Clutch Control Patents (Class 701/67)
  • Patent number: 11904838
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an electric machine control system for a vehicle, the electric machine control system comprising one or more controllers, wherein the vehicle comprises an electric machine arranged to be selectively coupleable to provide torque to at least one wheel of an axle of the vehicle, the control system comprising input means arranged to receive a speed signal (410) indicative of a speed of the vehicle and a status signal (470) indicative of a status of a coupling of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of an axle of the vehicle, output means (340) arranged to output a coupling signal to control coupling of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of the axle, and processing means arranged to determine (1210) a coupling state of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of the axle and to control the output means to output (1220) a coupling signal indicative of the determined coupling state, wherein the processing means is arranged, in dependence on the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Gareth Jones, Blake Hemingway, Christopher Blakesley, Daniele Giovanelli, Matthew Hancock
  • Patent number: 11821509
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A controller controls the shift actuator utilizing an actuating pulse and an opposing pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies
    Inventors: Thomas Connolly, Joseph Paul Furner, Sipei Chen, Jeff Hawarden, Ian Daniel McKenzie, Christopher DeBoer
  • Patent number: 11801812
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The vehicle control apparatus includes an inputter, a determiner, and a controller. The inputter receives an automatic vehicle hold (AVH) switch operation signal from an AVH device, and receives a current vehicle movement value sensed by a sensing device and a current vehicle brake force value of a brake device that generates brake force in response to activation of the AVH device. The determiner determines whether the received AVH switch operation signal transitions from an ON state to an AVH entry state, determines whether vehicle movement occurs on the basis of the received current vehicle movement value during an AVH retention time in the AVH entry state, and determines that the current vehicle brake force value is in an abnormal state when vehicle movement occurs. The controller receives the current vehicle movement value and the current vehicle brake force value, and transmits a command for judgment to the determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seyoung Cheon, Byunghak Kwak, Sukku Kim, Seong Ho Choi, Jung Hun Han
  • Patent number: 11762887
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including: a global map acquiring unit that acquires at least a part of a global map representing positions of objects in a real space where a plurality of users are in activity; a local map generating unit that generates a local map representing positions of nearby objects detectable by a device of one user among the plurality of users; and an updating unit that updates the global map based on position data of objects included in the local map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Oi, Quan Wang, Kouichi Matsuda, Takayuki Yoshigahara
  • Patent number: 11746837
    Abstract: A method for controlling a clutch unit for a drive train of a motor vehicle, wherein the clutch unit comprises a wet-running friction clutch for controllably transmitting torque from an input element to an output element of the clutch unit, wherein the clutch unit comprises oil for cooling the friction clutch, wherein heat inputs which contribute to heating the oil of the clutch unit are calculated, heat outflows which contribute to cooling the oil of the clutch unit are calculated and, as a function of the heat inputs and heat outflows, a maximum admissible clutch torque is calculated, and wherein the current clutch torque of the friction clutch is limited to the maximum admissible clutch torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Michael Kollmann, Jan Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 11713791
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an engine, a first motor directly connected to the engine through a first shaft, a second motor directly connected to a second shaft, and an engine clutch of which one end is connected to the first shaft and the other end is connected to the second shaft so as to selectively connect the first shaft and the second shaft. The (HEV) includes a first controller unit configured to control each of the first motor and the second motor and a second controller unit configured to determine whether a preconfigured touch point learning condition is satisfied, control the first and second motors to respective first and second speeds when the learning condition is satisfied, and learn a touch point of the engine clutch on the basis of a torque change of the first motor or the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Woo Jeon, Weon Jae Lee, Gi Young Kwon, Dae Won Yang
  • Patent number: 11661052
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch pressure is measured just prior to a request to close the driveline disconnect clutch and a time duration for driveline disconnect clutch boost pressure is adjusted in response to the measured driveline disconnect clutch pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akshay Bichkar, Corey James Blue, Samuel Glauber, Joseph Kucharski, Jason Meyer, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 11603894
    Abstract: A method for adapting a biting point filling time of a hydraulically actuated hybrid disengaging clutch is implemented step by step during driving of the motor vehicle via a plurality of selected engagement phases of the hybrid disengaging clutch with a manipulation of the customary rapid filling routine. Proceeding from an initially stored biting point filling time, a filling time which is shortened in comparison with this for a subsequent rapid filling routine is increased step by step, in each case by an increment. Here, an actual value which is set in each case for a test parameter, from which a change in the transmission of torque of the hybrid disengaging clutch can be derived, is detected until the actual value corresponds to a setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Lukas Spath, Robert Weissenrieder, Markus Terwart, Moghtader Salehan
  • Patent number: 11543027
    Abstract: A line pressure control method for a double clutch transmission (DCT) includes estimating a line pressure, which decreases with stoppage of an electric oil pump, based on a linear regression model using state variables of the DCT that are related to a line pressure change, and driving the electric oil pump when the line pressure estimated based on the linear regression model reaches a predetermined lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Ki Hyung Joo, Young Ho Ko
  • Patent number: 11536365
    Abstract: A malfunction part sensing device for an automatic transmission for a vehicle which is arranged to attain a plurality of shift stages by selectively engaging a plurality of frictional engagement elements, the malfunction part sensing device includes: a shift stage monitoring section configured to monitor the shift stages before and after the shift of the automatic transmission; a malfunction sensing section configured to sense the malfunction mode from a behavior of the vehicle which is generated in accordance with the malfunction; and a malfunction part limiting section configured to limit the one of the frictional engagement elements in which the malfunction is generated, based on the malfunction mode and a shift manner by a combination of the shift stages before and after the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Tooyama, Fumitaka Nagashima, Takateru Kawaguchi, Hideharu Yamamoto, Masahiro Hamano
  • Patent number: 11519501
    Abstract: A transmission includes a shift drum, an angular sensor, and a control unit. The control unit has reference values of the output values at a first rotation angle and a second rotation angle of the shift drum. The control unit is configured to obtain the output values at the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle as a first output value and a second output value, respectively. The control unit is configured to correct the output value output between the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle based on a difference between the first output value and the reference value at the first rotation angle and a difference between the second output value and the reference value at the second rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Kittaka, Takashi Kudo
  • Patent number: 11518355
    Abstract: A brake control device for controlling an electric parking brake may include: a piston capable of pressing a brake pad in accordance with the hydraulic pressure in a cylinder; a linearly moving member that adjusts, by reciprocating in the cylinder, the pressing force applied to the brake pad by the piston; and an actuator that moves the linearly moving member by operating based on a target pressing force, which is a target value of the pressing force corresponding to an output value obtained from a sensor that detects information correlating with the hydraulic pressure. The brake control device is provided with: an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of the sensor; and an actuator control unit that, if an abnormality is detected, controls the operation level of the actuator based on an output value obtained prior to the detection of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Terushige Uraoka, Keita Nakano
  • Patent number: 11473633
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automated starter clutch (4) in a drive train of a motor vehicle (1), which drive train has a transmission (3). In at least one first mode, the starter clutch (4) is operated automatically and is transitioned in an event-controlled manner into a second mode, in which the starter clutch (4) can be operated in such a way that upon actuation of the starter clutch (4), at least one jolt-like movement of the motor vehicle (1) is caused. In the second mode, the actuation of the starter clutch (4) is initiated and controlled depending upon operation of an accelerator pedal (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Lutz Müller, Wolfgang Gröner
  • Patent number: 11465615
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is mounted in a vehicle and includes: an object detecting unit that detects an object in a travelling direction of the vehicle; and a suppressing unit that suppresses driving force of the vehicle when the object detecting unit detects the object. The suppressing unit performs a first process to gradually increase the driving force when a command to move in the travelling direction is issued and the vehicle is stopped in a state in which the driving force of the vehicle is suppressed, and after the vehicle starts to move from the stopped state, performs a second process to gradually increase the driving force with an amount of increase per time in the driving force that is less than that in the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi Fukuman, Akihiro Kida
  • Patent number: 11441622
    Abstract: A method of setting a clutch control reference value may make it possible to more accurately learn the VKP of a hydraulic multi-plate clutch controlled by a solenoid valve, improving the accuracy of clutch control, and furthermore, to improve the quality of shifting a vehicle by the precise control of a transmission provided with such a clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Young Ho Ko, Woo Jung Kim, Young Min Yoon
  • Patent number: 11434960
    Abstract: A method for motion control of a shift sleeve in a stepped gear transmission during a synchronization and gear engagement sequence for avoiding gear teeth interference, wherein the stepped gear transmission includes an axially displaceable shift sleeve arranged on and rotationally secured to a shaft, and a constant mesh gear wheel arranged on and rotatable relative to said shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventors: Johan Hellsing, Muddassar Zahid Piracha
  • Patent number: 11396916
    Abstract: A method ascertains a characteristic variable of a clutch installed into the powertrain of a vehicle for transmitting torque between a clutch input and a clutch output. A first electric motor is connected to the clutch input to introduce a first drive torque into the clutch. The torque is ascertained when the vehicle is at a standstill in that the clutch is first opened; the first electric motor is regulated at a first rotational speed; the clutch output is regulated at a second rotational speed; a counter torque which counteracts the transmission torque is applied to the clutch output; the clutch is then closed in order to assume a slipping state in which a specific differential rotational speed between the clutch input and the clutch output is present; the first drive torque is then ascertained; and the transmission torque is determined on the basis of the first drive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Timo Enders, Ralf Mannsperger
  • Patent number: 11384505
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes an engine, a drive wheel, a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving power of the engine to the drive wheel, and a control unit configured to control the power transmission mechanism. The power transmission mechanism has a torque converter including a first clutch, and a second clutch coupled to the torque converter. The control unit controls an oil pressure supplied to the first clutch to a predetermined oil pressure when the second clutch is partially engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Takao Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11378143
    Abstract: A method sets a predefined position of a clutch actuator comprising a friction spring element. An activation path of the clutch actuator that actuates the clutch is predefined by a coupling torque via a coupling characteristic curve, wherein the predefined position (zo, zu) to be assumed by the clutch actuator is set by a closed-loop controller. To enable the predefined position of the clutch actuator to be set precisely without using additional energy, the predefined position (zo, zu) is corrected by a turning back value (ro, ru) of the friction spring element and the corrected position (zo+ro; zu?ru) of the clutch actuator is approached by the closed-loop controller. After reaching the corrected position (zo+ro; zu?ru) the closed-loop controller is switched off by dissipating the potential energy stored in the friction spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Erhard Hodrus
  • Patent number: 11358586
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a hybrid vehicle during launch conditions from rest. In one example, a driver demand torque is held constant until a threshold vehicle speed is reached when a constant accelerator pedal position is present so that closing of a transmission input clutch may result in reduced driveline torque disturbances while a desired driver demand torque is delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Kevin Ruybal, Bhavesh Paradkar, Todd Mccullough
  • Patent number: 11338660
    Abstract: A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle, including a gear assembly including a gear assembly housing defining a hollow portion therein, a first gear shaft having a first gear, a second gear shaft having a second gear and a third gear, wherein at least a portion of the second gear is drivingly connected to the first gear and the third gear, and at least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within the hollow portion of the gear assembly housing; a motor assembly having an output shaft that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of the gear assembly; and a first mounting assembly including a portion integrally connected to the modular electric head assembly and a portion integrally connected to a support member of the vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the third gear is drivingly connected to a pair of drive shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Laforce, Steven G. Slesinski, Harry W. Trost, George A. Willford
  • Patent number: 11320043
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift control circuit operates a shift actuator using a first opposing pulse command and a first actuating pulse command, and releases pressure with shift actuating and opposing volumes of the shift actuator upon determining a shift completion event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Peterson, Graeme Andrew Jackson, Timothy Scott Smith, Paul Wilson, Christian Chimner, Thomas Connolly, Christopher Deboer
  • Patent number: 11293501
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle is disclosed that includes an electromagnetic driving unit (10) and a transmission module (20) having a controllable clutch (21) the powertrain further includes a control system to control the electromagnetic driving unit and to control the clutch. The controller has a safety operational mode wherein it controls an engagement of the controllable clutch with a feedback loop in which a desired extent of engagement is positively correlated to a difference between an extent of slip as indicated by the slip indicator and a positive reference value for the extent of slip, wherein the slip indicator indicates the extent of slip with a sign that is the product of the sign of the difference between the rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed of the output shaft and a desired driving torque sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Punch Powertrain PSA E-Transmissions N. V.
    Inventor: Bas Gerard Vroemen
  • Patent number: 11249507
    Abstract: A clutch lever device (50) includes a clutch lever (60) rotatably provided and operated by a user, an elastic deformation portion (81) which is a generation source of an operation reaction force of the clutch lever (60), and a rotary body (91) which is configured to rotate around a first axis (O) in accordance with rotation of the clutch lever (60) and elastically deform the elastic deformation portion (81). The rotary body (91) is configured to change an elastic deformation amount of the elastic deformation portion (81) per unit rotation angle of the clutch lever (60) in accordance with a rotation angle from a pre-operation position of the clutch lever (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Shimizu, Yoshinobu Shiomi, Go Morita
  • Patent number: 11230012
    Abstract: A servo calibration method as well as an apparatus and a robot using the same are provided. The method includes: obtaining data of a position sensor on a motor shaft of the servo; obtaining data of a position sensor on an output shaft of the servo; determining whether a clutch protection has been performed on the servo based on data of the position sensor on the motor shaft and data of the position sensor on the output shaft; and calibrating a position of the motor shaft based on the data of the position sensor on the output shaft, if the clutch protection has been performed on the servo. Hence, the problem in the prior art that the process of the calibration is cumbersome can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Youjun Xiong, Hanyu Sun, Wenhua Fan, Lifu Zhang, Zhongliang Wang, Jianxin Pang
  • Patent number: 11187162
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle speed comprises selecting an engine speed profile for a vehicle. Road grade data is received and processed to determine a road grade for the vehicle. Vehicle speed data is received and processed to determine a vehicle speed for the vehicle. A cylinder deactivation mode for a valvetrain of a multi-cylinder engine of the vehicle is selected. The cylinder deactivation mode comprises deactivating one or more intake valve, exhaust valve, and fuel injection for one or more cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine. The selected cylinder deactivation mode provides a controlled deviation from the selected engine speed profile at the road grade and vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Mihai Dorobantu, Douglas J. Nielsen, Brian Franke
  • Patent number: 11167762
    Abstract: This vehicle transmission system includes a transmission (21) in which a gear is shifted by an operation of a driver of a vehicle (1), a clutch device (26) that is disposed in a motion transfer path between the transmission (21) and an engine (13) of the vehicle (1), and is disconnected and connected by an action of a clutch actuator (50), and a clutch control unit (61) that is configured to control disconnection and connection of the clutch device (26) by the clutch actuator (50). In a case where the vehicle (1) is started with a gear position of the transmission (21) located at or above a gear that is set in advance, and a vehicle speed (V) is less than or no higher than a set value (v2) that is set in advance, the clutch control unit (61) transitions to clutch capacity-limiting control in which a clutch capacity is reduced below that during normal clutch control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ryuzaki, Junya Ono
  • Patent number: 11161510
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, transmission output torque and electric machine torque are adjusted while a brake pedal and accelerator pedal are contemporaneously applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Doering, Jason Meyer, Stan L. Bower, Xiaoyong Wang, Yanan Zhao, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ming Kuang
  • Patent number: 11162549
    Abstract: A stuck diagnosis apparatus and a method. The method for diagnosing clutch stuck includes allowing a control unit to turn off a clutch actuator after a clutch is engaged by driving of the clutch actuator, allowing the control unit to count a time elapsing from the turn-off time point of the clutch actuator so as to measure a time taken to reach a disengaged state of the clutch for interrupting engine power, and allowing the control unit to determine that the stuck occurs in the clutch when the clutch does not reach the disengaged state within a preset reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: HyeonDeok Seo
  • Patent number: 11077751
    Abstract: A weight ratio of each driving wheel of the vehicle at the time of automatic driving is calculated, a front and rear distribution ratio of a driving force of the vehicle is calculated from the weight ratio, a rear wheel plan driving force is calculated from the front and rear distribution ratio and an action plan required driving force, and a temperature of a rear wheel motor is estimated. Then, when the estimated attainment temperature of the rear wheel motor is higher than the upper limit value of the temperature, the front and rear distribution ratio is changed within a range in which excessive slip does not occur at the front wheels, the rear wheel plan driving force is recalculated, and the automatic driving of the vehicle is implemented taking the rear wheel plan driving force as a target driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Sadakiyo, Akiko Nakagawara, Takuro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11078971
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clutch control reference value setting method including generating a current-hydraulic pressure model, setting a temporary VKP to a current causing a maximum difference between a model hydraulic pressure and a measured hydraulic pressure, determining that the temporary VKP is valid when a deflection amount calculated from a difference integral value acquired by integrating differences between the model hydraulic pressure and the measured hydraulic pressure while increasing the current is greater than a first reference value under a condition that the first target pressure is applied to the clutch, determining that the temporary VKP is appropriate when a deflection amount calculated from a difference integral value acquired by integrating differences between the model hydraulic pressure and the measured hydraulic pressure while increasing the current is proper under a condition that a second target pressure is applied to the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Ho Ko, Tae Hee Cho, Ho Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11078970
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of friction clutches and a selectable one-way clutch. The transmission also includes a controller programmed to, in response to detecting a component fault, switch the selectable one-way clutch from a passive state to an active state by commanding engagement of a first subset of the friction clutches to establish a slip elimination state. The controller is also programmed to, following establishment of the slip elimination state, command the selectable one-way clutch to the active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dongdong Dee Li, Stephen Michael Cicala, Conor Edward Sullivan, Richard Reynolds Hathaway
  • Patent number: 10913465
    Abstract: A speed changing device includes a control unit (60) that: has a manual mode in which a clutch is engaged and disengaged by operating a clutch lever (4b) and an automatic mode in which the clutch is engaged and disengaged without the clutch lever (4b) being operated and is able to change a setting to the manual mode and the automatic mode; and is configured to signal mode misrecognition when it is determined that mode misrecognition has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ryuzaki, Junya Ono, Seiji Hamaoka
  • Patent number: 10876582
    Abstract: Presented are clutch-type engine disconnect devices, methods for making/using such disconnect devices, and motor vehicles equipped with such disconnect devices. An engine disconnect device includes a notch plate, which has multiple notches and attaches to a torque converter, and a pocket plate, which has multiple pockets and attaches to an engine's crankshaft. A pawl is movably mounted within each notch; these pawls selectively engage the notches with the pockets. A notch plate insert is nested within each notch, supporting thereon one of the pawls. A selector plate interposed between the pocket and notch plates moves from a first position, to shift the pawls out of engagement with the pockets, and a second position, to move the notch plate inserts within the notches and allow the pawls to engage the notches with the pockets to thereby lock the notch plate to the pocket plate to rotate in unison with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek F. Lahr, Chunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie, Dongxu Li, Dmitriy Bruder
  • Patent number: 10870423
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a pair of front axle shafts, and a transfer case having a clutch assembly configured to selectively move between a closed position to enable the engine to drive the front axle shafts, and an open position to disable the engine from driving the front axle shafts. A control system is configured to momentarily open the clutch assembly when the vehicle is coming to a stop or is stopped in order to relieve residual torque build-up in the front axle shafts to thereby reduce idle vibration transmission between the engine and a body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M Orzechowski, Kenneth Pachucki, Urmit Patel, Robert R Roco, Gregory A Sbroglia, Donald F Schmanski, Swapneel H Gharpure
  • Patent number: 10807601
    Abstract: A shift control method for a hybrid vehicle having a dual clutch transmission may include an undershoot determination step of determining, by a controller, whether the amount of undershoot occurring during an inertia phase of power-off upshift is equal to or greater than a prescribed reference amount, a response-starting step of starting, by the controller, when the amount of undershoot is equal to or greater than the prescribed reference amount, coordinated engine torque control using a first coordinated torque, which is determined as the larger one of engine model torque determined from a model and engine map torque obtained from a map in a response to clutch slippage, and a response-maintaining step of determining, by the controller, second coordinated torque to control the engine and controlling engine torque until the inertia phase is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 10801562
    Abstract: A clutch control method may include generating a current-hydraulic pressure model by obtaining an increasing slope of a measured hydraulic pressure which is applied to a clutch in accordance with an increase of a primary ramp current while applying the primary ramp current to a solenoid valve that controls hydraulic pressure to be supplied to the clutch; obtaining a difference between a virtual hydraulic pressure according to the current-hydraulic pressure model and a measured hydraulic pressure applied to the clutch for a secondary ramp current while applying the secondary ramp current to the solenoid valve after removing the primary ramp current; performing updating by learning a secondary ramp current, at which the difference between the virtual hydraulic pressure and the measured hydraulic pressure is maximum, as a Volumetric Kiss Point (VKP); and controlling the clutch on the basis of the learned VKP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Ho Ko, Ho Young Lee
  • Patent number: 10746236
    Abstract: There is provided a clutch control device which includes an electric oil pump, a clutch unit, and a pressure measurement unit, and which controls an operation of the electric oil pump so as to change a transmission state of the clutch unit. The device includes a pressure control valve that is located between an oil passage for connecting the electric oil pump and the clutch unit to each other and an oil pan for storing an unpressurized hydraulic oil, and that discharges the pressurized hydraulic oil from the oil passage to the oil pan, when pressure of the hydraulic oil exceeds valve opening pressure, and a pump drive control unit that controls hydraulic pressure by driving the electric oil pump, based on target pressure indicated by a change command of the transmission state of the clutch unit and the hydraulic pressure measured by the pressure measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC TOSOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamitsu Eto, Fumiya Sagara
  • Patent number: 10723355
    Abstract: A vehicle start control method includes: a condition determination step of determining, by a controller, whether or not it is necessary to control an engine torque in addition to a slip control of a clutch when a vehicle has started moving; and an engine control step of controlling, by the controller, the engine torque according to an engine error revolutions per minute (RPM) which is a difference between a target engine RPM and an actually measured engine RPM, when it is necessary to control the engine torque in addition to the slip control of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Sung Kim, Hwan Hur, Sung Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 10550900
    Abstract: In a dutch engagement control system for engagement and disengagement of transmission of a rotational force between a mainshaft and a countershaft, when clutch engagement control is executed based on the determination that rotational speeds of both the shafts agree with each other, even if unexpected variations in countershaft rotational speed result from torsion occurring downstream of the countershaft in a drive system and/or the like, smooth engagement control is implemented. A control value of countershaft rotational speed at each time is updated and managed. If a threshold value is exceeded by a difference between a countershaft rotational speed actual measured value and the preceding control value, the threshold value is added to the preceding value to obtain the control value. If the threshold value does not exceed the difference, the actual measured value at this time is set as a control value without any change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Junya Ono, Tatsuya Ryuzaki
  • Patent number: 10550937
    Abstract: In gear-shift control apparatus and method for a vehicular transmission, a variator which is interposed between an engine and driving wheels and which is capable of modifying a gear (speed) ratio continuously; a sub transmission which is installed in series with the variator and which is capable of switching a plurality of gear-shift stages through a replacement of engagement elements; and a transmission controller which performs a gear ratio control for the variator and a gear-shift stage control for the sub transmission are installed. During a deceleration through a second speed stage of the sub transmission, when the variator is a state in which the variator is at a lowest gear (speed) ratio, a down-shift in which the sub transmission is forced to perform the gear-shift from a second speed stage to a first speed stage, with the variator maintained at the lowest gear (speed) ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: JATCO LTD
    Inventors: Kousuke Waku, Incheol Na, Mamiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 10415697
    Abstract: A method and system of determining the instant gradient of a road, taking into account positive and negative drive torque, may be used to select one of a plurality of shift maps for a vehicle automatic transmission. The invention takes into account vehicle retardation due to braking, and permits consistent adoption of a shift map appropriate to the instant gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: Rob Jerger
  • Patent number: 10384666
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a technique for improving drivability of a vehicle by controlling the driving of the vehicle by a double clutch when the clutch of a double clutch transmission (DCT) is overheated. There is provided a shift control method for a hybrid vehicle with a DCT. In particular, where it is desired to perform shifting when one of clutches of the DCT is overheated, double-clutch shifting is performed using a non-overheated clutch and an engine clutch without using the overheated clutch, thereby reducing disharmonic shifting in virtue of a small difference in gear ratio during shifting and improving shifting and driving performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Young Min Yoon
  • Patent number: 10336339
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a powertrain, comprising an internal combustion engine connected to a double clutch transmission having a first and a second partial transmission with at least one shiftable transmission stage. A first friction clutch is arranged between the internal combustion engine and the first partial transmission, and a second friction clutch is arranged between the internal combustion engine and the second partial transmission. An engine torque of the internal combustion engine is transmitted by the first and second friction clutches to the first or second partial transmissions to provide a drivetrain torque at the output of the double clutch transmission. The powertrain is monitored for an occurrence of juddering oscillations, wherein in response to juddering oscillations being detected a regeneration process of one of the first and second friction clutches is triggered, and a friction lining is removed in the regeneration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Georg Göppert
  • Patent number: 10288170
    Abstract: A method for automatic calibration of a position detection sensor of an automatic transmission including a gearshift actuator, the method including registering, using the position detection sensor, the position of the gearshift actuator upon power-up of the transmission; and performing a calibration of the position detection sensor if the registered position of the gearshift actuator is outside a predetermined expected position range of the gearshift actuator or within a predetermined abnormal position range of the gearshift actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Karlsson, Johan Bjernetun
  • Patent number: 10260573
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting a friction coefficient of an automated clutch, wherein a current friction coefficient (RK) is determined by a comparison with a moment of the internal combustion engine during a slipping phase of the clutch. In a method, in which the adaptation over the entire operation of the motor vehicle is possible, the current friction coefficient (RK) is pilot-controlled to a long-term friction coefficient (RL) in a non-slipping phase of the clutch and/or in the event of a torque signal that cannot be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Georg Goppert
  • Patent number: 10197114
    Abstract: A hybrid drive including a first drive motor coupled by a clutch to a shaft, and a second drive motor coupled rigidly to the shaft. A method for determining the temperature of the clutch in the hybrid drive includes the steps of: determining a temperature of the clutch; determining a temperature of the clutch housing; determining the temperature difference between the clutch and the clutch housing; determining the heat conductivity between the clutch and the clutch housing, wherein the heat conductivity is determined as a function of the rotational speed of the first drive motor and the rotational speed of the second drive motor; determining the heat flow between the clutch and the clutch housing on the basis of the product of the heat conductivity and the temperature difference; and adjusting the ascertained clutch temperature on the basis of the ascertained heat flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Denis Loktev, Arnim-Sebastian Rottach, Martin Vornehm
  • Patent number: 10155519
    Abstract: A method for controlling a shift of a vehicle during a coasting driving is provided. The method includes performing a neutral control by releasing a clutch when an operation condition of the neutral control is satisfied during the coasting driving. Driving information regarding the vehicle is collected and a gradient of a forward road is detected using the driving information. A stop condition of the neutral control is determined using the gradient of the forward road, and a shift stage is determined when the neutral control is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Byeong Wook Jeon
  • Patent number: 10140787
    Abstract: A method for determining whether an error is present or not in a motor vehicle, a discrete state, in which the motor vehicle is presently in, being ascertained with the aid of a state machine, a decision being made, depending on the ascertained discrete state, whether an error is present or not, whereby the states of the state machine include acceptable states and unacceptable states, then, if the ascertained discrete state is an unacceptable state, the motor vehicle is transferred into an acceptable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Isidro Corral Patino, Evgeniya Ballmann, Bernd Mueller, Andreas Grimm
  • Patent number: 10125827
    Abstract: A method of controlling a clutch for vehicle may include determining, by a controller, raised offset engine torque, when engine torque is raised to a reference torque or more in an engine idle state, and controlling, by the controller, the clutch based on the determined offset engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Cho, Hwan Hur, Jin Sung Kim