Control Of Multiple Systems Specific To Hybrid Operation Patents (Class 180/65.265)
  • Patent number: 11979053
    Abstract: A system according to the present invention comprises: a power source which generates a first low voltage from a supplied high voltage; a capacitor which suppresses fluctuations in the high voltage; and a first device which operates by using the first low voltage as an electric power source and which increases its own current consumption when supply of the high voltage to the power source has stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Ito, Shota Okubo, Hiroto Higuchi, Goki Murase
  • Patent number: 11951990
    Abstract: A gear shift control device of an automobile including a driving motor, a relay clutch capable of disconnecting an engine, includes memory storing a gear shift map for determining the switching start timing of the gear position, a transmission control unit that switches the gear position based on the gear shift map, a regeneration control unit, and a relay clutch control unit. The gear shift map includes a cooperative regeneration map and non-cooperative regeneration maps that define the thresholds of relatively low revolutions. The threshold of a predetermined low gear shift point is defined to be smaller than the thresholds of the gear shift points higher than the predetermined low gear shift point on the downshift side in the non-cooperative regeneration maps, and is defined to be smaller than the threshold of the predetermined low gear shift point on the downshift side in the cooperative regeneration map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daigo Nishikori, Hiroaki Gotan, Akina Inagaki, Tomohiro Okubo, Kiminori Higo, Takayuki Mikami
  • Patent number: 11940023
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch is de-stroked in a particular way so that the driveline disconnect clutch may be de-stroked more consistently. The de-stroking process may be followed by boosting and stroking the driveline disconnect clutch so as to preposition the driveline disconnect clutch or holding the clutch at an offset below stroke pressure to minimize drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akshay Bichkar, Corey James Blue, Jason Meyer, Maruthi Ravichandran, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 11936320
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method optimizes thermal control of a vehicle motor, the vehicle including a cooling device including an actuator varying cooling capacity, the method including training a reinforcement learning algorithm including the iterative steps: 1) determining an action to control an actuator by applying a control function to a current state of the thermal system, and implementing the action; 2) determining a modified state of the thermal system after implementing the action; 3) calculating, by implementing a thermodynamic reward function of the motor, a reward value based on the modified state of the thermal system, and the action; 4) updating a function for estimating thermal performance based on the current state of the thermal system, the modified state of the thermal system, the action and the reward; and 5) modifying the control function based on the update of the function for estimating thermal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Michel Povlovitsch Seixas, Julien Métayer
  • Patent number: 11919505
    Abstract: A control device can execute a first diagnosis process of, when first execution conditions are met, diagnosing whether an air-fuel ratio sensor has an abnormality while executing a motoring process, and a second diagnosis process of, when second execution conditions are met, diagnosing whether a GPF has an abnormality while executing the motoring process. In an execution determination process, the control device prohibits execution of both the first diagnosis process and the second diagnosis process when at least either the first execution conditions or the second execution conditions are not met, and permits execution of both the first diagnosis process and the second diagnosis process when both the first execution conditions and the second execution conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 11919506
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a rotary electric machine; a connection-disconnection device; a hydraulic pressure supply device; a hydraulic pressure control device; and a control device. The hydraulic pressure supply device includes a mechanical hydraulic pressure supply device and a pressure accumulator. The control device executes fuel cut-off control to stop fuel supply to the internal combustion engine and rotation speed maintaining control to maintain a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine at a predetermined rotation speed by rotationally driving the internal combustion engine by the rotary electric machine or supplying fuel to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Tachibanada, Shintaro Kameda, Tetsuya Matsumoto, Shinobu Kurachi, Sadahito Kajihara
  • Patent number: 11912136
    Abstract: A control method of an electric vehicle using one or a plurality of motors as a traveling drive source, includes: a motor torque command value calculating step that calculates a motor torque command value; an angular velocity detecting step that detects an angular velocity correlating with a rotation speed of a drive shaft which transmits a drive force of the motor to a drive wheel; a disturbance torque estimating step that estimates a disturbance torque acting on the motor based on the motor torque command value and the angular velocity; a limiting torque setting step that sets a limiting torque corresponding to the disturbance torque in a manner that a slipping rate of the drive wheel does not exceed a first predetermined value; and a motor torque limiting step that limits the motor torque command value using the limiting torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Sawada
  • Patent number: 11913505
    Abstract: A system for controlling a clutch in a heavy vehicle including an internal combustion engine and an automated mechanical transmission, where the engine is running, the clutch is engaged and the transmission is in neutral, including an electronic control unit adapted to receive a request to shut down the engine, to disengage the clutch of the transmission, and to shut down the engine, where the electronic control unit is adapted to reengage the clutch when the rotation of the engine and the rotation of the transmission input shaft is zero, and to actively slow down rotation of the transmission input shaft by the use of a brake device if the stop time for the transmission input shaft exceeds a predefined time interval. The advantage of the invention is that vibrations and noise are reduced during shut down of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Magnus Blanckenfiell, Fredrik Karpenman
  • Patent number: 11904710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery-powered vehicle comprising a chassis extending between the rear end and the front end of the vehicle. The chassis comprises an upper frame plate and a lower frame plate, wherein the lower frame plate is located vertically below the upper frame plate. The battery-powered vehicle further comprises a battery stack, which comprises a plurality of traction battery packs stacked on top of each other between the upper and lower frame plates, wherein each traction battery pack is vertically tightened to a neighboring traction battery pack and wherein at least one traction battery pack is tightened to one of said upper and lower frame plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Hendriks, Sondre Landvik, Jörgen Andersson
  • Patent number: 11897365
    Abstract: A system for controlling electric power of a vehicle having a fuel cell is provided. The system includes a fuel cell that generates electric energy by receiving fuel and oxidizing gas and a battery that receives the electric energy of the fuel cell to charge or discharge the battery for supplying the electric energy. A sensor sense a driving state of the vehicle. A controller controls charging or discharging of the battery based on the driving state sensed by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Yoon Lee, Byoung Hoon Choi, Jeong Kyu Park, Jae Hoon Jeong, Sae Byeok Seung, Hyo Jun Kim, Dong Hoon Kim, Sang Chul Yeom
  • Patent number: 11898632
    Abstract: A shift level selection device comprising: a setting unit that sets a selection range in which the lowest speed shift level is a first shift level used in a set-off shift level among two or more shift levels; and a changing unit that, in accordance with the first shift level used in the set-off shift level, changes the selection range so that the lowest speed shift level is a second shift level, which is a lower speed than the first shift level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi Uchino, Yoshitaka Kanda, Susumu Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 11891149
    Abstract: A moving vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a chair frame including universal casters, a sitting seat disposed above the chair frame and connected to the chair frame, and a driving unit disposed below the sitting seat and connected to the chair frame so that the driving unit can rotate about a unit connection shaft, in which the driving unit includes a driving wheel including a rotation shaft located at a position deviated from a central axis of the unit connection shaft, a velocity detection unit configured to detect a rotational velocity of the driving wheel, and a driving control unit configured to control a velocity of the driving wheel according to an external driving force applied to the driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11891044
    Abstract: When a scheduled traveling route is changed during travelling of an electrical vehicle, a management ECU of the electrical vehicle maintains control of a travelling mode based on a travelling plan created based on the scheduled traveling route before the change, in accordance with a result of comparison between first attribute information and second attribute information, the first attribute information indicating an attribute of at least one section, which is located within a predetermined distance from a section in which the electrical vehicle is located and located in a vehicle travelling direction, of the scheduled traveling route before the change, the second attribute information indicating an attribute of at least one section, which is located within a predetermined distance from a section in which the electrical vehicle is located and located in a vehicle travelling direction, of the scheduled traveling route after the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Aruga, Akio Futatsudera, Kaiwen Tong
  • Patent number: 11873010
    Abstract: An energy management system for an electric autonomous vehicle comprises a battery and a controller comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The system comprises a pre-allocation input mechanism transmitting an input signal to the processor relating to a travel destination for the vehicle. The system comprises a navigation module receiving a wireless signal from a satellite network relating to a current location of the vehicle. The system comprises an autonomous input mechanism powered by the battery and transmitting an autonomous signal to the processor relating to dynamic conditions for autonomous operation of the vehicle. The processor determines a route between the current location and the travel destination, performs autonomous operation of the vehicle along the route, and selectively powers or tunes the usage of the at least one autonomous input mechanism with the battery during autonomous operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kamran Ali, Donald K. Grimm
  • Patent number: 11873892
    Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a gear of the two-speed gearbox and a vehicle is provided. The method for controlling a gear of a two-speed gearbox includes: determining a first target gear of the gearbox reflecting a current driving demand of a user according to a current vehicle-speed; and performing a gear intervention control of the gearbox based on at least one of the following aspects: position information of a drive gear-lever, a rotation-speed of a drive motor of a vehicle, and gear fault information of the gearbox, to shift the first target gear of the gearbox to a second target gear of the gearbox that matches with real-time operation conditions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: GREAT WALL MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Likang Wei, Yadan Li, Chaojie Huang, Peng Luo, Hongpeng Wang
  • Patent number: 11872883
    Abstract: A powertrain has an internal combustion engine provided with an accessory transmission that includes a first pulley connected to a crankshaft of the engine, a second pulley connected to a shaft of an electric machine, and a belt connecting the first and the second pulleys to each other to rotate in the same direction of rotation (R). The electric machine is operated to supply an active torque to the second pulley during start-up of the internal combustion engine by means of a starter motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Pennazza, Olivier Boehm
  • Patent number: 11876476
    Abstract: A control system for an electrically-actuated, rideable saddle vehicle including an electric traction motor and a vehicle control system having two different speed acquisition systems. A first speed system includes a position sensor and controls power to the motor on a basis of a control signal, which is characteristic of torque selectively required by the electric motor. A second speed system includes Logic circuitry for estimating vehicle speed from estimated variations of a counter-electromotive force generated in the stator winding as a result of the rotor movement of the motor. The two systems allow optimizing control of the motor from both speed systems, or from that considered more reliable in a given operating condition, during operation of the vehicle. Illustratively, for low speeds, speed control may be based on sensor signals in the first speed system, while high speeds control may be based on the estimates from the logic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A.
    Inventors: Jury Cantini, Luca Carmignani
  • Patent number: 11865927
    Abstract: Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve storing electric power in a lithium battery of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve operating a motor controller of the utility vehicle in a normal mode in which the motor controller provides electric power from a lithium battery of the utility vehicle to an electric motor of the utility vehicle to turn one or more ground engaging members of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, after operating the motor controller in the normal operating mode, operating the motor controller in a walkaway mode in which the motor controller configures the electric motor to provide braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur James Harvey, Norman R. Padgett, John Ledden, Robert Charles Bradley, Patrick Dwaine Warden
  • Patent number: 11858569
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a vehicle body, N (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) wheels including one or more front wheels and one or more rear wheels, a force generator, and a force controller. The N wheels include one or more turn wheels turnable in the width direction of the vehicle. The force generator is configured to generate a force which changes a yaw angular acceleration. The force controller is configured to control the force generator. A gravity center of the vehicle body is located away from a rotation center of the vehicle toward front side or rear side when the vehicle turns. The force controller controls the force generator to control a roll torque in the width direction acting on the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keizo Araki, Akira Mizuno, Shota Kubo
  • Patent number: 11854073
    Abstract: An indication that a ride associated with an electric vehicle has ended is received. An availability state of the electric vehicle is determined based at least on a current battery charge level of the electric vehicle and a dynamic charge threshold. Information reflecting the availability state of the electric vehicle in a set of geographic location and availability state information of vehicles comprising a fleet of electric vehicles available to be displayed is included via a user interface based at least in part on the respective availability state of the respective electric vehicles comprising the fleet of electric vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Bird Rides, Inc.
    Inventor: Travis VanderZanden
  • Patent number: 11850945
    Abstract: A power supply device for an electric work vehicle, including: a battery by which an electric work vehicle is drivable; a first connection unit for an internal inverter configured to convert DC power from the battery into AC power, and output the AC power to an internal electric device installed in the electric work vehicle; a second connection unit for an external inverter configured to convert DC power from the battery into AC power, and output the AC power to an external electric device; and a battery control unit connected to the first connection unit and the second connection unit, and configured to control charging of, and power supply from, the battery, wherein the battery control unit is configured to communicate with the external inverter side via the second connection unit to perform authentication regarding whether or not power supply to the external inverter is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Yamamoto, Tomohiko Hisakuni, Masahiro Yamada, Hirokazu Ito
  • Patent number: 11851045
    Abstract: A series hybrid vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle that has a battery, an electric power generating motor, a drive motor and an internal combustion engine. The battery charged with the electric power from the electric power generating motor that generates electric power by being driven by the internal combustion engine, and charged with the electric power regenerated by regenerative braking of the drive motor. The drive motor drives a drive wheel. The electric power consumption for motoring is greater in a B range than in a D range. The control method sets deceleration caused by regenerative braking of the drive motor to be greater in the B range than in the D range, and starts motoring of the internal combustion engine in the B range at a lower SOC of the battery than the SOC of the battery in the D range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hoshi, Hiroko Katayama, Azusa Kobayashi, Hiroyasu Fujita, Hiromu Morishita
  • Patent number: 11845346
    Abstract: A single powertrain carrier assembly is provided for mounting or removing multiple fuel cell assemblies in or from an engine bay compartment of a heavy duty truck at the same time. The powertrain carrier assembly can be mounted in new heavy duty trucks, or retrofit into preexisting heavy duty trucks, for example, replacing a diesel engine. The assembly may be provided with a three point mounting system for securing it to a chassis frame, including one front and two angled rear attachment points. In one aspect, the assembly includes a frame structure defining a carrier platform and with lower brackets to secure a first fuel cell assembly below the carrier platform, and upper brackets to secure a second fuel cell assembly above the carrier platform. In another aspect, the assembly includes a frame structure defining lower and upper cavity portions to retain the first and second fuel cell assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: William N. Castleman, Colin Kimber
  • Patent number: 11845354
    Abstract: An embodiment device for providing information for a hybrid electric vehicle includes a display device, a non-transitory memory, and a processor connected to the display device and the non-transitory memory, wherein the processor is configured to obtain travel distance information, fuel information, and battery information of the vehicle, and output, on the display device, battery charging proposal information based on at least one of an energy injection cost, a consumable replacement period, or energy balancing using the travel distance information, the fuel information, and the battery information of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Sueng Ho Lee, Byung Hoon Yang, Jeong Soo Park, Dae Won Yang
  • Patent number: 11833903
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain of a vehicle, includes an input shaft provided concentric with an engine rotation shaft, a coaxial magnetic gear device provided to connect the engine rotation shaft to the input shaft, a differential device constantly connected to the input shaft, a first motor constantly connected to the engine rotation shaft, and a second motor continuously engaged to the differential device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Min Ho Chae, Jae Wan Choi
  • Patent number: 11820374
    Abstract: A control device may be configured for responding to failure for ensuring the stability of a vehicle by switching from a two-wheel-drive mode to a four-wheel-drive mode when detecting failure of the brake system in a two-wheel-drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gwi Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 11820358
    Abstract: A charging/discharging control device includes a route information acquisition unit, a section identification unit that identifies an excessive discharging section and an excessive charging section, and a charging/discharging control unit that controls charging and discharging of a battery. The charging/discharging control unit limits a charge current value in the excessive charging section to a fixed first upper limit value. The state of charge reaches a maximum state of charge at an end point of the excessive charging section when the charge current value is maintained at the first upper limit value. The charging/discharging control unit limits a discharge current value in the excessive discharging section to a fixed second upper limit value. The state of charge reaches a minimum state of charge at an end point of the excessive discharging section when the discharge current value is maintained at the second upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Sakashita
  • Patent number: 11808818
    Abstract: A degradation determination device for a secondary battery is used for a hybrid vehicle, and configured to determine degradation of the secondary battery. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine configured to output power, a motor configured to output power, the secondary battery configured to supply electric power to the motor, and a control device configured to execute travel control in which the engine and the motor are controlled. The degradation determination device includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine degradation of the secondary battery based on data of a third parameter in a predetermined period. The third parameter is the difference between a first parameter based on the accelerator operation amount and a second parameter based on a fuel injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11794562
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a chassis having an upper frame plate and a lower frame plate. Between the upper frame plate and the lower frame plate there is provided a traction battery pack arrangement comprising one or more battery modules, and a hydrogen tank structure comprising one or more hydrogen tanks. The hydrogen tank structure is vertically tightened to the traction battery pack arrangement, so that one of the hydrogen tank structure and said traction battery pack arrangement is located on top of the other. At least one of the hydrogen tank structure and the traction battery pack arrangement is tightened to one of the upper and lower frame plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Hendriks, Anders Olsson
  • Patent number: 11794592
    Abstract: A main converter (i) converts AC power from a generator at a primary terminal into DC power at a secondary terminal, an internal combustion engine driving the generator to generate the AC power, or (ii) converts DC power at the secondary terminal into AC power and supplies the AC power to the generator. A first inverter is connected to the secondary terminal of the main converter. A step-down circuit steps down a voltage of the DC power output by the main converter and supplies the stepped-down DC power to a power storage device. The generator, using the power storage device as an electric power source, operates as an electric motor to start the internal combustion engine. After the internal combustion engine is started, the DC power output by the main converter is supplied to the first inverter, stepped down by the step-down circuit, and supplied to the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taichi Yoshida, Naoki Nishio
  • Patent number: 11787410
    Abstract: In a torque distribution method for a vehicle, torque is optimally distributed to front and rear wheels of a vehicle by reflecting pitch motion characteristics and longitudinal load movement information of the vehicle in real time. The repetition of wheel slip and the degradation of wheel slip control performance caused by the pitch motion are reduced. The longitudinal load movement of the vehicle is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Won Oh, Young Joon Chang, Jeong Soo Eo
  • Patent number: 11784559
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrical system including an electrical power source configured to supply a first DC voltage at a first voltage level and a DC/DC converter coupled to the electrical power source and configured to supply a second DC voltage is provided. The method includes monitoring a level of current supplied by the DC/DC converter, determining, based on monitoring of the level of the current, that the DC/DC converter is saturated, and in response to determining that the DC/DC converter is saturated, regulating a level of voltage outputby the DC/DC converter. Related DC/DC converters and vehicle electrical systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederic Leroy, David De Brito
  • Patent number: 11773761
    Abstract: The enclosed disclosure relates to vehicle systems in which an engine, a particulate filter fluidly coupled with the engine, a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system fluidly coupled with the engine downstream of the particulate filter, an electrical heating device implemented with the particulate filter, and a controller operatively coupled with the engine and the electrical heating device, are implemented. The controller can detect, when the engine is turned off, a condition for turning on the engine, detect a temperature of the particulate filter of the SCR system, activate the electrical heating device in response to the detected temperature being below a lower temperature threshold, and turn on the engine in response to the detected temperature being at or above the lower temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Jinyong Luo, Xiaobo Song, Colin L. Norris, Xing Jin, Matthew L. Anderson, Ying Yuan
  • Patent number: 11772632
    Abstract: A deterioration evaluation apparatus for a secondary battery, which evaluates a degree of deterioration of the secondary battery of a hybrid vehicle including an engine that outputs a driving power, a motor that outputs a driving power, and the secondary battery configured to exchange an electric power with the motor, includes one or more processors configured to evaluate the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery based on a first relationship. The first relationship is set by using an accelerator operation amount and an operation point. The operation point includes a rotation speed of the engine and a load factor of the engine. The first relationship is a relationship between the operation point and a load on the secondary battery when the engine is operated at the operation point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11760358
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for controlling operation of a vehicle. The system includes a microphone located in a passenger cabin of the vehicle and configured to detect sound data indicating noise in the passenger cabin. The system also includes a powertrain of the vehicle including an engine/motor for propelling the vehicle and a transmission of the vehicle having a plurality of gears. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle coupled to the microphone and the transmission. The ECU is configured to determine a powertrain torque limit based on the sound data, determine whether a torque output of the powertrain exceeds the powertrain torque limit, and instruct the transmission to downshift when the torque output of the powertrain exceeds the powertrain torque limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas S. Hawley
  • Patent number: 11745579
    Abstract: A hybrid automated mechanical transmission includes an input shaft having a first plurality of gears mounted thereon. The input shaft is configured to be drivingly engaged with an internal combustion engine by an input clutch. A countershaft system includes a second plurality of gears mounted thereon. A main shaft is coaxial with the input shaft and includes a third plurality of gears mounted thereon, the first and third plurality of gears being in driving engagement with the second plurality of gears. A range gear system selectively receives drive input from the main shaft and the countershaft system. An electric motor provides drive torque to one of the countershaft system and the range gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Graeme Andrew Jackson
  • Patent number: 11745620
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an electric traction energy storage, at least two DC voltage converters, and a contact device for electrically contacting a vehicle-external energy source. The at least two DC voltage converters are each connected in series at a first side. The contact device is connected to the first sides of the DC voltage converters. The traction energy storage is connected to second sides of the DC voltage converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Martin Dehm
  • Patent number: 11745743
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle has a control device and a drive train. The drive train includes as components a motor, a clutch, and at least one wheel. The motor is coupled to the at least one wheel via the clutch. The control device controls a rotational speed of the at least one wheel based on a rotational speed specification using a model mapping the drive train of the motor vehicle. A torque generated by the motor is influenced as the manipulated variable as a function of at least one state variable of the drive train determined on the basis of the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marc Kropf, Christian Graf, Bernd Schäfer
  • Patent number: 11745616
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein include managing, by a controller, a state of charge of a battery of a hybrid vehicle at a particular location at a particular time based on a determined potential propulsion power for the vehicle; responsive to determining a downhill grade at the particular location, determining, by the controller, an amount of braking energy available during traversal of the downhill grade; and discharging, by the controller, the battery to direct energy to at least one of a generator or an electrified accessory of the hybrid vehicle before the downhill grade to enable reception of at least a portion of the determined amount of braking energy available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Vivek A. Sujan, Pinak Jayant Tulpule, Mugdha S. Sane
  • Patent number: 11739500
    Abstract: A machine control system controls operation of any one of a plurality of interchangeable power sources mounted on a machine. The machine includes an undercarriage supporting ground engagement members that propel the machine and an upper structure rotatably supported on the undercarriage. The upper structure includes a swing frame that supports an operator cab, an interchangeable power source, hydraulic components, and electrical components. A processor processes inputs, outputs and operating characteristics specific to each of the plurality of power sources, and standardizes the power output by each of the power sources to provide a normalized, consistent control and operation of systems of the machine regardless of which of the power sources is mounted on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpilalr SARL
    Inventors: Corey Lee Gorman, Anthony D. McNealy, Yasumasa Hoshino
  • Patent number: 11738739
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method to control torque distribution among a plurality of electric machines connected to at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel of a vehicle during operation, comprising: acquiring the total torque requested; obtaining the most energy efficient torque distribution mode by using a loss model or loss map; evaluating the actual driving situation; determining if a mode switch is allowed depending on the actual driving situation; switching the torque distribution mode, if allowed; and preventing a mode switch, if not allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Juliette Utbult, Derong Yang, Mats Jonasson, Bengt Jacobson
  • Patent number: 11731609
    Abstract: A vehicle control device controls a vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a drive wheel, and a lock-up clutch provided in a power transmission path from the internal combustion engine and the electric motor to the drive wheel. The vehicle control device is configured to: not execute a motor vibration damping control and a slip vibration damping control in a non-vibration damping region; execute the motor vibration damping control and the slip vibration damping control in a first vibration damping region in a high load state or a low rotation speed state; and execute the motor vibration damping control and not execute the slip vibration damping control in a second vibration damping region in a medium load state or a medium rotation speed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Fukao, Kenji Kikuchi, Sadahito Kajihara, Satoshi Watanabe, Masaya Agata
  • Patent number: 11731749
    Abstract: A system for alleviating variations in torsional loads applied to a shaft coupled to a main engine of a marine vessel, said shaft is coupled to a propeller of the marine vessel, the system comprising an electric motor-generator configured to provide power to the shaft or take out power from the shaft; a controller coupled to the electric motor-generator said controller is configured to execute instructions, comprising: measuring a group of values that are indicative of torsional loads applied on a shaft of the marine vessel over time; creating a time-based series of values that represent a predictive time-based torsional loads on the marine vessel; collecting readings indicative of power provided by a main engine of the marine vessel; computing an intervention time series of power values to be outputted by the electric motor-generator; wherein the electrical power outputs the intervention time series values of power to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: MARINE EDGE LTD.
    Inventors: Mark Moran, Nevo Dotan, Amichay Haim Gross
  • Patent number: 11713080
    Abstract: Double subframes with isolation couplings are disclosed herein. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a powertrain, a frame, a first subframe coupled to the powertrain via a first isolation coupling, and a second subframe coupled at least partially around the first subframe, the second subframe coupled to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Hair, Steven C. Hopson, Marc Peerbolte, Thomas Trebowicz
  • Patent number: 11713034
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle is configured to be applied to a hybrid vehicle that includes an electric motor and an engine that are coupled to a drive wheel. The control apparatus includes a transmission mechanism and a torque processor. The transmission mechanism is to be provided between the engine and the drive wheel, and configured to switch between a plurality of fixed gear ratios to perform a shift. The torque processor is configured to temporarily decrease a torque of the electric motor and a torque of the engine upon execution of an upshift of the transmission mechanism, and configured to decrease, before the execution of the upshift of the transmission mechanism, a proportion of the torque of the electric motor to a drive wheel torque of the drive wheel as compared with a recent proportion of the torque of the electric motor to the drive wheel torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Inoue, Tetsu Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 11707991
    Abstract: A vehicle having a motor with a transmission, provided with a fixed gear ratio, to a propelling unit includes a virtual gearbox including a microprocessor, operatively interfaced with the motor and programmed to manage and check the generation of motor driving torque, limiting, at the motor output, a maximum angular velocity and a maximum torque which are variable with a predetermined law.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Samuele Mazzini
  • Patent number: 11708007
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine, a traction battery electrically connected to the electric machine, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to the vehicle approaching a decline, overrepresent a state of charge (SOC) of the traction battery to cause a torque command to the engine to decrease and a torque command to the electric machine to increase such that discharge of the traction battery increases in advance of the decline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Yeakle, Alec Bolthouse, Judhajit Roy, Jonathan Barker, Jared King
  • Patent number: 11700119
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to, among other things, distributed ledger systems for modular vehicles. The disclosure may involve receiving, at a first ledger associated with a first node, information regarding an interaction between the first node and a second node. The same transaction information may also be received at a second ledger associated with the second node, as well as ledgers associated with any other number of nodes. The first node, second node, and any other number of nodes may be modular vehicle components. Additionally, the first ledger, second ledger, and any other number of ledgers include a set of the same information. The first node, second node, and third node may be nodes on a distributed ledger network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam
  • Patent number: 11691614
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a main drive unit, a sub drive unit, and a control unit. The main drive unit includes a main drive rotary electric machine. The sub drive unit includes a sub drive rotary electric machine. The control unit includes a driving force distribution ratio setting unit configured to set a driving force distribution ratio between the main driving force and the sub driving force and is configured to control the outputs of the main drive unit and the sub drive unit so that the main driving force and the sub driving force have the driving force distribution ratio set by the driving force distribution ratio setting unit. The driving force distribution ratio setting unit is configured to set the driving force distribution ratio to minimize electric power loss of the vehicle based on a vehicle speed of the vehicle and a required driving force of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuto Otsuki, Satoshi Ando, Keiichi Ohiso
  • Patent number: 11679753
    Abstract: A utility vehicle with regenerative braking is disclosed. The utility vehicle includes a power bus, a battery coupled to the system power bus, and at least one electric drive motor to generate power through regenerative braking and supply the generated power onto the power bus. The utility vehicle includes a power regulation controller configured to direct the generated power to the battery to recharge the battery when the battery is not fully charged, direct the generated power to at least one power sink to consume the generated power when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is less than or equal to a power consumption limit, and reduce a maximum travel speed to reduce an amount of power generated by the at least one electric drive motor through regenerative braking when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is greater than the power consumption limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Nathan W. Bonny