Semiautomatic Control (e.g., Switchable Between Automatic And Manual) Patents (Class 701/52)
  • Patent number: 11952081
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller that controls a transmission to shift a ratio of a rotational speed of a wheel to a rotational speed of a crank axle in accordance with a control state. In a case where the controller controls the transmission to shift the ratio in accordance with an input from a shift operation device in a first control state, the controller changes the control state to a second control state. In a case where a change amount of a parameter related to a vehicle state of the human-powered vehicle becomes a predetermined amount or greater in the second control state, the controller changes the control state to the first control state. Shifting of the ratio in accordance with a shifting condition is more restricted in the second control state than the first control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Shahana
  • Patent number: 11804081
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating axles of a vehicle are provided. In one example, an apparatus is configured to consume a first amount of electric power to indicate a first axle operating state. The apparatus is also configured to consume a second amount of electric power to indicate a second axle operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Casey R. Lofthouse, Justin S. Davis
  • Patent number: 11697468
    Abstract: A bicycle and method and bicycle assembly for a bicycle including a control device and at least one bicycle component whose operating state is variable during operation. An acoustic device with a sound converter is included for outputting information, controlled by the control device, on the operating state of the bicycle component by means of the acoustic device, and/or for capturing noises by means of the acoustic device and converting these to noise signals and utilizing them for controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: DT SWISS INC.
    Inventor: Frank Böckmann
  • Patent number: 11454187
    Abstract: A control device serving as a torque estimation device includes a storage device and a processing circuit. The storage device stores data of a trained neural network. The trained neural network is trained using training data including data of an actually-measured torque that is measured, data of an accelerator operation amount in a period of a predetermined length up to a time point of measurement of the actually-measured torque, and data of an acceleration of a vehicle from the time point of measurement of the actually-measured torque onward. The processing circuit inputs, to the trained neural network stored in the storage device, input data including the data of the accelerator operation amount and the data of the acceleration of the vehicle, to estimate a torque generated in a power transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Bunazawa
  • Patent number: 11344815
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic modification of an amusement ride are disclosed herein. The system can include a simulation vehicle including a plurality of controls and at least one interface. The system can include a content presentation system, and a processor. The processor can: provide content to the at least one passenger; identify a user skill level based on a plurality of user inputs received by at least some of the plurality of controls of the simulation vehicle; identify a modification to a difficulty of the ride experience based in part on the identified user skill level; and modify the difficulty of the ride experience according to the identified modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Asa K. Kalama, Robert Scott Trowbridge, Jacqueline E. King, Robert E. Huebner, Peter Stepniewicz
  • Patent number: 11205120
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of manufacturing same, systems, and methods for training deep learning machines are described. In one aspect, candidate units, such as detection bounding boxes in images or phones of an input audio feature, are classified using soft labelling, where at least label has a range of possible values between 0 and 1 based, in the case of images, on the overlap of a detection bounding box and one or more ground-truth bounding boxes for one or more classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Xianzhi Du, Mostafa El-Khamy, Jungwon Lee
  • Patent number: 11108351
    Abstract: An electric motor control device includes an electronic control unit configured to perform switching control of a switching element of an inverter in PWM control mode when a modulation degree is less than a first predetermined value, perform switching control of the switching element in square wave control mode when the modulation degree is greater than or equal to a second predetermined value, and perform switching control of the switching element in intermediate control mode when the modulation degree is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value. The intermediate control mode uses a switching pattern in which, in a pulse pattern in the square wave control mode, a slit or a short pulse having the same width as the slit is formed according to whether a pulse is present at the time when a phase current crosses zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Shamoto, Hiroyuki Oyanagi
  • Patent number: 10855866
    Abstract: A document size detection device includes: a light source to irradiate a document with light; an imaging device to receive light reflected at the document; and circuitry to control switch on and off of the light source and movement in a sub-scanning direction of the light source, and determine a size of the document based on image data acquired by the imaging device. The circuitry is to determine a size in a main-scanning direction of the document based on: first image data acquired when the light source is switched off while the light source is at a first reading position; second image data acquired when the light source is switched on while the light source is at the first reading position; and third image data acquired when the light source is switched on while the light source is being moved from the first reading position to a second reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sasa, Hiroki Shirado, Tadaaki Oyama, Tatsuya Ozaki, Kohsuke Nambara
  • Patent number: 10507823
    Abstract: An exemplary powertrain assembly includes, an electric machine, an engine, and a controller. The electric machine selectively drives at least one wheel driveshaft when in an automatic drive mode. The engine, through the manual transmission, selectively drives at least one wheel driveshaft when in a manual drive mode. The controller is configured to initiate an alert that suggests a transition from the automatic drive mode to the manual drive mode. An exemplary vehicle control method includes initiating an alert to suggest a transition from an automatic drive mode to a manual drive mode. When in the automatic drive mode, the method drives at least one wheel driveshaft within a plurality of wheel driveshafts using torque from an electric machine that is not moved through a manual transmission. When in the manual drive mode, the method drives at least one wheel driveshaft within the plurality of wheel driveshafts with torque from an engine that is moved through a manual transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Paterno, Eric Bramson
  • Patent number: 10436309
    Abstract: An electronic control system for a motor vehicle comprising an automatic transmission operable to assume different operating modes, comprising a reverse mode, a neutral mode, a park mode, a drive mode and a manual mode, in response to a manual operation of a selector with at least one control switch and mounted to assume a stable central neutral position when the selector is not operated, and to be movable in opposite selection directions from the stable central neutral position to reach two instable end-of-travel selection positions arranged on opposite sides of the stable central neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FCA ITALY S.p.A.
    Inventor: Salvatore Lumetta
  • Patent number: 10400886
    Abstract: A speed change ECU for a CVT sets a target input rotational speed Nin* such that the speed ratio of the CVT is varied stepwise a plurality of times consecutively to the downshift side in response to an operation to depress a brake pedal by a driver, and sets the target input rotational speed Nin* such that an amount of increase S(1), S(2), . . . in input rotational speed along with a downshift becomes smaller as the number of times of execution of downshifts is increased while downshifts in which the speed ratio is varied stepwise are executed consecutively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masachika Kato, Akihiro Kikkawa, Kiyoshi Kurita
  • Patent number: 10393255
    Abstract: A traveling control device for a vehicle includes an electronic control device. The vehicle includes a transmission constituting a part of a power transmission path between a drive power source and drive wheels. The electronic control device is configured to execute a gear shift of the transmission based on a traveling state, switch automatic driving by automatic driving control and manual driving by a driving operation from a driver, and inhibit switching between the automatic driving and the manual driving until the gear shift of the transmission is completed after the gear shift of the transmission starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akiko Nishimine
  • Patent number: 10279794
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first motor, a planetary gear mechanism, a second motor, a battery, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: control the engine, the first motor, and the second motor such that the hybrid vehicle travels using a required driving force; set a target rotation speed on a basis of the depression amount of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed, and a shift stage such that the target rotation speed of the engine increases as the depression amount of the accelerator pedal increases; set an upper-limit driving force; and control the engine, the first motor, and the second motor such that the engine operates at the target rotation speed and the smaller driving force of the upper-limit driving force and the required driving force is output to the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Masaya Sugai
  • Patent number: 10266229
    Abstract: A bicycle controller limits decreases in the assist force when the rotational speed of a crank changes. The bicycle controller can be mounted on a bicycle including a first transmission having at least two shift stages and configured to change a ratio of rotation of a wheel to rotation of a crank, a motor that provides assistance to human power input to the crank, and a second transmission configured to transmit a rotation force from the motor to a power transmission path extending from the crank to the wheel without changing the ratio of the rotation of the wheel to the rotation of the crank. The bicycle controller includes an electronic control unit that controls the second transmission in accordance with a condition of the bicycle and either one of a condition of the first transmission and a shift instruction to the first transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9921580
    Abstract: An apparatus for switching between driving modes of a vehicle with an automatic driving system, including: an input unit for receiving an input to switch from automatic driving mode to manual driving mode; a speed sensor for determining a current speed of the vehicle; a display unit on which a first indicator indicating a current speed of the vehicle when the vehicle is in an automatic driving mode is displayed; a pedal sensor for determining a current displacement distance of an accelerator pedal; a controller for determining a virtual speed according to the current distance displacement of the accelerator pedal when an input is received that requests switching of the automatic driving mode of the vehicle to a manual driving mode if the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode and displays a second indicator indicating the virtual speed on the display unit, and for switching the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode when the virtual driving speed is similar to the current speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hyungmin Park
  • Patent number: 9829098
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission connected to an engine in a motor vehicle includes receiving an input signal generated via an application of force by a switch inside the vehicle. The switch has a predetermined travel and is configured to request a transmission speed-ratio change via an output signal indicative of the received input signal. The output signal is received via a controller programmed with a permitted engine speed range. The transmission is commanded to execute a change from a currently selected speed-ratio to another speed-ratio if the requested speed-ratio change would generate an engine speed within the permitted engine speed range. The switch is commanded to execute full travel under the application of force if the speed-ratio change in the transmission was commanded. Alternatively, the switch is commanded to execute partial travel under the application of force if the speed-ratio change in the transmission was not commanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yue Fan, John C. Lyons
  • Patent number: 9442484
    Abstract: An apparatus for switching between driving modes of a vehicle with an automatic driving system, including: an input unit for receiving an input to switch from automatic driving mode to manual driving mode; a speed sensor for determining a current speed of the vehicle; a display unit on which a first indicator indicating a current speed of the vehicle when the vehicle is in an automatic driving mode is displayed; a pedal sensor for determining a current displacement distance of an accelerator pedal; a controller for determining a virtual speed according to the current distance displacement of the accelerator pedal when an input is received that requests switching of the automatic driving mode of the vehicle to a manual driving mode if the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode and displays a second indicator indicating the virtual speed on the display unit, and for switchings the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode when the virtual driving speed is similar to the current speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hyungmin Park
  • Patent number: 9254859
    Abstract: A steering wheel for a motor vehicle has operating elements for controlling at least one longitudinally dynamic control system of the motor vehicle. The operating elements include an adjusting element for changing a set speed value for the longitudinally dynamic control system, which adjusting element can be actuated in two opposite actuating directions in order to predefine a direction of the change of the set speed value by way of the actuating direction. The adjusting element can be actuated in at least two steps in each of the two actuating directions with respect to the extent of the actuation in order to predefine an extent of the change of the set speed value by way of the extent of the actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lutz Eckstein, Dietmar Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9222581
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission control system includes a continuously variable transmission device having an electricity-driven actuator that changes an width between a moveable sheave and a fixed sheave in at least one pulley of a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and a control device that controls driving of the electricity-driven actuator. The control device selects, from a plurality of speed relationships, each of which is a relationship between an input shaft rotational speed of the drive pulley and an output shaft rotational speed of the driven pulley, one speed relationship according to an input of a switch command signal or a drive state of the vehicle, and changes the width between the moveable sheave and the fixed sheave based on the selected speed relationship and detected values of the input shaft rotational speed and the output shaft rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Koga, Minoru Kamada, Tomoyuki Ebihara
  • Patent number: 9205827
    Abstract: An ECU selects, in accordance with operation by a driver, either one of a manual shift mode in which a shift range can be manually changed through the operation by the driver and an engine rotation speed is controlled in accordance with a selected shift range and an automatic shift mode in which the engine rotation speed is controlled so as to reduce an amount of fuel consumption as compared with that in the manual shift mode. The driver is recommended to make a change from the manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode when the manual shift mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Yamaguchi, Eiji Fukushiro
  • Patent number: 9133928
    Abstract: An autofunction control system for motor vehicles comprising an engine, a transmission and an accelerator, the position of the accelerator defining a set ERPM, the system configured to define a desired percentage of maximum available power for each set ERPM, the system configured to control the transmission ratio of the transmission to load the engine at least to the desired percentage of power, wherein the desired percentage of power is a function of the set ERPM when the set ERPM is between a low threshold and a high threshold, and wherein the system is configured to control the transmission ratio to load the engine closest to the maximum available absolute power for the engine for a set ERPM above the high threshold ERPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Gianluca Conti, Rocco Petrigliano
  • Patent number: 9110774
    Abstract: A method of configuring operating parameters with a vehicle is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a signal identifying one or more vehicle operating parameters and associating the signal with a mobile device. The method comprises identifying a profile package based on the identification of the one or more vehicle operating parameters, wherein the profile package comprises at least the one or more vehicle operating parameters. The method comprises receiving a signal associating the mobile device with a head unit and transmitting the profile package to one or more controllers, wherein the profile package configures one or more controllers to one or more vehicle operating parameters, wherein the controllers govern the behavior of one or more vehicle components. The method further comprises activating the specific set of one or more vehicle operating parameters of the profile package in response to detecting that the mobile device is disposed at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Mark J. Bonn, Gary D. Koller, Mark D. Peden, Raymond E. Reeves, Simon Youngs, Lei Zhang
  • Patent number: 9043100
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a transmission shift assembly for a vehicle and methods of monitoring and controlling the same. The transmission shift assembly includes a transmission having a shift position member movable between a plurality of gear positions, an actuator configured to move the shift position between the gear positions, and a linkage coupled to the actuator and movable between a plurality of positions in response to movement of the actuator. The assembly further includes a controller to control the actuator, an ignition to receive a key, and at least one key sensor positioned within the ignition and configured to transmit a signal to the controller upon sensing removal of the key, the controller controlling the actuator to move the shift position member to a predetermined gear position upon receiving the signal from the key sensor that the key has been removed from the ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Rouleau
  • Patent number: 9043101
    Abstract: In an arrangement for controlling an automatically shifting transmission, as a result of a corresponding programming of an electric control device, when actuating a second selecting device, starting from the automatic mode, first an immediate upshifting or downshifting can be prompted and is permitted unless prevented by a specified condition. In the case of a brief actuation, a first or further immediate upshifting and/or downshifting can be prompted and the current or thereby reached gear will be maintained until, first, the duration of the actuation has reached the specific minimum duration and, second, the actuation of the selecting device was terminated. When the second selecting device has a first operating element for the manual triggering of an upshift command and a second operating element for the manual triggering of a downshift command, the event controlling the return to the automatic mode may be the recognition of the simultaneously present commands downshifting and upshifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Reichler, Andreas Segerer
  • Patent number: 9031751
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission, a gear shift from a second gear shift stage to a first gear shift stage is inhibited and the gear shift from the first gear shift stage to the second gear shift stage is continued, when, during the gear shift from the first gear shift stage to the second gear shift stage, a request of the gear shift from the second gear shift stage to the first gear shift stage by means of an automatic transmission section has occurred during a time duration from a time at which a gear shift command from the first gear shift stage to the second gear shift stage is issued to a time at which an inertia phase is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignees: JATCO Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Endo, Kunihiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9026330
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus includes a clutch actuator for controlling a twin clutch TCL, and a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation section for converting an operation amount of a clutch lever L into an electric signal to arithmetically operate a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) corresponding to the manual operation. The twin clutch controlling apparatus is configured so as to accept a changeover from an Auto mode to a Temp mode in response to an operation of the clutch lever L. When an operation of the clutch lever L is detected during automatic control in the Auto mode, an event that the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) comes to have a value similar to that of the clutch capacity (tqc1at) calculated in the Auto mode is included in conditions for a changeover to the Temp mode to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nedachi, Hiroyuki Kojima, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Yasuyuki Mori, Satoshi Honma
  • Patent number: 9008931
    Abstract: A bicycle gear shift control system capable of avoiding frequent gear shifting includes: a power module; a microcomputer electrically connected to the power module for allowing a cyclist to switch between the automatic gear shifting mode and a manual gear shifting mode; a gear shifting driver electrically connected to the microcomputer, substantially connected to a derailleur, and instructed by the microcomputer to drive the derailleur to perform gear shift control; and a manual shifting controller electrically connected to the microcomputer. The microcomputer has an automatic gear shifting logic whereby the microcomputer determines the timing of automatic gear shifting and performs gear shifting. The microcomputer further has a gear shifting delay logic that involves delaying for a delay time interval from commencement of gear shifting according to a gear shifting criterion and ruling out all other gear shifting commands during the delay time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: J.D. Components Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Cheng
  • Patent number: 9002597
    Abstract: A system for controlling gear changes in a vehicle. The system may include at least one primary paddle shifter coupled to the steering wheel and/or the steering column. The system also includes at least one auxiliary paddle shifter coupled to the steering wheel, the steering column and/or the at least one primary paddle shifter. The primary paddle shifter may engage a primary function, such as one sequential gear shift up or down and the auxiliary paddle shifter may engage a secondary function, such as an optimal gear shift up or down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Sata
  • Patent number: 8996262
    Abstract: Method and system providing manual skip-shift for operating the automatic transmission of a vehicle. The method includes accepting the input of gear states by operating a selector mechanism to select a value. The system accepts input of a selected sequence of gear states from a plurality of available gear states, the selected sequence including fewer gear states than the number of available gear states. The system then operates a selector mechanism to select the gear state from the selected sequence. The system also includes an electronic control module, a selector mechanism, and a power train control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Davor Hrovat, Gregory Michael Pietron, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Nimrod Kapas, Joseph F Kucharski, Diana Yanakiev, James Dottavio
  • Patent number: 8989971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and compensating for pressure transducer errors includes a valve for regulating operation of a hydraulic device, a pressure transducer for detecting a pressure output from the valve, and a microprocessor comprising logic for computing a pressure measurement error of the pressure transducer. The pressure transducer is configured to output a pressure reading representing the detected pressure. The pressure measurement error may be computed using a first pressure reading from the pressure transducer taken at an operating condition in which the actual output pressure of the valve is substantially known, together with the substantially known actual output pressure of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark L. Dell' Eva
  • Patent number: 8983742
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a vehicle having an automatic transmission arranged to transmit a vehicle drive force from a drive power source of the vehicle to drive wheels of the vehicle, such that a shift-down operation of the automatic transmission is performed as a result of a kick-down operation, the control apparatus includes a shift-down operation permitting/inhibiting portion configured to restrict the shift-down operation of the automatic transmission as a result of the kick-down operation, if a running speed of the vehicle upon detection of the kick-down operation is lower than a lower limit predetermined for a presently established gear positions or speed ratio of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokura, Hiroyuki Sawada, Naoto Moriya
  • Patent number: 8977458
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus wherein a clutch lever is operated during a deceleration operation in which an auto mode (Auto) is selected, then a shift down action from a gear position “N-2” at which a driving force can be transmitted only by one of an odd number stage side clutch CL1 and an even number stage side clutch CL2 to another position “1-2” at which the transmission gear for transmitting a driving force is switched in response to switching control of the clutch is carried out in response to the operation of the clutch lever. After the shift down action, if re-connection of the clutch is to be carried out by the clutch lever, then the clutch (CL1, CL2) on the side to be driven in response to a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) is determined in response to a vehicle speed V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nedachi, Hiroyuki Kojima, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Satoshi Honma, Yasuyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 8972126
    Abstract: A method for control of a vehicle gearbox which is automatically controlled by a control system. The control system's choice of transmission ratio is influenceable by the vehicle's driver. The control system chooses an initial transmission ratio for moving off stationary. The method includes determining a first initial transmission ratio by using the control system, and determining a second initial transmission ratio indicated by the vehicle driver. The gearbox is set to the second initial transmission ratio indicated by the driver when the second ratio is higher than the first initial transmission ratio determined by the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Peter Juhlin-Dannfelt, Fredrik Swartling, Peter Asplund
  • Patent number: 8970202
    Abstract: A shift sensor includes a movable member, four movable contacts, seven fixed contacts, and two power supply terminals. Each of the movable contacts is fixed to the movable member and pivoted to a position corresponding to a shift position. Each of the fixed contacts outputs a shift signal when it is brought into conduction with a power supply terminal by coming into contact with any of the movable contacts. The fixed contacts are arranged such that the number of shift signals that differ between shift positions is three or more, between the shift positions of P, R, N, D, and B, except for between the D and B positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hokoi, Yoshitaka Watanabe, Junji Sato
  • Patent number: 8958935
    Abstract: A bicycle drive apparatus includes a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes an output control section that controls an output of the drive assistance electric motor, and that issues a motor output increasing command to increase the output of the drive assistance electric motor upon receiving a shift command for shifting the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shoge
  • Patent number: 8951163
    Abstract: Provided is a control device for a vehicle that can switch between an automatic gear shift mode in which gear shifting of the automatic transmission is performed according to a vehicle traveling condition, and a manual gear shift mode in which gear shifting of the automatic transmission is performed according to a driver operation, and that changes drive force characteristics by controlling output torque of the drive source at the time of a gear shift mode switch. When the gear shift mode is switched between automatic and manual the control device selects an initial gear stage or an initial gear ratio for the gear shift mode switch such that the amount of change in drive force that accompanies the gear shift mode switch decreases, or such that the direction of change in drive force that accompanies the gear shift mode switch conforms to the driver's intention or expected sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Otsubo, Masayuki Baba, Takaaki Tokura
  • Patent number: 8948979
    Abstract: An irrigation system is disclosed that is configured to maintain a near straight alignment. In an implementation, an irrigation system includes multiple interconnected spans which are supported by multiple tower structures. Each tower structure includes a variable-speed drive unit for selectively driving a tower structure at a selected speed. The irrigation system also includes multiple sensors that are each associated with a corresponding span to determine an alignment of the corresponding span with respect to adjacent spans. Each of the sensors is in communication with a corresponding variable-drive control unit. Each of the variable-drive control units are configured to control the selected speed of a corresponding variable-speed drive unit to maintain the interconnected spans in a substantially linear orientation with respect to adjacent ones of the plurality of interconnected spans along a generally longitudinally oriented axis (e.g., maintain alignment of the spans with respect to each other).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig S. Malsam
  • Patent number: 8948985
    Abstract: A shift control device for a motorcycle includes a transmission that allows switching between a neutral state and a number of engaged shift positions, a shift control section that controls a shift state of the transmission, and an N/D changeover switch that switches between the neutral state and a drive mode for executing automatic shift among the plural shift positions. The shift control device also includes a hand-operated shift switch that allows manual shifting among the plural shift positions, and a foot operated shift control unit that allows manual shifting among the plural shift positions during the drive mode according to an operation of a shift pedal. The N/D changeover switch and the hand-operated shift switch are arranged around a handlebar of the motorcycle. The shift control section is operable to switch between the neutral state and the drive mode by the foot operated shift control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sakamoto, Kenichi Machida, Makoto Tsuyuguchi, Satoru Okoshi
  • Publication number: 20150032340
    Abstract: The automatic and manual electrical gear shifting apparatus includes a manual electrical gear shifting unit, for detecting a driving status and transmitting a sensing signal; a control unit, coupled to the sensing unit and the manual electrical gear shifting unit, and also coupled to a driving shift device and a mid-power motor, and a shift correction unit being coupled between the driving shift device and the control unit. The control unit resets the driving shift device to a start shift when the electric vehicle stops and if the transmission of an electric vehicle is an internal transmission. If the transmission of the electric vehicle is an external transmission and the shift of the driving shift device is set to a high gear, the control unit automatically increases the electrically assisted power of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: SEN-YUNG LEE
  • Patent number: 8930089
    Abstract: The systems and methods of the present invention employ either a sensor in communication with the auger or a sensor in the form of a switch operated by the user of the auger. When the sensor detects that the auger is operating or the switch is operated by the auger operator, an indication of auger operation is published to a remote location. The indication may be in the form of an aural or visual indication or in the form of a wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Barry H. Reeves
  • Patent number: 8930077
    Abstract: A damping control unit sets a damping torque command value that corresponds to a steering angular velocity when a direction of a detected steering torque is a turning direction, a magnitude of the detected steering torque is larger than or equal to a first threshold, a direction of the steering angular velocity is a returning direction and a magnitude of the steering angular velocity is higher than or equal to a second threshold. An addition unit adds the damping torque command value generated by the damping control unit to a basic assist torque command value set by a basic assist torque command value setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 8909446
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus includes an ATM control unit for controlling a shift actuator and a clutch actuator and a shift pedal P for carrying out shifting request to the ATM control unit. When a shifting request by the shift pedal P is issued, the ATM control unit drives the shift actuator to change over the shift stage to a next stage gear irrespective of an operational amount of a clutch lever L and then causes the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqcltmt) to correspond to a clutch capacity corresponding to the next stage gear using an operational amount of the clutch lever L that exceeds a predetermined value as a trigger. If a predetermined period of time elapses while the clutch lever L is not operated, then the shifting request is an erroneous operation and the shift stage is returned to an original gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kojima, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Yoshiaki Nedachi, Yasuyuki Mori, Satoshi Honma, Kazuhiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8909401
    Abstract: HV-ECU executes a program including a step of executing rattling noise avoidance control when an engine operating point falls within a rattling noise producing range and when a requested torque Treq2 falls within the rattling noise producing range, and a step of executing normal control when the engine operating point does not fall within the rattling noise producing range or when the requested torque Treq2 does not fall within the rattling noise producing range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yokouchi, Tetsuo Hori, Hideto Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8886420
    Abstract: A control method for an automatic transmission includes a step of canceling the shift performed by a shift operation for performing shifting in the same direction as that of the shifting performed by automatic shift control, when the shift operation is performed before the input revolution speed correlation value of the automatic transmission becomes a predetermined value, after the automatic shift control has been started in a manual shift mode, a step of switching a shift stage display at a timing at which the shift operation that is to be canceled has been performed, and a step of switching the shift stage display at a timing at which the input revolution speed correlation value becomes the predetermined value when a shift operation is not performed within a period of time from when the automatic shift control is started till when the input revolution speed correlation value becomes the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsutaka Shibata, Kosuke Takegawa, Nobuyuki Sakata, Kazuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8874290
    Abstract: It is provided a control device for a vehicle power transmission device having a stepped automatic transmission making up a portion of a power transmission path between an engine and a drive wheel, the control device setting a shift point of the automatic transmission in accordance with a request drive force of a driver and a vehicle speed, the control device setting a shift point of the automatic transmission in accordance with a rotation speed of the engine and a vehicle speed instead of the request drive force, if a vehicle is in a predetermined fuel consumption priority running state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata
  • Patent number: 8868252
    Abstract: A microprocessor driven two dimensional search engine examines transmission operating points within a plurality of search range spaces and assists in determining properties associated with the driveline at various operating points within the space. The size of the space is reduced by rearrangement of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8862345
    Abstract: A method for prevention of unwanted double gear changes for a gearbox in a motor vehicle. The vehicle comprises an engine connected to drive the gearbox. The gearbox also effects a manual gear change in an automatic mode if a mode selector connected to the gearbox is activated. The manual gear change is barred if the mode selector is only activated a first time during a gear change period, which represents a period of time during which an automatic gear change is effected in the automatic mode. A system, a computer program, a computer program product and a motor vehicle, which prevent an unwanted double gear change, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Swartling, Mikael Öun
  • Patent number: 8855873
    Abstract: A shift controlling apparatus includes an automatic shift mode returning member with a manual shift mode wherein a transmission is manually shifted and an automatic shift mode wherein the transmission is automatically shifted based on an automatic shift map and changes over. When a manual shift operation is carried out in the automatic shift mode, the shift mode moves to the manual shift mode and then automatically returns to the automatic shift mode after the manual shift operation. The automatic shift mode returning member includes a manual operational detection member for detecting a manual shift operation for shift up or shift down of the transmission during the automatic shift mode, first operational state discrimination member for discriminating an operational state of a vehicle when the manual shift operation is carried out, and second operational state discrimination member for discriminating an operational state of the vehicle after the manual shift operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sakamoto, Dai Arai, Kosaku Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8849525
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle control unit. The vehicle control unit provides an automatic mode that automatically determines a gear ratio in accordance with an operational status of a vehicle and a temporary manual mode that, with a driver's operation, selects any one predetermined gear ratio from among predetermined gear ratios set in advance and automatically switches a mode of operation to the automatic mode according to the operational status of the vehicle. When switching a mode of operation from the automatic mode to the temporary manual mode through a downshift operation that changes a gear ratio to a lower one in a transmission and an engine speed is lower than a reference rotational speed set in accordance with a vehicle speed, the vehicle control unit selects any one of the predetermined gear ratios such that the engine speed is equal to or more than the reference rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Nishida, Koichi Inoue, Hiroki Tanaka, Keisuke Ajimoto, Shinya Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 8843284
    Abstract: A method for controlling a manual transmission of a vehicle includes providing a manual transmission comprising a shift fork actuator and a shifter assembly comprising a shift lever, a shift knob disposed on the shifter lever, a shift lever position sensor and a shifter tactile sensor. The tactile sensor may be used to determine when pressure is applied to the shift knob of the shifter assembly and, when pressure is applied to the shift knob, vehicle operating parameters are monitored. A predicted gear selection is determined based on the monitored vehicle operating parameters. An operator gear selection is then determined based on the shift lever position sensor when the shift lever is moved. The operator gear selection is compared to the predicted gear selection and, when the predicted gear selection is the same as the operator gear selection, the manual transmission is shifted to the predicted gear selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael John Wolterman