With Means For Detecting Wheel Slip During Vehicle Acceleration And Controlling It By Reducing Application Of Power To Wheel Patents (Class 180/197)
  • Patent number: 8220262
    Abstract: A method and a system for manually controlling a turbocharger is disclosed. The method includes steps for selecting a minimum boost pressure and a maximum boost pressure. The method also includes steps for selecting a pre-configured boost mode, including a predefined boost pressure minimum and a predefined boost pressure maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James S. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8219296
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a front wheel drive force and a rear wheel drive force of a vehicle comprises a first controller for controlling a drive force of main drive wheels and the drive force of auxiliary drive wheels; and a second controller for sending to the first controller an auxiliary-drive-wheels-limiting drive force for limiting the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheels in a case that the vehicle is traveling in an unstable state. The second controller has a first calculation unit for calculating a first limiting drive force on the basis of lateral acceleration of the vehicle, and a second calculation unit for calculating a second limiting drive force on the basis of longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle. The second controller sends to the first controller a maximum limiting drive force among the first limiting drive force and the second limiting drive force as the auxiliary-drive-wheel-limiting drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Handa
  • Patent number: 8219308
    Abstract: An engine-propelled monowheel vehicle comprises two wheels, close together, that circumscribe the remainder of the vehicle. When the vehicle is moving forward, the closely spaced wheels act as a single wheel, and the vehicle turns by leaning the wheels. A single propulsion system provides a drive torque that is shared by the two wheels. A separate steering torque, provided by a steering motor, is added to one wheel while being subtracted from the other wheel, enabling the wheels to rotate in opposite directions for turning the vehicle at zero forward velocity. The vehicle employs attitude sensors, for sensing roll, pitch, and yaw, and an automatic balancing system. A flywheel in the vehicle spins at a high rate around a spin axis, wherein the spin axis is rotatable with respect to the vehicle's frame. The axis angle and flywheel spin speed are continually adjustable to generate torques for automatic balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Karl F. Leeser
  • Patent number: 8214114
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is mechanically coupled to a hybrid transmission to transmit mechanical power to an output member. A method for controlling the internal combustion engine includes determining an accelerator output torque request based upon an operator input to the accelerator pedal, and determining an axle torque response type. A preferred input torque from the engine to the hybrid transmission is determined based upon the accelerator output torque request. An allowable range of input torque from the engine which can be reacted with the hybrid transmission is determined based upon the accelerator output torque request and the axle torque response type. The engine is controlled to meet the preferred input torque when the preferred input torque is within the allowable range of input torque from the engine. The engine is controlled within the allowable range of input torque from the engine when the preferred input torque is outside the allowable range of input torques from the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen
  • Patent number: 8214117
    Abstract: A driving force controlling apparatus includes a driving force controller configured to determine a state of a road surface. A driving force controller is configured to control a driving force of a vehicle based on the road surface state. A rear-wheel speed sensor is configured to detect a rear-wheel speed. A low-friction-coefficient road surface determining device is configured to determine whether the road surface is a low-friction-coefficient road surface using the rear-wheel speed on a predetermined condition. A determination prohibition device is configured to prohibit the low-friction-coefficient road surface determining device from determining whether the road surface is a low-friction-coefficient road surface, if (a) the rear-wheel speed sensor is abnormal, or if (b) a predetermined time has elapsed from when a shift range is changed from a reverse range to a drive range and/or (c) a gear position has become greater than or equal to a predetermined gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishikawa, Makoto Kobayashi, Takahito Fujita
  • Patent number: 8214125
    Abstract: A vehicle speed setting of cruise control is changed based on an operation by a driver. At this time, it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling in a passing lane or a traveling lane (S202). If the vehicle is traveling in a passing lane, the speed at which the vehicle speed setting is changed is increased (S206). If a blinker on the passing lane side of the vehicle is on (S205), the speed at which the vehicle speed setting is changed is also increased (S206) even if the vehicle is traveling in the traveling lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Nanami
  • Patent number: 8206263
    Abstract: In order to attain a stable traction control regardless of an inertia change in a driving system, when a driving force transmitted from driving wheels to a road surface is lowered by a certain quantity by torque control, the driving force is lowered according to a transmission torque capacity of a clutch element for connecting and disconnecting a power source and the driving wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruhisa Tsuchikawa
  • Patent number: 8204634
    Abstract: The present device relates to a driving dynamics control system for vehicles, including at least one signal distribution to which vehicle data, environment data and data regarding the driver's request are sent in the form of input data, and including several controllable or regulatable subsystems which modify the dynamics of the vehicle such as a driver-independently adjustable steering system, a driver-independently adjustable chassis, a driver-independently adjustable brake, and a driver-independently adjustable driving track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Ralf Schwarz, Stefan Fritz, Sighard Schräbler, Urs Bauer, Steffen Tröster, Markus Weinreuter
  • Patent number: 8204669
    Abstract: The present device relates to a method for regulating the driving dynamics of a vehicle, in which at least one wheel of the vehicle is acted upon by a torque on the basis of control of a clutch transmitting a torque to the wheel and/or on the basis of control of a differential distributing torque to the wheel and at least to one other wheel. The method is characterized in that a value of the torque is determined as a function of a first and a second value of a yaw moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Ulrich Lüders, Rainer Oehler, Thomas Raste, Hubertus Raitz von Frentz
  • Patent number: 8200452
    Abstract: To provide an attitude-angle detecting apparatus, which detects an attitude angle of a mobile object during movement with good accuracy by correcting an output value from an acceleration sensor, and to provide a method for the same. It is characterized in that it comprises an acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration being applied to a mobile object, a yaw-rate sensor for measuring a yaw rate of the mobile object, a speed sensor for measuring a speed of the mobile object, a mobile-component acceleration calculating means for calculating an actual acceleration from the speed, calculating a centrifugal force from the yaw rate and the speed and calculating a mobile-component acceleration, a resultant force of the actual speed and the centrifugal force, and an attitude-angle calculating means for calculating an attitude angle from a gravitational acceleration, which is obtainable by correcting the acceleration with the mobile-component acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Ueda, Iwao Maeda, Kiyomi Nagamiya, Naoto Shibata
  • Patent number: 8200387
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, a target torque to be produced is determined in several steps: In a first step a torque requested by a user is determined and modified in subsequent steps by different functions, which reproduce the influences of at least one continuously determined working and/or operating parameter of the engine on the torque that is actually produced, in such a way that at the end of the steps the target torque required during the engine operation is defined and the engine operation and the determination of the working and/or operating parameter are monitored for errors. If errors occur, diagnostic values that describe or indicate the errors are generated and used to modify, in particular limit the target torque. The diagnostic values are individually assigned to the individual steps to modify the determination or modification of the torque performed in each step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Maier, Martin Prenninger
  • Patent number: 8200403
    Abstract: A method for controlling an input torque provided to a transmission includes executing a first iterative search within a first range of permissible torque values to determine a first torque value based on a first cost value. The first cost value is based on a first set of powertrain measurements measured at a first time. A second cost value based on a second torque value and the first set of powertrain measurements measured at the first time is calculated. The second torque value is determined using a second set of powertrain measurements measured at a second time prior to the first time. One of the first torque value and the second torque value is then selected based on the first cost value and the second cost value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen, Bin Wu, Brian R Medema
  • Patent number: 8200408
    Abstract: A method for active traction control of a vehicle can be performed to optimize corner exiting performance of a vehicle that is operating in a high performance or racing environment. The method estimates a real-time tire traction value during operation of the vehicle, computes a remaining tire traction value based upon a comparison of the estimated real-time tire traction value to a total available tire traction value, and calculates a traction system torque limit from the remaining tire traction value. The calculated torque limit can then be used to limit the actual traction system torque of the vehicle as needed in a real-time manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Turski, Charles M. Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 8175779
    Abstract: A program is executed which includes a step (S100) of calculating a base required driving force, a step (S200) of calculating a reference driving force, a step (S400) of calculating a final required driving force on which a vibration suppression filtering process has been performed when the base required driving force is greater than a reference driving force, and a step (S500) of calculating a final required driving force on which the vibration suppression filtering process has not been performed when the base required driving force is equal to or less than the reference driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sawada, Toshihiro Fukumasu
  • Patent number: 8175785
    Abstract: A system and related operating method for performance launch control of a vehicle begins by receiving a user-selected driving condition setting that is indicative of road conditions. The method also collects real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle, and derives a target wheel slip profile from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data. The actual propulsion system torque of the vehicle is limited using the target wheel slip profile, resulting in improved performance for standstill launches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Turski, Kevin A. O'Dea, Eric E. Krueger
  • Patent number: 8165750
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle motion control device capable of controlling the driving force distribution to the wheels with superior stability and response while effectively utilizing the tire grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tsukasaki, Masaru Kogure
  • Patent number: 8157034
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assembly is provided. The vehicle drive assembly includes an engine, a transmission operably coupled with the engine, an output shaft operably coupled with the transmission, a differential operably coupled with the output shaft, an axle shaft rotatably coupled to the differential, at least one wheel selectively coupled to the axle shaft via a rotatable axle stub, an electric wheel motor operably coupled to the at least one wheel via the rotatable axle stub, and a coupling device operably coupled with the electric wheel motor for selectively coupling the axle stub with the axle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Inventors: Calvin Kim, Jim Hall
  • Patent number: 8140238
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle with wheels during a traction control event is provided. The method comprises adjusting wheel torque in response to an amplitude of a band-pass filtered driven wheel speed and a direction of acceleration of driven wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Luehrsen, Michael Glenn Fodor, Don Perlick, Daniel Dunn
  • Publication number: 20120065825
    Abstract: A two-wheel drive motorcycle having a motor-generator driving the front wheel, an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to and independent of a conventional rear wheel drive train. The front wheel drive disclosed herein may be adapted to a conventional motorcycle front wheel and telescoping (or shock-absorbing) front fork suspension systems. The front wheel drive of the two-wheel drive motorcycle may be applied to a number of different types of motorcycles including motocross, enduro, dual-sport and touring motorcycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Reginald Leonard Nicoson
  • Patent number: 8135524
    Abstract: A driving force control device includes an individual-wheel friction-circle limit-value calculating portion that calculates friction-circle limit-values of individual wheels, an individual-wheel requested-resultant-tire-force calculating portion that calculates requested resultant tire forces of the individual wheels, an individual-wheel resultant-tire-force calculating portion that calculates resultant tire forces of the individual wheels, an individual-wheel requested-excessive-tire-force calculating portion that calculates requested excessive tire forces of the individual wheels, an individual-wheel excessive-tire-force calculating portion that calculates excessive tire forces of the individual wheels, an excessive-tire-force calculating portion that calculates an excessive tire force, an over-torque calculating portion that calculates an over-torque, and a control-amount calculating portion that calculates a control amount that is output to an engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Yoneda, Keisuke Hosokawa, Koichi Inoue, Hirowatari Yosuke, Tomohiro Yamada, Koji Matsuno, Masaru Kogure, Satoru Akiyama, Masato Igarashi, Yosuke Morokuma
  • Patent number: 8131435
    Abstract: A control system for a transmission of a vehicle comprises an actuation module and an upshift control module. The transmission has a first gear that corresponds to a first transmission ratio and a second gear that corresponds to a second transmission ratio that is less than the first transmission ratio. The actuation module controls an amount torque transferred to the second gear using a friction device. The upshift control module selectively increases the amount of torque transferred to the second gear based on a comparison of the first transmission ratio and a measured transmission ratio at a predetermined period of time after an upshift to the second gear is commanded, wherein the measured transmission ratio is determined based on an input speed of the transmission divided by an output speed of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph P Ivacko, James Robert Somerville, John J. Koenig, Andriy Nikitin
  • Patent number: 8116942
    Abstract: A steering angle control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating means calculating a longitudinal force, a second calculating device calculating a longitudinal force difference between at least one of right side wheels and at least one of left side wheels based on the longitudinal force, a third calculating device calculating a contribution rate of front wheels at a steering angle control and a contribution rate of rear wheels at the steering angle control, a fourth calculating device calculating a front wheel correction steering angle and a rear wheel correction steering angle based on the contribution rate of the front wheel, the contribution rate of the rear wheel, and a state quantity including the longitudinal force difference, and a driving device outputting a control command value based on the front wheel correction steering angle and the rear wheel correction steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Hiroaki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 8108108
    Abstract: There is described a method of controlling a continuously variable ratio transmission of the type comprising a continuously variable ratio unit (“variator”) which has rotary input and output members though which the variator is coupled between an engine and a driven component, the variator receiving a primary control signal and being constructed and arranged such as to exert upon its input and output members torques which, for a given variator drive ratio, correspond directly to the control signal, the method comprising: determining a target engine acceleration, determining settings of the variator's primary control signal and of an engine torque control for providing the required engine acceleration and adjusting the control signal and/or the engine torque control based on these settings, predicting a consequent engine speed change, allowing for engine and/or transmission characteristics, and correcting the settings of the control signal and engine torque based on a comparison of actual and predicted engine
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Gibson Field, Stephen William Murray, Matthew Piers Burke
  • Patent number: 8099229
    Abstract: An engine control system comprises an engine speed control module and an idle limiting module. The engine speed control module selectively controls an engine based on an idle speed request. The idle limiting module selectively reduces the idle speed request by an amount that is based on a wheel slip value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Steven J. Andrasko
  • Patent number: 8095273
    Abstract: A method includes parallel parking a vehicle between a first object and a second object in response to an available parking distance therebetween. The vehicle includes front steerable wheels and rear steerable wheels. A distance between the first object and the second object is remotely sensed determining whether to apply a one or two cycle parking strategy. An autonomous one cycle parking strategy includes pivoting the front and rear steerable wheels in respective directions for steering the vehicle in a first reverse arcuate path of travel and then cooperatively pivoting the steerable wheels in a counter direction for steering the vehicle in a second reverse arcuate path of travel to a final park position. The autonomous two cycle parking strategy includes performing the one cycle parking maneuver and then changing a transmission gear to a drive gear and pivoting the front and rear steerable wheels in the first direction for moving the vehicle forward to a final park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Shih-Ken Chen
  • Patent number: 8090492
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a measured signal detector 11, a vehicle parameter obtainer 12, a sideslip angle temporary estimator 13, a sideslip angle differential corresponding value computer 14 and a sideslip angle real estimator 15. A sideslip angle temporary estimate value is computed from one or plural vehicle parameters including at least the mass. A sideslip angle differential corresponding value is computed from a measured signal and the vehicle parameters including no mass. A sideslip angle is derived from the sideslip angle temporary estimate value and the sideslip angle differential corresponding value. A sideslip can be detected without a steering angle detection mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: National University Corporation Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
    Inventors: Masao Nagai, Yohei Michitsuji, Pongsathorn Raksincharoensak
  • Patent number: 8086382
    Abstract: A method for enhancing stability of a three wheel vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a single rear wheel, each of the wheels having a tire with a tire grip threshold. The method including deploying an electronic stability system (ESS) on the vehicle, providing the ESS with input from various vehicle sensors related to the longitudinal and lateral acceleration of the vehicle, causing the ESS to determine whether (i) a precursory condition indicative of a wheel lift exists and (ii) the tire grip threshold of any of the tires has been exceeded; and when a precursory condition indicative of a wheel lift exists and the tire grip threshold of none of the tires has been exceeded, causing the ESS to reduce the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle by a first amount less than that which would cause the tire grip threshold of any of the tires to be exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Dagenais, Daniel Mercier
  • Patent number: 8086383
    Abstract: A control input for operating an actual vehicle actuator and a control input for operating a vehicle model are determined by an FB distribution law based on a difference between a reference state amount determined by a vehicle model and an actual state amount of an actual vehicle such that the state amount error is approximated to zero, and then an actuator device of the actual vehicle and the model vehicle are operated based on the control inputs. The FB distribution law determines a control input for operating the model such that a state amount error is approximated to zero while restraining a predetermined restriction object amount from deviating from a permissible range. A vehicle control device capable of enhancing robustness against disturbance factors or their changes while performing operation control of actuators that is as suited to behaviors of an actual vehicle as possible is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Hiroshi Kono, Takayuki Toyoshima, Hiroyuki Urabe, Shuji Shiraishi, Yukihiro Orimoto
  • Patent number: 8078373
    Abstract: A method for predicting the dynamics of a vehicle using information about the path on which the vehicle is travelling that has particular application for enhancing active safety performance of the vehicle, to improve driver comfort and to improve vehicle dynamics control. The method includes generating a preview of a path to be followed by the vehicle where the preview of the path is generated based on actual values of a plurality of vehicle parameters. The method further includes obtaining a corrected value of at least one of the plurality of vehicle parameters corresponding to the actual values of each of the plurality of vehicle parameters, wherein the corrected value of the at least one of the vehicle parameters is obtained based on a target path to be followed by the vehicle on the road, and wherein the target path is obtained on the basis of a plurality of road parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Weiwen Deng, Yong H. Lee
  • Patent number: 8073593
    Abstract: A control ON/OFF determination unit determines that oversteer control should be started in the case where a slip angle differential value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the sign of the slip angle differential value is identical with the sign of a yaw rate, the sign of a steering wheel turning angle is identical with the sign of a steering wheel turning speed, and a vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Mikamo, Hiroaki Kato, Takashi Kodera, Takehiro Ito
  • Patent number: 8061464
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain with mechanically independent sets of front and rear traction wheels has separate motive power units. An electronic control system including traction wheel slip control is electronically coupled to a first motive power unit and to a second motive power unit to separately establish maximum rear wheel traction and maximum front wheel traction. Independent requests are made for an increase or a decrease in wheel torque for one set of traction wheels and an increase or decrease in wheel torque for the other set of traction wheels thereby improving acceleration performance and enhancing vehicle stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mathew A. Boesch
  • Patent number: 8062172
    Abstract: A hybrid-electric powertrain and control method for a vehicle having forward traction wheels and rearward traction wheels in an all-wheel drive configuration. An engine and an electric motor deliver power through delivery paths to the traction wheels. The power delivery paths may have multiple ratio gearing so that more power can be delivered mechanically to improve powertrain performance and to allow the electric motor size to be reduced. The powertrain includes a controller for automatically balancing power distribution to the forward and rearward traction wheels to avoid wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Gerald Supina, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Stefan Paul Pototschnik
  • Patent number: 8055413
    Abstract: Faster shifting operation and reduced shift shock in response to a braking operation during a lift-foot-up shifting may be achieved when an automatic transmission is controlled by a method for compensating a hydraulic pressure that includes: determining whether a lift-foot-up shifting of the automatic transmission is under control; calculating a vehicle speed of a vehicle; calculating a deceleration rate of the vehicle; calculating a compensation hydraulic pressure to be applied to a friction member of the transmission, based on the deceleration rate; calculating a on-coming pressure based on the calculated compensation hydraulic pressure; and applying the calculated on-coming pressure to the friction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Byeong Wook Jeon
  • Patent number: 8055423
    Abstract: Disclosed are a motor vehicle drive control system, which easily detects accelerations, generated in the up and down, front and rear, and left and right of a motor vehicle body, in high degree of accuracy, and performs the stability control of a motor vehicle, and its sensor unit. Sensor units provided in four corners of the front and rear, and left and right of the motor vehicle body detect accelerations generated in X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions, and digital values of detection result are transmitted to a monitoring device as digital information via an electromagnetic wave. The monitoring device outputs this digital information to a stability control unit. The stability control unit performs the correction control of drive of a subthrottle actuator or a brake drive actuator on the basis of the acceleration values obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Hattori, Yasuo Hatano
  • Patent number: 8050818
    Abstract: A roll stiffness control apparatus of a vehicle, which includes a controller that estimates a remaining capacity of front wheels to generate a lateral force and a remaining capacity of rear wheels to generate a lateral force, and that sets a roll stiffness distribution ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels so as to reduce a difference between the remaining capacity of the front wheels to generate a lateral force and the remaining capacity of the rear wheels to generate a lateral force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8024091
    Abstract: An FB distribution rule 20 determines an actual vehicle actuator operation control input and a vehicle model operation control input such that a difference between a reference state amount determined by a vehicle model 16 and an actual state amount of an actual vehicle 1 (a state amount error) approximates to zero, and the control inputs are used to operate an actuator device 3 of the actual vehicle 1 and the vehicle model 16. In the FB distribution law 20, when an actual vehicle feedback required amount based on the state amount error exists in a dead zone, then an actual vehicle actuator operation control input is determined by using the required amount as a predetermined value. A vehicle model manipulated variable control input is determined such that a state amount error is brought close to zero, independently of whether an actual vehicle feedback required amount exists in a dead zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Takayuki Toyoshima, Hiroyuki Urabe, Hiroshi Kono
  • Patent number: 8019518
    Abstract: A basic-additional-yaw-moment setting section sets a basic additional yaw moment and determines the polarity of the basic additional yaw moment on the basis of a steering-wheel angle, a yaw rate, and a vehicle speed. A left-right driving-force distribution controller sets the driving-force distribution with respect to left and right driving wheels on the basis of the basic additional yaw moment and the polarity of the basic additional yaw moment, and adjusts the driving-force distribution when a vehicle drive control operation signal is output from a vehicle drive control unit. Specifically, the left-right driving-force distribution control section adjusts the driving-force distribution such that the polarity of the basic additional yaw moment is in the same direction as that of a yaw moment applied by the vehicle drive control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8014926
    Abstract: A vehicle control device for executing the following control are provided. When a driving mode is input, a CPU of an ECU outputs an instruction for shifting a power transfer mechanism in accordance with the input driving mode, and controls a power control mechanism in accordance with a stored driving mode. When it is determined that shifting of the power transfer mechanism has been completed, the CPU switches the characteristic of the power control mechanism in accordance with the input driving mode. On the other hand, when it is determined that a predetermined period of time has elapsed without completing the shifting from when the instruction for shifting the power transfer mechanism is issued, the CPU maintains the characteristic of the power control mechanism at a characteristic corresponding to the stored driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sawada
  • Patent number: 8000871
    Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Vision Works IP Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred S. Braunberger, Beau M. Braunberger
  • Patent number: 7997373
    Abstract: A steering control device for a vehicle includes a first adjustment value determination means for determining a first adjustment value of a value corresponding to a wheel steering angle based on an actual value and a target value of turning state quantity, the first adjustment value is a value directing to approximate the actual value to the target value, and a steering control means for adjusting the wheel steering angle by modifying the value corresponding to the wheel steering angle based on the first adjustment value, wherein the first adjustment value determination means includes an index value obtaining means for obtaining an index value indicating a probability of an occurrence of a side-slip of a wheel and a regulation means for regulating the first adjustment value so that the greater the probability of the occurrence of the side-slip is, the smaller the first adjustment value is set to be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Hideaki Koto, Kenji Asano
  • Patent number: 7996139
    Abstract: During a starting operation or a low-speed drive of a vehicle on a slope, the drive control of the invention sets a gradient-corresponding rotation speed N? as a rotation speed of an engine to output a required driving force against a longitudinal vehicle gradient ?fr (step S110), and sequentially sets a low-?-road correction rotation speed Nlow upon identification of a low-?-road drive condition, a vehicle speed difference-compensating rotation speed Nv based on a vehicle speed V, and a brake-based correction rotation speed Nb based on a brake pressure Pb (steps S120 through S250). The drive control sets a target engine rotation speed Ne* based on these settings (step S260) and subsequently sets a target throttle opening THtag (step S270). The operation of the engine is controlled with the greater between the target throttle opening THtag and a required throttle opening THreq corresponding to an accelerator opening Acc (step S290).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Mitsuhiro Tabata, Hiroshi Sato
  • Patent number: 7984777
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assembly is provided. The vehicle drive assembly includes an engine, a transmission operably coupled with the engine, an output shaft operably coupled with the transmission, a differential operably coupled with the output shaft, an axle shaft rotatably coupled to the differential, at least one wheel selectively coupled to the axle shaft via a rotatable axle stub, an electric wheel motor operably coupled to the at least one wheel via the rotatable axle stub, and a coupling device operably coupled with the electric wheel motor for selectively coupling the axle stub with the axle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventors: Calvin Kim, Jim Hall
  • Patent number: 7987029
    Abstract: A control input for operating an actual vehicle actuator and a control input for operating a vehicle model are determined by an FB distribution law based on a state amount error which is a difference between a reference state amount determined by a vehicle model and an actual state amount of an actual vehicle such that the state amount error is approximated to zero. An actuator device of the actual vehicle and the model vehicle, respectively, are then operated based on the control inputs. The FB distribution law estimates an external force acting on the actual vehicle due to a control input for operating an actual vehicle actuator, and determines a control input for operating the vehicle model on the basis of the estimated value and a basic value of a control input for operating the vehicle model for approximating the state amount error to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Takayuki Toyoshima, Hiroyuki Urabe, Hiroshi Kono
  • Patent number: 7979189
    Abstract: A vehicle behavior control system includes: a first drive power control unit that executes a turning control over right and left drive wheels of a vehicle to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle based on a drive power difference between the right and left drive wheels; a second drive power control unit that executes a traction control when any drive power difference between the right and left drive wheels exists, in order to reduce the existing drive power difference; and a traction control restriction unit that restricts the traction control from being executed when the turning control over the right and left drive wheels is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihisa Nihei
  • Patent number: 7974756
    Abstract: A construction vehicle includes an engine, a hydraulic pump configured to be driven by the engine, a traveling hydraulic motor configured to be driven by pressured oil discharged by the hydraulic pump, a traveling wheel configured to be driven by driving force of the traveling hydraulic motor, and a control unit configured to control a vehicle velocity and a traction force by controlling rotation speed of the engine, capacity of the hydraulic pump, and capacity of the traveling hydraulic motor. In addition, the control unit is further configured to perform slip reduction control for reducing the maximum rotation speed of the engine as the vehicle velocity becomes slow in a low-velocity range in which the vehicle velocity is less than or equal to a predetermined velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 7971889
    Abstract: A wheeled loading machine includes a body mounting a loading arm, a ground engaging structure including a front axle which carries a front pair of ground engaging wheels and a rear axle which carries a rear pair of ground engaging wheels, the loading arm being mounted at a position towards a rear of the machine for up and down movement about a generally horizontal axis, and the loading arm extending forwardly beside a cab which is mounted at one side of the body, to an outermost end which is beyond a front of the body, and the loading arm having at its outermost end a mounting for a loading implement and the arm being extendible to vary the length of the loading arm, and each axle being suspended from the body by a respective suspension, each of the ground engaging wheels being drivable by an engine of the machine through a mechanical transmission, and the machine including a braking system for braking each wheel, the braking system including a brake control system which provides a brake anti-locking function
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited
    Inventors: Richard Francis Way, Mark Alan Carson
  • Patent number: 7966117
    Abstract: A method for controlling rotation speed of at least one rotary element in the driveline of a vehicle is provided. At least one operating parameter is detected repeatedly, which operating parameter corresponds to an actual value of a torque in the driveline, which is delivered to the rotary element. A desired value of a torque to the rotary element is determined on the basis of friction against the ground of at least one of the ground engagement elements of the vehicle, which ground engagement element is driven via the rotary element. The rotation speed of the rotary element is controlled so that the actual value moves toward the desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Karl Erik Olsson
  • Patent number: 7957880
    Abstract: A slip detection system for a vehicle comprises an engine speed detector configured to detect an engine speed of an engine mounted in the vehicle, an engine speed increase rate detector configured to detect an increase rate in a predetermined time of the engine speed detected by the engine speed detector, and a slip determiner configured to integrate values of increase rates in respective predetermined times, from when the increase rate detected by the engine speed increase rate detector becomes larger than a first threshold until the increase rate becomes smaller than the first threshold, and to determine that a drive wheel of the vehicle is in a slip-state when an integrated value resulting from integration of the values of the increase rates becomes larger than a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Watabe, Hiroyuki Ohno
  • Patent number: 7957881
    Abstract: The occurrence or non-occurrence of a certain slip of a drive wheel is detected based on only a motor torque used for driving a vehicle, a brake torque, and a rotation speed of a motor computed from an output of a rotational position detection sensor. In response to detection of the occurrence of the certain slip, drive restriction of the motor is activated for slip control. The slip control is attainable by a brake system and the drive restriction of the motor. Even in the event of any failure or abnormality arising in the brake system or in the event of prohibiting traction control of the brake system in response to the driver's operation of a TRC off switch, the drive restriction of the motor accomplishes the slip control. This arrangement desirably prevents slip-induced unstable driving of the vehicle and damages of devices involved in slip control for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Itoh
  • Patent number: 7957877
    Abstract: A curving tendency detection device is provided to detecting a curving tendency (curving frequency and amount of curvature) in a vehicle roadway or a vehicle running state (behavior). Basically, the curving tendency detection device has a lateral acceleration differential value calculation section and a curving tendency estimation section. The lateral acceleration differential value calculation section calculates vehicle lateral acceleration differential values of a vehicle lateral acceleration acting on a vehicle as the vehicle lateral acceleration varies over time. The curving tendency estimation section estimates the curving tendency based on the vehicle lateral acceleration differential value calculated by the lateral acceleration differential value calculation section. Thus, the curving can be reliably detected by effectively avoiding a false curving tendency in cases in which the left and right wheels have different effective diameters, or the vehicle is driving straight along a laterally tilted road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Makiyama