And Engine Patents (Class 477/185)
  • Patent number: 11912137
    Abstract: A method for assisting a vehicle to tilt includes: receiving a first torque instruction output by a throttle assembly, and generating a second torque instruction, in which the first torque instruction is determined based on a manipulation degree applied to the throttle assembly, and the second torque instruction is determined based on attitude information of the vehicle; performing a weighted summation on the first torque instruction and the second torque instruction based on a first proportional coefficient of the first torque instruction and a second proportional coefficient of the second torque instruction to obtain a third torque instruction; and outputting the third torque instruction to a motor controller, and controlling a tilt angle of the vehicle by the motor controller based on the third torque instruction, in which the tilt angle of the vehicle is less than or equal to a target angle threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ninebot (Beijing) Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yubin Yuan, Qiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 11702059
    Abstract: At least some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods of online power management for hybrid powertrains. In some embodiments, the hybrid powertrain control system is configured to conduct a brake-thermal-efficiency (BTE) estimation procedure when the powertrain is in operation by operating the hybrid powertrain at a plurality of speeds for a plurality of designated power levels and select certain BTE operating conditions to update the power management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Dheeraj B. Gosala, Carlos A. Lana
  • Patent number: 11505172
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing rust on a brake disk includes: an environment information acquisition unit configured to acquire environment information, a controller configured to perform a function of calculating an amount of generated rust using the environment information, and controlling the rust removal depending on whether or not the amount of generated rust exceeds the preset reference value, and a driver configured to drive a brake system under the control of rust removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kwon-Hyoung Choi, Jong-Chan Jun, Deok-Hwan Seo, Jin-Hyung Lee, Gwi-Chul Kim, So-Ra Jang, Ho-Sung Hwang, Ki-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11440642
    Abstract: An aircraft actuator torque limiter includes a disengageable torque transmitter between a rotary shaft and a driven member. The disengageable transmitter includes a friction pack including at least one contact member mounted secured in rotation with the rotary shaft and a complementary contact member, mounted secured in rotation with the driven member. The transmitter includes a clamp of the friction pack and a mover of the clamp, able to contract or expand differentially relative to the rotary shaft along the axis of rotation during a temperature variation. The clamp mover is made from a second material having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the first material forming the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventor: Antoine Patrick Faure
  • Patent number: 11312366
    Abstract: A method for reinforcing safety of a vehicle on a ramp applied to a vehicle is performed by a first priority anti-skid countermeasure control in which a brake is operated together with displaying an occurrence of the skid of a vehicle/vehicle stop message on a ramp by a controller when the vehicle starts, a second priority anti-skid countermeasure control in which compensating an idle torque is performed together with displaying a guidance of anti-skid function operation/vehicle stop message is performed, a third priority anti-skid countermeasure control in which displaying a turn-off/vehicle stop message is performed, and a fourth priority anti-skid countermeasure control in which forcibly shifting to a N (neutral) stage or permitting the shift together with displaying a forcibly switching to the shift stage N stage/vehicle stop message is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dae-Sung Yang
  • Patent number: 11286897
    Abstract: A control method of controlling an idle stop-and-go (ISG) function of a vehicle provided with a manual transmission includes: determining, by a controller, whether an ISG function activation condition is satisfied based on vehicle running state information of the vehicle; stopping an engine, by the controller, when the ISG activation condition is satisfied; determining, by the controller, whether a first starting condition in which a shift stage of the manual transmission is a neutral stage is satisfied; determining, by the controller, whether a second starting condition in which a shift stage of the manual transmission is a driving stage is satisfied; and restarting, by the controller, the engine when the first starting condition or the second starting condition is satisfied. The vehicle running state information includes: an operation information of the manual transmission and a clutch pedal, and current and recorded vehicle speeds of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jung Hwan Bang
  • Patent number: 10821954
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a brake system for a vehicle, said brake system comprising a brake for securing the vehicle, wherein the brake comprises an actuator for actuating the brake. It is proposed to directly electrically connect an electrical connection for external energy sources to the actuator of the brake with the result that preferably only the actuator is externally supplied with electrical energy. Furthermore, the disclosure proposes a vehicle having the brake system, and a method for operating the brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ferdinand Greimann, Erik Mueller-Wickop, Karl-Peter Hesseler
  • Patent number: 10576983
    Abstract: A vehicle system comprises a brake system comprising a brake pedal and a braking mechanism configured to apply a braking force to a vehicle, and a vehicle control unit operable to automatically stop an engine when the vehicle is decelerated to a given vehicle speed or less during traveling. When it is detected that the brake pedal is manipulated and the vehicle is stopped after automatically stopping the engine, the vehicle control unit is operable to control the braking mechanism to increase the braking force from a current value according to a manipulation amount of the brake pedal up to a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaru Takase, Ryohei Yasutomi, Hisanobu Okada, Setsuya Kishimura, Takeshi Yabuki, Keishi Taki, Seiyo Hirano, Akitomo Kume
  • Patent number: 10392005
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle including a gradient acquiring portion which acquires a gradient of a road surface on which the vehicle is running, and a control portion which determines whether the vehicle runs on a first driving by means of power from the motor by releasing the engagement and disengagement portion, or on a second driving by means of power from at least the internal combustion engine by applying the engagement and disengagement portion. The control portion restricts a switch from the second driving to the first driving when the gradient of the downward slope is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The control portion holds the second driving when the switch from the second driving to the first driving is restricted, even though the control portion obtains a request for a switch to the first driving while the vehicle runs the downward slope on the second driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Hatsuda, Shigeki Kazehare, Masashi Eto, Takanori Kon
  • Patent number: 10215118
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine of a hybrid drive vehicle includes an exhaust gas purification catalyst in an exhaust passage. An internal combustion engine control device is configured to continuously rotate the internal combustion engine for a predetermined time period after an engine start. The internal combustion engine control device prohibits a fuel-cut within the predetermined time period after the engine start, thereby suppressing the frequent repetition of the start and stop of the internal combustion engine due to an accelerator pedal operation and suppressing oxygen storage in the exhaust gas purification catalyst associated with the fuel-cut. As a result, exhaust gas purification performance at the time of restarting the internal combustion engine is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ohmura, Hiroshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 10048167
    Abstract: An engine torque estimator for an internal combustion engine, includes a cylinder internal pressure sensor, an indicated-torque calculator, a pump loss torque calculator, and an engine torque calculator. The cylinder internal pressure sensor detects a cylinder internal pressure in a cylinder. The indicated-torque calculator calculates an indicated torque in a second combustion cycle based on the cylinder internal pressure detected in a period from an exhaust stroke in a first combustion cycle to an expansion stroke in the second combustion cycle. The second combustion cycle that follows the first combustion cycle. The pump loss torque calculator calculates a pump loss torque in the second combustion cycle based on the cylinder internal pressure detected in the period. The engine torque calculator calculates an engine torque of the internal combustion based on the indicated torque and the pump loss torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Kubo, Taisuke Inoue, Shusuke Akazaki, Ken Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10024291
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a brake system. The vehicle includes a controller configured to maintain an ignition state of the engine such that changes in an ignition state between engine start and engine stop are inhibited during a pressurization of the brake system that is prompted by the indication and initiated prior to brake pedal application. The maintained ignition state is responsive to receiving an indication of a degraded road condition from a source in a vicinity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy, Mohannad Hakeem, Mahmud Salam
  • Patent number: 9988995
    Abstract: An output control system incorporated in a vehicle including a clutch device comprises an upper limit setting section which sets an upper limit value of an output of the drive source to a starting control upper limit value when the output control system is performing a starting control; and a wheelie determiner section which determines whether or not a wheelie is occurring in the vehicle when the output control system is performing the starting control, wherein when the wheelie determiner section determines that the wheelie is occurring, the output control system performs a wheelie suppressing control for suppressing the output of the drive source while maintaining the starting control in such a manner that the output becomes less when the wheelie determiner section determines that the wheelie is occurring than before the wheelie determiner section determines that the wheelie is occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hirokami, Shohei Terai, Seiji Azuma, Kengo Ueda
  • Patent number: 9951738
    Abstract: This invention provides a computer implemented method which allows the driver to request engine shut down and engine and restarts the engine of a motor vehicle by changing driver brake pedal force, that is, the force which the driver applies to the brake pedal, after the vehicle has stopped. After the vehicle has stopped, changes in the driver brake pedal force are compared to threshold values to determine if the driver is requesting an engine stop or an engine start.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Voyomotive, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Yorke, Robert Vogt, IV, Adam Sloan
  • Patent number: 9895972
    Abstract: A wheelie suppressing device comprises a wheelie determiner section which detects a wheelie state; and a wheelie suppressing section which performs a wheelie suppressing control for suppressing an engine output when the wheelie determiner section has detected the wheelie state, wherein the wheelie suppressing control includes a first suppressing control for suppressing the engine output while performing fuel feeding and an ignition operation, and a second suppressing control for suppressing the engine output by performing the fuel feeding or the ignition operation at a reduced rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hirokami, Shohei Terai, Seiji Azuma, Kengo Ueda
  • Patent number: 9896000
    Abstract: A control device of an electric vehicle comprises: an operating state detector that detects the operating state of an accelerator pedal; a motor controller that executes deceleration control over a travel motor, including coasting control which reduces the driving force of the travel motor to zero, when the returning operation of the accelerator pedal is detected by the operating state detector; and a region setter that sets the range of the depression amount of the accelerator pedal for executing the coasting control, based on the depression amount of the accelerator pedal at the start of the returning operation of the accelerator pedal. The control device can switch among the types of control over the travel motor during the returning operation of the accelerator pedal, while suppressing a driver's sense of incongruity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Nishida, Takanori Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9751516
    Abstract: A controller may be configured to adjust a brake apply and release detection calibration based on a detection sensitivity associated with a predicted driver start/stop intention for a vehicle and an associated confidence level indicative of a likelihood of the predicted driver intention; and perform at least one of engine startup and engine shutdown according to the adjusted brake pedal detection calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hai Yu, Johannes Geir Kristinsson, Ryan Abraham McGee, Mathew Alan Boesch
  • Patent number: 9643609
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a vehicle comprising actuator operable to provide motive power to the vehicle, the vehicle being operable automatically to switch off and subsequently to restart the actuator thereby to reduce an amount of time the actuator is on, wherein the vehicle may be placed in an eco-stop condition by a driver-operated brake in which the vehicle is held stationary and the actuator is off, the vehicle being operable automatically to perform an eco-start operation in which the actuator is restarted when the driver releases the brake, wherein when an eco-start is performed the vehicle is arranged automatically to be held stationary by the brake whilst the actuator is restarted, if the actuator fails to restart the vehicle being further arranged automatically to assume a failed start condition in which the vehicle continues to be held stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Baptiste Bureau, Ajay-Neil Kemwal, Adam Keith Leatherland, Rob Palin
  • Patent number: 9533573
    Abstract: Provided is a method of driving a vehicle including: monitoring a power status of the vehicle; and if, during the monitoring the power status of the vehicle, a power failure is detected and a first acceleration command is received, controlling the vehicle to travel at a first speed corresponding to the first acceleration command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Seo Chae, Sung Eun Park
  • Patent number: 9522658
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes a powertrain comprising a prime mover and a driveline. The control system selectively controls the driveline to assume a first state in which a transmission of the driveline is substantially fully connected to the prime mover and a second state in which when the vehicle is stationary the transmission is at least partially disconnected or decoupled from the prime mover to reduce a torque loading on the prime mover. The control system controls the driveline to assume the second state when the vehicle is held stationary by a brake in response to actuation of a driver operable brake control. Upon release of the brake control, the control system verifies that a first portion of a powertrain of the vehicle is rotating at a speed exceeding a prescribed threshold and commands the driveline to assume the first state before permitting release of the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Tim Reynolds, Craig Percy
  • Patent number: 9470157
    Abstract: A hill start assist method for a vehicle includes a vehicle-mounted controller for sensing an intention to start on an uphill slope, and converts a sensed gradient resistance into a target torque, and enables the engine to have adequate torque reserve in advance; therefore, in the subsequent start, driving wheels can obtain sufficient driving force to ensure that the vehicle will not slide backward. Furthermore, for a manual automobile, the engine torque is boosted in an early stage during a clutch release by a driver, thus accelerating the rotation speed of the engine, and avoiding, to a certain extent, engine stalling caused by a too quick or too much clutch release, compared with the situation where the engine is completely idling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Long Ying
  • Patent number: 9457811
    Abstract: A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle stopped on a grade, comprising the steps of engaging a gear of a transmission through which the engine and wheels of the vehicle are driveably connected mutually, using brake pressure to engage wheel brakes and produce a road gradient wheel torque that holds the vehicle stationary on the grade, initiating an engine restart, operating the engine to produce wheel torque equal to or greater than the road gradient wheel torque, and releasing the brake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hai Yu, Ryan A. McGee, Ihab S. Soliman, Mathew A. Boesch
  • Patent number: 9381909
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between driveline braking and wheel brakes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, James William Loch McCallum, David Oshinsky
  • Patent number: 9005082
    Abstract: An ECU increases an engine rotation speed when the ECU determines that an inclination angle of an uphill is larger than or equal to a predetermined value, an accelerator is off and a vehicle speed in a direction opposite to a travelling direction of a vehicle, indicated by a specified range, is increasing. Subsequently, the ECU acquires an engine stall predicted vehicle speed, and calculates a predetermined value used in an immediate engine stall determination condition from a current rate of increase per unit time of a turbine rotation speed. Then, the ECU determines that immediate engine stall determination is affirmative when a rotation speed difference between the engine rotation speed and the turbine rotation speed becomes smaller than the predetermined value, and executes engine stall prevention control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Okamura, Takao Nishimura, Masatomo Yoshihara, Fumikazu Satou
  • Publication number: 20150073675
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, vehicle brakes are held to reduce the possibility of vehicle motion and stopping of engine rotation is prevented until confirmation of vehicle hold is present. The approach may allow an engine to remain in an off state for a longer period of time while reducing the possibility of vehicle motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Douglas Malone, Michael John Mould, William Najib Mansur, Chad Everette Griffin, Karl-Peter Hesseler
  • Publication number: 20150061298
    Abstract: An electromagnetic braking system includes an electrically conductive disc coupled to a rotatable shaft of a power generation system for operating in an island mode. The rotatable shaft is operatively coupled between a prime mover and a generator for supplying power to an island grid. The electromagnetic braking system further includes a controller for receiving at least one status or synchronization signal and for generating a control signal based on the at least one signal and an inducting unit for applying an electromagnetic braking force on the electrically conductive disc when commanded by the control signal to regulate a rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ara Panosyan, Stefan Schroeder, Christoph Boeld, Herbert Schaumberger, Johann Hirzinger-Unterrainer, Xiaoting Dong, Uwe Liebscher
  • Patent number: 8961370
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a controller that performs control such that an engine output does not increase when a control mechanism and a brake override are operated simultaneously, wherein the control mechanism controls the engine output independently of an accelerator operation amount, and wherein the brake override system reduces the engine output in response to simultaneous operations of an accelerator and a brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Kida, Michihito Shimada, Masashi Takagi, Hiroshi Shimada
  • Publication number: 20150021141
    Abstract: A system and method for conserving vacuum within a vehicle is described. In one example, a vacuum level in a working chamber of a vacuum operated brake booster is controlled so as to limit vacuum consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Russ William Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8932179
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between driveline braking and wheel brakes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, James William Loch McCallum, David Oshinsky
  • Patent number: 8876660
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for a vehicle includes an engine control device configured to automatically stop an engine of the vehicle during running of the vehicle; and a brake control device configured to execute an assisting control for increasing an output of a brake for restraining rotation of a wheel of the vehicle when a starting condition for starting the assisting control is satisfied, such that an amount of the output increased by execution of the assisting control becomes larger than an amount corresponding to an operational state of a brake operating member of the vehicle. The brake control device includes an automatic-stop assisting control portion configured, during an automatic stop state in which the engine is automatically stopped by the engine control device, to execute the assisting control in a manner different from a manner in which the assisting control is executed during an activation state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Yamada, Hiroshi Ueno
  • Patent number: 8858396
    Abstract: A device controls ISG (Idle Stop & Go) logic mounted in a vehicle equipped with an ISG system. The device includes a transmitting unit that shows the current state of a gear in the vehicle and controls the hydraulic pressure of a transmission in idle stop or restarting an engine, a driving unit that performs the idle stop when the pedal of a brake becomes ON, with the gear at a D (Drive)-range, and restarts the engine when the pedal of the brake becomes OFF, with the gear of the vehicle at the D-range, and a brake unit that controls movement of the vehicle by controlling the hydraulic pressure of the brake, in which brake unit controls the hydraulic pressure of a brake to be kept for a predetermined time from when the pedal of the brake becomes OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chongah Gwon, Sejun Kim, Jiyong Yu, Junghwan Bang
  • Publication number: 20140243152
    Abstract: A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one example, the method adjusts application of vehicle brakes to reduce the possibility of impact between gear teeth after engine starting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alex O`Connor Gibson, Michael M.S. Simon, Jeffrey Allen Doering
  • Patent number: 8694221
    Abstract: A method for braking a vehicle in a driving situation, in which an automatic braking function is active. The hydraulic pump of the brake control system may be sized to be relatively small and cost-effective, if, in critical driving situations, an additional braking device is automatically switched on or its braking capacity is increased, in order to assist the service brake and further decelerate the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Frueh, Rainer Brueggemann, Andreas Reize
  • Patent number: 8574128
    Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a vehicle having a parking lock device 50 which is placed in its released state with a hydraulic pressure generated by an oil pump 58 operated by an engine 26, which control apparatus permits reduction of a risk of unintended releasing of the parking lock device 50 upon occurrence of an operating failure of an ON-OFF switching valve 72 or a switching valve 70 of a hydraulic device 69 provided to supply the hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigeru Kimura, Naoki Itazu
  • Publication number: 20130123066
    Abstract: There is provided an output control device for a vehicle. The device includes an accelerator operator to receive an output adjustment operation of a drive power of a vehicle; a brake operator to receive a braking operation of a braking device; an accelerator operation amount detection unit for detecting an operation amount of the accelerator operator; a brake operation force estimation unit for estimating an operation force of the brake operator; and an output suppression control unit for suppressing an output of the drive power regardless of a state of the accelerator operator, in the case where for a predetermined time or longer, a state continues in which the operation amount of the accelerator operator is greater than or equal to a predetermined accelerator threshold value, and the operation force estimated by the brake operator is greater than or equal to a predetermined brake threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Publication number: 20130103267
    Abstract: A braking control system includes sensors for detecting pressure applied to a brake pedal. The system can also include a pressure sensor capable of detecting the hydraulic pressure of the braking system. The system can also include a position sensor for detecting a position of the brake pedal. The pressure applied to the brake pedal is compared to either the hydraulic pressure or the pedal position. If the resulting measurements are not correlated properly, braking countermeasures are applied. Braking countermeasures can include engine braking, regenerative braking, hydraulic assist, and brake pad assist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: David S. DeWitt
  • Patent number: 8381885
    Abstract: A brake system and powered implement, such as a lawn mower, incorporating the same. In one aspect the invention is a system for stopping an electrically grounded rotating member of an engine powered by an ignition circuit, the system comprising: a conductive member operably coupled to the ignition circuit that renders the engine inoperative when electrically grounded, the conductive member mounted adjacent the rotating member; and the conductive member normally biased into a brake position in which the conductive member contacts the rotating member and is electrically grounded as a result of the contact with the rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventors: Mark Huibregtse, Nathaniel J. Vlietstra
  • Patent number: 8382642
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes: an automatic-stop-and-restart-control-unit stopping/restarting an engine, a brake-fluid-pressure-control-unit controlling wheel-cylinder-pressure using a brake-system, which intensifies brake-manipulation-force by a brake-booster to cause master-cylinder-pressure in a master-cylinder while the engine operates, and which transfers the master-cylinder-pressure to wheel-cylinders to cause the wheel-cylinder-pressure, the brake-system including an actuator automatically increasing pressure in the wheel-cylinders irrespective of the brake-manipulation-force; a negative-pressure-detection-unit which detects the vacuum-pressure; a first-determination-unit which determines whether the vacuum-pressure is not more than a first threshold while the engine stops, a restarting-unit which allows the automatic-stop-and-restart-control-unit to restart the engine when the first-determination-unit determines that the vacuum-pressure is not more than the first threshold; a second-determinati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Saito, Takashi Satoh, Yosuke Ohmori, Masayoshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 8360933
    Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle such that the drivetrain comprises a drive aggregate (1), an accelerator pedal (5) and a brake pedal (6). According to the invention, when the accelerator pedal (5) and the brake pedal (6) are not actuated and the drivetrain is operated in a crawling mode, thereafter if actuation of the brake pedal (6) is then detected and such actuation is by less than a defined limit amount, a crawling torque supplied for crawling operation is reduced without calling for any auxiliary braking energy to assist with braking. In contrast, if during the crawling operation, the brake pedal (6) is actuated by more than the defined limit amount, a crawling torque supplied for crawling operation is reduced and auxiliary braking energy is also called for to assist with braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichschafen AG
    Inventor: Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Publication number: 20130023382
    Abstract: A device for removing rust on a brake disk of a wheel brake includes a control unit which automatically activates a brake actuator in order to apply brake shoes to the brake disk of the brake if at least one vehicle parameter satisfies a predefined activation condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Peter LJUNGDAHL
  • Patent number: 8352164
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting spark timing in the combustion chamber of the engine in response to a knock indication, and further adjusting spark timing in response to the vehicle acceleration to reduce surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Publication number: 20120322619
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a controller that performs control such that an engine output does not increase when a control mechanism and are operated simultaneously, wherein the control mechanism controls the engine output independently of an accelerator operation amount, and wherein the brake override system reduces the engine output in response to simultaneous operations of an accelerator and a brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Kida, Michihito Shimada, Masashi Takagi, Hiroshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 8328690
    Abstract: A braking/driving force control apparatus for a vehicle includes a drive wheel configured to be driven by an output of a drive source; a brake unit configured to control a braking force to be applied to the drive wheel, in accordance with a state of the vehicle; and a brake control unit configured to control the brake unit, and configured to reduce a brake torque of the drive source when the brake unit actually applies a braking force to at least the drive wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Ohtsu
  • Publication number: 20120295762
    Abstract: An auxiliary braking device for a vehicle includes an accelerator pedal operation amount detection unit, a brake pedal operation amount detection unit, a wheel speed detection unit, and a wheel speed difference calculation unit. The wheel speed difference calculation unit calculates a wheel speed difference between the wheel speeds of a front wheel and a rear wheel based on a signal of the wheel speed output from the wheel speed detection unit, and outputs a signal of the calculation result. In addition, the braking assistance unit assists in braking the vehicle in a case where the wheel speed difference obtained by the wheel speed difference calculation unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Koike
  • Patent number: 8267834
    Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle for conveyance that can be safely stopped without deviating from a predetermined route when an obstacle is detected during running, and a method of controlling a stop of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance are provided. The method of controlling the stop of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance includes a second detection step in which an obstacle located at a set distance is detected during the running of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance, and a stop step in which a leftward or rightward positional deviation of the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance from the predetermined route is correctively controlled in the state where brake means for a pair of left and right driving wheels are released and the self-propelled vehicle for conveyance is stopped, when the positional deviation turns out to be present on the basis of detection of the obstacle in the second detection step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Baba
  • Patent number: 8239122
    Abstract: A method is described for operating an engine of a vehicle, the engine having a combustion chamber. The method may include controlling a stability of the vehicle in response to a vehicle acceleration; and adjusting spark timing in the combustion chamber of the engine in response to a knock indication, and further adjusting spark timing in response to the vehicle acceleration to reduce surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Eric Tseng, Davor David Hrovat, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, Diana Yanakiev
  • Patent number: 8239107
    Abstract: In order to achieve a comfortable starting process with low wear, a braking torque, set by the driver by way of a brake pedal, an acceleration torque, requested by the driver via the accelerator pedal, and a holding torque, required for holding a motor vehicle on a gradient, are determined, and the engagement of the starting clutch, as well as the release of the service brake, are coordinated such that during the release of the service brake, the sum of the clutch torque and braking torque corresponds to the holding torque, and the clutch torque of the starting clutch is increased by the acceleration torque only when the service brake has been largely released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Roland Mair
  • Patent number: 8170763
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a drive system and/or a wheel braking system of a vehicle, in which a total braking power to be exerted on the wheels of a motor vehicle is composed of a drive braking power and/or a wheel braking power. The instantaneously set drive braking power is frozen when, starting from a steady state operating mode, the gradient of the required total braking power exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Pfeiffer, Peter Wanner
  • Patent number: 8162801
    Abstract: A control system includes an auto-stop module, an auto-start module, and a starter module. The auto-stop module stops an engine when a brake pedal position is greater than a threshold position and a transmission is in a drive gear. The auto-start module starts the engine when the brake pedal position is less than a minimum position and the engine stop is initiated. When the engine start is initiated and an engine speed is greater than zero, the starter module engages a pinion gear of a starter with a ring gear of an engine by reciprocally actuating the pinion gear N times between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein N is an integer greater than two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventors: Sharon Liu, Henry A. Hainer, Michael Simon, Joshua D Cowgill, Douglas R. Verner
  • Publication number: 20120083389
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an idle-stop system mounted on a manual-transmission-vehicle includes a restart unit performing a restart operation of the engine such that the restart unit drives a starter to restart the engine when a predetermined restart condition is met. The restart condition includes a condition where a clutch member is operated to allow the motive force to be transmitted between the output shaft of the engine and the driving wheel of the vehicle while the motive force has been blocked by the clutch, and a condition where the brake member is operated to stop applying the braking force to the wheel while the motive force has been blocked by the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo MORITA, Kenji KAWAHARA