Patents by Inventor Giovanni Ellena

Giovanni Ellena has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7702445
    Abstract: What is described is a control system for controlling the driving-away maneuver in a motor vehicle provided with a gearbox comprising a primary input shaft which can be coupled to a drive shaft of a propulsion system of the vehicle by means of a servo-assisted friction clutch, wherein a control unit receives at its input signals indicating a command imparted by the driver of the motor vehicle by operating the accelerator pedal, and generates—on the basis of a mathematical reference model—reference torque request signals indicating the reference torques requested from the drive shaft and from the friction clutch during the driving-away manoeuvre, and also generates—by comparison between signals indicating the estimated angular velocities of the drive shaft and of the primary gear shaft, and detected signals indicating the actual angular velocities of the drive shaft and of the primary gear shaft—corresponding corrective contributions, in such a way as to construct command signals for controlling torque actuato
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Renato Gianoglio, Claudia Supparo, legal representative, Dario Del Pin, Giovanni Ellena, Massimo Fossanetti, Massimo Lupo, Attilio Porta, Pandeli Borodani
  • Patent number: 7373233
    Abstract: What is described is a control system for controlling the coupling between a driveshaft of a motor vehicle propulsion system and a primary input shaft of a gearbox by means of a servo-assisted friction clutch. A control unit receives at its input signals indicating a command imparted by the driver of the motor vehicle by operating the accelerator pedal in a driving-away or gear-changing manoeuvre, and generates—on the basis of a mathematical reference model—reference torque request signals indicating the reference torques requested from the driveshaft and from the friction clutch, the said request signals or data varying in time in such a way as to cause synchronization between the angular velocities of the driveshaft and of the primary gear shaft to be reached at the same moment as the difference between the angular accelerations of the said shafts becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: C.R.F. Società{grave over ( )} Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Renato Gianoglio, Claudia Supparo, legal representative, Dario Del Pin, Giovanni Ellena, Massimo Fossanetti, Massimo Lupo, Attilio Porta, Pandeli Borodani
  • Publication number: 20060287793
    Abstract: What is described is a control system for controlling the coupling between a driveshaft of a motor vehicle propulsion system and a primary input shaft of a gearbox by means of a servo-assisted friction clutch. A control unit receives at its input signals indicating a command imparted by the driver of the motor vehicle by operating the accelerator pedal in a driving-away or gear-changing manoeuvre, and generates—on the basis of a mathematical reference model—reference torque request signals indicating the reference torques requested from the driveshaft and from the friction clutch, the said request signals or data varying in time in such a way as to cause synchronization between the angular velocities of the driveshaft and of the primary gear shaft to be reached at the same moment as the difference between the angular accelerations of the said shafts becomes zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Renato Gianoglio, Dario Del Pin, Giovanni Ellena, Massimo Fossanetti, Massimo Lupo, Attilio Porta, Pandeli Borodani, Claudia Supparo
  • Publication number: 20060287794
    Abstract: What is described is a control system for controlling the driving-away manoeuvre in a motor vehicle provided with a gearbox comprising a primary input shaft which can be coupled to a drive shaft of a propulsion system of the vehicle by means of a servo-assisted friction clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Renato Gianoglio, Claudia Supparo, Dario Pin, Giovanni Ellena, Massimo Fossanetti, Massimo Lupo, Attilio Porta, Pandeli Borodani
  • Patent number: 7131510
    Abstract: The system comprises control devices (CS) arranged to implement a stop-start function in which, during a stop stage, the internal combustion engine (1) is disconnected from the electric machine (4) and from the transmission system (2) and is switched off in first predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle (V) and then, in a subsequent start stage, is automatically restarted by an electric machine (4), operating as a motor, and is then-reconnected to the transmission system (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa′ Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Domenico Mesiti, Giancarlo Osella, Attilio Porta, Giovanni Ellena
  • Patent number: 6997275
    Abstract: The system comprises control devices (CS) arranged to implement a stop-start function in which, during a stop stage, the internal combustion engine (1) is disconnected from the electric machine (4) and from the transmission system (2) and is switched off in first predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle (V) and then, in a subsequent start stage, is automatically restarted by an electric machine (4), operating as a motor, and is then reconnected to the transmission system (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
    Inventors: Domenico Mesiti, Giancarlo Osella, Attilio Porta, Giovanni Ellena
  • Publication number: 20050221947
    Abstract: The system comprises control devices (CS) arranged to implement a stop-start function in which, during a stop stage, the internal combustion engine (1) is disconnected from the electric machine (4) and from the transmission system (2) and is switched off in first predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle (V) and then, in a subsequent start stage, is automatically restarted by an electric machine (4), operating as a motor, and is then reconnected to the transmission system (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Domenico Mesiti, Giancarlo Osella, Attilio Porta, Giovanni Ellena
  • Patent number: 6684145
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (E) has associated control devices (ECU, GSCU, SCU) for controlling the engine in a manner such that the engine delivers a driving torque (CM) which is variable in dependence on predetermined measured parameters, in particular on the position (&agr;) of the accelerator pedal (AP), and sensors (S1, S2) for detecting the position (&agr;) of the accelerator pedal (AP), and the rate of rotation (&ohgr;M) of the shaft (M) of the engine (E) or the forward speed (v) of the motor vehicle, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Renato Gianoglio, Attilio Porta, Massimo Lupo, Stefano Re Fiorentin, Giovanni Ellena
  • Patent number: 6524219
    Abstract: A first clutch and a second clutch, which are operable selectively, control the coupling of the rotor of a reversible electrical machine with the transmission and with the internal combustion engine, respectively. A control system is provided for implementing a stop-start function in which, in a stop stage, the internal combustion engine is disconnected from the electrical machine and from the transmission and is switched off, in first predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle and then, as a result of the occurrence of second operating conditions, such as a command imparted by the driver, in a subsequent start stage, is automatically restarted by means of the electrical machine operating as a motor, and is then reconnected to the transmission. The system is characterized especially by particular methods of controlling the clutches and the electrical machine during the start stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Domenico Mesiti, Giancarlo Osella, Attilio Porta, Giovanni Ellena, Massimo Fossanetti, Massimo Lupo
  • Publication number: 20030010548
    Abstract: The system comprises control devices (CS) arranged to implement a stop-start function in which, during a stop stage, the internal combustion engine (1) is disconnected from the electric machine (4) and from the transmission system (2) and is switched off in first predetermined operating conditions of the vehicle (V) and then, in a subsequent start stage, is automatically restarted by an electric machine (4), operating as a motor, and is then reconnected to the transmission system (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Domenico Mesiti, Giancarlo Osella, Attilio Porta, Giovanni Ellena
  • Patent number: 6389346
    Abstract: A system for controlling a servo-controlled gearbox (C), configured so as to use gear-shifting strategies similar to those used by a human driver so as to improve the driving sensation experienced by the driver. The control system uses a plurality of sensors (SENS) disposed in the vehicle for detecting the various operative conditions and a system of rules (a rule-based system) for implementing the strategies provided for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: C.R.F. S.C.P.A.
    Inventors: Renato Gianoglio, Pandeli Borodani, Giovanni Ellena, Massimo Fossanetti, Massimo Lupo, Attilio Porta
  • Publication number: 20020019290
    Abstract: A first clutch and a second clutch, which are operable selectively, control the coupling of the rotor of a reversible electrical machine with the transmission and with the internal combustion engine, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Applicant: C.R.F. SOCIETA CONSORTILE PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Domenico Mesiti, Giancarlo Osella, Attilio Porta, Giovanni Ellena, Massimo Fossanetti, Massimo Lupo