Patents Examined by John Kwon
  • Patent number: 11491864
    Abstract: A fuel tank system for a vehicle includes a fuel tank, a fuel supply passage, a canister, an evaporated fuel gas supply passage, a communication passage, a backflow prevention device, first and second pressure measurement devices, and a control device. The fuel tank stores fuel supplied by the fuel supply passage. The canister adsorbs evaporated fuel gas generated in the fuel tank and supplied through the evaporated fuel gas supply passage. The backflow prevention device is provided in a pipe line of the fuel supply passage, and prevents a backflow of the fuel from the fuel tank. The first and second pressure measurement devices respectively measure pressures in the fuel supply passage and the evaporated fuel gas supply passage. The control device diagnoses the communication passage as being blocked when a difference between pressure values measured by the first and second pressure measurement devices exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Okazaki, Tetsuya Kaneko, Tomokazu Mori, Akihiro Takemura, Fumihiro Nei
  • Patent number: 11486511
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve drive device which supplies a hold current with a prescribed fluctuation range to an electromagnetic coil of an electromagnetic valve after a current peak when a supply of electricity starts has passed includes: a power supplier which intermittently applies a drive voltage to the electromagnetic coil; a detector which detects the hold current; a first comparator which compares a detected current by the detector with a first threshold value; a filter which performs integration processing on an output of the first comparator; a second comparator which compares an output of the filter with a second threshold value to generate an output signal used for generating a control signal for controlling the power supplier; and a control signal generator which generates the control signal for controlling the power supplier based on the output signal of the second comparator, wherein the filter is a count-up/down type digital filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD., NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Motoaki Kato, Kengo Nomura, Keisuke Kuroda, Makoto Kawajiri
  • Patent number: 11485348
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle controller includes processing circuitry configured to execute a particulate matter (PM) deposition amount estimation process that estimates a deposition amount of PM deposited in the filter. The processing circuitry is configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode as a control mode that defines control of the engine and the motor. A use of the engine is limited in the first mode as compared with the second mode. The processing circuitry is configured to execute a display process that notifies a user that the filter needs to be regenerated when the control mode is the second mode if the estimated deposition amount is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, and not to execute the display process when the control mode is the first mode even if the deposition amount is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11486326
    Abstract: A method of adaptively predicting, during operation of a pump, a mass of fuel pumped by the pump during a pumping event to a fuel accumulator (“Qpump”) to control operation of the pump is provided, comprising: generating an adaptive model of operation of the pump, including estimating a start of pumping (“SOP”) position of a plunger of the pump, estimating Qpump, determining a converged value of the estimated SOP position, and determining a converged value of the estimated Qpump; using the adaptive model to predict Qpump by inputting to the model the converged value of the estimated SOP position, a measured pressure of fuel in the fuel accumulator and a measured temperature of fuel in the fuel accumulator; and controlling operation of the pump in response to the predicted Qpump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Tommy J. Albing, David Michael Carey
  • Patent number: 11479223
    Abstract: A system for forming a negative pressure in a negative pressure reservoir of a brake system includes, an engine having an intake manifold and a camshaft, a vacuum pump connected to the camshaft through a clutch device and generating a pump negative pressure, a turbocharger having a compressor supplying a compressed air to the engine, a pump negative pressure line connecting the vacuum pump and the negative pressure reservoir and supplying the pump negative pressure to the negative pressure reservoir, an intake negative pressure line connecting the negative pressure reservoir and the intake manifold and supplying the intake negative pressure of the intake manifold to the negative pressure reservoir, and a negative pressure source selection apparatus configured to control opening and closing of the pump negative pressure line and the intake negative pressure line based on operation of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yongjun Choi, Euichul Choi, Young Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11480138
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel tank and an evaporative-emissions system having a primary subsystem and an auxiliary subsystem. The primary subsystem has a fuel-vapor canister in fluid communication with the fuel tank to capture fuel vapors of the fuel tank. The auxiliary subsystem is configured to capture fuel vapors associated with an external fuel-storage device. The auxiliary subsystem has an auxiliary port located on an exterior of the vehicle and is configured to connect with the external fuel-storage device. The auxiliary port is selectively connected in fluid communication with the fuel-vapor canister by a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11480119
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for controlling an engine system can provide fuel reactivity compensation control for an engine of the engine system. Pilot fuel quantity supplied to the engine can be controlled using a nitrous oxide (NOx) error. Likewise, air-to-fuel ratio (AFR) for the engine can be controlled using the NOx error. Each of a pilot fuel offset and an AFR control trim can be generated using the NOx error. The pilot fuel offset and the AFR control trim can be used to control the pilot fuel quantity and the AFR, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Geetika Dilawari, Shawn M. Damm, Shivangi Wagle, Hannes Marscheider
  • Patent number: 11472408
    Abstract: A device for controlling travel of a vehicle includes an input device configured to receive user setting information, a sensor configured to acquire user state information, travel information of the vehicle, and vehicle surroundings information, and a controller configured to calculate an ADAS operation reliability based on the travel information of the vehicle and the vehicle surroundings information, calculate at least one of a vehicle set speed and/or a warning time point based on the user setting information and an ADAS reliability determination value when careless driving of a user is determined based on the user state information, and determine whether to perform vehicle stop control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyeong Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 11473491
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling an overheated engine using a combination of variable displacement engine (VDE) technology and direct injection technology. In one example, a method may include deactivating a subset of engine cylinders based on an engine temperature and directly injecting liquid fuel into the deactivated cylinders. In this way, an increased thermal conductivity of the liquid fuel compared to air decreases the engine temperature at a faster rate than when air-based engine cooling methods are used, thereby preventing overheating-related engine degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed Dudar
  • Patent number: 11473535
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment device includes a main adsorption chamber and a sub adsorption chamber. The sub adsorption chamber includes a first adsorption layer, a second adsorption layer and a high-desorption layer. The second adsorption layer is situated closer to an atmosphere port than the first adsorption layer is, and has a lower performance of adsorbing fuel vapor than the first adsorption layer does. The high-desorption layer is situated closer to the main adsorption chamber than the first adsorption layer is, and a higher performance of desorbing the fuel vapor than the first adsorption layer or the second adsorption layer does.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 11466650
    Abstract: This fuel includes: a first switching element disposed between a booster circuit boosting a battery power and one end of a solenoid; a second switching element disposed between a battery and one end of the solenoid; a third switching element disposed between the other end of the solenoid and a ground; a fourth switching element disposed between one end of the solenoid and a ground; and a control unit configured to control open/closed states of the first switching element, the second switching element, the third switching element, and the fourth switching element. The control unit is configured to open the fourth switching element during a valve closing detection period of detecting closing of a fuel injection valve and to detect the closing of the fuel injection valve on the basis of a change in voltage of the other end of the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD., PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Motoaki Kato, Kengo Nomura, Keisuke Kuroda, Takashi Ryu
  • Patent number: 11466631
    Abstract: A vehicle system having an internal combustion engine and evaporative emission system including a canister is described, wherein canister includes a chamber having a flexible Metal Organic Framework (MOF) material disposed therein. A controllable device is coupled to the flexible MOF material, and a controller is operatively connected to the controllable device and the purge valve. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to activate the controllable device and control the purge valve to an open state in response to a command to purge the canister, determine an activation parameter for the controllable device, determine a purge flow, integrate the purge flow to determine a total purge mass, and deactivate the controllable device when the total purge mass is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael B. Viola, Darrell W. Burleigh, Timothy E. McCarthy, Anne M. Dailly
  • Patent number: 11466637
    Abstract: An injection control device controls fuel injection to an internal-combustion engine by driving a fuel injection valve with an electric current to open and close the valve. The injection control device includes a boost circuit boosting a battery voltage; a boost controller controlling the boosting of the boost circuit; and a charge control setter setting charge permission or charge prohibition of the boost circuit to the boost controller. The charge control setter sets the charge permission or charge prohibition of the boost circuit to the boost controller according to a magnitude of an influence of a drive current error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kosuke Kato, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Yasumasa Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11459983
    Abstract: An intake manifold for an engine includes first and second runners that each extend from a plenum to a mounting face of the intake manifold. The mounting face mates with a corresponding face of a cylinder head. The intake manifold defines a passage directly fluidly coupling the first runner to the second runner to reduce engine noise. The passage is spaced apart from the plenum and the mounting face. A method of controlling engine noise is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alan Eden, Bret Wayne Harris
  • Patent number: 11459969
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a DC/DC voltage converter for controlling the current of at least one fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the vehicle including a supply battery and the converter including a coil and a switch. The method includes the steps of measuring the value of the voltage delivered by the battery, of determining a threshold value of the current passing through the coil from the measured value of the voltage and from a predetermined curve of the current as a function of the voltage, and of actuating the opening of the switch when the current passing through the coil reaches the determined threshold value of the current in order to regulate the power of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Cedrick Biellmann, Thierry Bavois
  • Patent number: 11453471
    Abstract: A propulsive force suitable to hold a vessel at a target position is determined, by a controller that controls a propulsion device in a fixed point holding mode to hold the position of the vessel. The controller acquires a parameter including the position of the vessel or a vessel speed. The controller determines a target value for the parameter. The controller determines a demand output of the propulsion device within a predetermined upper limit value or less by feedback control according to a deviation between the parameter and the target value. The controller increases the upper limit value when the demand output of the propulsion device is greater than or equal to a first threshold. The first threshold is defined by a predetermined ratio with respect to the upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Yamaguchi, Yoshikazu Nakayasu
  • Patent number: 11454190
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting fuel injector operation according to changes in fuel pressure during inter-injection periods are described. The inter-injection period may be before and after fuel is injected to an engine. The methods and systems described herein may be suitable for direct and port fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Pursifull, David Oshinsky, Rani Kiwan, Joseph Lyle Thomas
  • Patent number: 11454202
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for ascertaining a closure point in time of an injector of an internal combustion engine using a classifier. The method includes: ascertaining a time series of input signals, each corresponding to a point in time within the time series, and each characterizing a deformation of the injector; ascertaining a plurality of first values using the classifier based on the time series, in each case a first value corresponding to a point in time of the time series, and the first value characterizing a probability that the closure point in time of the injector matches the point in time; ascertaining a plurality of second values, each being a sum of neighboring first values, of a first value and the first value, the second value corresponding to the point in time to which the first value corresponds; ascertaining the closure point in time based on the largest second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hopf, Erik Tonner, Frank Kowol, Jens-Holger Barth, Konrad Groh, Matthias Woehrle, Mona Meister, Roland Norden
  • Patent number: 11448167
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an active purge system and an active purge method for a hybrid vehicle, and changes a control method for the throughput of the evaporation gas according to the engine torque according to a change in an optimal operating line, the system efficiency, or the state of charge (SOC) condition of a battery using an active purge unit for pressing the evaporation gas generated by a fuel tank and supplying the pressed evaporation gas to an intake pipe, thereby efficiently purging the evaporation gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Young-Kyu Oh, Keum-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 11448143
    Abstract: An apparatus of controlling a vehicle and a method thereof are provided. The operating region of an engine is operated with theoretical air-fuel ratio. The apparatus includes a supercharger that supplies compressed air to a the combustion chamber of the engine and a spark plug that ignites mixed air supplied to the combustion chamber. An intake valve selectively opens and closes the combustion chamber for inflowing the mixed air therein. A variable valve apparatus adjusts an opening timing and closing timing of the intake valve and a controller adjusts an ignition timing of the spark plug and the closing timing of the intake valve through the variable valve apparatus based on the operating region of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yeongseop Park, Dong Hee Han, Jong Il Park, Hyunjin Kang, Heechang Oh, JaUn Ku, Seungwoo Hong, Jonghyeok Lee, Kwanhee Lee, Dongwon Jung, Jaeheun Kim