Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display that compensates an hourglass phenomenon using a backlight unit. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel, a polarizer adhered to the liquid crystal panel, and a backlight unit including a diffuser sheet. A predetermined region of the diffuser sheet facing a region of the polarizer, where an hourglass phenomenon occurs, is formed to permit a smaller quantity of light to be transmitted therethrough than other regions of the diffuser sheet. With this construction, the liquid crystal display can avoid the hourglass phenomenon from being observed by a viewer, and prevent non-uniform brightness while improving image quality.

Abstract: A method of forming a field programmable gate array (FPGA) structure of a semiconductor device capable of reducing manufacturing cost through simpler processes includes forming a contact parallel connection structure in which contacts connected to a gate electrode and a source/drain by way of a first amorphous silicon pattern are connected in parallel with each other; forming a via parallel connection structure in which vias, connected to neighboring metal interconnections by a second amorphous silicon pattern, are connected in parallel with each other at a position not overlapping the contact parallel connection structure; and forming a connection means for connecting the contact parallel connection structure to the via parallel connection structure.

Abstract: In an FPGA of a semiconductor device and a method of forming the FPGA, a first pattern having a voltage selectable conductivity is formed to connect first vias of the semiconductor device in parallel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for manipulating inputs relating to transmission shifting events in a hybrid-engine powered vehicle equipped with an electro-mechanical hybrid transmission include sets of preferability factors inputted from engine sensors are combined in a microprocessor or computer with other preferability factors generated during engine and vehicle operation to provide an output for a transmission control module, which may execute an operating range or engine state change. Desirable input speeds for a transmission are determined by defining minimum input speeds for each potential transmission operating range state, and ascribing biasing costs to potential transmission input speeds which are slower than the minimum input speeds defined for each potential transmission operating range state.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system based upon a predicted speed of an output member, a predicted operator torque request, and a predicted accelerator pedal position is disclosed. The method comprises predicting the accelerator pedal position based upon a monitored accelerator pedal position and a filtered accelerator pedal position, predicting the speed of an output member based upon a monitored speed of the output member, and predicting the operator torque request based upon the predicted speed of the output member and the predicted accelerator position.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system based upon determined inertial effects for a continuously variable operating range state includes monitoring an operator torque request and a rotational speed of the output member, determining an inertial effect on an input speed of the input member for a continuously variable operating range state, and controlling motor torque outputs from the electric machines to meet the operator torque request based upon the inertial effect on the input speed of the input member.

Abstract: A microprocessor driven two dimensional search engine examines transmission operating points within a plurality of search range spaces and assists in determining properties associated with the driveline at various operating points within the space. The size of the space is reduced by rearrangement of data.

Abstract: A method for improving drivability of the powertrain system having an accelerator control includes determining a first transmission input speed having an associated first power loss and operating said transmission using said first transmission input speed. An operational parameter relating to said accelerator control is determined and a second transmission input speed responsive to said operational parameter and having an associated second power loss is determined. The value of at least one of said first and second power loss is biased based on said operational parameter. The first power loss is compared to said second power loss subsequent to the biasing. A third transmission input speed is determined and the transmission is operated using the third transmission input speed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes monitoring a desired synchronous transmission shift during deceleration of an output member including a desired operating range state, monitoring an output speed, predicting output deceleration through the desired synchronous transmission shift, determining a penalty cost associated with the desired synchronous transmission shift based upon an input speed profile resulting from the predicted output deceleration and from the desired synchronous transmission shift, and executing the synchronous transmission shift based upon the penalty cost.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain includes determining an operator torque request, determining a time-based derivative of the operator torque request, determining a first future time, and predicting a change in the operator torque request based upon the operator torque request, the time-based derivative of the operator torque request, and the first future time.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes monitoring an operator torque request, selecting a candidate powertrain system operating point, and determining a preferred engine torque range, a preferred torque machine torque range, and a preferred energy storage device output power range. The method further includes determining an engine torque, a torque machine torque, and an energy storage device output power based upon the operator torque request and the candidate powertrain system operating point. Power costs for operating the powertrain at the candidate powertrain system operating point are determined based on the determined engine torque, the determined torque machine torque, and the determined energy storage device output power range. Penalty costs are determined relative to the preferred engine torque range, the preferred torque machine torque range, and the preferred energy storage device output power range for operating the powertrain at the candidate powertrain system operating point.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system selectively operative in one of a plurality of operating range states including an engine includes monitoring an operator torque request and a rotational speed of the output member, determining inertial effects of the transmissions, determining motor torque outputs from the electrical machines and an engine based upon the inertial effects, and selecting a preferred operating range state and a preferred input speed from the engine to the transmission based upon the operator torque request and the inertial effects.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine mechanically coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, determining preferability factors associated with the current and potential transmission operating range state and the engine state wherein the preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states include transmission input speed trip preferability factors, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the present transmission operating range state and engine state based upon the preferability factors.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, providing at least one operator torque request, determining preferability factors associated with the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and potential transmission operating range states and engine states, wherein determining preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states includes assigning biasing costs to operator torque requests which reside within a pre-determined range of possible operator torque requests for at least two of the potential transmission operating range states, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the transmission operating range state and engine state based upon stheaid preferability factors and th

Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid powertrain system including an engine selectively operative in one of an all-cylinder state and a cylinder deactivation state based upon power costs includes determining engine power costs for each operating range state of the transmission, determining a system power cost, selecting a preferred cost and corresponding engine operating points, selecting a preferred operating range state, selecting the engine state, and controlling the engine based upon the selected operating range state, the selected engine state, and the engine operating points.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes determining a transmission input speed, operating the transmission using the transmission input speed, and providing a braking torque request to cause braking of the vehicle according to a scheme selected from the group consisting of a first braking mode and a second braking mode. The transmission input speed and the transmission operating range state are dependent on said braking torque request in the first braking mode, and wherein the transmission operating state, but not the transmission input speed, is dependent on the braking torque request in the second braking mode.

Abstract: A method to determine a preferred operating point for an internal combustion engine includes determining a current set of candidate operating points for a current search iteration. The method further includes iteratively determining an operating cost for operating the internal combustion engine at each candidate operating point of the current search iteration, and determining the preferred operating point for operating the internal combustion engine after a predetermined number of search iterations.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine mechanically coupled to an electromechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, determining preferability factors associated with the current and potential transmission operating range state and the engine state wherein the preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states include load-stabilizing preferability factors, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the present transmission operating range state and engine state based upon the preferability factors.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine includes defining a two-dimensional search region based upon an input power transmittable between the internal combustion engine and an electromechanical transmission. The method further includes iteratively dividing the two-dimensional search region into a plurality of subregions based upon one of the input power and the input speed, iteratively determining an engine operating point within each of the subregions, iteratively calculating an operating cost to operate the internal combustion engine and the electromechanical transmission to meet the operator torque request for each engine operating point within each of the subregions, and iteratively identifying the subregion having a minimum operating cost to meet the operator torque request. A preferred engine operating point is determined based upon the engine operating point within the identified subregion having the minimum operating cost to meet the operator torque request.

Abstract: A powertrain system includes an engine mechanically coupled to an electro-mechanical transmission at an input thereto selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes combining sets of preferability factors inputted from engine sensors in a microprocessor or computer with other preferability factors generated during engine and vehicle operation to provide an output for a transmission control module, which may execute an operating range or engine state change.