Patents Issued in January 29, 2015
  • Publication number: 20150032309
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain system has an engine, a damper and an electric machine configured to be selectively mechanically coupled with the engine via damper. The vehicle powertrain system also has at least one controller programmed to filter a frequency content of a speed or torque command for the electric machine corresponding to a resonant frequency of the engine, damper and electric machine to reduce resonance of the engine, damper and electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Carol Louise Okubo, Thomas Chrostowski, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20150032310
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to allow for reliable consumption of GPS and Map information into a Control System, for such uses as improving off cycle fuel economy in a plug in hybrid vehicle with an electric motor, and an internal combustion engine using a global position system (GPS) is provided. The system comprises a global position system (GPS), a clock, and a processor containing a function executing therein that controls the internal combustion engine based on a GPS fix and its Accuracy Information (VDOP/HDOP/Satellite Quantity).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: ANDREW M. ZETTEL, NORMAN J. WEIGERT, MARK A. MANICKARAJ, CURTIS L. HAY
  • Publication number: 20150032311
    Abstract: Techniques are presented for more efficient three-phase inverter control for electrified vehicles (EVs). The techniques can be executed by a controller of an EV that includes one or more processors. Specifically, the techniques include closed-loop discontinuous pulse-width modulation (DPWM) control of a three-phase inverter based on electric motor current feedback. The three-phase inverter control techniques can be further based on electric motor/rotor position feedback. Based on the feedback, the techniques can select one of a plurality of zero-voltage vectors in real-time. The selected zero-voltage vector can be used when generating duty cycles for switching of the three-phase inverter, which can result in decreased switching losses and increased efficiency of the three-phase inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Baiming Shao, Bing Cheng
  • Publication number: 20150032312
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for connecting/disconnecting an electric vehicle to/from a charging terminal, which includes at least one sensor arranged to detect the state of at least one element of said charging terminal, said method including at least one iteration of the following steps: measuring at least one value of at least one parameter by said sensor; comparing the value of said parameter with at least one predetermined value; and transmitting at least one datum, referred to as a notification datum, relating to said connection/disconnection. The invention also relates to a system for connecting/disconnecting an electric vehicle to/from a charging terminal, as well as to a charging terminal implemented in such a method and in such a system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: BLUECARSHARING
    Inventors: Clément Lambrinos, Augustin Aymeric, Raphaël Barrois, Julien Rouyer, Sandrine Ressayre, Ruben Rodrigues, Lionel Lebettre
  • Publication number: 20150032313
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method is provided for contactor monitoring and control in electric vehicle supply equipment, which includes updating an open error count and a close error count based on a detected condition of the contactor. The method also includes determining a detected state of the contactor by comparing the open error count and the close error count to maximum and minimum values. The method further includes performing at least one of controlling the state of the contactor based on the determined contactor state, or providing a visual indicator based on the determined contactor state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: AeroVironment, Inc.
    Inventor: Ming Bai
  • Publication number: 20150032314
    Abstract: A hybrid hydraulic excavator includes an engine, a generator motor, a capacitor, a cooling system being configured to cool the capacitor, and a controller. The cooling system includes a circulation mechanism being configured to circulate a cooling water, and a cooler being configured to cool the cooling water with output from the engine. The controller prohibits auto-stop of the engine when it is determined that the capacitor is overheated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Kenichi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20150032315
    Abstract: A vehicle-side executes a program including the steps of, if setting information is input, storing a charging schedule, and if a prescribed period of time has passed, performing an update process, performing a notification process, and if a charging cable is being connected, performing a reservation charging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeki Kinomura, Tatsuwo Hatanaka
  • Publication number: 20150032316
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle automatic transmission. The hybrid vehicle being capable of EV travel in which drive wheels are driven by only a rotary electric machine with the internal combustion engine stopped. The control device having an electric oil pump control device to drive an electric oil pump that supplies oil to the friction engagement element. A neutral control device performs disengagement control on the friction engagement element. A drag determination device determines whether conditions under which drag of the friction engagement element occurs are met because of a shortage in amount of oil to be supplied to a cancellation oil chamber of the friction engagement element by the electric oil pump during the EV travel started from a state in which the hybrid vehicle is stationary. Drag elimination control device provides a command to start the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Shishun Chin, Kenta Kimata, Masahiro Asai, Kazuhiko Motodohi, Shinichiro Iga
  • Publication number: 20150032317
    Abstract: An ECU serving as a control device of a hybrid vehicle including an engine; a first motor generator and a second motor generator capable of generating power and generating regenerative power; and a battery configured to supply and receive power to and from the first motor generator and the second motor generator includes a plurality prediction arithmetic expressions configured to predict a regenerative power generation amount generated by the first motor generator (or the second motor generator) at the time an own vehicle travels on a downhill road in a travel scheduled path of the own vehicle, wherein one of the plurality of prediction arithmetic expressions is selected and used for the predicting the regenerative power generation amount according to a gradient of the downhill road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuharu Kato
  • Publication number: 20150032318
    Abstract: A vehicle having at least an electric traction motor and a passenger cabin includes a controller. The controller has a memory storing an expected range routine and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute the expected range routine. An expected range for the vehicle is determined referencing an average power consumption of a cabin conditioning system over an selected duration of initial cabin conditioning. During the selected duration of initial cabin conditioning, the average power consumption of the cabin conditioning system is added to an instantaneous power consumption of at least the electric traction motor to determine a total power consumption of the vehicle. The total power consumption of the vehicle is used to determine the expected range, which is output on a display located in the passenger cabin for reference by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Guangning Gao
  • Publication number: 20150032319
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a parking control apparatus and a parking control method. In particular, the present invention relates to a parking control apparatus and a parking control method in which an initial parking space searched while a vehicle is moved is corrected into a final parking space in a space recognition correction section based on a situation at the time of searching by the vehicle and information for an obstacle which is acquired while the vehicle moves along a first parking route, the position of the vehicle is changed, and then a final parking route is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Sung Ju KIM
  • Publication number: 20150032320
    Abstract: It is described a working apparatus for a limited working area, comprising a base station configured to generate a magnetic field and a self-propelling robot. The self-propelling robot comprises means for moving the self-propelling robot in the working area, a gyroscope, a magnetic field sensor and a processing unit configured to control the movement of the self-propelling robot. The processing unit comprises a magnetic field search module configured to move the self-propelling robot so as to search for the set of contiguous magnetic field lines of force inside the working area according to a defined search path, and comprises a magnetic field tracking module configured to move the self-propelling robot to track at least a portion of the set of found contiguous lines of force by means of a plurality of maneuvers of crossing the set of found contiguous lines of force until reaching the base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Fabrizio BERNINI
  • Publication number: 20150032321
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a driver assistance device which is designed to guide the motor vehicle independently and can be switched between several assistance modes which differ in a degree of autonomy of the driver assistance device when driving the motor vehicle. An operating device having several operating elements allows the user to adjust respective driving parameters, which determine a driving behavior of the driver assistance device, in at least one of the assistance modes as a function of an activation of the operating elements. The operating device is designed in the form of a palm rest. Some of the operating elements are arranged on a support body. The support body is mounted such that it can be manually rotated about a vertical axis, and the driver assistance device is designed to adjust the currently active assistance mode as a function of a rotary position of the support body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Wimmer, Karl-Heinz Siedersberger, Heike Sacher, Franziska Ehrhart, Fabian Scheiffert
  • Publication number: 20150032322
    Abstract: The motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a driver assistance device, which is designed to drive the motor vehicle independently during a journey of the motor vehicle and which in this case is switchable between a plurality of assistance modes. The motor vehicle furthermore comprises a first, a second and a third operating device (12, 14, 16), which differ from one another in operating actions to be performed for their operation. In the case of the driver assistance device, at least independent transverse driving is provided in a fully automatic assistance mode, at least speed control is provided in a partly automatic assistance mode and no driving of the motor vehicle at all is provided by the driver assistance device in a manual assistance mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Wimmer, Juergen Meurle, Heike Sacher, Karl-Heinz Siedersberger
  • Publication number: 20150032323
    Abstract: In a method for the automatic guidance, e.g., parking, of a motor vehicle, which has a driving device for driving the motor vehicle, braking equipment for braking the motor vehicle, as well as a transmission device, in a normal operation, the braking equipment carrying out automatic braking during the automatic guidance, it is provided that, when a fault of the braking equipment occurs during the automatic guidance, an emergency operation is carried out, in which the motor vehicle is braked automatically to a standstill only by using the driving device and/or the transmission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Nijakowski, Christian Reiner, Thomas Feufel
  • Publication number: 20150032324
    Abstract: A mining vehicle is provided, which is capable of appropriately recognizing a condition of a traveling road in front of the vehicle, preventing an obstacle on a roadside from being erroneously detected by a distance detector, and controlling the speed of the vehicle in a stable manner even when the vehicle is approaching a curved portion of the road from a linear portion of the road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Masanori Ichinose, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Wataru Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150032325
    Abstract: A system and method for actively controlling a structure is disclosed. At least one non-optimal event is identified in real-time based on at least one real-time elasticity measurement, if an event threshold exceeds a predetermined value. In response to an active control command, a control mechanism is then activated in real-time to compensate for the non-optimal event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Harris O. Hinnant, JR., Darin W. Brekke, David J. Black, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150032326
    Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus comprises a controller that is configured to execute a failure diagnosis process of the internal combustion engine based on a predetermined diagnosis requirement. The diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is made different from the diagnosis requirement in a case where engine-normal-operation is executed such that a failure of the internal combustion engine in the case where the engine-operation-electric-power supply is executed is less likely to be detected or the failure of the internal combustion engine is less likely to be recognized by a driver than in the case where the engine-normal operation is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki, Keita Fukui
  • Publication number: 20150032327
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle includes the steps of: entering a drive shaft test mode; receiving a command to position a yoke to drive the shaft; regulating the shaft speed so as to be below a predefined threshold; and determining whether a drive shaft is available based on whether an actual drive shaft speed is detected above the predefined threshold. When the detected actual drive shaft speed is above the predefined threshold, it is determined that the drive shaft is not available and the vehicle is disabled to prevent damage to the vehicle. When the detected actual drive shaft speed is not above the predefined threshold, it is determined that the drive shaft is available, and the vehicle may be operated as is typical. The methods may be performed by an controller executing program code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Guobiao SONG, Yisheng ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20150032328
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for reconfigurable personalized vehicle displays. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for executing computer-executable instructions by one or more processors for displaying personalized information on a vehicle. The method can include detecting an identity of at least one of the one or more processors, display information based at least in part on the detected occupant identity; configuring the display information for use by one or more display devices associated with the vehicle; and communicating the configured display information to the one or more display devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jennifer Healey, Alexandra Zafiroglu
  • Publication number: 20150032329
    Abstract: An in-vehicle load control system configured to controllably drive one or more loads on a vehicle according to an input signal. The system includes a first electronic control portion configured to perform signal processing based on the input signal, and a second electronic control portion configured to controllably drive the load. A backup signal channel is provided independently of a signal channel through which a signal is transmitted in a multiplex communication portion to input the input signal to the second electronic control portion. The second electronic control portion receives a first control signal via the signal channel in the multiplex communication portion and a second control signal via the backup signal channel, and controllably drives the load by preferentially treating the first control signal when the ignition signal is on and by preferentially treating the second control signal when the ignition signal is off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi SUZUKI, Masato OOTA, Kazuya SUEHIRO
  • Publication number: 20150032330
    Abstract: There is provided a mobile object including an input detection unit configured to detect an input from an outside, an acquisition unit configured to acquire environmental information detected by a sensor in a remote location, in accordance with a content of detection performed by the input detection unit, and a control unit configured to control an actuator other than a driving actuator in accordance with the environmental information acquired by the acquisition unit, the driving actuator relating to movement of the mobile object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: KAZUYUKI SAKODA, YOICHIRO SAKO, KOHEI ASADA, KATSUHISA ARATANI, KAZUHIRO WATANABE, TAKATOSHI NAKAMURA, MITSURU TAKEHARA, YUKI KOGA, HIROYUKI HANAYA, TOMOYA ONUMA, AKIRA TANGE
  • Publication number: 20150032331
    Abstract: An in-vehicle computing system allows a user to control components of the vehicle by performing gestures. The user provides a selecting input to indicate that he wishes to control one of the components. After the component is identified, the user performs a gesture to control the component. The gesture and the component that was previously selected are analyzed to generate a command for the component. Since the command is based on both the gesture and the identified component, the user can perform the same gesture in the same position within the vehicle to control different components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Tarek A. El Dokor, Jordan Cluster, James E. Holmes, Pedram Vaghefinazari, Stuart M. Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20150032332
    Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a traveling state detection means that detects the traveling state of a vehicle; a target attitude control amount computation means that computes the target attitude control amount of the vehicle on the basis of the traveling state; a attitude control amount computation means that computes the attitude control amount controlled by an actuator other than a shock absorber on the basis of the target attitude control amount; and an damping force control means that controls the damping force of the shock absorber on the basis of the target attitude control amount and the attitude control amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Hironobu Kikuchi, Katsuhiko Hirayama
  • Publication number: 20150032333
    Abstract: In order to control a behavior generated on a body as a result of a travel of a vehicle, an electronic control unit controls rotation of each of in-wheel motors, thereby generating a predetermined braking force or driving force approximately the same in magnitude on each wheel. Meanwhile, the electronic control unit uses respective pipelines and a direction control circuit depending on the behavior generated on the body to connect fluid pressure cylinders on a fluid pressure supplying side and fluid pressure cylinders on a fluid pressure supplied side to each other for communication. As a result, the fluid pressure cylinders convert vertical forces of the body acting as component forces of a predetermined braking/driving force into hydraulic pressures and supply the fluid pressure cylinders with the hydraulic pressures, and the fluid pressure cylinders convert the supplied hydraulic pressures into vertical forces, thereby exerting the vertical forces on the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatoshi Nakatsu
  • Publication number: 20150032334
    Abstract: A steering wheel apparatus for adjusting stiffness and receiving a pressure is provided. The apparatus includes a rim having a ring-shaped frame structure and an air container disposed around an outer surface of the rim. An outer sheath covers an outer surface of the air container and an air nozzle is connected to an inside of the air container. A pressure sensor is mounted to the rim to detect a pressure by which the steering wheel apparatus is gripped and an air compressor and a vacuum pump are connected to the air nozzle. A steering controller analyzes signals input from sensors to maintain an air pressure of the air container and operate the air compressor or the vacuum pump when present condition information is satisfied. An engine controller analyzes a signal input from the pressure sensor and when the signal corresponds to a predetermined pressure or greater decelerate the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jin Hwan Jang
  • Publication number: 20150032335
    Abstract: A driving force transmission controller includes: a normal turning control unit that computes command values such that driving force transmitted to an outer wheel in a turning direction is larger than that transmitted to an inner wheel during normal turning; a counter-steering control unit that computes the command values such that the driving force transmitted to the outer wheel is larger than that transmitted to the inner wheel during counter-steering; a counter-steering return control unit that corrects the command values such that a rate of change in each of the driving forces transmitted to the right and left rear wheels is lower than a rate of change in a steered angle of front wheels when a steering velocity is equal to or higher than a prescribed value during the counter-steering; and a driving force transmission control unit that controls a driving force transmission device based on the command values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira KODAMA, Kenta Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20150032336
    Abstract: In a vehicle steering that sets a target steering reaction force to be applied to a steering wheel on the basis of a steering angle of the steering wheel and that applies the target steering reaction force to the steering wheel; the target steering reaction force is set so that the target steering reaction force changes on the basis of whether a steering mode of the steering wheel is turn steering in which the absolute value of a steered angle of a steered wheel is increased or return steering in which the absolute value of the steered angle is reduced; and the set target steering reaction force is applied to the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chikara Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20150032337
    Abstract: A control device for work vehicle includes: a hydraulic brake device that generates a braking force according to operation of a brake pedal upon traveling; a brake lock device that hydraulically locks the hydraulic brake device and unlocks hydraulic lock of the hydraulic brake device; a brake pedal operation detection unit that detects the operation of the brake pedal; a hydraulic lock directing switch that is provided on a manual operating lever for operating a work device of the work vehicle; and a control unit that controls the brake lock device such that when the hydraulic lock directing switch is operated, the hydraulic brake device is hydraulically locked and when a predetermined depression operation of the brake pedal is detected by the brake pedal operation detection unit, the hydraulic lock of the hydraulic brake device is unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Yuta Nakamura, Katsuaki Kodaka, Masahiro Kayane
  • Publication number: 20150032338
    Abstract: A dual-arm work machine includes: a first front working machine to which a first attachment is mounted; a second working machine to which a second attachment is mounted; a first drive device that drives the first front working machine and the first attachment based on a first drive command from a first operation member; a second drive device that drives the second front working machine and the second attachment based on a second drive command from a second operation member; and a drive command output device that inputs the first and second drive commands, and generates and outputs a shared drive command that drives the first and second drive devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Kunitsugu Tomita, Akinori Ishii
  • Publication number: 20150032339
    Abstract: A system for shifting an automatic or continuously variable transmission of a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of wheels, an engine, a transmission, a memory, a processor, and a paddle shifter. The engine provides a torque to the plurality of wheels through the transmission. The transmission has a plurality of set gear ratios to shift through. The processor detects when the paddle shifter is pressed and held, to instruct the transmission to perform a first half shift. When the paddle shifter is subsequently released, the processor instructs the transmission to perform a second half shift, completing a full shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew W. Pekema
  • Publication number: 20150032340
    Abstract: The automatic and manual electrical gear shifting apparatus includes a manual electrical gear shifting unit, for detecting a driving status and transmitting a sensing signal; a control unit, coupled to the sensing unit and the manual electrical gear shifting unit, and also coupled to a driving shift device and a mid-power motor, and a shift correction unit being coupled between the driving shift device and the control unit. The control unit resets the driving shift device to a start shift when the electric vehicle stops and if the transmission of an electric vehicle is an internal transmission. If the transmission of the electric vehicle is an external transmission and the shift of the driving shift device is set to a high gear, the control unit automatically increases the electrically assisted power of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: SEN-YUNG LEE
  • Publication number: 20150032341
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of oncoming clutches that are hydraulically-actuated. A controller is operatively connected to the plurality of oncoming clutches. An algorithm stored on and executable by the controller causes the controller to determine if at least one predefined coast condition is met and identify the plurality of oncoming clutches configured to be engageable during a downshift event from an initial gear ratio to respective other gear ratios. The initial gear ratio is greater than each of the respective other gear ratios. The algorithm causes the controller to generate a first pressure command to at least partially pressurize a first one of the oncoming clutches to a first staging pressure (PS1) if the at least one predefined coast condition is met prior to the downshift event. The first staging pressure (PS1) is defined as a first return spring pressure (PR1) minus a first variable correction factor (CF1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kristopher J. Kokko, Dara Monajemi, David C. Webert, Amanda P. Igel
  • Publication number: 20150032342
    Abstract: A vehicle includes torque sources, a transmission, and a controller programmed to execute a method. In executing the associated method, the controller determines whether continuous output torque is required through a torque exchange. When continuous output torque is required, the controller synchronizes and fills the oncoming clutch, estimates capacity of the oncoming clutch, and expands a short-term torque capacity of the oncoming clutch during the torque exchange, doing so in response to a control objective having a threshold priority. Onset of the torque exchange delays until the short-term torque capacity is sufficient for receiving all torque load from the offgoing clutch without affecting output torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pinaki Gupta, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Sean W. McGrogan
  • Publication number: 20150032343
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a brake pedal, engine, transmission, and controller. The transmission includes an input member and an input clutch responsive to position control signals. The controller has multiple control modules, each outputting a corresponding torque command. One module is a creep control module which outputs a calibrated creep torque. Intervention logic independently monitors the torque commands during a creep maneuver, with control actions executed when predetermined conditions are present. The torque command from the creep controller determines the position control signals of the input clutch during the creep maneuver, and creep torque is set to zero whenever the brake pedal is sufficiently applied. A transmission assembly includes the input member, input clutch, and controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Brian Hanselman
  • Publication number: 20150032344
    Abstract: A method for operating a work vehicle in an automatic speed control mode is disclosed. The method may generally include receiving an input associated with a desired ground speed of the work vehicle, determining with a controller to implement a gear change and an erpm change in order to maintain the work vehicle at the desired ground speed, wherein the gear change includes a gear prep phase and a ratio change phase and controlling a timing parameter of at least one of the gear change or the erpm change such that the ratio change phase and the erpm change occur substantially simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Yanming Hou, Garth Harvey Bulgrien
  • Publication number: 20150032345
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, transmission, engine control module (ECM), and transmission control module (TCM). The transmission includes an input member and an input clutch which selectively connects a crankshaft of the engine to the input member. The TCM identifies a target clutch torque of the input clutch during a creep maneuver of the vehicle, and communicates the identified target clutch torque to the ECM. The ECM maintains engine idle speed at a threshold level through the creep maneuver and a requested launch using the target clutch torque as a feed-forward term. A method includes identifying a target clutch torque of the input clutch during a creep maneuver, and communicating the identified target clutch torque to the ECM. The idle speed is maintained at a threshold level by the ECM through the creep maneuver and a detected launch using the target clutch torque as a feed-forward idle speed control term.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, JR., Krishnendu Kar, Colin Hultengren, Leon Cribbins
  • Publication number: 20150032346
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automated motor vehicle transmission. A current driving resistance is taken into account when selecting a target gear to be engaged as part of a shifting process. In order to be able to regulate shifting processes in a driving-resistance-dependent manner so as to ensure that the motor vehicle can always able to continue driving on, during selection of the target gear, disregarding gears for shifting from a currently engaged gear, in a driving-resistance-dependent manner, when the required associated shifting times are longer than a respective permitted maximum shifting time. In connection with the above, the method is incorporated in an automated motor vehicle transmission, a computer program product and a data carrier, containing the computer program product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Johannes KEMLER, Maik WUERTHNER, Joachim STAUDINGER
  • Publication number: 20150032347
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling double transition shifts in an automatic transmission having multiple gear sections. During a double transition shift, the system performs simultaneous closed loop control of the primary oncoming clutch in the primary gear section and the secondary off-going clutch of the secondary gear section. Before the input shaft of the secondary gear section is fully pulled down or the secondary off-going clutch becomes overheated, the system switches closed loop control of the input shaft to the secondary on-coming clutch of the secondary gear section. The system utilizes model-based calculations to determine the initial clutch pressure settings when a clutch enters closed loop control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: John Andrew Byerly, John P. Kresse, Mark A. Rains, Jeffrey K. Runde
  • Publication number: 20150032348
    Abstract: A powertrain of a vehicle has a drive unit, a transmission and an auxiliary gearbox. Operation of the transmission and the auxiliary gearbox is controlled by a transmission control unit. The transmission control unit controls shifting of the auxiliary gearbox and the transmission while the vehicle is in operation. The auxiliary gearbox may be electronically shifted, independently of activity of the vehicle operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce Faucett, Robert F. Combs, Leroy K. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150032349
    Abstract: A controller is provided with a lock-up capacity control means for controlling a lock-up capacity to a predetermined target capacity when a transition to a coast running state occurs, a timing means for measuring a time during which a slippage, which is a difference between a revolution speed (engine speed) of an input element and a revolution speed (turbine speed) of an output element, is within a predetermined range when the lock-up capacity is controlled to the predetermined target capacity, and a capacity learning means for making a learning-correction to the predetermined target capacity such that the time measured by the timing means is brought to a predetermined target time. By virtue of the learning-correction, it is possible to accurately control the lock-up capacity when the transition to the coast running state has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: JATCO LTD
    Inventor: Osamu Sato
  • Publication number: 20150032350
    Abstract: A method for wear-limiting torque build-up in a vehicle (100; 110) provided with an engine (230), a clutch configuration (235) and a gearbox (240). The method has steps of demanding (s410) a power train torque; guiding (s420) the torque build-up towards the power train torque demanded (Tqreq); responding to continuing torque build-up at a certain engine speed (Es) by only providing a reduced power train torque (Tqlimit) which is less than a maximum available engine torque (Tqmax); continuously deciding (s450) whether the vehicle is moving or not; then either further increasing the power train torque (Tq) by increasing the engine's speed (Es) if the prevailing power train torque (Tq) is substantially the same as the reduced power train torque (Tqlimit) and the vehicle (100) is not moving, or automatically activating (s460) the clutch configuration (235) to non-slipping operation if the prevailing power train torque is substantially the same as the reduced power train torque and the vehicle is not moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Karl Redbrandt, Mikael Wågberg
  • Publication number: 20150032351
    Abstract: A method for determining an installation location of a wheel sensor on a wheel of a motor vehicle, wherein the method includes the steps of sampling a transverse acceleration signal of the wheel sensor, comparing the received transverse acceleration signal with a transverse acceleration signal of the motor vehicle, and determining that the wheel sensor is located on a steerable axle of the motor vehicle if the transverse acceleration signals differ from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Baum, Leonardo Pascali
  • Publication number: 20150032352
    Abstract: A control device for a controllable brake booster of a braking system is configured to: establish a setpoint variable regarding a setpoint operation to be carried out with the aid of the controllable brake booster, under consideration of a provided specified variable regarding a setpoint pressure to be set in a partial volume of the braking system; establish a setpoint difference of the setpoint variable, under consideration of the specified variable and an actual variable regarding an actual pressure present in a subarea of the braking system, to establish a corrected setpoint variable taking the established setpoint difference into consideration; and output a control signal which corresponds to the established corrected setpoint variable to the controllable brake booster and/or to the power supply component of the controllable brake booster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael BUTZ, Manfred GERDES, Patrick Christian SCHAEFER
  • Publication number: 20150032353
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a braking device configured to apply a frictional braking torque to a vehicle wheel in response to movement of an input member of a brake pedal, an electric motor configured to apply a regenerative braking torque to the vehicle wheel, and a control unit. During braking, the control unit is configured to determine a limit value of the regenerative braking torque that can be generated in accordance with an operating condition of the charging device or the electric motor, and reduce a ratio of the regenerative braking torque to the frictional braking torque before the regenerative braking torque reaches the limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keigo Ajiro, Kensuke Nakamura, Takuya Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20150032354
    Abstract: A method for compensating for the change in longitudinal dynamics variables in a motor vehicle brought about by a braking intervention of an electronic stability program (ESP) includes: identifying the change in longitudinal dynamics variables; defining a filter to filter the identified value of the change in longitudinal dynamics variables; filtering the identified value of the change using the defined filter, in order to obtain a filtered value; identifying the difference between the identified raw value and the filtered value of the change in longitudinal dynamics variables; modifying the engine torque that is requested by the driver and is acting on the drive wheels of the motor vehicle, by an amount equal to the identified difference value, in order to obtain a compensating engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Stephan Elter
  • Publication number: 20150032355
    Abstract: In a vehicle, a CPU of an ECU calculates a rotation speed of an engine based on an assumption that a clutch is in a connected state based on a speed of a vehicle detected by a vehicle speed sensor as a hypothetical engine rotation speed. Subsequently, the CPU acquires a target degree of opening of a throttle valve based on the calculated hypothetical engine rotation speed and a set target engine torque. Then, the CPU controls a throttle drive device such that an actual degree of opening of the throttle valve is the acquired degree of opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Manabu Fujito
  • Publication number: 20150032356
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating a catalyst. When the engine is started, engine speed is maintain at high rpm. This high rpm is maintained even if the driver shifts the transmission out of neutral, at time (A). Engine speed is lowered if an indication that the driver wishes to drive off is detected, at time (C), e.g. release of the brake pedal. The shaded area shows the additional contribution to catalyst warm up. The high rpm may be disabled if catalyst temperature is high enough or if the vehicle is parked on a slope. The invention also relates to a vehicle carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Rob Jerger, David Hayden, Simon Jarvis
  • Publication number: 20150032357
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting barometric pressure (BP) changes based on tire pressure changes are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting an evaporative leak detection threshold based on a change in barometric pressure, where the change in barometric pressure is based on a tire pressure change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Publication number: 20150032358
    Abstract: In a hybrid electric vehicle in which an internal combustion engine and an electric motor/generator are connected via a clutch, the controller performs the following processing before the operation of the internal combustion engine stops in a stationary state of the vehicle while the clutch is engaged. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the clutch can be disengaged within a predetermined time period. If the clutch can be disengaged within a predetermined time period, the clutch is disengaged. If the clutch cannot be disengaged within the predetermined time period, a driving torque of the internal combustion engine is lowered to an engine stoppable torque set in advance while the clutch is engaged. Then, the operation of the internal combustion engine stops. Through this control, it is possible to prevent a vibration sound or an abnormal sound that may be generated when a driver turns off the ignition button.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Amemiya