With Transmission Control Patents (Class 477/15)
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Patent number: 7313470Abstract: A distributed torque monitoring and control system for a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle has a power transfer unit adapted to drive a vehicle wheel and a power source adapted to drive the power transfer unit. The system includes a local torque monitor and a vehicle level torque monitor. The local torque monitor is associated with the power source and is adapted to implement a local mitigation strategy to inhibit undesired torque. The vehicle level torque monitor is adapted to implement a vehicle level mitigation strategy to inhibit acceleration of the hybrid vehicle if the local mitigation strategy is unsuccessful.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Alexander Zaremba, Miroslava Jankovic
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Patent number: 7243016Abstract: A control system and method for communicating with a transmission includes a transmission input speed sensor that generates an input speed signal. A transmission output speed sensor generates an output speed signal. A power supply supplies a total current to the transmission input and output speed sensors via a first conductor. A sensor senses the total current supplied to the transmission input and output speed sensors on the first conductor. A calculating module calculates a transmission input speed and a transmission output speed based on the total current.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Jack P. Koski
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Patent number: 7223203Abstract: A method controlling a hybrid electric vehicle. The hybrid electric vehicle includes a power transfer unit having a plurality of gear ratios and at least one power source adapted to drive the power transfer unit. The method includes calculating a speed ratio value, comparing the speed ratio value to a threshold value, and inferring a torque disturbance if the speed ratio value is greater than the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Mark Yamazaki, Brandon Masterson
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Patent number: 7192374Abstract: A method of controlling a continuously variable transmission includes sensing an output speed of a motor, determining an upper speed limit based on the output speed of the motor and a positive torque limit associated with the motor, determining a limited motor speed command based on the lesser of a motor speed command and the upper speed limit, and controlling the motor based on the limited motor speed command.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Brian Dean Kuras, Thomas Michael Sopko, Jr., Maria-Magdalena Dilimot
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Patent number: 7176643Abstract: Before an amount of play in a rotation transmitting system is learned, for selecting a gear range, an overshooting control process is performed to cause the angular displacement of a motor to overshoot a target gear range position and then reverse the electric motor. The angular displacement of the motor overshoots the target get gear range position by an overshooting amount that is identical to am amount by which the electric motor is reversed. The overshooting amount is set to a maximum value of a designed amount of play in the rotation transmitting system After the amount of play is learned, for selecting a gear range, a target count is established in view of the learned amount of play and the direction in which the motor rotates, and the motor is stopped at a position where an encoder pulse count coincides with the target count without performing the overshooting control process.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masakazu Yamada, Shigeru Kamio, Yasushi Kobiki
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Patent number: 7169077Abstract: A vehicle has at least two driving wheels, each driven by an electric motor M via a gear change mechanism having at least two reduction gears. A sensor senses the rotation speed of the driving wheels. The gear change on the two driving wheels is carried out in an initial phase by: (a) releasing the current gear on a driving wheel referred to as the “operated” wheel, and stopping it in the neutral position, (b) changing the revolution speed of the motor so as to synchronize it as a function of the reduction of the gear to be engaged on the operated wheel, using as an estimate of the speed to-be-reached a speed information item obtained from another driving wheel, referred to as the “sensor” wheel, and (c) engaging the intended gear on the “operated” wheel. Then, in a successive phase, the gear on the other driving wheel is changed in the same manner by reversing the roles of the sensor wheel and the operated wheel.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Conception et Developpment Michelin S.A.Inventors: Daniel Laurent, Pierre Varenne, Pierre Alain Magne
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Patent number: 7115066Abstract: A continuously variable ratio transmission including a planetary gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planet carrier having at least two planet gears carried thereon, a control element including a servogenerator capable of generating electric power, and at least one auxillary field coil adapted to be operatively connected to an output means to influence a power output level and AC power frequency of the output means, the at least one auxillary field coil being powered by the servogenerator and constituting a load to the servogenerator, the speed of the servogenerator being capable of being controlled by the load; and a means for controlling an electrical current to the at least one auxiliary field coil form the servogenerator; where the servogenerator is capable of being driven to produce electrical power by a rotation of one of the sun gear, the ring gear, and the planet carrier.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Inventor: Paul Z. Lee
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Patent number: 7102313Abstract: An apparatus provides protection to an electric traction motor of a vehicle. The vehicle has a first powertrain and a second powertrain. The first powertrain includes an engine and it is coupled with a first set of road wheels. The second powertrain includes the electric traction motor and it is coupled with a second set of road wheels. The apparatus comprises a revolution speed sensor operatively associated with the electric traction motor. The apparatus also comprises at least one controller. The controller includes control logic for modifying operation of the vehicle in response to monitoring the revolution speed sensor to restrain the vehicle speed from increasing in such a manner as to limit revolution speed of the electric traction motor to revolution speed values below an allowable upper revolution speed limit.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keiji Kadota, Kouichi Shimizu
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Patent number: 6971968Abstract: A transmission control system for a hybrid vehicle is comprised of a hybrid transmission including two motor/generators and a controller connected to the hybrid transmission. The controller is arranged to change the torque control of the motor/generator under the torque control to the revolution speed control and to change the revolution speed control of the other motor/generator under the revolution speed control to the torque control, when one of the torque of the motor/generator under the revolution speed control and the revolution speed of the motor/generator under the torque control becomes saturated.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2003Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., RENAULT s.a.s. societe par actions simplifieeInventors: Tomoya Imazu, Keyvan Kargar, Yves Pichon
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Patent number: 6962550Abstract: A control system for a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle has a first powertrain and a second powertrain. The first powertrain includes an engine and it is coupled with a first set of road wheels. The second powertrain includes an electric motor and it is coupled with a second set of road wheels. A generator is coupled with the engine. The generator is provided as a source of electric power for the electric motor. The control system comprises control logic for determining whether or not there is a need for a predetermined scheme, which is planned to prevent the motor from applying running resistance to the second set of road wheels. The control system also comprises control logic for executing the predetermined scheme in response to the need.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2002Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keiji Kadota
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Patent number: 6950736Abstract: In the case of malfunctioning of an inhibitor switch of an automatic transmission, a current vehicle speed is compared with a maximum vehicle speed of a reverse speed when the current vehicle speed is other than 0. The transmission is then controlled to a target shift-speed determined on the basis of vehicle driving state parameters, when the current vehicle speed is higher than the maximum vehicle speed of the reverse speed.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: Hydundai Motor CompanyInventor: Young Shin Cho
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Patent number: 6852054Abstract: Two methods for operating a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine (VM) and by two electrical machines (E1, E2) are proposed. The motor vehicle has a transmission (G) with two power paths (LP1, LP2) controllable independently of one another. Each power path (LP1, LP2) is coupled via a respective epicyclic gear (P1, P2) to one of the electrical machines (LP1, LP2) and to the input shaft (KW) of the transmission (G) and can be coupled via shiftable gears (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, R) to the output shaft (AW) of the transmission (G). The object is to make it possible to operate the motor vehicle more efficiently. To reduce circulating mechanical power flow between the two power paths (LP1, LP2), particularly in the boost mode or upon recuperation of braking energy, the gear combination (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, R) is varied, or the engine rpm is lowered, or only one electrical machine (E1, E2) is used as a generator.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2001Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Stefan Tumback, Klaus-Peter Schnelle
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Patent number: 6817964Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle that judges whether the vehicle is running on a congested road based on an output from a sensor, causes a take-off from a first state where a gear ratio of an automatic transmission is large at a time of taking-off when running on a congested road, causes the take-off from a second state where the gear ratio of the automatic transmission is small at the time of taking-off when not running on the congested road and replenishes, by driving a motor/generator, a part of an under torque of the driving source created by taking-off from a state where the gear ratio of the automatic transmission is large, when a temporary high acceleration take-off request is made while a judgment of congested road running is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2003Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Kayukawa, Yoshitaka Murase, Eiji Takasu, Chikashi Satou
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Publication number: 20040220015Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle, which has; a first prime mover and a second prime mover for transmitting a power to a wheel; a power distribution device for distributing the power of said first prime mover to the wheel and to a rotary device; a transmission arranged on a power transmission route from said second prime mover to the wheel; and a gear ratio control device for controlling a gear ratio of the transmission; characterized in that comprising a sub control device for controlling a status of said transmission to enable suppression of decline in a driving performance of the vehicle, even when the function of said gear ratio control mechanism declines.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akira Murakami, Yasunori Nakawaki, Makoto Funahashi, Masahiro Kojima, Masatoshi Adachi
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Publication number: 20040097327Abstract: A method of setting a setpoint operating state of a hybrid drive of a vehicle is described, where the hybrid drive includes as drive motors an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor, and the output shafts of the drive motors are mechanically linkable to a drive train of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2004Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Juergen Loeffler, Stefan Tumback
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Publication number: 20040029678Abstract: A control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle that judges whether the vehicle is running on a congested road based on an output from a sensor, causes a take-off from a first state where a gear ratio of an automatic transmission is large at a time of taking-off when running on the congested road, causes the take-off from a second state where the gear ratio of the automatic transmission is small at the time of taking-off when not running on the congested road and replenishes, by driving a motor/generator, a part of an under torque of the driving source created by taking-off from a state where the gear ratio of the automatic transmission is large, when a temporary high acceleration take-off request is made while a judgment of congested road running is maintainedType: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Atsushi Kayukawa, Yoshitaka Murase, Eiji Takasu, Chikashi Satou
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Patent number: 6597978Abstract: A method is proposed for controlling an automatic transmission driven by a prime mover in which a shift from a first transmission ratio to a second transmission ratio occurs in the form of a pull upshift or push downshift or a pull downshift or push upshift by a first clutch opening and a second clutch closing and an electronic transmission control device controls, via electromagnetic valves, the pressure curve of the first and of the second clutch during the shifting operation. The shifting operation is divided into various shifting phases, an engine intervention taking place in the load-transfer (LÜ) of the gradient-setting phase (GE), the sliding phase (GL), the gradient-reduction phase (GA) and the closing phase (S), an engine torque and/or a characteristic value that determines the engine torque being transferred from the transmission control device to an engine control device of the prime mover.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Hans-Jörg Domian
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Patent number: 6575870Abstract: A driving force control system for a front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle, which is capable of charging a battery based on a traveling condition of the vehicle. The front-and-rear wheel drive vehicle is driven while switching between a drive mode for driving front wheels by an engine and driving rear wheels by a motor, and a recharge mode for recovering running energy of the vehicle and charging the battery with the recovered running energy. Parameters (accelerator pedal opening &THgr;AP and a vehicle speed Vcar, or drive wheel speeds of the respective front and rear wheels) indicative of a driving condition of the vehicle are detected. A traveling condition of the vehicle is determined based on the parameters. It is determined, based on the traveling condition of the vehicle and the state of charge of the driving energy in the drive source, whether charging of the battery is to be executed.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiko Kitano, Naoki Uchiyama, Akihiro Yamamoto, Tooru Nakasako, Takahiro Yonekura, Toshihiko Fukuda
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Patent number: 6574535Abstract: A propulsion system designed for hybrid vehicles utilizing a first torque path from a coupled motor generator system and internal combustion engine through and automatically shifted manual transmission having a secondary torque path from a secondary torque source to the wheels. The system incorporates the high-efficiency of a manual transmission with the smoothness of the most advanced automatic transmissions by utilizing a second torque path to maintain driver requested torque during shifts and braking requests.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Robert L. Morris, Kevin S. Kidston, Richard C. Peterson
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Patent number: 6561947Abstract: A method for controlling gear shifting in a motor vehicle which utilizes a drive assembly that includes an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, a multiple-gear transmission having a transmission input and a transmission output shaft that be selective coupled and uncoupled from one another, a main clutch assembly capable of causing the transmission input shaft and output shaft to be selectively coupled or uncoupled, an electrical machine capable of being selectively coupled to the transmission input shaft via an intermediate transmission, and a control unit for controlling the electrical machine and/or the intermediate transmission during gear shifting, as a function of a standard shift value provided to the transmission along with the operating parameters and the operating states of the components.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Gerhard Koelle, Harald Tschentscher, Simon-Florian Gzerny
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Patent number: 6482127Abstract: In an automatic transmission which comprises: a starter motor for starting an engine and a hydraulic pressure source having a main pump driven by the engine and an assist pump driven by an electric motor, when an idling stop control unit outputs an idling stop signal to an engine control unit, an engine and an assist pump are stopped. When the idling stop control unit receives an OFF signal from a brake switch, the idling stop control unit outputs a cancellation command for canceling an idling stop operation to the engine control unit to drive a starter motor and the assist pump.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Jatco Transtechnology Ltd.Inventor: Yoshiaki Katou
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Patent number: 6428444Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a vehicle which prevents a frequent gear shift called “busy-shift” caused by a varying driving condition. A plurality of wheels, a first power source, a second power source, an electric power supply, and a transmission between the wheel and at least one of the power sources are mounted in the vehicle. The apparatus for controlling the vehicle includes a detecting and a torque change. The detecting means detects a selected gear ratio of the transmission. Since torque of the second power source is increased or decreased in response to the selected gear ratio which is detected by the detecting, a fluctuation of the driving torque of the vehicle is restrained. Consequently, a frequent gear shift “busy-shift” can be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Atsushi Tabata
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Patent number: 6364806Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-motor drive in which two electric motors which are assigned to a common output with a dual-stage gearbox are provided. An automatic controller controls, on the one hand, the load distribution between the motors and, on the other hand, the gearbox in order to ensure an optimum degree of efficiency of the drive. Asynchronous motors are preferably provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventor: Dirk Spaniel
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Patent number: 6339301Abstract: A control system for an AC electric motor on an electric vehicle deactivates the motor when the control system senses a shift in the mechanically coupled transmission extending between the motor rotor and the wheels. The transmission shift condition may be detected by comparing the current transmission ratio to the immediately preceding measured transmission ratio. If these differ, the motor is electrically deactivated. Two successive measures of the same transmission ratio in a range corresponding to a valid transmission ratio indicate the end of a transmission shift hence permitting the safe resumption of excitation of the motor based on the then current measured rotor speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2000Date of Patent: January 15, 2002Inventor: Errol E. Wallingford
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Patent number: 6328671Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle wherein the rotation torques of a motor and engine are input to a continuously variable transmission, a drive force is controlled by a microprocessor programmed to set a target drive power (tPO) based on a depression amount of an accelerator pedal (APO) and a vehicle speed (VSP), set a battery power (PB) based on a battery charge amount (SOC), set a target engine power (tPE) based on the target drive power (tPO) and the battery power (PB). The microprocessor is also programmed to set a limited target engine power (tPELMT) to zero when the target engine power (tPE) is less than a predetermined value, and set the limited target engine power (tPELMT) equal to the target engine power (tPE) when the target engine power (tPE) is larger than the predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuki Nakajima, Shusaku Katakura, Masaaki Uchida
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Patent number: 6301529Abstract: In driving apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle, a controller is provided and programmed: to calculate a target driving force [tFd], the target driving force representing a target value of a vehicular driving force; to calculate a basic target engine speed [tNinb] on the basis of tFd, the basic target engine speed representing a basic target value of the engine speed; to calculate a power generation request quantity [tWg], the power generation request quantity representing a power to be generated by the motor/generator; to calculate a basic target engine torque [tTeg] on the basis of tFd, tWg, and tNinb, the basic target engine torque representing an engine torque to be developed when an output required for a vehicular drive and for a power drive of the motor/generator is developed at tNinb; to calculate a limit torque [tTlim] during an occurrence of a power generation request on the basis of tNinb, this limit torque representing a limit torque of the engType: GrantFiled: July 20, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., LTDInventors: Hiroyuki Itoyama, Manabu Miura, Takashi Shirakawa
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Patent number: 6212458Abstract: A control for an automatic shifting power transmission employs an algorithm to determine the proper gear ratio during vehicle deceleration. The algorithm establishes downshift grade requirements based on the brake pressure and speed threshold targets based on brake pressure. A grade average is calculated from the operating parameters of acceleration, engine braking, aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance and brake torque deceleration. If the grade average is within downshifting range and the speed target is met, the control commands a downshift to the next lower gear ratio. The downshift grade requirements decrease as brake pressure increases and speed targets increase as brake pressure increases.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Allen John Walenty, Kevin Gerard Leppek, Scott R. Kloess
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Patent number: 6205387Abstract: In a vehicle provided with a continuously variable transmission, when a target speed change ratio sharply decreases due to the release of an accelerator pedal from depression, a real speed change ratio of the continuously variable transmission which follows the target speed change ratio may undershoot the target speed change ratio. Due to this undershoot, the engine rotation speed may temporarily fall below a permitted level. Therefore, the variation rate of the speed change ratio of the transmission is decreased in the terminal phase of the shifting process of the speed change ratio.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1998Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tatsuo Ochiai
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Patent number: 6138070Abstract: A controller for a continuously variable transmission of a vehicle sets a command speed ratio so that a real speed ratio approaches a target speed ratio which is set according to running conditions including throttle opening. When an upshift is performed, this controller determines, from the variation of throttle opening, whether the upshift is due to a decrease in throttle opening or whether it is another type of upshift. When it is determined that the upshift is due to throttle opening decrease, a response rate of the command speed ratio relative to the target speed ratio immediately after start of speed change is temporarily increased, and subsequently slowly decreased.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1998Date of Patent: October 24, 2000Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigeki Shimanaka, Toshiji Iida
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Patent number: 6122583Abstract: A control valve system for a multiple ratio transmission with a high ratio clutch and an intermediate ratio brake servo including a first solenoid operated valve that generates a control pressure for intermediate servo apply and a second solenoid operated valve that generates a control pressure for intermediate servo release and for the high clutch. The second and the first solenoid valves control the intermediate servo stroke phase and the second solenoid valve controls, either closed or open loop, the deceleration of a high clutch drum. Pressures electronically controlled by the solenoid valves are distributed to the clutch and brake servo pressure chambers by a shift valve configuration, whereby high quality upshifts and downshifts are achieved.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1997Date of Patent: September 19, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Johann Kirchhoffer, Scott Raymond Crandall, Robert Cary Haase
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Patent number: 6090007Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle wherein the rotation torque of a motor and engine are input to a continuously variable transmission, a target speed ratio is determined from a target engine rotation speed set based on a target drive torque of said vehicle and a vehicle speed. A target combined torque of the motor and engine is set based on the target drive torque and a real speed ratio of the transmission. A target motor torque is determined based on the target combined torque and the input rotation speed of the continuously variable transmission. A value obtained by subtracting the target motor torque from the target combined torque is set equal to a target engine torque. The drive force of the hybrid vehicle is optimized by controlling the engine, motor and continuously variable transmission by the target engine torque, target motor torque and target speed ratio thus obtained.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1999Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuki Nakajima, Shusaku Katakura, Masaaki Uchida
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Patent number: 6064937Abstract: Disclosed is a compound cruise control system for solar cars including a signal output portion for detecting and generating signals regarding vehicle speed, power consumption, and cruise control selection of an operating vehicle; a control portion for controlling the general operation of the vehicle according to the generated signals and established map data; a power generating portion for generating drive electric energy; and a drive portion for processing drive energy of the power generating portion and making adjustments of vehicle operation according to signals from the control portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1997Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Chaemo Yang
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Patent number: 6053842Abstract: A drive system for a hybrid drive vehicle, comprises a driving mechanism which includes a clutch, an engine connected the clutch, a first motor for generating power, connected to the clutch, a second motor for driving a drive wheel, connected to the clutch, and a transmission connected to the clutch. A third motor is provided for driving a hydraulic pump of a hydraulic system for the transmission. A first inverter is connected between the first motor and a battery, in which charging and discharging between the first motor and the battery being made through the first inverter. A second inverter is connected between the second motor and the battery, in which charging and discharging between the second motor and the battery being made through the second inverter. A third inverter is connected between the third motor and the battery, in which changing and discharging between the battery and the motor being made through the third inverter.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 1999Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichiro Kitada, Shunichi Aoyama, Noboru Hattori, Isaya Matsuo
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Patent number: 6048289Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, an internal combustion engine and a first electric propulsion motor are linked to an input axle of a clutch and an input axle of a continuously variable transmission and a second electric propulsion motor are linked to an output axle of the clutch. A propulsion mechanism for transmitting a power from an output axle of the continuously variable transmission to drive axles, a third electric propulsion motor used to drive a hydraulic system of the continuously variable transmission, a battery supply, a power inverter for charging and discharging between the battery supply and the first, second, and third electric propulsion motors, and a controller for controlling operations of the power inverter, the battery supply, the first, second, and third motors, and the continuously variable transmission are provided in the hybrid vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noboru Hattori, Shunichi Aoyama, Shinichiro Kitada, Isaya Matsuo
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Patent number: 6019699Abstract: A drive control system for a hybrid vehicle for preventing a delay in the application of a one-way clutch in a transmission and an application shock. In this drive control system, an electric motor and an internal combustion engine are coupled to the input side of a transmission having at least one gear stage to be set by applying a one-way clutch. The drive control system comprises: a detector for detecting a coasting state in which the one-way clutch is released in a deceleration state set with the gear stage; and an input speed raising device for driving the electric motor when the coasting state is detected, so that the input speed of the transmission may approach the synchronous speed which is the product of the gear ratio of the gear stage to be set by applying the one-way clutch and the output speed of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazumi Hoshiya, Hidehiro Oba
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Patent number: 5910714Abstract: This disclosure describes an improved electrical power apparatus for assisting a rider in powering a wheeled vehicle such as a bicycle. The apparatus controllably connects a rechargeable battery to a dc motor engageable with a wheel of the vehicle in a predetermined fashion, such that the wheel is driven with a torque that varies with the vehicle's speed according to a predetermined non-uniform profile. This control advantageously can be achieved by modulating on and off a switch at a duty cycle between 0% and 100%, which is selected to provide a motor torque that decreases monotonically with the vehicle's speed, from a maximum value at zero speed to a predetermined intermediate value at a predetermined intermediate speed, and that remains at that predetermined intermediate value for speeds between the intermediate speed and a predetermined maximum speed. The apparatus further includes a charger for charging the battery using a flyback-type dc-to-dc converter.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1997Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Aerovironment Inc.Inventors: W. Darrell Buchanan, Paul MacCready
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Patent number: 5827148Abstract: In an electric vehicle provided with an electric motor (M), a motor drive circuit (17) and a control circuit section (15) for outputting an operation command to the motor drive circuit, a variable speed drive unit for electric vehicles has a transmission apparatus (20) which engages or disengages a drive shaft (7a) which receives the drive force from a propelling motor and a driven shaft (5a) which is interconnected with propelling wheels by an electromagnetic engagement clutch (30), the transmission apparatus has the electromagnetic clutch comprised of a first clutch (22) interconnected with the drive shaft, a second clutch (25) having a rotational speed different from the first clutch, and an output side clutch (21) interconnected with the driven shaft; and the output side clutch and the first clutch or the second clutch are alternatively connected to selectively change the motor output.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1997Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo R & D Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Seto, Akihito Uetake, Tatsuya Shimoda, Masao Ono, Masatoshi Fukuda, Satoshi Yamazaki
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Patent number: 5749060Abstract: A control configuration for a motor vehicle includes an engine control and a transmission control which are connected to one another through a communication channel. A transmission is shifted by using electrohydraulic pressure control valves for actuating friction elements in the transmission. The transmission control is mounted at a transmission housing. Solenoids of the electrohydraulic pressure control valves are integrated into the transmission control. Sensor signals which are to be evaluated by the transmission control are transmitted by sensors to the transmission control wirelessly.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Friedrich Graf, Kai Storjohann, Michael Ulm, Ralf-Johannes Lenninger, August Kammerl
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Patent number: 5699869Abstract: A gear box assembly for automatically engaging and disengaging an output gear which is non-rotatably concentrically mounted on a driven axle shaft attached to plural wheels in a children's ride-on toy is described. The assembly includes an electric motor with a pinion driving plural driven gears, and a yoke which is pivotable between two positions and provides a mount for at least one of the plural driven gears. In one position, the yoke pivotally engages the output gear and drives the vehicle's wheels, and in another position, the yoke pivotally disengages the output gear thereby allowing the vehicle's wheels to freely rotate without driving or back-driving the motor or other gears. In the preferred embodiment, the yoke is counterbalanced for rotation about a defined axis. In alternative embodiments, the yoke includes a friction member for developing friction between one of the driven gears to rotate the yoke into engagement.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1995Date of Patent: December 23, 1997Assignee: Mattel, Inc.Inventors: Daniel D. Fritzinger, Craig R. Hall
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Patent number: 5690580Abstract: A neutral apparatus for use on an electric vehicle is disclosed. The neutral apparatus comprises a control state detector and a neutral mechanism control circuit. The control state detector detects whether or not the motor control unit is in a predetermined control state. The neutral mechanism control unit can instruct the neutral mechanism to interrupt the power train according to the output signal from the control state detector. If the motor control unit is not in the predetermined control state, this is detected by the control state detector. In response to the output signal from the control state detector, the neutral mechanism control circuit causes the neutral mechanism to interrupt the power train. Thus, power flow from the motor to the drive wheels is interrupted. The control state detector is comprised of a voltage comparator circuit for comparing the output voltage from the motor driver circuit with a reference voltage and produces an output signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1996Date of Patent: November 25, 1997Assignee: Honda Giken KogyoInventors: Shoji Tokushima, Kiyoshi Kimura, Hisahiro Ito, Tomoyuki Itoh, Kiyotaka Hayashi, Naofumi Hoshi
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Patent number: 5655990Abstract: A shift map used for controlling the shifting of a transmission in an electric vehicle based on the accelerator opening degree and the vehicle speed as parameters has a medium shift stage region in a higher shift stage region established in a medium vehicle speed operation region at a lower accelerator opening degree. When the vehicle travels down a downward slope at the lower accelerator opening degree while generating a regenerative braking force, the transmission is downshifted from a higher shift stage to a medium shift stage to increase the regenerative braking force, thereby providing an enhancement in braking feeling and an improvement in energy recovery efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1995Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuo Ooyama, Tomohiro Mihara
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Patent number: 5629593Abstract: In an electrically driven vehicle having an automatic transmission for coupling motor output torque to at least one drivewheel through a selected one of at least a pair of speed ratios, a method of matching the post-shift output torque to the preshift output torque is disclosed whereby undesirable post-shift driveline disturbances such as driveline sag are eliminated and post-shift vehicle performance is not compromised due to changes in output torque.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1995Date of Patent: May 13, 1997Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Frederick J. Pollock, Douglas E. Trombley
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Patent number: 5519293Abstract: A load driving system uses two gear trains with different characteristics. The load driving system includes a motor, a first pinion gear which is installed on the output shaft of the motor, a first gear train transmitting the rotation from the first pinion gear to a load, a second pinion gear separate from the first pinion gear which is also mounted on the motor output shaft, a second gear train having different characteristics from the first gear train and transmitting the rotation from the second pinion gear to the load, a connector for connecting the first gear train to the load while separating the second gear train from the load and for connecting the second gear train to the load while separating the first gear train from the load, and a controller for selecting one of the first and second gear trains based on a battery discharge level. The first and second gear trains are selected by selecting a rotational direction of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1994Date of Patent: May 21, 1996Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Akira Ezawa
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Patent number: 5491635Abstract: A starting operation for a vehicle is carried out in two phases, specifically in a first phase, the input rotational speed is led to a desired rotational speed, and in a following second phase, a rotational speed difference signal formed from the difference between the input rotational speed and the output rotational speed is led to the zero value according to a predetermined desired course. The first phase begins when the starting device is not completely closed and the position of the power control element is below a limit value. The desired rotational speed is first determined as a function of the position of the power control element, the time variation of the position, and a signal describing the driver's driving style. With the determined desired rotational speed, a desired curve of a control signal for an actuator of the starting device is then determined in such a manner that, in the case of the actual position of the power control element, this desired rotational speed is definitely reached.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1994Date of Patent: February 13, 1996Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AGInventors: Tamas Foeldi, Heinz Stehle, Udo Heim, Hai T. Xuan, Rainer Wuest
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Patent number: 5476424Abstract: A vehicle power transmission apparatus is provided for maintaining a constant power output when driving a vehicle regardless of the change in the frictional force of the belt in a belt type stepless speed change device. A belt type stepless speed change device is used with a vehicle driving, prime motor on board a vehicle. The apparatus provides a flat characteristic segment covering at least a part of the power output characteristic relative to the revolutions of the vehicle driving prime motor. The apparatus allows the vehicle to be driven by a constant power output within the segment of the flat power output characteristic regardless of changes in the frictional force of the belt in the belt type stepless speed change device.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1993Date of Patent: December 19, 1995Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takaaki Fujii, Kenji Kawaguchi, Toshinari Mohara, Kouichi Sugioka, Toru Iwadate, Seiichi Nishihira, Sadashi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 5395293Abstract: To smoothly perform a shift change by the actuator with a simple structure, a drive motor M as a running drive source is connected with a drive motor electronic motor unit 103 through a FET driver 107. A change motor 61 for driving a shift drum 62 is connected with a change motor electronic control unit 111 through a FET driver 112. When a drive motor electronic control unit 103 outputs the speed change signal on the basis of the detection signal of an accelerator opening sensor 106 and a drive motor rotational speed sensor 104, the output of the driver motor M is temporarily reduced or stopped to release the meshing surface pressure of the gear trains of the transmission T, and during the period thereof, a shift drum 62 is driven by the change motor 61 for performing the shift change. After completion of the shift change, the output of the drive motor M is smoothly increased.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1993Date of Patent: March 7, 1995Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Matsuura, Kunihiko Tanaka, Masahiro Kuroki, Seiji Onozawa
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Patent number: 5355749Abstract: A control apparatus of a motor drive vehicle includes a unit for generating a target vehicle speed; a speed instruction unit for generating a target motor rotational speed of the motor based upon a preset motor control pattern in response to the target vehicle speed; a power circuit for operating the motor at the target motor rotational speed upon receipt of the target motor rotational speed; a variable transmission unit for converting a drive output from the motor into a transmission ratio for instructing a rotational speed of the drive output, and transferring the converted transmission ratio to a drive shaft of the motor drive vehicle; and a transmission ratio calculating unit for determining the transmission gear ratio based on the target vehicle speed and the target motor rotational speed thereby to instruct the determined transmission gear ratio to the variable transmission unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1992Date of Patent: October 18, 1994Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Sanshiro Obara, Ryoso Masaki, Toshiaki Okuyama, Tsutomu Ohmae, Keigo Naoi, Makoto Shioya