Patents Examined by Edwin A. Young
  • Patent number: 12384236
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control apparatus includes a controller. The controller is configured to switch an operation mode of a hybrid vehicle between a vehicle-stopped electric power generation mode, a first reverse traveling mode, and a second reverse traveling mode. The vehicle-stopped electric power generation mode is a mode in which electric power generation is performed, while the hybrid vehicle is stopped, by sending power of an engine to an electric motor. The first reverse traveling mode is a mode in which the reverse traveling is performed by the power of the engine. The second reverse traveling mode is a mode in which the reverse traveling is performed by power of the electric motor. The controller is configured to switch the operation mode to the second reverse traveling mode when switching from the vehicle-stopped electric power generation mode to the reverse traveling is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tokito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 12379004
    Abstract: This clutch control device includes a clutch device connecting and disconnecting power transmission between a prime mover and an output target, a clutch actuator outputting a driving force for operating the clutch device, a release mechanism operating the clutch device by receiving a driving force of the clutch actuator, a control unit driving and controlling the clutch actuator, a first detection part detecting an output value of the clutch actuator, and second detection parts detecting an amount of operation of the release mechanism, in which the control unit controls an operation of the clutch actuator by selectively using detection information of the first detection part and detection information of the second detection parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junya Ono, Tatsuya Ryuzaki, Ryohei Tsuzuki, Yuma Kaibe, Junichiro Kano
  • Patent number: 12377832
    Abstract: A computer for a vehicle has a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to apply rotational power to one wheel of a vehicle and apply brake to three other wheels of the vehicle in response to activation of one-wheel dig mode of the vehicle by a human operator of the vehicle. The instructions include instruction to, in response to detection of completion of a hole in ground under the one wheel in the one-wheel dig mode, cease application of rotational power to the one wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2025
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Keith Weston
  • Patent number: 12377878
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for estimating wheel torque in an autonomous vehicle include a method for controlling a vehicle includes using a dual filter framework to generate an updated estimate of a wheel torque, and controlling, based on the updated estimate of the wheel torque, the vehicle. A first filter of the dual filter framework is configured to generate a blended estimate of the wheel torque by combining a first estimate of the wheel torque that is generated based on a set of mechanical torque transfer models of at least a powertrain and a brake of the vehicle and a second estimate of wheel torque that is generated based on an inverted longitudinal dynamic model, and a second non-linear filter of the dual filter framework is configured to generate the updated estimate of a wheel torque and vehicle velocity based on a torque delivery damping process model on vehicle motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Jingxuan Liu, Arda Kurt, Junbo Jing
  • Patent number: 12379025
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic system (1) of a transmission (2) of a motor vehicle i includes ascertaining an actual volumetric flow of oil that is deliverable into a primary hydraulic circuit (10) by at least one hydraulic pump (3), ascertaining a target volumetric flow of oil that is required by the primary hydraulic circuit (10), and ascertaining an excess volumetric flow of oil depending on the actual volumetric flow of oil and the target volumetric flow of oil. The excess volumetric flow of oil is distributed to shift elements of the transmission (2) to be actuated, depending on the hydraulic capacity of these shift elements, and is taken into account when limiting the pressure actuation of the shift elements of the transmission (2) to be actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Hasel, Jakob Mayer, Anshuman Deshpande
  • Patent number: 12371182
    Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gearbox, an electric motor operably coupled to the gearbox, a battery operably coupled to the electric motor to power the electric motor, and an engine lubrication system. The engine lubrication system includes a tank that holds an engine lubrication fluid. The engine lubrication system includes a pump that is configured to pump the lubrication fluid from the tank toward one or both of the battery and the electric motor through a supply line to maintain one or both of the battery and the electric motor above a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Arthur W. Sibbach
  • Patent number: 12371035
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle that includes a drive wheel, an engine and an electric motor as power sources for driving the vehicle, and an automatic transmission which is provided in a power transmission path between the power sources and the drive wheel and which is configured to selectively establish a plurality of gear positions providing respective different gear ratios. The control apparatus includes a limp-home-running control portion configured, in event of a failure of the engine, to cause the vehicle to perform a limp-home running, by operating the electric motor with a power supplied from a power storage device. The limp-home-running control portion is configured, when causing the vehicle to perform the limp-home running, to restrict shifting of the automatic transmission for changing the gear positions of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukimasa Nishimura
  • Patent number: 12370997
    Abstract: A method (100) and apparatus (10-1) for carrying out the method of mitigating fuel in oil in an internal combustion engine of a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising: detecting one or more of a catalyst temperature and a turbine temperature (110); and when the one or more of the catalyst temperature and the turbine temperature exceeds a first temperature threshold, limiting engine torque below a threshold engine torque required for the operation of an enrichment phase of engine operation (120), wherein the enrichment phase of engine operation provides a lambda value less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Samuel Rios, Ben Kisiel
  • Patent number: 12366862
    Abstract: This automated travel system for spraying work has a target path generation unit for generating a target path for a spraying work. A work vehicle is provided with left and right liquid spraying units which have spraying patterns including: a four-direction spraying pattern in which each of the left and right liquid spraying units sprays a liquid to both the left and right directions; and a direction-restricted spraying pattern in which the number of spraying directions of the left and right liquid spraying units is restricted to 3 or less. The target path generation unit generates the target path P in a path setting to incorporate a four-direction spraying path for which the four-direction spraying pattern is set as a spraying pattern and direction-restricted spraying paths for which the direction-restricted spraying pattern is set as a spraying pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Suzuki, Akihiro Nakahata, Yoshiharu Mizukura, Keita Kitano
  • Patent number: 12358488
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle that transmits a driving force input from an engine to a driving wheel via a continuously variable transmission mechanism, in which in a case where an accelerator is in a non-depressed state during traveling, a first traveling state is established in which fuel supply to an engine is stopped and a clutch between the engine and the driving wheel is disengaged, when the accelerator is depressed during traveling in the first traveling state, the engine is started and the clutch is engaged to increase a hydraulic pressure supplied to the pulleys, and a timing at which the hydraulic pressure supplied to the pulleys becomes higher due to the accelerator being depressed during traveling in the first traveling state is later than a timing at which the hydraulic pressure supplied to the pulleys becomes higher due to the accelerator being further depressed when the vehicle is not in the first traveling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nakho Lee, Sunghoon Woo, Seunghwan Choi, Jonghwan Lee, Sunho Lee, Keisuke Iwado, Hiroyuki Tokoi
  • Patent number: 12345302
    Abstract: This clutch control device includes a clutch apparatus configured to connect and disconnect power transmission between a prime mover and an output target, a clutch actuator configured to output a driving force for actuating the clutch apparatus, and a driving mechanism configured to receive the driving force of the clutch actuator and actuate the clutch apparatus, and the driving mechanism is able to apply a driving force in either a disconnecting direction or a connecting direction to the clutch apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Fujimoto, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Junya Ono, Takashi Ozeki, Koichi Furusato, Yuma Kaibe, Ryohei Tsuzuki, Tatsuya Ryuzaki
  • Patent number: 12337700
    Abstract: The electric vehicle according to the present disclosure calculates motor torque using an MT vehicle model simulating an MT vehicle having a manual transmission and an internal combustion engine. In the first operation mode, an operation amount of a pseudo-clutch pedal and a shift position of a pseudo-gearshift are input to the MT vehicle model to reflect operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal and operation of the pseudo-gearshift in electric motor control. In the second operation mode where the operation of the pseudo-clutch pedal is not needed, an operation amount of a clutch pedal calculated by a driver model is input to the MT vehicle model instead of the operation amount of the pseudo-clutch pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 12331831
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for determining a dynamic shift schedule for a system are provided. A method includes: determining, by a controller, a priority for a system based on data indicative of operation of the system; determining, by the controller, a shift point for the system based on the priority and at least one of a current gear, a current accelerator pedal position (APP), an acceleration vector, or a target gear; and taking, by the controller, an action based on the determined shift point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Bellinger
  • Patent number: 12320422
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle that includes a switching device for switching a power transmission device between a parking state and a non-parking state. The control device includes: (a) an opening/closing determination portion for determining whether a vehicle door is open or closed; (b) a switching control portion for executing an automatic parking control for switching the power transmission device to the parking state, in a case in which it is determined that the door is open, when a vehicle running speed is not higher than a predetermined speed, with the power transmission device being in the non-parking state, and (c) a reverse-parking determination portion for determining whether or not a vehicle driver is performing a reverse parking. The switching control portion does not execute the automatic parking control, in a case in which it is determined that the driver is performing the reverse parking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 12296919
    Abstract: A bottom bracket planetary gear mechanism for a bicycle or a pedelec includes a gear mechanism shifting group having first and second planetary gear sets and first, second, and fifth shifting elements. A second element of the first gear set is connected to a first shaft, a first element of the first gear set is connected via a fourth shaft to a first element of the second gear set, and a third element of the first gear set is fixable via a second shaft and a first shifting element. The third element of the first gear set is connected via the second shaft to a second element of the second gear set. A third element of the second gear set is fixable via a third shaft and a second shifting element. A fifth shifting element blocks the first and second gear sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Mladjan Radic, Thomas Riedisser, Hagen Doepfert
  • Patent number: 12296705
    Abstract: Systems, circuits, and methods are disclosed herein for charging (recharging) one or more batteries of an electric vehicle through an on-board charge shaping (or tuning) circuit. The charge shaping circuit may alter the charge signal received from a charging station and/or a regenerative charge signal from the vehicle motor based on one or more charge conditions at the battery. The charge shaping circuit and/or a motor controller/inverter of the electric vehicle may include circuitry that is controllable to generate a shaped power signal in a similar manner as above, with or without the charge shaping circuit discussed above. In some implementations, one or more heat transfer systems may be included to transfer heat generated from the battery charging system to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Iontra Inc
    Inventors: John Richard Howlett, III, David Kessner
  • Patent number: 12297903
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes one or more controllers, wherein the control system is configured to: receive a driver gear shift request; determine if the vehicle is in a vehicle initialisation period; determine if a driver of the vehicle is actuating at least one brake of the vehicle; store the driver gear shift request based at least in part on the determination that the vehicle is in the vehicle initialisation period and the driver is actuating at least one brake of the vehicle; determine if the vehicle initialisation period has ended; and control execution of the stored driver gear shift request when the vehicle initialisation period has ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Timothy Hutchinson, Sarath Nair
  • Patent number: 12291188
    Abstract: A Level IV fuel-saving robot system for ACE HDTs of the present disclosure focuses on the minimization of actual fuel consumption (L/100 km) for long-haul freight at first based on an electrical power split device (ePSD) and a mixed hybrid powertrain architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignees: LCB International Inc.
    Inventors: Wangjie Gesang, Wei Cha
  • Patent number: 12291102
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a mechanical system for a transmission. In one example, the mechanical system in a transmission of a vehicle, comprising: a first one-way clutch included in a first gear combination that is rotationally coupled to an output shaft and to a pump shaft; and a second one-way clutch included in a second gear combination that is arranged parallel to the first gear combination, the second gear combination also rotationally coupled to the output shaft and to the pump shaft; wherein the first and the second gear combinations have an unequal number of gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: DANA BELGIUM N.V.
    Inventors: Filip Van Raepenbusch, Kurt Cattoor
  • Patent number: 12291187
    Abstract: A method (400) and apparatus 10-4 for carrying out the method of mitigating fuel in oil in an internal combustion engine of a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising: detecting events in which the engine is on for less than a predetermined engine on duration and a temperature of engine oil in the engine is below a predetermined temperature for the engine on duration (410); counting the detected events (420); when the number of detected events counted reaches a threshold count value and the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold vehicle speed value, running the engine for a predetermined warm up duration or until the temperature of the engine oil exceeds a predetermined warm up temperature (450).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Samuel Rios, Ben Kisiel