Patents Examined by Edwin A. Young
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Patent number: 11192536Abstract: A brake torque distribution system for a vehicle can include a braking system and a controller. The controller can be configured to signal a clutch of the vehicle powertrain to move to the engaged position such that the front wheels are rotationally coupled to the rear wheels and the brake torque applied to the front wheels by the braking system is transmitted to the rear wheels. The controller can be configured to signal the clutch to move to the engaged position based on an inclination angle signal received by the controller and indicative of an angle of inclination of the vehicle, a selected gear signal received by the controller that is indicative of the reverse gear ratio being selected in the powertrain, and a load signal received by the controller and indicative of a load applied to a portion of the vehicle adjacent to the rear wheels.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Aaron R. Alexander, Michael J. Dutt, Dasarathi Gedela, Nathan J. Rutter
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Patent number: 11192551Abstract: A vehicle control device applicable to a vehicle including an engine includes an electric motor coupled to the engine, a hydraulic clutch, a solenoid control valve, a first travel control unit, a second travel control unit, and a fail-safe control unit. The hydraulic clutch is engaged when hydraulic oil is supplied and disengaged when the hydraulic oil is discharged. The solenoid control valve includes a solenoid. The solenoid control valve supplies the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic clutch when the solenoid is in a non-energized state, and discharges the hydraulic oil when the solenoid is in the energized state. The first travel control unit executes an engine traveling mode, and the second travel control unit executes an inertial traveling mode. The fail-safe control unit drives the electric motor when the solenoid is switched from the energized state to the non-energized state while the inertial traveling mode is executed.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro Toen, Yoshinobu Yamazaki
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Patent number: 11180152Abstract: A fuel management system includes a memory and a control module. The memory stores fuel rate maps for multiple firing fractions, where: each of the firing fractions corresponds to a respective firing pattern of an engine; at least some of the firing patterns include deactivating one or more cylinders. The control module: for each of the firing fractions, determines a fuel efficiency value for each of multiple transmission gear ratios, where fuel efficiency values are provided for transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; applies drive ability constraints to provide resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; subsequent to applying the drive ability constraints and based on the fuel efficiency values, selects one of the resultant transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs; and concurrently operates a transmission and the engine according to the selected one of the transmission ratio and firing fraction pairs.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Shushan Bai, Nathan M. Picot, Brandon M. Fell, Gregory M. Wilson, Ning Jin
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Patent number: 11181060Abstract: A method for downshifting a vehicle having an automatic transmission is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not conditions are met for a power matching downshift. If conditions are met for a power matching downshift, output power of a powertrain propulsion torque source at an end of the power matching downshift is adjusted to an output power of the powertrain propulsion torque source at the beginning of the power matching downshift plus an offset power.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Bradley Dean Riedle, Kurt Howard Nickerson, Jianping Zhang, Kendrick Morrison, David H. Schmitt, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Charles Suter
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Patent number: 11181191Abstract: A vehicle includes a multi-speed transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, an actuator, and a torque converter having an impeller selectively coupled to the actuator and a turbine coupled to the input shaft. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to an estimated torque ratio between the impeller and output shaft of the transmission being less than a minimum torque ratio between the impeller and output shaft of the transmission during a shift of the transmission, command torque to the actuator based on a driver-demanded wheel torque and the minimum torque ratio, and, in response to the estimated torque ratio exceeding the minimum torque ratio during the shift of the transmission, command another torque to the actuator based on the driver-demanded wheel torque and the estimated torque ratio.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Gangarjun Veeramurthy, Jason Meyer, Jeffrey A. Doering, Mark Steven Yamazaki
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Patent number: 11174941Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle with a prime mover (1), a transmission (2), a driven end (14), and a parking lock system (19) is provided. A shift element (9) of the transmission (2) and a parking lock actuator (21) of the parking lock system (19) utilize a common pressure control. When the shift element (9) is actuated with the aid of a pressure control effecting an at least partial engagement of the shift element (9) and when the pressure control is less than a limiting value for holding the parking lock system (19) in the disengaged position, the method includes monitoring a parking lock sensor (23) to determine whether the parking lock sensor (23) detects a movement of the parking lock actuator (21) or a signal corresponding to the movement of the parking lock actuator (21) despite a parking lock detent (22) having been actuated for locking.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Matthias Dietlmeier, Michael Sohler
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Patent number: 11173908Abstract: A method to control a road vehicle provided with a dual-clutch, servo-assisted transmission and standing still with the internal combustion engine turned on; the control method generally includes, when the road vehicle is standing still with the internal combustion engine turned on, the steps of: engaging a forward gear associated with a first clutch; engaging a reverse gear associated with a second clutch, which is different from and independent of the first clutch; closing the first clutch so as to cause the first clutch to transmit a first torque; and closing the second clutch so as to cause the second clutch to transmit a second torque, which is equal to the first torque multiplied by the quotient between a gear ratio of the reverse gear and a gear ratio of the forward gear.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: FERRARI S.p.A.Inventors: Alessandro Barone, Andrea Nannini, Giacomo Senserini, Stefano Marconi
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Patent number: 11174907Abstract: A forced neutral remote start-up control method is provided. The method includes performing an E-clutch neutral switching control, which confirms the presence of an E-clutch upon receiving a remote start-up request signal of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to form a vehicle neutral state by an E-clutch state switching before generating an engine start-up signal, and performing an engine start-up by generating the engine start-up signal after confirming the vehicle neutral state.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Oh-Eun Kwon, Sun-Young Park
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Patent number: 11168785Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control method for a transmission includes determining whether a current shift range is among a plurality of shift ranges, setting a dither frequency of a pressure control solenoid valve of a hydraulic circuit for the transmission to a predetermined first frequency when the current shift range is a predetermined first range, and setting the dither frequency of the pressure control solenoid valve to a predetermined second frequency when the current shift range is a shift range other than the first range.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Bong Uk Bae, Sung Sik Choi, Kyung Moo Lee, Ki Bum Kim, Seong Min Son, Seul Chan Park, Se Hwan Jo, Min Jae Chai
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Patent number: 11162549Abstract: A stuck diagnosis apparatus and a method. The method for diagnosing clutch stuck includes allowing a control unit to turn off a clutch actuator after a clutch is engaged by driving of the clutch actuator, allowing the control unit to count a time elapsing from the turn-off time point of the clutch actuator so as to measure a time taken to reach a disengaged state of the clutch for interrupting engine power, and allowing the control unit to determine that the stuck occurs in the clutch when the clutch does not reach the disengaged state within a preset reference time.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBHInventor: HyeonDeok Seo
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Patent number: 11161494Abstract: An agricultural machine configured to be operated by an operator and including a drive mechanism having a drive shaft and a gear assembly for driving an agricultural implement. The agricultural machine includes a slip clutch that has an outer sleeve operatively coupled to the gear assembly, an inner sleeve positioned within the outer sleeve and coupled to and rotatable with the drive shaft, a plurality of torque-transfer members positioned between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve and configured to selectively couple the inner sleeve to the outer sleeve, and a position sensor in communication with one of the plurality of torque-transfer members and configured to output a signal in response to radial displacement of the one torque-transfer member being detected. The agricultural machine includes a control unit in communication with the position sensor and configured to alter an operating parameter of the machine in response to receiving the signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Tyler S. Brammeier, Duane M. Bomleny, Bradley K. Yanke
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Patent number: 11148654Abstract: A transmission system constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes an aftertreatment system and a controller. The transmission system is selectively coupled to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine arranged on a vehicle. The aftertreatment system reduces emissions in an exhaust of the internal combustion engine. The controller operates in an aftertreatment heat-up mode such that the aftertreatment system is heated up to an elevated temperature and emissions are thereby reduced based on the elevated temperature. The controller operates in the aftertreatment heat-up mode when the internal combustion engine is operating at or below a brake mean effective pressure between three and four bar. The aftertreatment heat-up mode comprises increasing load on the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Inventor: James E. McCarthy, Jr.
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Patent number: 11149842Abstract: A transmission ratio controller includes circuitry including a transmission ratio calculator and a monitor. The transmission ratio calculator calculates a transmission ratio using a first transmission ratio map when a specified parameter satisfies a first condition, and using a second transmission ratio map when the specified parameter satisfies a second condition. When the specified parameter satisfies the first condition, the internal combustion engine is in a first state. When the specified parameter satisfies the second condition, the internal combustion engine is in a second state. In the first state, the monitor calculates a hypothetical transmission ratio using the second transmission ratio map based on the second state.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Matsumoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuki Ikejiri
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Patent number: 11149844Abstract: A transmission ratio controller includes circuitry that includes a transmission ratio calculator calculating a request transmission ratio, a transmission ratio instructor transmitting a control signal, and an abnormality determiner. The request transmission ratio is calculated using a first transmission ratio map when a specified parameter satisfies a first condition, and a second transmission ratio map when the specified parameter satisfies a second condition. The internal combustion engine is in a first state when the specified parameter satisfies the first condition, and in a second state when the specified parameter satisfies the second condition. In the first state, the abnormality determiner calculates a hypothetical transmission ratio using the second transmission ratio map based on the second state.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Matsumoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuki Ikejiri
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Patent number: 11149845Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (2) has a torque convertor (3) having a lock-up clutch (30) and a continuously variable transmission mechanism (5). A control unit (10) has a shift control unit (10C) configured to be able to perform a pseudo stepwise up-shift control that varies a transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission mechanism (5) stepwise, a lock-up control unit (10A) configured to control an engagement state of the lock-up clutch (30), and a torque control command unit (10D) configured to perform a torque-down control of a driving source (1). When the engagement control of the lock-up clutch (30) and the pseudo stepwise up-shift control are performed at the same time, the torque control command unit (10D) configured to perform the torque-down control with a greater torque reduction amount.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasuhiro Endo, Akihiro Tanabe, Takahiro Yamada, Shohei Imaji, Masayuki Mannen
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Patent number: 11149806Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission is provided, which includes a vehicle-propelling friction engagement element configured to be engaged when a vehicle starts traveling, an other friction engagement element, a vehicle-propelling friction engagement element temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the vehicle-propelling friction engagement element, an input torque detector configured to detect an input torque inputted into the automatic transmission, and a control unit comprising a lubricant supply control logic configured to control supply of lubricant to the vehicle-propelling friction engagement element and the other friction engagement element. The lubricant supply control logic switches the supply amount of lubricant to the vehicle-propelling friction engagement element according to the temperature of the vehicle-propelling friction engagement element, and switches the supply amount of lubricant to the another friction engagement element according to the input torque.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Tomokazu Kinoshita, Shotaro Hara, Shoji Abe, Toshiaki Shirasago
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Patent number: 11142185Abstract: The present application describes a method of controlling a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a hybrid powertrain including an electric propulsion system, an engine and a drivetrain that is configurable in a low-range mode or a high-range mode. The method comprises determining whether the low-range mode for the drivetrain is selected, determining whether an electric mode for the powertrain is selected, and inhibiting operation of the engine if both the low-range mode and the electric mode are selected.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Dan Dennehy, Steve Liggins, David Armstrong
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Patent number: 11143291Abstract: An apparatus for controlling transmission of vehicle may include a determining device to determine whether to perform deceleration control, based on the vehicle and a target for the deceleration control in front of the vehicle, a calculating device to sub-divide a distance between a current position of the vehicle and the target for the deceleration control into sections, and calculate a target distance for each section of the plurality of sections and a target speed of the section, based on a current speed of the vehicle and the distance between the current position of the vehicle and the target for the deceleration control, a gearshifting stage deciding device to determine a gearshifting stage for each section of the plurality of sections, based on the calculated target speed and the calculated target distance for the section by configuring a deceleration profile for each gearshifting stage, and a control device to control the transmission for each section based on the gearshifting stage for the section.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia CorporationInventors: Kwang Hee Park, Byeong Wook Jeon, Dong Hoon Jeong, Jae Chang Kook
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Patent number: 11142067Abstract: An axle assembly including a differential case and a side gear having an inboard surface and an outboard surface disposed in the differential case. The side gear outboard surface defines a first plurality of locking teeth. A locking gear having an inboard surface and an outboard surface, wherein the inboard surface includes a second plurality of locking teeth selectively engaged with the first plurality of locking teeth. A biasing member disposed axially between the side gear and the locking gear. An electromagnetic coil disposed adjacent the locking gear. A first inductive sensor for sensing a position of the locking gear.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLCInventors: Michael Z. Creech, Justin S. Davis, Anne M. Adamczyk
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Patent number: 11143294Abstract: A transmission ratio controller includes circuitry. The circuitry includes a transmission ratio calculator configured to calculate a request transmission ratio to a transmission mechanism, a transmission ratio instructor configured to output a control signal based on the request transmission ratio, and an abnormality determiner configured to determine whether a transmission ratio of the transmission mechanism is abnormal. At least two of the request transmission ratio, an instruction transmission ratio corresponding to the control signal, or an actual transmission ratio achieved by the transmission mechanism are transmission ratios subject to comparison. The abnormality determiner is configured to determine that when a difference obtained by comparing the transmission ratios subject to comparison is greater than or equal to a predetermined specified value, the transmission ratio of the transmission mechanism is abnormal.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takuya Matsumoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuki Ikejiri