Patents Issued in March 4, 2014
-
Patent number: 8666603Abstract: Methods and systems are described for providing steering-control feedback to an operator of an automotive vehicle. First attribute information is received that identifies a first attribute of a first operator coupling of an operator, of an automotive vehicle, to a steering-control mechanism of the automotive vehicle. A specified steering-control criterion is detected as met based on the first attribute. Feedback information is identified based on the steering-control criterion. In response to the detecting, the feedback information is sent to present, via an output device, a feedback indicator to the operator.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Sitting Man, LLCInventor: Robert Paul Morris
-
Patent number: 8666604Abstract: The invention relates to a method of detecting external impacts in vehicle steering systems (12) which include a rotatable steering shaft (16) and a servomotor (22) for generating a steering assist torque, the method including the steps of: (a) continuously measuring a first characteristic; (b) continuously measuring a second characteristic; (c) forming tuples of characteristics at least from a measured value of the first characteristic and a simultaneously picked up measured value of the second characteristic; (d) comparing the tuples of characteristics of step (c) with a predetermined normal operating range (36) of a multidimensional characteristic diagram (34) which is defined at least by the first characteristic and the second characteristic; and (e) storing a tuple of characteristics of step (c) and/or triggering an alarm signal if this tuple of characteristics from step (c) is outside the normal operating range (36).Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Dieter Fehlings, Marcus Weser
-
Patent number: 8666605Abstract: A method for securing the assistance torque (15) supplied by an electric assistance motor (8) in a motor vehicle power steering system includes the steps of: estimating the force on the steering system rack from the torque exerted by the driver on the steering wheel (2), from the assistance torque (15), and optionally from other parameters such as the speed of the electric assistance motor; comparing a target assistance torque with an authorized assistance range, defined with respect to the estimated rack force (17) at any moment, and in the event the target assistance torque is maintained above predefined limits for a predefined duration, correcting and optionally interrupting the power steering.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: JTEKT EuropeInventors: Jocelyn Delarche, Andre Michelis, Pierre Pilaz, Christophe Ravier
-
Patent number: 8666606Abstract: The steering system of the invention includes a processing means (26) comprising a means for determining (30) a driving signal (S3) of the power means (25) on the basis of: a first control signal (S1) determined from the measure of a torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel by applying a gain that depends on the longitudinal speed of the vehicle; a second correction signal (S2) determined from the measure of the torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel, and a setpoint determined on the basis of at least one characteristic parameter of the lateral dynamics of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: JTEKT EuropeInventors: Stephane Cassar, Jean-Marc Kasbarian
-
Patent number: 8666607Abstract: In a vehicle including a VGRS actuator capable of changing the steering transmission ratio by rotating an upper steering shaft and a lower steering shaft relative to each other, an ECU performs a lock releasing process when the VGRS motor is locked. In the process, an actual steering angle is calculated, and is compared with a lock release threshold value that is set in advance in view of the axial force applied to the lower steering shaft during steering. If the actual steering angle is equal to or smaller than the lock release threshold value, the ECU performs driving control of a lock mechanism so as to release the locked state of the VGRS motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takahiro Kojo
-
Patent number: 8666608Abstract: An agricultural cart including a product metering system comprising an auger assembly extending generally along an axis non-parallel to a horizontal plane and non-perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and a holding chamber disposed at an upstream end of the auger assembly and configured to reduce pulsations within a flow of agricultural product from the auger assembly. The agricultural cart also includes an air source coupled to the product metering system and configured to transfer the agricultural product to an agricultural implement via an airflow.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: CNH Canada, Ltd.Inventor: Terrance Alan Friggstad
-
Patent number: 8666609Abstract: A tractor includes booms, lift cylinders, a hitch, dump cylinders, a magnetic valve, a speed-up circuit, and a speed-up restricting arm. The lift cylinders swing the booms upward and downward by an operating oil being supplied thereto. The hitch is provided to the booms to allow an implement to be attached thereto. The dump cylinders swing the implement upward and downward by the operating oil being supplied thereto. The magnetic valve switches between supplying the operating oil to the dump cylinders and supplying the operating oil to a grab cylinder provided in the implement. The speed-up circuit is able to perform a speed-up operation for increasing the flow rate of the operating oil supplied to the magnetic valve. The speed-up restricting arm is arranged near the speed-up circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tetsuya Iida
-
Patent number: 8666610Abstract: A work vehicle includes an engine, a throttle opening degree setting unit, first and second hydraulic pumps driven by the engine, a travel hydraulic motor driven by hydraulic fluid discharged from the first hydraulic pump, a work implement driven by hydraulic fluid discharged from the second hydraulic pump. A first control unit is configured to determine a work phase of the work implement and to set an upper limit for the throttle opening degree in accordance with the work phase. A second control unit is configured to control output of the engine based on the smaller of the throttle opening degree set by the throttle opening degree setting unit and the throttle opening degree set by the first control unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventor: Atsushi Shirao
-
Patent number: 8666611Abstract: A method controlling an agricultural sprayer includes identifying an herbicide to be sprayed using the agricultural sprayer, determining a geoposition associated with the agricultural sprayer within a field, determining if crop planted at the geoposition is tolerant to the herbicide using as-planted data, and if the crop is not tolerant of the herbicide, preventing herbicide spraying operations while the agricultural sprayer is at the geoposition. An agricultural sprayer adapted for performing the method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Peterson, Douglas L. Gardner, Douglas J. Houser
-
Patent number: 8666612Abstract: Earth moving equipment and other heavy machinery for environmentally harsh conditions are controlled by a control panel supplied with a lock, and such panels are frequently removable to prevent theft or unauthorized operation. The interface is in the form of a plug-and-socket, the parts of which have to be sealed against dust and humidity when not interfacing. In order to prevent wear and to assure reliable control, according to the invention, no part of the connection between the control panel and a receptable is galvanic, the power supply for the control panel is wireless, such as inductive or optical, while communications may occur by means of a two-way radio protocol or by optical means.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Leica Geosystems Technology A/SInventor: Anders Lindskov
-
Patent number: 8666613Abstract: A swing control system for a hybrid construction machine has a swing operating lever, an electric swing motor, a speed detection sensor which detects the rotary speed of a swing motor, a controller that calculates the driving speed of the swing motor by a swing operating signal created by the operation of the swing operating lever and by a detecting signal of the rotary speed, an inverter which drives the swing motor by a control signal from the controller, a swing inertia detector that detects the swing inertia of equipment and an inertia torque compensator which compares the torque compensation value in accordance with the equipment inertia, and outputs a calculated torque value for controlling the swing motor to the inverter.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment ABInventor: Dong-Uk Choi
-
Patent number: 8666614Abstract: A twin-clutch type hybrid transmission is configured to include an input shaft 10, an odd-numbered stage shift mechanism 30, an even-numbered stage shift mechanism 60, a motor power mechanism 20, and an output mechanism 90. The shift mechanisms 30 and 60 include transmission gear trains 32 and 62, and main clutches 34 and 64, respectively, the main clutches 34 and 64 for selectively transmitting the power of the transmission gear train 32 and the power of the transmission gear train 62 to transmission shafts 40 and 70, respectively. The shift mechanisms 30 and 60 also include shift gear trains 41, 43, 45, 47, 72, 74, 76, and 78 provided to the transmission shafts 40 and 70 to transmit rotation to the output mechanism 90, respectively, and mechanical clutches 50, 52, 80, and 82 for selectively engaging the corresponding shift gear trains and the transmission shafts 40 and 70, respectively. As a result, a compact twin-clutch type hybrid transmission having high transmission efficiency can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Nico Transmission Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Masahiko Ibamoto, Tatsuro Abe
-
Patent number: 8666615Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission of a vehicle with a DCT or AMT in which a reference center point of an actuator for gear shifting with respect to a shift direction can always be maintained at a correct position. Therefore, despite different kinds of electrical disturbances or mechanical vibration or deformation which may be caused when the vehicle is running, reliable gear shifting manipulation ability can always be secured, thus enhancing the merchantability of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Joung Chul Kim, Young Min Yoon
-
Patent number: 8666616Abstract: A transmission control unit reduces a hydraulic pressure of a release-side frictional engagement element which is to be released of a sub-transmission mechanism and reduces this reduction amount as an input torque to the sub-transmission mechanism increases at the time of starting a shift when a manual mode is selected, the input torque is positive and the sub-transmission mechanism is to be shifted down.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Jatco LtdInventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Masahide Ito, Masato Mori, Takashi Eguchi, Ryousuke Nonomura, Seiichiro Takahashi, Mamiko Inoue
-
Patent number: 8666617Abstract: In a gear shift control unit for an automatic transmission, when an up-shift switch or a down-shift switch of a paddle shift switch is turned ON, a gear shift mode is set to a temporary manual shift mode, and a target transmission gear stage is shifted up or shifted down. Subsequently, a manual assist control is executed. In the manual assist control, an acceleration is calculated from a temporal differentiation of a vehicle speed. After it is detected that the acceleration is larger than or equal to an acceleration determination threshold, an accelerator pedal return acceleration is calculated from a double temporal differentiation of an accelerator opening degree. When the accelerator pedal return acceleration is smaller than or equal to another acceleration determination threshold, the current target transmission gear stage is automatically shifted down.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keisuke Ajimoto, Shinya Yasunaga, Masayuki Nishida, Hiroki Tanaka, Takahito Morishita
-
Patent number: 8666618Abstract: A machine control system for use with a machine having a power source and a transmission is disclosed. The machine control system may have a clutch configured to connect an output of the power source with an input of the transmission. The machine control system may also have a sensors configured to generate signals indicative of machine operations, and a controller in communication with the clutch and the sensors. The controller may be configured to determine the current machine application based on the signals, and vary an actuating force of the clutch based on the type of machine application.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Hong-Chin Lin, Rami Nabil Nasrallah
-
Patent number: 8666619Abstract: A method includes: receiving M solenoids, each marked with a unique one of M identifiers, where M is an integer greater than one; receiving M lookup tables associated with respective ones of the M identifiers, wherein each of the M lookup tables establishes a relationship between input current and output pressure for only one of the M solenoids; assembling a transmission with a selected one of the M solenoids; selecting one of the M lookup tables based on one of the M identifiers marked on the selected one of the M solenoids; storing the selected one of the M lookup tables in memory of a transmission control module of a vehicle that is assembled with the transmission; and controlling output pressure of the selected one of the M solenoids based on the selected one of the M lookup tables and the input current using the transmission control module.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventors: Christopher G. Benson, Matthew R. Malik, Steven Mark Bezdek, Timothy P. Philippart, Martha A. Crisler, Stonewall J. Craig
-
Patent number: 8666620Abstract: A method of controlling an automated stepped transmission disposed in a drive train of a motor vehicle in conjunction with a turbo-charged internal combustion engine. In which the control of start-up and shifting procedures depends on the response behavior of the internal combustion engine. In order to enable control of the start-up and shifting processes with considerably lower coordination effort, the actual response behavior of the internal combustion engine is taken from an engine dynamics characteristic map in which the immediately available maximum torque (Mmax) of the internal combustion engine is stored as a function of the current engine torque (MM) and the current engine speed (nM, thus (Mmax=f(MM, nM)).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Roland Mair
-
Patent number: 8666621Abstract: A PTO control system for allowing selection between an independent PTO mode and an interlock PTO mode, comprising a mode-switch command input device 11 for giving an instruction on selection between the independent PTO mode and the interlock PTO mode, a PTO setting device 12 having an engaging position for producing an engaging command and a disengaging position for producing a disengaging command of the PTO clutch, and a PTO control unit for controlling a PTO clutch in response to a pedal operational position of a brake pedal, a mode selected by the mode-switch command input device, and a position selected by the PTO setting device. PTO mode switch implementation processing is suspended when the PTO transmission system is in a power transmittable state, while the PTO mode switch implementation processing is permitted when the PTO transmission system is in the power non-transmittable state.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Yushi Matsuzaki, Susumu Umemoto, Akira Hiwatashi, Shota Nagasawa, Suguru Kagawa
-
Patent number: 8666622Abstract: A method of determining the size of a gear interval from a currently engaged gear to a target gear in a transmission. The method includes the steps of, for each current gear and for each possible gear interval from the current gear, recording a limit value for an acceleration or a deceleration in the target gear corresponding to the current gear and the respective gear interval used; for the current gear, starting with the smallest gear interval, applying a loop with successive increases of the gear interval to determine, depending on the current driving situation and characteristic parameters of the vehicle, the acceleration or the acceleration theoretically obtainable in the target gear produced by using the gear interval, which is compared with the respective recorded limit value until the acceleration or the deceleration theoretically obtainable no longer contravenes the limit value. The gear interval is then selected for a gearshift.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Maik Wurthner, Joachim Staudinger, Johannes Kemler
-
Patent number: 8666623Abstract: A method for controlling and/or regulating an automatic transmission of a vehicle, depending on the driving route slope in which a winding mountain pass road detection is carried out, depending upon a topography of the driving route, in such a way that a time for either setting or resetting winding mountain pass road detection is determined.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2007Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Matthias Winkel, Bertram Wengert
-
Patent number: 8666624Abstract: A clutch control device that controls a clutch by driving a piston using a working fluid, having: stroke start determining means (S1) for determining that a stroke of the piston has started and detecting a stroke start oil pressure at that time; stroke end determining means (S4) for determining that the stroke of the piston is complete and detecting a stroke end oil pressure at that time; stroke end range estimating means (S3) for estimating a range of the stroke end oil pressure from the stroke start oil pressure detected by the stroke start determining means; and learning means (S5, S6) for learning the stroke end oil pressure detected by the stroke end determining means when the stroke end oil pressure is within the estimated range of the stroke end oil pressure. Learning precision of the stroke end oil pressure can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshinobu Kawamoto
-
Patent number: 8666625Abstract: A method of automatically adjusting at least one electric actuator of a brake to prevent dragging is provided including measuring a force applied by the at least one electrical actuator to a load measuring device The measured force is determined to be below a predetermined threshold. A predefined offset is subtracted from a current zero torque position of the at least one electrical actuator. Similarly, a drag offset is subtracted from the current zero torque position of the at least one electrical actuator to compensate for a dragging brake condition. The new zero torque position is then stored within a brake actuator controller coupled configured to control the brake.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventor: Marc Georgin
-
Patent number: 8666626Abstract: A turning control device for a vehicle which generates a yaw moment in the body of a vehicle includes: a steering wheel turning amount detection device which detects a steering wheel turning amount of the vehicle; a vehicle speed detection device which detects a vehicle speed of the vehicle; a feedforward control amount calculation unit which calculates a feedforward control amount based on at least the steering wheel turning amount; a braking force control amount calculation unit which determines a braking force control amount based on the feedforward control amount; a braking control device which controls the braking force based on the braking force control amount; and a steering direction determination device which determines whether a steering direction is an incremental steering direction or a returning-steering direction. The feedforward control amount calculation unit includes a feedforward control amount correction unit which corrects the feedforward control amount.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Futamura, Takeshi Kojima, Kazutaka Ohmura
-
Patent number: 8666627Abstract: An electromechanical braking system includes first and second electromechanical actuator controllers (EMACs) that each independently generate a complete set of drive control signals for an associated set of electromechanical actuators (EMAs). The drive control signals are generated in accordance with an antiskid algorithm to impart antiskid control to the braking of wheels associated with the EMAs. Drive signals for some of the EMAs from the set of EMAs are output by drivers of the first EMAC and drive signals for the other EMAs from the set of EMAs are output by drivers of the second EMAC. Drive control signals from one of the EMACs are used to control output the drive signals for all the EMAs from the set of EMAs, regardless of the EMAC in which the associated drivers are present. The drive control signals from the other of the EMACs are used as a backup set of drive control signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: Bill May
-
Patent number: 8666628Abstract: A torque distribution control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a vehicle-speed detector configured to detect a vehicle speed of the vehicle. A wheel-speed detector is configured to detect wheel speeds of main driving wheels and sub-driving wheels of the vehicle. A sub-driving-wheel distribution-torque calculator is configured to calculate a sub-driving-wheel distribution torque in accordance with a rotation speed difference between the main driving wheels and the sub-driving wheels calculated based on an output from the wheel-speed detector. A torque limiter is configured to limit an upper limit of the sub-driving-wheel distribution torque. A controller is configured to control the sub-driving-wheel distribution torque to be transmitted to the right and left sub-driving wheels by right and left torque distribution clutches in accordance with a driving state of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masatoshi Noguchi, Nor Hairuddin, Yusuke Sakaguchi
-
Patent number: 8666629Abstract: A method for determining a driving strategy for a driver of a motor vehicle includes receiving local information about a plurality of other motor vehicles using a receiving device, wherein the plurality of other motor vehicles are ahead of the motor vehicle and are relevant to the traffic situation. The method further includes recording the local information using the receiving device and deriving driving information from the local information so as to provide a driving strategy in the form of at least one action recommendation for the driver, the at least one action recommendation including a recommended speed based on an average speed of the plurality of other motor vehicles and on a desired speed of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Technische Universitaet BraunschweigInventors: Sandor Fekete, Christopher Tessars, Christiane Schmidt, Axel Wegener, Stefan Fischer, Horst Hellbrueck
-
Patent number: 8666630Abstract: A method for increasing active duration time of an automatic freewheeling function in a vehicle with cruise control and during a cruise control active period is provided. The function includes an arrangement for determining a vehicle set speed for when the function is allowed to he activated and an arrangement for calculating a predetermined allowable vehicle speed drop to a first under speed value below the vehicle set speed. The function is controlled based on the under speed value, m order to extend active duration time of the function.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventors: Johan Bjernetun, Anders Eriksson
-
Patent number: 8666631Abstract: The vehicle travel control device according to the invention is a vehicle travel control device that controls the travel of a host vehicle based on any of inter-vehicle distance setting and vehicle speed setting that are setting information set in advance, in which the inter-vehicle distance setting and the vehicle speed setting can be updated individually in accordance with the operation of an accelerator pedal or a brake pedal in the host vehicle, and setting information to be updated are selected based on the changes in the travelling conditions of the host vehicle or a leading vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshihiro Takagi, Yasuhiro Kuze
-
Patent number: 8666632Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plurality of fuel injectors grouped operatively by stages in a multistage combustor. A fuel system for the gas turbine engine includes at least one fuel metering module per stage of the multistage combustor. Each fuel metering module includes a pump, a flow meter, a pressure sensor, a controller, and a motor, which work together to control fuel output.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Thaddeus J. Zebrowski, Richard E. Versailles
-
Patent number: 8666633Abstract: An engine system for starting a gas turbine engine is provided. The system includes a starter generator coupled to the gas turbine engine and configured to provide torque to the gas turbine engine and a controller coupled to the starter generator and configured to provide a command signal to the starter generator. The starter generator provides the torque to the gas turbine engine based on the command signal, and the controller is configured to command the starter generator at a dwell speed until ignition.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Timothy Ertz, Thomas Nesdill, Mike Baron, Paul Otto
-
Patent number: 8666634Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving vehicle performance by application of pneumatic boost to vehicle engines, including diesel engines having at least one turbocharger supplying air to the engine, in a manner which increases engine torque output while minimizing the potential for exceed various operating limits to the maximum practicable extent. The vehicle's pneumatic booster system controller implements strategies for shaping the rate of the air injection during a boost event, tailoring the air injection to obtain maximum engine torque output while respecting the operating limits, by controlling the timing, duration, quantity and/or injection pattern during a boost event to achieve a refined distribution of compressed air injection over the course of the boost event to provide desired engine torque output and fuel efficiency while minimizing the potential for exceeding a wide variety of operation limits, regulatory, engineering and passenger comfort limits.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLCInventors: William J. Schaffeld, Nicholas Asmis, Mark W. McCollough, Richard Beyer
-
Patent number: 8666635Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine provided by the present invention is a control device which can satisfy a requirement concerning exhaust gas performance of the internal combustion engine, a requirement concerning fuel economy performance, and a requirement concerning operation performance with an excellent balance by properly regulating a change speed of a required air-fuel ratio and an ignition timing. The present control device keeps the ignition timing at an optimal ignition timing if a predetermined permission condition is not satisfied. However, when the permission condition is satisfied, the present control device controls the ignition timing so as to compensate for a difference which occurs between torque which is estimated from an operation of an actuator for air quantity control and required torque by the ignition timing.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shuntaro Okazaki, Satoshi Yoshizaki, Masashi Shibayama, Kaoru Shokatsu, Hajime Kawakami
-
Patent number: 8666636Abstract: A control apparatus for a supercharged internal combustion engine, which can achieve a target torque accurately even if the target torque contains a high-frequency vibration component. The control apparatus determines a target air quantity and a target boost pressure from a target torque, operates an actuator for air quantity control according to the target air quantity, and operates an actuator for boost pressure control according to the target boost pressure. The target torque is formed to contain a low-frequency torque component that is set at all times based on a torque requirement from a driver and a high-frequency torque component that is set as necessary for a specific type of vehicle control. When the target torque contains only the low-frequency torque component, the target boost pressure is formed using a pressure component corresponding to the low-frequency torque.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyonori Takahashi, Shinichi Soejima, Satoru Tanaka, Satoshi Yoshizaki
-
Patent number: 8666637Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling an engine in response to a pre-ignition event. A pre-ignition threshold and a pre-ignition mitigating action are adjusted based on a rate of change of cylinder aircharge. As a result, pre-ignition events occurring during transient engine operating conditions are detected and addressed different from pre-ignition events occurring during steady-state engine operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Mancini
-
Patent number: 8666638Abstract: Computer-implemented systems, methods, and computer-readable media for reducing operational costs relating to fuel burn of aircraft include receiving trip data specifying an origin, an intermediate destination, and a final destination from a client device; receiving operational data from one or more computing device; performing optimization logic to determine an optimized route having a minimized fuel cost, the optimized route specifying how much fuel to purchase at each of an origin airport, an intermediate destination airport, and a final destination airport; and transmitting the optimized route to the client device.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventor: Anthony Struzik
-
Patent number: 8666639Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel supply control apparatus and to a fuel supply control method, provided with an engine control unit and a fuel pump control unit. The engine control unit outputs an actuating signal for a fuel pump to the fuel pump control unit. The fuel pump control unit outputs a diagnostic signal indicating whether or not abnormality occurs in input of the actuating signal to the engine control unit. Furthermore, the engine control unit diagnoses whether or not abnormality occurs in input of the diagnostic signal and diagnoses based on the output signal from a fuel pressure sensor whether or not abnormality occurs in a control of fuel pressure. Then, the engine control unit performs a fail-safe function, based on whether or not the abnormality occurs in the input of the diagnostic signal, whether or not the abnormality occurs in the control of the fuel pressure, and whether or not the abnormality occurs in the input of the actuating signal in the fuel pump control unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Masayuki Saruwatari, Yuichi Toyama
-
Patent number: 8666640Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes phase change means (60) for advancing or retarding phases of an opening timing and a closing timing of an intake valve (62); duration change means (60) for increasing or decreasing a duration of the intake valve (62); and EGR gas amount increase means (50) for increasing an amount of EGR gas, based on an operating state of an internal combustion engine. The control apparatus further includes intake-valve closing timing advancing means (50) for advancing the intake-valve closing timing when the amount of EGR gas is increased. The intake-valve closing timing advancing means (50) advances the intake-valve closing timing by performing a first operation that advances the phases using the phase change means (60), and performing a second operation that decreases the duration using the duration change means (60), and makes a timing at which the second operation is started later than a timing at which the first operation is started.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koichiro Nakatani, Terutoshi Tomoda, Shinobu Ishiyama, Michio Furuhashi, Tomoyuki Ono, Tomoyuki Kogo, Yoshihiro Hisataka
-
Patent number: 8666641Abstract: A system or method for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine operable in a reduced displacement mode with at least one valve or cylinder selectively deactivated include monitoring valve operation by analyzing camshaft position to detect valve operation inconsistent with a current cylinder state (activated or deactivated) and controlling the engine in response to detecting the inconsistent operation. The camshaft position may be used to produce a surrogate signal indicative of intake/exhaust valve lift generated using camshaft sensor tooth deviation relative to an expected or reference tooth position for a corresponding crankshaft position and compared to a corresponding threshold. The surrogate signal indicative of valve lift may also be generated by pattern matching or correlation of one or more reference tooth position patterns to a measured or inferred tooth position pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: John Eric Rollinger, Robert Andrew Wade, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Steven Joseph Szwabowski
-
Patent number: 8666642Abstract: A system for detecting memory corruption in an engine control module includes a variable selection module, an output module, an input module, and a response comparing module. The variable selection module selects a variable of a control system for testing. The output module outputs a predetermined value of said variable to a memory location where said variable is stored in said engine control module. The input module receives a response of said control system to said predetermined value when said predetermined value is written in said memory location. The response comparing module compares said response to a predetermined range and determines that said memory location is defective when said response is not within said predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, James A. Shore, Bryan D Lehman
-
Patent number: 8666643Abstract: A method and system are provided for modeling and optimizing the performance of transportation networks, e.g. for traffic signal retiming.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Miovision Technologies IncorporatedInventors: Kurtis McBride, Tomas Benda, David Thompson
-
Patent number: 8666644Abstract: Disclosed is a drive assistance apparatus capable of assisting safer driving of a vehicle. The drive assistance apparatus that includes a position detection unit detecting a positional relationship between a preceding vehicle present in front of a subject vehicle and the subject vehicle and executes a drive assistance control assisting the driving of the subject vehicle according to the detected results, wherein the drive assistance apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires signal device information regarding a signal device on a traveling path of the subject vehicle and a setting unit that sets execution conditions for executing the drive assistance control based on the signal device information acquired by the acquisition unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroki Goto
-
Patent number: 8666645Abstract: A method for selecting a traffic pattern for use by a navigation system is disclosed. When unusual traffic conditions exist, a message is sent to the navigation system. The message includes a code that identifies a traffic pattern. The navigation system uses the code to select a traffic pattern to use when calculating a route or to provide other navigation system functions.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Navteq B.V.Inventor: Mark Saunders
-
Patent number: 8666646Abstract: A vehicle guidance device includes: an inter- vehicle distance specification unit that specifies an inter-vehicle distance, which is an inter-vehicle distance in a prescribed lane, between vehicles up to a reference point of a lane change; a recommended section specification unit that ,based on the specified inter-vehicle distance, specifies a recommended section in which a lane change to the prescribed lane should be made before reaching the reference point; and a communication unit that, based on the specified recommended section, outputs guidance information pertaining to the lane change to the prescribed lane.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso CorporationInventors: Tomoyuki Zaitsu, Kenji Nagase, Kazunori Watanabe, Tooru Yamazaki
-
Patent number: 8666647Abstract: A convoy travel apparatus transmits convoy travel information including a whole convoy ID and a sub-convoy ID when a subject vehicle is in a convoy travel state, and performs a convoy travel control by utilizing the sub-convoy ID. Further, a second vehicle of the whole convoy is a leader vehicle of a sub-convoy and is also a follower vehicle in a forward sub-convoy, thereby (i) determining the convoy travel control of itself by receiving the convoy travel information of the sub-convoy in which the subject vehicle is traveling as the follower vehicle and (ii) transmitting the convoy travel information including the content of the determined convoy travel control. Thus, the follower vehicle in the sub-convoy lead by the subject vehicle performs the convoy travel control based on the convoy travel information from the leader vehicle of the sub-convoy in which the subject vehicle is traveling as the follower vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Seigou Kumabe
-
Patent number: 8666648Abstract: A system and method for aircraft taxiing and guidance using ground station's communication network is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method of aircraft taxiing and guidance, a communication link between an aircraft computing system and a ground station system is established using a communication network provided by the ground station system. An aircraft taxi selection and guidance application residing in the aircraft computing system is displayed on a display device upon establishing the communication link. Further, one or more pilot selectable taxiing and ground services are displayed upon selecting the aircraft taxi selection and guidance application. One of the displayed pilot selectable taxiing and ground services is selected by a pilot of an aircraft. Information associated with the selected pilot selectable taxiing and ground service is then displayed on the display device using ground station data. The aircraft is taxied and guided by the pilot using displayed information.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Airbus Engineering Centre IndiaInventor: Vijay Shukla
-
Patent number: 8666649Abstract: Systems and methods for use in identifying at least one alternate airport for an aircraft. One example method includes identifying a plurality of alternate airports based on static data associated with the plurality of alternate airports, identifying, at a processing device, at least one preferred alternate airport from the plurality of alternate airports based on dynamic data associated with the plurality of alternate airports, and storing the at least one preferred alternate airport. The dynamic data includes at least one of visibility information and traffic density information.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Willard Kyle Otto, Jason William Clark, Matthew B. Hendrian, Samantha Ann Schwartz
-
Patent number: 8666650Abstract: A method for assisting in the locating of a first aircraft includes a step of emission by the first aircraft of an identifier and of a time-stamped position reading, said method further including: the reception and the storage by at least one second aircraft of the identifier and of the time-stamped position reading, and the downloading by the second aircraft, after its landing, of the identifiers and of the time-stamped position readings to a database on the ground, and, in case of disappearance of the first aircraft, the determination of the last known position of the first aircraft based on the time-stamped position readings stored in the database on the ground.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: ThalesInventors: Laurence Mutuel, BenoƮt Couturier
-
Patent number: 8666651Abstract: In a left-hand traffic rule, a subject vehicle turns right at an intersection and then passes over a crosswalk, which is corresponded to by a pedestrian-use traffic signal. When the pedestrian-use traffic signal presents a green color as a currently indicating signal color, an obstacle report range is designated as covering both an area A and an area B so as to report an existence of an obstacle. In contrast, when the pedestrian-use traffic light presents a red color as a currently indicating signal color, an obstacle report range is designated as covering only the area A during a red light elapsed time ranging greater than a first marginal time and less than a time, which is obtained by subtracting a second marginal time from a red light cycle time.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Seigou Kumabe
-
Patent number: 8666652Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for displaying analytic geography data in a zero-footprint client environment. Data indicative of a geographic focus area is received via a first user interface region that displays a geographical map from a geographical information system that is executable on a first server, the geographical information system configured to capture, store, analyze, and manage data and associated attributes that are spatially referenced to earth. Data indicative of a selected analytic routine is received via a second user interface region that displays a plurality of candidate analytic routines. The selected routine and data indicated by the selected analytic routine are accessed from a second server.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: SAS Institute Inc.Inventor: Eric Lee Short