Transmission Setting Contingent Patents (Class 477/111)
  • Patent number: 12173778
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling transmissions having CVTs are disclosed with multiple modes and gearing arrangements for range enhancements, where embodiments include synchronous shifting to allow the transmission to achieve a continuous range of transmission ratios, while minimizing “empty” cycling of the CVT during mode shifts. Embodiments provide for wide ratio range and performance and efficiency flexibility, while maximizing CVT usage through synchronous shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: enviolo B.V.
    Inventor: Brian Schoolcraft
  • Patent number: 12060073
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle capable of traveling in first and second traveling states is provided. The second traveling state requires an operation related to traveling by a passenger more than the first traveling state. The system changes, based on a traveling situation of the vehicle, an upper limit speed at which the vehicle can travel in the first traveling state. The system performs notification to the passenger of a request for a predetermined operation at a timing when a traveling speed of the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed when switching from the first traveling state to the second traveling state. A difference between the upper limit speed and the predetermined speed is increased in a case where the upper limit speed is high compared to a case where the upper limit speed is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Kanoh, Ayumu Horiba, Katsuya Yashiro, Chihiro Oguro
  • Patent number: 11976721
    Abstract: A control system and method for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a poly-shifter, an RF Hub, a transmission control module (TCM) and a controller. The poly-shifter is configured to be moved between operating states including “Park” and “Non-Park” positions. The RF Hub supports operational features of the vehicle. The TCM determines a lock state of a parking pawl in a transmission of the vehicle and communicates the lock state to the RF Hub. The controller is configured to determine whether a driver has exited the vehicle with the poly-shifter in a “Non-Park” position. The controller is further configured to power down the vehicle based on the lock state of the parking pawl being in a “Park” position and the driver exiting the vehicle with the poly-shifter in the “Non-Park” position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Abhilash Gudapati
  • Patent number: 11932254
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The engine is configured to generate power. The transmission is configured to transfer power from the engine to at least one drive wheel to propel the vehicle. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to shift the transmission and a corresponding command to decrease a torque of the engine to less than a threshold corresponding to a spark retard limit during the shift, (i) increase the pressure of an oncoming clutch to engage the oncoming clutch, (ii) retard an engine spark at the spark retard limit to reduce the torque of the engine to the threshold during the engagement of the oncoming clutch, and (iii) shutdown at least one cylinder of the engine to further reduce the torque of the engine to less than the threshold during the engagement of the oncoming clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Cory Benson LaRoche, Stephen Michael Cicala, Jianping Zhang, Bradley Dean Riedle, Jesse D. L. Brunais, Michael Simon, Leonard Dziubinschi
  • Patent number: 11892077
    Abstract: A vehicle gear-shifting control apparatus is equipped with an engine, an automatic transmission, and a controller which changes a shift stage by outputting a gear-shifting signal in accordance with the rotation speed of an input shaft to the automatic transmission. The controller executes a torque-regulating control of temporarily increasing or decreasing an input torque input to the input shaft during a shift-change, and when executing the control, determines whether or not a target increase/decrease amount of the input torque can be realized based on calculation results of a target output torque and a target gear-shifting time, executes the control to realize the target amount when it is determined that the target amount can be realized, and executes the control based on an allowable gear-shifting time set in advance to be longer than the target gear-shifting time when it is determined that the target amount cannot be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Yasunari Nakayama, Yusuke Moriyama, Wataru Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11840973
    Abstract: A vehicle control method is provided for controlling a vehicle in which a clutch provided on a power transmission path between an engine and a drive wheel is disconnected when a shift range is a non-driving range and the clutch is connected when the shift range is a driving range. The vehicle control method controls the engine to a prescribed idling speed, controls engine torque to a negative torque by delaying an ignition timing of the engine; and causes the prescribed idling speed to drop within a prescribed amount of time needed for the clutch to switch from being disconnected to being connected when the shift range is switched from the non-driving range to the driving range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
  • Patent number: 11788498
    Abstract: An automatic engine stop-start (ESS) system for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine includes a brake pedal, a gear shifter configured to shift a transmission between park, reverse, neutral, and drive, and a controller. The controller is configured to command an ESS engine stop when the gear shifter is in drive, the vehicle is stopped, and the brake pedal is pressed, prevent an ESS engine restart when the gear shifter is shifted from drive to park, and provide, when the ESS engine restart is prevented, a warning notification to a driver that the engine is keyed-on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Anthony N Gorney, Stephanie R Beck, Roger C Sager, Scott E Henson
  • Patent number: 11700270
    Abstract: Cyberattacks are rampant and can play a major role in modern warfare, particularly on a widely adopted platforms such as the MIL-STD-1553 standard. To protect a 1553 communication bus system from attacks, a trained statistical or machine learning model can be used to monitor commands from a bus controller of the 1553 communication bus system. The statistical and/or machine learning model can be trained to recognize communication anomalies based at least on the probability distribution of patterns of one or more commands. The statistical model can be stochastic model such as a Markov chain that describes a sequence of possible commands in which the probability of each command depends on the occurrence of a group of one or more commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohammad Mozumdar, Philip A. Dafesh
  • Patent number: 11247662
    Abstract: An electric drive direction confirmation system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system and method include receiving a gear selector input signal corresponding to a gear selection from an electronic gear selector on the vehicle, and sending a drive command to temporarily urge the vehicle in a direction corresponding to the gear selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Peter J. Cardimen
  • Patent number: 11225156
    Abstract: A thermal protection system includes an electrical circuit and a thermal switch. The electrical circuit transmits an electrical signal between a charge source and a charge receiver during a charging process. The thermal switch is placed in-line with the electrical circuit. The thermal switch opens above a threshold temperature to block transmission of the electrical signal. Blocking the transmission of the electrical signal causes the charging process to stop. In further examples, the charge source includes and electric vehicle charging system and the charge receiver includes an electric vehicle. In further examples, the electrical signal is required for compliance with one or more electric vehicle charging standards implemented by the electric vehicle charging system and the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen Ham Miller, Paul Guerra, Pascal-Andre Fortin, Frank Spiteri
  • Patent number: 11125179
    Abstract: A vehicle controller is provided. An update process updates a relationship defining data by inputting, to a predetermined update map, a state of a vehicle, a value of an action variable used to operate an electronic device, and a reward corresponding to that electronic device. A reward calculating process provides, based on the state of the vehicle obtained by an obtaining process, a greater reward when a characteristic of the vehicle meets a standard than when the characteristic of the vehicle does not meet the standard. A loosening process loosens the standard to a larger extent when the degree of deterioration is large than when the degree of deterioration is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11002201
    Abstract: A method of determining an air volume in an active purge system may include checking whether an engine operates in an idle state; determining an air volume reaching a combustion chamber of the engine in response to a signal received from a sensor provided in an intake pipe; checking whether an evaporation gas collected in a canister is introduced into the intake pipe; estimating an amount of the evaporation gas introduced into the intake pipe and primarily correcting the air volume determined according to the estimated amount of the evaporation gas; checking whether an opening holding time of an intake valve in the engine is varied due to an operation of a continuously variable valve duration (CVVD) system electrically connected to the controller; and deriving a correction variable by substituting an operation duty of the CVVD system into a formula, a table, or a map provided in advance, and secondarily correcting the primarily corrected air volume according to the correction variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young-Kyu Oh, Keum-Jin Park
  • Patent number: 10914279
    Abstract: In starting of an internal combustion engine, among a plurality of combustions of the internal combustion engine when it is assumed that an ignition timing is set to a predetermined reference ignition timing, a preceding ignition timing, which is the ignition timing for a preceding combustion through which a peak of a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is likely to enter a predetermined resonance rotation speed range where resonance of the conveyance dependent on vibration of the internal combustion engine is induced, is set further on a delay angle side than the reference ignition timing, and a later ignition timing, which is the ignition timing for a later combustion after the preceding combustion, is set further on an advance angle side than the set preceding ignition timing so that the peak of the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine exceeds the resonance rotation speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tensho Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10900560
    Abstract: A shift control device includes: a stepless shift controller executing a stepless shift mode and controlling a transmission gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission in a stepless fashion; a stepped shift controller executing a stepped shift mode and controlling the continuously variable transmission using fixed transmission gear ratios; a mode setting unit switching the shift mode to the stepped shift mode when a vehicle is to be accelerated; and a transmission-gear-ratio setting unit setting an initial transmission gear ratio in the stepped shift mode when the shift mode is to be switched to the stepped shift mode. The transmission-gear-ratio setting unit estimates a variation in an engine rotation speed when the shift mode is to be switched to the stepped shift mode, and sets a fixed transmission gear ratio, at which the variation is greater than or equal to a lower limit value, as the initial transmission gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Komuro
  • Patent number: 10676095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improved gear shifting of a vehicle having an Otto-engine and a vehicle transmission with a manually actuated clutch of the vehicle transmission, comprising the steps of: determining a first set of condition parameter values, said parameters comprising clutch position, requested engine torque and engine speed; determining if the first set of condition parameter values meet first predetermined conditions; if the first predetermined conditions of said first set of condition parameter values are met, activating a function for interrupting fuel provision of the engine before disengaging the vehicle transmission during gear shifting. The invention also relates also to system and a computer program product for implementing the method and a motor vehicle equipped with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Erik Sunnegårdh, Magnus Johansson
  • Patent number: 10626806
    Abstract: A control process for controlling an engine speed governor of an engine is provided. The process comprises the steps of calculating the current engine power being developed by the engine, and determining an appropriate engine speed for the current engine power based upon a first engine map. The process then instructs the speed governor to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the first map if required. The process monitors for desired engine power requests, and calculates a power ratio of desired engine power versus current engine power upon receiving a desired engine power request. The process then establishes an engine speed adjustment value based upon a second engine map of power ratio versus speed adjustment value, and instructs the speed governor to adjust the engine speed in accordance with the speed adjustment value. A speed governor system incorporating the control process, and a work machine or vehicle incorporating such a system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Paul Moore, William Carroll
  • Patent number: 10612481
    Abstract: A work machine includes an engine configured to generate power to operate the machine and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an actual load on the engine, determine a machine acceleration, and select an engine high idle speed based upon the actual engine load and the machine acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy T. Sharp, Daniel Tisza
  • Patent number: 10190660
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a planetary gear assembly, a first gear assembly, and a second gear assembly. The first gear assembly is engaged to provide a first rotational input to the planetary gear assembly when an input shaft is rotating in a first direction and is disengaged when the input shaft is rotating in a second direction. The second gear assembly provides a second rotational input to the planetary gear assembly when the input shaft is rotating in the first direction and provides a third rotational input to the planetary gear assembly when the input shaft is rotating in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BISON GEAR & ENGINEERING CORP.
    Inventors: Robert Lewton, Tyler Brauhn, Aaron Hansen, Jordan Kapitanoff, James Parejko
  • Patent number: 10053093
    Abstract: A method for controlling a cruise control system on a vehicle includes identifying a vehicle location and identifying a number of respective cruise control overrides by a driver at the vehicle location. If the number of cruise control overrides by the driver is at least a threshold number of overrides, identifying respective actions by the driver after the cruise control overrides, and creating a profile of the driver behavior associated with the vehicle location based on the respective actions by the driver within a range around the vehicle location after the driver overrode the cruise control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J Thomas
  • Patent number: 10030768
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for controlling a vehicle transfer case (3). The transfer case (3) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system (1) includes a selection means (21) for selecting first and second control strategies for the transfer case. The first and second control strategies are based on an activation time of the selection means (21). A further aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system (1) for implementing a deferred transfer case range change. The present invention also relates to a vehicle (5) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Simon Sutton, Steve Mullane, Malkit Ram, Sam Burt
  • Patent number: 9944180
    Abstract: A control device for an engine, which controls an engine torque based on operation of an organ-type accelerator pedal is provided. The control device includes an accelerator opening detector for detecting an accelerator opening based on an angle of an accelerator pedal, a target acceleration setter for setting a target acceleration based on the accelerator opening, and an engine controller for adjusting an engine torque to achieve the target acceleration. The accelerator pedal is arranged to have a pedal angle at a predetermined initial pedal angle when the accelerator pedal is not pressed. The target acceleration setter sets the target acceleration to zero when the accelerator pedal is pressed and the accelerator opening is within a range where a difference between the pressed pedal angle and the initial pedal angle is between 2 and 4 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yagi, Kenji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9856977
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a shift control device that, in a shift control device of a vehicle equipped with an idling-stop mechanism and a shift-by-wire mechanism, is capable of preventing setting off at a timing that the driver does not expect when returning from an idling-stop state. [Solution] The SBW-CU (40) that constitutes the shift control device (1), in the case of selection information for selecting the R range being output during an idling stop, switches the shift range of the automatic transmission (10) to the R range when the vehicle is braked, and switches the shift range to the N range or the P range when the vehicle is not braked and the shift range of the automatic transmission (10) is the D range. Also, the SBW-CU (40), in the case of selection information for selecting the R range being output during an idling stop, maintains the shift range without switching it when the vehicle is braked and the shift range of the automatic transmission (10) is other than the D range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Kinoshita, Masato Igarashi, Koichiro Terai, Koichi Inoue
  • Patent number: 9817018
    Abstract: A deceleration factor estimation apparatus estimating a deceleration factor of a vehicle includes: a driving force acquisition unit that obtains a driving force of the vehicle; a speed acquisition unit that obtains a speed of the vehicle; an acceleration acquisition unit that obtains an acceleration of the vehicle; and a deceleration factor estimation unit that estimates a plurality of deceleration factors on the basis of a relationship between the obtained driving force, speed, and acceleration, wherein the deceleration factor estimation unit switches the deceleration factor to be estimated on the basis of a travel condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Sannodo, Hirotada Otake
  • Patent number: 9810320
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided to improve a response and an acceleration feel of a vehicle having a continuously variable transmission. The vehicle control system is configured to control an output power of a prime mover and a speed ratio of a transmission in such a manner that an actual driving force is increased stepwise to the required driving force to be achieved by a kick-downshifting so as to temporarily hold an increase in an acceleration during execution of the kick-downshifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsubasa Kato, Seiji Kuwahara, Satoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9802607
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for synchronising the common speed (? p) of two concentric primary shafts (1, 6) of a hybrid transmission in a hybrid operating mode wherein said two shafts are rotatably connected by a first coupling means (5), with the speed (? s) of a secondary transmission shaft (10) comprising at least one idler pinion for allowing the coupling of one of said pinions (11, 12) to the shaft (10) thereof by closing a second coupling means (13) that does not have mechanical synchronisation bodies, the torque (Te) of the electric machine being temporarily reduced during the synchronisation phase in order to meet the conditions of a perfect coupling when the value thereof caps at an upper limit value (Temax) or a lower limit value (Temin).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Abdelmalek Maloum
  • Patent number: 9731698
    Abstract: A start-stop vehicle includes an engine configured to automatically stop and start during travel. The vehicle further includes a gear lever, a brake pedal, and a controller. The controller is programmed to restart the engine or inhibit restarting of the engine depending upon one or more sets of conditions of the vehicle. A method is also present for operating the vehicle based upon the one or more sets of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Chad Everette Griffin, Hank L. Kwong, Ahmed Awadi, Richard John Hippley
  • Patent number: 9506509
    Abstract: During state transitions, a clutch actuator position command includes an oscillating component called a dither. This dithering helps avoid jumps in the actuator position due to friction when the commanded position is changed gradually. Also, dither during a transition from fully released to slipping causes the natural frequency of the system to change gradually rather than abruptly. This permits use of another slipping clutch for active damping based on a measured oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John G. Fowler, Joseph F. Kucharski, Michael William Brylinski, Timothy L. Sargent
  • Patent number: 9470308
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of engaging an input gear with an output gear in a drivetrain (3). The input gear is coupled to an input shaft (7) and the output gear is coupled to an output shaft (9). The method includes calculating a target input speed (S1?) for the input shaft (7) to match a rotational speed of the input gear to a rotational speed of the output gear. The calculated target input speed (S1?) is then modified to include an offset and the input speed (S1) of the input shaft (7) is then modified in dependence on the modified target input speed (S1?). The input gear and the output gear engage when the input speed (S1) of the input shaft (7) at least substantially matches the modified target input speed (S1?). The present invention also relates to an apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Darren Vincent, Simon Sutton, Rob Jerger
  • Patent number: 9336682
    Abstract: A navigation system for a vehicle and a navigation method for the same are disclosed. The navigation system collects transportation information and fuel efficiency information from several source vehicles located in a specific region, generates an optimum route for the corresponding region, and informs a target vehicle having requested a navigation service of the optimum route, resulting in the implementation of more effective navigation service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chi Nam Oh, Tae Soo Kim, Min Suk Kim, Young Eon Ma
  • Patent number: 9322459
    Abstract: A vehicular automatic transmission, includes: a housing; input and output shafts sustained to be rotatable around a rotation shaft line in the housing; single pinion type first, second and third planetary gears sustained in parallel coaxially with the rotation shaft line; a first brake fixing a third ring gear of the third planetary gear to be disengageable with respect to the housing; a first clutch linking the third ring gear and a second carrier of the second planetary gear to be disengageable from each other; and a switching element blocking the link between the input shaft and the first carrier, and switching the input shaft to be in a switched state, wherein, in a reverse gear shift stage, the first clutch is in an engaged state, the first brake is in a fixed state, and the switching element is in a switched state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyoharu Takagi, Atsuhiro Mase, Hideki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9291118
    Abstract: A vehicle can reverse immediately after setting a no idling state in accordance with a simple operational procedure. An idle reduction control unit set the engine into a no idling state if the key switch is on, the brake is operated, the vehicle speed is zero, and the shift position is in the drive range; and restarts the engine if the braking operation is released and the shift position is in the drive range when the engine is in the no idling state. The idle reduction control unit also restarts the engine if the shift position is shifted from the drive range to the neutral range while the brake is still being operated when the engine is in the no idling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Junya Kokon
  • Patent number: 9273778
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes selecting a target speed of a second shaft, and measuring a second speed of the second shaft and an output speed of an output shaft. The method includes detecting a rolling neutral condition wherein a first and second clutch are uncoupled from a torque generator and a synchronizer is mated to a predicted gear to apply a load in a direction, and one of a first condition wherein the output speed is decreasing and the target speed is less than the second speed and a second condition wherein the output speed is increasing and the target speed is less than the second speed. The method then includes translating the synchronizer away from the predicted gear, coupling and decoupling the second clutch to and from the torque generator, and mating the synchronizer to the predicted gear to again apply the load in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Jay Weingartz, Matthew D. Whitton, Xuefeng Tim Tao, Craig J. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9273624
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine that performs learning of a throttle opening degree during idle operation, at which a target idle speed can be obtained, the control system comprising a control section that is configured to use a first learned value and a second learned value as learned values of the throttle opening degree during idle operation and to update the first learned value when a state of combustion is not deteriorated, and update the second learned value when the state of combustion is deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9188035
    Abstract: A method of controlling a valve and a control system in a machine having an internal combustion engine, the system including the valve and an associated motor, and a temperature sensor that supplies a temperature signal to a controller in electrical communication with the motor. The controller supplies a closing current to the motor at a temperature signal corresponding to a temperature no greater than a preset temperature parameter, the closing current being at or above a nominal operating current of the motor and being furnished for a preset period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron McCombs, Jerry Kosner
  • Patent number: 9132827
    Abstract: An apparatus for influencing an automatic transmission has a man-machine-interface, which is connected to a transmission controller for selecting a transmission ratio of the automatic transmission connected to an internal combustion engine, and a monitoring device for monitoring at least one operating parameter that is relevant to the wear of the internal combustion engine, wherein a threshold value of the operating parameter and a desired rotation speed range of the internal combustion engine that depends on the threshold value can be selected via the man-machine-interface, and wherein the transmission controller selects a transmission ratio on the basis of the monitoring device, by which an actual rotation speed of the internal combustion engine is adjusted within the desired rotation speed range. A method for influencing an automatic transmission is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Thomas Reichert
  • Patent number: 9086142
    Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern changes into a normal pattern of a drive range is satisfied, and whether or not a second condition that a vehicle is running (a driver has an intention to cause the vehicle to run) is satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When the above-mentioned first condition and second condition are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, the ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern and recovers the driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Kaita, Nobuyuki Tanaka, Masaya Amano, Koji Hokoi, Masashi Yoshimi, Takeshi Hoshiba, Takahiko Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 9056606
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a stop/start system for an engine in a vehicle include auto starting the engine in response to a transmission gear lever being shifted out of DRIVE when the engine has been auto stopped while the gear lever is in DRIVE. The auto starting is further in response to the gear lever being shifted into another gear and a vehicle brake being released within a predetermined time interval after the gear lever is moved into the other gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Michael Rademacher, Chad Everette Griffin, Kirk Pebley
  • Patent number: 9002600
    Abstract: An example method of operation comprises, selectively shutting down engine operation responsive to operating conditions and without receiving an engine shutdown request from the operator, maintaining the automatic transmission in gear during the shutdown, and during an engine restart from the shutdown condition, and with the transmission in gear, transmitting reduced torque to the transmission. For example, slippage of a forward clutch of the transmission may be used to enable the transmission to remain in gear, yet reduce torque transmitted to the vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O'Connor Gibson, Peter John Grutter, Roger Lyle Huffmaster, Felix Nedorezov
  • Publication number: 20150051047
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle drive device includes an engine, a supercharger pressurizing intake air of the engine, and an automatic transmission outputting power of the engine to drive wheels. The control device makes a temporal rise rate of an engine torque larger from a predetermined time point during an upshift of the automatic transmission, the upshift being a shift with the engine torque after end of the upshift made larger than that before start of the upshift, the predetermined time point being made earlier when a response delay of supercharging by the supercharger becomes larger. During the upshift, the engine torque is raised in accordance with an assumed progress of the upshift from the predetermined time point and the assumed progress of the upshift being an assumption that the upshift does not progress until the predetermined time point and the upshift starts progressing from the predetermined time point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Ota, Yoshio Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8939869
    Abstract: Depression of an accelerator pedal by a vehicle operator in an operating condition in which fuel economy is deteriorated, is restrained. An actual opening degree of the accelerator pedal and a reference guide value of the accelerator pedal opening degree which allows a vehicle to accomplish both acceleration performance and fuel economy performance in a current operating condition are indicated in a display section together. In a case where a current gear ratio of a transmission is deviated from an optimal gear ratio of the transmission which is determined based on an operating condition of the vehicle, the reference guide value is changed such that engine output of the vehicle is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Fuke
  • Patent number: 8942880
    Abstract: A method for operating a driver assistance system of a vehicle is described, together with a corresponding device, a corresponding vehicle, and a corresponding computer program. The driver assistance system is configured to autonomously safely park the vehicle when activated. While the vehicle is traveling, an activation intent for the driver assistance system is detected, whereupon the driver assistance system is activated and the vehicle is autonomously safely parked with the aid of the activated driver assistance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Nordbruch, Michael Fausten
  • Patent number: 8938340
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle powertrain having a transmission to improve shift quality is based on detection of an initial rise time of an on-coming clutch torque capacity, which indicates the start of the torque phase. The initial rise time is detected using a transmission input shaft torque computation. The system may include a vehicle powertrain having an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine via a torque converter and a controller configured to initiate torque phase control when a difference between a first transmission input shaft torque and a second transmission input shaft torque exceeds a first predetermined threshold parameter during a shift event characterized by a preparatory phase, a torque phase and an inertia phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher John Teslak, Yuji Fujii, Seung-Hoon Lee, Bradley Dean Riedle, Michael Glenn Fodor
  • Patent number: 8892320
    Abstract: The noise caused by the coupling and decoupling of the gear generated when ignition on and off of a dual-clutch mounted vehicle in the P range are switched to each other, and the merchantability of the vehicle can be increased by improving the noise performance of the vehicle by preventing the noise generated by the coupling of the gear as possible from being remarkable in other shift ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Young Min Yoon
  • Patent number: 8888639
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, a first electric machine and an electro-mechanical transmission operative to transmit torque to a driveline. A method for controlling the powertrain system in the presence of a controlled neutral operation of the electro-mechanical transmission being selected includes monitoring vehicle speed, and only when the monitored vehicle speed is indicative of a low-speed zone restricting a transition from a current engine operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Syed Naqi, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Jy-Jen F. Sah, Shaun C. Bowman, Christopher A. Laurent, George Robison, Silva Hiti, Jonathan M. Bolenbaugh, Ali K. Naqvi, Sasa Lucic
  • Patent number: 8858393
    Abstract: A transmission and a method for loading an engine in a vehicle. The transmission includes a gear set, an input shaft coupled to the gear set, and a plurality of friction elements coupled to the gear set. The transmission also includes a control system to direct a subset of the plurality of friction elements to engage the gear set to stall the input shaft thereby placing a load on the engine. The load causes additional heat that may be used to warm up the vehicle's passenger compartment and/or defrost the vehicle's windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Thomas D. Nogle
  • Patent number: 8855875
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a prime mover adapted to drive at least one ground engaging element of a working machine. The method includes receiving an operator control input indicative of the control of the prime mover and determining at least one operation signal in response to the operator control input, which operation signal is sent for controlling the prime mover. The method also includes receiving a operating state input indicative of an operating state of the machine and selecting a control mode from at least one speed control mode in which the determined operational signal comprises a desired speed of the prime mover and at least one torque control mode in which the determined operational signal comprises a desired torque of the prime mover in response to the operating state input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Bobbie Frank, Reno Filla
  • Patent number: 8852055
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle drive control apparatus including a shift mechanism configured to be able to selectively switch its shift position to either a driving position or a non-driving position; and a controller configured to control the drive force output from a motor serving as a drive source of the vehicle according to operation of an accelerator, to transmit the drive force from the motor to wheels when the shift position is in the driving position, and to stop the transmission of the drive force from the motor to the wheels when the shift position is in the non-driving position. The controller also performs drive force suppression processing to control the drive force, when the shift position is switched from the non-driving position to the driving position with the accelerator turned ON, such that the acceleration of the vehicle does not exceed an upper limit of acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Kodama, Motonari Ohbayashi, Yuki Minase, Masashi Takagi, Toshihiro Takagi
  • Patent number: 8843284
    Abstract: A method for controlling a manual transmission of a vehicle includes providing a manual transmission comprising a shift fork actuator and a shifter assembly comprising a shift lever, a shift knob disposed on the shifter lever, a shift lever position sensor and a shifter tactile sensor. The tactile sensor may be used to determine when pressure is applied to the shift knob of the shifter assembly and, when pressure is applied to the shift knob, vehicle operating parameters are monitored. A predicted gear selection is determined based on the monitored vehicle operating parameters. An operator gear selection is then determined based on the shift lever position sensor when the shift lever is moved. The operator gear selection is compared to the predicted gear selection and, when the predicted gear selection is the same as the operator gear selection, the manual transmission is shifted to the predicted gear selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael John Wolterman
  • Patent number: 8838351
    Abstract: When a driver attempts to hurriedly start driving a stopped vehicle, for example, the driver may, without realizing it, begin operating an accelerator pedal before shifting a shift lever from a non-drive position to a drive position. In such a situation, when the shift lever is shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position while the accelerator pedal is being operated, a drive power limiting process is implemented for limiting the drive power when the drive power is output from a drive source in accordance with the amount that the accelerator is being operated. As a result, when the shift lever is shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position in the abovementioned manner, it is possible to restrict starting of the vehicle, which is caused by the transmission of drive power from the drive source to the wheels. This reduces the strange sensation experienced by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motonari Ohbayashi, Yuki Minase, Shinya Kodama, Toshihiro Takagi, Masashi Takagi
  • Patent number: 8801571
    Abstract: A machine powertrain includes an engine operably connected to a torque converter and a transmission. A switch associated with the torque converter provides a locking signal indicative of a locked or unlocked condition of the torque converter. A throttle sensor associated with the throttle provides a throttle signal. An electronic controller receives the locking signal and the throttle signal, and controls operation of the engine at least partially based on the throttle signal and the locking signal. The electronic controller determines whether a locked or unlocked condition of the torque converter is present based on the locking signal, determines whether a part throttle operating condition or a full throttle operating condition is present based on the throttle signal, and selects a load-control power curve when the part throttle operating condition is present and when the torque converter switches from the unlocked to the locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Sairam Velamakanni, Aaron Ho, Catrina Swan, Warren Pepper, Douglas Carlson