By Closing Throttle Valve Patents (Class 477/206)
  • Patent number: 11897537
    Abstract: A driver assistance system is provided that allows a driver to easily perform an accelerator operation by a finger of his/her hand while grasping a steering holding section. The driver assistance system includes an operation member near a steering wheel held by a driver, which rotates about a rotation shaft in a vehicle front-rear direction and thereby steers the vehicle. The operation member has an operation section that the driver can manually operate to accelerate/decelerate the vehicle, and includes a support member on the steering wheel, the support member supporting the operation member in a slidingly displaceable manner along a steering axial direction. The operation section is disposed near a radially inner side of a rim section of the steering wheel, and the operation section and the rim section overlap in the steering axial direction within a movable range of the operation member along the steering axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Yasuyuki Tonohara, Keiichi Yamasaki, Katsuhisa Maedo, Kenichi Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 9199645
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle control apparatus which can prevent drivability from being deteriorated. The ECU is operative to determine whether the previously depressed brake is in the “ON” or “OFF” state when the vehicle is determined as being not travelling on a bad road, the accelerator being in the “ON” state, and the brake being in the “ON” state. When the ECU is operative to determine that the previously depressed brake is in the “OFF” state, and the vehicle is in the reduced speed state, the ECU is operative to perform the reduction process of the engine output under the condition that the simultaneous depressions of the accelerator and brake pedals are held for less than 10 seconds, and the vehicle speed is 7 km/hr or more. When, on the other hand, the ECU determines that the vehicle is travelling on the bad road, the ECU is operative not to perform the reduction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiya Oishi, Masato Kaigawa, Masashi Takagi, Michihito Shimada, Yuki Minase, Kenichi Okaya, Tsutomu Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9050965
    Abstract: When an ECU determines that an accelerator is “ON” and a brake is “ON”, the ECU determines whether or not the brake previously depressed is “OFF”. When the ECU determines that the brake previously depressed is “OFF” and that the vehicle is in the reduced speed state, the vehicle control apparatus is configured to execute an engine output reduction control process under the condition that the simultaneous depressions of the accelerator and brake pedals continues for less than 10 seconds and the vehicle speed is not less than 7 km/hr. When the simultaneous depressions of the accelerator and brake pedals continues for no less than 10 seconds, the ECU is configured to make an output reduction prohibition flag “ON” and not to execute the engine output reduction control process until a predetermined time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiya Oishi, Toshio Takaoka, Masashi Takagi, Michihito Shimada, Yuki Minase, Kenichi Okaya, Tsutomu Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8821349
    Abstract: An engine with a fast vacuum recovery brake booster system is disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a flow between the brake booster and an engine intake manifold. Operation of the engine and vehicle brakes may be improved especially when the engine is boosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mansour Beshay
  • Patent number: 8597160
    Abstract: An engine with a fast vacuum recovery brake booster system is disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a flow between the brake booster and an engine intake manifold. Operation of the engine and vehicle brakes may be improved especially when the engine is boosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Urrahman Syed, Mathew Alan Boesch, Venkatapathi Raju Nallapa
  • Patent number: 8562080
    Abstract: A brake system provided with a brake booster using intake negative pressure of an engine for boosting a brake operating force for a vehicle. A requested braking force is detected base on an operating amount of a brake pedal, and when the requested braking force is less than a threshold value, a master cylinder pressure prevailing in the master cylinder using an operating force boosted by the brake booster is supplied to the wheel cylinder. On the other hand, when the requested braking force is greater than or equal to the threshold value, brake fluid pressure having been boosted by a pump is supplied to the wheel cylinder. The threshold value is set to a value that becomes greater the larger the negative pressure inside the brake booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sekiguchi, Toshiya Oosawa, Satoru Watanabe, Tomoyuki Murakami, Akihiro Sato, Motohiro Higuma
  • Patent number: 8452510
    Abstract: A device includes: actual-intake-pipe-pressure detection unit (11); estimated-intake-pipe-pressure detection unit (12) for calculating an estimated intake pipe pressure based on a rotation speed of the engine and an opening degree of a throttle valve; pressure difference calculation unit (13) for calculating a pressure difference between the actual and estimated intake pipe pressures; pressure difference integration unit (14) for integrating the pressure difference with respect to time; pumping brake detection unit (15) for determining that a pumping brake operation is performed when a integral value is equal to or more than a first determination value; and throttle valve control unit (16) for carrying out control for the pumping brake during the pumping brake operation based on a result of the determination by the pumping brake detection unit (15), and carrying out ordinary control otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Katayama, Takashi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20130123067
    Abstract: An engine with a fast vacuum recovery brake booster system is disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a flow between the brake booster and an engine intake manifold. Operation of the engine and vehicle brakes may be improved especially when the engine is boosted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mansour Beshay
  • Patent number: 8374763
    Abstract: A control method for an engine of a vehicle includes generating a brake value indicative of an operating condition of a brake system of the vehicle, and selectively adjusting one of a fuel control value of the engine and a fuel adjustment diagnostic value for the engine based on the brake value. In the method, a mass of fuel delivered to the engine is based on the fuel control value, and a diagnostic result indicative of lean operation of the engine is based on the fuel adjustment diagnostic value. The brake operating condition is selected from a group including a state of operation, a pedal displacement, an actuation period, a fluid operating pressure, and a power assist pressure. The fuel control value is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventors: Lan Wang, Zhong Wang, James L. Worthing, Tony T. Hoang
  • Patent number: 8343011
    Abstract: An engine with a fast vacuum recovery brake booster system is disclosed. In one example, an actuator is adjusted in response to a flow between the brake booster and an engine intake manifold. Operation of the engine and vehicle brakes may be improved especially when the engine is boosted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Mansour Beshay
  • Patent number: 7917272
    Abstract: In deceleration control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a deceleration control is performed in accordance with a turning travel situation of the vehicle; and an engine throttle opening angle is controlled gradually in a closure direction at a preset variation degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Suzuki, Genpei Naitou, Shinji Matsumoto, Tomohiro Jimbo
  • Patent number: 7775136
    Abstract: A twist-grip controller includes a cylindrical housing adapted to be nonrotatably received within a tubular end of a handlebar, and an elongate support member having a cylindrical internal cavity and a longitudinal guide surface, the support member being supported within the housing for relative rotation about a longitudinal axis. The controller is adaptable to actuate a first cam portion axially constrained within the support member cavity, the first cam portion thereby actuating a vehicle control via fluid power through a first range of motion. Rotating the tubular sleeve through a second range actuates a second follower mounted to a second cam portion axially toward the distal end of the handlebar, thereby generating an output throttle signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Kyle E. E. Schwulst
  • Patent number: 7641589
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a parking brake (3) which, in addition to functioning as a parking brake (3), may also be used as an auxiliary brake for assisting the main brake (2) and/or a sustained-action brake. The parking brake (3) is preferably incorporated in the transmission (1) of the vehicle and designed as a rotary disk brake in an oil bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hans Hofler, Karl Kuhner, Wolfgang Rebholz
  • Patent number: 7509205
    Abstract: A speed control system is for a vehicle having an engine including a carburetor with a throttle plate moveable between a minimum open position and a maximum open position. The speed control system includes a ground speed limiter mechanism operatively coupled with the throttle plate and configured to displace the plate toward the minimum position as ground speed of the vehicle approaches a predetermined maximum value. An engine speed limiter mechanism is operatively coupled with the throttle plate and is configured to displace the plate toward the minimum position as a speed of the engine approaches a predetermined maximum value. Preferably, a control linkage is connected with the throttle plate and is moveable between a first configuration, at which the throttle plate is disposed at the minimum position, and a second configuration at which the throttle plate is disposed at the maximum position, the two limiter mechanisms displacing the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Club Car, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Warren McLeod
  • Patent number: 6969341
    Abstract: An engine deceleration control system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is arranged to prohibit correcting an air quantity supplied to the engine when an elapsed time period from a moment of turning off of an accelerator of the engine is within a first predetermined time period, or when an elapsed time period from a moment of turning off of a lockup clutch of a torque converter is within a second predetermined time period or when a shifting of a transmission connected to the engine is being executed, and to cancel prohibiting the correction of the supplied air quantity when a braking operation is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamitsu Hase, Tomohiko Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040127333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the over-ride of driver demand in a motor vehicle when the driver activates, at the same time, both the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal. The system comprises an engine control unit for controlling the engine, a driver accelerator control and a driver braking control. The accelerator and braking controls provide to the engine control unit, respectively, a driver demand signal and a braking demand signal that indicate, respectively, the level of driver engine demand and the level of driver braking demand. The engine control unit over-rides the driver demand signal to reduce engine power when, after a predetermined delay, both the driver demand signal and the braking demand signal are above predetermined levels of driver engine demand and driver braking demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Gavin Frasier McCall
  • Publication number: 20020013196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling vacuum in an intake conduit of a combustion engine in a vehicle, which vehicle is provided with a brake booster and means for actuating the brake booster, whereby actuation of the brake booster causes a throttle valve in the intake conduit to close in order to create a vacuum to the brake booster.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Goran Almkvist, Marcus Maxvall, Hennik Green, Olle Fast
  • Patent number: 6095116
    Abstract: An improved apparatus controls negative pressure in a combustion engine. The apparatus has a brake booster that is capable of increasing braking force of a vehicle by means of the negative pressure in the brake booster. A valve disposed in an air intake pressure generates the negative pressure that is supplied to the brake booster. An electric control unit controls the valve when pressure in the brake booster is in excess of a predetermined magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Souichi Matsushita, Mitsuru Takada, Yukio Yoshioka, Jun Harada
  • Patent number: 6065443
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling combustion of an engine. The engine has a throttle valve located in an intake duct connected to combustion chambers, and a brake booster actuated by vacuum supplied by the intake duct. During stratified charge combustion, if vacuum supplied to the brake booster is insufficient, an ECU decreases the opening of the throttle valve thereby increasing the vacuum. The ECU switches the combustion mode to stratified charge combustion if a target injection amount, which corresponds to load applied to the engine, is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value. When the target injection amount is greater than the value, the ECU switches the combustion mode to homogeneous charge combustion. During stratified charge combustion, the ECU sets the determination value to a smaller value when an operation for producing vacuum is performed than when the operation is not performed. This procedure improves fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mizuno, Jun Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5950595
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating vacuum pressure in an engine is disclosed. The engine includes an intake path, combustion chambers and an exhaust path. Airflow in the intake path is controlled by a throttle valve. An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage deflects a part of flow of the exhaust gas to the intake path from the exhaust path. An EGR valve regulates the flow of exhaust gas passing through the EGR passage. A brake booster is connected to the intake path and increases braking force of the vehicle. A pressure sensor detects the pressure in the booster. A central processing unit determines whether the detected pressure is higher than a predetermined value. The throttle valve is in a relatively open position when the engine performs stratified charge combustion. The throttle valve decreases the pressure in the intake path when the throttle valve restricts flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Yoshioka, Zenichiro Mashiki
  • Patent number: 5915357
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling brake force of a vehicle is disclosed. Each cylinders of a vehicle engine has a combustion chamber that receives fuel from a fuel injector and air from an air intake passage. The engine selectively performs a stratified charge combustion and a uniform charge combustion. The stratified charge combustion mode is selected to increase the amount of the air and the fuel supplied to the engine and improve a combusting state of the engine. The apparatus further includes a brake booster for increasing the brake force according to the negative pressure applied thereto. The brake booster is actuated by the negative pressure an amount of which is greater than a predetermined amount. Airflow in the air intake passage is restricted to generate the negative pressure. A fuel injector directly injects the fuel into the cylinder to set the engine to perform the stratified charge combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Kidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Harada, Hiroyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 5863277
    Abstract: A method of controlling the idle speed of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle from a first idle speed to a second idle speed that is higher than the first idle speed in response to a driver originating indication that is independent of the acceleration control of the vehicle. The higher second idle speed is set to achieve a desired level of vehicle creep. When the driver originating indication indicates that vehicle motion is no longer desired, the engine idle speed is returned to the first lower idle speed. The change between the first lower idle speed and the second higher idle speed can be accomplished in a stepping or ramping fashion. In addition, the first and second idle speeds are adjusted in response to changes in engine operating parameters such as engine coolant temperature, changes in engine load, and vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Orbital Engine Company (Australia) PTY Limited
    Inventor: Keith Melbourne
  • Patent number: 5846164
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for controlling brake force of a vehicle is disclosed. A throttle valve is closed for generating the negative pressure that is supplied to a brake booster. The brake booster is actuated to increase brake force acting on the vehicle when a difference between air pressure and the negative pressure is smaller than a predetermined magnitude. An electric control unit (ECU) actuates the throttle valve to increase the absolute magnitude negative pressure when the ECU determines the differential pressure is smaller than the predetermined magnitude. The ECU corrects the magnitude of the negative pressure with a mapped value based on the computed magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Harada
  • Patent number: 5646841
    Abstract: A control system for use with an electronically-controlled automatic transmission provides for accurate determination of a full stop of a vehicle. The control system includes a device for computing the vehicle speed on the basis of a signal from a vehicle speed sensor, a device for determining whether or not the brake pedal is depressed, a device for computing deceleration from a first predetermined vehicle speed to a second predetermined, extremely low vehicle speed when the brake has been determined to be depressed, and a device for determining an estimated vehicle stop time starting with detection of the extremely low vehicle speed and ending with full stop of the vehicle, the estimated vehicle stop time corresponding to the above-computed deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Shinichi Matsui, Takahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5411452
    Abstract: A running control apparatus for an automobile prevents an abnormal running state by depressing a brake pedal even when a fault takes place in the component(s) of the control apparatus. When a detected brake pedal depression stroke exceeds a predetermined value, an electric power supply to a throttle actuator is interrupted to thereby allow a throttle valve to assume a fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyori Katayama