Patents Examined by Roger L Pang
  • Patent number: 11260869
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission includes: a failure diagnosis section for diagnosing whether or not a failure has occurred in a shift control system of the automatic transmission; a fail-safe control section for fixing the automatic transmission into a predetermined gear position in response to confirmation of the failure of the shift control system of the automatic transmission; and an oil temperature rise regulation torque reduction control section for outputting a torque reduction request to suppress torque of a vehicle driving source, based on temperature of transmission operating oil of the automatic transmission, and outputting the torque reduction request in response to satisfaction of an oil temperature condition that is set lower in oil temperature when the automatic transmission is fixed in a first gear position by the fail-safe control section than when the automatic transmission is not fixed in the first gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: JATCO LTD
    Inventors: Tomoko Oue, Masashi Yamaji, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Shin Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 11261963
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having an engine, a throttle valve and a throttle operator. A continuously variable transmission operatively connected to the engine has a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a belt operatively connecting the driving and driven pulleys. A ground engaging member is operatively connected to the driven pulley. A piston is operatively connected to the driving pulley for applying a piston force thereto and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley. A control unit controls actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes detecting a stall condition indicative of the vehicle being stalled, and, responsive to the detection, setting the piston force to be zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: BRP-ROTAX GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Guenther Roland, Christian Stiebinger
  • Patent number: 11261958
    Abstract: Control of a Vehicle Having an Automatic Transmission to Compensate for Ambient Air Density A method of controlling an automatic transmission (24) of a vehicle (10), the method comprising: receiving a signal indicative of a vehicle operating mode; obtaining a base map defining gear shift points for the transmission (24) based on the indicated vehicle operating mode; obtaining a torque loss map defining gear shift points for the transmission (24) based on a predetermined minimum value of density; and controlling the transmission (24) based on the base map if the base map defines gear shift points at higher engine speeds or vehicle speeds than the corresponding gear shift points defined by the torque loss map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Roger Wardle, Paul Timothy, Thomas Owen
  • Patent number: 11255418
    Abstract: A powertrain for a motor vehicle, with a differential planetary gear system, which has at least one ring gear with ring gear toothing, at least one sun gear with sun gear toothing, planetary gears which engage with the ring gear toothing on one side and with the sun gear toothing on the other side, and a planetary gear carrier, on which the planetary gears are rotatably mounted. The ring gear toothing and the sun gear toothing have the same number of respective gear wheel teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: AUDI AG, Profiroll Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Buratowski, Markus Heilmann, Michael Hirsch, Christian Weihmann, Peter Strehmel
  • Patent number: 11242053
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an identifier identifying a vehicle speed of a vehicle having a driving motor, based on a rotation speed of a power transmission shaft, and a controller controlling operation of the driving motor. The controller can switch between a normal mode of controlling acceleration/deceleration in accordance with a driver's acceleration/deceleration operation, and a cruise control mode of maintaining the vehicle speed at a target speed without being dependent on the acceleration/deceleration operation. During the cruise control mode, the controller calculates a torque command value for the driving motor by using proportional control based on a deviation between the vehicle speed and the target speed. If a prediction indicates that torsion in the shaft is to be released, the controller adjusts the torque command value such that an absolute value of torque of a proportional-control component is smaller than when the torsion is not to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoto Arai
  • Patent number: 11236809
    Abstract: A method of shifting gears including providing a driveline for a vehicle. The driveline has an electric drive motor and a powershift transmission. The transmission has a first transmission stage and a second transmission stage. The method includes performing a range shift including handing over torque transmission from a range clutch of the first or second transmission to the other range clutch. The method also includes, simultaneously with the range shift, engaging one of the direction clutches of one transmission or keeping one of the direction clutches engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Jan A. Bedert, Koen B. Seynaeve, Dries C. T'Hooft
  • Patent number: 11236825
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a continuously variable transmission, and a controller. The controller, responsive to a request to manually shift the continuously variable transmission and the engine being on, operates the continuously variable transmission atone of a predetermined number of discrete ratios such that a speed of the engine changes by at least a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Lechlitner, Seth Anthony Bryan, Tyler James-Ray Kaldobsky
  • Patent number: 11230282
    Abstract: A control device includes an internal combustion engine control unit configured to control an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine control unit is configured to, in a case where a first traveling mode, increase a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine in accordance with an increase in a speed of a vehicle and when the rotational speed reaches a predetermined first rotational speed, decrease the rotational speed to a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed, calculate a decrease rate of the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine per unit time when the rotational speed is decreased from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed, and in a case where the traveling mode setting unit shifts from the first traveling mode to the second traveling mode, decrease the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine based on the decrease rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mamiko Inoue, Kentaro Shiraki, Tatsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11230288
    Abstract: Presented are hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) powertrains and control logic for optimized regenerative braking (regen), methods for making/using such systems, and HEVs with increased regen through reduced engine and transmission friction. A method of operating an HEV includes determining if an REV operating state or fault prevents engagement of a regen control operation and, if not, responsively determining if a torque request for the REV's powertrain is less than a road load on the HEV. The regen control operation is executed responsive to the torque request being less than the road load. The regen control operation includes the power transmission drivingly disconnecting the engine from the road wheels, and the engine operating at a target engine speed. A negative torque offset to maintain a vehicle deceleration rate after disconnecting the engine from the road wheels is calculated; the traction motor outputs a negative torque based on this negative torque offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David S. Tokarz, Stefan M. Frick, Joshua F. Pacheco
  • Patent number: 11231089
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear system having an epicyclic gear stage that includes a sun gear; a carrier, wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of planet gear axles; a plurality of planet gears, each planet gear being located on one of the planet gear axles; a ring gear. The stage also includes an output shaft, wherein the output shaft is connected to the carrier via a biasing mechanism positioned between the carrier and the output shaft, the biasing mechanism being configured to urge the carrier and the output shaft away from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Davies
  • Patent number: 11226035
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powerplant, at least one drive wheel, a transmission, and a controller. The powerplant is configured to generate power to propel the vehicle. The transmission is configured to deliver power from the powerplant to the at least one drive wheel. The controller is programmed to, in response to a scheduled upshift of the transmission and detection of a set of conditions that are indicative of the vehicle climbing while on loose terrain, override upshifting the transmission and maintain a current gear of the transmission. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the scheduled upshift of the transmission and non-detection of at least one condition of the set of conditions that are indicative of the vehicle climbing while on loose terrain, upshift the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thaddeus Hill, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Robert Kowalske
  • Patent number: 11220171
    Abstract: A drivetrain architecture may include a first shaft for connection to a torque source, a first sun gear attached to the first shaft, a second sun gear attached to a second shaft, a first planet gear attached to a third shaft and in meshing engagement with the first sun gear, a second planet gear attached to the third shaft, a ring gear attached to a fourth shaft and in meshing engagement with the second planet gear, a planet carrier attached to a fifth shaft, the planet carrier supporting the third shaft, a sixth shaft for connection to a first motor generator, a seventh shaft for connection to a second motor generator, a first gear set connecting the second shaft and the sixth shaft, a second gear set connecting the fourth shaft and an eighth shaft and a third gear set connecting the fifth shaft and the seventh shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventor: Cecil A. Weeramantry
  • Patent number: 11220268
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring and determining a propulsion request are described. In one example, the propulsion request is evaluated according to two separate plausibility checks. The plausibility checks may include comparing a monitor propulsion request against the propulsion request and comparing the monitor propulsion request against a wheel torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Susan Cikanek, Bader Badreddine, Matthew Allan Herrmann
  • Patent number: 11215244
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: a transmission including an input shaft that receives power inputted from a power source for travel of the vehicle and an output shaft that outputs power to a drive wheel; a manual gear shifting power transmission mechanism that delivers an operation force of a driver as gear shifting power to the transmission; a clutch disposed between the power source for travel of the vehicle and the input shaft; and a controlled clutch actuation power transmission mechanism that delivers power of a clutch actuator as clutch actuation power to the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11215278
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a vehicle and a method for controlling the vehicle. The vehicle includes: an engine; a transmission configured to transmit power from the engine to drive wheels; a deceleration factor detection device configured to detect a deceleration factor that is present ahead of the vehicle; and an electronic control unit configured to maintain a speed ratio of the transmission as a current speed ratio on condition that the deceleration factor is detected by the deceleration factor detection device, and change the speed ratio stepwise to a lower speed side than the current speed ratio and maintain the changed speed ratio, in response to a deceleration request from a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadanao Okubo
  • Patent number: 11204096
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission arranged between an engine and a drive wheel, the automatic transmission including a torque converter having a lock-up clutch, and a transmission mechanism. The control device includes a shift control unit configured to perform shift control of the transmission mechanism. The shift control unit includes a forced downshift control processing unit configured to implement forced downshift when an accelerator foot release operation is performed during auto-upshift in a power-on state with the lock-up clutch engaged. The forced downshift control processing unit is configured to start the forced downshift before an engine rotation speed that has decreased due to the auto-upshift reaches a lock-up release rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Hirasako
  • Patent number: 11193560
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a work vehicle includes a drive housing including a first housing element forming a reaction member; a drive shaft; a planetary gear set coupled to the drive shaft and configured to selectively rotate an output element in the first rotation direction and in the second rotation direction; a first clutch arrangement including a first clutch ring and a second clutch ring; and a second clutch arrangement to interface with the planetary gear set to selectively effect a second rotation speed of the output element in the first rotation direction and in the second rotation direction. The first clutch ring is configured to effect a first rotation speed of the output element in the second rotation direction and the second clutch ring is configured to effect the first rotation speed of the output element in the first rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Clayton G. Janasek, Lisa R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 11193561
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing having a transmission housing chamber, a reservoir, and a clutch housing chamber. At least one of the transmission housing chamber or the clutch housing chamber are fluidically connected to the reservoir. A transmission is disposed in the transmission housing chamber. A clutch is disposed in the clutch housing chamber. The clutch is drivingly connected to the transmission. An actuator has an actuating element engaged with the clutch. The clutch is moveable by the actuating element between a disengaged position and an engaged position. A valve is operatively connected to the actuating element of the actuator to allow lubricant flow from the reservoir to at least one of the transmission housing chamber and the clutch housing chamber when the clutch is in the engaged position and to prevent lubricant flow from the reservoir when the clutch is in the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Jan Haupt, Theodor Gassmann, Maximilian Werkhausen
  • Patent number: 11187303
    Abstract: A planetary gearbox including a first planetary gear assembly, a second planetary gear assembly, and a disconnect assembly. The first planetary gear assembly includes a first sun gear, a first carrier, at least one first planet gear mounted in the first carrier, and a ring gear. The second planetary gear assembly includes a second sun gear, a second carrier, at least one second planet gear mounted in the second carrier, and the ring gear. The disconnect assembly includes a disconnect member and a connecting member. The disconnect member is coupled to the second carrier of the second planetary gear assembly, and the connecting member is coupled to both the disconnect member and the movable second sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Fairfield Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Dean Elmore, Darren D. Arnold, Shuo Zhang, Matthew P. Richards
  • Patent number: 11181174
    Abstract: A powertrain for an electric vehicle includes: a planetary gear including a first rotating element, a second rotating element, and a third rotating element, where the first rotating element is connected to a first shaft, the second rotating element is connected to a second shaft, and the third rotating element is connected to a third shaft; a first motor selectively supplying power to the first shaft at two or more gear ratios; and a second motor selectively supplying power to the first shaft and the second shaft. The third shaft is fixedly disposed on a transmission housing, and any two shafts among the first, second and third shafts restrain each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Jae Joon Lee, Jong Sool Park, Jin Young Hwang, Jong Sung Kim