Means Detecting Or Ameliorating The Effects Of Malfunction Or Potential Malfunction Patents (Class 477/906)

Cross-Reference Art Collections

Redundant (Class 477/907)
  • Patent number: 11965593
    Abstract: A hydraulic control circuit includes a pressure regulator valve, a first pilot valve, a second pilot valve, and a third pilot valve. A first pilot pressure is introduced as a source pressure into the primary solenoid valve that generates a primary signal pressure and a secondary solenoid valve that generates a secondary signal pressure. A second pilot pressure is introduced as a source pressure into a lock-up solenoid valve that generates the lock-up signal pressure. A third pilot pressure is introduced as a damping pressure into a primary regulator valve that controls a primary pulley pressure according to the primary signal pressure, and into a secondary regulator valve that controls a secondary pulley pressure according to the secondary signal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisao Nobu
  • Patent number: 11835130
    Abstract: An electric drive system for a machine includes a transmission, and an electric drive motor coupled to a transmission input. The electric drive system also includes a plurality of sensing subsystems, each monitoring a speed of rotation and a direction of rotation of one of the electric drive motor or the transmission input. An electric drive control system in the electric drive system includes an electronic controller structured to receive health data of the sensing subsystems, and determine a drive system control command, according to a sensor data sourcing pattern that is dependent upon the health data. Related methodology and control logic is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Beyer, Brian E. Lister, Ryan R. Leman
  • Patent number: 11746894
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a transmission mechanism with at least two gearwheels that can be brought into form-fitting engagement with one another. One of the gearwheels is designed as a movable gear and, in a disengaged position, is arranged in a freely rotatable manner on a transmission shaft. The other of the gearwheels is designed as a fixed gear and is arranged non-rotatably on a further transmission shaft, the movable gear is connectable non-rotatably to the transmission shaft by a clutch unit and at least one transmission gear can be engaged if a clutch toothing of the clutch unit engages in a form-fitting manner in a toothing of the movable gear in a tooth-on-tooth-gap position. A sensor device detects a rotational speed signal incoming into the other transmission shaft and a rotational speed signal outgoing from the transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Leipnitz, Kiarash Sabzewari, Roger Pohlmann, Andreas Riedel
  • Patent number: 11739743
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the components of a skid module comprising a load driven by a motor associated with an automatic transmission using lockup technology includes a smart box associated with the skid module. Exemplary loads include mud pumps and generators. A plurality of sensors are associated with skid components and electrically associated with the smart box. The smart box uses at least some of said plurality of sensors to determine if the lockup technology is working properly and generates a warning when a lockup failure is detected. The skid module status is reported to at least one of a local display device or a remote display device in communication with the smart device over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventors: Barry J. Nield, George A. Nield
  • Patent number: 11635137
    Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosing an automatic transmission for detecting abnormality during driving of a vehicle includes a G-sensor configured to measure a vibration signal including a longitudinal vibration signal, a status detection unit configured to obtain the vibration signal of the G-sensor and status data of transmission and engine sensors of the vehicle, and a controller configured to check an operational element for each shifting operation by using a current shift-stage, a target shift-stage, and a shifting time detected as the status data, measure the longitudinal vibration signal of the G-sensor to calculate fluctuation level of the longitudinal vibration signal for each operational element, and determine a shift shock event when a longitudinal vibration signal value after adjustment based on driving acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Si Wook Kim, Jin Ill Kim, Jaeho Chun, Min-Gu Jeon, Do Hwan Ahn
  • Patent number: 11592104
    Abstract: A system includes a driveline, a user interface, and a control system. The driveline includes an engine, a transmission, and a clutch positioned to selectively couple the engine to the transmission. The user interface is configured to facilitate operator shifting of the transmission. The control system is configured to perform a transmission auto-shift procedure where the control system monitors engine speed of the engine for a period of time following completion of a downshift event with the transmission from a first, higher gear to a second, lower gear, compares the engine speed to at least one speed threshold, and automatically upshifts the transmission from the second, lower gear back to the first, higher gear (i) following expiration of the period of time and/or (ii) in response to the engine speed exceeding the at least one speed threshold during the period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Pawel Kuros, Kenneth Scott Hedderman, Alek Czernobil, Garth H. Bulgrien
  • Patent number: 11535239
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling and diagnosing a mechanical vehicle component. In one example, a method may include determining a vehicle speed and a plurality of clutch position settings at a diagnostic controller, and identifying unauthorized conditions based on these determinations. Further, the diagnostic controller may trigger an active fault state of the mechanical vehicle component in order to avoid unauthorized conditions that may lead to unwanted or unanticipated changes in vehicle motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Deckmyn, Bjorn Aelvoet, Brecht Fevery
  • Patent number: 11377986
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a cluster of a vehicle may include, an oil pressure switch (OPS) mounted at an oil passage of an engine, a driving information detection unit configured of receiving an oil pressure signal from the OPS through a connector of the OPS, an OPS connection determination unit configured of determining that the OPS is disconnected when a first waveform voltage determined from a first oil pressure signal detected before the engine is started is the same as a second waveform voltage determined from a second oil pressure signal detected after the engine is started, and a control unit configured of controlling the cluster to turn on a warning lamp in a response that the control unit receives disconnection event information related to the OPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minwon Byun
  • Patent number: 11371606
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for reading off predetermined positions of a gear lever (11). A sensor arrangement (1) with a first sensor component (10) moves with the gear lever (11) and a plurality of second sensor components (S21-S25) interacts with the first sensor component (10), wherein in each of the predetermined positions of the gear lever (11), the first sensor component (10) interacts with at least one second sensor component (S21-S25). A position determination unit (30) compares the current sensor output values with stored sensor output values in a table (40). When a faulty condition is detected in one of the sensor components (S21-S25), the stored sensor output values for the faulty sensor component are updated with the faulty output value of the faulty sensor component in the table (40) of expected sensor output values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive AB
    Inventor: Johan Viktor Friestedt
  • Patent number: 11125141
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an internal combustion engine assembly comprising a water pump driven by a crankcase venting system. In one example, a method may include adjusting a transmission ratio of a magnetic transmission in response to a temperature of an engine, wherein the magnetic transmission connects a water pump to a crankcase venting system of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Kiehn, Krystian Dylong, Georg Louven, Christoph Niederhut
  • Patent number: 10661809
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method to determine parameter values after an activation of a first error code in a control system, wherein said control system comprises at least one control device for control of at least one first function at least partly with the use of sensor signals, and wherein said at least one control device is arranged to activate said first error code when a first condition for deactivation of said first error code has been met. The method comprises, when said first error code has been activated: determining whether said first condition for activation of said first error code is still met; and determining parameter values for a first set of parameters where said first condition is no longer met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Viktor Winblad Von Valter, Rasmus Backman
  • Patent number: 10427523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for displaying driving modes of a vehicle (6). The vehicle (6) can be operated in at least two different driving modes. In the method according to the invention, it is ascertained whether the vehicle (6) is being operated in a first or a second driving mode. In the first driving mode, a first actuator carries out a first action, and in the second driving mode, a second actuator carries out the first action. A first graphical element (7) which represents the first actuator and a second graphical element (8) which represents the second actuator are generated on a display surface (3). Depending on whether the vehicle (6) is in the first or the second driving mode, a first graphical action element (9, 10) which represents the first action is generated with the first (7) and/or second graphical element (8). The invention further relates to a system (1) for displaying driving modes of a vehicle (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ina Petermann-Stock, Ina Othersen, Agata Rogge-Solti
  • Patent number: 10295053
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Michael Cicala, John Randall Armstead, Dongdong Dee Li, Alexander Phillip McDonnell, Bradley D. Riedle, Conor Edward Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10161506
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a multiple speed motor vehicle automatic transmission having electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) provides both a forward gear ratio and Park options during default conditions where the transmission loses electronic control when the ETRS system is in a drive mode. The hydraulic control system includes a two position default disable solenoid valve, an ETRS valve, a park servo, position sensors, a default disable valve, a drive select valve, various orifices and blow-off valves as well as main and auxiliary pumps, a torque converter, a torque converter regulator and control valve and a plurality of linear force solenoid valves and clutch regulation valves which control a like plurality of clutch and brake actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chinar S. Ghike, Brian W. Whitmarsh, Joel H. Gunderson
  • Patent number: 9746070
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle is provided including a power source, such as an engine or an electric motor, and a transmission having a variable gear ratio. A sub-transmission coupled to an output of the transmission includes a plurality of selectable gear configurations including park gear and at least one of a forward gear, a neutral gear and a reverse gear. An electronic controller is operative to electronically control the gear configuration of the sub-transmission in response to a set of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew P. McGuire, Cole A. Sytsma, Brian D. Krosschell
  • Patent number: 9464715
    Abstract: While a vehicle is decelerating starting at a braking start time, start-off pre-shifting starts when speed falls to a predetermined speed. At a vehicle stoppage time, an idle stop permission flag is not set to on if start-off pre-shifting is incomplete, even if idle stop permission conditions have been met. The idle stop permission flag is set to on when start-off pre-shifting is completed, and an idle stop flag is set to on and the engine stopped when engine rotational speed falls below a set speed. The engine is restarted in response to braking being released, and the idle stop flag is set to off and the idle stop control ended when the engine rotational speed reaches or exceeds a set speed. The restarting of the engine causes an engine-driven oil pump to dispense oil to be used as a medium to manifest an automatic clutch command hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kawamoto, Hiroyuki Takenaka
  • Patent number: 9366335
    Abstract: A shift by wire system for a motor vehicle, having a transmission control device and an actuation assembly, operationally connected thereto via an electrical connection. The actuation assembly is designed to generate a signal relating to an intention of the driver, corresponding to a position of the gearshift lever, by means of a gearshift lever and at least one sensor. The actuation assembly also has a controller unit, by means of which data based on the signal is communicated to the transmission control device via the electrical connection. The transmission control device monitors, in a remote manner, the controller unit in the actuation assembly via the electrical connection. The electrical connection is both a communication line for the data based on the signal and for the remote monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Josef Habenschaden
  • Patent number: 9022898
    Abstract: A system for determining disablement of driving of a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The system for determining disablement of driving of a hybrid vehicle may include: power electronic components having a battery at which DC electricity is stored, an inverter converting the DC electricity of the battery into AC electricity, and a motor receiving the AC electricity from the inverter and generating driving torque; an engine burning a fuel so as to generate driving torque and being selectively connected to the motor; an engine clutch selectively connecting the engine to the motor; a transmission connected to the motor to receive the driving torque of the motor or the driving torque of the engine; and a control portion controlling operations of the power electronic components, the engine, and the engine clutch, wherein the control portion turns off a system ready indication in a case that driving of the vehicle is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Daero Park, Seok Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 8951157
    Abstract: The cooling system of the present disclosure is configured to promote heat transfer in a gearbox. The system can include a container for housing a gas, the gas having a sufficient percentage of helium so that once the gas is introduced into the gearbox, the helium increases heat transfer from the heat generating components of the gearbox. The method of the present disclosure can include selectively introducing the helium gas into the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Monte A. McGlaun, Walter W. Riley
  • Patent number: 8924108
    Abstract: A method of managing available operating states in an electrified powertrain includes: identifying a plurality of operating states; determining an allowable hardware operating speed range for each of the plurality of operating states; determining a real operating speed range for each of the plurality of operating states; determining an ideal operating speed range for each of the plurality of operating states, the ideal operating speed range being a subset of the allowable real operating speed range; indicating an operating state of the plurality of operating states as ideal-allowed if an actual output speed of the electrified powertrain is within the ideal operating speed range for that operating state; and commanding the electrified powertrain to operate within one of the operating states that is indicated as ideal-allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Samantha Victoria Lado, John Janczak
  • Patent number: 8888656
    Abstract: A shift mistake detection apparatus detects an operation value of an accelerator pedal in a vehicle and a shift range selected by a shift operation of a driver of the vehicle (e.g. reverse, drive, park). The apparatus detects a shift mistake operation when (i) the shift range selected by the shift operation is in a reverse range and the vehicle begins to travel in reverse according to an operation of the accelerator pedal, and (ii) a steep step operation and a steep return operation of the accelerator pedal is detected. The steep step and return operations of the accelerator pedal have an operation value that is greater than or equal to a normal operation value, where the normal operation value may be a value detected when a driver of a vehicle intentionally travels in reverse (i.e., there is no shift mistake).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kawamura, Tomohiro Tsujimura
  • Patent number: 8886427
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission has a circulating oil supply passage that supplies circulating oil to a starting apparatus, a circulating oil discharge passage that discharges circulating oil from the starting apparatus, and a speed change mechanism oil supply passage that supplies oil to a speed change mechanism. The oil discharged from an oil pump is supplied to the starting apparatus and the speed change mechanism. A first flow rate changing device that can change the flow rate of the circulating oil is arranged in the circulating oil discharge passage. A first flow rate instructing portion output a command to the flow rate changing device to change the flow rate when the amount of oil discharged from the oil pump is low, and reduces the flow rate to the starting apparatus, which enables the hydraulic pressure necessary for shifting to be obtained in the speed change mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimizu, Kenichi Tsuchida, Yoshimitsu Hyodo, Kazunori Ishikawa, Hironori Sugiura, Satoshi Nishio, Kazuki Kojima
  • Patent number: 8880305
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle control apparatus. The vehicle control apparatus includes: an automatic return type select switch that receives an operation for selecting an operating condition of an automatic transmission and outputs a selection signal corresponding to the received selection operation; a switch controller that switches the operating condition of the automatic transmission in accordance with the selection signal output by the select switch; an emergency determining unit that determines whether or not the select switch has been operated consecutively at least a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period while the vehicle travels, and outputs an emergency operation signal when determining that the select switch has been operated consecutively; and a brake control unit and an electric parking brake control unit that apply braking to the vehicle on the basis of an operation by a driver and the emergency operation signal output by the emergency determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Inoue, Takahiro Kinoshita, Noriaki Tatematsu, Hironaga Ito
  • Patent number: 8827868
    Abstract: A method of cooling a multi-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that is paired with an internal combustion engine in a vehicle includes detecting operation of the vehicle. The method also includes sensing an increase in temperature of a subsystem of the DCT while the vehicle is operating. The method also includes selecting a remedial action in response to the sensed temperature. The method aditionally includes activating the selected remedial action such that the temperature of the subsystem is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Xuefeng Tim Tao, John William Boughner, Alfonso G. Hysko, Jonathan P. Kish, Matthew D. Whitton, Fei An, Steven P. Moorman
  • Patent number: 8821341
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, at least one electric machine and an electro-mechanical transmission operative to transmit torque to a driveline. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes enabling neutral operation of the transmission in response to an operator input, activating a first clutch coupled to a first planetary gear set, the first planetary gear set which includes a first element, a second element and a third element. Torque commands are coordinated between the engine and a first electric machine to establish a net zero output torque condition. If a violation of the net zero output torque condition is present, slippage of the first clutch is allowed to dissipate net output torque from reacting with the driveline of the powertrain system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shaun C Bowman, Poh Fong Chin
  • Patent number: 8790207
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system of an automatic transmission for a hybrid vehicle provides for simplifying structure of a valve body and improving responsiveness as a consequence of directly controlling hydraulic pressure supplied to friction elements. The hydraulic control system may operate first and second clutches and first and second brakes selectively according to each driving mode, and may include: a first proportional control solenoid valve for selectively supplying forward pressure and reverse pressure supplied from a manual valve to the first clutch; a second proportional control solenoid valve for selectively supplying line pressure supplied from a primary regulator valve to the second clutch; a third proportional control solenoid valve for selectively supplying the line pressure supplied from the primary regulator valve to the first brake; and a fourth proportional control solenoid valve for selectively supplying the forward pressure supplied from the manual valve to the second brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gwang Seob Shin, Jong Hyun Kim, Youngchul Kim, Jang Mi Lee, Yeonho Kim, Jaeshin Yi
  • Patent number: 8775016
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle having a drive aggregate, a transmission and a hydraulic system. The transmission has shift elements and, for each gear, only a portion of the elements are engaged while a remainder are disengaged. The hydraulic system has main pump driven by the drive aggregate and an auxiliary pump. The method tests the functionality of the auxiliary pump. The drive aggregate and the main pump are insufficiently driven such that the shift elements can not engage. The auxiliary pump is driven to provide required pressure such that all but one of the shift elements fully engages. The remaining shift element is then first engaged up to its engagement point and then either engaged beyond its engagement point or another unengaged shift element is engaged beyond its engagement point. The functionality of the auxiliary pump is determined based on changes in the drive aggregate's rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Tobias Zollner
  • Patent number: 8762015
    Abstract: An automatic shift apparatus including a transmission; a vehicle speed acquisition unit; a gear speed acquisition unit that acquires a gear speed of the transmission; a unit that sets, based on a vehicle speed, a minimum allowable gear speed at which a rotation speed of an input shaft of the transmission is equal to or lower than a predetermined rotation speed and which has a highest gear ratio among a plurality of gear speeds; and a unit that determines that the gear speed is abnormal if the gear speed has a higher gear ratio than the minimum allowable gear speed due to a change in the gear speed, and not determining that the gear speed is abnormal if the gear speed has a higher gear ratio than the minimum allowable gear speed due to a change in the minimum allowable gear speed that is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Takada, Shoji Fushimi, Tsunekazu Inakura, Masatoshi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8734295
    Abstract: A vehicular shift control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a parking lock device selectively switched to a locking position in which rotation of wheels of the vehicle is prevented and a non-locking position in which the rotation of the wheels is not prevented, by an operation of an electrically operated actuator, the vehicular shift control apparatus being configured to perform a failure diagnosis to determine whether the actuator is operable or not, the vehicular shift control apparatus includes: the vehicular shift control apparatus permits the operation of the actuator if a supply voltage to the actuator is raised from a value lower than a predetermined threshold supply voltage value to a value not lower than the threshold supply voltage value after a determination that the actuator is inoperable is obtained in the failure diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kanai, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori, Toshinari Suzuki, Hiroatsu Endo, Koki Ueno, Keisuke Sekiya
  • Patent number: 8731765
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine mechanically coupled to an internal combustion engine includes, upon detecting a pending fault associated with a power switch configured to control power flow to the torque machine, disabling torque output from the torque machine and executing retry events. The retry events are iteratively executed with a debounce time period preceding each retry event. Presence of a fault associated with the power switch is detected when a quantity of the retry events during a time window exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Bon Ho Bae, Reynaldo Arturo Suazo Zepeda, Satish Godavarthy
  • Patent number: 8702559
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a power source when a transmission malfunctions in a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. In particular, a control unit confirms a speed of a transmission output is 0 rpms, detects whether the transmission is in park or neutral, and limits a speed of an engine and a motor in response to determining that the transmission is in park or neutral and that the transmission output is 0 rpms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seok Min Jeong
  • Patent number: 8690732
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods, apparatus and systems that diagnose and/or detect faults of an electro-hydraulic control system for a transmission are presented. Some embodiments, adjust a main line pressure of the electro-hydraulic control system and detect faults based upon changes in a pressure switch resulting from such adjustments of the main line pressure. The pressure switch may be incorporated into a control main valve or a clutch trim valve of the electro-hydraulic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles F. Long
  • Patent number: 8688300
    Abstract: The invention provides a hybrid vehicle and a control method thereof with which, in a case where a vehicle speed V obtained by a vehicle speed sensor equals or exceeds a first determination vehicle speed V1 at a time of occurrence of an internal combustion engine-related abnormality, which is when an abnormality relating to motors MG1 and MG2 is determined not to have occurred but an abnormality relating to an engine is determined to have occurred while the engine is operative, the motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled such that traveling torque is output to a ring gear shaft serving as a drive shaft from the motor MG2 while the engine is motored by the motor MG1 such that a crankshaft rotates at a target rotation speed until the vehicle speed V subsequently falls to or below a second determination vehicle speed V2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigenori Takahashi, Mitsuhiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 8657722
    Abstract: In a control apparatus of an internal combustion engine having an electronic throttle system driving an actuator so that a throttle valve provided in the internal combustion engine is at a target opening according to driving conditions, a throttle opening is turned to a limp home opening when abnormality is detected in the driving conditions so as to allow retreat traveling of a vehicle. The control apparatus of the internal combustion engine includes a brake operation detecting unit detecting a brake operation, in which when a brake operation is added subsequently while the accelerator pedal is operated, the control apparatus sets the target opening to the limp home opening based on occurrence of a sequence of the operations, and drives the actuator so that the throttle opening turns to the limp home opening, regardless of whether abnormality is detected or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichiro Shioura
  • Patent number: 8652006
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission having a plurality of torque machines. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes identifying all presently applied clutches including commanded applied clutches and the stuck-closed clutch upon detecting one of the torque-transfer clutches is in a stuck-closed condition. A closed-loop control system is employed to control operation of the multi-mode transmission accounting for all the presently applied clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: R. Anthony Hansen
  • Patent number: 8649951
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus includes an actuator to direct a travel range setting of a vehicle transmission, a selector to indicate a desired travel range setting, a transmission controller to move the actuator into the travel range setting in response to the desired travel range setting of the selector, and a restrictor to restrict an output of a drive motor if the vehicle transmission is in a travel range setting other than the desired travel range setting. A method to control a vehicle transmission includes detecting a travel range setting of the vehicle transmission, detecting a desired travel range setting of a selector, and entering a limp-home mode if the detected travel range setting is different from the desired travel range setting and a detected vehicle travel direction corresponding to the detected travel range setting is the same as a desired travel direction corresponding to the desired travel range setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Funakoshi, Hiroaki Akazawa
  • Patent number: 8574128
    Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a vehicle having a parking lock device 50 which is placed in its released state with a hydraulic pressure generated by an oil pump 58 operated by an engine 26, which control apparatus permits reduction of a risk of unintended releasing of the parking lock device 50 upon occurrence of an operating failure of an ON-OFF switching valve 72 or a switching valve 70 of a hydraulic device 69 provided to supply the hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Naoki Itazu
  • Patent number: 8562485
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the operation of a drive train of a motor vehicle, the drive train including a drive machine, a clutch and an automated transmission, and the drive train having an emergency program, which enables an emergency operation of the drive train even if important control signals such as engine torque, engine speed, transmission speed are missing, where the emergency operation is initiated as soon as one of the following signals is no longer present: engine torque or a substitute value for the engine torque, torque requested by a driver or a substitute for the torque requested by the driver, engine speed, transmission input speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mario Jung, Bjoern Stehle
  • Patent number: 8560192
    Abstract: A control system includes a pressure control solenoid and a flow control solenoid having an input in fluid communication with the pressure control solenoid. A piston adjusts a position of a shift fork and includes a first area in fluid communication with the pressure control solenoid and a second area in fluid communication with the flow control solenoid. A fork sensor senses a position of a shift fork. A flow determining module determines a fork velocity for the shift fork, adjusts the fork velocity to generate an adjusted fork velocity based on the position, and generates a flow command for the flow control solenoid based on the adjusted fork velocity. A pressure determining module generates a pressure command for the pressure control solenoid. The shift fork is at least one of moved from a sync position to an engaged position and from an engaged position to a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Jay Weingartz, Steven P. Moorman, Xuefeng Tim Tao, Chinar S. Ghike, Andreas Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 8522946
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device that controls a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to a hydraulic servo for a hydraulically driven friction engagement element in an automatic transmission that changes between shift speeds by switching an engagement state of the friction engagement element. The control device configured with a switching mechanism that allows communication between oil passage for a first pressure regulation mechanism and the oil passage for a hydraulic servo and blocking communication between an oil passage for the second pressure regulation mechanism and the oil passage for the hydraulic servo when the signal pressure is not input to the signal pressure input oil passage, and blocking communication between the oil passage for the first pressure regulation mechanism and the oil passage for the hydraulic servo and allowing communication between the oil passage for the second pressure regulation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimizu, Masamichi Yamaguchi, Kenichi Tsuchida, Naoyuki Fukaya, Kazunori Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8510004
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes at least one valve configured to control fluid flow in a dual-clutch transmission system. A solenoid is operably connected to the at least one valve and configured to move the valve to a plurality of positions. A primary processing unit is in communication with the solenoid and configured to determine an intended position of the valve. A controller is configured to receive the intended position of the valve from the primary processing unit and generate a primary control signal associated with the intended position of the valve. The solenoid is configured to move the valve to the intended position based on the primary control signal. A secondary processing unit is configured to receive information from the primary processing unit and prevent the primary control signal from controlling the solenoid if the primary processing unit is unable to control the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kerfegar Khurshed Katrak, Jeffrey Philip Hawarden, Steven Harvey Lapointe, Eric Allen Metheny, Todd William Fritz, John Kimmel Vandervoort
  • Patent number: 8475137
    Abstract: In an electric-motor-driven oil pump unit with automatic engine-stop system interaction, in which an electric-motor-driven oil pump is driven by an electric motor for hydraulic pressure supply to a transmission of an automotive vehicle employing an automatic engine-stop system, at least in a stopped state of a mechanical oil pump driven by the engine, a motor current/speed detector is provided for detecting a motor current and/or a motor speed of the electric motor. Also provided is a controller configured to output an inhibiting signal to the automatic engine-stop system for inhibiting a mode shift to an automatic engine-stop mode, when a change in the motor current and/or the motor speed during a preliminary operation of the electric-motor-driven oil pump executed from a point of time when an automatic engine-stop condition of the vehicle becomes satisfied, is out of a specified characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Hisatake Ikada
  • Patent number: 8469860
    Abstract: A multi-mode transmission includes a plurality of torque transfer clutches fluidly coupled to a hydraulic circuit fluidly coupled to an independently controllable hydraulic pump. Upon detecting an un-commanded activation of one of the torque transfer clutches, operation of the hydraulic pump is disabled, allowable transmission states are identified, and the one of the torque transfer clutches is synchronized. The hydraulic pump is subsequently enabled and the transmission is operated in one of the allowable transmission states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Ali K. Naqvi, Scott T. Weisgerber, Jonathan M. Bolenbaugh
  • Patent number: 8473151
    Abstract: Excursion prevention methods and systems may include transmitting a speed signal from the vehicle speed sensor to the electronic control unit; transmitting a transmission signal from the transmission sensor to the electronic control unit; transmitting an accelerator pedal signal from the accelerator sensor to the electronic control unit; transmitting a brake pedal signal from the brake sensor to the electronic control unit; executing a machine readable control logic with the electronic control unit to determine if an excursion condition is present based on the speed of the vehicle, the status of the transmission, the application of the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, and the application of the brake pedal of the vehicle; and, transmitting an alert signal from the electronic control unit when the excursion condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Danil V Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 8439798
    Abstract: In a hydraulic apparatus for an automatic transmission having a torque converter with a lockup clutch and CVT, there are provided a first control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure supply to the lockup clutch oil chamber, a first electromagnetic solenoid valve for controlling operation of the first control valve, a second control valve for controlling hydraulic pressure supply to the CVT pulleys, a second electromagnetic solenoid valve for controlling operation of the second control valve, a switching valve interposed between the oil chamber and the first control valve. In the apparatus, when detecting that the first control valve or first electromagnetic solenoid valve is failed and the lockup clutch is locked in engaged condition, current supply to the second electromagnetic solenoid valve is stopped so that it operates the switching valve to disengage the lockup clutch, thereby enabling to forcibly release the engagement without manipulation by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motors Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Keiichi Hanyu, Genso Igari, Akihira Aoki
  • Patent number: 8439175
    Abstract: A failure detecting apparatus for a hydraulic circuit of a gearbox includes an operating-state detector. The operating-state detector is configured to detect an operating state of a subject to be controlled with a control-signal pressure output from a solenoid valve. A current setting device is configured to set an electrical current supplied to a solenoid so as to close an output oil passage when a modulator valve is normal and to open the output oil passage when an open failure occurs in the modulator valve, while the solenoid valve is conductive. A failure determining device is configured to detect a failure of the modulator valve when the operating state of the subject to be detected by the operating-state detector is abnormal after a value of the electrical current to be supplied to the solenoid is set at the current setting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ishikawa, Koichiro Inukai, Akira Yoshida, Atsushi Abe, Tamaki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8430794
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus of an automatic transmission which can supply a hydraulic oil pressure to one or more hydraulic servos of frictional engagement elements at a failure time when a de-energized condition is attained. The apparatus includes a normally closed type first solenoid valve for generating the hydraulic oil pressure, and a normally open type second solenoid valve for outputting a first signal pressure for adjusting and controlling an oil pressure to a line pressure; a signal output device for outputting the line pressure or a modulator pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimizu, Kenichi Tsuchida, Yoshimitsu Hyodo, Kazunori Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8417411
    Abstract: A control system may include a polarity determination module, a torque variation module, and a torque sensor diagnostic module. The polarity determination module determines a first polarity of a torque signal that indicates a transmission torque. The torque sensor diagnostic module diagnoses an error of a torque sensor when an detected polarity of the torque signal is opposite from the first polarity. A control system may include a torque variation module and a torque sensor diagnostic module. The torque variation module determines a maximum torque variation during a predetermined diagnostic period based on the torque signal. The torque sensor diagnostic module diagnoses an error of a torque sensor when the maximum torque variation is outside of a torque variation range. The torque variation range is defined by a minimum torque variation threshold and a maximum torque variation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Randall B. Dlugoss
  • Patent number: 8405497
    Abstract: An alarm device for a clutch that issues an alarm indicating a lifetime expiration of the clutch that selectively connects and disconnects an input shaft to and from an output shaft, includes: a slip heat release threshold setting unit 104 that establishes a threshold criteria as to a clutch damage or the clutch lifetime, in a form of a relation between a heat release generated in a clutch slip operation and a frequency of the heat release occurrences; and a slip heat release calculator 105 that calculates the heat release during the clutch operation, based on a hydraulic oil pressure in an actual clutch operation and a relative circumferential speed between input and output shafts, the alarm device 11 issues the alarm based on the calculation result through the slip heat release calculating means 105 and the slip heat release threshold setting means 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Okabe, Akihiko Fujimoto, Takeshi Harasawa
  • Patent number: 8392076
    Abstract: In a control of a vehicular automatic transmission, an engaging device provided in a power transmission path between an engine and driving wheels is brought into a slipping state or a release state when a certain neutral control condition is satisfied while a shift lever is placed in a running position, the engaging device is engaged so as to increase a torque transmission capacity thereof when a certain neutral control cancellation condition is satisfied during neutral control under which the engaging device is in the slipping state or the release state, and an engaging pressure of the engaging device is held at a constant pressure level for a given period of time when an accelerator pedal is depressed while the engaging device is engaged so as to increase the torque transmission capacity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobufusa Kobayashi, Yoshio Hasegawa, Naoto Komeno, Norihiro Tsukamoto