Patents Examined by John Kwon
  • Patent number: 11964649
    Abstract: A brake system and a control method therefor are disclosed. A brake system is provided including a main brake system, auxiliary brake system, signal bus, and communications unit. The main brake system distributes braking force to each of vehicle wheels. The auxiliary brake system operates in place of the main brake system when having a malfunction. The signal bus includes wired device(s) arranged between the main brake system and the auxiliary brake system and transmits a signal regarding a presence or absence of malfunction between the main brake system and auxiliary brake system. The communications unit transmits operation state information between the main brake system and the auxiliary brake system. Responsive to the detected malfunction signal of the main brake system through the signal bus, the auxiliary brake system performs a preparation for providing the braking force to each vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Hyun Hwang
  • Patent number: 11964725
    Abstract: A control device of a bicycle includes an actuator and a first controller. The first controller is configured to generate and transmit, from the first controller to a second controller of the bicycle, messages for a predetermined time period at a first transmission rate in response to activation of the actuator. The first controller is further configured to, after the predetermined period of time, generate and transmit, from the first controller to the second controller, one or more messages at a second transmission rate until the actuator is deactivated. The first transmission rate is greater than the second transmission rate, and each of the messages includes data identifying the activation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Sage Hahn, Kristi Lin, Alexander Kon-I Ho
  • Patent number: 11965476
    Abstract: Systems and methods for starting an engine of a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the method selects one or more electric machines to start an engine. The method may reference a data structure, such as a matrix or table, and the matrix or table outputs which of the one or more electric machines is applied to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maruthi Ravichandran, Calvin Trescott, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri, Jeffrey Doering
  • Patent number: 11958582
    Abstract: A marine power system may include an engine arranged to provide mechanical output power for a boat, and a controller coupled to the engine, the controller configured to determine an idle condition of the boat, deactivate the engine based, at least in part, on the idle condition, determine a demand for the mechanical output power for the boat, and activate, using an auxiliary power source, the engine based, at least in part, on the demand. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a throttle control for the boat. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a position of a mechanical component of the throttle control. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a sensor on the throttle control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: David Michael Yasnoff
  • Patent number: 11959448
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether to use engine start-stop systems during trail or other off-road driving are provided. Systems and methods may utilize various vehicle sensors (e.g., lidar, forward-facing cameras, accelerometers, sonar sensors, etc.) to detect when it is appropriate to command engine stop for fuel economy while driving off-road. To determine appropriateness, the vehicle may evaluate obstacles, ground clearance, and/or vehicle inclination. A method may include measuring accelerations/inclinations of a vehicle, comparing an acceleration value of each acceleration to an acceleration threshold, and disabling a start-stop system of the vehicle based on at least one acceleration value exceeding the acceleration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas S. Hawley
  • Patent number: 11959536
    Abstract: A system for managing vehicle body and wheel motion control with a dual clutch differential includes sensors and actuators disposed on the vehicle, the sensors measuring real-time static and dynamic data and the actuators altering static and dynamic behavior of the motor vehicle. A control module executes program code portions stored in memory. The program code portions receive the real-time static and dynamic data; selectively prioritize torque output from a prime mover of the vehicle through the differential to driven wheels of the vehicle to control a body and the driven wheels; model and estimate clutch torque for each clutch of the dual clutch differential; model and estimate a joint clutch torque, a tire force, and corner torque; and generate a torque output for each clutch of the dual clutch differential that is selected to maintain one or more of body control, wheel control, and stability of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, University of Waterloo
    Inventors: Reza Hajiloo, Amir Khajepour, Seyedalireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, Seyedeh Asal Nahidi, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi, Ehsan Mohammadbagher
  • Patent number: 11951968
    Abstract: An EPB (Electronic Parking Brake) control apparatus may include: a first EPB switch of an EPB; a first controller connected to two terminals among the plurality of terminals of the first EPB switch, and configured to calculate a first signal value by combining signals received from the two terminals, and diagnose the state of the first EPB switch according to the first signal value, and a second controller connected to the other two terminals among the plurality of terminals of the first EPB switch, and configured to calculate a second signal value by combining signals received from the two terminals, and diagnose the state of the first EPB switch according to the second signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Lee, Jung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11945499
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to autonomous vehicle technology, and provides a method and an apparatus for trailer angle measurement, as well as a vehicle. With the present disclosure, it can be determined whether to use a single-beam lidar or a multiple-beam lidar for trailer angle measurement based on an initial trailer angle. When it is determined to use the multiple-beam lidar a deflection direction of the semi-trailer can be obtained, and laser light emitted by the multiple-beam lidar on a side of the deflection direction and reflected by a trailer surface can be collected. A coordinate transformation and selection process can be applied on the laser point cloud to form a candidate point cloud. A boundary straight line of the trailer can be determined by means of optimized solution of the candidate point cloud. A trailer angle can be determined based on the boundary straight line of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING TUSEN ZHITU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuyong Wang, Pingyuan Ji
  • Patent number: 11946227
    Abstract: A working machine includes a controller configured or programmed to perform an automatic deceleration for automatically decelerating a left traveling motor and a right traveling motor rotated at a second speed by shifting from the second speed to the first speed, and to determine a deceleration threshold that is used for judging whether the automatic deceleration has to be performed or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Nagao, Yuji Fukuda, Ryota Hamamoto, Hiroaki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11945604
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a control computer, load determining unit, first central inertial measurement device and a second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit is coupled to the first inertial measurement device and the second inertial measurement device. The load determining unit can receive instantaneous first accelerations detected by the first inertial measurement device and instantaneous second accelerations detected by the at least one second inertial measurement device and from this to determine instantaneous loads acting on the aircraft and to store them in a memory unit and/or to transmit them to an external unit. The load determining unit can determine expected maneuver accelerations. The load determining unit can subtract the expected maneuver accelerations from detected first accelerations and second accelerations and determine externally induced dynamic accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Cyrille Vidy, Christoph Meisner, Christian Stolz, Holger Hickethier
  • Patent number: 11939892
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device includes: a driving rotating body that rotates with a crankshaft; a driven rotating body that rotates with a camshaft; a reduction mechanism configured to change a relative rotation phase of the driving rotating body and the driven rotating body by a driving force of an actuator; and a filter unit capable of capturing a foreign matter contained in lubricating fluid supplied into the reduction mechanism. The reduction mechanism includes: an internal gear portion having internal teeth formed inward in a radial direction, and an external gear portion having external teeth formed outward in the radial direction to mesh with the internal teeth. The driven rotating body has a supply hole penetrating in an axial direction. The filter unit has holes penetrating in the axial direction, and the holes are arranged in a flow path of the lubricating fluid connected to the supply hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahito Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11939942
    Abstract: A remote controller, a remote-control system and a control method thereof are provided. The remote controller includes a motion sensing circuit and a wireless communication circuit electrically connected to the motion sensing circuit. The motion sensing circuit determines whether or not a motion of the remote controller complies with one of multiple reference motions. When the motion of the remote controller complies with one of the reference motions, the wireless communication circuit is switched from a sleep state to a working state. The wireless communication circuit that is in the working state determines whether or not a received signal strength indication between the remote controller and a controlled device is greater than or equal to a strength threshold. When the received signal strength indication is less than the strength threshold, the wireless communication circuit is switched from the working state to the sleep state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: WISTRON NEWEB CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Hsin Wu, Chui-Sung Peng, Chu-Chi Sun, Fu-Ming Kang
  • Patent number: 11939907
    Abstract: An ECM executes a catalyst early activation control at the cold start of an engine such that the activation of a catalyzer is promoted by opening a WGV. Further, the ECM performs a diagnosis process of diagnosing whether or not the WGV is stuck closed, based on the amplitude of the output fluctuation in an air-fuel-ratio sensor during execution of the catalyst early activation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Katayama
  • Patent number: 11939932
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining a static flow rate of a piezo-electric injector of an injection system. The piezo-electric injector includes a needle and a piezo-electric actuator designed to control a valve of the injector. The injection system includes an electric generator designed to send electric current pulses to the piezo-electric actuator of the injector, and a voltage sensor designed to measure voltage values at the terminals of the piezo-electric actuator. The method includes the following steps: sending during a phase of closure of the needle of an electric current pulse such that the piezo-electric actuator is positioned in contact with the valve, without giving rise to the opening thereof; measurement of a plurality of voltage values of the piezo-electric actuator; and determining a static flow rate of the piezo-electric injector on the basis of a plurality of voltage values measured of the piezo-electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Quentin Dussardier, Morgan Drouyer, Edouard Gambier
  • Patent number: 11932070
    Abstract: An electrically powered suspension system includes: an actuator that is provided between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle and generates a load for damping vibration of the vehicle body; an information acquisition part that acquires information on a sprung state amount and a road surface state; a target load calculation part that calculates a first target load related to skyhook control based on the sprung state amount and calculates a second target load related to preview control based on the road surface state; and a load control part. The target load calculation part calculates a third target load related to roll generation control based on a target roll angle and calculates a combined target load into which the first target load, second target load, and third target load have been combined. The load control part performs load control of the actuator using the combined target load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Konada, Takashi Yanagi, Ryosuke Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11933244
    Abstract: Systems and methods regarding a ducted fuel injection (DFI) combustion system for an internal combustion engine can control an injection timing of a fuel injector to output fuel injections through at least one duct and into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The injection timing can include one or more pilot injections according to a predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) for a combustion cycle; and a main injection into the combustion chamber for the combustion cycle after all of the one or more pilot injections. A first amount of the fuel injected for the main injection can be greater than a second amount of fuel injected for the one or more pilot injections. The predetermined range before top dead center (BTDC) of the one or more pilot injections can be from 85 to 40 degrees BTDC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Charlie Kim
  • Patent number: 11933240
    Abstract: Operating an internal combustion engine system includes feeding a stream of pressurized intake air to a plurality of cylinders in an engine for combustion with a methanol fuel. An engine parameter indicative of at least one of an exhaust NOx level or a change to the exhaust NOx level of the engine is monitored, and water injected into an intake conduit for the engine based on the monitored engine parameter to limit the exhaust NOx level of the engine. Related apparatus and control logic is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenth I Svensson, David Todd Montgomery
  • Patent number: 11933257
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a fuel supply passage configured to receive a pressurized fuel, a nozzle orifice downstream of the fuel supply passage, and an injection valve positionable to open the nozzle orifice and to close the nozzle orifice. The injection valve has a first configuration with a first lift and a second configuration with a second lift, the first lift being different than the second lift. The fuel injection system includes a fluid-actuated lift control valve configured to cause the injection valve to change from the first configuration to the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew O. Marrack
  • Patent number: 11927164
    Abstract: A throttle body assembly for a combustion engine includes a throttle body having a pressure chamber including a supply of liquid fuel, and a throttle bore with an inlet through which air is received. A throttle valve is carried by the throttle body with a valve head movable relative to the throttle bore. A metering valve is coupled to the throttle body, and has a valve element that is movable between open and closed positions. A boost venturi is located in the throttle bore and has an inner passage that is open at both ends to the throttle bore. The boost venturi has an opening through which fuel flows into the inner passage when the valve element is in the open position, wherein fuel flows from the pressure chamber to the metering valve under the force of gravity or under a pressure of less than 6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Gary J. Burns, Andreas D. M. Dixon, Eric G. Zbytowski, Albert L Sayers, Justin T. Dolane, David L Speirs, William E. Galka, Duried F. Rabban, Bradley J. Roche
  • Patent number: 11919497
    Abstract: Methods and systems to assist maneuvering of a trailer being towed by a vehicle. The trailer includes a left wheel, a right wheel, an axle, a left brake device coupled to the left wheel, and a right brake device coupled to the right wheel. The methods and systems receive a driver command for a target path for the trailer, determine a left braking torque for the left wheel and a right braking torque for the right wheel based on the target path so as to provide for differential braking, and apply, via the left brake device and the right brake device, the left braking torque and the right braking torque to assist maneuvering of the trailer along the target path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Bennati, Steven Reini, Halit Zengin, Manvir Dulai