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: 9646432
    Abstract: A diagnostic scan tool is provided including a connect/configure module for establishing a communication link between the scan tool and a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU). A vehicle specification module operates to identify a vehicle under test in response to receipt of a vehicle identification number (VIN). A trouble code module retrieves digital trouble codes (DTCs) from the ECU. A freeze frame data module retrieves freeze frame data from the ECU, the retrieved freeze frame data being functionally associated with a highest priority DTC. A database lists possible vehicle defect solutions, indexed to the VIN and the DTCs. A digital signal processor is operative to derive the highest priority DTC from analysis of the retrieved freeze frame data. The digital signal processor further being operative to regulate selection of a most likely vehicle defect solution associated with the VIN and the highest priority DTC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: INNOVA ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Madison, Ieon Chen, Keith Andreasen
  • Patent number: 9643617
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating a friction coefficient in a moving vehicle analyze image data from a forward-looking vehicle camera to produce a camera friction coefficient ?k, and analyze tire slip and tire vibration based on a wheel speed signal to produce a wheel friction coefficient ?w. The camera and wheel friction coefficients are both considered to produce a proactive estimated friction coefficient that is primarily based on the camera friction coefficient ?k, whereas the wheel friction coefficient ?w is taken into account to check plausibility of the camera friction coefficient ?k.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Stefan Stoelzl, Andreas Koebe
  • Patent number: 9644561
    Abstract: Various approaches are described for air-fuel ratio control in an engine. In one example, a method include adjusting fuel injection from an anticipatory controller responsive to exhaust oxygen feedback of an exhaust gas sensor positioned upstream of an exhaust catalyst, the anticipatory controller including a first integral term and a second integral term, the second integral term correcting for past fuel disturbances. In this way, it is possible to provide fast responses to errors via the anticipatory controller, while corrected known past fueling errors, on average, via the second integral term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen William Magner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns
  • Patent number: 9637001
    Abstract: A method is described for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle on a road surface. The method includes obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, which is dependent on longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle when a slope of the road surface is non-zero. The method includes determining an initial estimate of the slope. The method includes determining a difference between the initial estimate of the slope and a prior estimate of the slope and, based on the difference, setting a current estimate of the slope to be equal to the initial estimate or the prior estimate. The method includes estimating the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on the current estimate of the slope and the measured value of vehicle acceleration. The method includes controlling at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels based on the estimated longitudinal velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: e-AAM Driveline Systems AB
    Inventors: Yunlong Gao, Matthijs Klomp
  • Patent number: 9625910
    Abstract: A lane changing apparatus of an autonomous vehicle includes a lane recognizer, a vehicle information collector, a control information calculator, a controller and a steering apparatus. The lane recognizer is configured to recognize a lane of a road on which the vehicle is driving and extract road information from the recognized lane. The vehicle information collector is configured to collect vehicle information by a variety of sensors installed in the vehicle. The control information calculator is configured to calculate control information for changing the lane by using the vehicle information and the road information. The controller is configured to control a yaw rate of the vehicle based on the control information upon changing the lane. The steering apparatus is configured to change a moving direction of the vehicle according to a control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Tae Sung Choi, Byung Yong You, Sung Won Yoon, Chang Young Jung
  • Patent number: 9624846
    Abstract: In a vehicle having a manual transmission, various sensors such as pedal and gearshift position sensors and accelerometers provide data to a control module such as an engine control module. The control module includes a microprocessor which calculates derivatives, i.e., the rate of change (first derivative) or the rate of change of the rate of change (second derivative) of the data from the sensors. Based on these derivatives, the microprocessor classifies the current driving activity into one of two, three or more modes, for example, track, sport and touring. During a shift, from the data from the gearshift sensor, the microprocessor determines whether an upshift or downshift is imminent or in progress and decreases or increases the engine speed to achieve zero or negligible cross clutch speed differential upon clutch engagement, rapidly if in the first (track) mode, less rapidly in the second (sport) mode and less rapidly still in the third (touring) mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur
  • Patent number: 9610976
    Abstract: A lane departure prevention control system for a vehicle includes: a lane detector that detects a lane on which the vehicle travels; a disturbance information detector that detects information on disturbance applied to the vehicle; a correction module that corrects position information of a departure determination line used for determining whether the vehicle departs from the lane, based on at least the information on the disturbance applied to the vehicle; a departure predictor that makes a prediction of departure from the lane, based on position information on the departure determination line and a travelling state, the position information being corrected by the correction module; a target turn amount calculator that calculates a target turn amount to be applied to the vehicle, required for preventing departure from the lane based on the prediction of the departure from the lane; and a target turn amount generator that generates the target turn amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Terazawa
  • Patent number: 9610933
    Abstract: A method for electronic stability control of a vehicle includes a compensated moment calculation operation of calculating a compensated moment according to an error between a desired turning speed calculated based on a steering angle and a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a turning speed of the vehicle; a compensated moment comparison operation of comparing the compensated moment calculated in the compensated moment calculation operation with a first reference value and a second reference value; steering rear wheels of the vehicle if it is determined that the compensated moment is equal to or larger than the first reference value and smaller than the second reference value; and a simultaneously performing steering of rear wheels of the vehicle and braking of the vehicle if it is determined that the compensated moment is equal to or larger than the second reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Young Joo Cho
  • Patent number: 9604615
    Abstract: In a method for carrying out a braking procedure in a vehicle having a hydraulic brake system, when the brake temperature exceeds a boundary value hydraulic fluid is intermediately stored in a storage chamber, and when brake fading occurs the hydraulic fluid is pumped back into the brake circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Juergen Dorsch
  • Patent number: 9586569
    Abstract: A method for securing the braking effect of a brake includes a brake contact surface and a one brake pad including a friction surface, wherein a braking effect therebetween is caused by a braking pressure acting therebetween, the method including capturing the braking effect of the brake, attributing the braking effect to a friction parameter of the friction surface in a calculation unit, and comparing the friction parameter of a marginal braking effect in a comparator, wherein a signal is output to the brake when it falls below the marginal braking effect, which signal causes a braking pressure and a friction force between the brake contact surface and the friction surface directly and/or indirectly by pressure build-up, whereby the friction parameter of the friction surface is brought above the marginal braking effect when the braking pressure and the friction force on the friction surface and/or the brake contact surface obtain a material removal and/or a heat input, by which the relation between braking e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Olaf Drewes
  • Patent number: 9573578
    Abstract: There is provided a brake system for vehicles, the brake system including: a slave cylinder S/C to generate a hydraulic pressure by an electric motor according to a braking operation by a driver; and a controller to decrease an operation amount of the slave cylinder S/C when an operation amount of the electric motor is maintained, then increase an operation amount of the slave cylinder S/C when a change occurs in an operation amount of the electric motor subsequently. The controller determines whether or not the phase currents Iu, Iv, Iw of the electric motor are in two-phase continuously energized state and the state remains for a certain time or longer. When the determination conditions are satisfied, the controller performs commutation control to generate commutation in the electric motor by reducing a target hydraulic pressure of the slave cylinder S/C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Shimada, Soichiro Ueura, Kazuharu Kidera
  • Patent number: 9573591
    Abstract: A method of controlling drivability of a vehicle detects an overall load acting on the vehicle. A mass of the vehicle or an estimate thereof is obtained. A controller determines whether the vehicle is negotiating a curve during a driving situation. If the vehicle is negotiating a curve during the driving situation, the controller determines whether the vehicle has a tendency to oversteer or to understeer. The load acting on the vehicle is dynamically changed or a suspension stiffness of the vehicle is dynamically adjusted to reduce the tendency of the vehicle to oversteer or to understeer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Matoy, Richard N. Blust, Justin A. Ruediger, Chris A. Harrison
  • Patent number: 9558317
    Abstract: A system for limiting engine torque of a four-wheel-drive motor vehicle, including an actuator that is controlled and configured to distribute the engine torque to the drive wheels, a computer calculating at least one variable characteristic of an operation of the vehicle, and a module for limiting the engine torque. In addition, the limitation system includes a mechanism for deactivating the module for limiting the engine torque according to the variable characteristic of the operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Francois Foussard, Alessandro Monti, Richard Pothin, Nicolas Romani
  • Patent number: 9555791
    Abstract: A hydraulic unit for a vehicle brake apparatus having a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder includes a housing formed with a pipe line connecting between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder, a pump disposed in the housing for sucking and discharging a brake fluid to boost pressure of the brake fluid, and a reservoir piston disposed in a hole formed in the housing so as to be movable slidably back and forth, the reservoir piston partitioning a reservoir chamber within the hole for temporarily storing the brake fluid discharged from the wheel cylinder. The hydraulic unit further includes a cover disposed in the hole to close one end on an atmospheric side of the hole, the cover being formed with a fluid reservoir chamber for storing the brake fluid leaking from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumitoshi Koyama, Shin Sasaki, Jun Oonishi
  • Patent number: 9555706
    Abstract: A traction control system configured to limit slip by a machine having a work implement including a machine motion sensor configured to determine a motion of the machine, a work implement unit configured to determine whether the work implement is in an operational state, a powertrain motion sensor configured to determine a motion of a powertrain component, and a machine powertrain controller configured to determine slip by comparing the motion of the machine to the motion of the powertrain component, wherein the machine powertrain controller is configured to command a torque reduction to the powertrain component when slip is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mitchell, Norval Thomson
  • Patent number: 9557748
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain control system causes friction torque to be delivered to wheels at a generally constant value for a range of increasing requested friction torque values such that commanded powertrain torque values are reduced to a generally constant floor value. The range of increasing requested torque values is less than a requested powertrain torque value under foot off accelerator pedal and vehicle stop conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dale Scott Crombez
  • Patent number: 9550522
    Abstract: A system and method for limiting a turning speed of a compactor is disclosed. The compactor includes a steering member configured to receive operator steering input. The system may comprise a speed sensor, and a controller in communication with the speed sensor. The speed sensor may be mounted on the compactor and configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor, configured to measure a temperature of the surface, may be mounted on the compactor and in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to receive the travel speed and/or temperature, and to limit a turning speed of the compactor when a condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Alan Oetken, John Lee Marsolek
  • Patent number: 9540044
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power steering system of a vehicle is provided. The method determines a yaw rate of the vehicle. The method generates a hand wheel angle signal that indicates a position of a hand wheel of the vehicle based on the yaw rate. The method controls the power steering system by using the hand wheel angle signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy W. Kaufmann, Tao Yang
  • Patent number: 9539900
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for performing vehicle traction control. Time intervals between points of rotation of a rotating vehicle output shaft are measured. Indicators of shaft rotation rate are generated using, for each generated indicator, a set of one or more of the time intervals. The generated indicators of shaft rotation rate are used to determine a value indicative of a rate of change of shaft rotation rate. An indicator of a maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate is computed. A current indicator of output shaft rotation rate is determined to exceed the maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate. In response to determining that the current indicator exceeds the maximum allowable output shaft rotation rate, a signal to trigger application of a traction control mechanism is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Inventor: Shannon R. Davis
  • Patent number: 9537162
    Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a cold start of a fuel cell system are provided and are capable of increasing a fuel cell load to reduce a cold start time using a kinetic energy storage method for a rotor of a motor for driving a fuel cell system. The method improves cold start performance by performing self-heating of a fuel cell stack based on an increase in an output current amount of a fuel cell and by restricting a motor torque simultaneously with generating the motor torque while applying a current to a motor when a vehicle stops to consume an output current of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Soon Woo Kwon, Joon Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 9527406
    Abstract: An electric vehicle drive system comprising first and second electric motors; a torque split unit configured to receive first input that includes at least a total torque request for the first and second electric motors, and respective first and second maximum torques for the first and second electric motors, the torque split unit configured to process the first input without taking into account wheel slip, and to generate at least respective first and second torque requests for the first and second electric motors; and a traction and stability control unit configured to receive second input that includes at least the first and second torque requests, the total torque request, a computed vehicle speed, and respective first and second slip errors relating to the first and second electric motors, the traction and stability control unit configured to process the second input and to generate respective first and second torque commands for the first and second electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 9523340
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for controlling an engine of a vehicle and a method thereof, and more particularly, provides an apparatus for controlling an engine of a vehicle and a method thereof capable of preventing damage on catalyst occurring upon controlling engine torque by controlling the engine torque based on an accumulated time of a torque decrease request from an ESC system or a TCS while monitoring temperature of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9505407
    Abstract: A driving support apparatus for a vehicle includes an actual longitudinal acceleration specifying section which specifies actual longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, a target longitudinal acceleration specifying section which specifies target longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, an acceleration and deceleration instruction section which allows acceleration and deceleration control so that the actual longitudinal acceleration specified by the actual longitudinal acceleration specifying section coincides with the target longitudinal acceleration specified by the target longitudinal acceleration specifying section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inou, Hideaki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9499196
    Abstract: In an electric power steering system, a low-pass filter executes a low-pass filtering process on a detected steering torque value detected by a torque sensor. A steering torque deviation computing unit computes a deviation ?T between a detected steering torque value T* obtained through the low-pass filtering process and the detected steering torque value detected by the torque sensor. A PI control unit generates a vibration compensation value used to lead the detected steering torque value to the steering torque value obtained through the low-pass filtering process, by executing PI computation on the steering torque deviation computed by the steering torque deviation computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Kariatsumari, Tatsuma Kouchi
  • Patent number: 9493144
    Abstract: A vehicle braking apparatus varies a relationship of a pressure increase characteristic of rear-wheel brake oil pressure with respect to a pressure increase characteristic of front-wheel brake oil pressure according to a determination result of a likelihood of a collision with an obstacle. Preferably, when the likelihood of a collision with an obstacle is lower than a predetermined level, the relationship of the pressure increase characteristic of the rear-wheel brake oil pressure with respect to the pressure increase characteristic of the front-wheel brake oil pressure is caused to be a relationship in which a wheel cylinder pressure of the rear wheel increases not earlier than wheel cylinder pressure of the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKA KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoji Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 9487235
    Abstract: A control system of a vehicle includes an image sensor and a control having an image processor. The image sensor is disposed at the vehicle and has a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle. The image processor is operable to process image data captured by the image sensor to determine a curvature of a road being traveled by the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data, the control is operable to determine tangents at locations along the determined curvature. Responsive to determination of the tangents, the control is operable generate an output to adjust the vehicle steering to guide the vehicle in a direction that generally corresponds to determined tangents at respective locations of the vehicle's path of travel along the curvature of the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Devendra Bajpai, Honghao Tan
  • Patent number: 9482339
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes input and output members, a primary variator pulley, and a secondary variator pulley. The respective variator pulleys are responsive to primary and secondary pressures. Speed sensors measure a respective rotational speed of each variator pulley. A controller executes a method by receiving the measured rotational speeds, calculating a current speed ratio of the CVT above a threshold CVT speed ratio using the rotational speeds, comparing the calculated current speed ratio to calibrated threshold ratios during a sudden stop event of the vehicle, and selectively executing a CVT control action after the calculated current speed ratio drops below the threshold CVT speed ratio during the sudden stop event. The control action depends on which of the threshold ratios is exceeded by the calculated current speed ratio after the calculated current speed ratio drops below the threshold CVT speed ratio, and on the measured rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Otanez, Zhen J. Zhang
  • Patent number: 9481243
    Abstract: A method controls a powertrain that directs power from an engine and a transmission to all four wheels or to just front wheels or to just rear wheels. The method includes monitoring information transmitted over a communications network. The method determines whether one or more components of the powertrain are in an active condition or in an inactive condition. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the inactive condition when not connected to the transmission and not connected to the front wheels or the rear wheels. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the active condition when connected to the transmission and connected to the front wheels and the rear wheels. The method switches the one or more components of the powertrain between the inactive condition and the active condition based at least in part on visual data provided by an on-board camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Larkin, Johannes Quehenberger
  • Patent number: 9482170
    Abstract: A deceleration control system in a vehicle comprises; a deceleration start detector; a memory for storing a normal state rule and a deceleration state rule to control a driving power, and a controller for controlling the driving power; wherein in the deceleration state rule, the driving power is changed based on the detection by a driving state detector, and a driving power decided in accordance with the deceleration state rule is greater than a driving power decided in accordance with the normal state rule according to the same driving state: and wherein the controller switches the normal state rule to the deceleration state rule and controls the driving power in accordance with the deceleration state rule, based on the detection by the driving state detector, when the deceleration start detector detects that the deceleration has started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9475396
    Abstract: A slip control device for an electric vehicle which determines without error slippage occurrence with only a rotation angle sensor for motor rotation control and perform rapid control to eliminate the slippage. A threshold calculator calculates a normal angular acceleration of a motor depending on a manipulation amount of an accelerator to obtain a threshold, and an angular acceleration calculator differentiates a detection value from a rotation angle sensor twice to calculate an angular acceleration. A slip determination determines whether a wheel driven by a motor has slipped, and a torque limitation limits a torque when determining a slippage. The determination compares the calculated acceleration to the threshold, counts a number of times it is consecutively determined that the calculated acceleration exceeds the threshold, and determines a slippage if the number of times has reached a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yingjie Zhang, Junichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 9475500
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for participative sensing of road friction conditions by vehicles, collection of the friction data from a large number of vehicles by a central server, processing the data to classify friction conditions by roadway and locale, and sending notifications of the friction conditions to vehicles as appropriate. A large number of vehicles use participative sensing systems to identify road friction estimates which are reported to the central server—where the vehicles use sensor data and vehicle dynamic conditions to estimate friction. The central server stores and aggregates the friction data, filters it and ages it. Vehicles requesting advisories from the central server will receive notices of road friction conditions which may be significant based on their location and heading. Driver warnings can be issued for low friction conditions ahead, and automated vehicle systems may also respond to the notices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Youssef A. Ghoneim, Fan Bai, Jinzhu Chen
  • Patent number: 9475395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control system and methods for controlling motion of a vehicle over a surface. The control system limits an amount of drive torque that may be applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle to prevent an amount of wheel slip from exceeding a prescribed value. The prescribed value of wheel slip is determined in dependence at least in part on vehicle speed. In addition, method claims 28 and 29 are directed to providing drive torque, independent of vehicle speed, which corresponds to or exceeds the maximum traction force. These methods are suitable for highway driving with high friction or off road driving on soft terrain, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Paul Beever, Michael Blyth
  • Patent number: 9463800
    Abstract: A control method for a motor-driven vehicle includes comparing a motor output with a hill holding condition on an inclined road. A hill holding fail safe is performed through a brake cooperation control when the motor output is less than the hill holding condition. Since the brake cooperation control for the hill holding fail safe is implemented by an electronic parking brake (EPB) motor control on a hill holding condition, convenience is provided without difficulty of control according to an oil pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Do-Youn Jang, Deok-Keun Shin
  • Patent number: 9461578
    Abstract: A motor control device of a vehicle includes a motor and a lock mechanism for locking the rotation of vehicle wheels. The motor control device includes a detection device for detecting release of the lock mechanism, a damping control device for suppressing torsional vibration of a drive shaft, and a current control device for controlling current flowing to the motor on the basis of a motor torque command value set by the damping control device. The current control device channels an excitation current for generating a magnetic flux in the motor on the basis of the detection result of the detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Katsumata, Ken Ito, Takashi Nakajima, Akira Sawada, Shou Oono, Hiroyuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9434479
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method associating received coefficient of friction data to runway friction estimation map elements. Also, the method may include aggregating the received determined coefficient of friction data into a friction estimation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard Paul Metzger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9421882
    Abstract: The speed v of a motor driven body, the rotational speed ? and the actual torque value Tm generated by the motor are acquired. Subsequently, unit (741) estimates the slip rate X of the drive wheels based on the movement speed v and the rotation speed ?. Further, unit (742) estimates the drive torque Td based on the rotational speed w and the actual torque value Tm. Next, unit (743) calculates a limit value L for a torque command value Tc based on the slip rate X and the drive torque Td. Further, unit (744) limits the torque command value Tc using the limit value L, generates a torque setting value Ts, which is sent to a motor drive system (900). As a result, it is possible to quickly realize control in accordance with changes in the road surface state, thus allowing safe travel while ensuring the needed drive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9421883
    Abstract: A circuit controls a polyphase alternating current electric motor with adaptive adjustments to voltage magnitude and voltage frequency when it receives measurements of wheel slip and wheel skid. The apparatus receives target torque requests as well as sensor data from a wheel and local motion and acceleration detectors. When the target torque is not attainable because of loading or loss of traction, the circuit adaptively determines and provides an attainable torque and transmits the attainable torque value which enables other target torque requests to be amended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Drake Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Drako, Shivinder Singh Sikand
  • Patent number: 9410523
    Abstract: An inventive system and method for managing vehicle power is presented. The novel technology provides a means to automatically shutdown a vehicle's engine when conditions are such that engine power is not needed, reducing fuel consumption as well as lowering noise and emissions. A series of conditions are examined to determine whether engine power is needed and hence whether shutdown can be safely performed. The inventive system and method can also determine when power is again needed by the engine and can re-start the engine automatically at such times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS CONTROLS INC.
    Inventor: James A. Dupuy
  • Patent number: 9409554
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the driving stability of a motor vehicle in which driver-independent braking interventions are triggered if a critical driving situation is to be expected on the basis of route information and instantaneous position data of the motor vehicle, and to a corresponding system. According to the invention, the driver predefines, via a human/machine interface, information about the maximum coefficient of friction to be utilized, which is used as the basis for the prediction of a critical driving situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Thomas Raste, Peter Lauer, Peter E. Rieth
  • Patent number: 9399451
    Abstract: A system for tracking a path of a motor vehicle, the system including: an instantaneous speed sensor on each wheel of front and rear axle systems; a mechanism to calculate speed loss between wheels of a single axle system; a mechanism to calculate difference between the speed losses of each axle system; and a mechanism to compare the difference with a stored threshold value. A method for tracking a path of a motor vehicle includes: calculating speed losses for wheels of front and rear axle systems; calculating speed loss difference between each front and rear axle system; and comparing the speed loss difference with a stored threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Jannick Auvinet, Christophe Bouet, Bertrand Gruyelle, Thierry Philippe
  • Patent number: 9399405
    Abstract: An inverted vehicle control apparatus includes a plurality of driving wheels, a plurality of drive means each of which drives a respective one of the plurality of driving wheels, skid detection means for detecting a skid state between the driving wheels and a road surface, operation information acquisition means for acquiring operation information of a rider, and control means for controlling the drive means to control the driving wheels. The control means controls, based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition means, the driving wheel for which no skid is detected by the skid detection means, and the control means controls the driving wheel for which a skid is detected by the skid detection means so that a friction reaction force exerted from the road surface to the driving wheel is exerted in such a direction that the inverted vehicle is raised by the friction reaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fukashi Andoh
  • Patent number: 9387759
    Abstract: A main valve and method assembling for use on a machine is disclosed. The main valve may comprise a body, a free wheeling valve, a bypass valve, a flow divider valve, a free wheeling pilot valve, and a flow divider bypass pilot control valve. Each valve may be disposed inside the body. The body may define a plurality of ports and channels between the valves. The free wheeling valve may be operable between a free wheeling mode and a drive assist mode. The bypass valve may have a flow dividing mode that permits fluid communication between the free wheeling valve and the flow divider valve, and a bypass mode that permits fluid communication between the free wheeling valve and first and second bypass channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Victor Wen, Sudarshan Maiyur, Moses Imo Akpan
  • Patent number: 9387859
    Abstract: An acquisition part acquires the rotational speeds of a plurality of driving wheels of a moving vehicle, and normal reaction forces acting on the plurality of driving wheels. Subsequently, a friction coefficient information calculation part calculates friction coefficients relating to the plurality of driving wheels on the basis of torque command values for the plurality of driving wheels transmitted from a torque control part and the results of acquisition by the acquisition part. A slip ratio calculation part calculates the slip ratios of the plurality of driving wheels on the basis of the calculated friction coefficients, and the rotational speeds acquired by the acquisition part. Consequently, the slip ratios of the respective driving wheels are easily, rapidly, and accurately estimated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9381908
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control apparatus includes a first clutch disposed between an engine and a motor, and a second clutch disposed between the motor and a driving wheel. A lockup controller performs a lockup operation to shift the second clutch from slip state into completely engaged state when a predetermined lockup condition is satisfied under a condition that the second clutch is in the slip state. A second clutch transmitted torque capacity controller performs a lockup-condition second clutch control to control transmitted torque capacity of the second clutch to a value higher by a set quantity than an input torque to the second clutch while the lockup operation is being performed. The input torque corresponds to a state of depression of an accelerator pedal during the shifting of the second clutch from the slip state into the completely engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsui, Masaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 9384111
    Abstract: Three dimensional GPS or vehicle position data is used to determine a slope the vehicle is traveling over at a specific point in time. The slope data can then be combined with other metrics to provide an accurate, slope corrected vehicle mass. The vehicle mass can then be used along with other vehicle data to determine an amount of work performed by a vehicle, enabling s detailed efficiency analysis of the vehicle to be performed. To calculate slope, horizontal ground speed (VHGS) can be calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem. One can take the Z/Up magnitude and divide it by the horizontal ground speed. Replacing Z, x and y with directional vectors enables one to calculate slope. The slope data is then used to determine the mass of the vehicle at that time. Pervious techniques to calculate mass did not factor in slope, and thus are not accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Hunt, Charles Michael McQuade
  • Patent number: 9375990
    Abstract: Provided is a configuration including a basic input amount detecting unit configured to calculate a basic input amount of the vehicle, based on wheel speed fluctuation amount which a wheel speed sensor has detected; a first target current setting unit configured to set a first target current, based on the basic input amount; a second target current setting unit configured to set a second target current, based on vehicle acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor; and a damper control unit configured to control dampers, based on the first target current if a vehicle behavior control device is not operating, and based on the second target current if the vehicle behavior control device is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryoma Kanda
  • Patent number: 9376015
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a 4WD vehicle is provided. The control apparatus includes a driving force source, main driving wheels, auxiliary driving wheels, a driving force transmission shaft, a first disconnection mechanism, a second disconnection mechanism, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) control one of the first disconnection mechanism and the second disconnection mechanism to be engaged and then engage the other one of the first disconnection mechanism and the second disconnection mechanism when a disconnect state is canceled; and (ii) set, when the disconnect state is canceled, an increasing gradient of a rotation speed of the driving force transmission shaft in accordance with a condition that the electronic control unit determines to cancel the disconnect state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Takaira, Kunihiro Iwatsuki, Hiroyuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 9358985
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a drive unit of a vehicle are provided in which, starting from the comparison of a first acceleration variable, which is calculated at least from the operating state of the drive unit, and a second acceleration variable, an error is detected. The second acceleration variable includes a first component, in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis, and a second component, perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Volker Pitzal, Oliver Froehlich, Wolfram Gerwing, Martin Grosser, Franz Laermer, Udo Schulz, Thomas Proepper
  • Patent number: 9358973
    Abstract: A method for controlling torque reduction of a hybrid electric vehicle including a motor and an engine includes determining whether a demand torque of a traction control system (TCS) is generated. When the demand torque of the TCS is generated, the demand torque of the TCS and a motor output torque is compared. Based on a result of the comparison, torque reduction is performed by using only one of a motor torque. Also disclosed are an apparatus configured to perform the method for controlling torque reduction and a computer readable storage medium causing performance of torque reduction through the use of only one of a motor torque and an engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sang Joon Kim, Joonyoung Park
  • Patent number: 9352730
    Abstract: When a brake pedal is slowly depressed, a brake ECU sets a target current iFL* of a pressure-increasing linear control valve for a front-left wheel to increase from a current value lower than a valve-opening current i open by a decrease set value i1, and sets a target current iFL* for a pressure-increasing linear control valve for a front-right wheel to increase from a current value lower than a valve-opening current i open by a decrease set value i2 (<i1). This prevents a timing at which the pressure-increasing linear control valve is closed and a timing at which the pressure-increasing linear control valve is closed from matching, whereby a variation in a vehicle deceleration G can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunori Nimura