Using A Transmission Ratio As Feedback Control Patents (Class 701/61)
  • Patent number: 8090511
    Abstract: A parameter having an accelerator pedal position and a drive force as components is set according to information representing driver's operations such as the accelerator pedal position and a stroke amount of a brake pedal. Similarly to the information representing the driver's operation, a parameter having the accelerator pedal position and the drive force as the components is set according to information representing running environment of a vehicle such as a gradient of a road surface, a curvature of the road surface, a friction coefficient ? of the road surface, a type of a road and a length of traffic jam. One parameter ?(OUT) is set by mediating a parameter ?(1) obtained from the information representing the driver's operation and a parameter ?(2) obtained from the information representing the running environment of the vehicle. The gear corresponding to the parameter ?(OUT) is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8090499
    Abstract: A vehicle control system reduces vehicle rollback upon brake release. The control system includes a brake system, a vehicle grade measurement device and a controller that modulates applied brake pressure of the brake system based on a grade measurement of the grade measurement device. The controller actuates brake-hold device communicating with the brake system based on the grade measurement through pulse width modulation. The control system communicates with a motor generator and an engine to provide a start power to the engine upon brake release based on the grade measurement. Fuel injectors of the engine are enabled upon brake release based on the grade measurement. The control system further communicates with a transmission forward clutch to provide selective rotational communication between the transmission and the engine based on the grade measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Goro Tamai
  • Patent number: 8078369
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a standstill circuit of an automatic transmission of the vehicle, comprising a decision unit for selection of the target gear, a low-speed monitoring unit and a standstill circuit, which, when the vehicle is standing still or when its speed falls below a predetermined limit speed, brings about or prepares the activation of a starting gear. The method and the device are intended to enable a vehicle to start up safely even under the influence of considerable tractive resistance. Furthermore, they should be characterized by solutions which are as simple, inexpensive and easy to implement as possible by way of available methods and devices. To this end, the low-speed monitoring unit reads data concerning at least one state of the vehicle and, if necessary, additional data, and, on the basis thereof, as a function of decision rules, renders the standstill circuit ineffective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Reith, Wolfgang Groener
  • Patent number: 8073593
    Abstract: A control ON/OFF determination unit determines that oversteer control should be started in the case where a slip angle differential value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the sign of the slip angle differential value is identical with the sign of a yaw rate, the sign of a steering wheel turning angle is identical with the sign of a steering wheel turning speed, and a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Mikamo, Hiroaki Kato, Takashi Kodera, Takehiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8068966
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a hybrid transmission coupled to an engine and an auxiliary hydraulic pump. The auxiliary hydraulic pump is commanded to operate at a predetermined speed only when enable criteria are met. An engine-off state is inhibited based upon a difference between a commanded speed and a monitored operating speed of the auxiliary hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter E. Wu, Ali K Naqvi, Rebecca Trierweiler, Syed Naqi, Ryan D Martini
  • Patent number: 8065064
    Abstract: An automatic transmission calculates a current thermal load state of the frictional element, predicts (S24, 531), prior to the start of the shift, a heat generation amount of the frictional element during the shift, predicts (S25, S32) a thermal load state of the frictional element upon shift completion on the basis of the current thermal load state and the predicted heat generation amount, and when the predicted thermal load state upon shift completion is inside a predetermined region, either performs (S28, S38) the shift after modifying a shift mode such that the heat generation amount of the frictional element is smaller than that of a case in which the predicted thermal load state upon shift completion is outside the predetermined region, or prohibits (S39) the shift, wherein the predetermined region is set at a different region depending on whether the shift is an upshift or a downshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tomomasa Ikeda, Hiroki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8058834
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission includes a current detecting unit for detecting motor current. The current detecting unit has a counter for counting variation number of a rotational position signal output from a rotational position detecting unit for detecting the rotational position of a motor, and an electrical angle 180° judging unit for judging rotation of electrical angle 180° of the motor. A voltage occurring in a current detecting resistor is sampled at a timing of each integral multiple of the electrical angle of 180° judged in the electrical angle 180° judging unit, and rotation of the motor is controlled in accordance with the difference between motor target current calculated in the motor target current calculating unit and motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Okabe, Shiro Yonezawa, Nozomu Kamioka, Tomohisa Shoda, Masaki Horii, Yasufumi Ogawa, Osamu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8055418
    Abstract: A method and system for hybrid automated manual transmission and non-hybrid automated manual transmission shift methodologies for tanker trucks are disclosed. A request is received to change a transmission gear ratio of a vehicle transporting a liquid. The request is rejected if a condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and the gear ratio is changed from a current gear ratio to a target gear ratio if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected. A trigger may enable the detection of liquid sloshing. A transmission controller selects a current gear ratio of the transmission, detects a condition indicative of sloshing of the liquid transported by the vehicle, disables a selection of a select a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is detected, and selects a target gear ratio of the transmission if the condition indicative of liquid sloshing is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen
    Inventors: Loren Christopher Dreier, Ingo-Gerd Sauter
  • Patent number: 8050828
    Abstract: A system includes a pressure sensor that measures a transmission fluid pressure at a first fluid cavity of a transmission. A transmission control module receives the transmission fluid pressure, determines a transmission fluid temperature in the first fluid cavity based on the transmission fluid pressure, and controls the transmission fluid pressure based on the transmission fluid temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: Randall B. Dlugoss, Bret M. Olson
  • Patent number: 8027772
    Abstract: A power transmission gearbox for rotorcraft for transmitting rotary movement from at least two engine members to a main shaft, wherein the gearbox presents at least two transmission systems for imparting rotary movement to the main shaft, each of the transmission systems including: an inlet shaft designed to be driven in rotation by an engine member; at least two reduction stages presenting different reduction ratios; a first gearwheel connected to the inlet shaft via a declutchable freewheel, the gearwheel meshing with a first toothed wheel secured to an intermediate shaft defining at least a first reduction stage; a second gearwheel connected to the inlet shaft via a simple freewheel, the second gearwheel meshing with a second toothed wheel secured to the intermediate shaft defining the second reduction stage; a main freewheel mounted on the intermediate shaft to rotate a complementary toothed wheel secured to the main shaft; and a clutch mechanism for the declutchable freewheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Michel Vialle
  • Patent number: 8002654
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a belt-type continuously variable transmission having a pulley capable of varying its groove width to which a belt is applied, in which the pulley is provided with an oil chamber to which the oil pressure is fed so that the pulley clamps the belt, in which the capacity of the oil chamber is varied in accordance with a change in the groove width, and in which the oil pressure in the oil chamber is controlled in accordance with a deviation between a target oil pressure and an actual oil pressure, comprising: a pressure-receiving capacity change detecting device for detecting a change in the capacity of the oil chamber; and an oil pressure control contents altering device for altering a degree to reflect the deviation on the oil pressure control of the oil chamber on the basis of a change in the capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Kunihiro Iwatsuki, Takayuki Amaya
  • Patent number: 8005599
    Abstract: A lubricating oil supply control device for delivering lubricating oil to the transmission of a vehicle is provided which overcomes disadvantages of the prior art by providing a simple and reliable configuration which does not require the addition of new sensors to an existing device. The lubricating oil supply control device includes, in part, an engine controller and a transmission controller, a lubricating oil supplying oil passage, a bypass oil passage, a relief valve or a control valve, a restrictor, and a lubricating oil supply controlling controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Satou
  • Patent number: 7998006
    Abstract: In a speed ratio control device for a belt continuously variable transmission according to this invention, when a speed ratio is subjected to feedback control on the basis of a difference between an actual speed ratio and a target speed ratio, pressure supplied to a primary pulley is corrected through feedforward (S17, S18) in order to suppress variation in the groove width of the primary pulley caused by a rapid variation in an input torque into the primary pulley (S17) while traveling in a fixed speed ratio mode (S14) in which the target speed ratio is held at a fixed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Tetsuya Izumi, Seonjae Kim, Fumito Shinohara, Kiyotaka Sawano, Takuya Numata
  • Patent number: 7980981
    Abstract: An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of planetary gear units; a plurality of frictional elements, the frictional elements assuming engaged/disengaged condition upon receiving a ratio change instruction thereby to establish a desired speed of the transmission with the aid of the planetary gear units; a deceleration detecting means that detects a deceleration of the motor vehicle; a gear ratio detecting means that detects an actual gear ratio that is actually established in the transmission; and an interlock judgment means that judges whether or not the transmission is subjected to an interlock, the interlock being a condition wherein upon receiving the ratio change instruction, at least one of the frictional elements is brought into unintended engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Takateru Kawaguchi, Yoshihide Shinso
  • Patent number: 7979184
    Abstract: An automatic transmission controller system and method are disclosed. In particular, disclosed is a system and method for controlling solenoid pressure control valves associated with an automatic transmission. The automatic transmission controller system comprises a controller which is configured to receive one or more electrical signal inputs for attributing each solenoid pressure control valve with one of a set of I-P calibration curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael T. Dickinson, Chris Hopp
  • Patent number: 7974754
    Abstract: A vehicle steering control system includes a variable transmission ratio device that rotates an output shaft relative to an input shaft so as to change the transmission ratio, and a locking device that is switched between a lock-on state in which the transmission ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft is inhibited from being changed and a lock-off state in which the transmission ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft is allowed to be changed. The variable transmission ratio device includes an electric motor and a speed reduction mechanism. The locking device inhibits the input shaft and a rotor of the electric motor from rotating relative to each other when placed in the lock-on state, and allows the input shaft and the rotor to rotate relative to each other when placed in the lock-off state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 7957876
    Abstract: A deceleration control apparatus and method for a vehicle applies a deceleration, which is equal to or smaller than a guard value, to the vehicle based on a vehicle running environment parameter. The deceleration control apparatus determines the manner in which a driver performs an operation for decelerating the vehicle, and changes the guard value based on the manner in which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle. The manner in which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle may be determined based on at least one of the time at which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle, the time period during which the driver operates the brake, and the deceleration achieved by the brake operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiiba, Kunihiro Iwatuki
  • Patent number: 7957872
    Abstract: The invention provides a shift control apparatus of a continuously variable transmission, which includes a feedback control portion which executes feedback control that brings an actual speed ratio close or equal to a target speed ratio, and a normal operation determining portion which determines whether the shift control apparatus is operating normally based on a difference between the actual speed ratio and the target speed ratio, and an amount of change in the actual speed ratio and an amount of change in the target speed ratio during a predetermined interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Shinya Toyoda, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 7945365
    Abstract: A method of influencing an automated transmission of a motor vehicle having a tractional resistance detection unit, the method comprising the steps of reading data, via the tractional resistance detection unit, containing at least information about a torque of a drivetrain, a rotational speed of the drive train, and an acceleration of the vehicle, determining the external tractional resistance of the vehicle based upon the read data, and influencing the shift program by at least one of activation, adaptation and variation of the shift program, on a basis one of an actual and a statistically prepared data about the external tractional resistance of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Eisele, Harry Nolzen, Jürgen Blaser, Harm Adams
  • Publication number: 20110087411
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic controller for a continuously variable transmission of the type having a variator (10) with a rotary variator input (17) coupled to a first variator race (14a) and a rotary variator output (29) coupled to a second variator race (16a). At least one roller (20) runs upon the said races to transfer drive from one to the other. The roller is movable to steplessly vary the variator ratio. The variator further comprises at least one hydraulic actuator (36), (38) which acts upon the roller and through which net torque acting on the variator races is referred via the roller to the variator's casing. A hydraulic arrangement is provided for applying to the actuator at least one hydraulic control pressure which determines force applied’ by the actuator and thus determines the reaction torque. The variator is coupled between a rotary transmission input (17) and a rotary transmission output (714) such that the transmission ratio is a function of the variator ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: John William Edward Fuller
  • Publication number: 20110077829
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a vehicle fitted with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and having a lever for varying the transmission ratio of the CVT to permit the vehicle operator to vary the vehicle wheel speed. In the invention, the transmission ratio of the CVT is limited to a value dependent upon at least one of the prevailing engine speed and the rate of change of the engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Riccardo Morselli, MASSIMO Baroni, Francesco Roli
  • Patent number: 7917277
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including an electrically controlled differential portion having a differential mechanism, and an electric motor which is operatively connected to the differential mechanism and an operating state of which is controlled to control a differential state between input and output shaft speeds, and a transmission portion constituting a part of a power transmitting path between the differential portion and a vehicle drive wheel, the control apparatus including a differential-state switching portion for switching the differential portion between differential-state and non-differential states, a shifting control portion for controlling a shifting action of the transmission portion, and a learning control portion for effecting learning compensation of a control amount of a control element to be controlled during the shifting action, wherein the learning control portion includes a differential-state learning control portion operable to implement the learning compensation
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Yuji Iwase, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7917275
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Brad Riedle, Rob Ciarrocchi, Scott Redmon, Hank Kwong, William Eckenrode, Frederick Page
  • Patent number: 7908063
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to execute synchronous shifting in a powertrain system having multiple torque-generative devices each operable to independently supply motive torque to the transmission device. The exemplary transmission device comprises a two-mode, compound-split, hybrid electro-mechanical transmission. Operation includes operating in an initial fixed gear ratio, operating the transmission in a mode operation, and, operating the transmission in a final fixed gear ratio. The control system reduces reactive torque of a clutch activating the initial gear, and deactivates the first torque-transfer device when the reactive torque is less than a predetermined value. It determines that speed of an input shaft to the transmission is substantially synchronized with a rotational speed of the second torque-transfer device, and actuates the second torque-transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 7860631
    Abstract: A method of operating a transmission of a vehicle. The method includes determining an open loop ratio percentage from an engine RPM input signal and a brake input signal using a first algorithm. Determining a closed loop ratio percentage from the engine RPM input signal, a vehicle RPM input signal and a throttle input signal using a second algorithm. Summing the open loop percentage and closed loop ratio percentage to calculate a ratio command percentage that is used to sum with a swashplate input to actuate a swashplate positioner and operate the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith R. Williams
  • Patent number: 7840329
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes at least an input section, an output section, first and second frictional engagement elements, and a controller. The input section receives an input torque from a drive unit. The first frictional engagement element has an engaged state allowing the output section to rotate at a first transmission gear ratio with respect to the input section. The second frictional engagement element has an engaged state allowing the output section to rotate at a second transmission gear ratio with respect to the input section. The controller controls at least a gear shift from the first transmission gear ratio to the second transmission gear ratio. The controller controls the first and second frictional engagement elements and the drive unit so as to cancel an inertia torque resulting from the gear shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Shusaku Katakura, Masaaki Uchida, Yoshinobu Kawamoto, Tomoaki Honma, Sadamu Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7788010
    Abstract: A controlling system of a vehicle with a continuously variable transmission, which can render a sufficient accelerating feeling in responsive to a driver's requirement. A controller, upon judgment of an acceleration requirement, sets a target drive force higher than the target drive force upon normal calculation upon normal operation of an accelerator pedal, and sets a target rotation speed upon acceleration higher than the target rotation speed upon the normal operation and increasing with an increase of the vehicle speed by a predetermined gradient. The speed change ratio of the continuously variable transmission and the output torque of the engine are controlled such that the set target drive force is achieved, and an input shaft rotation speed of the continuously variable transmission coincides with the target rotation speed upon the set acceleration. Thus upon acceleration, the target drive force and the output rotation speed of the drive source increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Kondo, Tadashi Tamura, Akira Hino, Makoto Sawada, Hiroji Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 7774120
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes a control section having a normal control section configured to actuate the step motor at a first speed by using a feedback control including an integral control in accordance with the target pulley ratio and the actual pulley ratio, a high speed control section configured to actuate the step motor at a second speed higher than the first speed by an open loop control based on the target pulley ratio, a judgment section configured to judge whether there is a high speed operation request, and a switch section configured to select the normal control performed by the normal control section at a normal condition, and to switch to the high speed control when a switch start condition is satisfied, the switch start condition including a first condition that the judgment section judges there is the high speed operation request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Midori Yamaguchi, Yoshihisa Kodama, Tatsuya Ozone, Toshiji Iida, Fumito Shinohara, Toshiyuki Shibuya, Atsufumi Kobayashi, Yusuke Kimura
  • Publication number: 20100185370
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling an automated multi-step change-speed transmission of a motor vehicle, which is connected on the input side via at least one controllable friction clutch to a drive motor in the form of an internal combustion engine, and on the output side via an axle drive to the drive wheels of a driven axle, and which comprises a plurality of starting gears (GAnf, G1-G5), such that at the beginning of a starting process one of the starting gears (GAnf, G1-G5) is selected as a function of the vehicle's mass (mFzg) and of the road gradient (?Fb) as the optimum starting gear (GAnf—opt) and is then engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Maik Wurthner, Werner Wolfgang, Ingo Sauter
  • Patent number: 7729837
    Abstract: When the vehicle is traveling on an uphill road (step 100: YES), the ECU executes a program in which, if the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than Vblt (step 102: NO) and a speed ratio ?(1) required to secure a sufficient climbing capacity of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a speed ratio ?(2) required to secure a sufficient returnability of the belt of the continuously variable transmission (step 106: NO), a belt returnability securing control is executed (step 110), and otherwise (step 102: YES or step 106: YES), a climbing control is executed (step 104 or step 108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroya Fujiwara, Akira Hino, Shinya Toyoda, Tadashi Tamura
  • Publication number: 20100131164
    Abstract: Disclosed here are inventive systems and methods for a powertrain of an electric vehicle (EV). In some embodiments, said powertrain includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to an electric drive motor, wherein a control system is configured to control the CVT and/or the drive motor to optimize various efficiencies associated with the EV and/or its subsystems. In one specific embodiment, the control system is configured to operate the EV in an economy mode. Operating in said mode, the control system simultaneously manages the CVT and the drive motor to optimize the range of the EV. The control system can be configured to manage the current provided to the drive motor, as well as adjust a transmission speed ratio of the CVT. Other modes of operation are also disclosed. The control system can be configured to manage the power to the drive motor and adjust the transmission speed ratio of the CVT taking into account battery voltage, throttle position, and transmission speed ratio, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: FALLBROOK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Carter, Brad P. Pohl, Loren T. McDaniel, Cyril Keilers, Tim Ruggles, David Rogers, Eric Diehl, Austin Orand, Alan Mark Delz, Paul Argus Parks, Mark E. Bartholomew, Christopher M Vasiliotis
  • Patent number: 7693641
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control system for controlling a vehicle on a chassis dynamometer is comprised of a controller which is arranged to receive a vehicle speed command, to obtain an anticipated vehicle speed command from the vehicle speed command taking account of a delay factor of a control system of the vehicle, to calculate a driving force a driving force command from the anticipated vehicle speed command, to obtain an accelerator opening command from a previously stored driving force characteristic map based on the driving force command and a detected vehicle speed, and to control an accelerator opening of the vehicle according to the accelerator opening command so as to adjust the detected vehicle at the vehicle speed command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Maruki
  • Patent number: 7689339
    Abstract: When a speed ratio, which is the ratio of the turbine speed to the engine speed, is equal to or less than 1, a driving torque converter dynamic characteristic model is used which is set based on a driving torque converter static characteristic in which the torque ratio decreases to 1 with an increase of the speed ratio. When the speed ratio is greater than 1, a driven torque converter dynamic characteristic model is used which is set based on a driven torque converter static characteristic in which the torque ratio is 1 regardless of the speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 7676313
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power-off shift from a current gear to a target gear in a hybrid electric powertrain including an engine, electric motor and automatic transmission includes the steps of determining an initial target speed for the current gear, operating the motor at the initial target speed, repetitively determining a current gear ratio, a output shaft speed during the gear ratio change, a time rate of change of output shaft speed, using the current gear ratio, the current speed of the output shaft and the time rate of change of output shaft speed repetitively to determine a current target speed, and operating the motor at the current target speed until a gear change to the next gear is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walt J. Ortmann, Andrew J. Silveri
  • Patent number: 7676315
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for transitioning through transmission lash regions is described using a variety of information, such as, for example, gear ratio, clutch slippage, etc. Further, different adjustment of spark and throttle angle is used to provide a rapid torque response while still reducing effects of the lash. Finally, transitions taking into account both slipping and non-slipping transmissions are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Doering, Brad Riedle, Rob Ciarrochi, Hank Kwong, John Rollinger, Frederick Page, Jeff Travis
  • Publication number: 20100057316
    Abstract: In a controller for a belt-type continuously variable transmission including a hydraulic actuator that changes a groove width of a primary pulley, a hydraulic actuator that changes a groove width of a secondary pulley, and a belt clamping pressure control solenoid that controls the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator of the secondary pulley, a mechanism calculates a transmission ratio between the primary pulley and the secondary pulley and determines whether or not there is belt slippage based on that calculated transmission ratio, and a mechanism determines normalcy of the belt clamping pressure control solenoid. The input torque when belt slippage has actually occurred, i.e., when a failure has been determined, is used as a condition when performing the normalcy determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Shinya Toyoda, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 7660657
    Abstract: A system and method for largely controlling transmission gear ratio oscillation is disclosed. When shifts are executed substantially at synchronous points rendering hysteretic anti-hunting schemes impractical, the disclosed techniques in any combination thereof may allow for oscillation control via an overridable lock-out timer. For oscillation control during incline navigation and other similar loading scenarios, the transmission may be selectively locked if certain operational criteria are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Frank A DeMarco, Brian D Kuras, Alberto Martinez, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090319144
    Abstract: The invention provides a shift control apparatus of a continuously variable transmission, which includes a feedback control portion which executes feedback control that brings an actual speed ratio close or equal to a target speed ratio, and a normal operation determining portion which determines whether the shift control apparatus is operating normally based on a difference between the actual speed ratio and the target speed ratio, and an amount of change in the actual speed ratio and an amount of change in the target speed ratio during a predetermined interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Shinya Toyoda, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 7584040
    Abstract: The following steps are performed in the control method: determining a mode of operation from amongst a permanent mode and a transient mode, as a function of a set of variables comprising said estimated values; correcting the value of the speed of rotation of the outlet shaft in such a manner that: if the mode has been determined as being the permanent mode, then the moving average (L?) of the gear ratio (L) over a period (T) of a plurality of unit time intervals lies between a first threshold value (S1) that is negative and a second threshold value (S2) that is positive; and if the mode has been determined as being the transient mode, then said moving average (L?) of the gear ratio (L) lies outside the range of values defined by the first and second threshold value (S1, S2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Stéphane Rimaux
  • Publication number: 20090112424
    Abstract: One disclosed embodiment relates to a propulsion system for a machine. The propulsion system may include a prime mover operatively connected through a continuously variable transmission to a propulsion device. The propulsion system may also include propulsion-system controls that control an operating parameter of the continuously variable transmission, which may include adjusting the operating parameter based on operator input. Controlling the operating parameter may also include determining an adjustment limit for the operating parameter based on one or more operating conditions and applying the adjustment limit to the operating parameter to modify at least one of acceleration and jerk of the machine based on the one or more operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Kristofor Lee Dahl, Brian Douglas Hoff, Richard George Ingram, Michael Anthony Spielman, JR., Benjamin B. Schmuck, Alberto Martinez, JR., Yaang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20090075772
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic control system is provided for a transmission with a torque-transmitting mechanism that has a dual area piston. When pressurized fluid is provided to a first of the two piston areas, the position of a spring-biased shift valve controls whether pressurized fluid communicates with the second piston area. A solenoid valve in fluid communication with the shift valve is energizable to direct pressurized fluid to the shift valve to urge the shift valve to the unstroked position to which the spring also urges. The shift valve may also be urged by pressurized fluid to the stroked position, but only when the solenoid valve is not energized. The spring maintains the shift valve in the unstroked position when pressurized fluid is directed to the shift valve to act both against and with the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason L. Ellis, Darren J. Weber, Charles F. Long
  • Patent number: 7499784
    Abstract: A method for selecting a shift schedule for a transmission in a motor vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of determining whether a signal-to-noise ratio exceeds a threshold and calculating a tractive effort of the motor vehicle. A vehicle mass and a road grade is then estimated from the tractive effort using a recursive least squares estimator with multiple forgetting when the signal-to-noise ratio exceeds the threshold. A vehicle mass is selected and the road grade estimated from the vehicle mass and tractive effort when the signal-to-noise ratio does not exceed the threshold. A shift schedule is then selected based on the vehicle mass and the estimated road grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: John P. Kresse
  • Publication number: 20090045003
    Abstract: The construction vehicle includes an engine, an accelerator pedal, a main pump configured to be driven by the engine, first and second traveling motors driven by pressured oil discharged from the main pump to generate driving force for traveling, a driving shaft configured to receive the driving force from the first traveling motor and the driving force from the second traveling motor, a clutch configured to switch between transmission and non-transmission of the driving force from the second traveling motor to the driving shaft, an accelerator opening degree detection unit, a vehicle velocity detection unit, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to determine the switchover velocity depending on the opening degree of the accelerator pedal, and to control the clutch when the vehicle velocity that is detected by the vehicle velocity detection unit reaches the switchover velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Shirao, Masanori Ikari
  • Publication number: 20090043466
    Abstract: A control apparatus controlling anteroposterior acceleration of a vehicle by controlling a motive power generation apparatus mounted on the vehicle, which is also provided with a staged transmission apparatus that operates on gear ratios. The motive power generation apparatus has an output shaft producing a rotation force in response to a command to be requested. The rotation force is transmitted to the drive wheels via the staged transmission apparatus. A feedback manipulated variable is calculated to control the production of the rotation force of the motive power generation apparatus so that an actual value of anteroposterior acceleration of the vehicle is controlled at a target value thereof. The calculated feedback manipulated variable is used as the command. When the staged transmission apparatus is in the switchover control of the gear ratios, the manipulated variable is is limited from being calculated (for example, stopped from being calculated).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, ADVICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Shotaro Fukuda, Satoshi Niwa, Hajime Kumabe, Shintaro Osaki, Kazunori Kadowaki
  • Publication number: 20090043468
    Abstract: A controlling system for a vehicle with a continuously variable transmission, which can render a sufficient accelerating feeling in responsive to a driver's requirement. A controller, upon judgment of an acceleration requirement, sets a target drive force higher than the target drive force upon normal calculation upon normal operation of an accelerator pedal, and sets a target rotation speed for acceleration higher than the target rotation speed upon the normal operation and increasing with an increase of the vehicle speed by a predetermined gradient. The speed change ratio of the continuously variable transmission and the output torque of the engine are controlled such that the set target drive force is achieved, and an input shaft rotation speed of the continuously variable transmission coincides with the target rotation speed for the set acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki KONDO, Tadashi Tamura, Akira Hino, Makoto Sawada, Hiroji Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20090023545
    Abstract: A system (1) for transforming a variable output into an input having a desired speed value, including a transmission (30) receiving the output having a first speed (Ve) and producing the input having a second speed (Vgen), first, second and third sensors (12,10,7) producing data (39,32,37) corresponding to the first speed (Ve), second speed (Vgen) and a power demand (Pdem) for the input, a ratio set point controller (34), a ratio controller (36) and a speed controller (4). The ratio set point controller (34) receives the data (39,32,37) and calculates an available power (Pav), a stability level of the system (S,U1,U2), a desired value for the first speed (Ve), and a desired value and rate of change for the transmission ratio. The ratio controller (36) interfaces the ratio set point controller (34) and actuates the transmission (30) to change the transmission ratio to the desired value following the desired rate of change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Samuel Beaudoin
  • Patent number: 7479090
    Abstract: A method of controlling the ratio of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that is controlled by a CVT controller is provided. The method includes determining the torque produced by an engine, calculating an acceleration limit value based upon the torque value and the engine inertia value and a calibrated acceleration limiting ratio. The acceleration limit value is compared to the desired engine speed value to determine a command engine speed value. The CVT ratio is then calculated by dividing the command engine speed value by a measured vehicle speed value. The calculated CVT ratio is compared to a measured CVT ratio and a control signal is sent to an actuator of a CVT. Torque provided to the engine to overcome the engine inertia is limited by the method so that the step change in torque provided to the vehicle wheels, as the engine approaches the command engine speed value, is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Craig S. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7476177
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a transmission ratio of a power transmission path defined between input and output shafts is provided. The method includes detecting a rotational speeds of the input and output shafts, calculating a rotational-speed ratio between the detected rotational speeds of the input and output shafts, determining whether or not a difference between the rotational-speed ratio calculated at a certain time and a rotational-speed ratio calculated earlier is within a first threshold, and estimating a value relating to the later rotational-speed ratio to be the transmission ratio and storing the value in a memory if the difference between the rotational-speed ratios is determined to be within the first threshold, while estimating a value relating to the earlier rotational-speed ratio stored in the memory to be the transmission ratio if the difference between the rotational-speed ratios is determined not to be within the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuya Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7469177
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling automotive powertrains using a distributed control architecture are disclosed. A distributed control system may include a supervisory control unit for controlling one or more powertrain subsystems, and one or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory control unit. The supervisory control unit can be configured to execute a central optimization algorithm that computes variables from across multiple powertrain subsystems, and then outputs a number of globally approximated command values to each associated subsystem control unit. In some embodiments, the central optimization algorithm can be configured to solve a global cost function or optimization routine. One or more of the subsystem control units can be configured to execute a lower-level algorithm or routine, which can comprise a higher-fidelity model than that used by the central optimization algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tariq Samad, Syed M. Shahed, Joseph Z. Lu, Gregory E. Stewart, Vladimir Ravlena
  • Publication number: 20080300761
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular power transmitting system including (a) an electrically controlled differential portion which has a differential mechanism and a first electric motor connected to a rotary element of the differential mechanism and which is operable to control a differential state between a rotating speed of its input shaft connected to a drive power source and a rotating speed of its output shaft by controlling an operating state of the first electric motor, and (b) a switching portion operable to switch a power transmitting path for transmitting power from the drive power source, between a power transmitting state and a power cut-off state, the control apparatus including a control range setting portion configured to set one of two different control ranges of a rotating speed of the output shaft, depending upon whether the power transmitting path is placed in the power transmitting state or said power cut-off state, by the switching portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku, Hidenori Kato