Having Particular Slip Threshold, Target Slip Ratio, Or Target Engine Torque Determining Means Patents (Class 701/90)
  • Patent number: 11904828
    Abstract: A stability control system of a vehicle utilizing an electronic control unit that minimizes rollback of a vehicle as a result of wheel slip immediately following a hill start assist operation. The electronic braking control module controls actuation and de-actuation of vehicle brakes on an inclined surface. Immediately following a hill start assist operation on the inclined surface after each wheel brake is de-actuated for allowing forward movement of the vehicle up the hill, a split-mu road surface condition is detected in response to sensing wheel slip for each of the wheels. The electronic control unit determines a respective undriven, or non-dominant driven, wheel having the highest coefficient of friction among the undriven, or less dominant driven wheels, as determined by the wheel speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Hawley
  • Patent number: 11702084
    Abstract: A vehicle sideslip estimation system includes sensors mounted on a vehicle and a kinematic model receiving signals from the sensors to estimate a lateral velocity of the vehicle. A compensated acceleration calculator calculates a compensated lateral acceleration as a measure of conditions that result in a deviation of a measured lateral acceleration. A lateral acceleration calculator determines, based on the compensated lateral acceleration and the measured lateral acceleration, if a lateral acceleration error is larger than a predefined threshold. A filter corrects the estimated lateral velocity of the vehicle when the lateral acceleration error is larger than the predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Mustafa Ali Arat, Kanwar Bharat Singh
  • Patent number: 11691670
    Abstract: The turning radius of a differentially steered vehicle towing a trailer is controlled when turning so that its turning radius is greater than a minimum allowable turning radius. The turning radius may be autonomously adjusted using a controller to monitor the instantaneous rotational speed differential between the driven wheels and increase or decrease the relative speed between the wheels when the instantaneous rotational speed differential exceeds a threshold rotational speed differential, indicating a turn which is too tight. Alternately, the turning radius may be controlled by the vehicle's operator, who receives a signal from the controller indicating that the vehicle's turning radius is less than the minimum allowable. The operator may then take action to enlarge the turning radius using manual controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Brown Fay, II
  • Patent number: 11225234
    Abstract: A vehicle braking force control apparatus of the disclosure executes a slip rate reduction control to reduce a slip rate of any of wheels of a vehicle becoming equal to or greater than a predetermined slip rate threshold by automatically changing braking force applied to one or more of the wheels. The apparatus uses a first slip rate threshold as the predetermined slip rate threshold during a normal acceleration-and-deceleration control and a normal steering control. The apparatus uses a second slip rate threshold during a driving assist control. The second slip rate is set to a value smaller than the first slip rate threshold and near and smaller than the slip rate, at which a friction coefficient between the wheel and a surface of a road on which the vehicle moves is maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Yoshihisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 11084469
    Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus includes: a drive power control unit that controls drive power from a drive unit that drives drive wheels of a vehicle; a brake switch (a brake action detection unit) that detects a brake action performed on a brake unit, the brake action including decelerating and stopping the vehicle; a wheelspin detection unit that detects spinning of the drive wheels; a time measurement unit that, when the drive wheels being stopped start to rotate, measures time elapsed since the start of the rotation; and a control unit that enables the wheelspin detection unit to perform detection after a preset detection disabled period elapses since the time measurement unit has started measuring the time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Adachi, Hisashi Ishikawa, Takayuki Kishi
  • Patent number: 10981573
    Abstract: A surface roughness estimator for a vehicle configured to generate a first surface roughness index value indicative of terrain surface roughness and to output a signal in dependence at least in part on the first surface roughness index value, the estimator being configured to receive first acceleration information indicative of a first acceleration along a first axis, receive second acceleration information indicative of a second acceleration along a second axis, calculate a combined value in dependence on the first acceleration and second acceleration, and adjust the combined value in dependence on a speed of the vehicle to generate the first surface roughness index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventor: Juan Herrera
  • Patent number: 10836384
    Abstract: A lateral acceleration limiting device may include a processor configured to calculate current lateral acceleration of a vehicle, predict forward lateral acceleration, and determine whether the prediction lateral acceleration and the current lateral acceleration are greater than a predetermine reference value, a controller communicatively connected to the processor and configured to determine whether to generate a warning or whether to adjust steering torque, depending on a result determined by the processor, and a steering torque adjusting device communicatively connected to the processor and configured to adjust the steering torque depending on control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hoi Won Kim, Kyoung Jun Lee, Doo Jin Um, Dong Gu Lee, Dong Eon Oh, Hyun Jae Yoo, Beom Jun Kim, Dae Young Kim, Young Min Han, Seung Geon Moon, Sung Woo Choi, Chan Il Park, Sung Yoon Yeo, Jee Young Kim, Min Chul Kang
  • Patent number: 10300925
    Abstract: A method selects a target state of a vehicle driveline connecting at least a combustion engine and/or an electric machine to the wheels of the vehicle by a transmission, from a set of states present on the transmission, which are defined by various combinations of couplers and reduction gears thereof in order to transfer torque from the combustion engine and/or from the electric machine to the wheels over one or more gear ratios. The method includes filtering to determine, from a list of available states, state consecutive eligible sets as a function of combined driveability constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: RENAULT s.a.s., NISSAN MOTOR Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Planche, Frederic Roudeau
  • Patent number: 9150104
    Abstract: A control system and method is provided for a vehicle. The control system includes a speed sensor, a wheel angle sensor, and a vehicle position sensor. An electronic control unit (ECU) determines a yaw-rate error as a function of at least the vehicle position signal, determines a first speed limit as a function of the yaw-rate error, determines a second speed limit as a function of a vehicle lateral acceleration, and determines a third speed limit as a function of the wheel angle signal. The ECU selects the lowest of the first, second and third speed limits, generates a front wheel drive command and a diff lock command as a function of the wheel angle signal. The ECU also limits the vehicle speed to not greater than the selected lowest wheel speed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Carroll C. Kellum
  • Patent number: 9145933
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the transmission torque characteristics of a dry clutch may include carrying out adjustment based on learning using a T-S curve that indicates the relationship of the transmission torque to the actuator stroke of the dry clutch, a section of the T-S curve in which inclinations change discontinuously is removed, so that the controllability over the dry clutch is reliable and the feeling of shifting can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORP.
    Inventors: Ho Young Lee, Seung Sam Baek, Young Min Yoon
  • Patent number: 9079613
    Abstract: A crawler work vehicle includes an engine, left and right travel devices, a power transmission device, left and right steering clutches, left and right steering brakes, a rotation speed detecting device, a brake hydraulic pressure obtaining device, and a brake protecting device. The rotation speed detecting device detects an output rotation speed of the steering brakes. The brake hydraulic pressure obtaining device obtains a brake hydraulic pressure supplied to the steering brakes. The brake protecting device refers to the output rotation speed and the brake hydraulic pressure to compute a heat rate of the steering brakes, and executes a protection process of the steering brakes by reducing the engine output upon determining the heat rate that was computed is equal to or greater than a preset first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoshikawa, Taneaki Fujino
  • Patent number: 9043113
    Abstract: A drive system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The drive system may have a travel speed sensor, at least one traction device speed sensor, and a controller in communication with the travel speed sensor and the at least one traction device speed sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a slip value associated with a traction device of the mobile machine based on signals generated by the travel speed sensor and the at least one traction device speed sensor, and determine a torque output value of the mobile machine. The control may also be configured to make a comparison of the slip value and the torque output value with a pull-slip curve stored in memory, and selectively update the pull-slip curve based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Padilla, Steven R. Krause, Ted E. Kingham, Kendall W. Stevens
  • Patent number: 9026334
    Abstract: A vehicle attitude control system includes a control unit that calculates a front wheel control amount and a rear wheel control amount on the basis of a front-side slip angle at a front axle of front wheels and a rear-side slip angle at a rear axle of rear wheels, and that controls the front wheels on the basis of the front wheel control amount and controls the rear wheels on the basis of the rear wheel control amount at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shuuji Kimura, Masayasu Higashi
  • Patent number: 9002562
    Abstract: A vehicle driving system includes a slip detector that detects an occurrence of excess slipping; an additive/subtractive slip point calculator that time-discretely calculates an additive/subtractive slip point, which is an additive slip point or a subtractive slip point, on the basis detection or non-detection of an occurrence of excess slipping; a cumulative slip point calculator that sequentially calculates a cumulative slip point that is a cumulative sum of values of the additive/subtractive slip point; and a driving mode switcher that switches between a two-wheel driving mode and an all-wheel driving mode on the basis of the cumulative slip point. When excess slipping is detected, the additive/subtractive slip point calculator calculates the additive slip point on the basis of a driving force correlation value that correlates to a driving force a driving wheel for which the excess slipping has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Andou, Masatoshi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8989969
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a traction control apparatus capable of suitably controlling an error, if it occurs, between an estimation of a vehicle speed and an actual vehicle speed. A traction control apparatus according to the invention includes a vehicle speed estimator and a driving-force controller. The traction control apparatus includes a vehicle state determiner that determines whether the vehicle speed of the construction vehicle estimated by the vehicle speed estimator and the driving-force control by the driving-force controller are balanced, and a driving-force control changer that changes a driving-force control by the driving-force controller when the vehicle state determiner determines the vehicle speed and the driving-force control to be unbalanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Uematsu, Kazuhiro Hatake
  • Publication number: 20150073674
    Abstract: A vehicle control strategy provides for automatically controlled movement from rest with deliberate wheel slip to maximize thrust. Different wheel slip conditions are provided for different terrain types. Wheel slip may be progressively reduced as the vehicle reaches a steady state speed. The strategy may also be implemented to maintain vehicle progress on low friction surfaces. The vehicle driver may be commanded to vary a control input, such as accelerator pedal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: James Kelly, Andrew Fairgrieve
  • Patent number: 8965609
    Abstract: An electric vehicle is presented. The electric vehicle may include a front motor for driving a front wheel; a rear motor for driving a rear wheel; a target torque determiner for determining a target torque of the front motor and a target torque of the rear motor, based on at least a displacement amount of an accelerator operation member operated by a driver; and a motor controller for controlling the front motor and the rear motor to cause the front motor to output the target torque and the rear motor to output the target torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Izumi Takagi
  • 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: 8954214
    Abstract: A motor assembly comprises an electric power train that is adapted to be connected to a power source and is also adapted to impart a torque to a wheel when the motor assembly is operating. The assembly further comprises a power determination means adapted to determine the amount of power supplied from the power source to the electric power train when the motor assembly is operating. In addition, the assembly comprises a rotational speed determination means adapted to determine a rotational speed of the wheel when the motor assembly is operating. Moreover, the assembly comprises a torque determination means adapted to determine a command torque value indicative of a requested torque to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Pehrson, Sture Wingard
  • Patent number: 8954183
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing in which a robot arm is used to pick up a workpiece which is subsequently scanned by a scanner and positioned relative to a manufacturing system for manufacturing in order to eliminate the use of a bespoke jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Amir Kayani, Michael Poad
  • Patent number: 8935080
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an engine output delivered in response to an operator pedal actuation based at least on a grade of vehicle travel. During uphill travel, in the presence of headwinds, and/or in the presence of a vehicle payload, the output may be increased while during downhill travel or in the presence of tailwinds, the output may be decreased. In this way, driver fatigue during travel over varying elevations, varying ambient conditions, and varying loads can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Joseph Szwabowski, Craig Thomas Hodorek
  • Patent number: 8930113
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for performing vehicle traction control. Time intervals between points of rotation of a rotating vehicle output shaft are measured. Indicators of shaft rotation rate are generated using, for each generated indicator, a set of one or more of the time intervals. The generated indicators of shaft rotation rate are used to determine a value indicative of a rate of change of shaft rotation rate. An indicator of a maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate is computed. A current indicator of output shaft rotation rate is determined to exceed the maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate. In response to determining that the current indicator exceeds the maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate, a signal to trigger application of a traction control mechanism is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Davis Intellectual Properties LLC
    Inventor: Shannon R. Davis
  • Patent number: 8930053
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes, as a drive power source, a hybrid system that has an engine and a motor. The control apparatus includes a control unit configured to reduce an output of the hybrid system and maintain or increase an engine rotation speed when a driver performs an accelerator operation and a brake operation simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiya Hashimoto, Hideaki Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 8909451
    Abstract: A motorcycle sets a target slip value based on an accelerator operation by a driver, and prevents a significant decrease in the output torque of the drive power source during execution of traction control to provide a comfortable ride. The motorcycle includes a target slip value calculating section that calculates a target slip value, based on an accelerator operation by a driver; and an actual slip value calculating section that calculates an actual slip value, based on the difference between the rotation speed of the front wheel and the rotation speed of the rear wheel. The motorcycle further includes a drive power source controller arranged and programmed to reduce the output torque of the drive power source, based on the difference between a criterion value different from the target slip value and the actual slip value when the actual slip value is lower than the target slip value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kinoshita, Hirokazu Fujita
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140358397
    Abstract: A method is described for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle on a road surface. The method includes obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, which is dependent on longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle when a slope of the road surface is non-zero. The method includes determining an initial estimate of the slope. The method includes determining a difference between the initial estimate of the slope and a prior estimate of the slope and, based on the difference, setting a current estimate of the slope to be equal to the initial estimate or the prior estimate. The method includes estimating the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on the current estimate of the slope and the measured value of vehicle acceleration. The method includes controlling at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels based on the estimated longitudinal velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: e-AAM Driveline Systems AB
    Inventors: Yunlong GAO, Matthijs KLOMP
  • Patent number: 8892315
    Abstract: A method for controlling a continuously variable ratio transmission is described. The method may include controlling a continuously variable ratio unit (“variator”) having rotary input and output members through which the variator is coupled between an engine and a driven component, the variator receiving a primary control signal and being constructed and arranged to exert upon its input and output members torques which correspond directly to the control signal. The method may also include determining a target engine acceleration, determining settings of the variator's primary control signal and of an engine torque control for providing the required engine acceleration and adjusting the control signal and/or the engine torque control based on these settings, predicting a consequent engine speed change, allowing for engine and/or transmission characteristics, and correcting the settings of the control signal and engine torque based on a comparison of actual and predicted engine speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Gibson Field, Stephen William Murray, Matthew Piers Burke
  • 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: 8886436
    Abstract: A driving force control apparatus includes: a turning radius estimating unit that estimates a turning radius of a four-wheel-drive vehicle; a target slip angle computing unit that computes a target slip angle at the time of turning of the four-wheel-drive vehicle, on the basis of the estimated turning radius; a target rotational speed computing unit that computes target rotational speeds of right and left rear wheels of the four-wheel-drive vehicle, on the basis of the estimated turning radius, the computed target slip angle, and a vehicle speed; and a driving force control unit that controls driving forces that are transmitted to the right and left rear wheels such that actual rotational speeds of the right and left rear wheels approach the computed target rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Kodama
  • Patent number: 8886435
    Abstract: A lock-up device supplies hydraulic pressure to a lock-up clutch when lock-up capacity becomes insufficient with increasing accelerator operation amount during slip control. The lock-up device (1) sets a hydraulic unit pressure command value corresponding to drive source torque so rotational speed difference becomes target slip speed when a variation in accelerator operation amount is in a predefined range, and deriving an estimated drive source output torque corresponding to the accelerator operation amount to set the pressure command value corresponding to the estimated drive source torque so the rotational speed difference becomes target slip speed when accelerator operation amount variation exceeds the range's upper limit, and (2) controls the hydraulic unit to supply hydraulic pressure corresponding to hydraulic pressure command value to the lock-up clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Nagami, Masatake Ichikawa, Makoto Hashizume
  • Publication number: 20140330501
    Abstract: A braking device and a controller are provided. The braking device individually adjusts braking forces that are respectively generated at wheels of a vehicle. The controller executes braking force distribution control for individually controlling the braking forces at the right and left wheels of the vehicle such that slip conditions of the right and left wheels are equal to each other through control of the braking device. The controller executes the braking force distribution control on the basis of an upper limit of a right and left braking force deviation that is a deviation in braking force between the right and left wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Satoshi Shimizu
  • 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: 8849537
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for controlling the stability of a vehicle via in-wheel motors. More specifically, a steering angle, a wheel speed, a lateral G-Force, and a yaw rate calculated, and the lateral G-Force is compared with a predetermined lateral G-Force threshold. Next, a predetermined yaw rate control threshold is compared with a difference between an actual yaw rate and a demand yaw rate based on the calculated steering angle and wheel speed. The demand yaw rate and the actual yaw rate are then compared when the difference between the demand yaw rate and the actual yaw rate is greater than the yaw rate control threshold, and a final torque value is generated according to the difference between the demand yaw rate and the actual yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sangyon Yoon
  • Patent number: 8836256
    Abstract: A drive system has a switched reluctance motor (SR motor) and a control system configured to determine an estimated total torque of SR motor as a function of the phase voltages and phase currents of the phases of the SR motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Zimin W. Vilar, Chris J. Tremel
  • Patent number: 8838357
    Abstract: Disclosed is a braking force distribution control device for a vehicle which has a braking apparatus capable of individually controlling braking forces of the wheels as required. Front or rear wheels having higher braking force sharing rate being referred to control reference wheels and the front or rear wheels having lower braking force sharing rate are referred to control object wheels. A difference value between braking slip index values of the left and right wheels of said control object wheels is referred to a reference difference value. A braking force distribution control is executed on the control object wheels so that the magnitude relationship in wheel speeds of the left and right wheels of the control object wheels is converse to that of the left and right wheels of the control reference wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8818630
    Abstract: A vehicular vibration damping control apparatus calculates a correction torque to suppress vehicle body sprung vibration. In outputting a correction torque command to a driving/braking torque producing device, the control apparatus outputs a hunting time correction torque command smaller than a normal time correction toque command when a state in which amplitude of the correction torque is greater than or equal to a predetermined amplitude continues for a predetermined time length, and thereafter to return an output of the correction torque command from the hunting time correction torque command to the normal time correction torque command if a state in which the amplitude of the correction torque is smaller than or equal to the predetermined amplitude continues for a first predetermined time length. The frequency of performing the vibration damping control is increased by suppressing occurrence of hunting at the time of return to the normal vibration damping control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Kobayashi, Takeshi Kimura, Yuuki Shiozawa, Mitsunori Ohta, Hiroki Sasaki, Akihiro Itoh, Masahiko Yoshizawa
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8798849
    Abstract: A method and device for dual-channel transmission of safety-relevant sensor signals. In the method, two sensor signals to be monitored are generated parallel to one another by two sensors and the generated sensor signals are transmitted to a common evaluation unit via two separate, input-side transmission channels. Within the evaluation unit, the permissibility of the transmitted sensor signals is checked using prescribed calculation specifications that correspond to one another and an evaluation unit output signal representing permissibility or impermissibility is generated for each sensor signal. The individual processing steps of the two calculation specifications are decoupled by the evaluation unit for the two sensor signals and performed diversified within the evaluation unit. The generated output signals are output via two separate, output-side transmission channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: MAGNA Powertrain AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Eggert, Heinz Langbauer
  • Patent number: 8788170
    Abstract: When a rear wheel total drive force is smaller than a rear wheel drive force difference and the rear wheel drive force difference cannot be accomplished by dividing the rear wheel total drive force between the left and right rear wheels, an inside wheel target drive force is not set to 0 and an outside wheel target drive force is not set to. Instead, the inside wheel target drive force is set to a default drive force that is a minimum value required to prevent a three-wheel drive state from occurring, and the outside wheel target drive force is set a value equal to the sum of the default drive force and the rear wheel drive force difference, which is a value with which the rear wheel drive force difference can be achieved under the condition of the inside wheel target drive force being equal to the default drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Tsushima
  • Patent number: 8775048
    Abstract: The method for controlling a safety system (102-108) of a vehicle (10) determines a reference velocity from a first front wheel sensor (20A) and a second front wheel speed signal from a second front wheel sensor (20B). An axle speed sensor (20C) may be used to determine an axle speed signal. A first rear speed signal and a second rear speed signal are determined from the reference velocity, a slip effect and a yaw signal. The yaw signal may be determined from a yaw rate sensor (28). Safety system (102-108) may be controlled in response to the first rear wheel speed signal and the second rear wheel speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Techologies
    Inventors: Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Thomas Salmon
  • Patent number: 8775045
    Abstract: A rear wheel drive force difference setting gain is multiplied by a basic left-right rear wheel drive force difference steady-state control computation value for achieving a vehicle turning behavior steadily requested by a driver in order to calculate a final left-right rear wheel drive force difference steady-state control amount. The final left-right rear wheel drive force difference steady-state control amount is added to a left-right rear wheel drive force difference transient control amount to obtain left-right rear wheel rear wheel drive force difference. This difference is multiplied by feedback control coefficient to obtain a final rear wheel drive force difference. During an initial stage of turning in which a lateral acceleration is smaller than a turn initial stage determining value, the rear wheel drive force difference setting gain is set to A, which is larger than 1 and increases as the lateral acceleration decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Tsushima
  • 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: 8751132
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a wheel reference speed of a wheel of a vehicle having a hydrostatic drive which uses a transfer medium, the hydrostatic drive acting at least on the one wheel, and the hydrostatic drive having an oscillating motor which may be swiveled to a pumping mode via which a torque may be applied to the wheel, and a wheel speed sensor for detecting the particular wheel speed being situated near the wheel, and the oscillating motor being appropriately adjusted while the wheel speed sensor ascertains the wheel reference speed in order to allow resistance-free flow of the transfer medium through the oscillating motor. The exemplary embodiments and/or exemplary methods of the present invention further relates to a device having arrangements for carrying out the method, and configured as a hydraulic drive control unit, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Grepl
  • Patent number: 8744710
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a front wheel drive force and a rear wheel drive force of a vehicle that includes a transmission comprises: a first controller for controlling a drive force of a main drive wheel and a drive force of an auxiliary drive wheel, the drive force of the main drive wheel being one of the front-wheel drive force and the rear-wheel drive force, and the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheel being another of the front-wheel drive force and the rear-wheel drive force; and a second controller for detecting whether a speed-change ratio of the transmission has changed. In a case that the second controller has detected that the speed-change ratio has changed, the first controller increases the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheel and reduces the drive force of the main drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Hiroya
  • 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: 8725381
    Abstract: The procedure of slip detection computes a right wheel speed Vr from a rotation speed Nm2 of a motor MG2 determined according to a detection result of a rotational position detection sensor 44 and from a left wheel speed Vl measured by a wheel speed sensor 64b attached to a left wheel 62b. A right wheel acceleration ar is calculated from the computed right wheel speed Vr. When the calculated right wheel acceleration ar exceeds a preset reference value arslip, the procedure detects the occurrence of a slip of a right wheel 62a. When a left wheel acceleration al calculated from the obtained left wheel speed Vl exceeds a preset reference value alslip, the procedure detects the occurrence of a slip of the left wheel 62b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Maeda
  • Patent number: 8718896
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle and method of control are disclosed. An internal combustion engine and at least one traction motor are operated such that the combined output torque corresponds to one of a plurality of output torque functions, each output torque function having a distinct output torque at a maximum value of accelerator pedal position for an associated vehicle speed. The output torque function is selected based on a virtual gear number. The virtual gear number varies in response to driver activation of shift selectors or automatically in response to changes in vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Ming Lang Kuang, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Ryan Abraham McGee, Kenneth Frederick
  • Patent number: 8718897
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a geared traction drive system configured to drive a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a driveshaft for transmitting power to the wheel; an electric drive motor for driving the driveshaft, the electric drive motor configured to receive signals from a vehicle dynamic control system to command a required speed; a gear reduction component for reducing the speed of the motor by a predetermined factor to a lower speed suitable for driving the wheel; and a drive electronics component that works with the electric drive motor to drive the wheel to the speed commanded by the vehicle dynamic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Wrightspeed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Wright, Ryan Cash