Patents Examined by Edwin Young
  • Patent number: 11982346
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a terrain based dynamic gear shift control method and system for a vehicle. The method includes: during running of a vehicle, obtaining a current terrain; according to the current terrain, the economic gear shift strategy, and the dynamic gear shift strategy, generating a current gear shift strategy curve; and according to the current gear shift strategy curve, controlling a transmission to perform gear shift. The present disclosure can make the vehicle have wider adaptability, and achieve a better dynamic balance between economy and dynamic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Xiamen Yaxon Network Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yankai Tu, Jianyun Qu, Tengyuan Luo, Gang Ji
  • Patent number: 11981200
    Abstract: When temperature of a second power source of a vehicle becomes higher than a threshold value during a first mode in which three rotating elements of a differential gear can make differential movement and when four-wheel drive is needed, switching is performed to a second mode in which the three rotating elements are unified, and when four-wheel drive is not needed even when the temperature of the second power source becomes higher than the threshold value during the first mode, output of the second power source is restricted, while the first mode is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Akiyama, Akira Ijichi, Taichi Kobayashi, Koji Takaira, Akinori Homan, Yoshio Itou, Kunihiko Usui
  • Patent number: 11982349
    Abstract: A control method for a power train system that includes a clutch position sensor, a processor, and a manual transmission includes converting a gear stage selected by a shift lever of the manual transmission to a control shift range of an automatic transmission, sending specific information that enables identification of the converted control shift range to the control device configured to control motion of a vehicle in cooperation with the power train system, and holding, when operation of a clutch is detected by the clutch position sensor configured to detect operation of the clutch, specific information that enables identification of the control shift range at a time at which operation of the clutch is started, as the specific information to be sent to the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuki Miyake, Wataru Kanda
  • Patent number: 11975713
    Abstract: A control system includes one or more processing circuits comprising one or more memory devices coupled to one or more processors. The one or more memory devices are configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to acquire speed data regarding current speeds of tractive elements of the vehicle from tractive element speed sensors of the vehicle, determine speed references for the tractive elements to perform autonomous driving operations where the speed references indicate speeds at which each of the tractive elements should rotate to accommodate the autonomous driving operations, and control at least one of a driveline or a brake system of the vehicle to selectively alter the current speeds of the tractive elements of the vehicle based on the current speeds and the speed references to accommodate the autonomous driving operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Aditya Singh, Ryan Jenkins, Joshua Guarino
  • Patent number: 11970949
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a functional failure in a power gearbox, includes a) measuring operational data in a gas turbine engine of operational parameters dependent on power generation and power consumption of the engine or the gearbox, b) obtaining analyzed operational data including time data, angular data of rotation, frequency data and/or phase data, c) using the analyzed operational data in a comparison with stored baseline operational data to determine deviation data, d) determining time dependent trend data from the deviation data or determining a first state measured dependent on the power generation, power consumption or power regulation of the engine and measuring a second state dependent on vibrational data of the engine, e) generating a signal and/or a protocol for controlling the gearbox, and/or the engine based on the time dependent trend data, if a threshold is exceeded or based on the first or second states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Nowoisky, Lucia Ciciriello, Mateusz Grzeszkowski, Noushin Mokhtari Molk Abadi
  • Patent number: 11970058
    Abstract: A three-speed gearbox assembly for an electric drive vehicle includes four planetary gear sets connected to an electric motor output. A first clutch is configured to selectively couple the motor output to the first planetary gear set. A second clutch is configured to selectively ground a first portion of the first planetary gear set and a portion of the second planetary gear set to a housing. A selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) is configured to selectively ground a second portion of the first planetary gear set. The gearbox assembly is selectively switchable between (i) a first gear where the SOWC is engaged and the first and second clutches are disengaged, (ii) a second gear where the second clutch is engaged and the first clutch and the SOWC are disengaged, and (iii) a third gear where the first clutch is engaged and the second clutch and the SOWC are disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Gregory Mordukhovich
  • Patent number: 11958567
    Abstract: A coaxial mid-drive power device of a bicycle includes a reducing structure and a hollow shaft motor engaged with the reducing structure that are disposed in a motor base. An output end of the reducing structure is operatively coupled with a one-way bearing bracket with a sprocket base via a one-way bearing. A crank spindle engaged with the one-way bearing bracket through another one-way bearing penetrates through the motor base. The two one-way bearings respectively have opposite rotation directions and are respectively located on different sides, i.e., an inside and an outside, of the one-way bearing bracket. A strain gauge disposed on the crank spindle is electrically connected to an annular conductive rail assembly engaged with the crank spindle and an elastic sheet assembly on a control circuit board in the motor base, hence the strain gauge could directly obtain a change in a torque of the crank spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MOBILETRON ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-I Teng, Yi-Hsing Hsu
  • Patent number: 11958624
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft assembly includes a carrier, a first gear system, a second gear system and an idler. The first gear system includes a first sun gear, a first ring gear and a plurality of first intermediate gears. Each of the first intermediate gears is between and is meshed with the first sun gear and the first ring gear. Each of the first intermediate gears is rotatably mounted to the carrier. The second gear system includes a second sun gear, a second ring gear and a plurality of second intermediate gears. Each of the second intermediate gears is between and is meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear. Each of the second intermediate gears is rotatably mounted to the carrier. The idler gear couples the first ring gear to the second ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul R. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 11958348
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drive unit for a drive axle of a vehicle having a first and second electric machines, a differential and a transmission with first and a second transmission input shafts, a transmission output shaft, at least a first planetary gearset. A first shifting unit has three shift positions. In a first shift position, a second element is connected to a rotationally fixed component. In a second shift position two of the three elements of the first planetary gearset are connected rotationally fixed to one another. A second shifting unit has exactly three shift positions. In a first shift position a first transmission input shaft and a second transmission input shaft are connected rotationally fixed to one another. In a second shift position the second transmission input shaft is connected at least indirectly to the second element of the first planetary gearset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Niclas Raeder
  • Patent number: 11945430
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control system for coordinating and synchronizing a wheel-individual brake system and a power-train torque vectoring actuator system in a vehicle. The wheel-individual brake system includes at least one first actuator for applying a braking torque to individual wheels of the vehicle. The power-train torque vectoring actuator system includes at least one second actuator for applying a torque to individual wheels of the vehicle through a propulsion system. The vehicle motion control system includes a central control function module including a plurality of yaw torque controllers. Each yaw torque controller is configured to receive data including driver inputs and vehicle motion states to determine a respective yaw torque based on the received data for controlling the yaw behavior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Rudrendu Shekhar, Martin Idegren, Mikael Riikonen
  • Patent number: 11946515
    Abstract: A method for determining, in real-time, an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) clutch torque includes receiving vehicle data in real-time, wherein the vehicle data includes a torque request, determining a preliminary eLSD clutch torque using a neural network and the vehicle data, determining clutch torque bounds of the eLSD using a physics-based model, determining whether the preliminary eLSD clutch torque is outside the clutch torque bounds of the eLSD, adjusting the preliminary eLSD clutch torque using clutch torque bounds to determine a final clutch torque of the eLSD in response to determining that the preliminary eLSD clutch torque is outside the clutch torque bounds of the eLSD, and commanding, in real-time, the eLSD to apply the final clutch torque to a clutch of the eLSD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Arash Hashemi, Sresht Gurumoorthi Annadevara, Naser Mehrabi, SeyedAlireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, Lapo Frascati
  • Patent number: 11945303
    Abstract: A method includes switching a vehicle to a 4WD state by connecting a disconnector, maintaining the disconnector in the connected state for a predetermined maintenance time, determining whether a condition to be switched to a 2WD state is satisfied when the predetermined maintenance time period elapses, and disconnecting the disconnector when the condition to be switched to the 2WD state is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chan Hee Won, Tae Wook Park, Young Joon Chang
  • Patent number: 11945425
    Abstract: A method for braking a vehicle, including checking whether a trigger criterion for braking the vehicle is present, and if the trigger criterion is satisfied, causing a conditioning braking pulse through brief pulsed braking such that passengers experience brief braking of the vehicle, and immediately thereafter initiating a braking phase in which the vehicle is braked in at least two partial braking regions by an actual ego deceleration that varies with respect to time, wherein each partial braking region is extended over a partial braking interval and merge into one another without the actual ego deceleration changing abruptly, and the actual ego deceleration in at least one of the partial braking regions is changed continuously over the respective partial braking interval such that a different actual jerk is obtained in each partial braking region, and wherein the actual jerk behaves degressively over at least some partial braking regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS GLOBAL GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Matthaei, Thomas Dieckmann, Waldemar Kamischke, Janik Ricke
  • Patent number: 11946542
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an electric vehicle. In another exemplary embodiment, a system for operating an electric vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a first motor and a transmission coupled to the first motor. The transmission is configured to shift gears when a speed of the electric vehicle crosses a shift threshold. The shift threshold is independent of a position of an acceleration pedal of the electrical vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dongxu Li, Chunhao J. Lee, Thomas Weglarz, Su-Yang Shieh, Paul Guillermo Otanez
  • Patent number: 11938842
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and friction brakes. A vehicle controller is programmed to, with the vehicle being in a one-pedal driving mode: in response to a braking torque capacity of the powertrain exceeding a target braking torque that is based on a position of the accelerator pedal, command a torque, that is equal to the target braking torque, from the powertrain such that the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain without application of the friction brakes, and, in response to the braking torque capacity of the powertrain being less than the target braking torque, command torques from the powertrain and the friction brakes such that the target braking torque is satisfied and the vehicle is slowed using the powertrain and the friction brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Scott Crombez, Bryan Michael Bolger, Alexander McCollough, Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Brandon Jay Woodland
  • Patent number: 11940045
    Abstract: In a power transmission apparatus for a vehicle, in event of detection of an anomaly with a possibility of an ON failure of a lockup hydraulic control valve, a fail safe mode is established by placing a first switching valve and a third switching valve in respective predetermined connection states, and placing a failure switching valve in a predetermined connection state based on an output of the lockup hydraulic control valve, whereby a lockup clutch is held in its released state, and a forward-driving engagement device is engaged by a control pressure of a second hydraulic control valve, for thereby enabling a forward driving of the vehicle. Upon selection of a neutral range in the event of the detection of the anomaly, an output of the lockup hydraulic control valve and an output of the second hydraulic control valve are stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Amano
  • Patent number: 11932118
    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: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Tatsuya Imamura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 11933395
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle include receiving a set of operating parameters each relating to a rock cycling maneuver of the vehicle, the rock cycling maneuver comprising a plurality of consecutive garage shifts of the transmission, determining whether the set of operating parameters satisfy a set of entry or exit criteria to/from a rock cycling mode of the transmission and enter/exit the rock cycling mode based on the determination, while not in the rock cycling mode, controlling the transmission based on a first set of calibrations for the transmission, the first set of calibrations being optimized for normal garage shifts of the transmission, and while in the rock cycling mode, controlling the transmission based on a different second set of calibrations for the transmission, the second set of calibrations being optimized for the rock cycling maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Corey A Allard, Joshua J Rohrer, Dean Baker
  • Patent number: 11932230
    Abstract: A motor vehicle for operation by a driver has a frame with wheels and a motor connected to the frame. A steering control is connected to the wheels to establish a steering angle. A controller is operably connected to the steering control, to the motor, and to the wheels, and is operable to selectably drive the wheels in a forward direction in a drive mode and in a rearward direction in a reverse mode. The controller is operable to select a direction for driving the wheels in response to a pattern of steering angle movements, without operator indication of a direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Inventor: Bennet Langlotz
  • Patent number: 11926220
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission for a vehicle includes a transmission input shaft extending in a transverse direction, at least one countershaft arranged parallel to the transmission input shaft, a clutch device arranged coaxially with respect to the transmission input shaft and which has at least one clutch, and a differential having a differential input gear. A rotational axis of the differential input gear is arranged parallel to the transmission input shaft. The transmission also includes an electric machine having a rotor with a rotor rotational axis arranged parallel to the transmission input shaft and a transmission control device. As viewed in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction, the differential input gear, the transmission input shaft, and a transmission controller including the transmission control device are arranged in succession in the sequence specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Martin Dengler, Benjamin Bauer, Jan Becker, Markus Brandenburg, Andreas Ertel, Peter Hahn, Tobias Haerter, Elmar Mueller, Jörg Weigold, Timo Maurer, Preetam Birje