranged to amplify rotational force received from an electric motor. A face width of a plurality of external teeth, which are circumferentially placed one after another in a toothed section of a final gear among the plurality of gears, varies in a rotational direction of the final gear, and the face width is measured in an axial direction of the final gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: DENSO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8479707
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection device may include a rotational member, at least one magneto-electric transducer having a magnetism detection portion capable of detecting a change in magnetism caused by rotation of the rotational member and generating a detection signal representative of the change in magnetism, and an operation voltage output portion capable of performing an operation based on the detection signal and generating an output signal. The rotation angle detection device may further include a fixed member having an receiving recess that receives the at least one magneto-electric transducer therein, and an elastic member attached to the receiving recess in which the at least one magneto-electric transducer is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Mase
  • Patent number: 8474434
    Abstract: In a situation where a conventional inductive throttle sensor is used with a motor-driven throttle valve device to detect the rotation angle of a throttle shaft, plural sensor connection conductor sections for connecting a connector terminal to a circuit board terminal section are formed on the cover on one lateral surface side of a circuit board in the long-axis direction. This increases the dimension of the cover in the short-axis direction (the dimension in the direction of air flow in an intake path). Consequently, it is difficult to install the motor-driven throttle valve device and inductive throttle sensor in a narrow engine room. This problem is addressed by using a separate member to achieve electrical conduction between a stator circuit board and a conductor routed inside the cover installed over the stator circuit board in a concentrated manner on one side of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uchiyama, Morio Kuwano, Kenji Usui
  • Publication number: 20130160738
    Abstract: Improved throttle body assemblies are described. More particularly, throttle body assemblies having improved throttle position sensor assemblies are described. In one aspect, a throttle body assembly for providing controlled aspiration to an engine is described. The assembly comprises a throttle body housing defining a throttle bore for receiving a throttle plate. The throttle plate is actuatable by an electric motor. The assembly further comprises a throttle position sensor configured to monitor positions of the throttle plate. The throttle assembly further comprises an electric discharge path formed between the throttle position sensor and the throttle body housing, wherein the electric discharge path substantially prevents the accumulation of residual electric charge across the throttle position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS US, INC.
    Inventor: Nathan Cowan
  • Patent number: 8459895
    Abstract: An impact absorber is arranged between a first rotation member and a second rotation member that are coaxially arranged to rotate in a circumference direction around a rotation axis. The first rotation member has a recess continuously extending in a direction inclined to the rotation axis from a first end to a second end, and a lock part extending in the circumference direction from the second end of the recess. The second rotation member has a projection configured to be engaged with the recess continuously from the first end of the recess to the second end of the recess. The projection of the second rotation member is locked with the lock part of the first rotation member when the projection moves to the lock part from the second end of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8461791
    Abstract: An inverter for an electric vehicle includes a speed instruction generating unit, a frequency voltage converting unit, an integrator and a 2-to-3 phase converter. The speed instruction generating unit outputs a speed instruction for changing the rotational frequency of an electric motor based on the on/off of a signal outputted from the accelerator pedal. The frequency voltage converting unit outputs a voltage instruction based on the frequency of the speed instruction. The integrator outputs a rotational angle by performing integration on the frequency of the speed instruction. The 2-to-3 phase converter receives the voltage instruction and the rotational angle and converts the received voltage instruction and rotational angle into three-phase voltage instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Ook Hong
  • Patent number: 8448627
    Abstract: An electronically-controlled throttle valve control device may include a coil spring that is engaged with a throttle body and a rotating body to bias a throttle valve in a fully opening direction and a fully closing direction, a spring guide that is provided to the rotating body and is capable of supporting the coil spring from inside, and an opener member that is provided to the rotating body and is biased by the coil spring in the fully opening direction or the fully closing direction. The coil spring includes a first coiled portion that is capable of biasing the throttle valve in a first direction, a second coiled portion that is capable of biasing the throttle valve in a second direction, and an intermediate coiled portion that is positioned between the first and second coiled portions. The coil spring is formed such that a central axis of the intermediate coiled portion is displaced radially outwardly relative to a central axis of the first coiled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Kondo, Toru Sakurai, Atsushi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8439012
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for engine torque control. Mutually exclusive airflow adjustments and spark adjustments are used to provide accurate engine torque control when operating near combustion stability limits. Torque offset values and proportional-integral control terms are adjusted responsive to tip-in/tip-out events to improve torque control response times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Osama A. Abihana
  • Patent number: 8434453
    Abstract: An electronic throttle control system and method are provided. The system includes a throttle valve, a motor configured to drive the throttle valve, and a throttle position sensor configured to detect an angle of the throttle valve. The system further includes an engine rotating speed detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to drive the motor to control the angle of the throttle valve. The controller is configured to initially set a lower limit value of the angle to an angle which is greater than a full closure angle of the throttle valve by a predetermined amount. The controller is further configured to, when a rise in an engine rotating speed is detected, re-set the lower limit value to reduce it by a predetermined amount to control the engine rotating speed to within a predetermined value from the preset idle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Okoshi, Kenichi Machida
  • Patent number: 8434444
    Abstract: A method of controlling a choke valve of an engine with a controller is disclosed. Also disclosed is an automatic choke performing the method, an engine having the automatic choke, and an apparatus having the engine. The controller includes an electronic circuit, such as a programmable device, and is coupled to a temperature sensor and a motor. The method includes determining a temperature value using the temperature sensor, determining a time period to hold the choke valve in a first position, keeping the choke valve at the first position for the time period, moving the choke valve from the first position toward a second position using the motor, determining a count to hold the choke valve, keeping the choke valve at the second position for the count, and moving the choke valve from the second position toward a fully open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Hisaya Iwata, Robert Koenen, Andrew Perez
  • Publication number: 20130092126
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for an engine system which includes a throttle turbine generator having a turbine which drives an auxiliary generator and disposed in a throttle bypass are described. In some examples, a throttle bypass valve is controlled to adjust airflow through the throttle bypass responsive to airflow to cylinders of the engine. In other examples, an operating parameter such as throttle position is controlled based on transient operating conditions of the engine. In still other examples, charging of a battery is coordinated between the auxiliary generator and a primary generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 8413643
    Abstract: Various example approaches are described, one of which includes a method for adjusting relative delivery of liquid and gaseous fuel to a cylinder of the engine to effect rapid changes in cylinder air charge via changes in the displacement of fresh air by the gaseous fuel. In one particular approach, turbocharger lag is addressed by decreasing gaseous fuel injection while increasing liquid fuel injection to increase cylinder fresh air over and above any changes to fresh air via the throttle, wastegate, and/or turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Tehnologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 8401769
    Abstract: A control method of restarting an engine of an AT ISG vehicle may include a first step of restarting the engine when a state of the vehicle satisfies a restart condition after an idle-stop, a second step of keeping a throttle valve constant at a first critical value or less when a positional value of an acceleration pedal may be equal to a second critical value or more after the first step, and a third step of opening a throttle valve until the positional value of the acceleration pedal detected by the acceleration pedal position sensor and a positional value of the throttle valve detected by a throttle valve position sensor may be matched after a critical time passes, a shifting may be completed after the restarting, or when the acceleration pedal may be pressed down less than at the second critical value after the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jiyong Yu, Sejun Kim, Chongah Gwon, Junghwan Bang
  • Patent number: 8381703
    Abstract: A method for calibrating an accelerator pedal during a driving operation, in which the mechanical position of the accelerator pedal is converted by at least one potentiometer to an electrical signal value and read in by an electronic engine control unit. An idle limit for an idle position of the accelerator pedal and a full-load limit for a full-load position of the accelerator pedal are set as initial values. An idle signal value that is less than or equal to the idle limit is stored in a potentiometer-specific idle data memory for each potentiometer, a representative idle signal value is determined from the stored idle signal values, and this value is set as the determining idle position of the accelerator pedal specific to each potentiometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Hund, Rudolf Fensterle
  • Patent number: 8375921
    Abstract: In a situation where a conventional inductive throttle sensor is used with a motor-driven throttle valve device to detect the rotation angle of a throttle shaft, plural sensor connection conductor sections for connecting a connector terminal to a circuit board terminal section are formed on the cover on one lateral surface side of a circuit board in the long-axis direction. This increases the dimension of the cover in the short-axis direction (the dimension in the direction of air flow in an intake path). Consequently, it is difficult to install the motor-driven throttle valve device and inductive throttle sensor in a narrow engine room. This problem is addressed by using a separate member to achieve electrical conduction between a stator circuit board and a conductor routed inside the cover installed over the stator circuit board in a concentrated manner on one side of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Uchiyama, Morio Kuwano, Kenji Usui
  • Patent number: 8371276
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including a compressor and a boost tank selectably coupled to an intake manifold. The method comprises admitting air from the compressor to the intake manifold via a main throttle valve, storing some air from the compressor in a boost tank, and discharging some of the air stored in the boost tank to the intake manifold via an auxiliary throttle valve distinct from the main throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8364383
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an internal combustion engine comprising an intake pipe and a throttle valve that is arranged therein, the pressure in the intake pipe is regulated by modifying the opening angle of the throttle valve, and the desired pressure value is adjusted when the valve lift of the internal combustion engine changes. An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine has a mechanism for regulating the intake pipe pressure, the mechanism allowing the opening angle of the throttle valve to be influenced as a controlled variable. In addition, at least one device is provided for changing the valve lift of the internal combustion engine while a device is provided for adjusting the desired pressure value to the valve lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Delp, Jürgen Dingl, Bernhard Niebler
  • Patent number: 8355235
    Abstract: A plurality of reference signals output from a controller which computes an operation amount of an electric actuator is subjected to the logical operation, and the power supply to a drive circuit for the electric actuator is shut off based on an output by the logical operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Machida, Satoru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8347859
    Abstract: A method of calibrating throttle controls in an electronic shift and throttle system includes opening the throttle and then moving the throttle back towards a hard stop in increments. The voltage level of an electrical signal sent by a throttle position sensor is measured and recorded at each increment. An idle position is established as being where the lowest voltage level was measured when the throttle is at least 0.75° away from the hard stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Marine Canada Acquisition Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Garon, Thomas Samuel Martin
  • Patent number: 8342152
    Abstract: A flow controlling method for an auxiliary intake flow passage for use in a power unit which includes a starter clutch which is automatically engaged and disengaged in response to the engine speed. An intake air control valve (IACV) carries out changeover from water temperature dependent control (open loop control of adjusting the flow rate of the auxiliary intake flow passage in response to the warming up state of an engine) to target engine speed feedback control when the actual engine speed NE [rpm] drops to a clutch disengagement engine speed NEout (engine speed at which the centrifugal clutch is disengaged) (S3: Yes) and the opening ?1 [degree] of the throttle valve becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value (throttle valve opening threshold value TH—?1 (S4: Yes).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Usukura, Hiroshi Noda, Kenichi Machida