For Wheel Speed Patents (Class 702/148)
  • Patent number: 11878674
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an all-wheel-drive powertrain having an electric machine configured to power wheels. A controller is programmed to output a first calculated vehicle speed derived from integrating a measured longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and output a second calculated vehicle speed based on the measured longitudinal acceleration and a speed of one of the wheels. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to a flag being present, command a speed to the electric machine that is based on the first vehicle speed to reduce wheel slip, and responsive to a flag not being present, command a speed to the electric machine that is based on the second vehicle speed to reduce wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres, Peter James Barrette, Richard David Bruns, Corwin Stout, Rajit Johri
  • Patent number: 11433851
    Abstract: An illustrative example vehicle sensor system includes a plurality of barometric pressure sensors. A first barometric pressure sensor is situated on a first portion of the vehicle that faces at least partially in a first direction and a second barometric pressure sensor is situated on a second portion of the vehicle that faces at least partially in a second direction that is different than the first direction. A processor is configured to make a determination regarding vehicle motion based on respective indications from the plurality of barometric pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric P. Knutson
  • Patent number: 11041877
    Abstract: In some examples, to perform motion detection of a moveable platform, variance values based on acceleration data from an accelerometer on the moveable platform are computed. Using the computed variance values, it is determined whether the moveable platform is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Dake He, Alexander Levato, Yu Gao
  • Patent number: 10974705
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel controller (108) for a vehicle (100), comprising a wheel slip calculation module (212) arranged to calculate a longitudinal wheel slip value for a wheel slip between a surface of the wheel (102) and a road surface thereof; a wheel force estimation module (214) arranged to estimate a longitudinal wheel force value for a wheel force between the surface of the wheel (102) and the road surface; a tire model generator (216) arranged to receive longitudinal wheel slip values from the wheel slip calculation module (212) and longitudinal wheel force values from the wheel force estimation module (214); said tire model generator (216) being configured to generate a model (300, 400) representing a relationship between the calculated longitudinal wheel slip and the estimated longitudinal wheel force by using at least three longitudinal wheel force values and three corresponding longitudinal wheel slip values; and a vehicle wheel capability module (218) arranged in communication wi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Leon Henderson, Mats Sabelström
  • Patent number: 9598074
    Abstract: A vehicle stabilization system 1 comprises a VSA device to have a braking device generate a braking force to reduce rotation of wheels and perform an anti-lock braking control when a vehicle is braked and an AS device to cancel a yawing moment applied to the vehicle. A vehicle control device estimates a friction coefficient (pad ? value of the brake pad) of a friction material for braking the wheels, calculates braking forces for the left and right wheels using the estimated friction coefficient, calculates a yawing moment applied to the vehicle based on a braking force difference between a left wheel braking force to reduce rotation of the left wheels and a right wheel braking force to reduce rotation of the right wheels and determines an operation amount on the AS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Honda, Susumu Takahashi, Hiroaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9592709
    Abstract: [Objective] Unreceived malfunction should be prevented from being reported, at the time of a set replacement of tires. [Means for Solution] About each registered sensor ID, the unreceived malfunction judging portion 56 outputs a malfunction signal to the notification controller 53, when an unreceived period exceeds first setup time Tref1. The total unreceived period calculation portion 57 outputs a self-vehicle ID discrimination initiation instruction to ID discrimination/rewriting portion, when the sum total unreceived period Ttotal which is the sum total of the unreceived period of each registered sensor ID is calculated and the sum total unreceived period Ttotal exceeds second setup time Tref2. Before an unreceived period exceeds first setup time Tref1, registered sensor ID is rewritten and it can avoid reporting unreceived malfunction to a driver by this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuji Taki
  • Patent number: 9459275
    Abstract: A method of sampling acceleration measurements of a wheel (10, 20, 30, 40) of a motor vehicle (1), the vehicle (1) having a tire pressure monitoring system, and being fitted with an electronic central unit (2), each of the wheels (10, 20, 30, 40) including: a wheel unit (A, B, C, D) fixed to a rim (J10, J20, J30, J40) of radius R and having at least one accelerometer, measuring the radial acceleration F1 of the wheel, and a microprocessor; the method including the measurement, for each wheel revolution, at given time intervals (Tmeasurement), of a number (N) of radial acceleration values by the radial accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE FRANCE, CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Nicolas Guinart
  • Patent number: 9150202
    Abstract: An electric motor for rotating a wheel of a vehicle, the electric motor having a rotor, a stator and coil windings, a first sensor arranged to output a first signal indicative of a position of the rotor relative to the stator, a second sensor arranged to output a second signal indicative of a position of the rotor relative to the stator; wherein the first sensor and second sensor are offset with respect to each other such that upon rotation of the rotor relative to the stator the first output signal and second output signal allow the direction of the rotor to be determined; wherein the first output signal and second output signal are used for controlling current in the coil windings and at least one of the first output signal and second output signal are provided to a vehicle braking system to allow the vehicle braking system to determine a wheel lock condition or an onset of a wheel lock condition, wherein the onset of a wheel lock condition is determined based on predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED
    Inventor: Rupert Paul Kirby
  • Patent number: 9079462
    Abstract: The invention provides a system, a method and a computer program of estimating tire pressure deviations in a number of tires of a vehicle wherein a plurality of possible constellations of one or more pressure deviating tires exists. The system comprises a plurality of pressure deviation detectors (11), wherein each of the detectors (11) is adapted to detect at least one of the pressure deviating tire constellations. The system further comprises an output unit (12) which is adapted to provide for a warning if one of the pressure deviation detectors (11) detects at least one of the pressure deviating tire constellations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nira Dynamics AB
    Inventors: Peter Lindskog, Anders Stenman, Tony Gustafsson, Peter Hall
  • Patent number: 9075076
    Abstract: A sensor (1) for determining both a cadence of a crank and a travelling speed of a bicycle includes an accelerometer (4) providing a first signal dependent on a first acceleration along a first measurement axis (z) and a second signal dependent on a second acceleration along a second measurement axis (y) perpendicular to the first measurement axis. The accelerometer (4), a wireless transmitter (6) and a power source (8) are contained in a housing (2) that can be attached to a wheel of the bicycle. The sensor (1) determines the cadence from the rate at which consecutive changes of polarity occur in the first signal, or from the rate at which consecutive positive and negative extreme values occur in the first signal. The sensor also determines the travelling speed from the rate at which consecutive maximum and minimum extreme values occur in the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AR INNOVATION AG
    Inventor: Herbert Baechler
  • Publication number: 20150105938
    Abstract: A vehicle speed while curving through steering maneuver is determined. A vehicle speed determination system is applicable to a vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel. The system includes: a wheel speed sensor configured to detect a wheel speed Vf of the front wheel; and an arithmetic circuit configured to determine a vehicle speed V(r) at a rear-wheel tangential point, based on a difference in vehicle speed between the front-wheel tangential point and the rear-wheel tangential point which occurs due to a difference between a locus of travel of the front wheel and a locus of travel of the rear wheel, and on the wheel speed Vf of the front wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimichi SEKI
  • Patent number: 9008903
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents a wheel diameter variation-detecting device capable of properly detecting relative variation in diameter between a plurality of wheels of a vehicle. The wheel diameter variation-detecting device can detect variation in diameter between a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, can detect rotational speeds of the respective wheels, and can calculate a variation parameter indicative of variation in diameter between the wheels using one of the wheels as a reference wheel, based on a result of comparison between the rotational speed of the reference wheel and that of one of the wheels other than the reference wheel. Further, the wheel diameter variation-detecting device can learn the variation parameter based on a value obtained by averaging a plurality of values of the variation parameter obtained before the detected travelled distance reaches a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kurata, Takahiro Eguchi, Shuichi Fujimoto, Hirohiko Totsuka
  • Patent number: 8849601
    Abstract: A method for self-calibrating, while a vehicle is moving, an accelerometer mounted on a wheel of the vehicle so that its plane of maximum sensitivity is secant with the axis of rotation of the wheel. The average value and on the other hand the amplitude of the signal representative of the acceleration Acc-read delivered by the accelerometer are calculated first, for an established speed of the vehicle, based on measurements performed by the accelerometer during a time window corresponding to the time needed for the wheel to complete n rotations, with n>1, then the values of the gain C1 and of the offset C2 of the accelerometer are determined by resolving the system of two equations with two unknown values: ?2R=C1×(average value of Acc-read)+C2 2 g=C1×(amplitude of Acc-read) with: ? the speed of rotation of the wheel, R the radius of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventor: Youri Vassilieff
  • Patent number: 8738308
    Abstract: A method of detecting a decrease in tire air pressure includes calculating tire rotation information obtained from the wheel tires; computing a first determination value showing a difference between the sums of the wheel rotation information of pairs of wheel tires on two diagonal lines and a second determination value showing a difference between the sum of the wheel rotation information of right wheel tires and the sum of the wheel rotation information of left wheel tires; assuming the computed first and second determination values as points on orthogonal coordinates; determining position of tire(s) having a decreased pressure based on the argument of the points on the polar coordinates; and comparing the moving radii of the points on the polar coordinates with a predetermined threshold value to thereby determine a decrease in tire air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Kitano
  • Patent number: 8521468
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for improving the reliability, accuracy, efficiency and/or robustness of a vehicle dynamic control system (VDCS) by providing analytical redundancy for one or more sensor readings. Sensor readings such as wheel speed, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration and steering angle are oftentimes related to one another. Thus, the diagnostic method may use these dynamic relationships to detect faults in the sensor readings without having to add additional redundant hardware or use complex circular logic structures, which can increase the cost and impose processing burdens on the VDCS. In an exemplary embodiment, the diagnostic method checks for faulty sensor readings through a process of analytical redundancy that includes intra- and inter-parameter evaluations having linear and forward dependencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Hualin Tan
  • Patent number: 8489355
    Abstract: A method for determining long-term offset drifts of acceleration sensors in a motor vehicle is provided. In one step, the longitudinal vehicle speed is determined in the vehicle's center of gravity. In another step, the share of the driving dynamics in the longitudinal reference acceleration formula and in the transversal reference acceleration formula is calculated from the longitudinal vehicle speed and the yaw rate. In yet another step, the share of the driving dynamics in the reference acceleration on the vehicle level formula is calculated by converting the driving dynamic reference accelerations formula calculated for the center of gravity to the position formula and the orientation of the sensor formula. In a further step, the long-term offset drift of the sensor is determined from the measured values of the sensor and the share of the measured value in the driving dynamics by means of a situation-dependent averaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Kretschmann, Jens Daniel Schlachter, Martin Stratesteffen
  • Publication number: 20130129481
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the correct rotational direction of a centrifugal apparatus. The method can include detecting the correct rotational direction of the centrifugal apparatus based on an acceleration test and/or a deceleration test. The detecting of correct rotational direction of the centrifugal apparatus can include comparing an acceleration time (t1,acc) for a first direction with an acceleration time (t2,acc) for a second direction, whereby shorter acceleration time can be interpreted as an indication of correct rotational direction; and/or comparing a deceleration time (t1,dec) of the first direction with a deceleration time (t2,dec) of the second direction, whereby longer deceleration time can be interpreted as an indication of correct rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: ABB OY
    Inventors: Jussi TAMMINEN, Tero AHONEN, Jero AHOLA, Markku NIEMELÄ
  • Patent number: 8433538
    Abstract: In a method and a device for balancing production related inaccuracies of the magnetic wheel of an electromotive drive of a vehicle, correction factors are used, the initial value of which is factory preset, and which are modified in the course of an adaption process until the production-related inaccuracies of the magnetic wheel have been balanced as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Holzmann, Roman Morawek, Daniel Zuffer
  • Patent number: 8406947
    Abstract: A vehicle body speed calculation device includes a wheel speed derivation mechanism deriving wheel speeds based on detection signals from wheel speed sensors which detect the speeds of wheels of a vehicle; a rotational speed derivation mechanism deriving a rotational speed based on a detection signal from a rotational speed detection sensor which detects the rotational speed of an energy conversion device, the energy conversion device being connected to the wheels and being capable of mutual conversion between electric energy and rotational energy; and a body speed calculation mechanism calculating a body speed by using the rotational speed of the energy conversion device derived by the rotational speed derivation mechanism when the vehicle is travelling in a predetermined low speed range but for calculating the body speed by using the wheel speeds derived by the wheel speed derivation mechanism when the vehicle is travelling in a predetermined high speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Kimbara, Masahiro Matsuura, Shinya Kodama
  • Patent number: 8326480
    Abstract: Method for monitoring the state of a tire, in which at least one analysis value (UR i), from which the state of a tire is determined, is formed from wheel speed signals (?rot i) of the vehicle wheels, wherein the analysis value (UR i) is an absolute rolling circumference of a tire or a variable which represents the absolute rolling circumference of a tire, in particular a dynamic tire radius which is determined by evaluating wheel speed signals (?rot i) and signals from at least one sensor in order to measure the speed of the vehicle over an underlying surface, and the analysis value (UR i) is used to determine a loss of pressure and/or working loads of the tire, as well as a device for monitoring the state of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Andreas Köbe, Frank Schreiner, Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 8280675
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a rail vehicle includes receiving signals representative of temperatures of a wheel of the rail vehicle and generating a sensed wheel temperature profile of the wheel based on the signals. At least a portion of the sensed wheel temperature profile is representative of the temperatures of the wheel. The method also includes identifying waveform attributes in the sensed wheel temperature profile and designating the sensed wheel temperature profile as at least one of a typical wheel profile and an atypical wheel profile based on the waveform attributes in the sensed wheel temperature profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Progress Rail Services Corp
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Church, Donald Arndt
  • Publication number: 20120226469
    Abstract: A controller. The controller includes a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium. The processor is configured to receive the speed of a first driven wheel from a wheel speed sensor and the speed of a drive shaft from a drive shaft sensor. The non-transistory computer readable medium includes program instructions executed by the processor for determining a speed of a second driven wheel based on a plurality of detected speeds of the first driven wheel and detected speeds of the drive shaft over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Jay ant Premkumar, Jiamu Hu, Brad Lobbestael, Hsien-cheng Wu
  • Patent number: 8239157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that guides a user through a sequence of steps that will allow the user to complete a predefined task using the flow meter. The steps include: selecting a predefined task, displaying a sequence of steps that directs the user through a process for using the Coriolis flow meter to complete the predefined task, and operating the Coriolis flow meter in response to the sequence of steps to complete the predefined task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig B McAnally, Andrew T Patten, Charles P Stack, Jeffrey S Walker, Neal B Gronlie
  • Patent number: 8229697
    Abstract: A method and a device are described for determining the rotational direction and/or rotational speed of a rotatable body on the basis of a sine signal and cosine signal, which is assignable to the rotational direction and/or rotational speed of the rotatable body and are output by a sensor, having at least one of the following steps: recording a sine signal and cosine signal, which is assignable to the rotational direction and/or rotational speed, at a point in time; determining a phase value from the sine signal and cosine signal; recording sine signals and cosine signals, which is assignable to the rotational direction and/or rotational speed, at points in time; determining phase values from the corresponding sine signals and cosine signals; calculating phase differences from the phase values and the phase value; and determining the rotational direction and/or rotational speed from the phase differences on the basis of a Vernier method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Axel Wenzler
  • Patent number: 8209243
    Abstract: A system for performing real-time labor management and timesheet reporting comprising: a plurality of portable and dedicated time tracking units, with each unit operable to wirelessly transmit timesheet information; and a labor management system operable to receive the timesheet information from each of the time tracking units and thereby maintain the timesheet information for each time tracking unit. Each unit may be dedicated to tracking time and incapable of providing unrelated functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Hourdoc Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Claude Smith, Antonio Robert Grijalva, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8209081
    Abstract: A method for compensating for wheel speed and acceleration calculation errors comprising the steps of collecting a wheel speed signal, creating at least one compensation factor for the wheel speed signal, correlating each compensation factor with a rotational position of the wheel, modifying each compensation factor individually based on variations in calculations made from the information collected according to the rotational position of the wheel, and calculating wheel speed and acceleration using the at least one compensation factor applied according to the rotational position of the wheel from which the wheel speed signal is collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventor: John Patrick Joyce
  • Patent number: 8169214
    Abstract: An angular position sensor and method that relies on a stationary circular array of Hall sensors and a rotatable circular array of magnets arranged about a common axis. A periodic and simultaneous reading of all of the Hall sensor outputs is used to determine angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Zak
  • Patent number: 8165842
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring the speed of a vehicle running on wheels has a first sensor and a second sensor. The two sensors are arranged on the same wheel of a vehicle and rotate with this wheel. Both sensors are arranged in such a way that they measure forces which are each perpendicular to the axis of the wheel and at an angle to one another, and act on the same point. An evaluation device is provided to which the measured values of the two sensors are fed, with the evaluation device obtaining the acceleration of the vehicle in the direction of travel therefrom, and calculating the current vehicle speed from it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: TraJet GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Helck
  • Publication number: 20120053853
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for improving the reliability, accuracy, efficiency and/or robustness of a vehicle dynamic control system (VDCS) by providing analytical redundancy for one or more sensor readings. Sensor readings such as wheel speed, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration and steering angle are oftentimes related to one another. Thus, the diagnostic method may use these dynamic relationships to detect faults in the sensor readings without having to add additional redundant hardware or use complex circular logic structures, which can increase the cost and impose processing burdens on the VDCS. In an exemplary embodiment, the diagnostic method checks for faulty sensor readings through a process of analytical redundancy that includes intra- and inter-parameter evaluations having linear and forward dependencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Hualin Tan
  • Patent number: 7970525
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the vehicle speed of a motor vehicle, wherein a provisional first speed value is determined for high speeds and a provisional second speed value is determined for low speeds and the vehicle speed is determined as a function of the determined provisional first speed value either from the provisional first speed value or from the provisional second speed value, or from a combination of the first and second speed values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maria-Christina Laiou, Alexander Meske, Walter Kagerer, Falk Langer
  • Patent number: 7930132
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a tire is in rotation is provided. A measured acceleration is compared to a first threshold after a first timer indicates that a first period has lapsed, and indication that the tire is in rotation is provided if at least one of the measured accelerations is greater than the first threshold. If an absolute difference between consecutive measured accelerations is greater than a second threshold, an indication that the tire is in rotation is also provided. Additionally, the second timer is started if the absolute difference is greater than the second threshold and if a second timer is not running, and indication that the tire is rotating is provided if the absolute difference is less than a predetermined threshold and if the second timer is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Toshiaki Watasue
  • Patent number: 7912665
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting the absence of contact between the hands of a driver of a vehicle and a steering wheel of the vehicle that have particular application in ensuring the proper functioning of various components of the driver assist steering systems and maintaining driver attentiveness. The method for detecting a no-contact condition between the hands of the driver of the vehicle and the steering wheel includes generating a model of the no-contact condition using a second-order transfer function. The method further includes obtaining a set of model-generated steering dynamics by estimating a plurality of parameters of the second-order transfer function and a set of measured steering dynamics using a plurality of sensors. The set of model-generated steering dynamics and the set of measured steering dynamics are then compared and the no-contact condition is detected based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Weiwen Deng, Yong H. Lee, Haicen Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110029214
    Abstract: A method for monitoring vehicle tires by: 1) determining that a complete deflation or blow-out occurs if speed variation of one wheel of a vehicle is larger than or equal to a threshold value, and wheel speeds of other wheels of the vehicle are approximately constant, 2) associating a blow-out or complete deflation speed increment ratio ?V2 with a ratio of an normal impeller diameter Rnormal to a complete deflation impeller diameter Rdeflation, and 3) detecting whether a real-time speed increment ratio ?V of one wheel is greater than or equal to the blow-out or complete deflation speed increment ratio threshold ?V1, wheel speeds of other wheels are approximately constant, and a real-time speed increment variation rate is greater than or equal to the blow-out or complete deflation speed increment variation rate threshold ?V1/?t.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Jianzhong FU
  • Patent number: 7856338
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a reversion of direction of a relative movement between a periodic scale for defining a periodic field and a field sensor. The field sensor outputs first and second sensor signals. The first sensor signal is advanced from the second sensor signal if the periodic field moves in a first direction. The second sensor signal is advanced from the first sensor signal if the periodic field moves in a second direction. A determiner determines the difference between the first sensor signal and a signal corresponding to a temporal change of the second sensor signal or between the second sensor signal and a signal corresponding to a temporal change of the first sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Francesco Alex Maone, Tobias Werth
  • Publication number: 20100281967
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method provide a means for indicating an overload condition has occurred during aircraft operation. The occurrence of an overload condition is automatically determined and an indication output thereof. Based on the indication received by the cockpit, avionics, maintenance, etc., further action may be taken to correct the effects of the overload condition on the tires and/or landing gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Patent number: 7831407
    Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that classifies a driver's driving style based on vehicle U-turn maneuvers. A process determines if the vehicle has started a turn if the yaw rate is greater than a first yaw rate threshold, and determines a vehicle heading angle based on the yaw rate and a sampling time if the vehicle has started a turn. The process then determines whether the vehicle maneuver has been completed by determining if the yaw rate is less than a second yaw rate threshold. The process then determines that the completed maneuver was a U-turn maneuver if the yaw rate is less than a third yaw rate threshold during the maneuver, the final vehicle heading angle is within a heading angle range and the duration of the maneuver is less than a predetermined time threshold. In one non-limiting embodiment, the heading angle range is between 165° and 195°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jihua Huang, William C. Lin, Yuen-Kwok Chin
  • Publication number: 20100223025
    Abstract: In a method and a device for balancing production related inaccuracies of the magnetic wheel of an electromotive drive of a vehicle, correction factors are used, the initial value of which is factory preset, and which are modified in the course of an adaption process until the production-related inaccuracies of the magnetic wheel have been balanced as much as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Stefan Holzmann, Roman Morawek, Daniel Zuffer
  • Publication number: 20100217542
    Abstract: A rotation speed information detection apparatus, including: a wheel sensor for detecting passage of teeth of a gear provided in association with tires of a vehicle; a number-of-teeth calculation means for calculating the number of teeth of the gear passed per a sampling cycle set in advance; and a wheel speed calculation means for regularly calculating rotation speed information of the tire with using the number of teeth calculated. The number-of-teeth calculation means is configured to use a ratio between time information at the point and a remaining time until the time at which the next sampling cycle is started is reached to thereby calculate the number of remaining teeth to calculate the number of teeth passed during the sampling cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Hajime FUJITA, Hiroaki Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20100169040
    Abstract: A method for estimating longitudinal speed of a motor vehicle, including two drive wheels and at least one central electronic unit, based on rotational speeds of the four wheels two of which are drive wheels, such that, after arranging the rotational speeds in descending order: in an acceleration phase, the vehicle longitudinal speed is compared with the speed of the third fastest wheel, and its acceleration should not exceed that of the slowest wheel; in a deceleration phase, the longitudinal speed is compared with the speed of the fastest wheel and its acceleration in absolute value should not exceed that of the second fastest wheel; when the longitudinal speed ranges between the speed of the third fastest wheel and that of the fastest wheel, its value remains constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S
    Inventors: Stephane Guegan, Gabriel Toffolo
  • Patent number: 7724157
    Abstract: An improved keyboard system and apparatus using keys spaced and sized to correspond to human hands provides rapid data entry applicable to all electronic devices. Each key combination provides a binary sequence, and each sequence is associated with an alphabetic, numeric or control character using standard ASCII coding. The preferred eight key embodiment is adapted to the back of a hand-held electronic device whereby data is readily input by a user holding the device with both hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Keith I. Gray
  • Patent number: 7680545
    Abstract: This Invention provides for a method and system for speed measurement verification. The method comprises the step of automatically measuring the speed of a vehicle traveling on a surface which includes a fixed marker at a predetermined distance from a point where the speed of the vehicle is measured. The measured speed is automatically compared to a predetermined speed limit and if the speed limit is exceeded, the next step involves automatically calculating a time delay, which time delay is calculated according to the measured speed and the predetermined distance so as to predict when the vehicle, if traveling at the measured speed, will reach the marker. An image is then captured with a camera directed at the marker after expiration of the time delay so that, if the measured speed is accurate, the vehicle will be positioned proximate the marker so that the captured image showing the vehicle relative to the marker is able to serve as verification of the accuracy of the measured speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Rudiger Heinz Gebert
  • Patent number: 7676345
    Abstract: A method of determining the velocity (?) of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has at least one pair of a front and a rear wheel which are spaced by a wheel spacing (B). Front and rear wheel speed signals (?) are determined which are indicative of the time dependent behavior of the front and rear wheel speeds, respectively. The front and rear wheel speed signals (?) are correlated in order to determine a specific correlation feature indicative of the time delay (?) between the front wheel and rear wheel speed signals. The velocity (?) of the vehicle is determined based on the correlation feature and the wheel spacing (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: NIRA Dynamics AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Gustavsson, Jonas Nilsson, Tony Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 7673505
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises sampling a sensor during rotation, determining a percentage of samples within a target range, and calculating a circumferential portion of the rotation associated with the percentage of samples. In other embodiments, additional systems and methods and disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Dirk Hammerschmidt
  • Patent number: 7619510
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method and program for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure which prevent the issuance of an erroneous alarm and thus determine abnormality in tire air-pressure even when a rotational velocity of the tire changes by causes other than a decrease in an air pressure. An apparatus for alarming abnormality in tire air-pressure decrease detects a change in a relationship between wheel velocities of front wheel tires and those of rear wheel tires, and replaces a relationship between the wheel velocities of the front wheel tires and those of the rear wheel tires with a relationship between wheel velocities of front wheel tires and those of rear wheel tires obtained after the change of the relationship, thereby determining abnormality in air-pressure when the change is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 7614292
    Abstract: Repeated small irregularity, i.e. defect in outer shape on a sidewall portion S of a pneumatic tire T is detected. An order analysis is performed in higher order by an order analysis means 24 based on a waveform measured the irregularity on the sidewall portion S of the pneumatic tire T along the circumferential direction to calculate the value of the small irregularity at this order, and then the defect in outer shape is decided if the value of the small irregularity exceeds an allowable value. Thus, a pneumatic tire T of which small irregularity of certain order exceeding the allowable value is repeatedly formed in the circumferential direction on the sidewall portion S can be easily and certainly rejected as a defective tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Kouyama
  • Publication number: 20090234591
    Abstract: A method of calculating forces acting on the footprint area of a tyre, the tyre being mounted on a wheel in turn mounted on a hub for engagement with a vehicle, the tyre being moved along a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the ground, includes the following steps: detecting a first angular position of the footprint area; detecting a second angular position of a reference point substantially integral with the hub; comparing the first and second angular positions with each other to determine a phase displacement between the reference point and footprint area; determining a parameter representing an angular velocity of the wheel; calculating at least one longitudinal force in the footp function of at least the phase displacement and the parameter. Also described is an apparatus for calculating the forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Sergio Savaresi, Mara Tanelli, Peter Langthaler
  • Patent number: 7574293
    Abstract: A method of determining the position of a tire on a vehicle using signal pulses is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of signal pulses from a transmitter associated with the tire in the time the tire completes approximately one rotation, providing at least one predetermined signal pattern associated with a unique tire position on the vehicle, and comparing the plurality of signal pulses to the predetermined signal pattern to determine the position of the tire on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Loren D. Vredevoogd, Brian S. Honeck, Thierry Pinard, Regis Boutroy
  • Patent number: 7555402
    Abstract: The method consists in: determining in which actually sector the booster motor is located, a sector of the booster motor being defied by two successive poles; determining a relative angle position of the steering wheel in relation to the booster motor; identifying a sector, known as neutral, in which the booster motor is located when the rotation speeds of the rear wheels, i.e. right and left of the vehicle, are equal; determining an angle offset of the steering wheel corresponding to a neutral angle position of the steering wheel; determining an absolute angle position of the steering wheel which is equal to the difference between the relative angle position of the steering wheel and the offset angle thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Julien Barthomeuf, Stephane Cassar, Andre Michelis
  • Publication number: 20090093993
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for detecting if a vehicle is stopped. A wheel speed, transmission output speed, and a vehicle state, representative of a plurality of vehicle dynamic parameters, is determined. The vehicle is determined to be stopped if, after a predetermined period of time, the wheel speed and transmission output speed remain zero and the vehicle state remains stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: DANIEL S. MAITLEN
  • Publication number: 20090063089
    Abstract: A method and a system for detecting the type of tire are disclosed, in particular in an indirectly measuring tire pressure monitoring system, which detects tire inflation pressure loss from the wheel rotational behavior. At least one modified vehicle tire is used, which incites specific patterns related to tire properties in the wheel rotational speed signal, and information about the tire is acquired by evaluation of the wheel rotational speed information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas Kobe, Martin Griesser