Control Mechanism Patents (Class 74/335)
  • Patent number: 11959547
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement (46) for an automated transmission includes multiple axially parallel shift rails (4, 14, 24, 34) being axially displaceable by associated shift actuators (8, 18, 28, 38). The sensor arrangement (46) has multiple displacement sensors (48, 56, 64, 72) made up of a signal transmitter (50, 58, 66, 74) attached to a shift rail and a signal receiver (52, 60, 68, 76) fixedly arranged on a housing. The signal transmitters are in the form of a permanent magnet, and the signal receivers are in the form of a 3D Hall sensor. To detect an external magnetic interference field, which can corrupt the sensor signals from the displacement sensors (48, 56, 64, 72), the signal transmitters (50, 58, 66, 74) have identical axial alignments of their magnetic poles, and the signal receivers (52, 60, 68, 76) are in a common plane (80) that is horizontal in their installation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Global GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Reimann, Stefan Groetzinger, Robert Sohn
  • Patent number: 11920675
    Abstract: A method for determining an actuating-travel range between two shift-element halves of a form-locking shift element (A, F) during an engagement of the shift element (A, F) and in the presence of a tooth-on-tooth position between the two shift-element halves is provided. An actuating movement of the at least one movable shift-element half with respect to the other shift-element half is monitored by a sensor. A tooth-on-tooth position is detected when it is determined, by the sensor, within an actuating-travel range of the at least one movable shift-element half between a disengaged condition and an engaged condition of the shift element, that the actuating movement of the movable shift-element half in the engagement direction is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Zerlaut, Martina Jehle
  • Patent number: 11898631
    Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes a transmission unit for receiving a transmission command for a vehicle, a driving unit for generating a driving force for switching a posture of the transmission unit, and a control device for controlling the driving unit to switch the posture of the transmission unit based on whether a preset condition is satisfied. The driving unit includes a first stator for generating magnetic flux, a first rotor having a first inner permanent magnet and a second inner permanent magnet axially arranged at a predetermined spacing along a rotation axis, and configured to be rotated by the magnetic flux transferred to the first inner permanent magnet, an outer permanent magnet, and a second rotor configured to rotate along a magnetic force path between the second inner permanent magnet and the outer permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Mi Rae Do, Sung Jin Kim, Min Soo Kim, Jae Seung Hong, Gwang Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 11858481
    Abstract: A lock module assembly controls hill hold, park, and neutral states of a vehicle. The lock module assembly does all of this by controlling rotation of a wheel hub (or a shaft that rotates the wheel hub) of the vehicle. The lock module assembly includes a pocket plate fixedly secured to a rotating shaft. The pocket plate includes a locking element housed therein. A notch plate has first and second sets of notches with the first set complementing the pocket plate secured to the rotating shaft. A second set of notches complements a static pocket plate that houses at least clockwise actuator and at least one counterclockwise actuator. The actuators are used to control hill holds and park, whereas the locking element of the pocket plate disengages the wheel hub from the rotating shaft (neutral).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sigma Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 11840237
    Abstract: A control device and a method for controlling a vehicle powertrain to overcome, or avoid, a cog-to-cog condition during gear shifting is provided. The method comprises, when an input shaft of the gearbox is rotating, controlling a synchromesh arrangement so as to induce a difference in rotational speed between a first gear wheel and a first coupling sleeve arranged to lock the first gear wheel to a main shaft of the gearbox by at least partly engaging the first gear wheel or a second gear wheel to the input shaft. Furthermore, a computer program, a computer-readable medium and a vehicle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventor: Jonas Lindström
  • Patent number: 11833894
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power-shiftable multi-gear transmission (12) having a driven input shaft (14) and a shaft (16). The power-shiftable multi-gear transmission (12) comprises at least one first gear stage (18) and one second gear stage (26) which are in each case configured as spur gear teeth. At least one first power transmission element is arranged on the input shaft (14) by means of a freewheel (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Janek Kraeuter
  • Patent number: 11821763
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining position are provided. An object produces a magnetic field having a first vector component, a second vector component, and a third vector component that are orthogonal to one another. A sensor measures a magnitude of each of the first, second, and third vector components when the object is within a range of positions. A controller is connected to the sensor and determines a relative position of the object within an undetermined cycle of a plurality of cycles based on the magnitude of the first vector component and the magnitude of the second vector component. The controller determines a cycle of the plurality of cycles in which the object is located based on the magnitude of the third vector component. The controller determines an absolute position of the object based on the relative position of the object and the cycle in which the object is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kongsberg Inc.
    Inventors: Rémi Tétreault, Louis Beaumier, Christian Hébert, Simon Riverin
  • Patent number: 11796055
    Abstract: A monitoring method and device for determination of a gear-stick position, a vehicle control unit, and a vehicle. The monitoring method for determination of a gear-stick position includes: acquiring a first actual gear-stick position and a first acceptable gear-stick position calculated by a functional layer; calculating a second actual gear-stick position according to a gear-stick position signal; determining whether the first actual gear-stick position and the second actual gear-stick position are consistent; in case that the first actual gear-stick position and the second actual gear-stick position are consistent, determining whether the first acceptable gear-stick position is valid; and in case that the first actual gear-stick position and the second actual gear-stick position are inconsistent or the first acceptable gear-stick position is invalid, controlling the vehicle to enter a safe state. The present application can ensure safe driving of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GREAT WALL MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Shaokai Wang, Gang Yan
  • Patent number: 11787411
    Abstract: A shift mode control system includes a control apparatus that controls a shift mode of a vehicle, a first operation device that receives a first operation to switch an automatic mode to a manual mode, and a second operation device that receives a second operation to switch the manual mode to the automatic mode. The control apparatus includes a processor that calculates a speed ratio change amount that is a difference between a first speed ratio set when the automatic mode is switched to the manual mode in accordance with the first operation and a second speed ratio set when the manual mode is switched to the automatic mode in accordance with the second operation. The processor updates the speed ratio change amount set as a switching condition for automatically switching the manual mode to the automatic mode to the speed ratio change amount calculated by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Terai
  • Patent number: 11784539
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly comprising a component rotatable about a rotary axis for an actuating drive comprising a sensor element attached to the rotatable component. The rotatable component has a support surface from which a fixing element protrudes in parallel to the rotary axis. The sensor element includes an opening. The sensor element is arranged on the support surface in such a manner that the fixing element penetrates the opening. A surface of the sensor element adjacent to the opening has a structure. A top portion of the fixing element is in interlocking engagement with the structure so that the attached sensor element is connected to the component in a torque-resistant manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Biancuzzi, Felix Blaser, Uwe Schäfer, Michael Bruckhoff
  • Patent number: 11754179
    Abstract: An actuator for the actuation of at least one movable member of a motor vehicle transmission. The actuator includes a housing, at least one electric motor having a stator and a rotor mounted on a rotor shaft extending along an axis X1, a motor pinion fixed to the opposite end of the shaft from the rotor, a circuit board for supplying power to the stator and controlling the electric motor, and a reduction mechanism driven by the motor pinion. The housing defines a first volume in which the electric motor and the circuit board are received. The circuit board is located axially along the axis X1 between the electric motor and the motor pinion. The actuator further includes a cover defining a second volume in which the reduction mechanism is received, the housing and the cover each have guides for guiding the reduction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES DE CONTROLE MOTEUR
    Inventors: Sylvain Gautier, Stephane Sorin, Guillaume De La Bourdonnaye Blossac
  • Patent number: 11746897
    Abstract: An electronic shift control apparatus includes a shift dial that is operated by a driver to select an R-range, an N-range, and a D-range, a P-range motor that is operated to select a P-range, and a haptic motor that generates a haptic signal. When a driver shifts into a specific shift range of a vehicle by operating the shift dial or the P-range button, the haptic signal is configured to be transmitted to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, SL Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Lee, Han Gil Park, Ki Young Song, Sang Jin Meun
  • Patent number: 11739831
    Abstract: A dial-type shifting control apparatus of vehicles may include a dial bezel and an upper cover integrated into a single body to be rotated together when a dial is rotated, obviating formation of an operation gap between the dial bezel and the upper cover to prevent foreign substances from entering through the operation gap, and a button guide disposed under an upper cover attenuates an impact occurring when a P-gear button is returned, and thus to prevent noise, caused by striking of the upper cover when the P-gear button is returned, from being transmitted to the interior of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Bum Jun Kim, Jun Hyeong Lee
  • Patent number: 11739814
    Abstract: A dual-clutch transmission includes an odd gears clutch, an odd gears shaft supporting at least two odd-numbered rotary gears, an even gears clutch, and an even gears shaft supporting at least two even-numbered rotary gears. A driven rotary shaft is selectively connectable to one respective said odd- or even-numbered gear at a time. The dual-clutch transmission includes first and second range selection gears to transfer drive from the driven rotary shaft to an output shaft so as selectively to permit selection of at least a first range transmission ratio or a second range transmission ratio. The dual-clutch transmission further includes a first bypass drive line to drive engagement of at least two mutually engaged bypass rotary gears with the output shaft, giving rise to a first intermediate transmission ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Garth H. Bulgrien, Enrico Sedoni
  • Patent number: 11732797
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A controller controls the shift actuator utilizing an actuating pulse and an opposing pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies
    Inventors: Thomas Connolly, Joseph Paul Furner, Sipei Chen, Jeff Hawarden, Ian Daniel McKenzie, Christopher DeBoer
  • Patent number: 11736055
    Abstract: A shift range control device is provided for a shift range switching system that includes a motor having winding sets and a motor rotational angle sensor. The shift range control device includes controllers configured to control switching of a shift range by controlling drive of the motor. Each of the controllers is provided to corresponding one of the winding sets, and is configured to acquire a motor rotational angle signal from the motor rotational angle sensor and calculate a motor angle, control drive of the motor by controlling a current supply to the corresponding one of the winding sets to make the motor angle become a target rotational angle corresponding to a target shift range, and drive the motor by sequentially switching a current-supplied phase for each predetermined period without using the motor rotational angle signal when the motor rotational angle signal is in fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 11673552
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies
    Inventors: Paul Peterson, Graeme Andrew Jackson, Paul Wilson, Christian Chimner, David L. Wadas, Thomas Connolly
  • Patent number: 11671256
    Abstract: Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure relate to generation and implementation of a new security protocol that is used to secure common data access transactions across distributed network examples. An exemplary proof of verification protocol is disclosed that implements consensus security mechanisms across a plurality of distributed nodes, which may be utilized to validate owners of data in common data access transactions. Extending principles of blockchain security to common data access transactions and Internet of Things (IoT) networking requires a solution that: improves speed in transactional processing; reduces computational complexity; and presents efficient, secure and repeatable validation for owners of data in distributed networking environments. An exemplary proof of verification protocol provides such technical advantages by validating both user-specific data for a subscriber of an application/service and session data for user activity (past and present) within the application/service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Americorp Investments LLC
    Inventor: Jordan Simons
  • Patent number: 11635140
    Abstract: A shift device includes: a shift switching member including valley portions provided so as to correspond to shift positions; a positioning member causing the shift position to be established while being fitted in any of the valley portions of the shift switching member; a motor driving the shift switching member and including a rotor and a stator; a driving force transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force from the motor to the shift switching member; and a rotor rotation angle sensor and an output shaft rotation angle sensor detecting rotation angles of the rotor and the shift switching member. The shift device corrects a deviation from a center of a preset backlash when a backlash width included in the driving force transmission mechanism detected based on output values of the output shaft rotation angle sensor and the rotor rotation angle sensor is a value or more during a shift switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuto Ogino, Yutaka Uchida, Kota Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11603924
    Abstract: A power transmission control device acquires rotation speed information of an idle gear corresponding to a target engagement member and rotation speed information of a sleeve corresponding to an engagement member, sets one rotation speed changeable by a power source as a synchronization side rotation speed, sets the other rotation speed as a target synchronization side rotation speed, allows a differential rotation between the synchronization side rotation speed and the target synchronization side rotation speed to match a predetermined differential rotation by changing the synchronization side rotation speed using the power source after a power transmission releasing state is selected due to a gear changing request, performs an engagement operation, inverts a sign of the predetermined differential rotation, and switches to the power transmission state while allowing the differential rotation to match the predetermined differential rotation of which the sign is inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Inoue
  • Patent number: 11584358
    Abstract: A method for performing rotational speed synchronisation of a first transmission component having a first initial rotational speed with a second transmission component having a second initial rotational speed, so that they rotate with the same final rotational speed during a gear switch from an initial driving gear to a final driving gear in a stepped gear transmission for a hybrid electric or electric drive train having an electric traction motor. The method including calculating a total frictional work resulting from performing the total rotational speed synchronisation by means of a mechanical synchroniser of the stepped gear transmission only, and if the calculated total frictional work exceeds a maximal frictional work of the mechanical synchroniser, performing the rotational speed synchronisation by means of both the electric traction motor and the mechanical synchroniser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Muddassar Piracha
  • Patent number: 11535229
    Abstract: A controller includes a control unit configured to perform stepwise shift that upshifts a CVT in a stepped manner to accelerate a vehicle. The control unit performs a downshift control configured to downshift the continuously variable transmission in a case in which an accelerator pedal is continuously stepped on from before prohibition of the stepwise shift to after prohibition of the stepwise shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jonghwan Lee, Tomoaki Honma, Satoshi Nakano, Koutarou Tagami, Yusuke Ushikubo
  • Patent number: 11514196
    Abstract: A lock for an information handling system includes a sensor configured to detect removal of an element from a chassis prior to verification of a user credential, and a plunger that engages the chassis at a first position. A security controller verifies the user credential, and causes the muscle wire to move the plunger from the first position to a second position in response to the verified user credential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Grobelny, Michael David, Christian L. Critz
  • Patent number: 11480248
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator can be provided for actuating a functional part by a movement of a force transmission element, with a working piston which can be acted upon by a hydraulic pressure of a pressure supply and is movable thereover between a first extreme position and a second extreme position in a piston/cylinder unit, wherein two chambers separated from one another by the working piston are present and a first chamber is formed as a first working chamber with a pressure inlet and a hydraulic pressure applied to the first pressure inlet urges the working piston in the direction of the first extreme position in order to enlarge the first working chamber. At least one retaining means is provided which is capable of automatically locking the working piston in one of the extreme positions when this extreme position is reached, even without any hydraulic pressure being applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventor: Theodor Gassmann
  • Patent number: 11473650
    Abstract: A method of operating a shifting system for a vehicle transmission includes engaging a clutch to operatively couple one of first and second gear ratios to an input member, and moving a disconnect from a first disconnect position where a disconnectable component is disengaged from the disconnect, to a second disconnect position where the disconnectable component is engaged with the disconnect to operatively couple the other of the first and second gear ratios to the input member through a shifting assembly. Engaging the clutch and moving the disconnect are performed such that the clutch is operatively coupled to one of the first and second gear ratios at the same time that the shifting assembly is operatively coupled to the other one of the first and second gear ratios, thus preventing torque from being transmitted through either the first and second gear ratios of the vehicle transmission to park the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: R. Keith Martin, Xinqian Xiang
  • Patent number: 11453378
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drive train of a hybrid vehicle which includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine that is operated as a motor or generator, and a transmission. Energy is recovered in the overrun operation of the vehicle by operating the electric machine in generator mode. The transmission has at least one free-wheel-connected low forward gear that only transmits traction torque, and at least one free-wheel-free high forward gear. When the free-wheel-connected low forward gear is engaged and the vehicle transitions into the overrun operation, or the driver requests a transition into the overrun operation by selecting the free-wheel-connected low forward gear, an overrun torque is set via the free-wheel-free high forward gear by a generator operation of the electric machine for energy recovery. The overrun torque thereby substantially corresponds to an overrun torque of a free-wheel-free configuration of the free-wheel-connected low forward gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephan Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11448272
    Abstract: A control method of a transmission of an electric vehicle provided with a transmission having a sleeve gear having an inclined chamfer on a first side of the sleeve gear and a flat chamfer on a second side of the sleeve gear, may include measuring a maximum movable stroke of a sleeve having the sleeve gear by moving the sleeve axially to both sides by a controller; determining a reference range to which the measured maximum stroke pertains from predetermined reference ranges by the controller; and determining and setting a neutral position of the sleeve using a predetermined determination method, depending on the determined reference range by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jong Yun Park
  • Patent number: 11441676
    Abstract: A rotary actuator used in a shift-by-wire system of a vehicle includes: a motor; an output shaft arranged parallel to a rotation shaft of the motor; and a deceleration mechanism that decelerates rotation of the motor and transmits it to the output shaft. The deceleration mechanism includes a drive gear provided over a rotation axis of the rotation shaft and a driven gear provided over a rotation axis of the output shaft to mesh with the drive gear. The driven gear is a separate member from the output shaft and is loosely fitted to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikine Kume, Kiyoshi Kimura, Hiroyuki Kado
  • Patent number: 11441620
    Abstract: An electric clutch actuator having an electric motor, a gear mechanism and a spindle which is coupled to the electric motor via the gear mechanism, wherein the spindle, the gear mechanism and the electric motor are received in a housing configured in one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: FTE automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Ryba, Dimitri Ostrohov, Frank Sauerteig, Michael Erdmann, Christian Sperber
  • Patent number: 11434991
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire (SBW) column shifter for a vehicle includes a shift lever configured to be moved to shift gears. A shaft enables the shift lever to rotate the shaft about an axis. A lever detent is coupled to the shaft, enabling the shaft to rotate the lever detent about the axis. A rotatable magnet rotates as the lever detent rotates. A magnetic sensor senses the angular position of the lever detent due to the changes in magnetic characteristics of the magnet as it rotates. A processor can command an operating gear change based on the signal output from the magnet sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ficosa North America Corporation
    Inventors: Alejandro Mendoza-Vega, Javier Alvarez Rubio
  • Patent number: 11415220
    Abstract: In a transmission device of a saddle riding vehicle arranged in the saddle riding vehicle, including a transmission and an actuator, the transmission including a shift drum, the shift drum rotating and changing shift position, the actuator rotatively driving the shift drum, and controlling the rotation angle of the shift drum by restricting rotation of the shift drum by cogging torque of the actuator, a pattern of an output of the actuator in changing the shift position by one stage is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Kittaka, Takashi Kudo, Hiroyuki Kojima
  • Patent number: 11415183
    Abstract: A controllable one-way clutch having a clutch module and a power-operated actuator module. The clutch module includes a first clutch component rotatably driven by an input member, a second clutch component rotatably driving an output member, struts disposed on the first clutch component for movement between a deployed position engaging ratchet teeth on the second clutch component and a non-deployed position disengaged from the ratchet teeth, and strut springs for biasing the struts toward their deployed position. The power-operated actuator module includes a coil unit, an armature moveable between an engaged position whereat the armature holds the struts in their non-deployed positions when the coil unit is powered-off and a released position where the armature releases the struts when the coil unit is powered-on, and a ballramp mechanism configured to move the armature along a helical path between its engaged and released positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN INC
    Inventor: Adrian Cioc
  • Patent number: 11396944
    Abstract: A transmission system configured to perform a gear change based on a shift operation by an operator is provided, which includes a power transmission system including a transmission and configured to transmit an engine driving force to wheels, a shift operation detecting module, and a transmission controlling module adapted to be executable of a manual rotation synchronizing mode having first and second steps. In the first step, when a first shift operation for changing the transmission to a lower-speed side is detected, the transmission controlling module sends a control signal to a connecting-and-disconnecting mechanism provided to the power transmission system to suspend the transmission of the driving force. In the second step, when a second shift operation is detected, the transmission controlling module sends a control signal to the connecting-and-disconnecting mechanism to resume the transmission of the driving force while the transmission is switched to the lower-speed side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Oyama, Kenji Sasaki, Takeo Moriuchi, Yasuhiko Shinya, Tomonari Itagaki
  • Patent number: 11388853
    Abstract: A vehicle includes; a vehicle body on which the motor is mounted; an apparatus provided to the traveling vehicle body and also driven by drive power from the motor; an apparatus that performs work on a field; an apparatus that changes the speed of drive power input from the motor and transmits the drive power; a tool that includes speed change stages and is also capable of speed change operation of the speed change apparatus by human operation; a controller that, when the number of speed change stages is changed based on human operation of the speed change operation tool, outputs to the speed change apparatus a speed change command for each predefined number of stages and is also capable of outputting the speed change command for each defined speed change interval; and an operation mechanism that enables adjustment of the speed change interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamaguchi, Yoshihiko Kuroshita, Hitoshi Azuma, Michita Kono, Shinji Ohara
  • Patent number: 11384817
    Abstract: A power train for an electric vehicle may include an input shaft to which a motor is fixedly connected; an output shaft mounted in parallel to the input shaft; a first driving gear and a first driven gear mounted on the input shaft and the output shaft, respectively, to be gear-engaged with each other; a second driving gear and a second driven gear mounted on the input shaft and the output shaft, respectively, to be gear-engaged with each other; a one-way clutch mounted in a first path where power is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft through the first driving gear and the first driven gear; a restraining mechanism mounted to selectively restrain the one-way clutch from freely rotating; and a friction clutch mounted to regulate a second path where power is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft through the second driving gear and the second driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jong Yun Park
  • Patent number: 11358589
    Abstract: Non-inverted park lock systems and methods include an engine controller configured to control an engine of a vehicle in communication with a separate transmission controller via a controller area network (CAN), wherein the transmission controller is configured to control a transmission of the vehicle; and a conductor connecting the engine controller to a park lock solenoid disposed in the transmission and configured to move a park pawl to engage/disengage park. The engine controller keeps the park pawl disengaged from park during a power loss malfunction at the transmission controller and the transmission controller keeps the park pawl disengaged from park during a power loss malfunction at the engine controller by maintaining hydraulic pressure in the transmission at a threshold level until park is requested via the shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Abhilash Gudapati, Jayant Chalke, Ankur Jaiswal
  • Patent number: 11325467
    Abstract: A gear transmission having a speed changing section includes a speed changing gear for setting a speed stage and a shift gear slidably mounted on a rotation support shaft and operated to engage and disengage with the speed changing gear, the speed changing section configured to speed-change inputted power and to output the resultant power via the rotation support shaft. An arrangement is provided for facilitating engagement of the shift gear with the speed changing gear even when respective end faces of the shift gear and the speed changing gear hit each other. A transmission mechanism (20B) is provided for outputting power of a rotation support shaft (24) to a traveling device. The transmission mechanism (20B) has a transmission flexibility portion (80) which allows free rotation of the rotation support shaft (24) by a set rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Yasuda, Yusuke Morita
  • Patent number: 11320044
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift control circuit operates a shift actuator using a first opposing pulse command and a first actuating pulse command, and releases pressure with shift actuating and opposing volumes of the shift actuator upon determining a shift completion event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Peterson, Graeme Andrew Jackson, Timothy Scott Smith, Paul Wilson, Christian Chimner, Thomas Connolly, Christopher Deboer
  • Patent number: 11300202
    Abstract: A device (5) for selective displacement of a shift element (4) towards a first shift position and/or a second shift position includes an actuator (6) and a spring module (7). The spring module (7) includes an actuator-side force-introduction element, a shift element-side force-introduction element, and a spring arrangement. The spring arrangement includes a first spring end and a second spring end. The actuator-side force-introduction element and the shift element-side force-introduction element each include a first support section and a second support section for supporting the spring ends. The first spring end is associated with the first support section of the shift element-side force-introduction element and with the second support section of the actuator-side force-introduction element. The second spring end is associated with the first support section of the actuator-side force-introduction element and with the second support section of the shift element-side force-introduction element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias Reisch, Ralf Dreibholz, Jürgen Wafzig
  • Patent number: 11287035
    Abstract: A rotational angle sensor detects the rotational position of a motor and outputs a motor rotational angle signal corresponding to the rotational position of the motor. An output shaft sensor detects a change in the magnetic field of a target that rotates integrally with an output shaft to which the rotation of the motor is transmitted, and outputs an output shaft signal according to the rotational position of the output shaft. A shift range control unit includes a motor control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 11280404
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, with which hydraulic cylinders of at least one clutch and of gear selectors can be actuated, which hydraulic system has a pressure accumulator for providing an accumulator pressure in the hydraulic system, wherein a clutch valve that can be actuated by the control unit is arranged in a clutch path leading from the pressure accumulator to the clutch hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Mathias Weinhardt
  • Patent number: 11280400
    Abstract: A selector apparatus comprises a shift lever operably supported on a base for movement between gear positions, and a feel positioner mechanism with offset detent members, where a first detent engages first undulations for biasing the shift lever toward a center of a selected gear position from a first direction, and a second detent engages second undulations for biasing the selector lever toward the center of the selected gear position from a different second direction to the common center point. By the arrangement, the first and second undulations define opposing angled slopes toward the common center point. This allows the undulations to be designed to provide any desired level of biasing force toward the center point without the limitations of a single undulation defining the center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: GHSP, Inc.
    Inventor: John Thomas Bagley
  • Patent number: 11273708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer gearbox having an input shaft, a first output shaft, a second output shaft, a friction clutch, by means of which, in a manner which is dependent on its engagement state, a variable proportion of a drive torque which is transmitted from the input shaft to the first output shaft can be transmitted to the second output shaft, and a rotationally driven actuator unit for controlling the engagement state of the friction clutch. Furthermore, the transfer gearbox has an electromagnetically actuable latch for locking the actuator unit as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Florian Bruhn, Martin Stocker
  • Patent number: 11236818
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission shifter assembly including a housing pivotally supporting a shifter lever between Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Manual shifter positions. A plurality of gate locations configured upon an underside of the housing and corresponding to each of Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive gear positions. A gate lock incorporated into the lever and biased against a selected one of the gate locations. A PCB board with processor and sensor integrated into the housing communicating with a motor connected to the shifter lever. Upon the processor determining existence of a return to park condition, a return to park mechanism actuates the motor for returning the shifter lever to the Park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Soave, Calogero Alu
  • Patent number: 11231780
    Abstract: A haptic operating device for a motor vehicle has a base, a stationary central part connected thereto, a rotary knob which can be rotated about the stationary central part and which has a hollow design. A magnetorheological transmission device influences the rotational movement of the rotary knob in a controlled manner. The transmission device has two components which can be rotated relative to each other and one component of which is designed as a brake component that can be rotated relative to the base. The stationary central part is secured to the base by means of a support arm. The transmission device and the support arm are arranged adjacent each other and both are received radially within the rotary knob. The rotary knob is rotationally fixed to the rotatable brake component via a coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Inventus Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Battlogg
  • Patent number: 11215242
    Abstract: A shifting system for a vehicle transmission includes an input member and a selectable one-way clutch rotatably coupled to the input member. The selectable one-way clutch is moveable between first, second, and third clutch positions. The shifting system also includes a disconnect coupled to the input member and moveable between first and second disconnect positions, and an output member selectively rotatable with the input member. The shifting system further includes a shifting assembly for selectively rotatably coupling the input and output members. The shifting assembly includes an input hub coupled to the input member, having a disconnectable component engageable with the disconnect, and having a clutch engagement component. Clutch plates are coupled to the clutch engagement component and are moveable between engaged and disengaged positions. A clutch plate carrier is coupled to the clutch plates and output member to transmit torque from the clutch engagement component to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Calahan B. Campton, R. Keith Martin
  • Patent number: 11199258
    Abstract: A gear shift control system controls an actuator so that a pushing force will be a constant gearing-phase pushing force, during a gearing phase. The gear shift control system performs control on the basis of the number of rotation of the engine in the gearing phase, which is measured at the start of the gearing phase, so that the constant gearing-phase pushing force will increase as a number of rotation of the engine in the gearing phase increases. Thus, the hitting sound due to collision between the sleeve and the shift gear in shifting gears is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Matsuura, Hiroyuki Kojima, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Kazumitsu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11199257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system, a control device, and a method for controlling a mechanical shifting operation in the drive system. The drive system has at least one first multi-gear transmission, having a first input shaft and a first mechanical shifting means. Torques coming from the first input shaft are transmitted to a drive system output shaft. The torques are produced by an internal combustion engine and/or at least one first electric motor. For the purpose of disengaging a gear of the multi-gear transmission, the first electric motor is connected to the internal combustion engine and operated in a generator operating mode at least at times during the shifting operation, whereby the internal combustion engine is loaded and the first mechanical shifting means is unloaded. The mechanical shifting means is thus free of load or torsion and can be easily disconnected/opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Technische Universität Darmstadt
    Inventors: Stephan Rinderknecht, Ruben König
  • Patent number: 11193582
    Abstract: A controlling apparatus for an electric shift-by-wire system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a shift stage sensor detecting information on a target shift stage according to the operation of the shift lever; a position sensor detecting information on a position of the motor; and a controller configured to receive the detected information from the shift stage sensor and the position sensor, when the target shift stage is a P stage, determine whether the P stage is likely to be released using the position information of the motor, and when it is determined that the P stage is likely to be released, limit rotation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Kefico Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Man Choi
  • Patent number: 11192561
    Abstract: A method for controlling an actuator system of a motor vehicle includes utilizing a model predictive control (MPC) module with an MPC solver to determine optimal positions of one or more actuators of the actuator system. The method further includes receiving a plurality of actuator system parameters, and triggering the MPC solver to generate one or more control commands from plurality of actuator system parameters. The method further includes applying a cost function to reduce a steady-state tracking error in the one or more control commands from the MPC solver and applying the one or more control commands to alter positions of the one or more actuators, and applying a penalty term to the steady-state predictions of positions of the plurality of actuators to limit a difference between a steady-state prediction of the actuator system and a solution from the MPC solver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jun Chen, Ruixing Long, Yiran Hu