Patents Issued in March 7, 2017
  • Patent number: 9586539
    Abstract: An underfloor shielded harness (100) has a long conductive plate which is wound so as to have at least two internal spaces (104, 105) in a cross section taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. High-voltage cables (102) is inserted in the internal space (104) of the conductive plate (103) and the low-voltage cable (101) is inserted in the internal space (105) that is different from the internal space (104) in which the high-voltage cables (102) is inserted. At least one of the two internal spaces (104, 105) communicates with the outside of the spaces (104, 105) formed by the conductive plate (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Maki Yamada
  • Patent number: 9586540
    Abstract: A cable anchoring device may be provided that includes: an anchoring cap which includes a fastening protrusion for the fastening to a bracket; an anchoring socket which includes a first body in which a bracket anchoring groove is formed, and a second body which is inserted into the anchoring cap; and a pressing member which is disposed between the second body and the anchoring cap. When the bracket is inserted into the bracket anchoring groove, the anchoring cap moves by the pressing member, so that the fastening protrusion is inserted into a fastening groove of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYUNG CHANG INDUSTRIAL CO.
    Inventors: Kyu-Jung Kim, Gi-Won Bae
  • Patent number: 9586541
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identification of slave elements and/or cells in a communication system within a vehicle. In some implementations, such methods may comprise measuring a first voltage of a first slave device of a plurality of slave devices within the communication system, and measuring a second voltage of a second slave device of the plurality of slave devices within the communication system. A location of at least the first and second slave devices, which may be linked with respective cells, such as battery cells or fuel cells, may then be identified by comparing at least the first voltage with the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Berg, Kenneth L. Kaye
  • Patent number: 9586542
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (2) for transmitting electrical signals to and/or from a rotatable component of a motor vehicle, having a positionally fixed stator (4) which is intended to be installed in a positionally fixed manner in the motor vehicle, and having a rotor (3) which is rotatably mounted on the stator (4) and which is intended to be coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotatable component of the motor vehicle, wherein the stator (4) has a housing (5) in which a flat cable (14) for transmitting the electrical signals is arranged, wherein a connecting piece (6) which is electrically coupled to the flat cable (14) and is designed to be connected to a corresponding mating piece (15) of the rotatable component is arranged on the rotor (3), and wherein the rotor (3) has a viewing window (11) through which it is possible for a viewer looking from outside the housing (5) to identify a reference element (13) of the flat cable (14) in a neutral position of the rotor (3) with respect to th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha Staude, Rainer Lipfert, Viktoria Schwarz, Roland Gruener, Karl Simonis
  • Patent number: 9586543
    Abstract: An electric vehicle 10 includes: an electric device unit 30 arranged on a floor tunnel 21 and having plural electric devices 40 accommodated therein; and conductive cables 49, 51 and a cooling pipe 52 that respectively extend from a first motor 13 , a second motor 16 , and a radiator, and are connected to the electric device unit 30. Connection portions 45, 46 of the electric device unit 30 , to which the conductive cables 49, 51 and the cooling pipe 52 are connected, respectively penetrate openings 37, 38 formed in a floor panel 20 , and are arranged under the floor panel 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuchika Ukai
  • Patent number: 9586544
    Abstract: A power source system device includes a primary power source circuit block 2 that generates a voltage (Mini+B?DropV) which is further dropped from the lowest voltage of the onboard battery that supplies power to electric and electronic parts of a vehicle, the lowest voltage occurring at a start of the engine of the vehicle; a secondary power source circuit block 3 that generates a power source voltage Vcc by boosting the voltage (Mini+B?DropV) generated by the primary power source circuit block 2, supplies the power source voltage Vcc to an integrated circuit including a control block that executes a general-purpose OS, and starts the integrated circuit; and an ACC check control circuit 4 that controls the start and stop of the operation of the primary power source circuit block 2 and secondary power source circuit block 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Mitsugi
  • Patent number: 9586545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bumper for a motor vehicle, in particular a front bumper, having at least two deformation bodies which are at a distance from one another and of which the center or longitudinal axes, in the mounted state, are oriented substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle, and having a plurality of crossmembers which have a closed profile and which are arranged one above the other and are connected to the deformation bodies. The crossmembers are formed from a group of at least three crossmembers, wherein the respective crossmember of the group has a cross-sectional profile which comprises at least five corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Martin Kibben, Rolf Peter Röttger, Markus Zörnack
  • Patent number: 9586546
    Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle includes two side members extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and a bumper beam located in front of the side members and extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The bumper beam is fixed to the side members and includes outer sections located outward in the lateral direction from the corresponding side members. A transfer portion extends generally rearward in the front-rear direction from at least one of the outer sections. An insertion portion is inserted into the at least one of the outer sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuo, Kenta Nomura
  • Patent number: 9586547
    Abstract: A front grille includes a grille body having vertical fins and lateral fins each having a decorative surface formed on the front surface. The grille body has an attachment portion to which a decorative molding having a decorative surface formed on the front surface is attached. The front grille is used in one of a form in which the molding is attached to the grille body via the attachment portion and a form without such a molding. The attachment portion of the front grille is arranged behind the front surface of each lateral fin and configured by an engagement portion. A claw portion, which projects from a rear portion of the molding, is inserted into and engaged with the engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuhki Maji, Tatsuya Oba, Kimihiro Iimura
  • Patent number: 9586548
    Abstract: A method for detecting an impact of a collision object on a vehicle, which has a pressure hose sensor, includes the task of importing a pressure hose sensor signal, which represents a change in a pressure of a pressurized hose of the pressure hose sensor. This method also includes activating an occupant protection system using the pressure hose sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Dirk John
  • Patent number: 9586549
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves systems, software, sensors, and applied solutions for detecting incidents associated with a vehicle, where sensors associated with the vehicle identify impacts or proximity alerts to other vehicles and objects and record information related to those detected incidents. The recorded information can be immediately communicated to interested parties of the person or entity (e.g., emergency responders, business contacts) associated with the vehicle, or alternatively, stored for inspection at the vehicle and reviewed at a destination along the vehicle's route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Christopher Luke Chambers
  • Patent number: 9586550
    Abstract: A spatial position of at least one first body part, arranged within a sensing range of a sensing device of the motor vehicle, of a vehicle occupant is sensed with respect to the motor vehicle by the sensing device. An anthropometric data model is provided with data including the dimensions of predetermined body parts of a person and the positioning of the body parts with respect to one another. As a result, a spatial position of at least one second body part of the same vehicle occupant which is arranged outside the sensing range of the sensing device can be determined, taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the first body part and the anthropometric data model. At least one functional unit of the motor vehicle is actuated taking into consideration the sensed spatial position of the second body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marcus Kuehne, Ulrich Mueller
  • Patent number: 9586551
    Abstract: A positionable vehicle partition system includes at least two rails, a substantially planar partition for separating a vehicle area into at least two sections, a slide assembly to facilitate movement of the partition relative to the rails, and a latch for retaining the partition in a selected position relative to the rails. The rails are configured to be mountable in a spaced apart parallel relationship. The slide assembly includes at least a stationary slide member affixed to or defined by each of the rails, and at least one movable slide member extending away from and directly or indirectly affixed to the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Adrian Steel Company
    Inventors: Thomas S. Richter, Thomas M. Willis
  • Patent number: 9586552
    Abstract: A seat back for a vehicle includes a frame and a deployable device. The deployable device includes a back panel fixed to the frame, a front panel opposite the back panel, and a cavity between the back panel and the front panel. The seat back includes an inflator in communication with the cavity of the deployable device. The deployable device is formed of a plastic material. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, the deployable device may be inflated from an undeployed position to a deployed position to absorb impact from an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Whitens, Dean M. Jaradi, Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque
  • Patent number: 9586553
    Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided that has two side bolsters and a central seat part arranged between the latter. Further provided are adjusting devices for adjusting the side bolsters on the sides facing the central seat part. A side airbag is integrated into one side bolster of the side bolsters, on its side facing away from the central seat part. A non-elastic seat cover is provided for this side bolster. The seat cover has an airbag seam. The seat cover is elastically attached in the area of an end facing away from the side airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Wiegelmann, Günter Fleckenstein, Juergen Nilius
  • Patent number: 9586554
    Abstract: Side pillar assemblies may include trim straps for structural rigidity during deployment of side airbag apparatuses. During deployment, the airbag can deploy from behind the roof head lining, above one or more pillar garnishes of the side pillar assembly and into the occupant compartment. A rib along the back surface of the pillar garnish may be placed in tension during a deployment event and inhibit fragmentation of the pillar garnish and limit movement of the pillar garnish into the occupant compartment. The rib may include one or more strap portions that may be placed in compression in the event of an impact on the interior facing portions of the pillar garnish. The strap portions may buckle under the compression force and provide a level of cushioning or energy dissipation due to the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike A. Baer, Jaime N. Moore, Dan F. Gillay
  • Patent number: 9586555
    Abstract: A method for cushioning a pedestrian during contact with a moving vehicle. The method includes steps providing an energy-absorbing pedestrian interface structured to cushion the pedestrian during contact, providing an interface deployment mechanism operatively coupled to the interface and structured to move the interface between a stowed position and a deployed position, and moving the pedestrian interface to the deployed position when the vehicle is in motion and prior to contact between the pedestrian and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Vidyakant C. Revankar, Larry M. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 9586556
    Abstract: Adjusting device for a front lid, with an actuator for raising the rear edge of the front lid, wherein the actuator has a first linear drive which enables a substantially vertical movement of the front lid and a second linear drive which enables a substantially horizontal movement of the front lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Peter Kugler, Wolfgang Dorfner, Harald Sternecker, Bernhard-Konrad Pfaller, Istvan Virag
  • Patent number: 9586557
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle for engaging a latch inserted into buckle and retained in a latched mode until released by depressing a press release button. In a locked mode, with the vehicle ignition switch ON and the latch inserted into buckle, a complementary lock is activated preventing press the release button from effecting release of latch from buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventors: David John O'Brien, Kenneth Hugh Dibble
  • Patent number: 9586558
    Abstract: A buckle assembly for a vehicle includes a buckle member, an anchor bracket, and a webbing strap. The buckle member includes a connector that defines a buckle opening. The anchor bracket is operatively disposed in adjacent relationship to the buckle member and is configured for attachment to the vehicle. The anchor bracket defines a anchor opening. The webbing strap extends between a first strap portion and a second strap portion to form a loop portion therebetween. The webbing strap presents a first side and a second side, opposing the first side. The loop portion of the webbing strap extends through the buckle opening of the connector and the anchor opening of the anchor bracket. The first side of the first strap portion and the first side of the second strap portion are disposed in facing relationship to one another and a joint is formed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Kevin J. Storck
  • Patent number: 9586559
    Abstract: A method for regulating vehicle access comprises receiving, from an electronic device of a user, a request to access a vehicle. The vehicle can be disposed at a designated geographic location. Next, geographic information of the user is received from the electronic device. The geographic information is determined with the aid of the electronic device of the user. The user is then provided access to the vehicle if, based on the received geographic information, a geographic location of the user is within a given distance from the designated geographic location of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SCOOT NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Keating, J. Loren Passmore, Peter R. Russo
  • Patent number: 9586560
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device is provided. The wiper device includes an elongate wiping element made of an elastic material and a support member which operably supports the wiping element. The wiper device further includes an adapter made of one piece for securely and releasably engaging an oscillating wiper arm. The adapter includes a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls that extend longitudinally from a front end to a back end. The adapter further includes a cantilever beam which is positioned between the side walls and extends longitudinally towards the back end. The cantilever beam is pivotal in a vertical direction at a hinge and has a stepped configuration which presents three longitudinally and vertically spaced protrusions which project vertically downwardly for engaging in correspondingly shaped holes in at least three of 9×3, 9×4×23, 9×4×28 and 9×4×33 sized hook-style wiper arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis E. Cox, William D. Young, III
  • Patent number: 9586561
    Abstract: An automatic automotive detailing tool utilizes a motorized tool and a plurality of interchangeable head attachments. The motorized tool is particularly suited for use with both cars and boats. The tool is adapted to receive and operate a plurality of interchangeable head attachments. The interchangeable head attachments can perform a variety of functions ranging from cleaning to waxing to buffing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Julius K. Nganga
  • Patent number: 9586562
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wheel stop configured to prevent the normal rotation of a wheel. The wheel stop may include a body having a top, a base, a front, and a backside. A wheel socket may be configured for receiving and removably holding at least a portion of the wheel therein, the wheel socket defined in the top of the body and having a bottom surface. The wheel stop may further include one of a lift member defined at the backside of the body, a plurality of feet spaced apart around an outer edge of the bottom of the body, and both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Bryan Noonan
  • Patent number: 9586563
    Abstract: An autonomous moving apparatus and an autonomous movement system has a configuration which prevents disabled autonomous moving apparatuses from traveling unexpectedly during collection. An autonomous moving apparatus 1 includes a wheel locking unit 116 which locks the wheels at the time of stop, a manipulation unit 119 which is provided at a location where manipulation thereof is enabled from the outside of the autonomous moving apparatus 1, and a wheel lock releasing unit 118 which releases the lock of the wheels when the manipulation unit 119 is manipulated by force from the outside. In addition, the wheel lock releasing unit 118 releases the lock of the wheels when force equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied to the manipulation unit 119 and maintains the lock of the wheels when the force applied to the manipulation unit 119 is less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi, ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kanai, Masatsugu Arai, Ryoko Ichinose, Yukihiko Ono
  • Patent number: 9586564
    Abstract: A pressure generator for a hydraulic vehicle brake system includes a piston cylinder unit with a cylinder and a piston, a ball screw drive, an electric hollow-shaft motor which surrounds and is configured to drive the ball screw drive, and a planetary gear set configured to transmit a rotational movement of the hollow-shaft motor to the ball screw drive. The planetary gear set includes a planetary carrier and an internal gear which are respectfully connected via pint-type positive locking connections to a spindle nut of the ball screw drive and a static tubular force transmitter. The locking connections are configured to enable connections between parts via the respective parts being brought together axially in a hollow shaft of the hollow-shaft motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Weh, Matthias Mayr
  • Patent number: 9586565
    Abstract: In a hydraulic unit of a vehicle brake system having a first pump element, which is assigned to a first brake circuit, and a second pump element, which is assigned to a second brake circuit, the second pump element has a different delivery from the first pump element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Fellmeth, Wolfgang Schuller
  • Patent number: 9586566
    Abstract: In a method for actuating a hydraulic braking system, a hydraulic fluid is temporarily stored in a storage chamber when the antilocking system is activated and recirculated back into the brake circuit with the aid of a recirculation pump. The target pump speed of the recirculation pump depends on the degree of filling of the storage chamber with hydraulic fluid and in addition on the control frequency of the antilocking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Kurz, Michael Bunk, Thomas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9586567
    Abstract: A spring brake cylinder is provided for brake systems of vehicles. It includes a spring brake piston, which is arranged in a housing of the spring brake cylinder and can be actuated by at least one accumulator spring and separates a spring chamber containing the accumulator spring from a spring brake chamber of the spring brake cylinder that can be filled with air for release and can be vented of air for application. A circulation device is provided at least for venting the spring chamber directly into the atmosphere. The circulation device is configured as a diaphragm valve device having at least one elastically movable outlet diaphragm and at least one elastically movable inlet diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Sylvain Derouault, Herve Lebigre
  • Patent number: 9586568
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an automatic transmission with a P driving stage, a N driving stage and one or more forward and reverse driving stages. The motor vehicle also has an electrical parking brake device, and an assistance system for outputting a warning information and actuating the parking brake device during the opening of the driver's door when the P driving stage is not engaged on the gear side. According to the proposals, the warning information is output only when the parking brake device is not actuated or not actuated in an error-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Martin Geissenhoener
  • Patent number: 9586569
    Abstract: A method for securing the braking effect of a brake includes a brake contact surface and a one brake pad including a friction surface, wherein a braking effect therebetween is caused by a braking pressure acting therebetween, the method including capturing the braking effect of the brake, attributing the braking effect to a friction parameter of the friction surface in a calculation unit, and comparing the friction parameter of a marginal braking effect in a comparator, wherein a signal is output to the brake when it falls below the marginal braking effect, which signal causes a braking pressure and a friction force between the brake contact surface and the friction surface directly and/or indirectly by pressure build-up, whereby the friction parameter of the friction surface is brought above the marginal braking effect when the braking pressure and the friction force on the friction surface and/or the brake contact surface obtain a material removal and/or a heat input, by which the relation between braking e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Drewes
  • Patent number: 9586570
    Abstract: A method for checking sets of components of a vehicle includes configuring a system control unit of a vehicle to perform a check of a first set of components and a second set of components of the vehicle, the first set of components being different from the second set of components. The first set of components is automatically checked using the system control unit. The second set of components is optionally checked using the system control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to disable the check of the second set of components based upon a disable command provided to the control system. Further, a system for verifying different sets of components and a further method for checking sets of components of a vehicle are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Kimberly Richey, Xiaobin Wang
  • Patent number: 9586571
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling input torque of a powered vehicle. The vehicle includes a transmission having an input shaft, an output shaft, and a countershaft. The method includes providing input torque to the input shaft, determining a rotational acceleration of the countershaft, and measuring vehicle speed. The method also includes determining a threshold based on the measured vehicle speed. The measured countershaft acceleration is compared to the threshold and the input torque is controlled based on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Kreese, Avery T Sheets
  • Patent number: 9586573
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle are provided. A system for controlling performance characteristics of a vehicle includes a memory storage device including at least one torque curve profile stored thereon. The at least one torque curve profile includes a mapping of accessible torque for the vehicle with respect to an engine speed of an engine coupled to the vehicle. The system also includes an electronic control unit operatively coupled to the memory storage device, the electronic control unit configured to re-map the at least one torque curve profile in response to receipt by the electronic control unit of an electronic signal indicating a change in a vehicle condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Timothy J. Proctor, Edmund P. Hodzen, Guoqiang Li
  • Patent number: 9586574
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Nissato
  • Patent number: 9586575
    Abstract: An electrical system includes an engine, a motor-generator and a starter mechanism, and engine systems also include the engine. The electrical system includes a first energy storage device having a first voltage level and a second energy storage device having a second voltage level less than the first voltage level. The electrical system further includes a controller configured to control the motor-generator, the starter mechanism and first and second switching devices. Current from at least one of the first and second energy storage devices is delivered to the motor-generator when at least one of the first switching device is in a first closed state and the second switching device is in a second closed state such that the motor-generator transfers torque to the starter mechanism and the starter mechanism uses the torque to start the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan G. Holmes, Venkata Prasad Atluri, Chandra S. Namuduri, Robert S. Conell, Michael G. Reynolds, Thomas Wolfgang Nehl, Bob R. Powell, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 9586576
    Abstract: A control device is applied to a hybrid vehicle (1A) in which an internal combustion engine (2) and an MG (3) are connected through a second clutch (21), the MG (3) and a transmission (10) are connected through a first clutch (20) whose state is switchable by a depression operation of a clutch pedal (CP), and an output shaft (12) of the transmission (10) is connected to a driving wheel (5) so as to transmit power. The control device starts the internal combustion engine (2) when an accelerator opening is equal to or greater than a start determination value. When the vehicle (1A) is stopped and the internal combustion engine (2) is stopped, and when the amount of return of the clutch pedal (CP) is small, the control device makes the start determination value greater than when the amount of return of the clutch pedal (CP) is great.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Hayashima, Koji Murakami, Takaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9586577
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes a drive system that outputs a driving force for a vehicle. The control device further includes an accelerator operation section which operates an accelerator, and a control section that is configured to control the driving force output by the drive system, in accordance with an operation amount of the accelerator operated by the accelerator operation section. The control section is configured to start the drive system if a change in the operation amount of the accelerator is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayumu Ueno
  • Patent number: 9586578
    Abstract: A method for learning a touch point of an engine clutch for a hybrid electric vehicle includes controlling a speed of an engine to have an idle speed. A fluid pipe of a clutch actuator is refilled with a working fluid by driving a driving motor in an idle control state of the engine, a speed of the driving motor is synchronized with the speed of the engine, and then the engine clutch is engaged. The engine clutch is released after the refill is performed, and the speed of the driving motor is decreased. A working fluid is applied so that the engine clutch is operated in an engagement direction by operating the clutch actuator, and a state change of the driving motor is detected. The touch point of the engine clutch is determined based on the state change of the driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Seong Wook Moon, Song Il Park
  • Patent number: 9586579
    Abstract: A system for use with a battery and sensors operable for measuring battery data includes an interactive user interface and a controller programmed with battery degradation monitoring logic for estimating a state of the battery. As part of a method, the controller identifies data bins for which measured state of charge range-based battery performance data is missing or dated/stale, and automatically prompts an operator to execute an assigned task corresponding to the identified data bins. The controller records the battery performance data for the identified data bins upon completion of the assigned task, estimates the state of the battery using the recorded battery performance data and the battery degradation monitoring logic, and executes a control action with respect to the system using the estimated state. A virtual or actual reward feature may be displayed in response to completion of the assigned task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patricia M. Laskowsky, Patrick E. Frost, Rory B. Fraga, Eugenie T. Abboud, Todd P. Lindemann, Mark D. Miller
  • Patent number: 9586580
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle including an engine, an electric motor directly or indirectly coupled to the engine, and an engagement device non-rotatably fixing the engine, the vehicle further including an electric circuit controlling giving/receiving of electric power related to operation of the electric motor and having an electric storage member temporarily storing the electric power, if the vehicle is damaged, or if a damage of the vehicle is predicted, during rotating operation of the engine, a rotation speed of the engine being reduced by an engagement actuation of the engagement device, and after the rotation speed of the engine is reduced to be equal to or less than a predetermined rotation speed, electric power stored in the electric storage member being discharged by the electric circuit and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Yuji Iwase, Tomohito Ono
  • Patent number: 9586581
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for reducing instances of vehicle collisions. Based on parameter data of a first vehicle and road conditions, and parameter data regarding a second vehicle, the first vehicle can undergo warnings or positional adjustments to reduce the likelihood of a collision with the second vehicle or other collision body. The vehicle adjustment can be in the form of braking or steering adjustments. The warning can be in the form of a visual, audio, or haptic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO.
    Inventors: Matthias Strauss, Galin Bobev
  • Patent number: 9586582
    Abstract: In a driving support system, a target speed profile computing unit determines a target speed on the basis of a safe-condition confirmation end point that is set to a predetermined position in a travel direction of a host vehicle. The safe-condition confirmation end point is a point at which the host vehicle passes through a section following the safe-condition confirmation end point in advance of a moving object that appears from blind areas. In this way, by determining the target speed based on the safe-condition confirmation end point, the drive support control unit is able to support driving in consideration of driving action at the time when the driver actually causes the host vehicle to pass through near the blind areas. Thus, it is possible to appropriately support driving along a feeling of the driver such that inconvenience and a feeling of strangeness are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Nagata, Yuichi Kumai, Tsukasa Shimizu, Yoshihiro Ohama
  • Patent number: 9586583
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle operable to implement a speed control function, the control system comprising: means for receiving a user input of a target speed at which the vehicle is intended to travel; target speed torque determining means for determining an instantaneous value of torque, target speed torque, that should be applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle by a powertrain in order to control the vehicle to travel at the target speed; and filter means operable to filter the value of target speed torque to generate a filtered torque value, the system being operable to command the powertrain to apply to the one or more wheels an amount of torque corresponding to the filtered torque value, wherein the system further comprises modifier means operable to receive the instantaneous value of target speed torque generated by the target speed torque determining means and to input to the filter means a value of torque that is less than the target speed torque in dependence on a current speed of the vehicle
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Nick Brockley, Andrew Fairgrieve, James Kelly
  • Patent number: 9586584
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a host vehicle to mitigate rear-end collisions. One method includes automatically maintaining the host vehicle at least a predetermined following distance from a front vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle. The method also includes detecting a rear vehicle traveling behind the host vehicle and determining when the rear vehicle poses a rear-end collision risk with the host vehicle. In addition, the method includes automatically, by a controller, increasing a speed of the host vehicle when the rear vehicle poses a rear-end collision risk with the host vehicle, and automatically reducing the predetermined following distance to decrease a distance between the host vehicle and the front vehicle and increase a distance between the host vehicle and the rear vehicle when the rear vehicle poses a rear-end collision risk with the host vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sameer J. Parikh, Oliver Schwindt
  • Patent number: 9586585
    Abstract: An automated driving system and methods are disclosed. The automated driving system includes a perception system disposed on an autonomous vehicle. The automated driving system can detect, based on images captured using the perception system, a traffic officer wielding a traffic signal device such as the traffic officer's hand, or a wand, sign, or flag. The automated driving system can also determine whether the traffic officer is directing a traffic signal to the autonomous vehicle with the traffic signal device, and if so, determine whether content of the traffic signal is recognized. If the content of the traffic signal is recognized, the autonomous vehicle can respond in a manner consistent with the content of the traffic signal. If the content of the traffic signal is not recognized, the autonomous vehicle can respond by treating the traffic signal as a stop signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Delp, Derek S. Caveney
  • Patent number: 9586586
    Abstract: A powertrain system including an internal combustion engine rotatably coupled to a variator of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is described. A method for controlling the CVT includes determining a desired variator speed ratio in response to a command to increase output power from the powertrain system and executing a step-down shift in the CVT based upon the desired variator speed ratio, the step-down shift. The step-down shift includes determining a preferred CVT input acceleration profile based upon the desired variator speed ratio, a present variator speed ratio, and a preferred shift time and synchronizing the preferred CVT input acceleration profile with engine torque. A change rate for the variator speed ratio is based upon the preferred CVT input acceleration profile, and the CVT is controlled in response to the change rate for the variator speed ratio and the desired variator speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhen J Zhang, Paul G Otanez
  • Patent number: 9586587
    Abstract: A controller is configured to obtain a speed ratio equivalent value that is determined by a speed ratio set in a transmission unit, and is configured to control an engine by setting an operating point of the engine such that the operating point in the case where a lockup clutch is engaged and the speed ratio equivalent value is large is lower in an output rotation speed for a predetermined output torque than the operating point in the case where the lockup clutch is engaged and the speed ratio equivalent value is smaller than the large speed ratio equivalent value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Amano, Yu Miyahara, Yuji Suzuki, Hiroki Kondo, Tadashi Sekiguchi, Fusahiro Tsukano, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 9586588
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus is provided with: a first calculating device configured to calculate a vehicle stop time rate on the basis of a travel history of the vehicle; a second calculating device configured to calculate a stoppable time rate on the basis of the travel history, and an estimating device configured to estimate an electric power amount associated with the idling stop control, on the basis of the calculated stoppable time rate if the idling stop control is allowed when the vehicle decelerates, and to estimate the electric power amount, on the basis of the calculated vehicle stop time rate if the idling stop control is not allowed when the vehicle decelerates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masanori Shinohara, Kohei Tochigi, Tomoharu Maeda
  • Patent number: 9586590
    Abstract: A control device for a drivetrain of a vehicle, includes a drive engine, a starting element, and a coupling element. The coupling element brakes a secondary side when the control device receives an input signal indicating a switching off of the drive engine. The starting element includes a mass damper torsional damper arrangement with at least one damper mass. The starting element is coupled with the drive engine by a primary side and with the mass damper torsional damper arrangement by a secondary side so as to be fixed with respect to relative rotation, and the coupling element is constructed to brake the secondary side by coupling with the primary side of the starting element and/or by coupling with a reference component that stationary when the vehicle is stationary. This makes it possible to find a better compromise between comfort, responsiveness, economical, and ecological aspects of the drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Weber, Axel Rohm