Control Of Engine Torque Patents (Class 701/84)
  • Patent number: 9002600
    Abstract: An example method of operation comprises, selectively shutting down engine operation responsive to operating conditions and without receiving an engine shutdown request from the operator, maintaining the automatic transmission in gear during the shutdown, and during an engine restart from the shutdown condition, and with the transmission in gear, transmitting reduced torque to the transmission. For example, slippage of a forward clutch of the transmission may be used to enable the transmission to remain in gear, yet reduce torque transmitted to the vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Peter John Grutter, Roger Lyle Huffmaster, Felix Nedorezov
  • Patent number: 8989930
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine configured to transfer torque via a clutch to an input member of a hybrid transmission having torque machines configured to transfer torque thereto. Operation of the engine is controlled to facilitate a change in activation of a clutch between the engine and the input member of the hybrid transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Anthony H. Heap, Lawrence A. Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 8983691
    Abstract: An electric lawn tractor roll away prevention system includes a brushless DC electric motor powering a traction drive wheel on the electric lawn tractor. The motor is connected to phase wires and provides a back EMF voltage on the phase wires if the electric lawn tractor rolls and turns the traction drive wheel without electric power from the motor. A three phase inverter rectifies the back EMF voltage, turns on the traction controller if the rectified voltage reaches a pre-specified threshold, and applies a voltage to the phase wires to reduce the speed of the electric lawn tractor by regenerative braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Roger K. Amundson, Jacob C. Kallara, Patrick W. Cross, Troy W. Harris, III
  • Patent number: 8983739
    Abstract: A method of estimating soil conditions of a work surface during operation of a track-type tractor measures current operating conditions and current operating state to develop adjustments to a nominal pull-slip curve. The adjusted pull-slip curve is used to calculate optimum performance in terms of an input variable such as track speed. Two factors are developed to reflect soil conditions, coefficient of traction and a shear modulus adjustment that affect different portions of the nominal pull slip curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Faivre
  • Publication number: 20150073679
    Abstract: A system and method for use with a vehicle to provide a vehicle launch assist (VLA) function that reduces wheel slip at lower speeds and to provide a fraction control (TC) function that reduces wheel slip at higher speeds. Each function affects operation of one or more vehicle subsystems that control at least one powertrain parameter. The VLA and TC functions operate in response to a driver accelerator request to generate a drive signal that controls torque delivered to at least one driven vehicle wheel. The VLA function generates the drive signal at a first value that limits the torque to below a requested torque value representing the driver accelerator request. The TC function generates the drive signal at a second value that limits the torque to below the requested torque value. And the control system outputs a powertrain drive signal based on the lesser of first and second values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Paul Darnell, Robert Bird
  • Patent number: 8977460
    Abstract: A method managing a device distributing engine torque between main and secondary wheel sets of a motor vehicle, the distributing device including an actuator distributing engine torque, a control unit exhibiting plural distribution modes of the engine torque and adopting one distribution mode as a function of a variable and a button selecting a distribution mode delivering an information item representative of the button position, the control unit determining, in regular operation, the variable, as a function of the information item; the method includes: detecting potential failure of the selection button, including verifying consistency of the information item; activation of degraded mode of operation, when a failure of the button is detected, in which a constant value is allocated to the variable; during degraded operation, monitoring end of failure, including verifying consistency of the information item; activation of regular mode of operation, when end of failure is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Pascal Febrer, Francois Foussard, Stephane Guegan, Alessandro Monti
  • Publication number: 20150065299
    Abstract: A control system to generate a yaw torque of an all-wheel drive vehicle comprises a brake control module 18. The brake control module 18 determines the desired powertrain torque 44 for the vehicle 10 based upon a plurality of factors including available torque from the powertrain. The brake control module 18 determines a first torque 44 and a second torque 26, wherein the first torque 44 and the second torque 26 are combined to provide the total desired yaw torque 49 of the vehicle 10. The first torque 44 is generated between wheels of the vehicle 10 by applying torque 44 from the powertrain 14 to different wheels 21 of the vehicle 10 and the second torque 26 is generated by applying different braking torque from a braking system 16 of the vehicle 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Gregory Goodrich, Adam Roger Pagot, Matthew Conrad Tuhro, Vesa Vihelm Luomaranta, Ryan Wayne Alaspa, Timothy John Hayden
  • Patent number: 8972138
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle's speed by adopting a desired speed vset for the vehicle; determining a horizon for the intended itinerary made up of route segments, effecting the following during each of a number of simulation cycles (s) each comprising a number N of simulation steps conducted at a predetermined frequency f: first predicting the vehicle's speed vpred—cc along the horizon with conventional cruise control when vset is presented as reference speed, comparing the predicted vehicle speed vpred—cc in a range vmin to vmax, making a second prediction of the vehicle's speed vpred—Tnew along the horizon based on the vehicle's engine torque T; determining a reference value for how the vehicle's speed is to be influenced on the basis of at least one of the comparisons and the predicted vehicle speed vpred—Tnew; controlling the vehicle by the reference value. A module for the foregoing controls a vehicle's speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Maria Södergren, Fredrik Roos
  • Patent number: 8965658
    Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a wheel speed sensor, a skid sensor, an upper limit calculator, and a motive power controller. The wheel speed sensor is configured to detect rotational speed of driving wheels. The skid sensor is configured to determine whether or not the driving wheels are skidding based on an output of the wheel speed sensor. The upper limit calculator is configured to calculate an upper limit of rotational speed of the driving wheels if the skid sensor determines that the driving wheels are skidding. The motive power controller is configured to control motive power output from the driving source so that rotational speed of the driving wheels is equal to or smaller than the upper limit calculated by the upper limit calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakajima, Youji Yasuoka, Masafumi Amano, Takayuki Yamasaki, Kazuhiro Nakano
  • Patent number: 8961370
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a controller that performs control such that an engine output does not increase when a control mechanism and a brake override are operated simultaneously, wherein the control mechanism controls the engine output independently of an accelerator operation amount, and wherein the brake override system reduces the engine output in response to simultaneous operations of an accelerator and a brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Kida, Michihito Shimada, Masashi Takagi, Hiroshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 8958968
    Abstract: A traction control device for a motorcycle eliminates a need for a waiting time for detecting an amount of change in a vehicle state and a subsequent prediction time, and can execute quick traction control. The traction control device includes an engine driving force control unit, for calculating a real slip ratio of the motorcycle, setting a target slip ratio according to a driving state of the motorcycle, and controlling a driving force of an engine so that the real slip ratio becomes the target slip ratio. The traction control device also includes a throttle grip opening degree sensor for detecting an opening degree of a throttle grip; and a bank angle sensor for detecting a bank angle of the motorcycle. The engine driving force control unit calculates the target slip ratio on a basis of the throttle opening degree and the bank angle of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuyuki Kobayashi, Yoichiro Fukao, Yohei Maruyama, Tatsuya Ito
  • Patent number: 8958967
    Abstract: A braking-force control device has a brake control function for performing brake control on a front outside wheel when a vehicle is detected to be in an oversteer condition during a turning operation and for performing brake control on a rear inside wheel when the vehicle is detected to be in an understeer condition during a turning operation. For preventing the oversteer condition, a command for reducing the engine torque is output. On the other hand, for preventing the understeer condition, the engine torque is limited in accordance with a permissible engine torque value that is calculated on the basis of a road-surface friction coefficient, and ground loads and lateral tire forces of individual wheels. If it is detected that engine braking is in operation, the engine torque is adjusted to substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Matsuno, Takeshi Yoneda, Masato Igarashi, Yosuke Morokuma
  • Patent number: 8935062
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission device includes an input member coupled to a combustion engine and a rotary electric machine; an output member coupled to wheels; a speed change mechanism with a plurality of friction engagement elements and that provides a plurality of shift speeds; and a control device that controls the speed change mechanism. When a during-regeneration downshift is performed while the rotary electric machine is outputting regenerative torque, the control device sets a target increase capacity, which is a target value of a transfer torque capacity of an engagement-side element to be engaged after an increase, increases the transfer torque capacity of the engagement-side element to the target increase capacity over a predetermined torque capacity increase period, and decreases a transfer torque capacity of a disengagement-side element, which is to be disengaged, over a predetermined torque capacity decrease period that at least partially overlaps the torque capacity increase period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Inagaki, Hiroya Ueno, Shigekazu Hase, Nobuhiro Iwai, Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8924124
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving vehicle torque control accuracy. Data points of an engine torque data set are adjusted en masse by an on-board vehicle controller while also being adjusted individually by an off-board controller. By adjusting engine operation based on a torque data set that is updated by each of the on-board and off-board controllers, engine torque errors can be reliably determined and compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Anthony Lockwood, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 8914215
    Abstract: A method of measuring and displaying track-type tractor performance in real time calculates both a measure of work performance and a theoretical optimum work performance for a given input state, such as track speed. After estimating soil conditions, the theoretical optimum is estimated using an iterative technique. The optimum and current performance are normalized and displayed using a first bar representing a full range of work performance, a second bar depicting a range of optimum performance for current conditions is presented overlying the first bar, and an indicator line showing the current performance. This allows an operator to adjust speed or load accordingly. A coefficient of traction and a shear modulus adjustment, reflecting soil conditions, are calculated at the tractor during operation and used to offset a table of ideal condition operating points to produce the second bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Faivre, Nathaniel Doy, Lance Cowper
  • Publication number: 20140365098
    Abstract: System including an effort-monitoring system configured to control tractive efforts (TEs) individually produced by propulsion-generating vehicles in a vehicle system. The effort-monitoring system is configured to control each of the propulsion-generating vehicles to provide a respective prescribed TE. The vehicle system operates at a system TE when each of the propulsion-generating vehicles is providing the respective prescribed TE. The prescribed TEs are determined by at least one of an operating plan of the vehicle system or a regulation that limits TE or ground speed of the vehicle system. In response to determining that a first propulsion-generating vehicle is providing a reduced TE that is less than the prescribed TE of the first propulsion-generating vehicle, the effort-monitoring system is configured to control a second propulsion-generating vehicle to exceed the prescribed TE of the second propulsion-generating vehicle so that the vehicle system is operating at or below the system TE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Douglas Lawry, Jared Klineman Cooper
  • Patent number: 8909437
    Abstract: A payload control system includes a sensor system and a force sensor system. A controller determines a calibration machine state, a calibration linkage force, and machine calibration parameters based at least in part upon the calibration machine state and the calibration linkage force. The controller also determines a loaded implement machine state, a loaded implement linkage force, and a mass of the payload based at least in part upon the machine calibration parameters, the loaded implement machine state, and the loaded implement linkage force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yongliang Zhu, Joseph Faivre, Drew A. Fehr
  • Patent number: 8897941
    Abstract: A motor operation control system and method for controlling first and second electric motors of an electrically variable transmission. The system and method determine a minimum battery power associated with a torque of the second electric motor, set the torque of the second electric motor based on the determined minimum battery power, and set a torque of the first electric motor based on the determined minimum battery power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Nadirsh Patel, Goro Tamai, Ashish Krupadanam
  • Patent number: 8892330
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for operating an internal combustion engine and one or more motor/generators in a hybrid vehicle are described. Generally, the engine is operated in a variable displacement or skip fire mode. Depending on the state of charge of an energy storage device and/or other factors, the engine is operated to generate more or less than a desired level of torque. The one or more motor/generators are used to add or subtract torque so that the motor/generator(s) and the engine collectively deliver the desired level of torque. In some embodiments, the engine may be run with a substantially open throttle to reduce pumping losses and improve fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Yuille, Mark A. Shost, Louis J. Serrano, John W. Parsels, Matthew A. Younkins
  • Patent number: 8892288
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric vehicle drivetrain having least two drive units with wheels located on opposite axles are driven by respective drive units, includes in a first operating mode, the ratio of the torques provided by the drive units in each case for a given torque requirement is set taking into account the efficiency applicable to each drive unit under the given operating conditions, and in a second operating mode, the ratio of the torques provided by the drive units in each case for a given torque requirement is set independently of the efficiency applicable to each drive unit under the given operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Monika Derflinger, Arnulf Sponheimer, Roger Graaf, Marc Simon
  • Patent number: 8880258
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for controlling hybrid powertrains are described. In one aspect, an engine is alternatingly operated at different effective displacements. One displacement delivers less than a requested powertrain output and the other delivers more. A motor/generator system is used to add and subtract torque to/from the powertrain to cause the net delivery of the requested powertrain output. In some embodiments, energy added and subtracted from the powertrain is primarily drawn from and stored in a capacitor (e.g., a supercapacitor or an ultracapacitor) when alternating between effective displacements. In another aspect a hybrid powertrain arrangement includes an engine a motor/generator and an energy storage system that includes both a battery and a capacitor. The capacitor stores and delivers electrical energy to the motor/generator unit during operation of the engine in a variable displacement or skip fire mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo G. Breton, Ronald D. Yuille, Mark A. Shost, Louis J. Serrano, John W. Parsels, Matthew A. Younkins
  • Patent number: 8868252
    Abstract: A microprocessor driven two dimensional search engine examines transmission operating points within a plurality of search range spaces and assists in determining properties associated with the driveline at various operating points within the space. The size of the space is reduced by rearrangement of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8868274
    Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a vehicular drive system, which is configured to implement a torque reduction control during a shifting action of an automatic transmission, and which permits reduction of the size and cost of an electric circuit including a smoothing capacitor. An electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting region A01 is predetermined such that a point of a vehicle running state lies in the electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting region A01 prior to a moment of determination to perform a shifting action of the automatic transmission, and electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting means 96 implements an electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting control to restrict a rate of increase of a total amount of an electric energy generated by first and second electric motors MG1 and MG2, to a predetermined upper limit value LTGN, when the point of the vehicle running state has moved into the electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting region A01.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiiba, Takeshi Kanayama, Talyo Uejima, Daiki Sato
  • Patent number: 8849538
    Abstract: A torque distribution apparatus includes an instructed torque acquiring unit that acquires input instructed torque, a determining unit that determines whether to perform power running control or regenerative braking, an efficiency map acquiring unit that based on a determination result, acquires a motor efficiency map, a vehicular speed detecting unit, a drive wheel rotational speed detecting, a slip rate calculating unit that calculates slip rate at drive wheels, a calculating unit that based on the slip rate, creates an efficiency variation expression that indicates efficiency values on a performance curve that indicates relations between drive wheel rotational speed and torque, a distributing unit that calculates based on the slip rate, the instructed torque, and the torque optimizing efficiency, torque distribution values such that overall efficiency during power running and during regeneration are maximized, and a control unit that controls torque distribution to the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kato, Eiji Muramatsu, Kazutoshi Kitano, Chihiro Kawabata, Kazunobu Hashimoto, Yoshikazu Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8843291
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes an in-wheel motor drive system. The in-wheel motor drive system includes a wheel bearing unit rotatably supporting a drive wheel, a motor unit, and a reducer unit. The electric vehicle also includes a disturbance observer that determines an estimate of external force influence on the drive wheel. The electric vehicle further includes a slip level-responsive corrector. The slip level-responsive corrector may use the estimate of external force influence, calculate a correction value that may correspond to slip level of the drive wheel, and correct an accelerator signal to the motor unit with the correction value to produce a motor torque command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8825320
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes monitoring a desired synchronous transmission shift during deceleration of an output member including a desired operating range state, monitoring an output speed, predicting output deceleration through the desired synchronous transmission shift, determining a penalty cost associated with the desired synchronous transmission shift based upon an input speed profile resulting from the predicted output deceleration and from the desired synchronous transmission shift, and executing the synchronous transmission shift based upon the penalty cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Jy-Jen F. Sah, Kee Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8825336
    Abstract: A method for detecting a burnout state during which driven wheels of a motor vehicle are caused to spin is provided. The method includes detecting a rotational wheel speed of a first driven wheel and a rotational wheel speed of a second driven wheel and comparing the rotational wheel speed of the faster turning wheel with a first constant. A vehicle speed is detected and compared with a second constant. An engine rotational speed is detected and compared with a third constant. The burnout state is detected when the rotational wheel speed of the faster turning wheel is greater than the first constant, the vehicle speed is less than the second constant, and the engine rotational speed is greater than the third constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Willem Sollart
  • Patent number: 8818653
    Abstract: A system and method of dithering speed and/or torque for shifting a transmission of a vehicle having an engine, a reversible, variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump which can be driven by the engine, a hydraulic accumulator supplied by said motor/pump, and at least one reversible hydraulic driving motor for propelling the vehicle supplied with fluid by the hydraulic accumulator and/or by said motor/pump operating as a pump. A transmission unit connects the engine with the variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump during a first mode of operation (city mode) and connects the engine to a vehicle drive wheel during a second mode of operation. The system utilizes stored hydraulic energy to dither the output of the driving motor in order to achieve quick and smooth shifts between city and highway mode, or between various ranges within the city mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Yisheng Zhang, John Loeffler
  • Patent number: 8818676
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a torque request control module to determine a first engine torque request. An artificial neural network (ANN) torque request module determines a second engine torque request using an ANN model. A torque security check module that selectively generates a malfunction signal based on the difference between the first engine torque request and the second engine torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventors: Jinchun Peng, Timothy J. Hartrey
  • Patent number: 8812202
    Abstract: A drive controller of an operating machine configured to drive a structure by a hydraulic motor and an electric motor includes: a remote control valve configured to determine the operation amount of the structure; an electric motor torque calculation portion configured to calculate torque of the electric motor; a hydraulic motor torque calculation portion configured to calculate torque of the hydraulic motor; a controller configured to transmit an opening position control signal to the control valve based on the operation amount determined by the remote control valve such that torque necessary to drive the structure is obtained from the torque of the electric motor and the torque of the hydraulic motor; and solenoid-operated reducing valves and each configured to reduce a pilot pressure, to be applied to the control valve, based on the opening position control signal output from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Yamamoto, Masahiro Yamada, Yoji Yudate
  • Publication number: 20140222308
    Abstract: A method for controlling wheel slip comprising determining an actual wheel slip of a set of driven wheels on a vehicle, adjusting the actual wheel slip for cornering distortion, setting a target slip condition using a traction control unit with a multi-position switch depending upon road conditions, calculating overslip of the wheels, and retarding an engine output to minimize overslip, and an apparatus for accomplishing same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: HONDATA, INC.
    Inventor: Derek Stevens
  • Patent number: 8798879
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a drive unit of a motor vehicle, a setpoint torque being determined for driving the drive unit as a function of a driver request torque and an idle speed regulator torque being included in the driver request torque for determining the setpoint torque, and a drivability filter being applied for torque smoothing. In order to maintain the quality of the speed regulation and simultaneously make the drivability of the vehicle comfortable, the drivability filter is applied before or after the inclusion of the idle speed regulator torque in the driver request torque as a function of the instantaneous driving situation of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Seel
  • Patent number: 8798889
    Abstract: A method for an automatic transmission includes measuring torque of a component of the transmission using a torque sensor in communication with the component. The torque of the component is estimated from information other than the measured torque. The measured torque is rejected from being used in a control operation of the transmission if the difference between the measured torque and the estimated torque is greater than a selected threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Bradley Dean Riedle, Gregory Michael Pietron, Joseph F. Kucharski, Diana Yanakiev, Richard Reynolds Hathaway
  • Patent number: 8779945
    Abstract: A flight display for an aircraft includes a virtual ice accretion meter having a liquid water content portion and an ice thickness portion. A method for determining ice accretion includes integrating over a time period a constant K multiplied by a liquid water content (LWC) and true airspeed (TAS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Robert James Flemming
  • Patent number: 8768582
    Abstract: An engine control device detects the state of work of a working vehicle such as a construction machine or the like, and controls the power output capacity of an engine automatically. A determination is made as to whether excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, based upon the detection signals from a hydraulic oil pressure detector for a hydraulic cylinder of an arm, detectors for arm and bucket operation commands, a shift operation detector for a transmission, a pitch angle detector for the vehicle body, a traveling acceleration detector, and an accelerator opening degree detector. When the result of this determination is that excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, the engine is controlled to operate at a high power capacity, while at other times it is controlled to operate at a low power output capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Toda
  • Patent number: 8755962
    Abstract: If a vehicle speed VSP during EV travel is lower than a predetermined speed VSP_s and hence is in a low vehicle speed range available for motor travel by a motor/generator, engine start control using a first engine start system with the motor/generator is executed. If the vehicle speed VSP during the EV travel is the predetermined speed VSP_s or higher and hence is in a vehicle speed range unavailable for the motor travel with the motor/generator, engine start control using a second engine start system with a starter motor is executed instead of the first engine start system with the motor/generator. Accordingly, the motor/generator does not have to cover an engine start torque when VSP?VSP_s. A vehicle speed range available for the motor travel expands by the amount corresponding to the engine start torque, and fuel efficiency can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8751131
    Abstract: In an aspect of the invention there is provided a control method for a vehicle travelling on a surface, the vehicle having a vehicle powertrain for generating and delivering power to the vehicle wheels, the method including: measuring one or more parameters associated with motion of the vehicle on the surface; comparing the or each of the measured parameters with a predetermined threshold for said measured parameter that is indicative of a level at which wheel slip of the vehicle may occur; and in circumstances in which one or more of the measured parameters exceeds the predetermined threshold, controlling the torque applied by the powertrain to the vehicle wheels to prevent wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Reynolds, Paul Beever
  • Patent number: 8751125
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes an accelerator-manipulated-amount detecting section configured to detect a manipulated amount of accelerator; a braking-force generating section configured to generate a braking force of the vehicle; a driving-force generating section configured to generate a driving force of the vehicle; a control unit including a vehicle-body speed calculating section configured to calculate an actual vehicle-body speed. The control unit is configured to perform a normal control mode which generates a driving force corresponding to the accelerator manipulated amount, and to perform a speed control mode which calculates a target vehicle-body speed based on the accelerator manipulated amount and which controls the braking-force generating section and the driving-force generating section so as to bring the actual vehicle-body speed closer to the target vehicle-body speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Ozaki
  • Publication number: 20140156162
    Abstract: A method of measuring and displaying track-type tractor performance in real time calculates both a measure of work performance and a theoretical optimum work performance for a given input state, such as track speed. After estimating soil conditions, the theoretical optimum is estimated using an iterative technique. The optimum and current performance are normalized and displayed using a first bar representing a full range of work performance, a second bar depicting a range of optimum performance for current conditions is presented overlying the first bar, and an indicator line showing the current performance. This allows an operator to adjust speed or load accordingly. A coefficient of traction and a shear modulus adjustment, reflecting soil conditions, are calculated at the tractor during operation and used to offset a table of ideal condition operating points to produce the second bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Faivre, Nathaniel Doy, Lance Cowper
  • Patent number: 8744724
    Abstract: An engine controlling apparatus includes a setting unit that sets a demand torque to an engine, a detection unit that detects a fluctuation of an external load, and a correction unit that corrects the demand torque. The apparatus includes a target torque calculation unit that calculates a target torque based on the demand torque, a control unit that controls an amount of air to be introduced into the engine so that an output torque may come close to the target torque, and an ignition timing detection unit that detects an ignition timing of the engine. The correction unit adds a torque increment for coping with a fluctuation of the external load to the demand torque to determine an increment correction demand torque and increases or decreases the increment correction demand torque in response to a displacement amount of the ignition timing from a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Shibata, Katsunori Ueda, Toshiyuki Miyata, Hitoshi Toda
  • Patent number: 8744716
    Abstract: An engine control system includes a mode selection module that is configured to select an operating mode from one of an open loop control mode, a torque control mode, and a speed control mode based on an engine speed and a driver input. An axle torque arbitration (ABA) module generates ABA predicted and immediate torque requests based on the driver input. A speed control (SC) module generates a first set of SC predicted and immediate torque requests based on engine speed. A propulsion torque arbitration (PTA) module generates PTA predicted and immediate torque requests based on one of the ABA predicted and immediate torque requests and the first set of SC predicted and immediate torque requests based on the operating mode. A torque output control module controls output torque of an engine based on the PTA predicted and immediate torque requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventors: Krishnendu Kar, Michael Livshiz, Christopher E. Whitney, Cheryl A. Williams, Etsuko Muraji Stewart, Matthew M. Manning
  • Patent number: 8738259
    Abstract: A movable body according to the present invention detects an operation state including attitude information of the movable body by using an operation state detector, generates a drive velocity command based on the detected attitude information and an attitude information command to be input, generates a torque command of the drive device based on the generated drive velocity command and a drive velocity detected by a drive velocity detector, and drives the drive device in accordance with the torque command generated by a velocity controller, to thereby move. In the movable body, the velocity controller performs velocity control so that the drive velocity detected by the drive velocity detector follows the drive velocity command generated by an attitude controller, and the attitude controller performs attitude control so that the attitude information detected by the operation state detector follows the attitude information command to be input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8738266
    Abstract: A vehicle has at least two drive wheels which can be driven in each case by single-wheel drive units which are in particular of structurally identical dimensions and which can be actuated by means of a control device, control device determines a target torque which, in a torque distribution unit, can be divided into a first target torque for the first drive unit and a second target torque for the second drive unit. The torque distribution unit is assigned an adjustment unit by means of which the first and/or the second target torque can be corrected with an adjustment factor which can be determined as a function of a torque difference, arising owing to manufacturing and/or component tolerances, between the drive units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Alexander Kruse, Ruben Maier, Michael Wein
  • Patent number: 8738209
    Abstract: It is provided a control device of a vehicle drive apparatus in a vehicle including an electric motor for driving drive wheels, the control device controlling an output torque of the electric motor in accordance with a predetermined electric motor torque control characteristic making the output torque of the electric motor larger when a requested drive force is greater such that a drive force of the vehicle becomes equal to the requested drive force requested by a driver, wherein when the stopped vehicle is started, if the requested drive force is equal to or less than a requested drive force judgment value set equal to or less than a necessary start-up drive force necessary for start-up of the vehicle, the control device provides electric motor torque suppression control suppressing the output torque of the electric motor below an output torque determined from the electric motor torque control characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Oba, Yoshisuke Kametani
  • Patent number: 8725382
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that inhibits fuel efficiency from being aggravated as a result of ignition timing of the internal combustion engine being retarded. The vehicle control apparatus includes a drive system control unit and an engine control unit. The engine control unit adjusts an amount of intake air based on the demanded torque and adjusts ignition timing so as to compensate for any deviation between torque achievable through an adjustment of the amount of intake air and the demanded torque. The drive system control unit calculates desirable torque to be desirably output to the internal combustion engine for achieving a target operating state of the vehicle, and limits a change rate of the desirable torque by using a predetermined guard value determined from torque adjustment capacity of the internal combustion engine and outputs the desirable torque after the limiting as the demanded torque to the engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Naoto Kato, Kiyonori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8706378
    Abstract: The vehicle described herein employs a mu logic module. The mu logic module monitors vehicle operating conditions, and based on those operating conditions determines a road surface mu in response to a wheel slip event. The road surface mu is then used to determine a drive force to minimize or control the wheel slip event. The mu logic module continually monitors and adjusts the drive force provided to at least one of the wheels to maximize the applied drive force, while stabilizing and controlling wheel slip events to ensure safe operation of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Choby
  • Patent number: 8706338
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a pitching state quantity detector for detecting quantity of a pitching-motion of the vehicle, a vehicle weight determiner, a pitching target quantity calculator for calculating a target quantity of a pitching motion at least from the determined vehicle weight, and a torque correction calculator for increasing/reducing a driving torque output, according to a particular differential between the detected pitching-motion state quantity and the calculated target quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ichinose, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8694224
    Abstract: A control system or method for a vehicle references a camera and sensors to determine when an offset of a yaw rate sensor may be updated. The sensors may include a longitudinal accelerometer, a transmission sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a steering angle sensor. The offset of the yaw rate sensor may be updated when the vehicle is determined to be stationary by referencing at least a derivative of an acceleration from the longitudinal accelerometer. The offset of the yaw rate sensor may be updated when the vehicle is determined to be moving straight by referencing at least image data captured by the camera. Lane delimiters may be detected in the captured image data and evaluated to determine a level of confidence in the straight movement. When the offset of the yaw rate sensor is to be updated, a ratio of new offset to old offset may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Chundrlik, Jr., Nathaniel Johnson, Marc Wimmershoff
  • Patent number: 8676465
    Abstract: A slip suppression control system for a vehicle includes a monitored value detecting device for detecting a monitored value corresponding to a difference between a rotational speed of a front wheel and a rear wheel, and a traction control unit configured to initiate initial traction control for reducing a driving power of a drive wheel when a threshold determiner unit determines that the monitored value exceeds a first slip threshold and to execute continued traction control such that the driving power is reduced when the threshold determiner unit determines that the monitored value exceeds a second slip threshold smaller than the first slip threshold, while the driving power is increased when the threshold determiner unit determines that the monitored value is smaller than a gripping threshold which is the second slip threshold or smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeru Oshima, Tatsuya Hirokami
  • Patent number: 8666626
    Abstract: A turning control device for a vehicle which generates a yaw moment in the body of a vehicle includes: a steering wheel turning amount detection device which detects a steering wheel turning amount of the vehicle; a vehicle speed detection device which detects a vehicle speed of the vehicle; a feedforward control amount calculation unit which calculates a feedforward control amount based on at least the steering wheel turning amount; a braking force control amount calculation unit which determines a braking force control amount based on the feedforward control amount; a braking control device which controls the braking force based on the braking force control amount; and a steering direction determination device which determines whether a steering direction is an incremental steering direction or a returning-steering direction. The feedforward control amount calculation unit includes a feedforward control amount correction unit which corrects the feedforward control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Futamura, Takeshi Kojima, Kazutaka Ohmura