Engine Controlled By Transmission Patents (Class 477/107)
  • Patent number: 10358990
    Abstract: Methods are provided for managing forcing function frequency profiles during operation of a multi-cylinder engine. A first stroke mode for a first cylinder is selected and comprises at least a sequential deactive operation of the opening and the closing of a first intake valve and a first exhaust valve during at least two reciprocations of a first reciprocating piston. The first stroke mode is operated on the first cylinder, a second stroke mode is operated on a second cylinder, and a third stroke mode is operated on the remaining cylinders to meet or exceed a required torque output and to form a first aggregate of forcing function frequency profiles that comprises primary forcing function frequency profiles that are less than or approximate in amplitude and less than or approximate in frequency value to one of the respective baseline of primary forcing function frequency profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Dale A. Stretch
  • Patent number: 10336332
    Abstract: An electronic control unit permits a shift operation to a neutral position, by which a manual transmission 14 is switched to neutral, during coasting control. Accordingly, shifting to the neutral position can be performed only by the shift operation. Thus, power transmission can be blocked after termination of the coasting control. In addition, the electronic control unit prohibits the shift operation to a particular gear after the transmission is switched to neutral. Thus, overreving or underreving at the termination of the coasting control can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10227074
    Abstract: A 4 wheel drive vehicle removes sense of shift difference through an acceleration shift control mode, and the acceleration shift control mode transfers an independent other drive shaft input torque to a drive shaft not connected to a transmission with respect to a transmission input torque transferred to a drive shaft connected with the transmission, so that a vehicle acceleration in an actual shift section connecting between a fore-section and post-section of the shift can be maintained to be equal to the vehicle acceleration of the fore-section and post-section of the, thereby overcoming the transfer torque change, which is not overcome in a conventional slip control method, speed control method and time control method, when transferring a torque to the drive wheels in the actual shift section and realizing the shift quality without the sense of shift difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jae-Sung Bang, Chan-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10202116
    Abstract: A control system of a mining machine controls a driving device that drives a traveling device of the mining machine. The control system includes an acceleration command value calculation unit that calculates an acceleration command value for accelerating the mining machine, a correction value calculation unit that calculates a correction value for the acceleration command value based on a first driving force component of the driving device to cause the mining machine to travel at a target traveling speed and a second driving force component of the driving device to offset a resistance component against traveling of the mining machine, an addition processing unit that calculates a correction acceleration command value by adding the acceleration command value and the correction value, and an acceleration command value output unit that outputs the correction acceleration command value to the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shiga, Ryuuen Kou, Akiharu Nishijima
  • Patent number: 10202919
    Abstract: An engine output control device controls engine output at a time of a downshift speed change of a transmission. The engine output control device includes: engine speed detecting means for detecting an actual engine speed NeJ of a crankshaft; and engine output adjusting means capable of adjusting the engine output according to an operation of a rider. The smaller of a requested engine output PA calculated on a basis of the actual engine speed NeJ and a rider requested engine output PB adjusted by the engine output adjusting means is output as the engine output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai Arai, Junya Niwa, Masataka Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10189468
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain includes an electric machine coupled between an automatic gearbox and an engine. The vehicle includes paddle shifters configured to output a driver requested gear change. The hybrid powertrain is configured to selectively operate in an economy mode that optimizes fuel economy. While operating in the economy mode, a controller may selectively inhibit the driver requested gear change when the change may negatively impact fuel economy. In the economy mode, the driver requested gear change may be inhibited during a demand for braking. If the driver requested gear change is a downshift request, the downshift is inhibited and simulated using electric machine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Ming Lang Kuang, Brian Thomas Soo, Stuart N. Ford, Mark Davison, Matthew Joseph Meinhart
  • Patent number: 10183670
    Abstract: The drive system from the engine (1) to the drive wheels (7) of a vehicle is equipped with a torque converter (2), which has a lock-up clutch (3), and a variator (4). Said engined car is provided with a lock-up control means for controlling the engagement/disengagement of the lock-up clutch (3) and a gear change mode switch-controlling means (FIG. 8) for performing control to switch between a “continuously variable gear change mode” and a “DSTEP gear change mode.” While traveling, the gear change mode switch-controlling means (FIG. 8) prohibits gear change by the “DSTEP gear change mode” when the detected oil temperature is at or below a lock-up engagement-permitting threshold for permitting engagement of the lock-up clutch (3) and allows gear change by the “DSTEP gear change mode” when the detected oil temperature is higher than the lock-up engagement-permitting threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoaki Honma, Akihiro Tanabe, Tomoko Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10183671
    Abstract: A system for managing a lockup clutch in an off-road truck includes an engine, a transmission and a torque converter coupled between the engine and the transmission. The torque converter has a lockup clutch that when engaged directly couples the engine to the transmission. The system also includes a transmission controller that disengages the lockup clutch responsive to sensing a missed shift in the transmission, and subsequent to sensing a completed shift, sets an engine speed limit corresponding to a gear associated with the completed shift, and reengages the lockup clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Steffes, Raymond E. Durbin, Arthur Melvin Morris, Mark E. Hull, Matthew A. Johnson, Jeffrey Hynes
  • Patent number: 10166971
    Abstract: A hybrid system includes a transmission control module, a power source, a transmission, and a drive train. The transmission control module partially operates the hybrid system and receives operating information from various components of the system, calculates power losses in the drive train, and calculates the driving torque needed to reach a target power profile determined from a driver's input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. West, Jeffrey K. Runde, John P. Kresse
  • Patent number: 10160444
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power storage device, an electric motor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to control charging and discharging of the electric power storage device such that a state of charge becomes a target state of charge, to determine whether or not a degree of deterioration of the electric power storage device due to unevenness in salt concentration is equal to or larger than a predetermined degree, when the degree of deterioration is equal to or larger than the predetermined degree and the state of charge is equal to or less than a predetermined requested state of charge, to set the target state of charge such that the target state of charge increases monotonically, and to set an increase amount or an increase rate of the monotonic increase to be larger as the degree of deterioration is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Kamatani
  • Patent number: 10113639
    Abstract: A transmission includes a stationary member, an input member, and gear sets each having a plurality of nodes. The transmission includes a first clutch that connects a node of one gear set to the stationary member to establish an L1 mode, and a second clutch that connects a node of another gear set to the stationary member to establish a 2L mode. A SOWC is connected between nodes of two gear sets, and a controller, in response to a requested shift L1-L2 shift while engine braking, executes a method to release the first clutch and thereby enters a neutral mode. The SOWC is released when slip across the first clutch exceeds a first threshold, then the first clutch reapplied when a SOWC slip level exceeds another threshold to thereby enter a 1st gear freewheeling mode. The second clutch is reapplied to enter the L2 mode and resume engine braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott A. Kline, Patrick M. Gibson, Raj Kommareddy, Roberto Diaz
  • Patent number: 10077728
    Abstract: Techniques for a mild hybrid vehicle utilize a control system for detecting a deceleration fuel shutoff (DFSO) event where fueling to an engine is disabled and in response to detecting the DFSO event: determining a desired pumping loss for the engine based on a parameter of a battery system, the desired pumping loss corresponding to a desired amount of electrical energy that a motor generator unit (MGU) of a belt-driven starter generator (BSG) system will generate to charge the battery system; commanding a throttle valve of the engine to an initial position determined based on the desired engine pumping loss and a speed of the engine; estimating an actual pumping loss of the engine based on an estimated airflow into the engine; and adjusting the position of the throttle valve based on a difference between the desired and actual engine pumping losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Zhen Ren, Songping Yu, Mohamed Othman, Ryan C Masters, Anandhi Koteeswaran, Marcio Quiles
  • Patent number: 10053105
    Abstract: A method for controlling an off-road vehicle includes selecting an operating mode from a plurality of candidate operating modes. The plurality of candidate operating modes includes a first operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a first desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle; a second operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a first desired gear ratio of the transmission and substantially maintaining a first desired engine speed of the engine; a third operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a second desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle and substantially maintaining a second desired engine speed of the engine; and a fourth operating mode that includes substantially maintaining a third desired gear ratio of the transmission and substantially maintaining a third desired vehicle speed of the off-road vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: CNH Industrial America LLC, Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, John H. Posselius, Michael G. Hornberger, Daniel John Morwood, Bret Todd Turpin, Benjamin Craig Spendlove
  • Patent number: 10029686
    Abstract: A drivetrain system is disclosed for use with a machine having a work tool. The drivetrain system may have a transmission with a plurality of clutches. The drivetrain system may also have an input device movable by an operator to generate a first signal indicative of a desired selection of a park setting or one of a plurality of travel settings, a sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of loading of the work tool, and a controller in communication with the input device, the sensor, and the transmission. The controller may be configured to anticipate completion of a loading cycle based the second signal, and to selectively cause at least a first of the plurality of clutches to engage in a combination that produces one of the plurality of travel settings based on the anticipated completion of the loading cycle, notwithstanding the desired selection from the input device being the park setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Qiang Chen, James W. Landes, Evan Earl Jacobson, Wesley E. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 10011260
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, a battery and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to set a running torque based on a required torque of a drive shaft according to an accelerator opening degree. The electronic control unit is configured to control the engine and the motor such that the running torque is output to the drive shaft. The electronic control unit is configured to limit the power of the engine by use of the running torque or a drive-shaft torque output to the drive shaft as a torque for determination until the torque for determination reaches a torque threshold smaller than the required torque, as compared with the power of the engine after the torque for determination has reached the torque threshold, when a predetermined acceleration request is made by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10006522
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission is provided. The automatic transmission is configured to realize a plurality of gear shift stages by combination of a plurality of engaging devices engaged or released among the plurality of engaging devices. The control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to select, as the setting pattern realizing an intermediate gear shift stage, the setting pattern with a smaller number of switching of the engagement or release of the engaging device than the number of switching of the setting pattern with the largest number of switching among the plurality of setting patterns when a shift is performed from a first gear shift stage to a second gear shift stage through the intermediate gear shift stage in a case where the electronic control unit determines that the shift is to be performed through the intermediate gear shift stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jonggap Kim, Masami Kondo, Hideo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9988041
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle powertrain including an engine and a motor operable to propel the vehicle includes reducing a torque of the motor at a first torque reduction rate from a torque level above a minimum motor torque in response to a deceleration request. A torque of the engine is reduced at a second torque reduction rate less than the first torque reduction rate in response to the deceleration request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Scott James Thompson, Joshua Nicholas Dewalt, Rajit Johri
  • Patent number: 9969402
    Abstract: A transmission system is disclosed as having a transmission configured to receive torque output from a power source and to drive a traction device, and an input device. The transmission system may also have a control module configured to reference a signal from the input device with a map to determine a corresponding speed of the power source, and to determine a margin between an actual and a maximum available torque output of the power source at a current speed. The control module may also be configured to determine a delay time threshold based on the margin, to selectively adjust a speed of the power source mapped to the maximum displaced position of the operator input device based on the margin, and to selectively adjust fueling of the power source at a current displacement position of the operator input device and operation of the transmission based on the signal and the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Suman Goli, Brian Douglas Hoff, Mark Edward Rettig
  • Patent number: 9963012
    Abstract: An application is launched in response to identifying a specific user in the vehicle. Upon launching the application, a historical comfort setting profile is automatically downloaded for the user. The historical profile includes individual comfort setting records. The historical profile is updated with comfort setting record(s) corresponding to each instance of an automatic climate control setting, a manual climate control setting, or an alternate climate control setting while the specific user is in the vehicle. An in-vehicle setting is dynamically predicted within respective predetermined time increments while the specific user is in the vehicle or in response to a user request. The predicted in-vehicle setting is dependent upon geographic location data points and a set of climate control related settings retrieved from the individual comfort setting records. A most recently predicted in-vehicle setting is caused to be displayed on a vehicle display while the specific user is in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Miroslav Stevanovic, Hassan Elnajjar, Neeraj R. Gautama, Opeyemi Adesina, Vahdat Abdelzad
  • Patent number: 9944184
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle capable of transmitting power of a rotating electrical machine to a driving wheel by a shift of a transmission, includes: an electronic control unit configured to (i) select, as an operation mode of the rotating electrical machine, a normal mode and a power mode in which the rotating electrical machine is operated such that a vehicle drive force is increased more than the normal mode, (ii) execute insulation protection control of the rotating electrical machine when the electronic control unit determines that dielectric breakdown of the rotating electrical machine occurs, and (iii) set a priority of the insulation protection control in an order of a change in a transmission gear ratio of the transmission, a decrease in an application voltage to the rotating electrical machine, and torque limitation of the rotating electrical machine in a state where the power mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutaka Aoki
  • Patent number: 9939062
    Abstract: A method of checking an abnormality in oil pressure of a transmission control unit (TCU) may include determining whether an oil pressure signal transmitted from the TCU to an electric oil pump (EOP) device is normal, transmitting a specific oil pressure value to the EOP device, the specific oil pressure value being set for determining whether the oil pressure signal transmitted from the TCU is normal, determining whether an oil pressure corresponding to the specific oil pressure value is sensed at the EOP device, determining whether a decrease range of the oil pressure sensed at the EOP device belongs within a predetermined range when compared to the specific oil pressure value, and determining whether to perform abnormality control over a transmission by operating the EOP device at set minimum revolutions per minute when the decrease range of the oil pressure sensed at the EOP device is beyond the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Yoh Han Kim
  • Patent number: 9933065
    Abstract: A shift fork shaft 123 has both end portions movably fitted in shaft supports 83e and 116a of a gear transmission 82. Clearances are left between bottom surfaces 83g and 116c of the shaft supports 83e and 116a and both end faces 123c of the shift fork shaft 123. Caps 145 are mounted in both axial ends of the shift fork shaft 123.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Makita, Yasushi Fujimoto, Taku Hirayama, Hirokazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9919731
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body frame, an engine, a transmission, an injector, an engine controller, and a transmission controller. The body frame supports three or more wheels. The engine is attached to the body frame. The transmission is attached to the body frame and changes a torque from the engine and outputs a resulting torque. The injector is disposed on or above the engine, and supplies fuel to the engine. The transmission controller is configured or programmed to control a gear position of the transmission. The engine controller and the transmission controller are spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Morimoto, Kazuo Sunahiro
  • Patent number: 9908409
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle accelerator pedal reaction force control device which may increase an output by a small accelerator opening operation, allows the driving force etc. to be easily controlled by the driver's intention, increases the resistance to the depression of an accelerator to make the driver feel secure, and allows the driver to experience the operational feeling that he or she is operating the vehicle by himself or herself. The vehicle accelerator pedal reaction force control device 1 has a first mode in which a relation of the driving force with respect to an accelerator opening is regarded as a predetermined characteristic and a second mode in which the driving force is higher than the driving force in the first mode. In the second mode, the pedal reaction force increases with an increase in the accelerator opening with respect to the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Takegawa, Nobuyuki Sakata, Takuru Uchiyama, Yoh Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9895958
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle has a compressor for an air-conditioning device that is driven by a vehicle drive source, and a condenser for the air-conditioning device that is disposed at a front side of the vehicle. A request torque to the vehicle drive source is determined as a sum of an air-conditioning load which is spent for driving the compressor and a running torque necessary to drive the vehicle by a drive wheel. The running torque is calculated based on an accelerator manipulation of a driver. A range-position signal indicating a selected range position is read. A value of the air-conditioning load when the air-conditioning device is in operation and the range position is in a Reverse-range is larger than a value of the air-conditioning load when the range position is in a Drive-range with respect to an identical refrigerant pressure of the air-conditioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyasu Ikeda, Ryosuke Ito
  • Patent number: 9834091
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a drive power source, a first drive wheel, a second drive wheel, and a drive power distribution device. One of the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel is provided on the left side with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the other drive wheel is provided on the right side with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle. The drive power distribution device distributes power from the drive power source to the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel. The control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to perform drive power distribution control. The drive power distribution control is control for distributing drive power to the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel by the drive power distribution device. The electronic control unit is configured to make a first variation of a control command value be smaller than a second variation of the control command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryohei Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9835248
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a control system, apparatus, and method includes dynamic optimization of at least one of a vehicle reference speed and/or transmission gear state of a vehicle by determining current and future engine power requirements from the current and forward-looking route conditions to improve performance, drivability, and/or fuel economy of the vehicle over what is achievable through conventional gear state selection via static calibration tables and conventional shifting strategies. The selection of the vehicle reference speed and gear state can be performed independently of one another in one embodiment, and complementary of one another in another embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Anand Sujan, Kenneth Follen
  • Patent number: 9823165
    Abstract: A method for measuring the backlash of a gear train includes the steps of providing a gear train with an input end and an output end, spinning the input end of the gear train while loading the output end of the gear train with torque, and executing at least one round of measurement. The round of measurement includes the steps of measuring the rotational speed and/or angular position of the input end of the gear train and providing a first signal, measuring the rotational speed and/or angular position of the output end of the gear train and providing a second signal, and comparing the first and second signals with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: EASY LINK MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LTD.
    Inventor: Meng-Shing Li
  • Patent number: 9821803
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a cruise control and a transmission in a vehicle over the course of a road section, wherein prior to the road section, the vehicle has applied coasting and utilizes the cruise control. A reference speed vref utilized in the cruise control during the coasting is lowered to a lowest permitted speed vmin defined for the road section if the lowering is deemed applicable. A comparison of a drive force Fdd requested from an engine system in the vehicle with a threshold value Flim for the drive force is also carried out. The coasting is then suspended if the requested drive force Fdd exceeds the threshold value Flim for the drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Mikael Ögren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 9815464
    Abstract: A controller of a vehicle that includes a return control unit configured to carry out a complete engagement control of a power connecting/disconnecting device. At the time a return condition from inertia traveling to normal traveling is established and a down shift of an automatic transmission is requested, the return control unit carries out a down shift control of the automatic transmission so that a difference between an increasing gradient of a rotating speed of a first engaging portion and an increasing gradient of a rotating speed of a second engaging portion is within a predetermined range. At the time it can be regarded that the rotating speed of the first engaging portion and the rotating speed of the second engaging portion are synchronized, the return control unit completely engages the power connecting/disconnecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamanaka, Takahiro Yokokawa, Yoshio Ito
  • Patent number: 9803704
    Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle having a prime mover with an output shaft. The transmission includes an offgoing clutch that is selectively connected to the output shaft, and a controller in communication with the prime mover. The controller includes an offgoing clutch control module that determines an offgoing clutch torque profile at the start of a torque phase in a power downshift that does not exceed a predetermined offgoing clutch energy threshold and a torque request module that limits a rate of input torque into the transmission from the prime mover based upon the determined offgoing clutch torque profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dara Monajemi, Brian M Porto
  • Patent number: 9802602
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a transmission of a hybrid powertrain that includes a motor/generator are described. The systems and methods may improve engine starting during engine starts where little or larger driver demand torques are requested. In one example, engine torque may be commanded to a torque based on a filtered driver demand torque, the filtered driver demand torque filtered based on a position of an accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Scott James Thompson, Rajit Johri, Xiaoyong Wang, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 9796375
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce frequency of establishing an engine braking force is provided. The control system is configured to operate a first motor as a motor to increase torque of an output member while halting the output shaft of the engine by a brake, and to increase the deceleration torque of the second motor, if a state of charge of the battery is higher than a predetermined threshold level when deceleration of the hybrid vehicle is demanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Makoto Hirai, Koji Hokoi, Takanori Aoki, Hideo Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 9783052
    Abstract: A unified electronic shift lever may include a first selection unit installed on a dashboard of a vehicle, and on which various selectable options including a gear shift option of the vehicle are indicated, a second selection unit installed on an upper portion of the first selection unit, and on which sub-options of the various selectable options selected at the first selection unit are indicated, a display unit disposed on an upper portion of the second selection unit and displaying options selected at the first selection unit and the second selection unit, and a control unit disposed below the dashboard, identifying operations of the first selection unit and the second selection unit to control various types of options of the vehicle, and changing indication on the second selection unit and the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Eun-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9764740
    Abstract: A machine may include an engine, a traction device, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) connecting the engine to the traction device, an operator input device outputting engine output command signals input by an operator, an engine speed sensor monitoring an engine output speed, and an electronic control module (ECM). The ECM may control the engine to a target engine speed determined from the engine output command signals using engine speed sensor signals as feedback. The ECM determines a CVT transmission ratio that will cause the CVT to apply a load to the engine that will cause the engine to run at the target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Lister
  • Patent number: 9758156
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to reduce frequency of establishing an engine braking force is provided. The control system is configured to operate a first motor as a motor to increase torque of an output member while halting the output shaft of the engine by a brake, and to increase the deceleration torque of the second motor, if a state of charge of the battery is higher than a predetermined threshold level when deceleration of the hybrid vehicle is demanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Makoto Hirai, Koji Hokoi, Takanori Aoki, Hideo Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 9732810
    Abstract: To allow a rider to sense torque in a low-speed traveling mode, a control device has a forward-and-reverse clutch oil pressure controller. In a low-speed traveling mode, the forward-and-reverse clutch oil pressure controller performs hunting control on driving torque, which is transmitted to a rear wheel from a crankshaft of an engine through a clutch device, a transmission, and a drive shaft, if vehicle speed stays within a second vehicle speed range for a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9701317
    Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an engine RPM includes an ECU and a TCU configured to output a shift signal and a virtual RPM signal based on a shift state of a transmission. A cluster is configured to output the engine RPM as any one of the virtual RPM signal and a general RPM signal depending on whether the shift signal is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kang Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 9694826
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems comprising vehicle gear shifting controls are disclosed. One embodiment is a method comprising operating a vehicle system comprising an engine structured to output torque, a transmission structured to receive torque from the engine and output torque to one or more ground contacting wheels, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the engine and the transmission. The electronic control system is structured to estimate an engine load parameter using one or more dynamically determined vehicle operating parameters, set an engine load threshold using the engine load parameter, evaluate a current engine load relative to the engine load threshold, and selectably perform an operation to control or influence a shifting event in response to the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Anant Puri, Steven M. Bellinger, Vivek A. Sujan, Kenneth Follen
  • Patent number: 9695933
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control device with which it is occurrence of meshing failure at the time of engaging an engagement clutch may be prevented while suppressing prolonged time for completing the engagement. Disclosed is an automatic transmission control device comprising: an automatic transmission that is provided in the drive system of a vehicle and that includes, as an coupling element, an engagement clutch which undergoes meshing/engagement at the time of coupling; and a transmission controller that performs transmission control of the automatic transmission. The engagement clutch includes: a clutch gear connected to a transmission input shaft; and a clutch hub connected to a transmission output shaft and capable of meshing with the clutch gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Koga, Atsushi Tsukizaki, Kenichi Mori, Ryohey Toyota, Takashi Kurita, Kazuhiro Takaki
  • Patent number: 9695766
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine, a dog clutch and a friction clutch. The dog clutch is configured to transmit power or interrupt transmission of power in a power transmission path that transmits power of the engine to a drive wheel. The dog clutch includes a synchromesh mechanism. The friction clutch is configured to transmit power or interrupt transmission of power in the power transmission path between the engine and the dog clutch. The control apparatus includes: an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to, when the synchromesh mechanism is operated in order to engage the dog clutch in a state where the vehicle is stopped and the friction clutch is released, increase a rotation speed of the engine as compared to when the synchromesh mechanism is not operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuo, Akira Hino, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Daisuke Inoue, Akihide Ito, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 9688267
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a vehicle driving device provided with a transmission apparatus including a plurality of engagement devices in a power transmission path between a driving force source and a wheel and selectively forming a plurality of transmission shift stages having different transmission shift ratios depending on engagement states of the plurality of engagement devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Tsuda, Keiichirou Kusabe, Tomohiro Onouchi, Shoichi Ishida
  • Patent number: 9683349
    Abstract: A work vehicle equipped with an HST traveling drive device, includes: an operation quantity detector that detects an operation quantity representing an extent to which an accelerator pedal is operated; a rotation rate detector that detects an actual rotation rate at a prime mover; a requested rotation rate calculation unit that calculates a requested rotation rate for the prime mover based upon the operation quantity detected by the operation quantity detector; and a prime mover control unit that controls the actual rotation rate based upon the requested rotation rate calculated by the requested rotation rate calculation unit. When the requested rotation rate is higher than a predetermined value, the requested rotation rate calculation unit calculates a rate of acceleration for the requested rotation rate based upon a difference between the requested and the actual rotation rate detected by the rotation rate detector and calculates the requested rotation rate based upon the calculated rate of acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KCM Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Aoki, Keigo Kikuchi, Tetsuji Tanaka, Kentaro Oomae
  • Patent number: 9670973
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a procedure for controlling torque transmission rate of a clutch. The clutch is in connection with a transmission and an electric machine, configured to receive torque from the electric machine by a couple half of the clutch, and configured to produce a torque guiding connection between a combustion engine and the transmission. According to the procedure, when the clutch is in a slipping condition, a shifting demand to the transmission to shift from a neutral position to a gear is detected. After detecting such a shifting demand, either a counter is started so that when the counter reaches a first count, the torque transmission rate of the clutch is being increased, or an event detection is actuated to detect an event that directly precedes the shifting process, so that when this event is detected, the torque transmission rate of the clutch is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Ommer, Christian Soeldner, Ricardo Gonzalez-Ramos
  • Patent number: 9663102
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first motor that cranks the engine, and a second motor for propelling the hybrid vehicle, and is able to perform motor driving by using the first motor and the second motor as driving force sources. The control apparatus includes a controller that controls the first motor. The controller is configured to, during the motor driving, determine whether the first motor is in a single-phase locking state (step S3), when it is determined that the first motor is in the single-phase locking, end the motor driving (step S4), and then start the engine by cranking the engine with the use of the first motor (step S5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanori Aoki
  • Patent number: 9657703
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine starting device includes: a starting requirement determination device that determines whether an internal combustion engine is required to be started when the engine stops combustion by stopping fuel supply to the engine, and the vehicle is in a freewheel running; and a driving control device that drives and rotates a motor in a starter by increasing a driving voltage to the motor from a voltage changing device for changing the driving voltage supplied to the starter in a case where a travelling speed is high to be higher than in a case where the traveling speed is low, when the internal combustion engine is required to be started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 9644560
    Abstract: The Emergency Forced Idle Device aka “EFID” is a device configured to make an automotive engine idle and the brakes to work normally completely ignoring the accelerator's request for more power, although the driver is inadvertently applying both the brake and the accelerator pedals at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: Colin Ignatius Chambers
  • Patent number: 9643590
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting a transmission of a hybrid driveline that include a torque converter with a lockup clutch are presented. The systems and methods may adjust a feedforward motor torque command to match application of motor torque to a time that a gear clutch closes so that shifting may be improved and so that driveline torque disturbances may be less noticeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Matthew John Shelton, Stuart N. Ford, Todd McCullough
  • Patent number: 9625032
    Abstract: A method is provided for executing a gearshift in an automatic transmission with several shifting elements. Upon the execution of the gearshift, a first frictional-locking shifting element is opened and a second positive-locking shifting element is closed. If, upon the execution of the gearshift, an input torque of the automatic transmission is less than a threshold value, after at least partially opening the frictional-locking shifting element and after releasing the positive-locking shifting element, there is a monitoring of whether the positive-locking shifting element is transferred into its end position. If it is then determined that the positive-locking shifting element is not in its end position, a torque transferred by the partially open frictional-locking shifting element initially increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Markus Maurer, Christian Villing
  • Patent number: 9623864
    Abstract: A system is provided for managing torque in a vehicle driveline coupled to an internal combustion engine and to a hybrid motor/generator. An engine control circuit provides to a transmission control circuit an engine torque value corresponding to torque applied by the engine to the driveline. A hybrid control circuit provides to the transmission control circuit a motor torque value corresponding to torque applied by the hybrid motor/generator to the driveline. The transmission control circuit controls operation of at least one friction device and controls shifting of the transmission, and also manages torque applied to the drive line by the engine and by the hybrid motor/generator based on the engine torque value and the motor torque value such that the friction device control and shift schedule instructions do not require modification to accommodate inclusion of the hybrid motor/generator in the system or exclusion of the hybrid motor/generator from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kresse, Jeffrey Runde