By Acceleration Patents (Class 477/120)
  • Patent number: 11951987
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for adjusting the creep torque to maneuver a vehicle to a target location. In various embodiments, the creep torque adjustment mode is deactivated when the driver changes the direction of travel. The change in direction also causes the parameters of the creep torque control to be reinitiated to their initial values. In various embodiments, the creep torque mode is increased from a low creep towards a target creep. If the driver engages the brakes, the input torque is set to zero, and when the driver releases the brake, the minimum creep torque is set to the value that creep torque had risen to just before the brake was applied. This allows the driver to control the acceleration and speed, by just braking. In various embodiments, the creep control controls reverse creep to aid in hooking up a vehicle to a trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas S. Hawley
  • Patent number: 11808346
    Abstract: An ECU has a temperature detection unit that detects an actual temperature of the ECU, a temperature estimation unit that calculates an estimated temperature of the ECU, an abnormality determination unit for determining a presence or absence of a sign of abnormality, and a switching prohibition unit that prohibits the shift range switching in a predetermined case. The switching prohibition unit prohibits the shift range switching when there is no sign of abnormality in the temperature detection unit and the actual temperature is equal to or higher than a switching prohibition threshold, and prohibits the shift range switching when there is a sign of abnormality in the temperature detection unit and the estimated temperature is equal to or higher than a switching prohibition threshold. The temperature estimation unit calculates the estimated temperature based on a latest actual temperature in a normal period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusaku Kawaguchi, Seiji Nakayama, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 11775846
    Abstract: An alternative range estimating system for a vehicle includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores a removable object selection module including computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to control operation of a vehicle input/output system to display a selectable representation of each of one or more removable objects carried by the vehicle. The module may acquire a user selection of at least one removable object from the removable objects displayed. The module may acquire an estimated alternative vehicle range determined using an estimated weight of the at least one removable object. The module may then control operation of the input/output system to display the estimated alternative vehicle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shannon Alicia Wrobel, Tapan Patel
  • Patent number: 11543022
    Abstract: A vehicular control device that is mounted in a vehicle including an automatic gear shift device is configured to store vehicle control state information including a control state of the vehicle in a predetermined gear shift status when a rate of change in acceleration in the predetermined gear shift status at the time of gear shift is greater than a rate of change in acceleration in the predetermined gear shift status in the past. Accordingly, it is possible to store and accumulate vehicle control state information in a predetermined gear shift status with a higher importance out of predetermined gear shift statuses occurring at the time of gear shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kengo Nagai, Naoto Moriya
  • Patent number: 11421779
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission can perform predictive shifting. Road grade and vehicle path data can be employed to identify a future change in road grade such as a hill. A change in speed relative to a vehicle cruise speed can be estimated or predicted in view of the change in road grade and a current gear. If the change of speed is determined to be outside a performance bound, shift recommendation can be determined to maintain vehicle cruise speed within the performance bound. A controller can alter default gear selection of the transmission in response to receipt of the shift recommendation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: EATON CUMMINS AUTOMATED TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sujay Kawale, Eric R. Von Hoene, Justin Keith Griffiths, Cory Snowdin, Terry Nostrant, Nicholas Jelen
  • Patent number: 11300091
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a plurality of engine starting devices and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method determines whether or not to inhibit automatic engine stopping so that a lifespan of an engine starting device may be extended. In one example, the inhibiting is based on a ratio of an actual total number of engine starts generated via the engine starting device to an actual total distance traveled by the vehicle since the engine starting device was installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Eric Rollinger, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11292472
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle drive-train having a drive aggregate, a group transmission and a drive output. The aggregate can couple an input shaft of the transmission which includes main, splitter and range groups. To carry out a shift, a target gear and target rotational speed of the aggregate are calculated for the shift to be carried out. After the initiation of the shift a load reduction is first carried out, then a group of the transmission is disengaged in order to shift the transmission to neutral, after which a group of the transmission is synchronized and to shift out of neutral, the synchronized group is engaged, and then the load is again built up. Initiation of the shift, after calculating the target gear and the target rotational speed, occurs at a point in time when complete performance of a shift is not yet possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Andreas Heinzler
  • Patent number: 11204094
    Abstract: A method to control a road vehicle provided with a servo-assisted transmission during a slowing down phase; the control method generally includes, when the servo-assisted transmission is in an automatic operating mode, the steps of: calculating, assuming that a pressing of the brake pedal remains constant, an opening time interval needed to allow the road vehicle to reach an opening speed at which a clutch of the servo-assisted transmission is definitively opened; calculating a number of downshifts that can be carried out in the opening time interval based on a time needed to carry out a downshift; scheduling the downshifts to be carried out in order to get from the current gear engaged in the servo-assisted transmission to an opening gear with which the clutch of the servo-assisted transmission is definitively opened, so as to carry out no more than the number of downshifts that can be carried out in the opening time interval; and carrying out the scheduled downshifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Barone, Andrea Nannini, Giacomo Senserini, Stefano Marconi
  • Patent number: 11193583
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle uses one or more inputs of a velocity request, a brake request, a speed request, travel direction indication, engine speed, and vehicle speed to determine a control strategy for a continuously variable transmission. A target engine speed is selected based upon the inputs, and the engine and continuously variable transmission ratio are controlled to achieve the target engine speed while controlling the vehicle according to the inputs. In some embodiments, the control strategy further selects the target engine speed according to accessory system demands, such as a hoist or lift system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Conor Bradley, Robert Kee
  • Patent number: 11137066
    Abstract: A speed change control apparatus includes a shifting operation unit, a speed change controller, a deceleration detector, a gradient acquiring unit, and an allowable revolution number setting unit. The speed change controller changes the speed ratio of the automatic transmission on the basis of a shifting operation received by the shifting operation unit. In a case where the shifting operation unit receives a downshift request during deceleration of the vehicle, the allowable revolution number setting unit sets high-speed downshift allowable revolution number on the basis of the deceleration rate of the vehicle detected by the deceleration detector and the road-surface gradient acquired by the allowable revolution number setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Kakihara
  • Patent number: 11118677
    Abstract: A transmission control device is used in an automatic transmission device including a transmission gear having friction coupling portions that are changed between a coupled state and an uncoupled state, and configuring transmission stages corresponding to a combination of the coupled state and the uncoupled state, and a hydraulic control device. The device includes: a determination unit determining a change in the transmission stage; and an output unit setting a target value of the hydraulic pressure, and outputting the target value to the hydraulic control device. In a case where one transmission stage is changed to another, the output unit increases the target value to a first value for a first friction coupling portion in the uncoupled state in the one transmission stage, thereafter, to a second value smaller than the first value and maintaining the uncoupled state, and thereafter, to a third value greater than the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Harada, Futoshi Hattori, Koichi Saito, Kenji Aoki
  • Patent number: 11097738
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes an input-rotation limiting portion configured, when the vehicle starts running and is accelerated, to calculate an estimated speed value that is a speed value of an input rotational speed of an automatic transmission upon elapse of a predetermined length of time, and to calculate an estimated force value that is a force value of a piston pressing force acting on a piston in a forward direction in a released engagement device upon the elapse of the predetermined length of time, based on a centrifugal hydraulic pressure in a pressure chamber of the released engagement device and the centrifugal hydraulic pressure in a canceller chamber of the released engagement device. When the estimated force value is not smaller than a predetermined threshold, the input-rotation limiting portion restrains an increase of the input rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritaka Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 11041563
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission control device for a vehicle capable of changing a threshold of a shift map for determining shift-up, thereby preventing occurrence of the shift-up during depression of an accelerator and preventing occurrence of a torque interruption. In a transmission control device for a vehicle 1 including a T/M-ECU 50 which automatically performs shift control for switching a plurality of shift gears of a transmission 20 for shift-up or shift-down, the T/M-ECU 50 has a shift threshold setting unit 54 which sets a shift threshold to be used for the shift control, on the basis of an operation plan or a surrounding state of the vehicle 1, and the shift threshold setting unit 54 sets the shift threshold to perform the shift control on the transmission 20 so as not to perform the shift-up of the transmission 20 during acceleration of the vehicle 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Munetoshi Tsuge, Takashi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 11034352
    Abstract: A control system, apparatus, and method integrates management of vehicle torque limits and gear shifting of a vehicle by determining future engine power requirements from the forward-looking route conditions to improve performance and drivability of the vehicle over what is achievable through default and/or currently selected torque limits and gear state shifting strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Nirav Shah, Daniel Reed Dempsey
  • Patent number: 10953892
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline that includes a step ratio transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that may be operated in a step ratio mode are disclosed. In one example, engagement speeds for transmission gears are adjusted as a function of vehicle mass, road grade, and requested braking torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thaddeus Hill, Markian Oleh Diakiw, Jeffrey Randolph Holmes, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 10940859
    Abstract: An automatic speed control including repeated autonomous establishment of a setpoint variable regarding a setpoint speed and/or a setpoint acceleration of the vehicle in such a way that the setpoint speed is smaller or equal to a specified or established maximum speed and/or the setpoint acceleration of the vehicle remains smaller or equal to a specified or established maximum acceleration controlling at least one vehicle component by taking into account the autonomously newly established setpoint variable so that an actual speed of the vehicle corresponds to the setpoint speed and/or an actual acceleration of the vehicle corresponds to the setpoint acceleration; and establishing the maximum speed and/or the maximum acceleration by taking into account a measured and/or estimated temperature of a component of a wheel brake caliper and/or a driving variable that is relevant for overheating of the component of the wheel brake caliper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kleemann, Thomas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 10890249
    Abstract: A shift control device for a vehicle, includes: a minimum vehicle speed calculator that, when it is determined that a vehicle on traveling needs to decelerate before the vehicle arrives at a forward predetermined point, calculates a minimum vehicle speed using the periphery information; a shift position determination unit that determines a target shift position; and a downshift controller that, when the minimum vehicle speed is calculated, commences a downshift from a current shift position to the target shift position. Further, the downshift controller implements first control of performing multiple downshifts from the current shift position to the target shift position such that shift timing is provided at regular intervals, or second control of performing multiple downshifts such that rotational speeds of the engine after the respective downshifts become equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Fujiwara, Shun Sato
  • Patent number: 10787975
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: an on-vehicle object recognizing portion that recognizes whether an on-vehicle object that is a person other than a driver or a luggage is present on a saddle-ridden type vehicle; a stop position recognizing portion that recognizes whether the saddle-ridden type vehicle has stopped in middle of or immediately before an uphill slope; and an engine control portion that controls an engine output in the saddle-ridden type vehicle, and, when the on-vehicle object is present on the saddle-ridden type vehicle and the saddle-ridden type vehicle has stopped in middle of or immediately before the uphill slope based on recognition results of the on-vehicle object recognizing portion and the stop position recognizing portion, the engine control portion performs engine output increase control as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Kurata
  • Patent number: 10752245
    Abstract: An auto cruise control method for a hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The auto cruise control method maximizes an effect of enhancing fuel efficiency and simultaneously satisfies enhancement in driveability and fuel efficiency due to the application of a pulse and glide (PnG) pattern obtained by considering the characteristics of the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The method includes receiving a target vehicle speed by a driver input to turn on an auto cruise mode and to turn on a pulse and glide (PnG) mode in a hybrid electric vehicle using an engine and a driving motor as vehicle driving sources. One PnG mode among a PnG coast mode, a PnG glide mode, and a PnG cruise control mode are selected from a map based on the target vehicle speed and driving control of the selected PnG mode is then performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Soo Eo, Young Joon Chang, Ji Won Oh, Youn Kwang Jung, Sung Jae Kim, Ba Ro Hyun
  • Patent number: 10713863
    Abstract: A method of predicting a driving condition of a vehicle may include selecting a first prediction position where a vehicle is predicted to pass afterward while driving and predicting a first driving load of the vehicle at the first prediction position; when the vehicle reaches the first prediction position, measuring a driving condition of the vehicle at the first prediction position; and predicting a second driving load at a second prediction position where the vehicle is predicted to pass afterward by reflecting an error between the first driving load at the first prediction position and the real driving condition at the first prediction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventors: Byeong Wook Jeon, Kwang Hee Park, Jae Chang Kook, Sang Jun Park
  • Patent number: 10690240
    Abstract: A computer system (e.g., an on-board vehicle computer system) creates or updates a mapping of transmission gears and respective driveline ratios during operation of the vehicle. The system obtains a current engine speed and vehicle speed and calculates a current driveline ratio for the vehicle based on the current engine speed and vehicle speed. If the driveline is engaged, the system updates the mapping based at least in part on the current driveline ratio. Performing the update may include adding a new transmission gear or updating an existing transmission gear in the mapping, or removing a duplicate transmission gear from the mapping. Applications include cruise control, predictive cruise control, predictive shifting, and selecting a gear for a specific purpose (e.g., for descending a hill).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Jordan Mosher, Christopher Balton, Christopher Douglas
  • Patent number: 10605356
    Abstract: A shifting control method for controlling a speed change of a vehicle in a downhill section may include collecting, by a forward road grade information collection device, information on a downhill grade which is present ahead of a vehicle, before a vehicle enters a downhill section, determining, by a driving information detection device, whether a predetermined inertial driving condition is satisfied, before the vehicle enters the downhill section, and deciding, by a control device, a shifting mode of the vehicle depending on the downhill grade, and controlling a transmission according to the decided shifting mode, at a predetermined time before the vehicle enters the downhill section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae-Chang Kook, Kwang-Hee Park, Byeong-Wook Jeon, Sang-Jun Park
  • Patent number: 10584791
    Abstract: A speed change control system configured to allow a driver to promptly sense a response to an accelerating operation. A reference index value that the driver senses an acceleration response is calculated based on acceleration of a vehicle. If the reference index value is smaller than a first reference index value at which the driver is allowed to sense the acceleration response, a downshift point is lowered to a first drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Takeichi, Ayumu Sagawa, Hiroyasu Kitagawa, Hideaki Otsubo
  • Patent number: 10576964
    Abstract: An electronic control unit suppresses gear shifting more significantly in a second travel mode than in a first travel mode. Accordingly, frequent gear shifting of an automatic transmission in the second travel mode is suppressed, and superior ride quality is obtained. Meanwhile, an amount of a hysteresis in a gear shifting map is smaller in the second travel mode than in the first travel mode. Thus, duration of travel at an optimum gear stage is extended in the second travel mode, and fuel economy is improved. That is, in the second travel mode, drive power responsiveness to an acceleration and deceleration operation as in the first travel mode is unnecessary. Thus, even when gear shifting is suppressed, there is a low possibility that a driver feels a sense of discomfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10571015
    Abstract: A shift control system for an industrial vehicle includes a vehicle speed monitor, a vehicle speed limit value setting section, a gear determination section, and a control section. The vehicle speed monitor is configured to monitor and detect an actual vehicle speed of the industrial vehicle. The vehicle speed limit value setting section is configured to set a vehicle speed limit value. The gear determination section is configured to select a transmission gear position of the transmission based on the actual vehicle speed and the vehicle speed limit value. The control section is configured to control the transmission in response to the selected transmission gear position. The gear determination section maintains the transmission in the currently-selected transmission gear position when the vehicle speed limit value is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and the threshold value is greater than an upshifting vehicle speed for upshifting the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yukikazu Koide, Yuichi Nishino
  • Patent number: 10563758
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission provided in a vehicle may include providing a reference data for automatic shift of the transmission according to a speed reference of the vehicle, collecting a detected data delivered from at least one detector or operation state information related to an in-vehicle device, wherein the at least one detector and the in-vehicle device is attached or mounted on the vehicle configured for recognizing a driving condition, determining a mode for the automatic shift based at least on the detected data or the operating state information, and performing the automatic shift according to the mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jong Hyuck Lee
  • Patent number: 10502285
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission may include: an input shaft; an output shaft; first to fifth planetary gear sets each including first to third rotation elements, fourth to sixth rotation elements, seventh to ninth rotation elements, tenth to twelfth rotation elements, thirteenth to fifteenth rotational elements; a first shaft connected with the second rotation element and the input shaft; a second shaft connected with the fourteenth rotation element and the output shaft; a third shaft connected with the sixth, seventh and thirteenth rotation elements; a fourth shaft connected with the tenth and fifteenth rotation elements; a fifth shaft connected with the third and fourth rotation elements; a sixth shaft connected with the fifth, eighth, and eleventh rotation elements; a seventh shaft connected with the ninth rotation element; an eighth shaft connected with the first rotation element; and a ninth shaft connected with the twelfth rotation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Dong Hwan Hwang, Jong Sool Park, Jong Soo Kim, Kyeong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10480621
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission may include: an input shaft; an output shaft; first to fifth planetary gear sets each including first to third rotation elements, fourth to sixth rotation elements, seventh to ninth rotation elements, tenth to twelfth rotation elements, thirteenth to fifteenth rotational elements; a first shaft connected with the third rotation element and the input shaft; a second shaft connected with the fourteenth rotation element and the output shaft; a third shaft connected with the fourth and thirteenth rotation elements; a fourth shaft connected with the ninth and fifteenth rotation elements; a fifth shaft connected with the second, fifth and eighth rotation elements; a sixth shaft connected with the seventh and twelfth rotation elements; a seventh shaft connected with the first rotation element; an eighth shaft connected with the sixth and eleventh rotation elements; and a ninth shaft connected with the tenth rotation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Dong Hwan Hwang, Jong Sool Park, Jong Soo Kim, Kyeong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10464565
    Abstract: A propulsion control system provides different levels of jerk as a function of operator inputs and actual measured operational parameters in a machine. The system includes a power source, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to an output of the power source, a plurality of input/output devices, a plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of operational parameters of the machine, and a controller communicatively coupled with the power source, the CVT, the input/output devices, and the sensors. The controller includes a database stored in a memory with a plurality of jerk values mapped to different operations of the machine selected from at least one of activation of a brake by an operator for an aggressive stop, a directional shift request from an operator to select one of forward, reverse, or neutral, and a set of operating conditions of the machine indicative of a blade load shedding mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Dean Kuras, Sean Cameron Landers, Sangameshwar Sonth, Ankit Sharma
  • Patent number: 10464566
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a propulsion unit having a propulsion unit auxiliary brake, a transmission, driven wheels and a control unit arranged to control at least the transmission, where the propulsion unit is drivingly connected to the driven wheels via a clutch and different engagable gear ratios in the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Fries, Henrik Ryberg
  • Patent number: 10400891
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for controlling acceleration of a machine when the machine exits a grade. The system, method, and apparatus may determine a virtual gear having a maximum speed limit equivalent that matches the speed of the machine as the machine exits the grade. The system, method, and apparatus may also deactivate an automatic retarding control (ARC) strategy, which may be activated when the machine is on the grade to reduce and limit the speed of the machine to no more than a set speed, if the ARC strategy is active as the machine exits the grade. The system, method, and apparatus may also control automatic downshift of a transmission system to the virtual gear if the ARC mode was activing during the exit from the graded surface and is now deactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Austin J. Scott, Barry Mei, Michael D. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10377372
    Abstract: A speed control system for a vehicle that: automatically causes the vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, receives information relating to turning of the vehicle, receives information relating to a driving condition of the vehicle, and adjusts automatically the value of the target speed value in dependence on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventor: James Kelly
  • Patent number: 10352436
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes hydraulic friction engaging mechanisms for establishing a plurality of gears, at least one control valve for controlling oil pressures of hydraulic oils supplied to the engaging mechanisms, an oil pressure detection unit for detecting the oil pressure of the hydraulic oil supplied by the control valve, a learning unit for learning a correction value of an instructed oil pressure to the control valve such that an engaging time becomes a target engaging time, and a determination unit which determines, based on a difference between the instructed oil pressure to the valve and an oil pressure detection result obtained by the detection unit from the hydraulic oil supplied by the valve in correspondence with the instructed oil pressure, whether to exclude a control result by the instructed oil pressure from a learning target of the learning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Naoyuki Kubo, Takahide Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10352437
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a predictive transmission control method through road shape recognition, and more particularly, to a control method for carrying out predictive transmission by recognizing the shape of a road utilizing information of a high density map. The present invention provides a transmission control method which can provide an accurate predictive transmission by recognizing the shape of the front road based on GPS information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI AUTRON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae-Geun Lee, Yong Min Kim, Jae Hoon Byeon, Ji Young Jung
  • Patent number: 10343596
    Abstract: A turn signal modulation system is provided for controlling turn signals of a host vehicle. The turn signal modulation can include a vehicle braking sensor; a vehicle attitude sensor and a turn signal modulation circuit. The turn signal modulation circuit can include a communication receiver, communicatively coupled to receive information from the vehicle braking sensor and the vehicle attitude sensor; and a decision circuit with an input communicatively coupled to receive sensor information from the communication receiver. The sensor information can include information indicating an amount of braking force applied to the host vehicle and information indicating changes in vehicle attitude. The decision circuit may determine whether to actuate the turn signals using the amount of braking force applied to the host vehicle and the change in vehicle attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Salem Bensalem
  • Patent number: 10336311
    Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of a work vehicle during downhill operation may include controlling an operation of at least one of an engine or a transmission of a work vehicle so as to maintain the work vehicle operating at a requested speed and identifying an operating condition of the work vehicle that provides an indication that the work vehicle is traveling downhill. In addition, the method may include determining whether at least one pre-condition for downshifting the transmission from a current gear ratio to a downshift gear ratio is satisfied when the operating condition indicates that the work vehicle is currently traveling downhill. Moreover, when it is determined that the pre-condition(s) is satisfied, the method may include controlling the operation of the transmission such that the transmission is downshifted from the current gear ratio to the downshift gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Omran, Garth Bulgrien, Brian Hartman
  • Patent number: 10330029
    Abstract: A method for a more efficient use of a vehicle combustion engine during driving, the vehicle including an automatic step geared transmission. The method includes the steps of sensing current engine rotational speed and engine rotational speed increase, estimating necessary minimum upshift engine rotational speed for a coming gear upshift, registering that the engine rotational speed stops increasing without reaching the minimum upshift engine rotational speed, and where the engine rotational speed stops increasing relatively close to a maximum engine rotational speed where engine efficiency is relatively low and, automatically controlling engine output torque in order to limit the engine rotational speed to a first predetermined engine speed where engine efficiency is relatively high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Eriksson, Peter Templin
  • Patent number: 10328923
    Abstract: A system for establishing a torque limit for a vehicle is provided. The system uses impending terrain and speed conditions to determine an optimum torque, which improves engine efficiency and reduces fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: Cummins Intellectual Properties, Inc., PACCAR, Inc., Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: An Wu, Vivek A. Sujan, Phani Vajapeyazula, Kenneth Follen, Howard R. Frost
  • Patent number: 10316961
    Abstract: A method for transmission upshift sequencing includes detecting a lift foot gear hold condition is met and that a current engine speed is greater than a pattern gear engine speed for the current gear. If these conditions exists then the current gear is held until a first sequence timer expires and then an upshift event occurs to a first gear having an engine speed less than the current engine speed. The first gear is then held until a at least one other sequence timer expires and, thereafter, at least one other gear is selected and held until the engine speed is less than or equal to a pattern gear engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Henry R Wright, Brandon M Fell, Mateusz M Nowak
  • Patent number: 10288168
    Abstract: A corner determinator detects a corner appearing in a traveling direction of a vehicle and determines whether a detected corner is a blind corner based upon a current position of the vehicle and road data. A blind distance calculator calculates a distance from the determined blind corner to the vehicle based upon the current position of the vehicle and the road data. A necessary engine braking amount calculator calculates, on the basis of a calculated distance, a necessary engine braking amount necessary for decelerating a current vehicle speed to a vehicle speed at which it is possible to stop around the blind corner when a braking operation is performed with a full braking amount. A required speed change stage determinator calculates a required speed change stage based upon the determined necessary engine braking amount. A transmission controller performs a downshift to a determined required speed change stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10281030
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing shift changes of a multi-speed automatic transmission of a vehicle are provided. The multi-speed automatic transmission being capable of establishing a plurality of forward speed ratios. The vehicle may include a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input to request a shift change of the multi-speed automatic transmission. A control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission is provided which shifts the multi-speed automatic transmission from a first forward speed ratio to a second forward speed ratio in response to shift criteria. The shift criteria may be based on a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Maurer, Mark A. Rains, Edmond M. Etchason
  • Patent number: 10196066
    Abstract: A system includes an engine, a transmission driven by the engine, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a speed input, receive feedback indicative of a load of the engine at a current engine speed, compare the load to a predetermined load threshold at the current engine speed, determine an expected engine speed based at least on the current engine speed, a current gear ratio, and an expected gear ratio, determine an estimated engine power at the expected engine speed and a current engine power at the current engine speed, and command a gear downshift when the load is greater than or equal to the predetermined load threshold and when the estimated engine power is greater than the current engine power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Mohammed Kandeel Omran, Garth Harvey Bulgrien, Brian Allen Hartman
  • Patent number: 10107133
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (1000) for monitoring a degree of coking at dynamic seals of a turbine engine comprising: a gas generator including a rotary shaft and an injection wheel mounted on the shaft; a fuel injection manifold designed to convey fuel to the injection wheel; and dynamic seals designed to provide a seal between the injection wheel and the fuel injection manifold. The method is characterised in that it comprises steps consisting in: measuring (1100) the rotation speed of the gas generator shaft during a turbine engine autorotation phase, and determining (1200) a degree of coking at the dynamic seals, based on changes in the measured rotation speed over time. The invention also relates to a turbine engine equipped with a monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TURBOMECA
    Inventors: Nadir Christian Debbouz, Francois Xavier Marie Faupin, Fabien Lamazere
  • Patent number: 9989147
    Abstract: A method for a vehicle includes receiving a shift schedule for a transmission of a vehicle, the shift schedule indicating when shift events occur based on operation of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving vehicle operation data during operation of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a power to overcome vehicle losses based on the vehicle operation data. The method further includes determining an adjustment to the shift schedule to optimize a vehicle operating parameter based on the determined power to overcome vehicle losses and implementing the adjustment to the shift schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventor: Vivek A. Sujan
  • Patent number: 9945246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method (1000) for monitoring a degree of coking at the dynamic seals of a turbine engine comprising: a gas generator, comprising a rotary shaft and an injection wheel mounted on said shaft, an injection manifold, dynamic seals for ensuring a seal between the injection wheel and the injection manifold, and a starter, the method comprising the steps: measuring (1500), during a phase for initiating rotation of the shaft of the gas generator by the starter, a current flowing through the starter and a voltage on the terminals of the starter, determining (1600), from the measured current and voltage, a degree of coking at the dynamic seals. The invention also relates to a turbine engine comprising a system for monitoring a degree of coking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: TURBOMECA
    Inventors: Nadir Christian Debbouz, Francois Xavier Marie Faupin, Fabien Lamazere
  • Patent number: 9890733
    Abstract: A control device is configured to calculate a basic accelerator request torque based on an accelerator opening degree detected by an accelerator opening degree sensor, and calculate a target acceleration increase amount based on relations between the target acceleration increase amount and an accelerator opening degree increase amount. Further, the control device is configured to calculate a torque increase amount correction amount based on the target acceleration increase amount, calculate a request engine torque based on the basic accelerator request torque and the torque increase amount correction amount, calculate a request injection amount based on the request engine torque, and control a fuel injection valve based on the request injection amount. The relations are such that as a present operating state is close to a constraint, a ratio of the target acceleration increase amount and the accelerator opening degree increase amount becomes smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 9845863
    Abstract: A system and a method for monitoring a lubricant in a transmission are provided. The system comprises a first speed sensor, a temperature sensor, and a processing unit. The first speed sensor is positioned adjacent a first clutch, which forms a portion of the transmission. The first speed sensor is configured to detect a rotational difference between portions of the first clutch. The temperature sensor is disposed within the transmission. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the lubricant. The processing unit is in communication with the first speed sensor and the temperature sensor. In response to information from the first speed sensor and the temperature sensor, the processing unit determines a condition of the lubricant used in the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Dana Limited
    Inventor: Mark R. J. Versteyhe
  • Patent number: 9810316
    Abstract: When throttle valve opening degree is larger than predetermined throttle valve opening degree Y in the case where a decision on shift to gear stage at which maximum load is applied to predetermined rotary member of automatic transmission is made, the gear stage is not formed. Therefore, large load is restrained from being applied to the predetermined rotary member of the automatic transmission. Besides, gear stage that is lower in vehicle speed than the gear stage by one stage or gear stage that is higher in vehicle speed than the gear stage by one stage is formed depending on whether acceleration requirement is large or small. Therefore, driving torque corresponding to the acceleration requirement is likely to be obtained. In consequence, the load applied to the predetermined rotary member of the automatic transmission can be reduced, and feeling of strangeness can be restrained from being caused by the driving torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Natsume
  • Patent number: 9802597
    Abstract: A system for establishing a torque limit for a vehicle is provided. The system uses impending terrain and speed conditions to determine an optimum torque, which improves engine efficiency and reduces fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: An Wu, Vivek A. Sujan, Phani Vajapeyazula, Kenneth Follen, Howard R. Frost
  • Patent number: 9714704
    Abstract: A method and a system for choosing a transmission mode in a vehicle over the course of a road section, wherein the vehicle has applied coasting prior to this road section and wherein a highest permitted speed vmax is defined for the road section, below which an actual speed for the vehicle should be kept. A simulation of a future speed profile vsim_Gear for a possible gear position for a gearbox in the vehicle is conducted on the basis of a road slope obtained from map data in combination with vehicle positioning information and wherein the simulation simulates, when the road section lies ahead of the vehicle, an actual speed for the vehicle over the course of the road section. Next, an evaluation is carried out of whether a suspension of the coasting in favor of the possible gear position is recommended, wherein the possible gear position is deemed recommendable if a highest value vsim_Gear_max for the future speed profile exceeds the highest permitted speed vmax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventors: Oskar Johansson, Mikael Ă–gren, Fredrik Roos