Having An Electrical Device Between Input And Speed Regulator Patents (Class 123/399)
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Patent number: 10906553Abstract: Methods and systems for inhibiting an acceleration event prediction includes determining a current vehicle operating condition. An acceleration event is predicted based on a plurality of stored predictions that match the current vehicle operating condition. A determination is made whether to inhibit the acceleration event prediction. The acceleration event prediction is permitted to modify an acceleration event powertrain control such that a powertrain control occurs. A driver noncompliance with the acceleration event powertrain control is stored as a machine learning data and the current vehicle operating condition is stored as machine learning data upon the driver noncompliance. The stored machine learning data is used to determine whether to inhibit a future acceleration event prediction.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufactuiring North America, Inc.Inventors: Joshua D. Payne, Christopher Gauthier
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Patent number: 10864910Abstract: Presented are automated driving systems for intelligent vehicle control, methods for making/using such systems, and motor vehicles equipped with such automated driving systems. A method for executing an automated driving operation includes: determining path plan data for a subject motor vehicle, including current vehicle location and predicted route data; receiving, from a network of sensing devices, sensor data indicative of current object position and object dynamics of a target object; applying sensor fusion techniques to the received sensor data to determine a threat confidence value that is predictive of target object intrusion with respect to the vehicle's location and predicted route; determining if this threat confidence value is greater than a calibrated threshold value; and, responsive to the threat confidence value being greater than the calibrated threshold value, transmitting one or more command signals to one or more vehicle systems (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Paul A. Adam, Tetyana V. Mamchuk, Dmitriy Feldman, Robert C. Baraszu
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Patent number: 10851723Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, which includes at least a combustion engine, a fresh gas line and a fuel tank system. The fuel tank system includes a fuel tank, a fuel vapor filter, a purge gas line that connects the fuel vapor filter to the fresh gas line, and a sensor that is suited for determining a degree of hydrocarbon saturation of purge gas contained in the purge gas line. The fuel tank system also has a tank ventilation valve that is integrated in the purge gas line and/or a purge-gas feed device. In response to a control device, a tank ventilation process is initiated, as needed, for which the purge-gas feed device is operated, and/or the tank ventilation valve is opened; for the tank ventilation process, a hydrocarbon content of the purge gas being ascertained using the sensor. A quantity of fuel to be introduced into at least a combustion chamber of the combustion engine is then adjusted as a function of the ascertained hydrocarbon content.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Jens Wodausch, Björn Fröhlich
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Patent number: 10654452Abstract: A vehicle pedal sensor assembly for use in a vehicle brake pedal including a base and a pedal arm pivotally mounted to the pedal base. A sensor housing includes a non-contacting pedal position sensor and a contacting pedal force sensor. The sensor housing is mounted to the base of the vehicle brake pedal. A magnet is mounted to the pedal arm. The pedal position sensor senses a change in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to a change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. A pedal force application member exerts a force against the pedal force sensor in response to the change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. The force sensor may be a piezoelectric element, a load cell, or a strain gauge.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: CTS CorporationInventors: Steven J. Street, Mike Smith
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Patent number: 10634073Abstract: A variable geometry turbocharger control method includes monitoring parameters of an engine using a plurality of sensors and generating engine state estimates using an engine observer model. The engine observer model represents the intake manifold volume, the exhaust manifold volume, and the charge air cooler volume. The engine state estimates are based on the monitored engine parameters from the plurality of sensors. The method also includes calculating a turbine intake correction factor based on the differences between the measured engine states and the engine state estimates and inputting the turbine intake correction factor to the engine observer model. The method further includes determining a desired turbocharger vane position based on setpoint commands, the monitored engine parameters, the turbine intake correction factor, and the engine state estimates.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: John L. Lahti, Michael J. Pipho, Dustin W. Ridenour, Michael J. Maney
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Patent number: 10557422Abstract: A method for determining a quantity of air within a cylinder of an internal combustion engine includes the steps of scaling an intake manifold pressure and an exhaust gas pressure in dependence on an actual ambient air pressure and a standard ambient air pressure in order to provide a scaled intake manifold pressure and a scaled exhaust gas pressure, implementing an air charge calculating algorithm produced under a standard ambient air pressure operating condition, in order to determine a standard quantity of air based on the scaled intake manifold pressure and the scaled exhaust gas pressure, and scaling the standard quantity of air in dependence on the actual ambient air pressure and the standard ambient air pressure in order to calculate the quantity of air within the cylinder of the internal combustion engine. An engine control unit and a method for controlling an internal combustion engine are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Volkswagen AktiengesellschaftInventors: Elmar Millich, Lars Petersen, Andre Shurkewitsch, Jan Vogelsang
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Patent number: 10557565Abstract: A positioner according to the present invention includes: an electro-pneumatic converter that converts an input electric signal into a pneumatic signal and controls the valve opening of a regulating valve by driving an operational unit in accordance with the pneumatic signal; an operating-point searching unit that changes the electric signal by performing open loop control to search for an operating point indicating a target valve-opening value of the regulating valve when an output air pressure of the pneumatic signal starts to change; and a PST executing unit that executes a PST on the regulating valve by using the operating point found by the operating-point searching unit. The operating-point searching unit sets the operating point based on a value of the electric signal when the output air pressure matches a first reference value.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2017Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Azbil CorporationInventor: Takashi Nomiyama
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Patent number: 10544730Abstract: An assembly for a control device may include a housing part, a shaft rotatably supported on the housing part via a bearing device separate from the housing part, and a magnetic field sensor attached to the housing part, the magnetic field sensor interacting with a magnetic element attached to the shaft for conjoint rotation to determine a rotational angle position of the shaft in relation to the housing part. A bearing element of the bearing device may be received in a housing wall portion of the housing part configured in a complementary manner to the bearing element. On a face side of the shaft facing the magnetic field sensor, a recess may be formed in which the magnetic element may be at least partially received. The housing wall portion may be configured as a web with a ring segment-shaped geometry, which may partially enclose the bearing element externally.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Mahle International GmbHInventor: Peer Niekamp
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Patent number: 10525982Abstract: A variable valve, method, and diagnostic system are provided that determine accuracy of a position of a variable valve. The variable valve, method, and diagnostic system are configured to determine a system error, the system error being the difference between a commanded position of the valve and a measured position of the valve provided through a feedback signal of the valve. The variable valve, method, and diagnostic system are further configured to determine that a diagnostic accuracy passing condition is met if: a) the system error is less than a predetermined positive error threshold and greater than a predetermined negative error threshold; b) a rate of change of the measured position exceeds a predetermined positive feedback rate threshold; or c) the rate of change of the measured position is less than a predetermined negative feedback rate threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventor: Piranavan Suntharalingam
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Patent number: 10519891Abstract: In order to provide a highly precise and highly responsive humidity detection means with which diagnosis is easy, this control device for an internal combustion engine is characterized in that two or more sensors for detecting the humidity of the atmosphere or a gas mixed with the atmosphere are provided in the middle of the flow in an intake air passage of the internal combustion engine, at least one of these sensors being a relative humidity sensor for detecting the relative humidity, at least one other of the sensors being an absolute humidity sensor for detecting the absolute humidity, and the relative humidity sensor being arranged upstream from the absolute humidity sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Hiroaki Hoshika, Takeo Hosokawa
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Patent number: 10514662Abstract: An adaptive gas mixture controller system. A pulse oximeter interface receives pulse oximeter data. A gas blender interface communicates with a separate externally connected gas blender. A processor receives pulse oximeter data via the pulse oximeter interface and outputs data to the gas blender interface for adaptive feedback control of the gas mixture based upon the SpO2 level signals from the pulse oximeter interface. When the processor receives data from the gas blender indicating that the gas mixture has been manually changed, enters a manual override mode and halts sending adaptive feedback control signals to the gas blender. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc.Inventor: John C. Taube
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Patent number: 10472999Abstract: Systems and methods for correcting an engine intake camshaft position and an engine exhaust camshaft position for a variable valve timing engine are described. In one example, intake manifold pressure of an engine is sampled while a motor/generator rotates the engine at a predetermined speed without fuel being supplied to the engine. A camshaft angle where minimum intake manifold pressure is observed is a basis for correcting camshaft position.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: David Pedro, Marcus William Fried
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Patent number: 10458344Abstract: A method of filtering a targeted frequency from a pedal input signal is provided. The method includes the steps of sampling the pedal input signal at a sampling frequency, calculating a moving average of the pedal input signal from samples of the pedal input signal, and outputting a filtered signal based on the moving average. A throttle filter system is also provided. The system includes a pedal configured to be actuated to set a desired acceleration of a vehicle, a position sensor configured to convert a position of the pedal into an electrical signal, a vehicle driveline configured to accelerate the vehicle, and a filtering module configured to accept the electrical signal from the position sensor and to filter the electrical signal to remove oscillations at a targeted frequency. In the system, the driveline accelerates the vehicle based on the filtered electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Spartan Motors, Inc.Inventors: Joshua J. Ryan, Patrick McGraw, Johann Eloff, Murali X. Balasundrum, Todd Chapman
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Patent number: 10436141Abstract: By calculating a throttle opening learning value based on an actual effective opening area calculated based on the actual flow rate of intake air and an actual throttle opening with respect to variations caused by type differences of throttle valves and by calculating a throttle opening learning completion range indicating the region for which throttle opening learning completion has been determined based on the state of deviation between an effective opening area corrected by throttle opening learning and the actual effective opening area, control that applies the throttle opening learning value or fail-safe of an air flow sensor is performed in a contiguous throttle opening learning completion range.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takuo Watanuki, Hideki Hagari
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Patent number: 10393047Abstract: An engine control system configured to operate an engine is configured to predict an expected duty cycle including an expected demand from the engine, and calculate two or more future operating conditions, each future operating condition including engine control parameters that, when used to control the engine, are expected to result in the engine meeting the expected demand. One of the future operating conditions is selected, and a present operation of the engine is adjusted in response to the selected future operating condition. A vehicle and/or offroad diesel apparatus may comprise the engine control system.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Inventors: Charles E. Ramberg, Stephen A. Dynan, Jack A. Shindle
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Patent number: 10371077Abstract: In some embodiments, a vehicle is provided having improved fuel economy by using gradual engine speed control. Once a governor activation threshold is crossed, a dynamic engine speed limit that gradually increases over time is implemented. In some embodiments, if the engine speed does not continue to rise over time, increases in the dynamic engine speed limit may be paused. In some embodiments, if the engine speed increases at too great of a rate for too long of a time, the dynamic engine speed limit may be reset. In some embodiments, increasing, pausing, and/or resetting the dynamic engine speed limit allows gradual acceleration while also avoiding torque lock.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: PACCAR IncInventors: Dylan Scott Kleist, Victor Luis Perez, Charles Wayne Reinhardt Swart
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Patent number: 10364765Abstract: A control method for selecting an optimal multiple step operating mode for a multiple cylinder motor vehicle engine system having variable lift includes prioritizing each of a full torque capacity (FTC) mode having all cylinders operating at high lift, a first reduced capacity economy mode (RCE1) having all cylinders operating at low lift, and a second reduced capacity economy mode (RCE2) having fewer than all of the cylinders operating at low lift with at least one cylinder deactivated based on predicted fuel economy of each of the modes. Multiple constraints are applied to each of the prioritized modes including incorporating boost as one of the constraints by calculating a maximum torque capacity for each mode that is a function of a current boost pressure. A mode determination arbitration is conducted to identify if a change in mode is required.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: David N. Hayden, Michael Deffenbaugh, Christopher E. Whitney
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Patent number: 10343657Abstract: A vehicle pedal sensor assembly for use in a vehicle brake pedal including a base and a pedal arm pivotally mounted to the pedal base. A sensor housing includes a non-contacting pedal position sensor and a contacting pedal force sensor. The sensor housing is mounted to the base of the vehicle brake pedal. A magnet is mounted to the pedal arm. The pedal position sensor senses a change in the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet in response to a change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. A pedal force application member exerts a force against the pedal force sensor in response to the change in the position of the pedal arm for determining the position of the pedal arm. The force sensor may be a piezoelectric element, a load cell, or a strain gauge.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: CTS CorporationInventors: Steven J. Street, Mike Smith
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Patent number: 10348160Abstract: A centrally positioned cylindrical Neodymium magnet that has opposing magnetic poles, radially disposed on either side of a rotational axis extending along the length of the cylindrical magnet and is centered within a central opening of rectangular coil, where it is free to rotate about its axis in either direction. At least one focus magnet (typically a small disk magnet) having axially opposing magnetic poles, each being arrange across each side substantially along a line parallel to the rotational axis of the cylindrical magnet within the frame, to cause the cylindrical magnet's field to be pulled into a more concentrated alignment so that more moving magnetic field lines from the cylindrical magnet can cut through the coil windings when the cylindrical magnet is rotated by an externally applied force.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: GENEREN, INC.Inventor: David Deak, Sr.
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Patent number: 10315647Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling driving of a vehicle using driving information of the vehicle including: collecting, by a collector, driving data of the vehicle; extracting, by an extractor, ordinary driving characteristics and distinguishing driving characteristics of the vehicle from the collected driving data; classifying, by a classifier, driving tendency of the vehicle based on the extracted driving characteristics; and controlling, by a controller, driving of the vehicle based on the classified driving tendency. The ordinary driving characteristics includes an average speed of the vehicle, the distinguishing driving characteristics includes standard deviation of speed of the vehicle, and the driving tendency of the vehicle includes driving environment of the vehicle and driving propensity of a driver of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Do Hee Kim
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Patent number: 10316988Abstract: A method of calibrating a positioner includes determining a pressure value corresponding to a particular state of an actuator, wherein the actuator is controlled by the positioner, and controlling a pressure within the actuator according to a set point pressure, wherein the set point pressure is based on the pressure value such that the particular state of the actuator is maintained. The method further includes receiving a measured value indicating an actual pressure within the actuator, and determining a bias of the positioner based on the measured value and the set point pressure.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLCInventor: Kenneth W. Junk
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Patent number: 10308315Abstract: A saddle-ridden vehicle includes: a pair of frame members which are disposed on one side and on other side in a vehicle width direction so as to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction; an engine which is disposed between and supported by the pair of frame members; an air cleaner which cleans air for fuel combustion; a supercharger which compresses the air cleaned by the air cleaner; an intercooler which cools, using a cooling wind, the air compressed by the supercharger and supplies resulting air to the engine; and an exhaust wind duct which determines a discharge position or a discharge direction of the cooling wind discharged from the intercooler, and the exhaust wind duct is disposed above the engine on the one side in the vehicle width direction and extends to rear of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Ryohei Hamaguchi, Kazuhiro Okita
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Patent number: 10300944Abstract: A sensor device including a first output circuit generating and outputting a first output signal that is generated as a signal sequence from a first main signal based on a detection value of a first main sensor element to a first sub signal based on a detection value of a first sub sensor element, a second output circuit generating and outputting a second output signal that is generated as a signal sequence from a second main signal based on a detection value of a second main sensor element to a second sub signal based on a detection value of a second sub sensor element, and an abnormality determiner determining abnormality of the device based on the first output signal and the second output signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takaharu Kozawa, Shuji Kuramitsu, Koichi Nakamura, Katsuhiko Hayashi, Masaya Taki, Toshimitsu Sakai
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Patent number: 10296037Abstract: A pedal assembly for a vehicle, including a pedal arm, a pivot shaft operatively attached to the pedal arm and defining a pivot axis, and identical and housing components. The housing components each have a body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a mount formed on the body and adapted for attachment to the vehicle, a receiver formed on the body extending away from the outer surface, a coupler formed on the body extending away from the outer surface and disposed in spaced relation with the receiver, and a bore defined along the inner surface arranged between the receiver and the coupler to support at least a portion of the pivot shaft. Each respective receiver engages the corresponding coupler in an interlocked configuration with the bores being aligned about the pivot axis to rotatably support the pivot shaft for rotation about the pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Kongsberg Power Products Systems I, Inc.Inventor: Jesse Henrikson
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Patent number: 10287994Abstract: A vehicle throttle control system includes a torque control system providing a desired torque for a throttle valve. A conversion module converts the desired torque to a desired throttle area and converts the desired throttle area to a target throttle position. A selection module determines which one of multiple MPC controllers should be used based on a current position of the throttle valve. A prediction module determines future state values using a mathematical model of a throttle body. A cost module determines a first cost for a first set of MPC target throttle duty cycle values. A control module identifies optimal sets of target throttle motor duty cycle values for each of the MPC controllers. The multiple MPC controllers control operation of a throttle valve duty cycle to achieve a target throttle opening area based on a first one of the target throttle motor duty cycle values.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Inventors: Stephen P. Levijoki, Bin Xu, Gionata Cimini
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Patent number: 10280834Abstract: A valve control device includes a drive circuit for supplying a drive signal to an actuator adjusting an opening degree of a valve via a prescribed transmission line, generates a PWM signal on the basis of a target opening degree supplied from the outside and a sensor signal that indicates a real opening degree of the valve, and supplies the PWM signal to the drive circuit. The valve control device includes a disconnection detection unit which detects, on the basis of the PWM signal and a monitor signal of the drive signal, whether the transmission line is disconnected.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignees: KEIHIN CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Ito, Takuya Yahagi, Youichiro Shikine, Tomohide Ichikawa, Kensuke Yamamoto, Akihito Inoue
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Patent number: 10273900Abstract: A method to determine reference actuator positions for a gasoline engine, includes entering a base torque request, a known spark advance, a known CAM position and a known exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve position into an inverse torque model to generate a first iteration desired air per cylinder (APC) value. The first iteration desired APC value is passed through a deadband filter to produce a filtered first iteration desired APC signal. A Predicted As Cal (PAC) spark advance is calculated for the filtered first iteration desired APC value. The PAC spark advance and the base torque request are modified, and data from a first lookup table is entered to generate a second iteration desired APC value.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Christopher E. Whitney, David N. Hayden, Gary Robert Cygan, Jr., Stephen P. Levijoki
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Patent number: 10253704Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of an air charging system is disclosed. A plurality of output parameters of the air charging system are monitored. An error between each one of the monitored output parameters and a target value thereof is calculated. Each one of the calculated errors is applied to a linear controller that yields a virtual input which is used to calculate a plurality of input parameters for the air charging system. Each one of the input parameters is used to determine the position of a corresponding actuator of the air charging system and operate of the actuators according to the determined position thereof. The inputs parameters are calculated with a non-linear mathematical model of the air charging system configured such that each one of the virtual inputs is in a linear relation with only one of the output parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Giuseppe Conte, Vincenzo Alfieri
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Patent number: 10228707Abstract: A valve control device for controlling a drive device that drives a valve includes: an operation amount calculation unit that calculates an operation amount of the drive device at predetermined sampling intervals based on a control deviation between a target value of an opening degree of the valve and an actually measured value of an opening degree of the valve; a state determination unit that determines whether the valve is in a steady or transient state; and a first correction unit that outputs, if the state determination unit determines the valve is in the steady state, a predetermined first correction value corresponding to a sign of the control deviation to correct the operation amount calculated by the operation amount calculation unit with the first correction value.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: MIKUNI CORPORATIONInventor: Munekazu Yokoyama
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Patent number: 10161775Abstract: A method can be used for determining fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, in real time. The method includes determining a fuel injection quantity of the internal combustion engine based on an oxygen concentration signal from an oxygen sensor and a MAF signal from a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. The MAF sensor is coupled to the intake line and is configured to measure and monitor the mass flow rate of intake air flowing through the intake line. The method further includes determining, via an engine control module (ECM), an instantaneous fuel flow of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel injection quantity. The method further includes communicating, via the ECM, the instantaneous fuel flow to a body control module (BCM) and determining, via the BCM, an average fuel economy of the internal combustion engine based on the fuel flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Umberto Ferrara, Serena Tordin
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Patent number: 10138860Abstract: A variety of methods and arrangements are described for controlling transitions between effective firing fractions during dynamic firing level modulation operation of an engine in order to help reduce undesirable NVH consequences and otherwise smooth the transitions. In general, both feed forward and feedback control are utilized in the determination of the effective firing fractions during transitions such that the resulting changes in the effective firing fraction better track cylinder air charge changing dynamics associated with the transition.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.Inventors: Masaki Nagashima, Mohammad R. Pirjaberi, Louis J. Serrano
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Patent number: 10125712Abstract: A propulsion system, control system, and method are provided that use model predictive control to generate an initial selected engine output torque value. A minimum torque limit is determined by selecting a minimum acceptable engine output torque. A maximum torque limit is determined by selecting a maximum acceptable engine output torque. A desired engine output torque value is set as: a) the minimum torque limit, if the initial selected engine output torque value is less than the minimum torque limit; b) the maximum torque limit, if the initial selected engine output torque value is greater than the maximum torque limit; or c) the initial selected engine output torque value, if the initial selected engine output torque value is neither greater than the maximum torque limit nor less than the minimum torque limit.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Michael Livshiz, Bharath Pattipati, James L Worthing, Christopher E Whitney
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Patent number: 10107232Abstract: A method for driving an internal combustion engine is a method for reducing nitrogen oxides in emissions of the internal combustion engine, and includes a process of introducing air, which has a low oxygen concentration and contains no emissions, into the internal combustion engine, and a process of mixing humidifying water with a hydrocarbon fuel and injecting the mixture into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine as an emulsion fuel.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2013Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals CorporationInventors: Atsushi Shimizu, Hirokazu Ohno, Tomohiro Niihama, Masahiro Tsukamoto
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Patent number: 10093346Abstract: A motor controller includes an H-bridge circuit, a switching-element driving circuit, a motor-current detection circuit, a sample hold circuit executing a sample hold of an output of the motor-current detection circuit at every half period and outputting the output of the motor-current detection circuit as a first signal and a second signal, according to a PWM output timing of the switching-element driving circuit, and a motor-current calculation circuit selecting a signal that is larger between the first signal and the second signal as a selection signal, calculating a value of the selection signal as an absolute value of a motor current, determining a current direction based on a relation between the selection signal and a PWM output signal at a sample timing that the selection signal is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Junichi Ogoshi, Yuta Uozaki, Rei Muramatsu
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Patent number: 10067526Abstract: A vehicle operation pedal device including a pedal bracket attached to a vehicle, a pedal arm swingably supported by the pedal bracket about a substantially horizontal support axis, extending downward from the pedal bracket, and having at its lower end a pedal that is operated by being depressed with a foot, and an operation amount sensor disposed on the pedal bracket to detect a pedal arm operation amount, the vehicle operation pedal device having: a cover member including at least a lower wall portion extending from below the operation amount sensor toward a driver's seat and fixedly attached to the pedal bracket; and a reinforcing member made of a metal and fixedly attached to the pedal arm so as to be interposed between the lower wall portion and the operation amount sensor when in an initial state where the pedal arm is not operated by being depressed with the foot.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshinobu Fukatsu, Masayuki Nagata, Shun Takamura
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Patent number: 10040454Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a NOx storage catalytic converter that is disposed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle with an adaptive cruise control system, wherein regeneration of the NOx storage catalytic converter is started depending on the distance to a vehicle ahead. For this the motor vehicle is accelerated in a rich mode for regeneration if the distance to the vehicle ahead is large enough so that the regeneration will be completed during an acceleration phase in which the distance is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Frederik De Smet, Jan Harmsen
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Patent number: 10036342Abstract: A vehicle comprises an engine, a throttle body including a passage section and a throttle valve, and a throttle valve controller which controls opening or closing of the throttle valve, wherein the throttle valve controller includes: a memory section which contains therein a medium output control command such that the medium output control command continues to be stored in the memory section in a state in which electric power supply to the throttle valve controller is ceased, the medium output control command indicating an opening degree of the throttle valve, corresponding to a preset medium output range, and wherein the throttle valve controller controls opening or closing of the throttle valve, in accordance with the medium output control command read from the memory section, when an engine output meets a medium output condition in which the engine output is controlled to fall into the medium output range.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoyuki Takeshita, Tetsuya Mori
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Patent number: 10029676Abstract: A method for determining whether hands of an operator of a vehicle are positioned on a hand wheel of the vehicle is provided. The method generates a first frequency content below a first frequency from a hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a second frequency content above a second frequency from the hand wheel torque signal. The method generates a hands on wheel (HOW) estimate signal based on the first frequency content and the second frequency content. The method causes a system in a vehicle to operate based on the HOW estimate signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Timothy W. Kaufmann, Daniel W. Fuesz, Michael K. Hales
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Patent number: 10029569Abstract: When the driving force between a driven wheel of a wheel and the surface on which the vehicle is travelling exceeds the available traction, wheel slippage may occur. Wheel slippage may result in a loss of control of the vehicle. The present disclosure may facilitate the control of drive power sent to a driven wheel of a vehicle from consideration of a torque setting and a speed of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2013Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Arick Bakken, Paul Cairns, William Swick
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Patent number: 10017178Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus of the invention is applied to a vehicle having at least one device configured to acquire a road situation information from an outside of the vehicle. The apparatus determines whether or not a particular situation regarding a vehicle traveling occurs on the basis of the road situation information. The particular situation being a situation that a driver of the vehicle should be alerted. The apparatus can perform an informing for alerting the driver and execute a cruise control for causing the vehicle to travel automatically without an operation of an acceleration operator of the vehicle. The apparatus performs the informing when the particular situation occurs, the cruise control is not executed and the acceleration operator is operated. The apparatus performs the informing when the particular situation occurs and the cruise control is executed, independently of whether or not the acceleration operator is operated.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuhiro Morimoto, Katsuhiro Matsuoka
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Patent number: 10011272Abstract: A method to control an electric motor including the steps of: determining a target torque; calculating a target current by dividing the target torque by a torque constant; determining an equivalent impedance by means of a predetermined map; calculating the voltage drop by multiplying the target current by the equivalent impedance; calculating a counter-electromotive force by multiplying an actual rotation speed by a speed constant; determining a control voltage to be applied to the power supply terminals of the electric motor by adding the voltage drop to the counter-electromotive force; determining an offset parameter; and correcting the equivalent impedance provided by the predetermined map by applying the offset parameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2016Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.Inventors: Barbara Prina, Alessandro Barone
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Patent number: 9976765Abstract: A method controls an operation of an air-conditioning system generating airflow in a conditioned environment. The method updates a model of airflow dynamics connecting values of flow and temperature of air conditioned during the operation of the air-conditioning system. The model is updated interactively iteratively to reduce an error between values of the airflow determined according to the model and values of the airflow measured during the operation. Next, the method models the airflow using the updated model and controls the operation of the air-conditioning system using the model.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Mouhacine Benosman, Petros Boufounos, Boris Kramer, Piyush Grover
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Patent number: 9903283Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes providing a vehicle having an internal combustion gasoline engine including multiple cylinders and wherein the engine is capable of running on at least one of a plurality firing fractions, providing a vacuum offset (Offsetvac) to adjust airflow capacity for each of the plurality of firing fractions, determining a torque capacity of each of the plurality firing fractions and a plurality of available firing fractions that provides at least enough torque capacity to accommodate a current torque requested (Treq), determining a plurality of viable firing fractions of the plurality of available firing fractions, and determining and implementing an optimal firing fraction of the viable firing fractions if the optimal firing fraction provides enough fuel economy benefit over a current firing fraction.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Allen B. Rayl, Jr., Donovan L. Dibble, Darrell W. Burleigh, Steven J. Haase
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Patent number: 9879642Abstract: In a straddle type vehicle including a body frame, a power unit supported to the body frame, and a throttle body connected to the power unit and adjusting the intake air amount, a gyro sensor for detecting behavior of the vehicle is arranged in the throttle body.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazuyuki Kato, Kazuhito Hotta
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Patent number: 9851220Abstract: An assembly structure of a nonmagnetic member to which a position sensor arranged to to sense a rotation position of the rotation member, includes: a nonmagnetic member including a hollow portion; a cover which is fixed to an opening end portion of the hollow portion; and a retaining portion which is provided on an outer circumference portion of the hollow portion of the nonmagnetic member, and to which the position sensor is assembled from the opening end portion's side to be slid in a rotation axis direction, the cover restricting movements of the magnet holding portion and the position sensor in the rotation axis direction in a case where the cover is fixed to the nonmagnetic member in a state where the magnet holding portion and the position sensor are assembled to the nonmagnetic member.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Osamu Hikiji, Stefan Born
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Patent number: 9822725Abstract: A control device of an engine includes an adjustment mechanism and a controller. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust an intake air amount. The controller is configured to save a first learning value in a volatile storage medium, the first learning value being obtained by learning an operation amount of the adjustment mechanism when the engine is idle. The controller is configured to control the adjustment mechanism according to the first learning value. The controller is configured to save a second learning value in a non-volatile storage medium, the second learning value being equal to the first learning value. The controller is configured to correct the first learning value using the second learning value after the first learning value is cleared.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshiaki Hamamoto, Daigo Ando, Shuichi Yasutomi, Kengo Hamada
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Patent number: 9815457Abstract: In the case where a throttle valve has a sticking abnormality, a hybrid vehicle performs failsafe operation (limp home mode) with fixing the throttle valve to an opener position (S100) and sets a restoration diagnosis cooling water temperature T1 such as to decrease with a decrease in state of charge SOC of a battery (S120). When cooling water temperature Tw of the engine becomes equal to or higher than the restoration diagnosis cooling water temperature T1, the hybrid vehicle performs sticking restoration diagnosis to determine whether the throttle valve is restored from the sticking abnormality (S150). This allows for earlier diagnosis of whether the throttle valve is restored from the sticking abnormality at the lower state of charge SOC of the battery and enables the hybrid vehicle to return to normal operation at an earlier time. As a result, this ensures the more adequate sticking restoration diagnosis.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Daigo Ando, Yoshikazu Asami
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Patent number: 9804059Abstract: Based on entry/exit pressures of a compressor detected by atmospheric/boost pressure sensors, a pressure ratio of compressor is calculated. Based on mass flow rate and entry temperature of intake air detected by intake air flow-rate/temperature sensors and entry pressure, a volumetric flow rate of intake air is calculated in environmental condition at a detection time using gas state equation, and is corrected into a volumetric flow rate under standard environmental condition thorough multiplication by a corrective coefficient based on entry temperature of intake air. Based on the corrected value and the calculated pressure ratio, a rotational frequency of compressor under standard environmental condition is read out in light of operating characteristic diagram for the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.Inventors: Hitoshi Nakano, Hideyo Iwama
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Patent number: 9798351Abstract: A vehicle pedal including a pedal body that has one longitudinal direction end portion disposed at a vehicle body floor side, and that is supported so as to be capable of pivoting about the one end portion, wherein: a friction regulating section is integrally formed to a tread portion of the pedal body; a first region and a second region are configured on the surface of the friction regulating section, a coefficient of friction of the second region in the longitudinal direction is greater than a coefficient of friction of the first region in the longitudinal direction; the first region configures another end portion side of the tread portion of the pedal body in the longitudinal direction; the second region configures one end portion side of the tread portion in the longitudinal direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Naoki Takahashi
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Patent number: 9791854Abstract: A device for computing correction for control parameter in a manufacturing process executed on a manufacturing apparatus includes circuitry which acquires an index representing fluctuation in a manufacturing apparatus, acquires an apparatus model and a process model, acquires an output from a sensor in the manufacturing apparatus, transforms the output into first fluctuation for a process element, transforms the index into second fluctuation for the process element based on the apparatus model, computes fluctuation for performance indicator from the first and second fluctuation based on the process model, computes correction for the performance indicator from control range for the performance indicator and the fluctuation for the performance indicator, and converts the correction for the performance indicator into correction for each process element based on the process model such that correction for control parameter in process executed on the manufacturing apparatus is computed from the correction convertedType: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Takuo Yamamoto, Yuki Kataoka