Patents Issued in March 28, 2019
  • Publication number: 20190092155
    Abstract: An active damper is disclosed which includes: an elastic support body; a first wall section provided at the elastic support body and defines a first liquid chamber; a second wall section provided on an opposite side and defines a second liquid chamber; a partition wall section which separates the first liquid chamber from the second liquid chamber; an orifice in the partition wall section for communication between the first and second liquid chambers; and a damping unit to attenuate the vibrations transmitted from a vibrating source to the vibration-receiving part. The damping unit includes: a coil to generate a magnetic field according to a current supplied; magnetic members forming a closed magnetic circuit for the magnetic field; and a magneto-viscoelastic elastomer having a viscoelasticity changes depending on the magnetic field. At least one of the first and second wall sections, and the partition wall section has the damping unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Toshio INOUE, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA, Yuho ITO, Osamu TERASHIMA
  • Publication number: 20190092156
    Abstract: A powertrain includes a first planetary gearset configured to establish a fixedly linear speed relationship among a first rotor, an engine crankshaft, and a second rotor. The powertrain further includes a gearing assembly configured to alternately selectively establish a plurality of proportional speed relationships between the second rotor and an output shaft. The gearing assembly further includes a second planetary gearset having a lockup clutch configured to selectively couple two rotatable elements of the second planetary gearset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: David Gon OH, Gregory Daniel GOLESKI, David Allen JANSON
  • Publication number: 20190092157
    Abstract: An electric vehicle is provided with an electric motor serving as a driving source and is not provided with an internal combustion engine from which power is transmitted to drive wheels driven by power from the electric motor. The electric vehicle includes: a torque converter that is disposed coaxially with an output shaft of the electric motor, and to which the power is transmitted from the electric motor; an automatic transmission disposed on a power transmission path between the electric motor and the drive wheels, and configured to achieve a shift stage at which the power is interrupted; and a mechanical oil pump driven by the power from the electric motor, and disposed on the power transmission path, at a position upstream of the automatic transmission in a direction of power transmission from the electric motor to the drive wheels. The mechanical oil pump is disposed in the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi SEKIGUCHI, Yushi SEKI
  • Publication number: 20190092158
    Abstract: A cooling system for an automotive propulsion system is provided. The cooling system includes a housing defining a housing inlet and a housing outlet. An exhaust pipe may be configured to be fluidly connected to an automotive engine, the exhaust pipe and defining a passageway for exhausting exhaust gases originating with the automotive engine. The housing outlet is connected in fluid communication with the passageway of the exhaust pipe, which may be through a cooling conduit. The exhaust pipe is configured to suck air from the housing outlet into the exhaust pipe to define a cooling air flow path from the housing inlet to the passageway of the exhaust pipe. In one variation, the outlet of the cooling conduit has an open end placed in a slipstream of the vehicle rather than in the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Demetrio Vettorazzo Neto, Paulo A. Riedel, Luiz H. Riedel, Robert Delmotte
  • Publication number: 20190092159
    Abstract: A built-in support pillar for a fuel tank including: a support pillar main body that is configured to be disposed inside a box-shaped fuel tank, and that joins together mutually facing internal walls of the fuel tank; an engaging portion for positioning that is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the support pillar main body; and a bracket that is mounted on the support pillar main body, the bracket including an engaged portion configured to be engaged with the engaging portion, and a fixing portion to which a built-in component is fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke AMANO, Yuuki NAGASE, Tomoki TADA
  • Publication number: 20190092160
    Abstract: A fuel tank structure including: a fuel tank that is made of resin, and that is structured to include an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion; a supporting pillar portion that is made of resin, that is provided at an inner side of the fuel tank, that has one end portion welded to the upper wall portion and another end portion welded to the lower wall portion, and that connects the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion in a vehicle vertical direction; a sub-cup that is disposed at the inner side of the fuel tank; an urging portion that urges the sub-cup toward the lower wall portion; and a restricting portion that is provided at the supporting pillar portion, and that restricts relative displacement of the sub-cup with respect to the fuel tank in directions orthogonal to the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke AMANO, Hideki IWATA
  • Publication number: 20190092161
    Abstract: A resin-made fuel tank includes: a resin-made fuel tank main body provided by joining an upper half and a lower half; a barrier sheet layer that is provided on an inner surface of the fuel tank main body and that reduces permeation of a fuel from the fuel tank main body; and a front mounting stay and rear mounting stays for mounting the fuel tank main body to a vehicle body. The front mounting stay and the rear mounting stays are provided on the fuel tank main body at positions vertically spaced from an upper joint surface and a lower joint surface at which the upper half and the lower half re joined to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Daisuke Tabuchi, Tomoyuki Matsumura, Yuki Mizukura, Tasuku Yamaguchi, Ko Kurata, Hikaru Yokomura, Keigo Mine, Atsushi Murakami
  • Publication number: 20190092162
    Abstract: A check valve for fuel tank comprises a joint that is fixed to a fuel tank, a passage forming part, and a valve member. The joint is connected to one end of the passage forming part, and an outlet is formed at the other end of the passage forming part. The valve member that opens and closes the outlet. The valve member comprises a valve element, a spring bearing part, a holding part continuous to at least one of the joint and the passage forming part, and a compression coil spring. The joint and the passage forming part are communicated to each other to form a fuel passage. At the end on the joint side of the passage forming part in the fuel passage, there is formed a diameter enlarged portion having an inner diameter gradually increasing from a fuel supply pipe side toward the outlet side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Takuro IINO, Hiroaki KITO
  • Publication number: 20190092163
    Abstract: A fuel tank includes a fuel tank main body portion, a first supporting pillar portion, and a second supporting pillar portion. The first supporting pillar portion is provided at a vehicle rear side of an inner side of the fuel tank main body portion. The second supporting pillar portion is provided at a vehicle front side of the first supporting pillar portion at the inner side of the fuel tank main body portion and is longer in the vehicle vertical direction than the first supporting pillar portion is in the vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke AMANO, Yuuki NAGASE, Toshiaki ASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20190092164
    Abstract: A vehicle propeller shaft for transmitting a rotating force output from a drive power source to a driving wheel, comprises: a large diameter tube portion having at one end a diameter reduction portion with a diameter reduced toward an end portion; a small diameter tube portion having at one end a diameter expansion portion with a diameter expanded toward an end portion; and a welded portion joining the end portion of the diameter reduction portion and the end portion of the diameter expansion portion by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya ISONO, Atsuo MIKAZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190092165
    Abstract: A power takeoff mechanism utilizes intermeshing gears as a PTO power transfer mechanism to transfer rotational power from a power takeoff input shaft to an offset power takeoff output shaft. The PTO power transfer mechanism is supported in a fluid-tight housing mounted on the rearward side of the transfer case of a four wheel drive vehicle. A braking apparatus is operably connected to the drive gear and includes a piston, a biasing spring coupled with the piston and a pressure apparatus that keeps the spring from moving the piston until the drive has been disengaged from the power takeoff input shaft. The speed of operation of the PTO output shaft can be selectively varied by changing the ratio of the respective diameters of the drive gear and driven gear within the PTO power transfer mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicants: DirectDrive Plus, LLC
    Inventor: Duane Martin
  • Publication number: 20190092166
    Abstract: A vehicle driving-force distributing device includes: first connecting/disconnecting teeth disposed on the inner circumferential side of the ring gear; a connecting/disconnecting mechanism that includes a cylindrical member and a connecting/disconnecting sleeve including second connecting/disconnecting teeth and spline-fitted movably in the rotation axis direction and relatively non-rotatably to the outer circumferential side of the shaft insertion portion and that connects and disconnects a power transmission path between the ring gear and the differential case by moving the connecting/disconnecting sleeve in the rotation axis direction between a meshing position at which the second connecting/disconnecting teeth are meshed with the first connecting/disconnecting teeth and a non-meshing position at which the second connecting/disconnecting teeth are not meshed with the first connecting/disconnecting teeth; and a synchronizing mechanism disposed between the ring gear and the cylindrical member and reducing a
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro YOSHIMURA, Masaya MICHISHITA, Ryota HORIE, Masayuki HASHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190092167
    Abstract: A health measurement system for a vehicle driver and a warning method using the same are disclosed. The health measurement system includes an Internet of Things (IoT) device and a controller. The controller performs health scanning of a driver through the IoT device, and informs the driver of a result of the health scanning. The controller determines a necessary condition of the health scanning of the driver by analyzing traveling environment information, and performs the health scanning only when the necessary condition of the health scanning is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kye Yoon KIM, Jung Mi PARK
  • Publication number: 20190092168
    Abstract: An adaptive cruise control system and method for controlling a speed of a vehicle includes determine a distance between a controlled vehicle a target vehicle with a distance sensor. An input sensor senses an input from a driver of the controlled vehicle in relation to the desired distance between the controlled vehicle and the target vehicle. An adaptive cruise control module receives a data set of a plurality of data points regarding the operation of the controlled vehicle. An artificial neural network is configured to receive the data set in response to the input from the driver being sensed and calculate a change in the desired distance in response to a change in at least one of the data points. A requested distance between vehicles is then changed based on at least one of the input from the driver and the calculated change in the desired distance by the artificial neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Burtch, James H Critchley, Dominik Froehlich
  • Publication number: 20190092169
    Abstract: The present approach relates to a vehicle having a plurality of devices and a human-machine interface (HMI) for the gesture- and/or facial expression-based actuation of a function of a vehicle device, which comprises a camera for recording a specific occupant of a vehicle and a control unit connected to the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Anil THURIMELLA
  • Publication number: 20190092170
    Abstract: A deployable display for use in a vehicle is provided. The deployable display can be positioned in a plurality of stowed or a plurality of deployed positions, wherein the deployable display functions as a sun visor located in front of a windshield of the vehicle when it is in a first one of the plurality of deployed positions and when the deployable display is in a second one of the plurality of deployed positions or the first one of the plurality of deployed positions the deployable display functions as a screen that provides images from a controller operatively coupled to the deployable display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth Gassman, David Whitehead, Jeremy Martin, Aidano Nascimento, Larry (Liangliang) Cao, Michael Roy, Michael Maddelein
  • Publication number: 20190092171
    Abstract: Implementations are described for methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated computer executable code for providing driver decision making support. An apparatus of one implementation includes processor circuitry communicably coupled to a display and a driver interface, the processor circuit to execute a recommendation engine to generate a recommended driver action comprising driving directions for a route, wherein the recommended driver action is optimized according to the operational parameter, wherein the recommendation is at least partially based upon a location signal indicating a current location of the driver, and a rendering unit to render upon the display a graphic representation of the recommended driver action, wherein said traffic flow model and said transportation demand model are dynamic and intermittently updated and said transportation demand module is segmented by location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Yuval Netzer
  • Publication number: 20190092172
    Abstract: Provided is a collected current monitoring device. A transformer current acquisition unit acquires a current value Ip of a current flowing through a part of a plurality of transformers. A total collected current calculation unit calculates a current value Iall of a collected current supplied by a plurality of current collectors from the current value Ip by using a following Equation (1): Iall=Ip×(Mall/Mp). A collected current acquisition unit acquires a current value IX of a collected current supplied by the current collector(s) other than one current collector. The collected current calculation unit calculates a current value IY of a collected current supplied by the one current collector by subtracting the current value IX from the current value Iall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Yuichi AHIKO, Kotaro NAKAMURA, Hiroki SHIMOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190092173
    Abstract: A battery system for an electric vehicle has a high-voltage battery, a control unit, and a safety device for disconnecting the high-voltage battery from a high-voltage on-board electrical system of the electric vehicle. The battery system is characterized in that the control unit has two conductor loops, and that the control unit carries out a monitoring of the two conductor loops. Based on the monitoring, the control unit activates the safety device such that the safety device separates the high-voltage battery from the high-voltage vehicle electrical system of the electric vehicle, wherein the safety device has an irreversible separating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Wladislaw WAAG, Thomas HAMMERSCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20190092174
    Abstract: Provided are an electronic brake system and a method of controlling the same. The electronic brake system includes a pedal input unit configured to receive a pedal force according to a driver's braking intention, an estimating unit configured to estimate a temperature and a friction coefficient of a brake disk pad, and a control unit configured to correct a braking target pressure according to the driver's braking intention on the basis of the estimated temperature and friction coefficient of the brake disk pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Eun Ha LEE
  • Publication number: 20190092175
    Abstract: This inverter, for electrical connection to a DC voltage source to supply an electric charge with three-phase current, includes a capacitive filter and a switching cell including, for each phase, a switching mode power supply circuit formed by two sets of controlled switches. Each set of controlled switches supplies a separate terminal of the switching cell, which also includes a sealed housing containing the switching mode power supply circuits. The housing is provided, on two opposite surfaces, with heat exchange means with a heat transfer fluid. A distributor is mounted, upstream from the housing, in a heat transfer fluid circulation circuit, to steer the heat transfer fluid toward the two opposite surfaces of the housing. The capacitive filter is cooled using at least one heat pipe. Part of this heat pipe, where the condensation of a fluid contained in the heat pipe occurs, is in thermal contact with the distributor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Lionel Sainsaulieu, Jacques Favre, Corentin Rizet, Mahmoud Ibrahim
  • Publication number: 20190092176
    Abstract: A vehicle charging system may determine a charging schedule for an electric vehicle based on real-time cost information and a likelihood of communication errors related to charging commands. The vehicle charging system may determine a first cost to immediately charge the electric vehicle upon plug-in. The vehicle charging system may determine a second cost to delay charging the electric vehicle according to a charging schedule, the charging schedule including communicating charging commands with the vehicle at a later time. The vehicle charging system may determine a likelihood of communication errors related to the charging commands. The vehicle charging system may select a charging option of immediately charging the electric vehicle or delaying charging the electric vehicle based on the first cost, second cost, and the likelihood of communication errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Robert M. UYEKI
  • Publication number: 20190092177
    Abstract: A system and method for creating a charging schedule for an electric vehicle that include determining a current state of charge of the electric vehicle. The system and method also include determining an average price per kilowatt-hour of energy to charge the electric vehicle to reach at least one of: a target state of charge of the electric vehicle and a maximum state of charge of the electric vehicle. The system and method additionally include creating the charging schedule based on the current state of charge and the average price per kilowatt-hour of energy. The system and method further include controlling charging of the electric vehicle to reach at least one of the target state of charge and the maximum state of charge based on the charging schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Maira A. Malik, Steven A. Rho, Robert M. Uyeki, Aparajithan Rajendran, Narendran Ravi, Mohitash Brijwasi
  • Publication number: 20190092178
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging and traction system includes an inverter with an input terminal configured to receive DC power and an output terminal configured to provide AC power, a first motor coupled to the output terminal of the inverter, a second motor coupled to the first motor, a converter with AC terminals coupled to the second motor and positive and negative DC terminals coupled to a rechargeable DC power unit, and a switching mechanism configured to control coupling or decoupling of the input terminal of the inverter with at most one of a plurality of DC power sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Zhengmao ZHU
  • Publication number: 20190092179
    Abstract: An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot with first and second cameras used for docking the autonomous robot with the electrical charging station. There is a front side cover with a surface, the front side cover including a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging. There is a first fiducial surface including a first fiducial marker affixed to the first surface. The first fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a first non-zero angle relative to a plane defined by the surface of the front side cover. There is a second fiducial surface including a second fiducial marker affixed to the second surface. The second fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a second non-zero angle relative to the plane defined by the surface of the front side cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kai Hian Kwa, Michael Sussman, Thomas Moore, Bradley Powers, Christina Nicole Fong
  • Publication number: 20190092180
    Abstract: In an electric vehicle charging and traction system with an inverter configured to be coupled to at most one DC power source and provide AC power, a first motor coupled to the inverter, a second motor coupled to the first motor, a converter coupled to the second motor and to a rechargeable DC power unit, and a switching mechanism configured to control coupling or decoupling of the inverter: in charging mode, decouple the inverter from the rechargeable DC power unit, couple the inverter to a second DC power source, and run the first motor at speed in a first direction and the second motor with negative torque to generate current; and in traction mode, decouple the inverter from the second DC power source, couple the inverter to the rechargeable DC power unit, and run the first and second motors with nonzero torque in a same torque direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Zhengmao ZHU
  • Publication number: 20190092181
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a battery which can include a power supply and power supply circuit, the power supply circuit connected to the power supply. The power supply can discharge through the power supply circuit. An electronic switch can control the power-on or off of the power supply, thereby avoiding the generation of sparks during the power on process and allowing for the normal use of the battery and the safety of the aircraft. The disclosure also provides an aircraft having the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Tao Zhao
  • Publication number: 20190092182
    Abstract: A system for efficient charging of distributed vehicle batteries of vehicles, wherein each vehicle battery is connectable to a battery charger connected to a power supply grid via an electromechanical switch of a switching battery controller communicating with a control center of the system, wherein the control center is adapted to provide a switching schedule for the electromechanical switch of the respective switching battery controller on the basis of power absorption predictions calculated by said control center for the switching battery controllers in response to power measurements reported by the switching battery controllers and on the basis of power absorption schedules and/or power generation schedules of energy resources of said power supply grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: CATERVA GMBH
    Inventor: Roland GERSCH
  • Publication number: 20190092183
    Abstract: An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot having a battery. The charging station includes a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station. There is a communications device configured to receive from the autonomous robot an identifier indicative of a type of battery on the autonomous robot. There is a power supply, electrically connected to the first charging member, configured to charge the autonomous robot according to a charging profile. The charging profile is selected based at least in part on the identifier received from the autonomous robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Sussman, Aron Klair Insinga
  • Publication number: 20190092184
    Abstract: An electrical charging system for charging an autonomous robot powered by a re-chargeable battery and having a first charging member. The charging station includes a second charging member configured to receive the first charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging the re-chargeable battery. There is a power supply configured to charge the re-chargeable battery of the robot and a sensor configured to measure an amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot. There is a processor configured to determine from the amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot measured by the sensor, a state of charge (SOC) of the autonomous robot. There is also a communications device configured to transmit to the robot the SOC of the robot while docked at the charging station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Sussman, Aron Klair Insinga
  • Publication number: 20190092185
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to continue execution of the charge control until the hybrid vehicle passes a branch point between the congestion go-through route and the congestion avoidance route, when the electronic control unit changes the scheduled traveling route from a congestion go-through route including the congestion zone, to a congestion avoidance route for avoiding the congestion zone, during execution of the charge control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki OGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190092186
    Abstract: A coolant passage of a vehicular cooling system includes a battery coolant passage through which a coolant is supplied from a radiator to a battery, a discharge coolant passage through which the coolant is supplied to the radiator, a first bypass passage through which the coolant is supplied from the discharge coolant passage to the battery coolant passage while bypassing the radiator, and a switching valve that switches a pathway of the coolant, between a first pathway through which the coolant is supplied from the discharge coolant passage to the battery coolant passage via the radiator and a second pathway through which the coolant is supplied from the discharge coolant passage to the battery coolant passage via the first bypass passage. An electronic control unit controls the switching valve such that the pathway is switched to the second pathway at the time of increasing a temperature of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi TOMINAGA, Daisuke TOKOZAKURA, Yushi SEKI
  • Publication number: 20190092187
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a detector, a motor generator, a regenerative braking force estimator, and a regenerative brake controller. The detector detects a longitudinal force applied to an axle and a torque applied to the axle. The motor generator brakes the axle by a regenerative brake. The regenerative braking force estimator estimates a braking force caused by the regenerative brake by subtracting a force corresponding to the torque from the longitudinal force. The regenerative brake controller controls the regenerative brake caused by the motor generator on a basis of the estimated braking force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Satoshi YOSHIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20190092188
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a controller for controlling at least first and second propulsion units to generate a combined torque at least substantially equal to a total requested torque. At least first and second torque ranges are determined for each of the at least first and second propulsion units. The at least first and second torque ranges are determined to maintain dynamic stability of the vehicle. A total power cost is determined in dependence on an estimated power loss of the at least first and second propulsion units within said at least first and second torque ranges and a minimum value of the determined total power cost identified. The torque to be generated by each of said at least first and second propulsion units corresponding to the identified minimum value of the total power cost is determined. At least first and second control signals are generated to control said at least first and second propulsion units to generate the determined torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: ALEX PLIANOS, MATTHEW HANCOCK, MARCO D'AMATO, MINSUK SHIN
  • Publication number: 20190092189
    Abstract: A seat-occupancy and occupant-class detector for a vehicle seat having a back part and a seat part has an insulated but conductive surface element mounted on the seat part of the vehicle seat roughly parallel to a seat cushion thereof. A signal generator feeds an electrical measuring signal to the surface element, and first and second receiving electrodes are provided in the backrest at different spacings from the surface element but vertically level with each other such that the measuring signal of the surface element induces different voltages in the receiving electrodes. Calculation and evaluation steps performed in an evaluation unit take as their basis a value that is a quotient of different measurements for the same physical size and is therefore dimensionless. The reason for this is the arrangement of the two receiving electrodes at a different spacing from the conductive surface element on the seat cushion side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Ralf MOENKEMUELLER
  • Publication number: 20190092190
    Abstract: A passenger seat system for a transport means has an elongate carrier structure to be attached, fixedly with respect to a structure, and having a main extent axis and mutually spaced-apart raster openings on the carrier structure top side, raster openings projecting into at least one lateral delimitation of the carrier structure, and a seat having a seat frame, displaceable and arrestable on the carrier structure, a bottom side lying on the carrier structure, and a top side holding a seat surface. The seat frame has an arresting device on the bottom side and has an operating unit coupled to the arresting device. The operating unit is movable into an arresting position and an unlocking position. The arresting device has an arresting lever movable into an engagement position, for lateral engagement into a raster opening, and a release position, in which the arresting lever is released from the carrier structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Claus-Peter Gross
  • Publication number: 20190092191
    Abstract: A vehicle seat that includes a support intended to be rigidly fixed to the frame of a vehicle, a seating portion, a backrest extending the rear end of the seating portion, and a connecting mechanism which connects the seating portion to the support. The connecting mechanism has a primary mechanism which allows forward tilting of the seating portion and backrest relative to the support between a rest position and a forward-tilted position. The seat includes a first motor able to tilt the seating portion from its rest position to its tilted position, and a control member for the first motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Farouk BOUZID, David EPAUD
  • Publication number: 20190092192
    Abstract: A rear seat latch release device is easily installed to a portion of a rear seat holding mechanism so the rear seat can be released and more effectively folded down. The rear seat latch release device is specifically designed to surround the factory latch, and allow a pull strap to be added, which can more easily and effectively operate the rear seat latch. Components of the rear seat latch release device are designed to easily cooperate with several variations in the factory latch, thereby allowing installation in many different situations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Matt Beenen
  • Publication number: 20190092193
    Abstract: A child restraint system is configured to secure a child in a seat. The child restraint system includes a harness configured to extend across the child. The harness includes at least one connector. The child restraint system includes at least one anchorage configured to releasably connect to the connectors. The at least one anchorage extends through at least one slot in the seat. In some embodiments, the child restraint system includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the at least one anchorage and configured to adjust a position of the at least one anchorage relative to the seat. The adjustment mechanism has a locked configuration in which the adjustment mechanism is prevented from moving along the at least one slot and an unlocked configuration in which the adjustment mechanism is movable along the at least one slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Jodi L. Houin
  • Publication number: 20190092194
    Abstract: A child restraint includes a seat bottom and a seat back. The seat back includes a backrest and an adjustable headrest that is mounted for up-and-down movement on the backrest by a caregiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jason H. Johnson, Mei-Hui Lin, Devin J. Coakley, Grant M. Mason
  • Publication number: 20190092195
    Abstract: Seat assemblies and methods for fabricating seat assemblies are provided. In one example, a seat assembly includes a seat base portion. A seat backrest portion is configured to extend substantially upright from the seat base portion. An armrest sub-assembly is configured to move between a stowed position that is one of substantially within and laterally adjacent to the seat backrest portion and an extended position that is generally forward of the seat backrest portion. At least a portion of the armrest sub-assembly translates along an incline relative to the seat base portion during movement from the stowed position towards the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Allen Davis, Salvador Gonzalez, Timothy O'Hara
  • Publication number: 20190092196
    Abstract: A seating assembly includes a seatback defining an enlarged elongate vertical aperture. A bladeless fan is disposed in the elongate vertical aperture. The bladeless fan includes a base with an air mover disposed therein. A bladeless air loop is in fluid communication with the base. An open lattice cushion support is disposed on the seatback. The open lattice cushion support is exposed from a rear portion of the seatback and is configured to allow air from the bladeless fan to move from a rearward portion of a seat, through the open lattice cushion support and into contact with an occupant resting against the seatback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony Prozzi, Tyler Carpenter, Jeremy John Malick, Nicolas Thetard
  • Publication number: 20190092197
    Abstract: In order to make it possible to deal with the states of a seatback from an upright state to a fully reclined state without degrading performance of blowing air from a fan, attached to a seat cushion-side, toward the seatback-side, this vehicle seat having an air conditioning function, is configured to be provided with: an air conditioning fan; fan side piping which is connected with the fan; and seat cushion or seatback side piping which is connected with an air flow passage formed in the seat cushion or the seatback, wherein the fan side piping and the seat cushion or seatback side piping are coupled together slidably in a state where an end of one is partially inserted into an end of the other, and at least one piping of either the fan side pining or the seat cushion or seatback side piping is equipped with a bellows structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi ARATA, Takao TSUTSUI
  • Publication number: 20190092198
    Abstract: A seat back frame includes an upper frame having a first through-hole, a bracket having a second through-hole, and a holder including a first locking portion and a second locking portion. The upper frame includes a first inner edge portion, and the first inner edge portion inwardly defines an opening of the first through-hole located opposite to the bracket. The bracket includes a second inner edge portion, and the second inner edge portion inwardly defines an opening of the second through-hole located opposite to the upper frame. The first locking portion is locked to the first inner edge portion and the second locking portion is locked to the second inner edge portion to allow the first locking portion and the second locking portion to retain the upper frame and the bracket therebetween in the up-down direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya INOUE, Kazunobu NUNO, Hiroaki YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20190092199
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can reduce a runout that occurs in a seat back frame. A seat back frame includes an upper frame part (301), a lower frame part (302), a first side frame part (303), and a second side frame part (301), which are formed as separate components and are joined to each other. The lower frame part (302) is provided in such a manner that a rotational axis (3A) is located on the inner side of the lower frame part (302). The seat back is rotated with respect to the seat cushion about the rotational axis (3A). One end portion in the width direction of the lower panel (305) is joined to the first side frame part (303). The other end portion in the width direction is joined to a second side frame part (304). A lower edge (305B) is joined to the lower frame part (302).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Yukihiro SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190092200
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat that enables a lift lever to be detached without detaching a reclining lever from the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat is configured such that, when a reclining lever is turned downward, the reclining lever and a fastening member of a lift lever as viewed from the side of a seat part overlap each other, and when the reclining lever is turned upward, the reclining lever and the fastening member of the lift lever as viewed from the side of the seat part do not overlap each other, and the lift lever can be detached from the seat part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicants: Tachi-S Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoshi Minegishi, Hirofumi Fuwa
  • Publication number: 20190092201
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a seat back; and a seat cushion including: a first side frame; a second side frame; a front frame connecting front end portions of the first side frame and the second side frame to each other; and a rear frame connecting rear end portions of the first side frame and the second side frame to each other. The first side frame includes: a frame member including a closed sectional shape part between the front frame and the rear frame; a first reinforcing member being provided between the front frame and the rear frame to pass through an inner side wall and an outer side wall, and being joined with the inner side wall and the outer side wall; and a connection member connecting an end portion of the first reinforcing member with at least one frame of the front frame and the rear frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicants: TACHI-S CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke HASEGAWA, Sigeyuki OKAMOTO, Hiroyuki YAJIMA, Shogo WAKANA, Osamu KYOGOKU, Sugiaki YAMAZATO, Toru INAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20190092202
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a seat back, connected with a seat cushion through a recliner, an outlet of a shoulder belt being provided in one shoulder of the seat back, wherein: the seat back includes: a first side frame, arranged on the one shoulder side; and a second side frame, arranged on the other shoulder side; the first side frame includes: a first frame member having a hollow and closed sectional shape; and a plate-shaped bracket which is attached in the recliner; and the bracket includes a joint part which is inserted into a lower end portion of the first frame member and is joined with the lower end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicants: TACHI-S CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yousuke HASEGAWA, Sigeyuki Okamoto, Hiroyuki YAJIMA, Shogo WAKANA, Osamu KYOGOKU, Sugiaki YAMAZATO, Toru INAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20190092203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the pressure in a device for the pneumatic adjustment of a seat in a transportation means, in particular in a motor vehicle. The device comprises a plurality of cushions (101, 102, . . . , 105) which are able to be filled with air and which are connected via respective valves (201, 202, . . . , 205) to a common preliminary pressure volume (3), wherein a pressure sensor (4) is provided for measuring the pressure (p) in the preliminary pressure volume (3) and the preliminary pressure volume (3) is coupled to a compressor (6) for supplying compressed air without a non-return valve being connected therebetween. For the purpose of monitoring the pressure in a respective cushion (101, 102, . . . , 105), a predefined pressure is set in the preliminary pressure volume by way of operation of the compressor (6) and/or by way of air discharge from the preliminary pressure volume (3) via at least one leak, with the valve (201, 202, . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Stefan Bauer, Michael Beuschel, Mehmet Cini, Markus Ziegelmeier
  • Publication number: 20190092204
    Abstract: A method for operating an electromotive massage device of a seat, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a massage drive having an electric motor. The electric motor is energized, and a torque of the electric motor is detected, and a first reference value is calculated therefrom. Based on the first reference value, the occupancy of at least one section of the seat is determined. An electromotive massage device of a seat and a seat of a motor vehicle are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg.
    Inventors: Christian MERGL, Thomas WEINGAERTNER, Peter HORN, Alexander MUELLER, Stefan BICKEL, Matthias MARKERT, Uwe SOMMER, Sebastian DORSCH