Transmission Control Patents (Class 477/34)
  • Patent number: 11951827
    Abstract: The work vehicle includes a vehicle body provided with a travel device; a prime mover provided in the vehicle body; a transmission device capable of speed-changing a driving force from the prime mover and transmitting the driving force to the travel device; a transmission case housing the transmission device and being filled with lubricating oil; and a controller capable of switching between a warm-up operation mode in which a gear of the transmission device is rotated in a state in which transmission of power from the transmission device to the travel device is blocked and a travel operation mode in which the gear is rotated in a state in which the power is transmitted from the transmission device to the travel device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Gono, Naoya Nihei, Keiji Takahashi, Susumu Takeoka, Shusaku Yamaguchi, Yoichi Sugihara
  • Patent number: 11938919
    Abstract: A transmission mode control system includes a control device that controls a transmission mode of a vehicle and a first input device that accepts a switching operation of switching from an automatic transmission mode to a manual transmission mode. The control device includes a processor and a memory. The processor executes a process including: switching the transmission mode from the manual transmission mode to the automatic transmission mode when a switching time elapses after an operation of the first input device by a driver of the vehicle; and extending the switching time by a set time when the driver performs, within a post-switching determination time after the switching time elapses, a certain operation that causes a gear ratio to change in the same direction as a change of gear ratio when the gear shift is executed in response to the operation by the driver before the switching time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Terai
  • Patent number: 11870379
    Abstract: The control device includes a target-value calculation unit calculating a target-value of a controlled variable that is torque of a rotating electrical machine, drive force, or acceleration of a vehicle, based on redundant signal and non-redundant signals, an inverter operation unit operating the inverter to control the controlled variable to the target-value, and a monitoring-value calculation unit calculating a target-monitoring-value of the controlled variable based on the redundant signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tarou Hirai, Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 11831450
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of network devices comprising a plurality of ports, a power bus connecting the network devices, wherein power is shared between the network devices over the power bus, and a controller for identifying available power and allocating power to the ports. The ports include a plurality of PSE (Power Sourcing Equipment) PoE (Power over Ethernet) ports each operable to transmit power to a device connected to one of the PSE PoE ports, a plurality of PD (Powered Device) PoE ports each operable to receive power from a device connected to one of the PD PoE ports, and a plurality of bi-directional PoE ports each configurable to operate as a PSE PoE port to transmit power to a device connected to one of the bi-directional PoE ports or as a PD PoE port to receive power from the connected device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Joel Richard Goergen, Chad M. Jones, Charles Lacey Compton, III
  • Patent number: 11725725
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a transmission are provided herein. In one example, a hydraulic system is provided that includes a boost pump, a relief valve in fluidic communication with the boost pump and a reservoir, and a plurality of control valves in fluidic communication with the boost pump, positioned downstream of the relief valve, and in fluidic communication with a plurality of hydraulic devices. The hydraulic system further includes a controller designed to actively adjust a position of the relief valve based on an aggregate hydraulic pressure demand of the plurality of hydraulic devices to alter a boost pressure of a hydraulic fluid supplied to the plurality of control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Gelmini, Lorenzo Dalla Palma
  • Patent number: 11677652
    Abstract: A port adaptation method applied to a network device including a port adaptation apparatus includes probing whether the first port and the second port are connected to power sourcing equipment, and maintaining or switching one of the first port and the second port that is connected to power sourcing equipment as, or to, a powered state, and a state of the other port as, or to, a powering state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiyong Fu, Yan Zhuang, Rui Hua
  • Patent number: 11643060
    Abstract: A brake controlling apparatus includes a gradient sensor, an operation unit, a brake controlling unit, and a storage unit. The gradient sensor is configured to detect a road gradient. The operation unit is configured to switch a constant speed downhill traveling function to become effective. The brake controlling unit is configured to control first and second regenerating units configured to generate regenerative electric power from braking torques of front and rear wheels, respectively. The storage unit is configured to hold an efficiency map. In a case where the constant speed downhill traveling function is caused to become effective, the brake controlling unit is configured to calculate braking torque distribution between the front and rear wheels based on the road gradient and the efficiency map to cause total regeneration efficiency to satisfy a first condition, and control the first and second regenerating units on a basis of the braking torque distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kono
  • Patent number: 11542990
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a power transmission device of a clutch system can transmit power to precisely control and operate a clutch assembly, in conjunction with pressing and releasing of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: AUTODYN SYS INC.
    Inventor: Jongyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11542991
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new clutch system that ensures a 100% torque transmission rate between an engine and a transmission in a vehicle system, that can be commonly applied to conventional manual transmission vehicles and automatic vehicles, and that operates in conjunction with an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: AUTODYN SYS INC.
    Inventor: Jongyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11002361
    Abstract: A shift control device has stepless and stepped shift modes in which a transmission gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission is controlled in stepless and stepwise fashions, respectively, and includes a mode setting unit that switches the shift mode to the stepped shift mode if an engine rotation speed in the stepless shift mode exceeds a switch threshold, a correction-value setting unit that sets a correction value based on the engine rotation speed if the shift mode is to be switched to the stepped shift mode, a shift-threshold setting unit that sets a shift threshold by adding the correction value to the switch threshold if the shift mode is to be switched to the stepped shift mode, and an upshift controller that switches the transmission gear ratio toward a higher side when the engine rotation speed in the stepped shift mode reaches the shift threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Komuro
  • Patent number: 10640120
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing the countershaft speed, in the direct gear, for a hybrid application. The transmission (1) comprises a main transmission (HG) comprising two parallel partial transmissions with at least one countershaft (VW), an output shaft (3), and two planetary transmissions (PG1, PG2) each comprising a carrier (ST1, ST2), sun gear (SR1, SR2) and ring gear (HR1, HR2). Each partial transmission has a transmission input shaft (4, 5), with a hollow first input shaft (4) and the solid second input shaft (5). The first planetary transmission (PG1) connects as a range group to the main transmission (HG). The main transmission (HG) comprises first (R1), second (R2), third (R3), fourth (R4) and fifth gear planes (R5) and first (S1), second (S2), third (S3) and fourth shift elements (S4). Synchronization of the countershaft speed to a target speed, in direct gear, is performed via speed control of the electric machine (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner, Rayk Gersten
  • Patent number: 10471962
    Abstract: A method and controller for controlling an electronically controlled transmission in a vehicle propulsion system of a vehicle. The method includes disengaging a clutch in the transmission to prevent a power flow through the transmission in response to an upshift paddle selector and a downshift paddle selector both being actuated together for a first predetermined time period, and changing a ratio of the transmission in response to an actuation of one of the upshift paddle selector and the downshift paddle selector while the clutch in the transmission is disengaged to prevent a power flow through the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Devon R Hall, Ian L Hanna
  • Patent number: 10221941
    Abstract: A control device of a continuously variable transmission has at least an automatic shift mode and a temporary manual mode. The control device includes an insufficient drive force determination unit, a first insufficient acceleration determination unit, and a downshift control unit. The insufficient drive force determination unit determines whether drive force insufficiency occurs if acceleration is performed in the current transmission gear. The first insufficient acceleration determination unit determines whether there is an acceleration request made by the driver of the vehicle. The downshift control unit downshifts from the current transmission gear to a transmission gear at a lower speed side in a case where, in the temporary manual mode, the insufficient drive force determination unit determines that a drive force insufficiency occurs and the first acceleration request determination unit determines that there is an acceleration request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Kakihara
  • Patent number: 10190683
    Abstract: A control device for a continuously variable transmission that steplessly changes a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission mounted on a vehicle, the control device including a controller that changes the speed ratio such that a stepwise upshift is performed, wherein in the case where an accelerator depression amount is constant, the controller increases a number of allowable stepwise upshifts as the accelerator depression amount is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kikkawa, Masaki Ueda, Masachika Kato, Kiyoshi Kurita, Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 10174839
    Abstract: A method for reducing the fuel used by an engine of a motor vehicle. The method limits the speed at which the engine can rotate when a predefined engine upper speed limit NECOUL for the particular gear in which the motor vehicle is currently operating has been reached or limiting the road speed of the motor vehicle when a predefined vehicle road speed has been reached. The use of engine or road speed limiting combined with the alerting of the driver via an indicator that an upshift is desired to improve fuel economy encourages the driver to execute an upshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthemios Philemon Petridis, Nicholas Dashwood Crisp
  • Patent number: 10174835
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of diagnosing a malfunction in a dual clutch transmission (DCT) attributable to a gear synchromesh failure, without an output shaft speed sensor. The method includes: calculating, a difference (referred to as a first difference) between a first input shaft speed and the product of a wheel speed and a first gear ratio; a difference (referred to as a second difference) between a second input shaft speed and the product of a wheel speed and a second gear ratio; diagnosing a first input shaft as having a transmission gear synchromesh failure when the first difference is greater than a first reference value and the second difference is equal to or smaller than a second reference value; and performing control such that a gear shifting operation is performed using only a second input shaft when the first input shaft is diagnosed as having a transmission gear synchromesh failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Min Yoon, Seung Sam Baek
  • Patent number: 10166967
    Abstract: A shifting control method for a hybrid vehicle may include motor torque determination step, of determining the condition of a motor torque, by a controller, in a power-off downshift shifting process, gear mesh step, by the controller, of releasing a clutch of a releasing side and meshing a target shifting stage gear connected to a clutch of engaging side when the motor torque is positive (+) torque, an assist control step, of controlling, by the controller, the motor torque to 0 Nm, a rising step, by the controller, of controlling the motor speed to rise and follow a target motor speed predetermined higher than at least an input shaft speed of an engaging side after releasing the assist control, and an engaging step, by the controller, of engaging the clutch of the engaging side by a clutch torque of the engaging side when the motor speed exceeds the input shaft speed of the engaging side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Cho, Ju Hyun Nam, Seong Hwan Cheong
  • Patent number: 10145465
    Abstract: A gear shifter performs an abutment learning, having a reference value learner that sets a reference value of a position signal when abutting a drive object to a stopper, and reduces warpage by (i) an all phase power supply supplying to the electric current to all of the plural phase coils of the direct current motor, and (ii) by reducing an amount of the electric current supplied to the coils, and by decreasing a pressing force of the drive object pressing the drive object against the stopper. The reference value determined at a warpage diminish time enables a reduction of variation of the reference value due to an influence of the warpage, thereby setting a robust reference value to account for an environmental condition such as a temperature change, for an accurate shift operation of the gear shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusaku Kawaguchi, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 10132387
    Abstract: A mechanical engagement mechanism has regulation states out of a first state in which at least one of a plurality of rotating elements is rotatable only in a first direction and a second state in which the at least one of the plurality of rotating elements is not rotatable in both of the first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction and a reverse gear position is to be established. A non-traveling gear position is to be established in the first state or in the second state. A processor is to switch the regulation states of the mechanical engagement mechanism from the second state to the first state when oil pressure that is detected by an oil pressure sensor becomes lower than a predetermined oil pressure after switching a shift position from the reverse gear position to the non-traveling gear position is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishikawa, Yuya Tachibanada, Mitsuo Ueda
  • Patent number: 10082205
    Abstract: There is provided an abnormality determining apparatus for a hydraulic circuit of a vehicle including: a torque converter; a hydraulic clutch; a mechanically-driven hydraulic pump (14); an electrically-driven hydraulic pump (16); and a solenoid valve. The abnormality determining apparatus includes an electronic control unit configured to determine which of the electrically-driven hydraulic pump and the solenoid valve has an abnormality, and configured to determine that the electrically-driven hydraulic pump has an abnormality when a turbine speed of the torque converter becomes equal to or higher than a first determination value within a prescribed period of time from rise-up of an engine speed, and determine that the solenoid valve has an abnormality when the turbine speed becomes equal to or higher than a second determination value higher than the first determination value, after a lapse of the prescribed period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Miura, Tomohiro Chinbe, Shuji Toyokawa, Tomohiro Asami
  • Patent number: 10079688
    Abstract: A network port includes a connection port, a PD unit, a PSE unit, a control unit, and a switch unit. The connection port is connected to an external Ethernet port. The control unit determines a type of the external Ethernet port and outputs determination signal correspondingly. The switch unit selectively connects the PSE unit to the connection port, or connects the PD unit to the connection port according to the determination signal output by the control unit. An Ethernet device is also provided. The network port and the Ethernet device integrate PD and PSE in a port, and switch to corresponding PSE mode or PD mode automatically according to the PSE device or PD device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 10041489
    Abstract: A method of monitoring performance of an auxiliary pump is provided. A monitoring system measures a first pressure at a location supplied by a main pump and the auxiliary pump while the auxiliary pump is operated at a first speed. The monitoring system measures a second pressure at the location while the auxiliary pump is operated at a second speed. The monitoring system calculates performance of the auxiliary pump based on a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure divided by a difference between the first speed and the second speed. The monitoring system tracks the performance of the auxiliary pump over time by repeating the measuring and calculating over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Francis Parnin
  • Patent number: 9963124
    Abstract: According to a parking lock control computer, in a case where there is a switching request from a non-parking lock state of a parking lock mechanism to a parking lock state based on a driver's manual operation of a P switch or a vehicle power switch, the P switch or the vehicle power switch is operated in a state where a vehicle speed V exceeds a P lock permissible vehicle speed Vp, a parking lock operation is inhibited, and a parking lock rejection history is stored, switching to the parking lock state of the parking lock mechanism by a door opening operation is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Ozawa, Masato Tateno
  • Patent number: 9932913
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a driving pattern of a vehicle includes setting a driving pattern measurement condition, measuring a driving pattern, deducing an engine operating region for the measured driving pattern from an engine control map, calculating each weighting determined according to a distance from the measured driving pattern to each vertex of the engine operating region, accumulating each calculated weighting for each coordinate of the engine operating region, determining whether a current measurement condition departs from the set measurement condition, and calculating a weighting factor for each coordinate under the set measurement condition when the current measurement condition departs from the set measurement condition, wherein, in the step of deducing an engine operating region, the engine operating region refers to a virtual block defined by four vertex coordinates of a pixel, in which the measured driving pattern is present, in the engine control map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Jin-Ha Kim
  • Patent number: 9828080
    Abstract: An electromechanical lockout device for a remote control on a marine vessel includes an electric actuator and a locking pin having an engagement end and a second end. The locking pin is arranged with respect to a control lever such that the locking pin is positionable in a locked position, where the engagement end of the locking pin prevents rotation of the control lever into a reverse position, and in a retracted position, where the engagement end of the locking pin allows rotation of the control lever into the reverse position. A method of controlling lockout for a remote control includes sensing a position of a control lever, calculating a rate of change of the position, and engaging a lockout to prevent a gear system from shifting into reverse gear if the rate of change exceeds a threshold rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Belter, Jeffrey J. Broman, Eric S. Mueller
  • Patent number: 9726108
    Abstract: A safety and input/output (I/O) module of an engine controller for an engine set of a marine vessel can be physically distinct from an engine control unit (ECU). The safety and I/O module can include hardware in addition to software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The safety and I/O module can be a single logic controller having safety functionality and I/O functionality. The safety functionality can be for dynamic engine protection during operation of the engine set of the marine vessel. The I/O functionality can be for sending signals to components external to the engine controller and for receiving signals from components external to the engine controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gregory Parker Stender
  • Patent number: 9656550
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driving may include determining whether a vehicle is driving at a fixed speed, recording, including detecting a change in a vehicle speed or a state change of a vehicle speed change device while driving and storing a change pattern when the vehicle is driving at the fixed speed, determining a driver's driving intention based on the detected change pattern, and controlling the driving state of the vehicle depending on the determined driving intention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jeong Seon Min
  • Patent number: 9651147
    Abstract: In an apparatus for determining failure of a double-clutch automatic transmission having a line pressure-regulating valve, pressure-regulating valves and select valves, it is determined whether the pressure regulated by the line pressure-regulating valve is equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure and it is determined that the line pressure-regulating valve has failed if the pressure regulated by the line pressure-regulating valve is determined to be less than the predetermined pressure, whereas it is determined that one from among the pressure-regulating valves and select valves has failed if the pressure regulated by the line pressure-regulating valve is determined to be equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Yoshimura, Takuya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9581240
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission includes a first anomaly determination device and an energization interrupting device. The first anomaly determination device is configured to determine whether high-pressure anomaly has occurred in a first pressure regulating device. The high-pressure anomaly is to cause the first pressure regulating device to perform regulation to high pressure only. The energization interrupting device is configured to interrupt energization to a first switching device in a case where the first anomaly determination device determines that the high-pressure anomaly has occurred in the first pressure regulating device and in a state where a first switching valve is located at a first position connected to a first oil passage so as to supply hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic oil regulated by the first pressure regulating device to a second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9518679
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining off-temperature accuracy information of a solenoid fluid control valve. The method comprises performing a current sweep at a first temperature, and for at least one command pressure, determining an error in a control pressure based on the current sweep. The error may be determined at the first temperature. A metric may then calculated based on the current sweep, and a pressure error offset may be determined for a second temperature based on the metric. The pressure error offset may describe a difference between the error in control pressure at the first temperature and an expected error in control pressure at the second temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: David Seid, Ritchie Wycoco Baje, Hamid Najmolhoda
  • Patent number: 9434373
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission is provided with an automatic gearshift mode and a manual gearshift mode. The control apparatus changes a gearshift characteristic of the automatic transmission in response to a situation where an accelerator pedal opening is smaller than a predetermined opening, so that downshifting occurs at higher vehicle speed than in a situation where the accelerator pedal opening is greater than or equal to the predetermined opening. While the manual gearshift mode is being selected, the control apparatus inhibits change of the gearshift characteristic until downshifting is performed once, and permits change of the gearshift characteristic after downshifting is performed once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9404571
    Abstract: A method of downshifting an automotive transmission. An on-coming transmission element is stroked while pressure for an off-going element is reduced. Pressure for the stroked on-coming element is increased to be sufficient to carry torque. Pressure for the off-going element is reduced below a torque transmitting amount once the stroked on-coming element has a sufficient torque carrying capacity. Torque capacities for the elements are determined from transmission output torque and acceleration and transmission input torque and acceleration. Feed forward or feedback terms for off-going and on-coming element torque capacities may be calculated using the transmission output torque, transmission input acceleration, and transmission input torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory M. Pietron, Kevin D. Macfarlane, Diana Yanakiev, Joseph F. Kucharski, Bradley D. Riedle, Stephen M. Cicala, Yuji Fujii
  • Patent number: 9212741
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission connected to an engine in a motor vehicle employs a switch for requesting selection of transmission speed-ratio ranges. According to the method, the switch receives an input signal and generates an output signal having the same duration as the input signal. A controller programmed with an engine threshold speed and a threshold signal duration receives and compares the output signal with the threshold signal duration. The controller also determines a current transmission speed-ratio range and a transmission threshold speed-ratio range that is defined by engine's threshold speed. The controller additionally commands the transmission to change the current speed-ratio range to a neighboring speed-ratio range if the signal duration is less than or equal to the threshold. Furthermore, the controller commands the transmission to change the current speed-ratio range to the threshold speed-ratio range if the signal duration is greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jay Ho, David William Minner
  • Patent number: 9187152
    Abstract: A shallow water anchor to anchor a water craft in a shallow body of water comprising an anchor positioning assembly mounted on or to the water craft and an anchor member, the anchor position assembly comprises at least one anchor engaging member coupled to an anchor positioning device to raise and lower the anchor member between an elevated position and an anchored position and a system control to control the operation of the anchor position assembly in raising and lowering the anchor member such that the anchor member is lowered to engage the bottom of the shallow body of water to anchor the water craft and the anchor member disengages the bottom of the shallow body of water when the anchor member is raised to permit the water craft to move about the shallow body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventors: David Bailey, Jantzen Maynard, John Oliverio, Amit Patel
  • Patent number: 9151378
    Abstract: When a MODE selector SW is manipulated while CVT automatic shifting mode is selected, the shifting mode is switched to STEP-AT automatic shifting mode. Then, when the shift lever of a shifting device is manipulated by the driver while the CVT automatic shifting mode is selected as the shifting mode of a CVT, the then-set automatic shifting control mode for the CVT is maintained whereas the shifting mode of the CVT is switched to sport mode. When the sport mode being selected as the shifting mode of the CVT is canceled, the shifting mode of the CVT is switched to the mode selected before the switchover to the sport mode, that is, the maintained automatic shifting control mode, unless the MODE selector SW is manipulated during execution of the sport mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA ENGINEERING KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Mino, Seiichi Inukai
  • Patent number: 9096211
    Abstract: A powertrain control system is disclosed for use with a mobile machine. The powertrain control system may have an engine, and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled to the engine. The powertrain control system may also have an operator input device configured to generate a signal indicative of a desired speed of the engine, a feature selector usable by an operator to select activation of a powertrain control feature, and a controller in communication with the engine, the continuously variable transmission, the operator input device, and the feature selector. The controller may be configured to make a determination that the operator has selected activation of the powertrain control feature via the feature selector, lock a speed of the engine based on the determination and the signal, and lock a torque output of the continuously variable transmission based on the determination and the locked speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: SriVidya Lavanya Kamisetty, Michael Anthony Spielman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9090248
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric steplessly speed changing unit, an engaging device, and an electronic control unit. The electric steplessly speed changing unit includes a differential mechanism including a first rotary element to which an engine is coupled, a second rotary element to which a first rotary machine is coupled, and a third rotary element as an output rotary member of the differential mechanism to which a second rotary machine is coupled. Differential operation of the electric steplessly speed changing unit is controlled by controlling operation of the first rotary machine. The engaging device is provided in a power transmission path between the third rotary element and drive wheels. In control of the hybrid vehicle, when at least one of the first rotary machine and the second rotary machine is operated with a predetermined positive or negative maximum torque, the electronic control unit controls a slip amount of the engaging device by changing the torque capacity of the engaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Tooru Matsubara, Akihiro Kimura, Masaya Yamamoto, Hideki Furuta, Daisuke Suyama, Yuma Mori
  • Patent number: 9052012
    Abstract: A method for determining a transmission range selection of a shift-by-wire system, which includes a shift lever, a park button, and a controller, is provided. The shift lever is movable between a plurality of transmission range positions, each corresponding to a transmission range, and a null position. The park button is switchable between a pressed position corresponding to a Park transmission range, and a released position. The method includes determining, by the controller, if at least one predetermined condition exists. If it does, then the controller determines the transmission range selection to be the Park transmission range. Otherwise, the controller determines the transmission range selection to be the transmission range corresponding to the transmission range position in which the shift lever is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bialas, Orson S. Wang, Anne Bliss
  • Patent number: 9043099
    Abstract: When a vehicle speed of a wheel loader (1) is determined to be not higher than a reference value (Yes) in step S4 and a forward/reverse command switch (40) is determined to have been switchingly operated (Yes) in step S5, the routine advances to step S6 where an increment ?N of engine speed according to an engine load factor is determined. In step S7, the increment ?N of engine speed is then added to a target engine speed Na corresponding to a depression stroke of an accelerator pedal (38), the thus-determined Na=Na+?N is set as a new target engine speed Na, and a target engine speed command i1 is sent to an engine controller (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Tanaka, Koji Hyodo, Isamu Aoki, Keigo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9026285
    Abstract: A battery charging method for a hybrid vehicle and the hybrid vehicle using the same are disclosed. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a motor as power source and includes the battery in which electrical energy for driving the motor is stored. The method and system may include: determining whether the battery needs to be charged while the vehicle is stopped; transitioning a transmission to a neutral position (N position) when the battery needs to be charged; starting the engine and engaging an engine clutch to connect the engine with the motor so that the motor generates electrical energy via power from the engine. The electrical energy generated by the motor is then stored in the battery accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gwang Seob Shin, Yeonho Kim
  • Patent number: 9002595
    Abstract: A method regulates the torque output and/or speed output of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in a manner that may simulate a clutch. The CVT may be incorporated in a machine and maybe operatively coupled to a power source and to a propulsion device. The method utilizes an unaltered torque-to-speed curve that relates the torque output to the speed output of the CVT. The method may receive an operator input signal indicating a desire to change operation of the machine. The torque-to-speed curve may be shifted in response to the operator input signal to limit the torque output available. In an aspect, an under-run curve may be applied to the torque-to-speed curve, the under-run curve corresponding to a target speed. The operator input signal may also shift the under-run curve to reduce the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Davis, Adam Nackers, Michael Barngrover, Brian D. Kuras
  • Patent number: 8996263
    Abstract: An electronic controller for a variable ratio transmission and an electronically controllable variable ratio transmission including a variator or other CVT are described herein. The electronic controller can be configured to receive input signals indicative of parameters associated with an engine coupled to the transmission. The electronic controller can also receive one or more control inputs. The electronic controller can determine an active range and an active variator mode based on the input signals and control inputs. The electronic controller can control a final drive ratio of the variable ratio transmission by controlling one or more electronic solenoids that control the ratios of one or more portions of the variable ratio transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Stanley B. Quinn, Jr., Alan L. Miller, Scott R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8942898
    Abstract: In a range switchover control apparatus, a microcomputer checks, under a state that driving force of a motor is released, whether a range switchover mechanism is at rest and whether the range switchover mechanism is at rest in a bottom position, that is, whether an engagement member is fitted deep into a bottom of a range holding recess. If the range switchover mechanism is at rest in the bottom position, an encoder count value at a reference position (bottom position of a P-range) is calculated based on a present range and an encoder count value. By using the present range and the calculated encoder count value, an encoder count value of the bottom position of the present range can be determined. Based on this encoder count value, the encoder count value at the reference position can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 8938339
    Abstract: A method of actuating an assembly of a transmission, with which are associated a plurality of actuators with whose help the assembly can in principle be actuated, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuation, a control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation and activates the selected actuator with an output signal in such manner that a status parameter of the actuated assembly corresponds to or follows a control-side nominal value, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly, the control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation of the assembly in such manner that, for all the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly over the operating life of the transmission, the extent of their utilization is approximately uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Herter, Rupert Kramer
  • Patent number: 8930099
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission, it is configured to calculate a change amount (?NC estimation value) of an output rotational speed of the transmission (S10); calculate an average (I phase initial average G) of the change amount of the output rotational speed over a predetermined period of an initial inertia (I) phase of shifting; calculate an average (after-shift average G) of a vehicle acceleration after the completion of the shifting, assuming that the change amount of the output rotational speed indicates the vehicle acceleration G; calculate a difference (I phase initial G) between the average of the change amount of the output rotational speed and the average of the vehicle acceleration; incrementally and decrementally correct the desired value of the transmission torque of the frictional engaging element such that the calculated difference falls within a predetermined range; and control supply of hydraulic pressure to the frictional engaging element such that it becomes the correct
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Inagawa, Shintaro Kameda, Atsuhiro Saeki, Takahiro Matsuda, Hidekazu Araki, Hiroyuki Okuda, Yuji Yasui
  • Patent number: 8924107
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission mounted on a vehicle to establish a plurality of shift speeds by engaging engagement elements that need to be engaged for each shift speed. The control device includes a target shift speed setting device, a during-travel neutral control device and a prediction control device. The prediction control device takes action when a predicted prechange time becomes equal to or less than a predetermined time while the automatic transmission is in the neutral state, the predicted prechange time being a time predicted on the basis of variations in vehicle speed and being a time before implementation of a change of the target shift speed that involves changing the particular engagement element from a disengaged state to an engaged state in order to maintain the neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatake Ichikawa, Yutaka Teraoka, Hiroyasu Amano
  • Patent number: 8918257
    Abstract: In a linear solenoid 107n, an electromagnetic coil 71n, a pressure sensor 72n, and label resistors 73n and 74n for correcting an inherent variation in a pressure detection characteristic are integrated; the standard characteristic of the pressure sensor 72n is stored in a control module 120M; when driving is started, the resistance values of the label resistors 73n and 74n are read, the pressure detection characteristic of the utilized pressure sensor 72n is corrected, and an excitation current for the electromagnetic coil 71n is controlled in such a way that a target adjusted hydraulic pressure is obtained. Even when due to a change in the oil temperature, the valve opening characteristic of the linear solenoid 107n changes, the adjusted hydraulic pressure is controlled to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shozo Kanzaki, Fumiaki Arimai, Hiroyoshi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 8918258
    Abstract: System and method for controlling a transmission in response to transient torque events are disclosed. The method includes commanding a maximum transmission output torque; comparing the commanded output torque to a feedback torque to determine if they are equal; and incrementally increasing the transmission output torque until equal. A machine and a powertrain include a controller configured to command a maximum negative transmission output torque in response to a transient torque event, and incrementally increase the transmission output torque until such time as the transmission output torque is equal to or within a preset range of the feedback torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Hoff, Michael Barngrover, Mark E. Rettig
  • Patent number: 8909445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determination of one or more shift points for a gearbox in a motor vehicle which comprises an engine connected to, in order to drive, said gearbox, where a shift point represents an engine speed at which said gearbox is adapted to effecting a downshift or upshift, said one or more shift points are determined on the basis of an engine target speed ?T and a first engine speed difference ??TT, said target speed ?T is a desired speed for said engine, said first engine speed difference ??TT is a difference between a first engine speed at a first time t1 and said target speed ?T at a second time t2, and said first and second times t1 and t2 are separated by a time period T. The invention relates also to a system, a motor vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Swartling, Anders Kjell, Tom Nyström
  • Patent number: 8897976
    Abstract: A transmission includes a transmission output speed (TOS) sensor providing a signal indicative of an output speed of the transmission. A controller estimates an actual torque output of the transmission and determines, in real time, a first TOS acceleration based on the signal provided by the transmission output speed sensor and a second TOS acceleration based on the actual torque estimation. The first and second accelerations are compared and a torque transient trigger is activated when the divergence exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lister, Christopher Rhoades, Michael Beyer, Michael Barngrover