Patents Examined by Edwin A. Young
  • Patent number: 11267469
    Abstract: A method and device for vehicle speed control when towing a heavy load trailer are disclosed. The method includes determining whether a vehicle is in a trailer towing mode; determining whether the vehicle is in a slope-climbing situation or not using a G sensor based road gradient value when the vehicle is determined to be in the trailer towing mode; calculating a difference between the G sensor based road gradient value and a torque-based road gradient value, and determining whether a towed trailer is a heavy load trailer on the basis of the calculated difference, when it is determined the vehicle is in the slope-climbing situation; and performing shift control using a heavy load trailer dedicated shift map when the towed trailer is determined to be a heavy load trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI KEFICO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyeong Tak Lee
  • Patent number: 11268613
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle may include a determining device configured to determine whether a curved road is present within a predetermined distance in front of the vehicle, based on information on a front road, a calculating device configured to correct, based on information on a gradient of the curved road, a vehicle speed in starting cornering of the vehicle on the curved road, determine an expected lateral acceleration based on the corrected vehicle speed and information on a curvature of the curved road, and determine a pattern correcting coefficient based on the determined expected lateral acceleration, a pattern correcting device configured to correct a gearshifting pattern of the transmission, which is preset, based on the pattern correcting coefficient, and a control device connected to the determining device, the calculating device and the pattern correcting device and configured to control the transmission based on the corrected gearshifting pattern when t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang Hee Park, Byeong Wook Jeon, Dong Hoon Jeong, Jae Chang Kook
  • Patent number: 11268582
    Abstract: A vehicle includes controller programmed to receive a driver-demanded wheel torque command and calculate a shaped wheel torque command based on the driver-demanded wheel torque command. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the driver-demanded wheel torque command changing from a first magnitude that is greater than an estimated wheel torque at a last time step to a second magnitude that is less than the estimated wheel torque at a current time step, set the shaped wheel torque to a minimum of a magnitude of the shaped wheel torque at the last time step and an estimated wheel torque at the current time step. The controller is also programmed to command the first and second actuators to produce the shaped wheel torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maruthi Thiruninravur Ravichandran, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 11261960
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle may include a determining device configured to determine whether to perform a front-vehicle-based deceleration following control based on information on the vehicle and information on the front vehicle when coasting of the vehicle is started, a calculating device configured to determine a target speed of the vehicle and a target distance based on a position, a speed, and a moving distance of the front vehicle, when the front-vehicle-based deceleration following control is determined to be performed, a gearshifting stage deciding device configured to decide a final gearshifting stage of the transmission based on the determined target speed and the target distance by configuring a deceleration profile for each gearshifting stage of the transmission, and a controller to control the transmission based on the final gearshifting stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang Hee Park, Byeong Wook Jeon, Dong Hoon Jeong, Jae Chang Kook
  • Patent number: 11261961
    Abstract: Methods for automated calibration and adaption of a gearshift controller (39) are disclosed. In one aspect, the method automates calibration a gearshift controller (39) for controlling a sequence of gearshifts in either a stepped automatic transmission equipped with at least one speed sensor mounted on a dynamometer (42) or an automotive vehicle mounted on a dynamometer (42), where the dynamometer (42) is electronically controlled by a dynamometer controller (43). Each gearshift in the sequence includes a first phase, a second phase, . . . and an Nth phase. The gearshift controller (39) includes (initial values of) a first phase control parameters set, a second phase control parameters set, . . . and an Nth phase control parameters set for each gearshift in the sequence that are updated using a first phase learning controller, a second phase learning controller, . . . and an N*11 phase learning controller respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Krishnaswamy Srinivasan, Kirti Mishra
  • Patent number: 11260844
    Abstract: Methods and controllers for coordinating firing fraction transitions that occur in conjunction with transmission shifts are described. In one aspect, an engine controller transmits a do-not-shift instruction to a transmission controller based at least in part on a determination that a particular type of firing fraction transition is desired. The firing fraction transition is then implemented using a skip fire transition protocol. In this manner, the transmission is affirmatively prevented from shifting during the firing fraction transition. The described approaches are well suited for use in connection with transitions to DCCO or DFCO operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Phillips, Louis J. Serrano, Xiaoping Cai
  • Patent number: 11247683
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bidirectional transmission control system for a vehicle. A road surface recognition apparatus collects an image of a road surface on which a vehicle drives currently, and forwards, after recognizing the type of the road surface on which the vehicle drives currently according to the image of the road surface, a corresponding first terrain mode request signal to an all-terrain controller through a signal transfer apparatus, so as to start a corresponding terrain mode in an all-terrain adaptive mode. In addition, the all-terrain controller forwards execution information about the terrain mode to the road surface recognition apparatus through the signal transfer apparatus, so as to implement state feedback of the terrain mode currently executed. The inconsistency of information transmission rates between an all-terrain control system of a vehicle and an input system can be coordinated, thereby aiding in real-time switching of various terrain modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiang Ren, Lingtao Han, Ang Yao, Ted S Huang, Wei Xu, Chunyun Zheng
  • Patent number: 11248680
    Abstract: A hydraulic power module for a crop harvester, and in particular a cotton harvester, having an engine. The hydraulic power module includes a main drive gear, a drive shaft extending through the main drive gear, and a clutch operatively connected to the drive shaft, wherein the clutch has an engaged position and a disengaged position. The engaged position of the clutch fixedly connects the main drive gear to the drive shaft and the disengaged position of the clutch disconnects the main drive gear drive from the drive shaft. The hydraulic power module further includes a first pump device directly coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the first pump device is driven by the drive shaft during rotation of the drive shaft. A second pump device is indirectly connected to the drive shaft through the clutch, and is driven by the drive shaft when the clutch is in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: James T. Noonan, Dwayne B. Watt, Cecil H. Wise, Jr., Steven D. Wallestad, Mark A. Cracraft, Jerry E. White, Cole D. Miller
  • Patent number: 11236823
    Abstract: A shift range control device for a shift range switching mechanism that is rotatably coupled with a shift actuator and includes a rotation member having multiple recesses and a locking portion rotationally positioning the rotation member by being locked to one of the multiple recesses, controls a motor of the shift actuator to switch a shift range. The shift range control device includes: an angle acquisition unit that acquires a rotation angle of an output shaft of the shift actuator; a valley position learning unit that performs valley position learning for learning, as a valley position, the rotation angle of the output shaft; and a temperature acquisition unit that acquires an environmental temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruka Miyano, Kouji Sakaguchi, Jun Yamada, Seiji Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11236821
    Abstract: A belt-slippage diagnostic apparatus for a continuously-variable transmission that includes a primary pulley, a secondary pulley and a belt looped over the primary and secondary pulleys. The belt-slippage diagnostic apparatus includes a slippage determination portion configured to determine occurrence of slippage of the belt on at least one of the primary and secondary pulleys, when a first-order derivative of a gear ratio, which is a ratio of a rotational speed of the primary pulley to a rotational speed of the secondary pulley, is not smaller than a first threshold value and a second-order derivative of the gear ratio is not smaller than a second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuo, Yuji Hattori, Akihide Itoh, Hideaki Bunazawa
  • Patent number: 11235773
    Abstract: An electronic control unit engages two of friction engagement elements provided in an automatic transmission in a neutral range. The electronic control unit disengages one of the two friction engagement elements engaged in the neutral range at the time of starting gear stage switching of an auxiliary transmission from a low-speed gear stage to a high-speed gear stage in the neutral range, and re-engages the friction engagement element that has been disengaged when determining that the gear stage switching has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Aono, Naoki Hiura
  • Patent number: 11226034
    Abstract: A CPU sets a gear ratio, which is an action, on the basis of an accelerator operation amount, a vehicle speed, a gradient, a curvature, and a current gear ratio, until a predetermined amount of time elapses. The CPU operates a transmission in accordance with the set gear ratio and obtains a rotation speed NE of a crankshaft at that time. When the predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the CPU updates an action value function by providing a reward in accordance with whether the number of times of switching the rotation speed NE or the gear ratio meets a standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11221067
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes an input torque acquisition unit acquiring an input torque input to an automatic transmission input shaft, a clutch torque acquisition unit acquiring a clutch torque of a clutch operated to change a gear stage of the transmission, a torque determination unit determining a change of the input torque and the clutch torque from a first state in which one of the input torque and the clutch torque is greater than the other to a second state in which the other one is greater than the one, a gear ratio calculation unit calculating an intermediate gear ratio between pre-shift and post-shift gear ratios, and a torque calculation unit, when the torque determination unit determines a change of the input torque and the clutch torque from the first state to the second state, executing a process of calculating a target engine torque based on the intermediate gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Shimoda, Naoto Moriya, Masakazu Owatari
  • Patent number: 11215246
    Abstract: A method to control the execution of a shift to a higher gear with a released accelerator pedal in a drivetrain provided with a dual-clutch, servo-assisted transmission, comprising the steps of: opening, in a first instant, an outgoing clutch; closing, in the first instant, an incoming clutch; synchronizing, between a second instant and a third instant, a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine with a rotation speed of the incoming clutch, namely with the rotation speed imposed by the gear ratio of the following gear; completely opening, in the third instant, the outgoing clutch; completely closing, in the third instant, the incoming clutch; keeping the torque transmitted by the outgoing clutch constant between the second instant and a fourth instant; and keeping the torque transmitted by the incoming clutch constant between the second instant and the fourth instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: FERRARI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Barone, Andrea Nannini, Giacomo Senserini, Stefano Marconi
  • Patent number: 11214255
    Abstract: A vehicle control device comprising: a balance gradient calculation unit configured to calculate a balance gradient that is a gradient at which a propulsive force of the vehicle and a resistance force applied to the vehicle are balanced when the vehicle travels in a gear-in coasting state in which an engine is connected to a gear and the vehicle travels without supplying fuel to the engine, in a case where a traveling state of the vehicle is a neutral coasting state; and a traveling control unit configured to: switch, based on the calculated balance gradient and a specified road gradient, the traveling state of the vehicle from the neutral coasting state to the gear-in coasting state in a case where the traveling state of the vehicle is the neutral coasting state; and end, the gear-in coasting state when determining that an end condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Hayashi, Naoki Takahashi, Shinichi Ishiguro, Kouki Natsumi
  • Patent number: 11215281
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle including (i) a power transmission device, (ii) a shift operation device that is to be operated by a driver of the vehicle to an operation position corresponding to a shift position of the power transmission device, and (iii) a switching device for switching the shift position of the power transmission device through actuation of an actuator. The control device is configured, upon occurrence of a momentary interruption of a control-device electric-power source that is supplied with an electric power from a vehicle electric-power source, to not perform an initial position learning process for setting a reference position of the actuator, until a shift switching operation for switching the shift position of the power transmission device is performed by a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Yamauchi, Koki Ueno, Yusuke Nakade, Ichiro Kitaori
  • Patent number: 11208089
    Abstract: A drive-force control apparatus for a vehicle including a first drive apparatus for driving a first pair of wheels and a second drive apparatus for driving a second pair of wheels. Each of the first pair of wheels is one of front and rear wheels of the vehicle, and each of the second pair of wheels is the other of the front and rear wheels. During running of the vehicle on a wave-like road, the control apparatus reduces a drive-force share ratio of one of the first and second drive apparatuses, and to increases a drive-force share ratio of the other of the first and second drive apparatuses, wherein the one of the first and second drive apparatuses includes a weakest part that is to be damaged the most easily among parts composing the first and second drive apparatuses, by resonance caused by the running on the wave-like road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Kitai
  • Patent number: 11209054
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission, an engine, a disconnect clutch, an inertial measurement unit, and a controller. The transmission has an input shaft and an output shaft. The engine is configured to generate and deliver torque to the input shaft. The disconnect clutch is configured to connect and disconnect the engine from the input shaft. The disconnect clutch is also configured to crank the engine during an engine start. The inertial measurement unit is configured to measure inertial forces exerted onto the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to adjust a torque of the disconnect clutch to a desired value that is derived from the inertial forces and a vehicle velocity, drive the clutch actuator pressure to a value that corresponds to the desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yijing Zhang, Fengyi Chen, Bradley Dean Riedle, Weitian Chen, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 11204094
    Abstract: A method to control a road vehicle provided with a servo-assisted transmission during a slowing down phase; the control method generally includes, when the servo-assisted transmission is in an automatic operating mode, the steps of: calculating, assuming that a pressing of the brake pedal remains constant, an opening time interval needed to allow the road vehicle to reach an opening speed at which a clutch of the servo-assisted transmission is definitively opened; calculating a number of downshifts that can be carried out in the opening time interval based on a time needed to carry out a downshift; scheduling the downshifts to be carried out in order to get from the current gear engaged in the servo-assisted transmission to an opening gear with which the clutch of the servo-assisted transmission is definitively opened, so as to carry out no more than the number of downshifts that can be carried out in the opening time interval; and carrying out the scheduled downshifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Barone, Andrea Nannini, Giacomo Senserini, Stefano Marconi
  • Patent number: 11199256
    Abstract: A method to control a road vehicle for the execution of a multiple downshift in a drivetrain provided with a servo-assisted transmission; the control method comprises the steps of: detecting a condition of slowing down of the road vehicle and, simultaneously, detecting a driver's request for a multiple downshift; carrying out, in succession, a plurality of downshifts while the road vehicle is slowing down and in an autonomous manner regardless of further interventions of the driver; determining a duration of a shift time interval; and carrying out each downshift following a first downshift when said shift time interval has exactly elapsed since the previous downshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Barone, Andrea Nannini, Giacomo Senserini, Stefano Marconi