With Means For Detecting Wheel Slip During Vehicle Acceleration And Controlling It By Reducing Application Of Power To Wheel Patents (Class 180/197)
  • Patent number: 10494789
    Abstract: An electronic control system for a work allows for control of steering despite movement of an implement that may support a load. Control may be based on vehicle position, velocity, acceleration, center of gravity, and heading. A control point is determined despite movement of the load, and may be based upon one or more of roll, yaw, and pitch of the vehicle. The vehicle may be of the type that allows for control only of wheel or track speed and rotational direction. A desired center of gravity is maintained while controlling an error between a desired vehicle trajectory and a determined trajectory in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Berkemeier, Jeffrey Lee Ferrin, John Arthur Mitsuru Petersen
  • Patent number: 10486702
    Abstract: A traction control method and device for a vehicle is disclosed. In the method, an actual slip of a wheel of the vehicle is made available, a filtered actual slip is determined adaptively from the actual slip by an adaptive filter, the filtered actual slip is passed on to a controller, and the engine torque is set by the controller as a function of the filtered actual slip and of a target slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing, h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Van Vliet
  • Patent number: 10464563
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a vehicle. A first axle is operatively connected permanently and a second axle is operatively connected at least intermittently via a clutch to a drive device. For the second axle coupled to the drive device, a maximum torque of the drive device is reduced by a specific safety value. At drive start, the safety value is set to a specific initial value and subsequently is reduced or increased throughout a specific period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10449810
    Abstract: Method for locating the position of the wheels of a vehicle, each equipped with an electronic module for measuring operational parameters of each wheel, includes: controlling the transmission, by the module equipping that wheel, of n signals transmitted at times t1 to tn for given angular positions ?1 to ?n of the module, to a connected central processing unit, and to speed sensors each positioned close to a wheel, capable of delivering, values convertible into angular values, data representing the orientation of the wheel. The central processing unit is programmed to calculate, for each series of angular values ?1 to ?n provided by a wheel measuring sensor at the times t1 to tn, a characteristic value Vn1-Vnr representing the dispersion of the values ?1, (?2??2) . . . (?n??n), and to compare the characteristic values to allocate, to the electronic module, the position of the wheel located close to the wheel speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Nicolas Guinart, Jérôme Montigny, Jacques Delaire, Olivier Fudulea
  • Patent number: 10451161
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a differential having an electronic locker and a controller. The controller is programmed to, when in differential-lock mode, engage the locker responsive to vehicle speed being less than a speed threshold and a steering angle being less than a threshold, disengage the locker responsive to vehicle speed exceeding the speed threshold, and prevent automatic re-engagement of the locker responsive to the steering angle exceeding the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gustavo Luis Garcia, Jacob Martin Povirk, Jihong Guo, Filip Tomik
  • Patent number: 10450930
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle engine to adjust exhaust warm-up strategy based on a vehicle network information. In one example, in response to an expected decrease in temperature of a catalyst of a vehicle below a threshold and an estimated duration thereof based on communications external from the vehicle, a method may include delaying catalyst heating actions, when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be unable to heat up the catalyst to threshold temperatures. However, the catalyst heating actions may be enabled when the catalyst heating actions are determined to be able to achieve the threshold temperature within the duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Ronald Smith, Michael Brendan Hopka, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 10442267
    Abstract: An air management system and method are provided. The system includes a compressor and a reservoir tank coupled to the compressor. A manifold block has a plurality of valves and is coupled to the reservoir tank and the compressor for controlling air flow. At least one pressure sensor is coupled to the manifold block. The compressor includes a boost valve for selectively directly connecting the reservoir tank and an air inlet of the compressor. An electronic control unit is coupled to the valves, compressor, and the at least one pressure sensor and is configured to provide pressurized air from the reservoir tank to the air inlet, determine a pressure difference between the manifold block and the boost valve, and retain pressure in the manifold block in response to the pressure difference being less than a predetermined amount to reduce startup torque of the compressor without exhausting the manifold block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bryan Peter Riddiford
  • Patent number: 10427669
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling distribution of torque of front and rear wheel of a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle, including: a slip control torque calculator configured to calculate slip control torque of the rear wheels from information collected from the vehicle during driving in a 4WD mode; a handling control torque calculator configured to calculate handling control torque for the rear wheels from information collected from the vehicle during driving in the 4WD mode; a weighting factor determiner configured to determine a slip control weighting factor and a handling control weighting factor based on vehicle state information; and a target torque calculator configured to calculate target torque of rear wheel by summing the weighting factors applied to the slip control torque and handling control torque, respectively, wherein the target torque of the rear wheel is a target value of the torque distributed to the real wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Joon Chang, Jeong Soo Eo, Youn Kwang Jung, Sung Jae Kim, Ji Won Oh
  • Patent number: 10427594
    Abstract: An alert device for a moving device having a variable acceleration includes a sensing unit and a processor. The sensing unit senses the variable acceleration to generate a plurality of acceleration data. The processor determines a first plurality of acceleration data samples and a second plurality of acceleration data samples from the plurality of acceleration data based on two different predetermined sample sizes and a moving average algorithm to correspondingly calculate a first plurality of sample averages and a second plurality of sample averages, obtains a plurality of sample average differences between the first and the second pluralities of sample averages, analyzes the plurality of sample average differences based on a predetermined check algorithm to obtain a derived resultant value, and performs a data comparison between the derived resultant value and a predetermined threshold value to generate a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: J-MEX, Inc.
    Inventors: Deng-Huei Hwang, Chi-Hung Chen, Shang-Po Yeh
  • Patent number: 10421348
    Abstract: An ACM-ECU executes an amplitude variable-phase variable control for variably controlling both the amplitude and phase of active vibrations generated by an actuator according to rotation information, in the case that an engagement rate Lr detected by an LC engagement rate detecting function is greater than or equal to a predetermined engagement rate Lr_th.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamaguchi, Tatsuhiro Yone
  • Patent number: 10407864
    Abstract: The work implement requirement determination unit determines a work implement required horsepower on the basis of an operation amount of a work implement operating member and a hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic pump. A transmission requirement determination unit determines a transmission required horsepower on the basis of a vehicle speed and the operation amount of the accelerator operating member. An engine requirement determination unit determines an engine required horsepower on the basis of the work implement required horsepower and the transmission required horsepower. The required throttle determination unit determines a required throttle value based on an engine requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Miyamoto, Hiroshi Monden, Hikosaburou Hiraki, Yasuo Fujiwara, Yasunori Ohkura
  • Patent number: 10407072
    Abstract: A vehicle traction control system for a vehicle, in which the vehicle has a prime mover, at least one wheel for providing tractive effort on a support surface, and a transmission having an input side operably coupled to the prime mover and an output side operably coupled to the at least one wheel, and in which the transmission has a controllable clutch pressure between the input side and the output side, includes a controller operable to monitor wheel slip of the at least one wheel. When wheel slip is detected the controller is operable to control the clutch pressure for modulating an output torque of the transmission for reducing the wheel slip. The clutch pressure can be controlled as a function of clutch slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Hertel, Clayton G. Janasek
  • Patent number: 10392008
    Abstract: A control device for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a differential restriction device which varies a differential restriction degree between a front wheel rotary shaft and a rear wheel rotary shaft, a differential restriction device and control units for controlling the differential restriction device. The control device is configured to control a behavior when the vehicle is being braked. Further, the control unit is configured to lower the differential restriction degree when a yaw rate of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined yaw rate threshold and a time decreasing rate of an estimated vehicle body speed which is a vehicle body speed estimated based on a wheel speed of the vehicle falls below a predetermined decreasing rate when the vehicle is being braked, in a vicinity of a maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryochi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10392013
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and avoiding a collision includes measuring speed of one or more vehicles and at least one parameter indicating road surface and condition, weather, and tire pressure. Rear image dimensions are proportional to the speed of the trailing vehicle and front image dimensions are proportional to the speed of the index vehicle. The timing of the projected images will allow for safe deceleration of trailing and of the index vehicles The images are projected either as flat images on the roadway or three-dimensional (holographic) images. The occurrence and severity of a collision is defined by the rate of change in dimensions of the projected images that exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to a deceleration or acceleration of more than 1.1 g. Collision data measured by vehicle or extra vehicular (such as GPS) sensors are instantly stored and transmitted to the police department and emergency medical services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventors: A-Hamid Hakki, Maryam Hakki, Dina A. Hakki, Belmina Hakki
  • Patent number: 10393262
    Abstract: A hydrostatic traction drive includes a first hydraulic machine that is coupled to a drive unit. The first hydraulic machine is hydraulically arranged in a hydraulic circuit with a second hydraulic machine. The second hydraulic machine has a drive shaft that is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to a lockable differential. The traction drive has a control unit that is configured so as to control at least one measure for traction control as a function of a rotational speed of the second hydraulic machine. The at least one measure includes one or more of a measure for detecting a loss of traction and a measure for overcoming the loss of traction. A method for controlling the traction drive includes eliminating a loss of traction of the traction drive with use of the control unit as a function of the rotational speed of the second hydraulic machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Mayer
  • Patent number: 10384672
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an internal vehicle reference model that determines reference states for the vehicle that represent an expected vehicle response, sensors that determine measured states for the vehicle, and a vehicle motion control system that determines desired states for the vehicle. A stability determining module identifies a reference deviation between the reference states and the measured states, identifies a desired deviation between the desired states and measured states, and outputs a command for reducing the reference deviation and the desired deviation. Actuators are operable to reduce the reference deviation and the desired deviation in response to the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Diomidis Katzourakis, Huibert Mees, Christopher D. Gadda, Stefan Solyom, Johannes A. Huennekens
  • Patent number: 10384538
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric four wheel drive hybrid vehicle includes steps of: receiving, by a controller, a longitudinal acceleration of the hybrid vehicle corresponding to a demand torque of a driver of the hybrid vehicle; and determining, by the controller, a torque distribution ratio between a front wheel drive torque and a rear wheel drive torque of the hybrid vehicle based on a weight moving ratio of the hybrid vehicle corresponding to the received longitudinal acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jinkuk Cho
  • Patent number: 10377358
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a vehicle using a specific torque of a brake system. In one embodiment, a method of using a specific torque of a brake system for a vehicle includes: determining a brake pressure of the brake system during a braking operation; determining a deceleration of the vehicle during the braking operation; determining a vehicle mass and a wheel radius; estimating a specific torque of the brake system based on the brake pressure and the deceleration; and operating the vehicle based on the specific torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Brandon C. Pennala, Eric E. Krueger, Patrick J. Monsere, Edward T. Heil, Robert L. Nisonger, Constandi J. Shami, Alan J. Houtman
  • Patent number: 10377430
    Abstract: A method for setting a deployed position of a rear spoiler of a vehicle includes detecting a covering position between a closed position and an open position of a radiator covering; comparing the detected covering position with a checklist which correlates detected covering positions with possible deployed positions of the rear spoiler; and setting the deployed position of the rear spoiler, wherein the deployed position correlates as a result of the comparison with the detected covering position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Wolf
  • Patent number: 10370042
    Abstract: An adjustable aerodynamic assembly includes a support structure and a blocking member supported by the support structure. The blocking member is movable between an extended position in which the blocking member is disposed transverse to the support structure to interact with an airflow and a retracted position in which the blocking member retracts to minimize interaction with the airflow. The adjustable aerodynamic assembly also includes an actuator coupled to the blocking member and configured to move the blocking member to the extended and retracted positions, and a detection member coupled to the blocking member and configured to determine whether a surface of the blocking member is detected. A method of monitoring the adjustable aerodynamic assembly includes determining whether the surface of the blocking member is detected via the detection member. The method also includes selectively activating the actuator to move the blocking member to the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Samantha J. Bray, Joshua R. Auden, Jason D. Fahland, Timothy D. Demetrio, Caleb Potvin, Rebecca Tjoelker
  • Patent number: 10358141
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex James, Donald A. Perlick, Thomas Salmon, Bang Kim Cao
  • Patent number: 10358030
    Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain for a motor vehicle, said method includes: reducing a transmission torque transmitted between a primary drive axle operatively connected with a secondary drive axle of the motor vehicle via a clutch configured to allow adjustment of the transmission torque when determining at the secondary drive axle a wheel slip which exceeds a defined slip threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Sagefka, Sebastian Strasser, Michael Bär, Christian Knely, Thomas-Willibald Meier, Adrian Mihailescu, Stefan Hüfner
  • Patent number: 10345196
    Abstract: A vehicle sensor system includes a fluid sensor configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system and at least partially extend into a gearbox of a traction motor of the vehicle system. The fluid sensor is configured to output data representative of an amount of a lubricating fluid in the gearbox. The system also includes a positioning system configured to output data representative of movement or an absence of movement of the vehicle system, and one or more processors configured to determine the amount of the lubricating fluid in the gearbox based on the data that is output by the fluid sensor responsive to the data output by the positioning system indicating that the vehicle system has not moved or has moved by less than a designated distance for at least a designated, non-instantaneous period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Bret Worden, Jingjun Zhang, David Petersen
  • Patent number: 10311728
    Abstract: An approach is provided for a confidence-based road event message. For example, the approach involves aggregating road event reports (e.g., slippery road event reports) from vehicles traveling in an area of interest. The approach also involves retrieving weather data records for the area of interest for a time period corresponding to the reports. The approach may further involve determining a data freshness parameter based on an age of the reports, and a number of vehicle generating the reports. The approach further involves calculating a confidence level for the road event based on the weather data records, data freshness parameter, number of the one or more vehicles, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Leon Stenneth, Alex Averbuch, Gavril Giurgiu
  • Patent number: 10308137
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a geared traction drive system configured to drive a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a driveshaft for transmitting power to the wheel; an electric drive motor for driving the driveshaft, the electric drive motor configured to receive signals from a vehicle dynamic control system to command a required speed; a gear reduction component for reducing the speed of the motor by a predetermined factor to a lower speed suitable for driving the wheel; and a drive electronics component that works with the electric drive motor to drive the wheel to the speed commanded by the vehicle dynamic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Wrightspeed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Wright, Ryan Cash
  • Patent number: 10300752
    Abstract: A road/rail vehicle has front and rear road wheels, an engine driving the rear road wheels, and an indicator of actual vehicle speed. Retractable front and rear rail wheels are mounted on the vehicle and movable from a raised road position for operation in a road mode to a lowered rail position where the rail wheels engage rails of a railroad track for operation in a rail mode. A suspension system is adjustable in the rail mode to vary a weight proportion of vehicle weight that is a tractive weight carried by the rear road wheels and a guidance weight carried by the rear rail wheels, and a suspension control is adjusts the suspension system to provide a selected weight proportion. A maximum allowable vehicle speed decreases as the tractive weight increases and a maximum speed indicator shows the maximum allowable vehicle speed for the selected weight proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Bandt Road Rail Corporation
    Inventors: Josh Dumalski, Dan Bonnet, Greg Thomson, Kyle Lockert
  • Patent number: 10300922
    Abstract: A risk assessment system is provided and includes a behavior description generator, driving behavior comparator, and risk assessment modules and a transceiver. The behavior description generator module receives a set of driving features and topics corresponding to a driving behavior of a first driver in a location and under a set of driving conditions. The driving behavior comparator module: compares the set of driving features and the topics to other sets of features and topics, which correspond to driving behaviors of other drivers for the location and same or similar driving conditions as the set of driving conditions; and generates an anomaly score for the first driver based on results of the comparison. The risk assessment module calculates a risk assessment score for the driver based on the anomaly score, where the risk assessment score is indicative of a risk level of the first driver relative to the other drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haris Volos, Kenji Konishi, Kazuhito Takenaka, Yuki Shinohara, Hideaki Misawa
  • Patent number: 10295006
    Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods for detecting and/or responding to the temperature of brakes are disclosed. Certain embodiments relate to inhibiting or preventing the overheating of the brakes of such vehicles, such as could occur when a hot runner condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ITT Italia S.r.l.
    Inventors: Stefano Serra, Daniele Donzelli, Mattia Solari, Marco Terranova
  • Patent number: 10293688
    Abstract: An electronic control unit switches a driving mode to a high-gear two-wheel driving mode when a first condition and a second condition are satisfied at the time of driving in a high-gear four-wheel driving mode, and switches the driving mode from the high-gear two-wheel driving mode to the low-gear driving mode when a third condition is satisfied in a state in which the first and second conditions are satisfied. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten a time required for switching to the low-gear driving mode after all of the first to third conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Arai
  • Patent number: 10286911
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method for an engine and a transmission. The control method may include: determining whether a current mode corresponds to a coasting mode; outputting a neutral operation signal to the transmission when the current mode corresponds to the coasting mode; determining whether an operation condition corresponds to a coasting mode release condition based on the signal of each sensor; outputting a D-stage connection signal to the transmission and outputting an engine torque limitation signal to the engine when the operation condition corresponds to the coasting mode release condition; determining whether the operation condition corresponds to a release of the engine torque limitation condition according to an entry of D stage and the signals of the engine RPM and turbine RPM; and outputting a normal operation signal to the engine when the operation condition corresponds to the release of the engine torque limitation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sangjun Park, Byeong Wook Jeon, Kwang Hee Park
  • Patent number: 10279805
    Abstract: A vehicle movement state determination device includes: a yaw rate determination unit configured to determine a yaw rate based on at least one of a detection yaw rate detected by a yaw rate sensor and a calculation yaw rate calculated by a yaw rate calculation unit; and a yaw rate reliability determination unit configured to determine whether a reliability of the detection yaw rate is low. The yaw rate determination unit determines the detection yaw rate as the yaw rate at the time the yaw rate reliability determination unit does not determine that the reliability of the detection yaw rate is low, and determines the yaw rate based on the calculation yaw rate at the time the yaw rate reliability determination unit determines that the reliability of the detection yaw rate is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hattori, Hiroshi Onuma, Akira Nagae
  • Patent number: 10272957
    Abstract: An active tire spoiler system includes a first tire spoiler, a second tire spoiler and a control module. That control module includes a controller configured to displace the first tire spoiler and the second tire spoiler between a stowed position and a deployed position. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Peter Klop, Manfred Lentzen, Karel Chalupa
  • Patent number: 10273926
    Abstract: There are provided a start determinator for determining whether or not the vehicle has started, an elapsed timer for measuring elapsed time since start of the vehicle determined by the start determinator; and a start controller for adjusting an engine output by changing the output in multiple stages until the elapsed time measured by the elapsed timer reaches a control time determined in advance if the start of the vehicle is determined by the start determinator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junpei Yamaguchi, Hiroki Kitajima
  • Patent number: 10272943
    Abstract: A control unit for a vehicle having an active steering system capable of changing a steering gear ratio between a steering angle of a steering wheel and a tire steering angle includes a steering turning assist controller and a left-right driving force controller. The steering turning assist controller controls the steering gear ratio so that a yaw rate generated by the vehicle becomes a target yaw rate to assist a turning of the vehicle. The left-right driving force controller controls, in the left and right electric drive wheels which each add a yaw moment to a vehicle body independently of a steering system and are able to be independently driven, driving forces of the electric drive wheels so that the yaw rate generated by the vehicle becomes the target yaw rate based on a roll of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yutaka Sato
  • Patent number: 10266007
    Abstract: A system and method herein relate to vehicle control by adjusting a torque distribution of the vehicle. The system includes a first motor configured to provide a torque to a first wheel, and a delivery system configured to controllably apply a traction control compound to a route on which the first wheel is configured to travel. The system also includes a controller circuit having one or more processors. The controller circuit is configured to control the delivery system to apply the traction control compound to the route based on a monitored temperature of the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Leonardo Cezar de Faria Pessoa, Marc Flammia, Geraldo Alwin Griese, Cesar Domingos, Anu Kossery Jayaprakash
  • Patent number: 10266053
    Abstract: A controller for a driving force transmitting apparatus mounted in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, includes: a driving force controller configured to calculate a command torque indicating a driving force to be transmitted to the sub-drive wheels via the driving force transmitting apparatus based on a traveling state of the four-wheel-drive vehicle and a road surface condition, and to control the driving force transmitting apparatus based on the command torque; and a road surface condition determiner configured to determine that the road surface condition is a high-? condition when a duration of a non-slipping state where a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a prescribed value and a slip ratio of each of both the main drive wheels is lower than a prescribed value has become equal to or longer than a prescribed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kondo, Tomoaki Kato, Go Nagayama, Akiyoshi Kakita
  • Patent number: 10259460
    Abstract: A vehicle control system comprising a speed control system and a traction control (TC) system, the TC system being operable to cause a reduction in speed of one or more wheels when a speed of the one or more wheels exceeds a TC system intervention threshold value, the speed control system being operable in an active state in which the speed control system causes the vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, wherein when the speed control system is in the active state, the TC system intervention threshold value is set to a value selected in dependence at least in part on the target speed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Fairgrieve, James Kelly
  • Patent number: 10253860
    Abstract: A motor vehicle controller configured to reduce net drive torque applied to one or more driving wheels of a first axle of a driveline when an amount of slip of a driving wheel of the first axle exceeds a first predetermined threshold value. The controller controls torque applied to wheels of a second axle and determines when the vehicle is operating in a split-mu condition in which slip of a driving wheel on one side of each of the two axles exceeds that of a driving wheel on an opposite side of the axles by more than a predetermined amount. The controller performs a split-mu mitigation operation by reducing net torque applied to a driving wheel of the axle that is experiencing the greater slip when an amount of slip of that driving wheel exceeds a second predetermined threshold value less than the first predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Karl Richards, Simon Owen
  • Patent number: 10246139
    Abstract: A multi-wheeled vehicle employing an active aerodynamic control system is described. A method for controlling the vehicle and the active aerodynamic control system includes determining states of parameters related to ride and handling of the vehicle, and determining a current tractive effort based upon the states of parameters related to ride and handling of the vehicle. A desired tractive effort is determined based upon an operator desired acceleration, and an available tractive effort is determined based upon an available downforce transferable to the wheels from the active aerodynamic control system and downforces of the wheels. The active aerodynamic control system controls the downforce on one of the wheels to control the current tractive effort responsive to the desired tractive effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joshua R. Auden, Jason D. Fahland, David Dominguez, Edward T. Heil
  • Patent number: 10246123
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering control apparatus comprising: a first sensing unit that senses a steering torque using a torque sensor; a high frequency output unit that inputs a steering torque to a high pass filter and output high frequency steering torques; a detection unit that detects a first frequency corresponding to a maximum steering torque among the high frequency steering torques; a calculation unit that calculates a high frequency steering torque change rate which is the rate of change in the high frequency steering torques; a band frequency output unit that inputs the high frequency steering torque change rate to a band pass filter that passes a first frequency band including the first frequency, to output a first frequency band steering torque change rate; and a compensation unit that compensates an assist current of a steering motor on the basis of a rejection gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang Jin Ko
  • Patent number: 10239365
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an integrated wireless data system and method for mounting the system on one or more components within a vehicle wheel hub assembly for measuring operational data relating to the condition or status of a brake rotor or other components within a wheel hub assembly, where the integrated wireless data system rotates with the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TECAT PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Martin Baker
  • Patent number: 10232708
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a control system configured to control a driveline of a motor vehicle to operate in a selected one of a plurality of configurations, the system comprising at least one sensor for sensing an environment ahead of the vehicle and generating a sensor signal in dependence on the environment, the system being configured to cause the driveline to operate in a configuration selected in dependence at least in part on the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Sam Burt, Richard Clarke, Christopher Harries, David Sanchez
  • Patent number: 10207713
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for performing vehicle traction control. Time intervals between points of rotation of a rotating vehicle output shaft are measured. Indicators of shaft rotation rate are generated using, for each generated indicator, a set of one or more of the time intervals. The generated indicators of shaft rotation rate are used to determine a value indicative of a rate of change of shaft rotation rate. An indicator of a maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate is computed. A current indicator of output shaft rotation rate is determined to exceed the maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate. In response to determining that the current indicator exceeds the maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate, a signal to trigger application of a traction control mechanism is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Davis Intellectual Properties LLC
    Inventor: Shannon R. Davis
  • Patent number: 10202031
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering power to a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes an apparatus for delivering power to a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a powertrain having a power take-off coupling, the powertrain including an engine and a transmission. The apparatus includes an electric motor operable to generate a torque, the motor being coupled to transmit a starting torque through the power take-off of the powertrain for starting the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: GE HYBRID TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Mong Ling Lo, Jacek Gromadzki, Nicolas Louis Bouchon, Martin Alexander Strange, Victor Woo
  • Patent number: 10202124
    Abstract: A determination unit in an ECU of a rough terrain vehicle determines a reverse running state in a case that an engine rotational speed of an engine decreases when a traveling drive force is generated in the rough terrain vehicle. Further, if the determination unit determines occurrence of the reverse running state, the ECU refers to a clutch hydraulic pressure map, and sets a target hydraulic pressure so as to decrease gradually over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10196047
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for contamination prevention of vehicle cameras and sensors. An example vehicle includes an exterior, a camera along the exterior and including a lens, and a controller. The controller is to determine, based upon images captured by the camera, whether a contaminant is approaching the lens and identify a contaminant state upon determining the contaminant is approaching the lens. The example vehicle also includes a nozzle to spray washer fluid to prevent contamination of the lens responsive to the controller identifying that the contaminant is a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cheri Lyn Hansen, Haron Abdel-Raziq, Cynthia M. Neubecker, Somak Datta Gupta, Jonathan Diedrich, Brian Bennie, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Patent number: 10183565
    Abstract: A hydrostatic drive has a hydrostatic pump (3) driven by a drive motor (2) and connected in a closed circuit with a hydrostatic motor (4). The closed circuit is formed by a first hydraulic connection (6a) and a second hydraulic connection (6b). Each of the hydraulic connections (6a, 6b) can form the high-pressure side or the low-pressure side of the closed circuit. A high pressure accumulator device (20) can be connected with the respective high-pressure side hydraulic connection (6a, 6b) and, simultaneously, the respective low-pressure side hydraulic connection (6b, 6a) can be connected with a hydraulic balancing device (30). A valve device (50) is provided for this simultaneous connection. The valve device (50) is a hydraulically controlled shuttle valve device (51) connected to the two hydraulic connections (6a, 6b), the high pressure accumulator device (20) and the hydraulic balancing device (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Linde Hydraulics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Lukas Krittian
  • Patent number: 10169926
    Abstract: A method for providing backup assistance includes providing a rear backup camera and a processor at a vehicle, and storing a plurality of sets of overlays in memory, with each set of the stored plurality of sets of overlays associated with a respective vehicle wheelbase configuration. A wheelbase configuration input is provided that is representative of the vehicle wheelbase configuration of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to the input, a particular set of overlays from the stored sets of overlays is selected, with the selected set including a plurality of individual predicted vehicle trajectory overlays that correspond to respective steering angle ranges for the vehicle wheelbase configuration of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to a steering angle of the vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, an individual predicted vehicle trajectory overlay is selected for displaying for viewing by the vehicle driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Joel S. Gibson, Steven V. Byrne, Richard D. Shriner
  • Patent number: 10160315
    Abstract: Removable devices and systems for operating the four wheel drive (4WD) system of a tow vehicle having an electronically controllable part time 4WD system including a selectable 4WD low range mode are described. The removable device may comprise a first interface for coupling the removable device to a selector, the selector providing an indication of a desired operating mode for the 4WD system; a second interface for coupling the removable device to a controller-area network bus of the tow vehicle; a memory storing vehicle control codes; and at least one controller communicatively coupled to both the first interface and the second interface. The removable device, and system, may allow a vehicle operator to operate the tow vehicle in two-wheel drive low range mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: 2LOW INC.
    Inventors: John D. Ferguson, Anthony A. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 10156846
    Abstract: A lane changing apparatus of an autonomous vehicle includes a lane recognizer, a vehicle information collector, control information, calculator, a controller and a steering apparatus. The lane recognizer is configured to recognize a lane of a road on which the vehicle is driving and extract road information from the recognized lane. The vehicle information collector is configured to collect vehicle information by a variety of sensors installed in the vehicle. The control information calculator is configured to calculate control information for changing the lane by using the vehicle information and the road information. The controller is configured to control a yaw rate of the vehicle based on the control information upon changing the lane. The steering apparatus is configured to change a moving direction of the vehicle according to a control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Tae Sung Choi, Byung Yong You, Sung Won Yoon, Chang Young Jung