Patents Issued in April 17, 2018
  • Patent number: 9944249
    Abstract: A gas generator includes, inside a housing, an ignition device chamber accommodating a transfer charge and an igniter in which an igniter main body is surrounded by an igniter collar. The ignition device chamber is formed such that an inner circumferential wall surface on an opening side of an ignition device chamber cup, which is charged with the transfer charge, is press-fitted to and in close contact with an outer circumferential wall surface of the igniter collar of the igniter. The ratio (Vh2/Vh1) of an average Vickers hardness (Vh1) of the igniter collar, which is measured by a method described in Examples, and an average Vickers hardness (Vh2) of the ignition device chamber cup, which is measured by a method described in Examples, is within a range of 0.25 to 0.65.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Okuyama
  • Patent number: 9944250
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas generator including an ignition device chamber provided with the ignition device, a gas inflow chamber provided with a gas discharge port, and a pressurized gas chamber being arranged in order from the first end; a closing member including a fixing portion and a rupturable plate fixed to the fixing portion and closing between the pressurized gas chamber and the gas inflow chamber; and a breaking device for the rupturable plate being arranged between the ignition device chamber and the gas inflow chamber, the breaking device including a base portion, which has an outer circumferential surface abutted against an inner circumferential wall surface of the cylindrical housing, and a rod extending from the base portion to the rupturable plate, the fixing portion of the closing member including an annular plate surface portion, extending radially inward from the inner circumferential wall surface of the cylindrical housing, and a cylindrical wall portion extending from an inner c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoharu Kobayashi, Masayuki Yamazaki, Kenji Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 9944251
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises an engine compartment and a hood extending over the engine compartment. An engine is situated within the engine and a pin extends from a top side of the engine toward an interior surface of the hood. An engine cover extends between the top side of the engine and the interior surface of the hood. The engine cover includes an engine cover connection and a grommet coupled to the engine cover connection. The grommet has an entrance, a stop, and an internal cavity 143 extending through the grommet from the entrance toward the stop. The internal cavity 143 is divided into a passive cavity portion and an active cavity portion. The pin rests within the passive cavity portion without passing into the active cavity portion under normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah T. Hammer, Aaron R. Steinhilb
  • Patent number: 9944252
    Abstract: A piston rod assembly for a pressurized fluid-powered actuator is provided. The assembly includes a piston rod having a fluid flow passage extending along an interior thereof, and a cap secured to the piston rod at a position along the fluid flow passage. Sealing means is positioned between the piston rod and the cap so as to provide a fluid-tight seal between the piston rod and the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Larry M. Wilmot
  • Patent number: 9944253
    Abstract: A D-ring assembly for an inflatable belt of a vehicle includes a patch bracket, in which a portion of the patch bracket supporting a D-ring is inclined forward with respect to a portion of the patch bracket fixed to a pillar of the vehicle; and the D-ring installed at the patch bracket to be rotatable in a left or right direction, so that the two-layer webbing is guided toward the front of a wearer, allowing a passenger to easily wear the webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Jung Min Lee, Won Jae Lee, Gi Young Bae
  • Patent number: 9944254
    Abstract: A support structure for a front wiper device for a vehicle having an annular pivot cap which surrounds, under a deck garnish, a periphery of a pivot on which a base end portion of a wiper arm is supported is provided. The pivot cap includes a bottom plate section that is in an annular shape surrounding the periphery of the pivot, and is extended to a vehicle front side, and a flange section extending upward from an edge portion of the bottom plate section. The flange section is opened at a vehicle front side, and is provided with an opening. In a region at a vehicle rear side and at an electric motor side, of the bottom plate section, a protrusion that protrudes upward from a region at a side opposite to the electric motor is included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Akashi, Hiroshi Amano, Ryota Yasui, Takeshi Araki, Satoru Hara, Tomoaki Nishiyama, Takanobu Toritani
  • Patent number: 9944255
    Abstract: A heated wiper blade system, comprising a windshield wiper blade, an elongated heating element embedded along the length of the blade, a mounting bracket configured to snap into a wiper arm of a vehicle and into which the wiper blade is securable, and a control unit electrically coupled to the heating element and configured to provide a current to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Larry Berry, Jacqueline Berry
  • Patent number: 9944256
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner which improves the frost formation judging precision of an outdoor heat exchanger, acquires the heating performance, and avoids unnecessary defrosting. A controller executes a heating mode. The controller (32) judges frost formation onto the outdoor heat exchanger (7) on the basis of a refrigerant evaporation pressure PXO of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) and a refrigerant evaporation pressure PXObase of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) during non-frost formation or on the basis of a refrigerant evaporation temperature TXO of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) and a refrigerant evaporation temperature TXObase of the outdoor heat exchanger (7) during the non-frost formation, and allows a high-temperature refrigerant gas to flow through the outdoor heat exchanger (7), thereby performing defrosting of the outdoor heat exchanger (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Sanden Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Miyakoshi, Kenichi Suzuki, Hidenori Takei, Kouhei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9944257
    Abstract: A washing system to clean a surface with enhanced efficiency and reduced water usage includes a housing member having a first cleaning fluid compartment and a second rinsing fluid compartment separated by a dividing wall, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted to the housing member, and a sponge assembly having a first sponge and a second sponge. The sponge assembly contacts the housing member to permit the first sponge to soak the cleaning fluid in the first compartment and the second sponge to soak the rinsing fluid in the second compartment simultaneously. The sponge assembly is maneuvered to simultaneously permit the first sponge to contact the first roller and dividing wall to remove excess cleaning fluid stored therein and the second sponge to contact the second roller and dividing wall to remove excess rinsing fluid stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: John J Sramek, Steve Sramek
  • Patent number: 9944258
    Abstract: An operation device for a vehicle parking brake, which includes: support bracket fixed to vehicle body and having a pair of first and second side plates, which face each other with predetermined interval therebetween; operation pedal supported between first and second side plates of support bracket so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis; and return spring having one end portion hooked on operation pedal and other end portion hooked on first side plate and winding portion located between ends portions and wound about pivot axis and that biases operation pedal toward original position, and which operation pedal is operated to pivot about pivot axis, so a parking brake cable is subjected to tensile force, thereby operating parking brake, one of end portions of return spring being bent and formed so as to bias a pedal pad of operation pedal toward first or second side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kuroyanagi, Narito Tani
  • Patent number: 9944259
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a sensor device monitoring at least one collision region that is located in the surroundings of the vehicle for sensing at least one object that enters and/or is present in a possible collision region during motion of the vehicle; an electromechanical brake booster and braking force-regulating components coupled thereto, which are operationally integrated into a vehicle braking system for decelerating the vehicle; and a control device that receives signals from the sensor device and, on the basis of those signals, controls the brake booster and the braking force-regulating components and/or further active chassis components. A method for avoiding a collision between the vehicle and the at least one object includes, upon sensing the at least one object, modifying a driving speed and/or driving direction of the vehicle, with the aid of the control device in combination with the braking system and the braking force-regulating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Bunk
  • Patent number: 9944260
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an electronic braking system for vehicles, in particular for trailer vehicles, signals of wheel-speed sensors are processed. At least signals of one or more sensors that are not wheel-speed sensors are processed for a detection of motion and/or standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Czaja, Hauke Diers, Axel Stender, Markus Wolf
  • Patent number: 9944261
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a pressure control device of a pressure-medium brake system of a vehicle which individually controls brake pressures in brake cylinders of wheels of an axle. The pressure control device includes a relay valve. In order to compensate for response sluggishness of the relay valve, shut-off valves connected between the relay valve and their respective brake cylinders are not switched into a passage position in which pressure is forwarded to the brake cylinders until a permissible pressure gradient exists between the working pressures of the relay valve and the brake pressures in the brake cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Wieder, Andreas Schaefers, Peter Holobradi
  • Patent number: 9944262
    Abstract: An electric brake system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9944263
    Abstract: An object is to provide a master cylinder that ensures the responsivity during brake actuation, improves a release delay during brake release, ensures the responsivity during automatic braking, and quickly releases the residual pressure in the hydraulic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Hirata
  • Patent number: 9944264
    Abstract: The subject disclosure provides a balance valve and a vacuum booster. The balance valve includes a valve seat (11), a connecting cylinder (16) and a conic cylinder (17) orderly connected from left to right, wherein the valve seat (11) is annular, a sealing flange (12) is provided on an outer periphery of the conic cylinder (17), a protruded lip (13) for sealing is provided on an outer periphery of the valve seat (11), and the valve seat (11) is provided therein with a via hole (14) for communicating a left surface of the valve seat (11) with a right surface of the valve seat (11) outside the connecting cylinder (16). The vacuum booster having the balance valve can reduce a difference between the starting force and the restoring force, thereby increasing the restoring force while keeping the starting force of the same level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BWI (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dongqiang Luo
  • Patent number: 9944265
    Abstract: A method for controlling a brake pressure booster with hydraulic brake boosting wherein the activation of an additional pressure source takes place upon exceeding a specified brake cylinder pressure threshold value. The threshold value lying between 50% and 100%, preferably between 70% and 80%, of a pressure limit value, from which the operating travel/brake pressure curve without additional brake pressure assistance has a knee point. Further upon exceeding a specified piston rod activation travel limit value, which lies at 20% to 100% of the available travel, preferably at 40% to 60% of the available travel. Furthermore, the speed of the vehicle, its lateral deceleration and its longitudinal deceleration can be used as criteria. Deactivation takes place on falling below a specified piston rod deactivation travel limit value. Based on selection of activation/deactivation criteria additional brake pressure boosting can be operational during braking maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Svensson, Thomas Eichhorn
  • Patent number: 9944266
    Abstract: An electropneumatic brake control device controls a parking brake of a vehicle with a service brake and the parking brake. It includes an electromagnetic valve device which can be supplied with compressed air from a compressed air storage via a storage connection; a parking brake signal connection for inputting parking brake signals output by an electric parking brake signaling device; and an air quantity-boosting valve device which is pneumatically controlled by the electromagnetic valve device and which has a working outlet that can be connected to a first outlet connection for at least one spring applied brake cylinder. A control air line is provided between an outlet of the electromagnetic valve device and a pneumatic control inlet of the air quantity-boosting valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Leinung, Max Michalski
  • Patent number: 9944267
    Abstract: A method of isolating fault in an electric motor assisted braking system of a vehicle includes calculating a value for each of a plurality of fault signature components and comparing each of the calculated values of the plurality of fault signature components to a respective threshold value for each fault signature component. The method also includes automatically executing a control action to indicate a detected fault of the electric motor assisted braking system in response to at least one of the calculated values of the plurality of fault signature components exceeding a respective threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Huang, Youssef A. Ghoneim
  • Patent number: 9944268
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an electronic drive system for a battery powered ride-on toy vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Taylor, Peter Truman vom Scheidt, Jr., JonPaul Warriner
  • Patent number: 9944269
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a step-ratio transmission gearshift during a regenerative braking event for a hybrid vehicle having an engine selectively coupled to an electric machine and an automatic transmission control transmission input torque based on a measured shift profile and a target shift profile. A torque trim term may be added to the transmission input torque or electric machine output torque in response to a difference between the measured and target shift profiles. The torque trim term may be used to modify the transmission input torque to speed the shift up or shorten the shift time if the measured shift is progressing too slowly. Likewise, the torque trim term may be used to reduce the transmission input torque or electric machine output torque if the shift is progressing too quickly relative to the target shift profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin, Felix Nedorezov, Todd McCullough
  • Patent number: 9944270
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a control routine including steps of performing output variation control for periodically varying the output of an engine, if control of the engine is not being stopped, at the time of a communication abnormality, and a predetermined time elapses from the time of occurrence of the communication abnormality, and a step of performing fuel-cut control, when the engine speed falls outside a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Makoto Yamazaki, Yoshikazu Asami
  • Patent number: 9944271
    Abstract: The present invention provides a retrofit system for configuring a vehicle into a hybrid electric vehicle or electric vehicle. The system comprises an electric power source (EPS) comprising one or more motors to provide fail safe torque to the vehicle and harness braking energy for charging one or more batteries, one or more attachable electric power gear assemblies (EPGA) configured to couple the one or more motors to a propeller shaft for providing the torque to the vehicle, and an electronic control unit coupled to the electric power source (EPS) for dynamically controlling functioning of the one or more motors based on the running conditions to drive the vehicle. The system comprises of a motor controller to control functioning of one or more motors. The motor controller actuates one or more motors based on the torque and power required to drive the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KPIT TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: S. B. Ravi Pandit, Tejas Krishna Kshatriya, Isheet Madhukant Patel
  • Patent number: 9944272
    Abstract: An electromechanical power transmission chain comprises an electrical machine (101) connectable to a combustion engine and to a mechanical load, a storage circuit (104) for storing electrical energy, an electronic power converter (109) for transferring electrical energy between the storage circuit and the electrical machine, and a control system (110) for controlling the combustion engine and the electronic power converter. The control system controls the electronic power converter to transfer electrical energy from the storage circuit to the electrical machine in response to a peak-load situation where power demand of the mechanical load is above an advantageous power range of the combustion engine. The control system limits the fuel supply of the combustion engine during the peak-load situation so as to restrain the fuel consumption from increasing due to the peak-load situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: VISEDO OY
    Inventors: Kimmo Rauma, Tero Jarvelainen
  • Patent number: 9944273
    Abstract: A method is provided to control a hybrid powertrain to achieve gear shifts without torque interruption, comprising a gearbox with input shaft and output shafts; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft and a first main shaft; a second planetary gear connected to the first planetary gear and a second main shaft; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; a first gear pair and a third gear pair between the first main shaft and a countershaft; and a second gear pair between the second main shaft and the countershaft, which is connected with the output shaft via a fifth gear pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Johan Lindström, Mathias Björkman, Niklas Pettersson, Mikael Bergquist
  • Patent number: 9944274
    Abstract: On simultaneous shifts in which shift control of virtual gear positions overlaps shift control of mechanical gear positions, an electronic control unit is configured to delay output of a shift command on the virtual gear position such that shifts of the virtual gear position and the mechanical gear position are performed in synchronization. Therefore, the virtual gear position and the mechanical gear position are shifted in synchronization, irrespective of a difference between the shift response times, and the feeling of strangeness given to the driver due to shift shock, or the like, is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Baba, Ichiro Isobe
  • Patent number: 9944275
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor outputting a running torque at the time of motor running and a starting torque at engine start, in a state of the motor running using even the starting torque, the control device being configured to give a notification of the state to a driver when a charging capacity is smaller than a first predetermined value, and to start an engine when the charging capacity is smaller than a second predetermined value which is smaller than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Koichi Okuda, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Keita Imai, Takeshi Kitahata, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa
  • Patent number: 9944276
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for synergizing the benefits of a variable compression ratio engine in a hybrid vehicle system. A vehicle controller may hold the engine in a lower compression ratio during engine pull-ups and pull-downs, in particular when passing through a low speed region where compression bobbles can occur. During engine operation, in response to a change in driver demand, the controller may opt to switch the compression ratio or maintain a current compression ratio while smoothing a torque deficit using motor torque, the selection based on fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth James Miller, Thomas G. Leone, Douglas Raymond Martin
  • Patent number: 9944277
    Abstract: A method for learning an engine clutch kiss point of a hybrid vehicle includes: controlling, by a controller, an engine clutch which connects an engine with a motor or disconnects the engine from the motor so that the engine clutch is engaged after the controller checks stop of the engine and of the motor and stabilization operation for a hydraulic pressure line of the engine clutch is performed; controlling the motor to have a certain speed after the stabilization operation; controlling the engine clutch to be engaged after speed of the motor is stabilized; determining whether torque variation of the motor when the engine clutch is engaged is equal to or greater than a threshold value; and determining a hydraulic pressure at which the torque variation is the threshold value as the kiss point of the engine clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Song Il Park, Seongwook Moon, Jonghan Oh, Yeon Bok Kim
  • Patent number: 9944278
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a first motor generator, a second motor generator, a transmission, a differential device, and an electronic control unit. The transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft, and a clutch. The electronic control unit is configured to detect a rotation speed difference between the input shaft and the output shaft when the clutch is controlled so as to be brought into a power transmission shut-off state. The electronic control unit is configured to, when the rotation speed difference detected by the electronic control unit is smaller than a target rotation speed difference between the input shaft and the output shaft that occurs in a case where the power transmission shut-off state of the clutch is established, suppress cranking of the engine by the first motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Kitahata, Tooru Matsubara, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Shunya Kato, Kenji Uchida, Mitsuru Maeda
  • Patent number: 9944279
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to promptly shift a drive mode. In the single-motor mode, the vehicle is powered by a second motor while bringing an engagement device into disengagement and stopping the engine. In the dual-motor mode, the vehicle is powered by both a first motor and the second motor while bringing the engagement device into engagement and stopping a rotation of the output shaft of the engine by a stopper device. When shifting the drive mode from the single-motor mode to the dual-motor mode, the control system controls the first motor in a manner such that a speed difference between an input speed and an output speed of the engagement device is reduced while increasing a torque transmitting capacity of the engagement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Yosuke Suzuki, Koichi Kato, Seitaro Nobuyasu, Taro Moteki
  • Patent number: 9944280
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: multiple control units which controls operation of a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a first electric motor connected to the internal combustion engine, and a second electric motor; and a network connected to the control units such that the control units perform communication with each other. The control units include a first control unit which controls the internal combustion engine, a second control unit which controls the first motor, and a third control unit which controls the second motor, and each detect abnormality in communication via the network among the control units. Upon detection of abnormality in communication between the second control unit and the other control units via the network, the first control unit stops operation of the internal combustion engine, and the third control unit performs control such that the second motor outputs power for the vehicle to travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Mikami, Yoichi Yamashiro, Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Shintaro Mito, Yasuhiro Ohara
  • Patent number: 9944281
    Abstract: A device for the operation of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle has a first and a second drive assembly. The drive assemblies in each case drive the hybrid vehicle, alone or jointly in a hybrid type of operation. The first drive assembly is operated with fuel from a fuel tank and a sensor device monitors an amount of fuel in the fuel tank. The device activates a safety operation of the hybrid vehicle if the amount of fuel is smaller than a specifiable value. The device reduces the output of the second drive assembly during the safety operation when a type of operation is being used in which the torque of the second drive assembly is directed oppositely to the torque of the first drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Maigler
  • Patent number: 9944282
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of enhancing safe vehicle operation may include, one or more processors, (1) determining a preferred parking spot for an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle; (2) determining a route to the preferred parking spot from a driver drop off point; and (3) causing the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle to travel from the driver drop off point to the preferred parking spot following the route controlled by one or more autonomous operation features. The preferred parking spot may be a covered parking spot, a parking spot in a parking structure, or a parking spot in a residential garage. An autonomous vehicle owner may remotely direct the autonomous vehicle to autonomously return to the driver drop off point, such as via their mobile device. Insurance discounts may be provided to autonomous vehicle owners having the self-parking functionality that mitigates or prevents risk of damage to, or theft of, the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian Mark Fields, Chien Che Huang, Mohamed A. Wazeer, Shawn C. Bennett, Steven C. Cielocha, Ronny S. Bryant, Stephen Kohaus, Terry Quakenbush, Richard A. Novak, Aaron Scott Chan, Craig M. Main, Weixin Wu, Torri Wollenschlager, Carol Marie Csanda, Stacey Gorsuch, Todd Binion
  • Patent number: 9944283
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling controller performs emergency evacuation traveling in the case of an emergency. The vehicle traveling controller determines whether a vehicle traveling in accordance with a normal traveling rule is not dangerous and becomes proper traveling or not based on environmental information around the vehicle, when it is determined that the vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule becomes proper traveling, executes normal traveling control for instructing the vehicle to travel in accordance with the normal traveling rule, and when the vehicle traveling in accordance with the normal traveling rule does not become proper traveling, executes emergency evacuation traveling control for instructing the vehicle to perform emergency evacuation traveling not in accordance with the normal traveling rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki Kindo, Kazuaki Aso, Masahiro Harada
  • Patent number: 9944284
    Abstract: A recognition support system includes: an object detection device detecting an object that is located in a periphery of a host vehicle; a direction sensing device sensing a direction to which a driver intends to turn the host vehicle; a range setting device setting a notification range based on the direction sensed by the direction sensing device; a selecting device defining the object, which is detected by the object detecting device, as a specified object when the object moves independently from the host vehicle, and selecting the specified object, which is located within the notification range, to be presented to the driver based on a state of the specified object; and an information presenting device presenting an information enabling the driver to recognize the specified object selected by the selecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideshi Izuhara, Hiroaki Niino, Yousuke Hattori, Masayoshi Ooishi, Hiroki Tomabechi
  • Patent number: 9944285
    Abstract: A drivetrain system includes a controller that is programmed to, in a presence of a request for increased drivetrain torque that results in reversal of drivetrain torque direction, command an increase in drivetrain torque at a reduced rate while a value that is based on drivetrain speed difference remains within a predetermined range absent a braking torque request exceeding a threshold. The controller is further programmed to command the increase at an accelerated rate upon the braking torque request exceeding the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Doan, Shunsuke Okubo, Carol Louise Okubo, Benjamin Nault
  • Patent number: 9944286
    Abstract: A vehicle lock-up clutch control device includes a torque converter, a fuel cutoff control unit and a lock-up release/transmission cooperative control unit. The torque converter is disposed between an engine and a continuously variable transmission. The fuel cutoff control unit is configured to prevent fuel injection to the engine while in a coasting state with the driver's foot away from the accelerator, and configured to restart the fuel injection based on a fuel recovery permission. The lock-up release/transmission cooperative control unit is configured to carry out a cooperative control of a lock-up release control for reducing the clutch engagement capacity of the lock-up clutch and a transmission control for shifting the transmission. Then, if there is an accelerator depression operation while coasting with the lock-up clutch in an engaged state, the lock-up release timing and the shift timing are offset from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kohei Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9944287
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder in a motor vehicle that can be mechanically disengaged via a disconnect clutch, comprising a drive motor whose power output is controlled via an actuator such as a foot pedal or a lever; whereby in an overrun operation the acceleration of the motor vehicle is collected or detected and compared with a pre-specified acceleration value; and whereby in the non-braking mode the disconnect clutch is engaged, regardless of an initiation of a braking mode by an operator of the motor vehicle or a driver assist system and the working chamber is maintained drained when the acceleration exceeds an acceleration limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Adams, Dieter Laukemann, Achim Menne, Ravi Schade
  • Patent number: 9944288
    Abstract: A transmission controller implements a neutral idle feature to reduce fuel consumption. A brake controller implements a Hill Start Assist feature to prevent roll-back when a vehicle is launching on an uphill grade. The transmission controller and the brake controller communicate to implement these features in a synergistic manner. Within certain road grade ranges, the transmission requests Hill Start Assist before activating neutral idle and does not activate neutral idle until it receives confirmation that Hill Start Assist is active. The transmission controller provides a powertrain torque estimate to the brake controller which the brake controller uses to determine when to release the brakes during an assisted start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Guopeng Hu, Zhengyu Dai, Christoph Henel, Sathish Atluri, Yang Xu
  • Patent number: 9944289
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a transmission gear shift during a braking event in a vehicle having an electric motor and friction brakes both operable to brake the vehicle includes the step of reducing friction braking to increase wheel torque during the braking event. The braking event includes both friction braking and regenerative braking. The reduction in friction braking to increase the wheel torque is based at least in part on a reduction in the wheel torque resulting from a change in gear ratio of a step-ratio transmission during the transmission gear shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Bernard D. Nefcy, Christopher Alan Lear
  • Patent number: 9944290
    Abstract: A method controls regenerative braking of a motor vehicle provided with an electric or hybrid powertrain. The method includes determining that a driver is pressing neither a throttle pedal nor a brake pedal of the vehicle. The method also includes determining a correction coefficient as a function of a torque supplied by a motor of the powertrain, of a speed and an angular velocity at a wheel of the vehicle, of a gradient, of a mass of the vehicle, and of friction. Next, the method includes determining a setpoint for regenerative braking without pressure on the brake pedal as a function of the correction coefficient and of two maps of torque as a function of a rotational speed of the powertrain, for a substantially zero gradient and a vehicle mass substantially equal to a reference mass of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Laurent Fontvieille, Emmanuel Buis, Benoit Verbeke
  • Patent number: 9944291
    Abstract: A method and/or computer program product controls an operational mode of a self-driving vehicle (SDV) that is initially being operated in a nominal autonomous mode. Detectors on an SDV detect an erratically driven vehicle (EDV) that is being operated in an unsafe manner within a predetermined distance of an SDV. In response to detecting the EDV, a driving mode device in the SDV changes an operational mode of the SDV from the nominal autonomous mode to an evasive autonomous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Gordon, James R. Kozloski, Ashish Kundu, Peter K. Malkin, Clifford A. Pickover
  • Patent number: 9944292
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes: a power transmission device which selects a four-wheel drive state and a two-wheel drive state; a hydraulic continuously variable transmission device which includes a trunnion arm displaceable to a forward movement position, a neutral position, and a backward movement position; a pedaling operation detection unit which detects a pedaling operation for a brake pedal; and a control unit which performs a process of moving the trunnion arm to the neutral position by controlling an actuator when the pedaling operation detection unit detects the pedaling operation and which sets the operation speed of the actuator to be slow in the four-wheel drive state during the process compared to the two-wheel drive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: ISEKI & CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Tsuji, Yoshitaka Tani
  • Patent number: 9944293
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes a light illumination unit that emits illuminating light; an imaging unit that captures a first image of distant photographic subjects by detecting lights from the photographic subjects, captures a second image of foreign matter attached to a monitoring area by detecting the illuminating light reflected from the foreign matter, and generates an image frame; a target detection unit that detects a detection target among the distant photographic subjects based on the first image; a foreign matter detection unit that detects the foreign matter based on the second image; and an exposure amount change unit that changes an exposure amount of the imaging unit. The target detection unit detects the detection target using plural imaging frames with different exposure amounts. The foreign matter detection unit detects the foreign matter using the imaging frame other than the imaging frame with the greatest exposure amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9944294
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling control apparatus includes a first information obtaining unit, a second information obtaining unit, a traveling controller, a detector, and a calculator. The first information obtaining unit obtains information on a traveling environment of an own vehicle as traveling environment information. The second information obtaining unit obtains information on traveling of the own vehicle as traveling information. The traveling controller performs an evacuation traveling control, based on the traveling environment information and the traveling information. The evacuation traveling control causes an evacuation traveling of the own vehicle to be executed. The detector detects an abnormal state of a driver of the own vehicle. The calculator calculates waiting time during which waiting is performed from the detection of the abnormal state of the driver to starting of the evacuation traveling control, when the abnormal state of the driver is detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushi Takaso
  • Patent number: 9944295
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a control system and a wireless transceiver operatively connected to the control system. The control system is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wearable device worn by a user using the wireless transceiver and the control system is configured to receive input from one or more sensors of the wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Vincent Boesen
  • Patent number: 9944296
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining vehicle driver distractions. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining distractions associated with vehicle driving routes based on postures of vehicle occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Jason Sanchez, Aaron Scott Chan, Muhammad Ibrahim Saeed, Dirk Patrick Maloney, Narendra Anilal, Vibhakar V S Vemulapati, William Cho Hseih, Richard Zhou
  • Patent number: 9944297
    Abstract: A system (1) and method estimates the driving style of a vehicle. The system includes; a device for measuring the longitudinal acceleration (ax) and lateral acceleration (ay) of a vehicle along a measuring path; a memory module (7) in which pairs of the admissible limit values of the longitudinal and lateral accelerations are stored. Such values implement an admissible acceleration curve, closed in a longitudinal acceleration-lateral acceleration plane; an elaboration module (6) configured for: associating to each measured longitudinal acceleration-lateral acceleration pair of the vehicle a corresponding longitudinal acceleration-lateral acceleration pair on said admissible acceleration curve; and providing an indication of the driving style on the basis of the trend of position of the measured longitudinal acceleration-lateral acceleration pair with respect to the corresponding longitudinal acceleration-lateral acceleration pair on the admissible acceleration curve along the measuring path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: E-NOVIA S.r.l., DRIVE2GO S.r.l., UNIFLOTTE S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alex Buzzetti, Stefano Soliano, Guglielmo Calabrese
  • Patent number: 9944298
    Abstract: A driver can intuitively and conveniently perform an operation for instructing a traffic lane change to a vehicle. In a driving support device 10, an image output unit 14a outputs, to a display unit 31, an image containing an own vehicle object representing an own vehicle and a plurality of traffic lanes. An operation signal input unit 14b receives an operation of a user for moving the own vehicle object in the image displayed on the display unit 31 from a first traffic lane to a second traffic lane. A command output unit 14c outputs, to an automatic driving control unit 20 that controls automatic driving, a command for instructing the change of a traveling traffic lane of the own vehicle from the first traffic lane to the second traffic lane when the operation is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamada, Osamu Yamaji, Azusa Gojyo, Satoshi Kajita, Toshiaki Mori, Makoto Okada