Patents Examined by Roger L Pang
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Patent number: 11453382Abstract: An apparatus includes an energy storage circuit, an input circuit, and a hybrid management circuit. The energy storage circuit is structured to receive a state of charge (SOC) and a state of health (SOH) of an energy storage device. The input circuit is structured to receive an indication of a torque demand. The hybrid management circuit is structured to determine a first torque output for a genset including an engine and a first motor-generator based on the torque demand and the SOC of the energy storage device; determine an adjustment factor based on the SOH of the energy storage device; determine an adjusted torque output for the genset based on the adjustment factor and the first torque output; operate the genset to provide the adjusted torque output and to generate an amount of energy; and operate a second motor-generator at a second torque output to meet the torque demand.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2017Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Booth, Martin T. Books
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Patent number: 11454315Abstract: A transmission controller of a toroidal continuously variable transmission includes a gain setting unit that adjusts a gain of closed-loop control for calculating a target value of a roller position in accordance with a change in a rotation speed of a disc in a first rotation speed range and a second rotation speed range higher than the first rotation speed range. The gain setting unit changes, in the first rotation speed range, the gain so that sensitivity of the closed-loop control decreases with an increase in the rotation speed, and changes, in the second rotation speed range, the gain so that a rate of decrease in the sensitivity of the closed-loop control with the increase in the rotation speed is smaller than that in the first rotation speed range.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kippei Matsuda, Shouji Miyanishi, Kenichi Nakashima
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Patent number: 11440533Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle that reduces delay in engagement of a clutch when shifting an operating mode by manipulating the clutch. A controller is configured to adjust a speed of a first motor to a first standby speed at which the speed difference in a first clutch is reduced when an operating mode will be shifted from a single-motor mode to a first mode, and adjust a speed of the first motor to a second standby speed at which a speed difference in the second clutch is reduced when the operating mode will be shifted from the single-motor mode to a second mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO TEN LIMITEDInventors: Yukari Okamura, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Yumeto Shiraki
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Patent number: 11433912Abstract: A vehicle failure-factor specifying apparatus includes (a) a peculiarity-presence determining portion configured to determine, based on a pre-failure driving state in a stage prior to occurrence of a certain failure in a vehicle, whether a peculiarity was present or absent in the pre-failure driving state, and (b) a failure-causing-driving state specifying portion configured, when the peculiarity was present in the pre-failure driving state, to determine whether the peculiarity present in the pre-failure driving state of the vehicle is substantially identical with a peculiarity in the pre-failure driving state of other vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Atsushi Tabata, Kenji Miyasaka, Koichi Okuda
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Patent number: 11427201Abstract: A vehicle includes active grill shutters and a controller. The active grill shutters are configured to open to increase a drag on the vehicle and to close to decrease the drag on the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to regenerative braking via an electric machine and an absence of friction braking, transition or maintain the active grill shutters to or in a closed position. The controller is further programmed to, in response to friction braking, transition or maintain the active grill shutters to or in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Brandon Jay Woodland, Zachary March, Bryan Michael Bolger, Joseph James Gallo
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Patent number: 11420609Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a transmission. An engine stop-start event may be allowed or denied based on one or more characteristics of the vehicle including the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.Inventors: Claire Etchason, Jacob Hoeschen, Charles F. Long
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Patent number: 11414081Abstract: A powertrain includes a transmission having an input shaft, an output shaft, and a plurality of clutches engageable in various combinations to establish varying power flow paths between the input and output shafts. A controller is programmed to, responsive to a shift of the transmission: reduce torque capacity of an off-going one of the clutches and increase torque capacity of an oncoming one of the clutches during a torque transfer phase of the shift, and, in response to an inertia phase of the shift, continue to command non-zero torque capacity to the off-going clutch such that the off-going clutch brakes the output shaft throughout an entire duration of the inertia phase.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Ivan Cvok, Josko Deur, Vladimir Ivanovic, Yijing Zhang, Yuji Fujii
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Patent number: 11407404Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable transmission including an input shaft coupled to the engine, an output shaft, an electric machine, and a gearing arrangement. The electric machine is configured to actuate the gearing arrangement to change a speed ratio between the input and output shafts. A controller is programmed to, responsive to a request to manually shift the transmission to one of a predetermined number of virtual discrete speed ratios and the engine being OFF, command starting of the engine regardless of a driver-demand torque and operate the electric machine to shift the transmission to the one of the speed ratios.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Tyler James-Ray Kaldobsky, Craig Lechlitner, Seth Anthony Bryan
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Patent number: 11407403Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a controller that selects an electric vehicle (EV) mode where an output clutch is disengaged and a wheel is driven by a motor, or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode where the output clutch is engaged and the wheel is driven by an engine and the motor. The controller engages the output clutch during the EV mode to adjust a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission, and switches, in accordance with a battery state, an adjustment mode for the gear ratio, during the EV mode, between a first adjustment mode that allows the gear ratio to be adjusted in accordance with a vehicle speed, and a second adjustment mode that allows the gear ratio to be adjusted to and kept at a reference gear ratio smaller than a lowest speed gear ratio regardless of the vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Satoshi Inoue, Tomoaki Sugiura, Akihiro Nabeshima, Takuya Machida
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Patent number: 11400916Abstract: A mild hybrid vehicle and a method of controlling the same are provided. The mild hybrid vehicle includes a sensor that detects shift intention of a driver to provide the shift intention as sensing information, a controller that determines a target rotation speed of an MHSG based on the sensing information and controls the MHSG based on the target rotation speed, and the MHSG that controls the rotation speed of the engine under control of the controller when the shift intention is detected.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATIONInventors: Tae Suk Lee, Young Ho Jung, Jung Hwan Bang
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Patent number: 11400939Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle includes: a drive-power distribution device for transmitting a drive power of an engine toward main and auxiliary drive wheels, at a drive-power distribution ratio between the auxiliary drive wheels and the main drive wheels; and a control apparatus for executing a drive-power distribution control for adjusting the drive-power distribution ratio, and executing an engine automatic-start control for causing the engine to be started upon satisfaction of an engine-start condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Takaira
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Patent number: 11402018Abstract: An alternator driving apparatus for driving an alternator may include a crank pulley mounted on a crank shaft of an engine, an alternator pulley connected to the crank pulley through a driving belt, an alternator shaft connected between the alternator and the alternator pulley, and a rotation speed varying mechanism configured to vary a rotation speed of the alternator shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Jong Hyuck Kim
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Patent number: 11396286Abstract: A hybrid-vehicle system includes an internal combustion engine configured to deliver a first rotational torque to a crankshaft. The first rotational torque is a maximum torque deliverable by the internal combustion engine. The hybrid-vehicle system also includes a transmission selectively rotatably coupled to the crankshaft, and an assembly including an electric machine rotatably coupled to the transmission and configured to deliver a second rotational torque directly to the transmission. The assembly also includes a one-way clutch configured to rotationally couple the crankshaft and the transmission. The assembly further includes a friction clutch moveable between an engaged state where the crankshaft and the transmission are rotationally coupled, and a disengaged state where the crankshaft and the transmission are rotationally decoupled. The friction clutch is further defined as a latching friction clutch.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Campbell, Calahan B. Campton
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Patent number: 11391256Abstract: A method and system for controlling a stop rotation position of an engine is described. In one example, the system includes an integrated starter/generator that may be selectively coupled to the engine. The integrated starter/generator may rotate the engine in a first direction (e.g., reverse direction) or a second direction (e.g., a forward direction) in response to a position at which the engine stops rotating following cessation of combustion in the engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy Baxendale, Thomas Ciccone, Corey Blue
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Patent number: 11390281Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling vehicle operation includes a monitoring unit disposed at a vehicle, the vehicle including rear brakes and front brakes, the monitoring unit configured to monitor driver inputs, and automatically detect a driver's intention to perform a combined brake and propulsion maneuver based on the driver inputs meeting a first set of conditions. The system also includes a control unit configured to receive a brake request and an engine torque request from the driver during the maneuver, and based on detecting the first set of conditions, apply a front braking force via the front brakes according to the brake request, and automatically control a rear braking force applied by the rear brakes during the maneuver, so that the rear braking force is less than the front braking force.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher J. Barber, Stefan M. Frick
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Patent number: 11383718Abstract: A system includes a clutch control module, a shift control module, and a torque control module. The clutch control module is configured to generate a release command signal to switch a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) from a locked state to a freewheel state. When the SOWC is in the locked state, a transmission transfers torque from an engine to a driveline and from the driveline to the engine. When the SOWC is in the freewheel state, the transmission transfers torque from the engine to the driveline and but not from the driveline to the engine. The shift control module is configured to generate a shift command signal to shift the transmission from a first gear to a second gear after the release command signal is generated. The torque control module is configured to increase an output torque of the engine for a period when the shift command signal is generated.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Pratik Nagesh Vernekar, Patrick Lennox Kennedy, Roberto Diaz
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Patent number: 11383696Abstract: A powertrain system configured to transfer torque to a driveline is described, and includes an internal combustion engine, a torque converter, a transmission, an electric machine, and a controller. The engine is configured to operate in one of an all-cylinder mode and a dynamic deactivation mode to generate an engine torque. The electric machine is configured to generate a motor torque. The motor torque and the engine torque combine to generate an output torque that is transferable to the driveline and is responsive to an output torque request. The controller is in communication with the engine, the torque converter, the transmission, and the electric machine. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to operate the engine in the dynamic deactivation mode to generate engine torque, and operate the electric machine to generate motor torque to supplement the engine torque to generate the output torque.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Neeraj S. Shidore, Norman K. Bucknor, Dongxu Li, Mark Tadrous, Derek F. Lahr, Suresh Gopalakrishnan, Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan
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Patent number: 11378180Abstract: An arrangement comprising a motor, a transmission, a transmission control unit and an auxillary use. The motor is rotatably connected to the transmission and the auxillary user. The transmission control unit is designed to determine a torque applied to the transmission by using a parameterisable function, wherein the function maps rotational speeds of the motor to a torque applied to the auxillary user at the rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Dieter Strak, Anton Waibel
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Patent number: 11377109Abstract: A method for changing between a multiplicity of discrete transmission ratio stages in a motorcycle gearbox is provided. In response to a shift demand, during the torque-transmitting connection of a drive shaft of the drive machine to a gearbox input shaft, a gear-selection drum of the transmission is rotatable from a first shifting position to an intermediate position which is situated between the first and a second shifting position, before shifting to the second shift position. In the intermediate position, no drive torque can be transmitted from the gearbox input shaft to a gearbox output shaft. During the gear selection drum movement from the first shifting position and the intermediate position, the drum may be rotated to a rest position in which drive torque can be transmitted from the gearbox input shaft to a gearbox output shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: David Thomas, Peter Wolff
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Patent number: 11377090Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine having a crankshaft, an electric machine having a rotor, a disconnect clutch having an input secured to the crankshaft and an output secured to the rotor, a hydraulic pump mechanically powered via rotation of the rotor and configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the actuate the disconnect clutch, a torque converter having an impeller secured to the rotor, and controller. The controller is programmed to, responsive to a speed of the impeller decreasing to less than a first threshold, which is indicative of a subsequent shutdown of the hydraulic pump, and responsive to the disconnect clutch being open while the engine is shut down, advance the disconnect clutch to a touch point where opposing sides of disconnect clutch make contact but substantially zero power is transferred between the engine and the electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Corey James Blue, Minku Lee, Scott James Thompson, Bradley Dean Riedle