With Electric Valve Control Patents (Class 477/48)
  • Patent number: 11835117
    Abstract: The system includes: a driver; a rotating load configured to be driven into rotation by the driver; a controller, for controllably changing a rotation speed of the load; and a variable speed transmission, arranged between the driver and the load. The variable speed transmission includes a speed summing gear arrangement with a first input shaft, a second input shaft and an output shaft. The output shaft is drivingly coupled to the rotating load. The first input shaft is drivingly coupled to the driver. A continuous variable transmission device is mechanically coupled to the driver and to the second input shaft of the speed summing gear arrangement. The continuous variable transmission device is functionally coupled to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: Gianluca Boccadamo, Giuliano Milani
  • Patent number: 11662019
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus including a first and second control valves switched to exert hydraulic pressure on a piston to press toward first position, a third and fourth control valves switched to exert hydraulic pressure on the piston to press toward second position and, a CPU. The CPU performs executing a first process controlling the control valves so that hydraulic pressure is exerted by switching of the first, second and third control valves or a second process controlling the control valves so that hydraulic pressure is exerted by switching of the second control valve and determining that the first control valve is failed when movement of the piston to the first position is not detected through the first process and determining that the third control valve is failed when movement of the piston to the first position is not detected through the second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Noguchi, Shunsuke Yoshida, Yuki Ono, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Kotaro Hiramine, Yasunobu Tandai
  • Patent number: 10717441
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to accurately control a vehicle by estimating a position of an accelerator pedal. In a first phase of an operation of the accelerator pedal in which a depression of the accelerator pedal increases, a first predicted value of a position of the accelerator pedal is calculated by a first calculation procedure based on the position of the accelerator in the first phase. In a second phase in which the change amount of the position of the accelerator plateaus, a second predicted value of the position of the accelerator pedal is calculated by a second calculation procedure based on the position of the accelerator in the second phase. In a third phase in which the change amount of the position of the accelerator decreases, the second predicted value is employed as the predicted value of the position of the accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Takeichi, Ayumu Sagawa
  • Patent number: 10527161
    Abstract: A control device that controls an automatic transmission is provided, in which device the automatic transmission includes a variator disposed in a power transmission path between a driving source and a driving wheel of a vehicle, and a friction engaging element disposed between the variator and the driving wheel, in a manner capable of transmitting a power disconnectably via the power transmission path. The control device increases a speed ratio of the variator toward a predetermined target speed ratio with disengaging the friction engaging element during a vehicle stop of the vehicle, and executes a learning regarding a hydraulic control of the friction engaging element when the friction engaging element is disengaged during the vehicle stop. The control device decreases the target speed ratio at a time of learning when the learning is executed during the vehicle stop, compared to a time of vehicle stop other than the time of learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kawamoto, Seiji Kasahara, Haibin Ma
  • Patent number: 10352441
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission vehicle includes: a step of detecting a position of a shift lever by a controller; a step of checking, by the controller, a gear ratio variation based on a difference between a desired stage gear ratio and a current gear ratio in a continuously variable transmission when the shift lever is detected to be positioned in a manual range; a step of calculating, by the controller, a gear ratio correction value based on a rate of change of engine RPM when the gear ratio variation is checked as being other than zero after the step of checking the gear ratio variation; and a step of correcting, by the controller, the gear ratio variation in response to the calculated gear ratio correction value after the calculation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chan Hee Won, Hyung Hee Lee, Woo Il Chang, Jun Sung Park, Ho Young Kim
  • Patent number: 10137895
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle including an automatic transmission having a torque converter provided with a lock-up clutch, and including a kick-down controller that performs kick-down control to change a transmission ratio to a low side and to increase a number of engine revolutions based on a kick-down request in accordance with an accelerator operation and a lock-up controller that performs lock-up disengagement control based on the kick-down request to set the lock-up clutch to a disengaged state according to meeting of a disengagement condition. When the kick-down request not during the kick-down control is called a normal kick-down request and the kick-down request during the kick-down control is called a second-time kick-down request, the lock-up controller performs lock-up disengagement control according to the second-time kick-down request based on the disengagement condition which is more eased than the disengagement condition used for the normal kick-down request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10137899
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism is configured to selectively change between a first power transmission path and a second power transmission path. The first power transmission path is configured to transmit torque to an output shaft via a transmission mechanism. The second power transmission path is configured to transmit the torque to the output shaft via a continuously variable transmission mechanism. An electronic control unit is configured to: (a) selectively change a power transmission path during traveling to one of the first power transmission path and the second power transmission path by controlling the clutch mechanism; and (b) in changing the power transmission path by controlling the clutch mechanism, control an operating point of the internal combustion engine during a change of the power transmission path so that the operating point crosses over an optimum fuel, consumption line of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Fukao, Hiroki Kondo, Akira Hino, Daisuke Inoue, Akihide Ito, Atsushi Ayabe
  • Patent number: 9995388
    Abstract: A control device for a continuously variable transmission, which sets a target input rotational speed, or a target value of an input rotational speed of the continuously variable transmission mounted on a vehicle, such that a speed ratio is changed in a stepped manner and which controls the continuously variable transmission such that the input rotational speed becomes equal to the target input rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kikkawa, Masaki Ueda, Masachika Kato
  • Patent number: 9580076
    Abstract: Initial variation learning control is executed when learning condition is satisfied each time of its satisfaction, to absorb initial variations of manufacturing errors or variations of components of second clutch (CL2). When the number of times of total learning is counted and this becomes predetermined number (e.g. five times), initial variation learning control is judged to be converged. On the basis of condition of this convergence, so-called vertical sliding speed control returning belt (50) of variator (V) to LOWEST transmission ratio position is performed. With this, vertical sliding speed control is not performed in state in which excessively large torque acts on second clutch, and durability of belt and pulley is increased. It is therefore possible to prevent vertical sliding speed control from being performed in state in which input torque is predetermined value or greater, and possible to improve response of accelerator operation after performing vertical sliding speed control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: JATCO LTD
    Inventors: Kouichi Kotsuji, Hironori Miyaishi
  • Patent number: 9272699
    Abstract: In a driving device of a vehicle provided with driving sources, an input shaft rotatable due to driving force of the driving sources, a continuously variable transmission mechanism that shifts the rotation of the input shaft to be transmitted to an output shaft, and a start clutch for switching presence/absence of driving force transmission from the output shaft to a downstream side; when a ratio of the continuously variable transmission is on a lower ratio side than a predetermined threshold value, the output torque control means for controlling the output torque of the driving sources perform control to restrict the upper limit of output torque of the driving sources to a value smaller than the upper limit when a ratio is on the higher ratio side than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ayae Ikuro, Takahiro Eguchi, Takeshi Kurata, Atsushi Sato
  • Patent number: 8989970
    Abstract: There is disclosed a continuously variable ratio transmission assembly (“variator”) comprising a roller which transmits drive between a pair of races, the roller being movable in accordance with changes in variator ratio, a hydraulic actuator which applies a biasing force to the roller, at least one valve connected to the actuator through a hydraulic line to control pressure applied to the actuator and so to control the biasing force, and an electronic control which determines the required biasing force and sets the valve accordingly, wherein the valve setting is additionally dependent upon a rate of flow in the hydraulic line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventor: Stephen William Murray
  • Patent number: 8892316
    Abstract: A demand driving force parameter indicative of a demand driving force of the engine is set based on the accelerator pedal operation amount, and a target value of an engine driving force control amount is set based on the demand driving force parameter. The engine driving force control amount is controlled so as to coincide with the target value. A target rotational speed of the engine is set based on the demand driving force parameter, and the continuously variable transmission is controlled so that the rotational speed of the engine coincides with the target rotational speed. One of a first operation mode and a second operation mode is selectable, wherein the fuel consumption rate in the second operation mode is less than the fuel consumption rate in the first operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Eguchi, Toshihiko Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8762011
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle equipped with continuously-variable transmission includes a drive source; a continuously-variable transmitting mechanism including a primary pulley, a secondary pulley and a power transferring member; a friction engagement element provided between the drive source and the continuously-variable transmitting mechanism; and a vehicle-stop LOW shift control section including a vehicle-stop judging section configured to judge if the vehicle is in a stopped state. A power-transferring state of the friction engagement element is controlled by an engaging-force control. The vehicle-stop LOW shift control section starts a vehicle-stop LOW shift control to shift a pulley ratio of the continuously-variable transmitting mechanism toward LOW side when the vehicle-stop judging section determines that the vehicle is stopped under a power-transferring state where the friction engagement element is in an engaged state and the pulley ratio is not in a LOWEST region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: JATCO Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Ishida, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yusuke Kimura, Tetsuya Izumi, Akito Suzuki, Takashi Eguchi, Hironori Miyaishi
  • Patent number: 8639419
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a continuously variable transmission by means of which torque is transmitted from an engine to drive wheels of the vehicle, a braking system for applying a braking force to the drive wheels and a controller for setting the transmission ratio of the transmission. Additionally, means are provided for applying to the controller a signal indicative of the engine applied torque, and means for supplying to the controller a signal to indicate application of wheel brakes. The controller is operative when the brakes are applied to discontinue setting the transmission ratio in dependence upon the speed of the drive wheels and to set the transmission ratio instead in such a manner as to minimize the absolute value of the engine output torque or the torque transmitted through the transmission or to follow a desired torque setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Roli, Eugenio Sereni, Riccardo Morselli
  • Patent number: 8560186
    Abstract: A method for identifying a driving resistance of a motor vehicle includes the steps of recording values of control and/or state variables of the vehicle during a driving state of the vehicle when a control route is covered, adapting parameters of a vehicle model and/or a model of the area surrounding the vehicle on the basis of the values of the recorded control and state variables, identifying the driving resistance on the basis of the adapted vehicle model and/or the surrounding area model, wherein the parameters of the vehicle model and/or the surrounding area model are adapted on the basis of a distinction between driving states, wherein these driving states include a driving state of a closed drive train with a positive driver demand torque, a driving state of a closed drive train without a positive driver demand torque, and/or and a driving state with an open drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Roth, Klaus Bastian, Tobias Radke, Peter Megyesi
  • Patent number: 8527166
    Abstract: In a shift control device for a vehicular continuously variable transmission with an arrangement in which a normal shift mode is switched to an acceleration shift mode in response to an acceleration demand, a shift control is performed to prevent deterioration to running performance due to a transition to the acceleration shift mode by increased running resistance such as ascending road running or the like against a driver will. An acceleration demand determining value PAPL is set depending on a road surface gradient ? such that the shifting mode is more difficult to be switched to the acceleration shift mode in a larger road surface gradient ?, than in a smaller road surface gradient ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Tamura, Akira Hino, Masahiro Tawara, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 8489296
    Abstract: In a controller for a belt-type continuously variable transmission including a hydraulic actuator that changes a groove width of a primary pulley, a hydraulic actuator that changes a groove width of a secondary pulley, and a belt clamping pressure control solenoid that controls the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator of the secondary pulley, a mechanism calculates a transmission ratio between the primary pulley and the secondary pulley and determines whether or not there is belt slippage based on that calculated transmission ratio, and a mechanism determines normalcy of the belt clamping pressure control solenoid. The input torque when belt slippage has actually occurred, i.e., when a failure has been determined, is used as a condition when performing the normalcy determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Shinya Toyoda, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 8447490
    Abstract: A control unit (200) executes fail-safe control that forcibly releases a lockup clutch (15) by activating a fail-safe valve (112), abnormality diagnosis control that determines whether a solenoid valve (DSU) is suffering from a solenoid ON abnormality when the vehicle has started with the fail-safe control executed, and reproduction control that simulatively reproduces, when the vehicle has started without the fail-safe control executed, a condition coinciding with the condition for allowing execution of the abnormality diagnosis control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutaka Yoshimizu
  • Patent number: 8393999
    Abstract: In a hydraulic control system for a transmission, line pressure Pl is adjusted in accordance with a second solenoid pressure Psls if the ratio of a first sheave pressure Pin with respect to a second solenoid pressure Psls is equal to or less than the gain ?. If not so, the line pressure Pl is adjusted in accordance with the first sheave pressure Pin. Consequently, the gain ? of the first sheave pressure Pin with respect to a first solenoid pressure Pslp at a first sheave pressure adjustment valve 16 and the gain ? of a second sheave pressure Pout with respect to the second solenoid pressure Psls at a second sheave pressure adjustment valve 17 can be individually set while the line pressure Pl can be suppressed to the substantially requisite minimum in the entire control region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Ogata, Ryoji Habuchi, Toshihiro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 8380408
    Abstract: A speed change control system for an industrial vehicle includes: a speed ratio detecting unit that detects a speed ratio of speeds of an input shaft and of an output shaft of a torque converter; a torque converter speed ratio-based speed changer that shifts up or shifts down a speed stage of a transmission 3 in response to the detected speed ratio; a vehicle speed detection unit that detects a speed of the vehicle; a mode selection unit that selects any one of an L-mode and an H-mode; and a speed change control unit that permits an upshift provided that the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a first predetermined value when the L-mode is selected whereas permits the upshift provided that the vehicle speed is higher than another predetermined value which is larger that the predetermined value when the H-mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Tetsuji Tanaka, Eiichi Sakai, Nobuhiro Suzuki, Koji Takano
  • Patent number: 8380400
    Abstract: An HV-ECU performs a program including the steps of: determining whether or not the HV-ECU is in an auto-P execution state; determining whether or not a predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since an auto-P was requested; and permitting determination of the shifting operation if the HV-ECU is in the auto-P execution state and if it is determined that the predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since the auto-P was requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Kanai, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori
  • Patent number: 8275510
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of determining that a change speed solenoid is abnormal when a target speed ratio falls within a predetermined range, an upshift is recognized and the change speed solenoid is abnormal; determining that the change speed solenoid is normal when the change speed solenoid is not abnormal; determining that a belt pinch pressure solenoid is abnormal when the target speed ratio is substantially equal to a speed ratio ?min on a maximum speed-increase side and the target speed ratio is not substantially equal to an actual speed ratio; and determining that the belt pinch pressure solenoid is normal when the target speed ratio is substantially equal to the actual speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Shinya Toyoda, Naoya Inoue, Tadashi Tamura, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 8241178
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a variator capable of varying a speed ratio continuously, and a subtransmission mechanism provided in series with the variator. When an actual through speed ratio passes a predetermined mode switch speed ratio, a transmission controller performs a coordinated shift in which a gear position of the subtransmission mechanism is changed and a speed ratio of the variator is varied in an opposite direction to a speed ratio variation direction of the subtransmission mechanism. When the rapid deceleration is determined to be underway, the transmission controller decreases a speed ratio variation amount of the variator in the direction of a High side accompanied by a downshift of the subtransmission mechanism compared with the coordinated shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tateki Jozaki, Hideaki Suzuki, Ryousuke Nonomura, Mamiko Inoue, Seiichiro Takahashi, Tatsuo Ochiai, Masato Koga, Masaaki Uchida, Ryoji Kadono
  • Patent number: 8096906
    Abstract: When a vehicle decelerates rapidly, a lower limit secondary pulley pressure (Plmt) is calculated on the basis of a primary pulley rotation speed (Npri) detected by a primary pulley rotation sensor. When a deceleration speed (Gdata) is greater than a predetermined deceleration speed (G1) and a secondary pulley pressure (Psec) detected by a secondary pulley pressure sensor is lower than the lower limit secondary pulley pressure (Plmt), it is determined that slippage is about to occur in a V-belt 4 on a primary pulley side in particular, and therefore speed ratio fixing control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Takuichiro Inoue, Hiroki Iwasa, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Yoshihisa Kodama
  • Patent number: 8090511
    Abstract: A parameter having an accelerator pedal position and a drive force as components is set according to information representing driver's operations such as the accelerator pedal position and a stroke amount of a brake pedal. Similarly to the information representing the driver's operation, a parameter having the accelerator pedal position and the drive force as the components is set according to information representing running environment of a vehicle such as a gradient of a road surface, a curvature of the road surface, a friction coefficient ? of the road surface, a type of a road and a length of traffic jam. One parameter ?(OUT) is set by mediating a parameter ?(1) obtained from the information representing the driver's operation and a parameter ?(2) obtained from the information representing the running environment of the vehicle. The gear corresponding to the parameter ?(OUT) is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8070650
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system of a vehicle power train having a belt-type continuously variable transmission, and a hydraulic lock-up clutch, includes: a line pressure control valve; first and second control valves; first, second and third electromagnetic valves; and a fail-safe valve. The fail-safe valve is switched to a fail position in which a line pressure is supplied to one of a drive pulley and a driven pulley when a rapid deceleration state is likely to occur in the belt-type continuously variable transmission, the fail-safe valve is switched to a normal position in which a hydraulic pressure output from the first control valve is supplied to the one of the drive pulley and the driven pulley during times other than the above, and the fail-safe valve is switched by a combination of a hydraulic pressure controlled by the second electromagnetic valve and a hydraulic pressure controlled by the third electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Ogata, Yoshinobu Soga
  • Patent number: 8066595
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a vehicular drive system including a hydraulically operated belt-and-pulley type continuously variable transmission and a hydraulically operated frictional coupling device engaged for running of a vehicle, the hydraulic control system including: a first solenoid valve for regulating a belt-tensioning hydraulic pressure for tensioning a belt of the transmission, a second solenoid valve for regulating a transient coupling hydraulic pressure to be applied to the frictional coupling device in the process of an engaging action, a line-pressure regulating valve for regulating a line pressure used for hydraulically operated devices of the mechanism, and a hydraulic-circuit switching device operable to apply a control pressure of the second solenoid-operated valve to the line-pressure regulating valve after the frictional coupling device has been placed in a fully engaged state, and to apply a first control pressure of the first solenoid-operated valve to the line-pressure regulating va
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Ogata, Yoshinobu Soga, Ryoji Habuchi
  • Patent number: 8030875
    Abstract: Interruption in supervisory position control signals can cause problems with respect to actuators which upon loss of such control signals for the actuator will generally slew to a fixed idle position. In such circumstances a machine such as a gas turbine engine in which an actuator is associated will not sustain performance even though there is continued local power supply to the actuator. By utilizing a local controller which stores actuator response profiles for certain machine status stages through perturbation or marginal activation of the actuator an appropriate actuator response profile can be chosen and therefore sustaining control signals presented to the actuator to maintain machine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Shane Regunath
  • Patent number: 7922610
    Abstract: In a line pressure control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission according to this invention, when a line pressure is feedback-controlled to equal a target line pressure which is equal to or greater than the larger of oil pressures supplied to a primary pulley and a secondary pulley (S1), and it is determined that the target line pressure has fallen below a first low pressure, leading to a divergence between the target line pressure and the actual line pressure (S6), the target line pressure is restricted such that the target line pressure does not fall below a lower limit value (S7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hironori Nihei, Tetsuya Izumi, Seonjae Kim, Fumito Shinohara, Toshiyuki Shibuya, Toshiji Iida
  • Patent number: 7789780
    Abstract: During Low return control, in which a speed ratio determined by a contact radius of a V-belt (4) with a non-rotating primary pulley (2) and a non-rotating secondary pulley (3) is shifted toward lowest speed ratio while the vehicle is stationary, an estimated speed ratio (ic) is calculated on the basis of a secondary pulley pressure (Psec). When a start request is issued to the vehicle while Low return control is underway, a primary pulley pressure (Ppri) and the secondary pulley pressure (Psec) are controlled on the basis of the estimated speed ratio (ic).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroki Iwasa, Yoshihisa Kodama
  • Patent number: 7654935
    Abstract: A maximum flow calculating unit calculates a maximum amount of hydraulic fluid that can flow into or out of an input-side hydraulic cylinder when a shift control command signal is set to a reference DUTY value, based on an estimated valve pressure difference calculated by an estimated pressure difference calculating unit, and a post-guard target sheave position setting unit performs a guard process for restricting the amount of change of the sheave position, using a guard value calculated by a guard value calculating unit based on the maximum flow amount, so as to set a post-guard target sheave position. Since the thus set target sheave position does not undergo excessive large changes nor excessively small changes during shifting, a target value for shifting is set so that a feedforward controlled variable determined based on the amount of change of the target sheave position becomes an appropriate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Tanaka, Hiroji Taniguchi, Shinya Toyoda, Tadashi Tamura, Akira Hino, Yasunari Matsui
  • Patent number: 7537543
    Abstract: When a throttle is substantially fully open and startup is not underway, a CVT control unit (20) controls a speed ratio in accordance with a fully open speed change line. When the throttle is substantially fully open and startup is underway, the CVT control unit (20) controls the speed ratio in accordance with a fully open startup speed change line. When the throttle is substantially fully open, startup is underway, and the number of times the primary pulley rotation speed exceeds a belt assurance upper limit value exceeds an assurance frequency number, the CVT control unit (20) controls the speed ratio in accordance with the full throttle speed change line instead of the full throttle startup speed change line, even though the throttle is substantially fully open and vehicle startup is underway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Takamitsu Shimazu, Yoshichika Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20080227595
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for controlling a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission of a motor vehicle having a variably adjustable transmission ratio, and having an electrical actuation system for overall control of the hydraulic system, and a hydraulic parking lock-release system to control a parking lock. In order to provide an improved hydraulic system, the parking lock includes a self-retention system in the event of an electrical power failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Jochen Pfister, Roshan Willeke, Eric Muller
  • Patent number: 7356403
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine with an exhaust recirculation system includes an acceleration request sensing section to sense a driver's acceleration request; and an engine operating condition sensing section to sense a current engine operation condition at the time of detection of the driver's acceleration request, to determine a margin from the engine operating condition at the time of detection of the driver's acceleration request, to a fuel economy deterioration region on a higher load side. A controlling section controls the EGR quantity, such as EGR rate, of the exhaust recirculation system in accordance with the margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youko Yoshioka, Takeshi Sato
  • Patent number: 7356399
    Abstract: There is provided a failure determination system for a continuously variable transmission of a belt type, which is capable of determining failure of control valves for performing speed varying operation, and enhancing maintainability. An ECU controls a transmission ratio of the transmission to a fixation-determining LOW-side range when the vehicle is standing. When the transmission ratio during stoppage of the vehicle is within a stop-time OD-side range if engine torque?OD-time DR-side reference torque and at the same time the transmission ratio<DN-side reference value hold, the ECU determines that the DR solenoid valve is faulty, and if the throttle valve opening?OD-side reference value, the transmission ratio?DN-side reference value, and at the same time a vehicle speed<OD-side reference value hold, the ECU determines that the DN solenoid valve is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Eguchi, Ukyo Ogata, Takahiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 7331900
    Abstract: The shift control apparatus for a continuously-variable transmission includes a primary pulley; a secondary pulley connected with the primary pulley by a belt; a shift actuator that varies a speed ratio; a line pressure adjusting that adjusts a line pressure; a secondary-pressure adjusting section that adjusts a secondary pressure; and a control section that controls the shift actuator, the line pressure adjusting section, and the secondary-pressure adjusting section. Moreover, the control section includes a fail determining section that determines whether the shift actuator is under a failed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Hideki Oshita, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Youhei Ishikawa, Kousuke Abe
  • Publication number: 20070232443
    Abstract: A speed change control device for an automatic transmission according to this invention determines whether or not a request to downshift a gear position of the transmission exists during traveling in a manual speed change mode (S1, S2), and calculates an input shaft rotation speed of the transmission following a downshift based on the downshift request (S4). When it is determined that the calculated rotation speed is higher than a rotation speed limit value (S5), the speed change control device performs a downshift to a gear position at which the input shaft rotation speed of the transmission is lower than the calculated rotation speed (S6, S8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Yusuke Kimura, Atsufumi Kobayashi, Tatsuo Ochiai, Shuichi Wakabayashi, Akihiro Makiyama, Ryoji Kadono
  • Patent number: 7264571
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to save fuel and to make efficient use of the possibilities of a power train including a transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio. If the vehicle velocity exceeds a prescribed velocity the fuel supply to the engine is shut off, kinetic energy of the vehicle is stored in an energy storage device, and the transmission ratio of the transmission is shifted in the direction of a lower transmission ratio. If those measures are not sufficient the vehicle brakes are operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Betiligungs KG
    Inventors: Andreas Englisch, André Linnenbrügger, Michael Reuschel
  • Patent number: 7192383
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, the vehicle having a continuously variable transmission associated with a vehicular engine and including a belt that transmits a revolution of a primary pulley to a secondary pulley that is enabled to make a gear shift by modifying a pulley ratio between the primary and secondary pulleys with a hydraulic, a determination is made as to whether a belt slip between at least one of the primary and the secondary pulleys occurs and an output section outputs a signal to command an engine control unit to increase an engine speed by a predetermined engine speed when the belt slip is determined to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Shimada, Masahiro Iriyama, Kenichi Gotou, Masahiro Yamamoto, Yoshihisa Kodama, Shigeki Shimanaka, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Takuichiro Inoue, Tatsuo Wakahara, Hisao Nobu
  • Patent number: 7037235
    Abstract: A speed change ratio control unit for a continuously variable transmission that uses a step motor as a driving actuator of a speed change control valve that compares a variable ASTP representing a step position of the step motor and a step position BSTP of the step motor that is necessary for realizing a desired speed change ratio at every predetermined operation cycle, and if ASTP?BSTP is satisfied determines that a step-out has occurred on the step motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tateki Jozaki, Shigeru Ishii, Tatsuo Wakahara, Masahiro Yamamoto, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Shigeki Shimanaka, Midori Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6960153
    Abstract: A clutch engagement control device controls the engagement of a forward clutch (32) and reverse clutch (33) in an automatic transmission connected to an engine (70) in a vehicle. An inhibitor switch (56) outputs a range signal in accordance with a position range of a select lever (51). A manual valve (57) supplies oil pressure selectively to one of the forward clutch (32) and the reverse clutch (33) by changing position in accordance with the position range of the select lever (51). A controller (60) of the clutch engagement control device determines whether an unmatching range condition occurs in which the range of the select lever (51) indicated by the range signal and the range of the manual valve (57) do not match, when the range of the select lever (51) indicated by the range signal is a drive range or reverse range; and suppress an increase in engine rotation speed prior to engagement of the forward clutch or reverse clutch when the unmatching range condition occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Tatsuo Ochiai, Yusuke Kimura, Yoshichika Hagiwara, Hironobu Waki, Katsumi Doihara, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Hirofumi Okahara
  • Patent number: 6945907
    Abstract: A target engine rotational speed depending at least upon the position of an accelerator pedal position and a motor vehicle speed is determined in a method for controlling the operation of a motor vehicle drive train having a drive motor and a branched power transmission with several steplessly adjustable transmission ratio regions, between which shifting takes place at a predetermined range shift transmission ratio. A transmission ratio corresponding to the target engine rotational speed and vehicle speed is determined and set, whereby the change with respect to time of the accelerator pedal position and/or the change with respect to time of the target engine rotational speed is used for determining the target engine rotational speed and is filtered when a difference between the actual transmission ratio and a transmission ratio shift range falls below a limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Martin Vornhem, Michael Reuschel, Christian Lauinger, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 6837825
    Abstract: A shift controlling apparatus for a continuously variable transmission changing of an input side rotational element driven by an engine via a power transmitting element to an output side rotational element, has, a rapid acceleration determination unit for determining whether or not a rapid acceleration demanding condition according to the depressed amount of an accelerator pedal, basic shift mode setting unit for setting a rotating speed of the input side rotational element based on a basic shift mode according to operating conditions such as throttle opening, vehicle speed and engine speed, accelerating shift mode setting unit for increasing the vehicle speed based on an accelerating shift mode correspondingly to an increase in engine speed, and a control unit for switching from the basic shift mode to the accelerating shift mode when the rapid acceleration determination unit determines that a rapid acceleration demanding condition occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Nakayama, Masayuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 6695742
    Abstract: A CVT has a torque convener (T/C) speed ratio calculation section that determines the speed ratio from the engine speed and the primary pulley speed. The calculation section then calculates the torque ratio from the speed ratio. An input torque estimation section then estimates the input torque input into CVT from the torque ratio and the determined engine output torque. The T/C speed ratio calculation section, having a correction amount calculation section, reduces the speed ratio when the accelerator pedal is depressed to less than Np/Ne. Because the disparity with real value of the speed ratio occurring in the dead time of the respective revolution sensors can be decreased and the input torque properly estimated, slippage between the V belt and the variable pulley is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Jatco Transtechnology Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshichika Hagiwara, Makoto Sawada
  • Patent number: 6691012
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a continuously variable transmission has a target primary pressure setting unit provided a target primary pressure according to a speed ratio deviation between an actual speed ratio and a target speed ratio; a shift control valve for regulating flow rate of hydraulic oil supplied to the primary cylinder by changing an opening area of the shift control valve according to current supplied to an electromagnetic coil; a primary pressure detecting unit; and a control unit for controlling the speed ratio by correcting a basic current set to be based upon the target primary pressure and supplied to the electromagnetic coil by feeding back the primary pressure detected by the primary pressure detecting unit, so as to have an excellent shift feeling, being able to decrease a fuel consumption by reducing the load of a pump and by quickly shifting to an optimum speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Nishida, Jun Nakayama, Mitsuo Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20030104903
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus of a transmission for a vehicle having an input shaft driven by an engine and an output shaft connecting with a drive wheel for automatically changing a speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft, comprises accelerator pedal operating amount detecting means for detecting an operating amount of an accelerator pedal, road gradient detecting means for detecting a gradient of a road on which the vehicle travels, vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed, kick-down mode establishing means for establishing a kick-down mode when the operating amount of the accelerator pedal exceeds a threshold value and control means for changing the threshold value based on the road gradient and the vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 6547693
    Abstract: The invention proceeds from a system for generating a signal for hydraulically adjusting the transmission ratio of a continuously variable transmission in a motor vehicle. Here, a valve is provided which influences the hydraulic connection from a pressure reservoir, which exhibits a hydraulic pressure, to a pressure chamber. The adjustment of the transmission ratio takes place via the drive of at least the valve via the electrical signal. For this purpose, the electrical signal is generated in such a manner that it is limited to maximum and/or minimum values. The essence of the invention is that the maximum and/or minimum values are determined in dependence upon the hydraulic pressure. With the limiting in accordance with the invention, it is ensured that an adequate pressure reserve for the adjustment of the belt tension is available notwithstanding the adjustment of the transmission ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Robert-Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin-Peter Bolz, Joachim Luh
  • Patent number: 6546324
    Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle subsystem comprises a reference model and a feedforward controller. The reference model computes desired states of the subsystem. The feedforward controller computes a first control value based on input from the reference model, and computes a second control value based on yaw rate of the vehicle and a control variable for the subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsien H. Chen, Ashok Chandy
  • Patent number: 6459978
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle includes a controller that controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition. The method and apparatus perform shift control in a specific manner during an operation of an anti-lock brake system, for example, by smoothing at least one of the rotational speed of the input shaft and the rotational speed of the output shaft, reducing a rate of change in the speed ratio during down shifting, restricting upshifting of the CVT, increasing an amount of hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump, and/or increasing belt clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroji Taniguchi, Katsumi Kono, Kenji Matsuo, Hideki Yasue, Tadashi Tamura, Daisuke Inoue, Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hiroki Kondo, Yuji Hattori, Syoichi Sayo
  • Publication number: 20020132698
    Abstract: A control system for a continuously variable transmission provided with a first pulley (1) having two pulley discs (5, 7), with a second pulley (2) having two pulley discs (6, 8) and with a drive belt (10) wound around said pulleys (1, 2) for transmitting torque there between, at least one disc (7) of the first pulley (1) being axially movable with respect to the other disc (5) of the pulley (1) under the influence of an axial force provided on the movable disc (7) by a line pressure (PLP) in a cylinder (11) of a piston/cylinder assembly (11, 13) associated with the the first pulley (1) and at least one disc (6) of the second pulley (2) being axially movable with respect to the other disc (8) of the pulley (2) under the influence of an axial force provided on the movable disc (8) by a second cylinder pressure (P2CP) in a cylinder (12) of a piston/cylinder assembly (12, 14) associated with the the second pulley (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Maurice Didier Rienks, Engbert Spijker