Patents Examined by Susan Scharpf
  • Patent number: 9664124
    Abstract: A method can include determining, at a controller for an engine, the controller having one or more processors, a desired air-per-cylinder (APC) for the engine based on an engine torque request. The method can include determining, at the controller, a target intake manifold absolute pressure (MAP) based on a volumetric efficiency of the engine for electronic throttle control (ETC), wherein the volumetric efficiency for ETC is based on the desired APC and an actual MAP. The method can include commanding, by the controller, a throttle of the engine to deliver the target MAP. The method can include determining, at the controller, a target position for an intake valve of the engine based on a volumetric efficiency of the engine for variable valve timing (VVT), engine speed, and the actual MAP. The method can also include commanding, by the controller, the intake valve to the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Songping Yu
  • Patent number: 9644550
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an engine having a turbocharger and an automatic transmission. The control apparatus includes at least one electronic control unit configured to: control an air-fuel ratio of the engine and an operating state of the turbocharger based on a parameter indicating a load of the engine; control the turbocharger to execute turbocharging and operate the engine in a turbocharging lean combustion mode when the parameter is within a predetermined range, an air-fuel ratio set in the turbocharging lean combustion mode being a predetermined lean air-fuel ratio; and operate the engine in a predetermined operation mode instead of the turbocharging lean combustion mode in at least a part of the predetermined range when a downshift is performed in the automatic transmission, an air-fuel ratio set in the predetermined operation mode being a richer air-fuel ratio than the predetermined lean air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Masami Kondo
  • Patent number: 9644547
    Abstract: An engine control device for a work vehicle decides that an idling stop condition is established when the front device is in the unengaged state, the steering device is in the unengaged state, the accelerator pedal is in the non-operation state, either the transmission is in the neutral state or the parking brake device is in the engaged state or the transmission is in the neutral state and also the parking brake device is in the engaged state, and the service brake device is in the unengaged state, and stops an engine when it is decided that it passes the predetermined length of time since it was decided that the idling stop condition was established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KCM Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Masaki Yoshikawa, Isamu Aoki, Tetsuji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9638108
    Abstract: A throttle body having an integrated sector gear which includes a sector gear component, a bushing integrally formed with the sector gear component such that the bushing and sector gear component are a single part, and an insert, where the bushing and the sector gear formed around the insert. The insert includes a first arm and a second arm, and the insert is configurable to be formed with the sector gear and the bushing to be suitable for use with one or more packaging requirements of the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammed Rizwan Khan, Don Taylor
  • Patent number: 9617964
    Abstract: A starting device for an internal combustion engine has a starter pinion which can be adjusted axially between an out-of-function position and an advanced drive position and is seated on a shaft, on which a securing ring is arranged in order to limit the axial movement of the starter pinion. A securing recess is made in the end side of the starter pinion, into which securing recess the securing ring protrudes and which fixes the securing ring radially in its position on the shaft. The starter pinion can be displaced axially into a removal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Stoeckl, Patrick Hallas
  • Patent number: 9605609
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes an engine having a turbocharger and an automatic transmission. The control apparatus includes at least one electronic control unit configured to: control an air-fuel ratio of the engine and an operating state of the turbocharger based on a parameter indicating a load of the engine; control the turbocharger to execute turbocharging and operate the engine in a turbocharging lean combustion mode when the parameter is within a predetermined range, an air-fuel ratio set in the turbocharging lean combustion mode being a predetermined lean air-fuel ratio; and operate the engine in a predetermined operation mode instead of the turbocharging lean combustion mode in at least a part of the predetermined range when a downshift is performed in the automatic transmission, an air-fuel ratio set in the predetermined operation mode being a richer air-fuel ratio than the predetermined lean air-fuel ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadayuki Nagai, Masami Kondo
  • Patent number: 9366216
    Abstract: Vehicles equipped with an automatic start-stop system may include an interface for conveying inhibitors preventing an engine from auto-stopping in addition to the status of the automatic start-stop system. The system may identify one or more inhibitors actively preventing an auto-stop event from occurring and select at least one of the active inhibitors based on a priority scheme. The interface may communicate the at least one selected inhibitor to a driver using a display or a speaker, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Anh Be, Kirk Pebley, Hank L. Kwong, George Edmund Walley, Filip Tomik