Patents Issued in March 14, 2013
  • Publication number: 20130066462
    Abstract: An adjustable speed control system includes a reader, databases, processors and a conveyor controller. The databases store data concerning conveyor stops and failed attempts by the reader to identify conveyed items. Based on the failed attempts and the conveyor stops, the processors calculate an optimal speed of the conveyor. The controller adjusts the conveyor speed towards the optimal speed to increase the conveyed items successfully identified by the reader. Also disclosed are a corresponding method and computer readable medium on which is stored instructions to, upon execution, adjustably control the conveyor speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: PUROLATOR INC.
    Inventors: Kirk Edward SERJEANTSON, Andrew Silerio VICENCIO, Cameron James LAIRD, Adam STEVENSON
  • Publication number: 20130066463
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering single-dose packages sequentially from a substantially continuous strip having a first dispensing end and a second end, e.g., contained within a cassette or other dispenser. The strip includes a cover layer attached to a base layer to define a plurality of blisters therebetween that have one or more medications therein. The blisters are aligned in single file generally along the longitudinal axis between the first and second ends and/or otherwise arranged in single-dose packages adjacent one another, e.g., at least some of the single-dose packages including a plurality of blisters having different types of medications therein. A first single-dose package at the first dispensing end may be separable from a second adjacent single-dose package such that individual single-dose packages may be removed successively from the first dispensing end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ID-CON
    Inventors: Roy S. Luoma, Mark C. Doyle, Linda S. Luoma
  • Publication number: 20130066464
    Abstract: A method of substituting digital alternative media for a physical media article at an article dispensing machine to a customer is provided. The method includes receiving a request related to the media article through a user interface from the customer, identifying an associated content provider, and determining the alternative media selection at the associated content provider that corresponds to the media article. The method also includes receiving a unique customer identifier and identifying the associated content provider based on the unique customer identifier. The method further includes mapping the media article to the alternative media selection based on metadata. The media article may be available at the article dispensing machine or may be unavailable due to being out-of-stock or reserved to another customer. The associated content provider may be linked to the customer based on a subscription. The digital alternative media selection may be accessed by an audio/visual display interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Imran Maskatia, Jason Rubinstein
  • Publication number: 20130066465
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for dispensing biologic drug compositions. The apparatus includes an automated device that can store a biologic drug under the desired conditions. When authorized, the automated device can process the stored biologic drug by performing the desired processing steps to prepare the biologic drug for administration to a patient. The automated device may include a computing system to transmit patient information to a remote location and receive authorization from a remote location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Immunovative Therapies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Har-Noy
  • Publication number: 20130066466
    Abstract: An appliance including a housing, a dispenser, and a water supply mechanism. The appliance includes a drink supply mechanism configured to removably hold a plurality of drink supply containers, a user interface panel, and a computer. The computer is configured to: cause the user interface panel to display a plurality of different images, each image associated with a different one of a plurality of different beverages which correspond to a drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers held by the drink supply mechanism, enable the user interface panel to receive an input from a user of a selected one of the plurality of different displayed images, and after receiving the input from the user of the selected one of the plurality of different displayed images, cause the dispenser to dispense the beverage corresponding to the selected image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: BEVERAGE WORKS, INC.
    Inventor: Beverage Works, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a service scenario editing apparatus for an intelligent robot, to a method for same, to an intelligent robot apparatus and to a service providing method for an intelligent robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: FUTURE ROBOT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Se Kyong Song, Jun Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20130066468
    Abstract: A telepresence robot may include a manual navigation unit configured to move the telepresence robot according to navigation information received from a user device; an autonomous navigation unit configured to detect environment of the telepresence robot and control the movement of the telepresence robot using the detected result; a motion control unit comprising a database related to at least one motion, the motion control unit configured to receive selection information on the motion of the database and actuate the telepresence robot according to the selection information; and an output unit configured to receive expression information of a user from the user device and output the expression information. The telepresence robot may be applied to various fields such as language education by a native speaking teacher, medical diagnoses, teleconferences, or remote factory tours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mun-Taek Choi, MunSang Kim, InJun Park, Chang Gu Kim, Jin Hwan Yoo, YoungHo Lee, Juk Kyu Hwang, Richard H. Shinn
  • Publication number: 20130066469
    Abstract: A remote control station that controls a robot through a network. The remote control station transmits a robot control command that includes information to move the robot. The remote control station monitors at least one network parameter and scales the robot control command as a function of the network parameter. For example, the remote control station can monitor network latency and scale the robot control command to slow down the robot with an increase in the latency of the network. Such an approach can reduce the amount of overshoot or overcorrection by a user driving the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066470
    Abstract: An automated building monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of apparatuses in a building, includes: a plurality of controllers for controlling the plurality of apparatuses; a controlling platform for providing control-setting information; and a controlling server connected to the controllers and the controlling platform for receiving and storing the control-setting information provided by the controlling platform, and obtaining real-time data of the controllers or real-time data of the apparatuses via the controllers, the controlling server controlling the controllers to control the apparatuses based on the control-setting information and the real-time data of the controllers or the apparatuses. When the controlling platform is abnormal or is abnormally connected to the controlling server, the controlling server continuously monitors the apparatuses in the building based on the stored real-time data of the controllers or the apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: I-Yu Wang, Ming-Hsien Pan, Chin-Hsuan Chang
  • Publication number: 20130066471
    Abstract: Integrated methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include global search engines and local search engines to find an optimal value for at least one controllable drilling parameter, and decision trees to select algorithms such as between learning mode algorithms and application mode algorithms for generating operational recommendations based on the results from global and local search engines. The operational recommendations are used to optimize the objective function, mitigate dysfunctions, and improve drilling efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Stephen M. Remmert, Paul E. Pastusek, Jeffrey R. Bailey, Matthew T. Prim, Dar-Lon Chang, Gregory S. Payette
  • Publication number: 20130066472
    Abstract: Controllers for controlling heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems are provided. The controllers include graphical user interfaces for user adjustment of system settings. The graphical user interfaces also may be designed to present information that facilitates user understanding of system operations. In certain embodiments, the controllers may allow users to adjust balance point and/or LTCO temperature values. In these embodiments, the graphical user interfaces may include slide bars for adjusting the balance point and/or LTCO temperature values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventor: Johnson Controls Technology Company
  • Publication number: 20130066473
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage medium, for generating thermal zones. In one aspect, a method includes identifying a perimeter zone for a first portion of a conceptual representation of a building; and dividing the perimeter zone into a plurality of thermal zones, comprising: determining a plurality of first candidate thermal zones based at least in part on a maximum thermal zone angle threshold that each of the first candidate thermal zones satisfy, determining a plurality of second candidate thermal zones based at least in part on a maximum thermal zone length threshold that each of the second candidate thermal zones satisfy, and selecting a plurality of thermal zones from the first candidate thermal zones and the second candidate thermal zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Lillian M. Smith, John F. Kennedy, Markus Bonn, Aryn Bergman, Ian Molloy, R. David Scheer, III, Jing Lan
  • Publication number: 20130066474
    Abstract: An environmental control device is disclosed and includes a temperature sensor, an audio module, an input/out module operatively connected to an environmental system, a memory module, and a processor in communication with the temperature sensor, the audio module, and the memory. The memory stores a control routine comprising processor executable instructions and an audio file associated with a predefined event related to the environmental system. The processor executable instructions are configured to receive a current state signal corresponding to one of a temperature sensor signal from the temperature sensor and an environmental system output signal from the input/output module, determine whether the current state signal corresponds to the predefined event, and generate, via the audio module, an audible signal based on the audio file in response to determining that the current state signal corresponds to the predefined event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Coogan, William Thomas Pienta, Pornsak Songkakul
  • Publication number: 20130066475
    Abstract: In a seawater desalination plant system, a seawater quality prediction means predicts quality of seawater for each predetermined time during a certain definite period based on a past actual measurement value of quality of seawater. In addition, an optimum plan calculation means creates a plurality of proposed plans of fresh water production quantity during the definite period in which fresh water production quantity required for the definite period is allotted to the each predetermined time, calculates, with respect to these, an electric power consumption rate for desalination using the seawater quality predicted for the each predetermined time, the fresh water production quantity, and a previously obtained recovery rate, and obtains an optimum fresh water production quantity plan from the plurality of proposed plans of fresh water production quantity based on this. A display means displays the content of this obtained optimum fresh water production quantity plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Katsuya Yokokawa, Ryo Namba, Takeshi Matsushiro, Hideaki Yamagata, Futoshi Kurokawa
  • Publication number: 20130066476
    Abstract: A method includes receiving at least one event parameter for a demand response event and identifying a pool of customers. The pool of customers includes a plurality of customers potentially usable to support the demand response event. Characteristics of each customer in the pool of customers are retrieved and a plurality of groups of customers are created from the pool of customers based on the retrieved characteristics and the at least one event parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Rajesh Tyagi, Jason Wayne Black, Prasoon Tiwari
  • Publication number: 20130066477
    Abstract: An energy source management control system based on cloud computing includes: a field controller (11), for field controlling each energy consumption device (10) according to user defined parameters and sending the user defined parameters to a cloud computing management control platform (13); an energy consumption parameter collector (12) for collecting parameters related to energy consumption of each energy consumption device (10) and sending the collected parameters to the cloud computing management control platform (13); the cloud computing management control platform (13), for adjusting a field control mode of the field controller (11) according to the collected parameters related to energy consumption of each energy consumption device (10) and the user defined parameters. A method for energy management control based on cloud computing is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: LONGDHUA (BEIJING) CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yongdong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20130066478
    Abstract: Centralized coordination of setting and adjusting trip settings of electronic circuit breakers in an electrical distribution system by monitoring short circuit current availability (SCCA) and adjusting trip settings based on received SCCA estimates from SCCA monitoring devices installed at main, feeder, and branch nodes of the distribution system. The SCCA monitoring devices are capable of automatically estimating the SCCA in the circuit or node at which the SCCA device is installed and transmitting SCCA estimates to a controller, which uses the SCCA estimates to coordinate adjustments to trip settings for the various circuit breakers. Depending on the node position of the circuit breaker and the corresponding SCCA at that node, the controller adjusts in real-time the short-circuit trip settings for the circuit breakers so that they are below the SCCA value. Optional user-inputted settings can affect the trip setting adjustments, such as transient loading conditions that can influence the SCCA estimates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Lee Smith
  • Publication number: 20130066479
    Abstract: A system for disaggregating a gross energy measurement into individual component energy consumption. A collection of components may be situated in a facility. A sensor may obtain electrical signals from one or more power input lines which convey power to the facility for the components. The signals may indicate the total energy consumption by the collection of components. Approaches and/or mechanisms may be used to disaggregate the indication of total energy consumption into indications of individual energy consumption by the components without the need for separately determining the individual energy consumption with additional measurements or instrumentation. Also, approaches and/or mechanisms may be used for integrating a known load activity with whole facility energy consumption for enhancing the component disaggregation. Indications of individual energy consumption permit a reasonable evaluation of components from efficiency, conservation and/or other perspectives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Pradeep Shetty, Wendy Foslien, Keith Curtner, Purnaprajna R. Mangsuli, Soumitri Kolavennu
  • Publication number: 20130066480
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of detecting and managing voltage instability in power systems operations. The disclosed method identifies and follows Thevenin and load impedance values as they fluctuate in a power system using synchrophasor measurements. The values are recursively estimated and entered into calculations to identify stability margins through a simple P-Q plane representation to determine if load shedding is necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Mevludin Glavic, Muhidin Lelic, Damir Novosel
  • Publication number: 20130066481
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for enabling effective work force management of a smart grid. The method includes receiving a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message comprising a state of an electrical component on an electrical grid; and notifying a third party of the state of the electrical component by sending a second SIP message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gopal K. BHAGERIA, Don T. MAK, Kevin M. MONAGLE, Sri RAMANATHAN, Jean-Gael F. REBOUL, Matthew A. TERRY, Matthew B. TREVATHAN
  • Publication number: 20130066482
    Abstract: A demand response (DR) architecture performs processes for use in an electrical power network. The DR architecture performs a method for selecting a process to use for scheduling devices. The method includes receiving, by a demand response controller, demand response specific input. The method includes determining a process to use to schedule device running time patterns, based on the received input. The method further includes executing the determined process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying Li, Mark Trayer, Boon Loong Ng, Nhut Nguyen, Kong Posh Bhat
  • Publication number: 20130066483
    Abstract: An odometer monitor for monitoring the connectivity status of a mobile data terminal to a vehicle is a software module defined in a data processor of a vehicle tracking device. The monitor is operable to listen for arrival of successive timed poll events from a mobile data terminal connected to a vehicle, listen for arrival of and storing each of successive odometer update values from a vehicle information bus of the vehicle that corresponds to arrival of each of the successive timed poll events, compare next odometer update values to last stored odometer update values, calculate the distances between the compared odometer update values, make a determination of connectivity status of the mobile data terminal relative to the vehicle based on whether or not the values of the calculated distances ascend to above the value of a preset maximum distance, and report the connectivity status to the mobile data terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: WEBTECH WIRELESS INC.
    Inventor: Michael Scott
  • Publication number: 20130066484
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method (400) and a system (100) for guiding a robotic garden tool to a predetermined position. The robotic garden tool includes a control unit (104) and a sensor unit (102) to detect guiding signals. The sensor unit (102) detects a first guiding signal (110) from a first signal source (106) and the robotic garden tool follows the first guiding signal (110) at a variable distance from the first signal source (106) towards the predetermined position. While within a predetermined distance (D) from the predetermined position, the sensor unit (102) detects a second guiding signal (112) from a second signal source (108). Within the predetermined distance (D), the robotic garden tool follows one of the first and the second guiding signals (110 or 112) towards the predetermined position at a pre-configured distance from the corresponding signal source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Olle Markusson, Gunnar Andersson, Johan Adolfsson, Patrick Pettersson, Johan Öster, Patrik Jägenstedt
  • Publication number: 20130066485
    Abstract: An electric power management system of a vehicle may interconnect a power plant, a propeller drive unit, and a battery via a bus. A command limiting controller may direct the operation of the power plant and the propeller drive unit in fast and slow modes of operation, the fast mode of operation operating at a higher bus voltage than at a slow mode of operation. The command limiting controller may generate a bus current to drive the propeller drive unit according to a command limiting, voltage-versus-current curve that adjusts the bus current depending on an amount of voltage on the power bus; where the command limiting curve includes a minimum voltage portion, a maximum voltage portion and a control range therebetween having upper and lower voltage limits and upper and lower current limits for enhanced reliability and stable control of the propeller drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventor: AeroVironment, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066486
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for displaying flight information of an aircraft. The system receives at least one user defined airspeed related to flight of the aircraft from a user. A processor calculates the at least one calculated airspeed based on data stored in a memory device. A static position is determined by the processor for the user defined and calculated airspeeds. The difference between the positions developed from the user defined and calculated position is also calculated. A difference indicator is displayed to the user for the difference between each user defined and calculated position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Saravanakumar Gurusamy, Nirupam Karmakar, Pramod Kumar Malviya, Prithvi Krishnamurthy
  • Publication number: 20130066487
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method provides flight operational consequence information by receiving a status indication associated with an aircraft component at a processing device in the aircraft during a flight. The processing device ascertains one or more operational consequences that includes displaying text strings associated with the status indication, wherein each of the one or more operational consequences are associated with one or more flight segments of the flight. At least a subset of the one or more operational consequences are provided on a display associated with the processing devices and an indication is provided on the display of the one or more flight segments associated with the one or more operational consequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Barbara Elaine Holder
  • Publication number: 20130066488
    Abstract: Method and device for automatically estimating an airspeed of an aircraft The device (1) includes means (6) for determining an estimated airspeed with the aid of an aerodynamic airspeed which is calculated from current values of aircraft parameters and a speed which is generated by an air data computer (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
    Inventor: Stéphane WALTER
  • Publication number: 20130066489
    Abstract: Instrument Landing System (“ILS”) localizer captures have historically been prone to performance degradations based upon erroneous estimates of the localizer deviation and deviation rate. The angular nature of the ILS beam and the relatively narrow trusted linear course guidance sector of the beam are the primary causes of many such issues. It is highly desirable to convert the angular guidance data into a rectilinear form when used by an autopilot and/or flight director systems, the latter of which allows for more consistent stability and performance with respect to distance to runway threshold. Systems and methods disclosed herein are for accurately converting angular localizer data into rectilinear localizer data, thus allowing for improved localizer capture performance and stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew Robert Hooks
  • Publication number: 20130066490
    Abstract: A portable mounting assembly is provided comprising a mounting disc comprising at least one magnetic component for attaching the mounting disc to an axle bearing on a vehicle such as a locomotive, for determining speed; and a stabilizer bar attached at a first end to the mounting disc and at a second end to an outrigger comprising at least one magnetic component for attaching to a stationary component of the vehicle. A method of providing speed control to a portable remote control system for a locomotive is also provided. A method of overriding a speed control mode operated by a portable remote control system for a locomotive is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ZTR CONTROL SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Aldo LIBERATORE
  • Publication number: 20130066491
    Abstract: A transit system has an elevated controlled roadway system, a plurality of powered transport vehicles with steerable front wheels having a common width dimension, and both manual controls and an on-board computer (OBC) system for control on the elevated roadway, a master computer system communicating with the OBCs, enabled thereby to determine location of transport vehicles and to control velocity of the transport vehicles, and outwardly-angled guide curbs along opposite sides of the roadway surface, and spaced apart at a dimension larger than the common width dimension. The front wheels of the transport vehicles, by virtue of the angle of the guide curbs, provide a region of contact to vehicle wheels only at a relatively thin line near the outside diameter of each wheel, and wherein the guide curbs or the front wheels at the region of contact, or both, are surfaced with a low-friction material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Homer T. McCrary
  • Publication number: 20130066492
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain has an engine, a starter motor, and a gear train that connects the starter motor with the engine, and a motor/generator. A belt drive train connects the motor/generator with the engine. The powertrain has a first energy storage device with a first operating range of voltage and a second energy storage device with a second operating range of voltage at least partially in common with the first operating range of voltage. A controller places a switching device in an on-state so that the first energy storage device is connected with the second energy storage device or in an off-state in which the first energy storage device is disconnected from the second energy storage device. The controller causes the switching device to be in the off-state and the starter motor and the motor/generator to be powered with energy from the first energy storage device to restart the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alan G. Holmes, Shawn Scott Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20130066493
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a vehicle speed during a downhill travel. Based on the estimated grade of the downhill travel and further based on an input received from the operator, different combinations of an engine braking torque and a regenerative braking torque are used to maintain the vehicle speed during the downhill travel. A battery rate of charging is also adjusted based on the duration or distance of the downhill travel, as indicated by the operator input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Matthew Allen Warner, Mathew Alan Boesch, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Publication number: 20130066494
    Abstract: It is provided a vehicle control device stopping an engine in operation when an automatic stop request is made and restarting the stopping engine when a restart request is made, wherein when the restart request is made while the engine is in transition to a rotation stop state in association with the automatic stop request, the engine is restarted if a crank position of the engine corresponds to a stroke other than a compression stroke while the engine is continuously stopped if the crank position of the engine corresponds to the compression stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Kamijo
  • Publication number: 20130066495
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus for an electric vehicle has its object to promote the continuation of a drive mode in which an engine is operated to charge a battery when a vehicle speed is not less than a predetermined vehicle speed, and suppress the transition to a drive mode in which the engine operates all the time regardless of the vehicle speed, thereby ensuing comfort in the vehicle compartment. A control unit (6) lowers a vehicle speed for starting engine activation (Vst) in an HEV mode 1 as an average value of vehicle speed (Vave) is smaller than a predetermined average value of vehicle speed (Vave-th), or a decrease amount of SOC of a battery (4) is not less than a predetermined amount and as the decrease amount thereof becomes larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Furuta
  • Publication number: 20130066496
    Abstract: A hybrid working vehicle comprises an engine, a drive wheel, a power take-off (PTO) shaft, and a power transmission system for transmitting power from the engine to the drive wheel and the PTO shaft. The power transmission system is bifurcated at a bifurcating point into a traveling drive train for driving the drive wheel and a PTO drive train for driving the PTO shaft. A continuously variable transmission is provided on the traveling drive train, and a motor generator is provided on the power transmission system between the engine and the bifurcating point. The motor generator functions as a generator by power of the engine and functions as an electric motor for driving the power transmission system. The hybrid working vehicle includes a controller for controlling an output rotary speed of the motor generator functioning as the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Norihiro ISHII
  • Publication number: 20130066497
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle, includes: a temperature detector configured to detect a motor temperature of the electric motor; a pressing speed detector configured to detect a pressing speed of an accelerator pedal; an electric current detector configured to detect a value of the electric current supplied to the electric motor from the battery; and an engine controller configured to allow, when the motor temperature detected by the temperature detector is equal to or lower than a threshold temperature, the engine to be started based on the pressing speed detected by the pressing speed detector, so that the generator generates the electric power, and configured to allow, when the motor temperature is higher than the threshold temperature, the engine to be started based on the value of the electric current detected by the electric current detector, so that the generator generates the electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Yukihiro NISSATO
  • Publication number: 20130066498
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle, includes: a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the battery; a temperature increase rate calculator configured to calculate, based on the detected temperature of the battery, a temperature increase rate that is an amount of increase in the temperature per unit time; and an engine controller configured to allow, when the temperature increase rate is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the engine to be started, so that the generator generates the electric power. The threshold value is set so that the higher the detected battery temperature, the lower the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Yukihiro NISSATO
  • Publication number: 20130066499
    Abstract: A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine driving a pair of wheels on a first axle and a transmission drivingly connecting the internal combustion engine and the wheels on a first axle. An integrated starter-generator is mounted on the internal combustion engine crankshaft between said internal combustion engine and the transmission. The vehicle further includes an electric motor driving a pair of wheels on a first axle and a main battery pack connected to a further electric motor arranged to supply electric power for driving the wheels on a second axle. The electric drive means can comprise one electric motor driving the second axle via a differential, two electric motors each driving one half of the second axle or two electric wheel motors for the respective wheels on the second axle. An additional battery is connected to the integrated starter-generator for starting the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: V2 PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE PARTNERSHIP HANDELSBOLAG
    Inventors: Klas Niste, Robert Eriksson, Patrik Larsson
  • Publication number: 20130066500
    Abstract: Electronic control systems and related control methods for controlling electric auxiliary motors for performing work, such as electric deck motors for mower blades. The apparatus is shown in use with a vehicle that includes a mowing deck. Features of the control systems allow for safe and efficient use of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Christopher K. Wyatt, Ivan E. Fox, David Jones, Robert Jones
  • Publication number: 20130066501
    Abstract: It is desirable to enhance efficiency of a power conversion device in both of a case where a motor generator which is an electric rotating machine is operated as a motor and a case where the motor generator is operated as a generator by performing regeneration braking. At the time of performing regeneration braking, strength of regeneration braking can be controlled by making an inverter circuit conductive in response to a predetermined phase of an AC output which the inverter circuit generates and by controlling a conduction width. Due to such a control, the number of times of switching a semiconductor element which constitutes the inverter circuit can be reduced thus suppressing heat generation of the semiconductor element and also the efficiency of the power conversion device can be enhanced. Further, the enhancement of efficiency of the power conversion device can be realized also in a motor operation and hence, it is also possible to enhance efficiency with respect to the traveling of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Oyama, Hideki Miyazaki, Kimihisa Furukawa, Toshisada Mitsui, Shingo Nishiguchi, Akinori Kamiya
  • Publication number: 20130066502
    Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements for operating an internal combustion engine and one or more motor/generators in a hybrid vehicle are described. In various embodiments, the engine is operated in a skip fire mode. Depending on the state of charge of an energy storage device and/or other factors, the engine is operated to generate more or less than a desired level of torque. The one or more motor/generators are used to add or subtract torque so that the motor/generator(s) and the engine collectively deliver the desired level of torque. In some embodiments, the engine may be run with a substantially open throttle to reduce pumping losses and improve fuel efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TULA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Tula Technology Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066503
    Abstract: An apparatus for selecting operating conditions of a genset, the apparatus including a processor circuit configured to select a set of operating points from a plurality of operating points of the genset each comprising an engine speed in a generator electrical output value and a plurality of cost values associated with operating the genset at respective operating points such that the sum of the cost values associated with the operating points in said set is minimized and such that the engine speed increases or decreases monotonically with monotonically increasing or decreasing electrical power output values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: AZURE DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventor: Azure Dynamics, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066504
    Abstract: A dual mode battery charging system and method of use are provided for use in an electric vehicle. The system utilizes at least two user selectable, charging operational modes. In a first operational mode, a state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a first level and until the battery state of charge reaches a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level. In a second operational mode, the state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a third level and until the battery state of charge reaches a fourth level, where the fourth level is higher than the third level, and where both the third and fourth levels are lower than both the first and second levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Tesla Motors, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066505
    Abstract: A dual mode battery charging system and method of use are provided for use in an electric vehicle. The system utilizes at least two user selectable, charging operational modes. In a first operational mode, a state of charge circuit cycles an engine/generator system on/off between a first level and a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level. In a second operational mode, the state of charge circuit cycles the engine/generator system on/off between a third level and a fourth level. After the fourth state of charge has been reached once, the state of charge circuit cycles the engine/generator system on/off between a fifth level and the fourth level, where the fifth level is higher than the third level and lower than the fourth level, and where the fourth level is lower than both the first and second levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Tesla Motors, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066506
    Abstract: A dual mode battery charging system and method of use are provided for use in an electric vehicle. The system utilizes at least two user selectable, charging operational modes. In a first operational mode, a state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a first level and until the battery state of charge reaches a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level. In a second operational mode, the state of charge circuit powers on the engine/generator system whenever the battery state of charge falls below a third level and until the battery state of charge reaches the second level, where the third level is lower than both the first and second levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventor: Tesla Motors, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130066507
    Abstract: When predetermined conditions in a vehicle are met, the control means of the disclosed vehicle control device prohibits control of the state of power-source supply to vehicle-mounted equipment or the operating state of a drive source resulting from a pressing operation of a push switch. When it is detected that an abnormal state has arisen in the vehicle, the control means allows control by the pressing operation of the push switch even if the aforementioned predetermined conditions are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyasu Yamane, Kentaro Yoshimura, Suguru Asakura
  • Publication number: 20130066508
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal depression force control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is arranged to increase the depression force of the accelerator pedal than a base depression force when the accelerator opening degree becomes larger than an accelerator opening degree threshold value, and arranged to set a the first accelerator opening degree based on an accelerator opening degree which switches from a first running mode in which the vehicle runs by driving only the electric motor, to a second running mode in which the internal combustion engine is driven, to set a second accelerator opening degree based on the accelerator opening degree by which the vehicle can run at a constant speed at each vehicle speed, and to set the accelerator opening degree threshold value as a larger one of the first accelerator opening degree and the second accelerator opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Munetoshi Ueno, Masahide Hashida, Daisuke Yoshinoya
  • Publication number: 20130066509
    Abstract: When a non-running range is changed into a running range at timing t2 during the execution of creeping-cut (t1˜t4), a flag FLAG is set at 1 and a timer T is reset. Then, the timer T is incremented to measure a time elapsed from timing t2. If the running range is a forward range, an electric motor outputs a play-reducing torque in a forwardly rotational direction as shown by a solid line for a time period between timing t2 and timing t3 for which the timer T is smaller than a set time T1, because the flag FLAG indicates 1. If the running range is a reverse range, the electric motor outputs the play-reducing torque in a reversely rotational direction as shown by a dotted line, because the flag FLAG indicates 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Yohei Nakamura, Isamu Kazama, Futoshi Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20130066510
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a hybrid vehicle in an emergency situation. The hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a rechargeable electric energy storage system, and an electrical motor drive system. The method includes detecting a failure of a control unit for controlling the electrical motor drive system, disconnecting the rechargeable electric energy storage system from the hybrid vehicle, limiting the maximum speed of the internal combustion engine from a first RPM value to a second RPM value. An apparatus is also provided for controlling a hybrid vehicle in an emergency situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Anders Lasson
  • Publication number: 20130066511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for vehicles to safely closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Joshua P. Switkes, Joseph Christian Gerdes, Gene Berdichevsky, Eugene Berdichevsky