Electric Engine Patents (Class 477/7)
  • Patent number: 11890938
    Abstract: An installation arrangement is provided for a vehicle having a front motor for driving a front wheel, a rear motor for driving a rear wheel, a high-voltage battery that stores electrical power for the motors, and a low-voltage battery that stores electrical power for various units. The installation arrangement is configured such that an intersection of a longitudinal center line and a lateral center line of the vehicle overlaps the high-voltage battery as seen in a plan view. In the front section of the vehicle, the front motor is arranged on one side of the longitudinal center line, and the internal combustion engine is arranged on the other side of the longitudinal center line. In the rear section of the vehicle, the low-voltage battery is arranged on one side of the longitudinal center line, and the rear motor is arranged on the other side of the longitudinal center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryota Imura, Kei Nakazato
  • Patent number: 11794856
    Abstract: An electrical actuator for a bicycle front derailleur making use of a standard wireless remote control (RC) servo unit relying exclusively on highly efficient spur gearing reduction and facilitating highly accurate derailleur positioning thereof through an integral digital magnetic rotary encoder with assembly thereof sealed in a two-piece housing and serving to transmit actuation effort thereof directly to actuation shaft of a front derailleur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Hazem Nihad Hamed
  • Patent number: 11592485
    Abstract: The proposed mechanism for weld detection, uses isolation monitoring circuits (which is used for measurement of the leakage current between battery positive and negative to the chassis ground (on pack or link side) and checks the health status of the contactors. The mechanism connects isolation monitoring circuit between two points on the battery pack (between two sides of the high current contactors) and measures the resistance of two points, therefore checking the continuity of the contactors in the system. Since it can measure a range of resistance, it can also check if a contactor is completely welded or it has been partially welded. This would be important because in case of partial weld, the car can fix the problem and remove the partial weld by activating and deactivating the contactors for several time, with or without inserting high current in the coil of the contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: FARASIS ENERGY (GANZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ali Azidehak, Tuan Truong, Ben Johnson
  • Patent number: 11318834
    Abstract: A vehicle driving apparatus including: a rotating electrical machine that acts as a source of driving force for a first wheel and a second wheel; a speed reduction device that reduces a speed of rotation of the rotating electrical machine; a differential gear device that distributes, to the first wheel and the second wheel, the driving force transmitted from the rotating electrical machine via the speed reduction device; a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the speed reduction device, and the differential gear device; and an oil circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daiki Suyama, Hiroaki Sanji, Mitsuhiro Ichioka, Yuki Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10753975
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for diagnosing a failure of a relay for a battery required to constantly supply the power to a vehicle with guaranteeing the constant power supply using a parallel circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-Il Park, You-Seob Gil, Sun-Mo An
  • Patent number: 10663506
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for diagnosing a fault of relays for a vehicle. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to diagnose the fault of the relays for the vehicle with the simple device configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10471839
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting fusion of a relay are provided to more accurately diagnose fusion of a relay by adjusting relay OFF order when a vehicle engine is turned off using data regarding whether fusion of a relay was detected when the vehicle engine was turned on. The method includes detecting whether first and second relays have been fused when a vehicle engine was turned on and adjusting OFF order of the first and second relays when the vehicle engine is turned off based on whether the first and second relays have been fused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyung Ho Kim, Kyung In Min, Jae Hoon Choi, Dong Gun Kim, Do Kyoung Lim, Jin Wook Kim, Jun Ho Bang, Yoon Jun Lee, Hee Tae Yang, Yu Seok Kim, Hyo Sik Moon, Kyun Young Ahn, Suk Hyung Kim, Dong Il Kim
  • Patent number: 10118619
    Abstract: In a control device for a vehicle including: a dog clutch mechanism that is disposed in a power transmission path in which a driving force is transmitted from an engine to a wheel and is operated by a hydraulic actuator; and an electric oil pump that supplies hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator, rotation of the engine is stopped in a state in which the dog clutch mechanism is engaged by the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump at a time during an engine stop operation, the rotation of the engine is started in the state in which the dog clutch mechanism is engaged by the hydraulic pressure supplied from the electric oil pump at a time during an engine restart operation, hence occurrence of up-lock of the dog clutch mechanism is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuo, Akira Hino, Hiroki Kondo, Mitsuhiro Fukao, Daisuke Inoue, Atsushi Ayabe, Hiromitsu Nitani, Kazuya Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10017057
    Abstract: A dual battery charging and discharging system controls the configuration of multiple batteries arranged in multiple battery banks. The batteries within each bank are connected in series when powering an electrical load, such as a service motor, and are connected in parallel when charging. A microprocessor monitors the voltage levels of the batteries in each bank and controls relays to switch the electrical load over to a charged battery bank when the voltage level of the discharging battery bank drops below a minimum run threshold. The microprocessor also monitors the voltage levels of the charging battery bank and controls relays to cease charging when the voltage level rises above a minimum charge threshold. The batteries are charged by an alternator driven by a drive motor through a gear reduction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: Larry Nelson
  • Patent number: 9855952
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an engine, an accessory, a continuously variable transmission, and a lock-up clutch. The control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: when the load state is less than a predetermined value, control the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission and the rotational speed of the engine such that the rotational speed of the engine during engagement of the lock-up clutch is kept at a first rotational speed; and when the load state is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, control the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission and the rotational speed of the engine such that the rotational speed of the engine during engagement of the lock-up clutch becomes a second rotational speed higher than the first rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akio Natori
  • Patent number: 9718366
    Abstract: An electric vehicle comprises an electric motor for generating driving power for moving a vehicle body of the electric vehicle; a battery unit for supplying electric power to the electric motor; a charging connector connected to an outside electric power supply for supplying the electric power to be charged; a main controller for controlling switching between a first connection state in which the battery unit is connected to the electric motor and a second connection state in which the battery unit is connected to the charging connector; and a relay for opening and closing a power supply path from the low-voltage battery to the main controller; wherein a relay opens the power supply path to cut off electric power supply to the main controller for a specified time, when the relay switches one of the first connection state and the second connection state to the other connection state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9519253
    Abstract: An electric power supply device for supplying electric power to a load, the electric power supply device includes a first relay connected with a live line of an AC voltage source; a second relay connected with a neutral line of the AC voltage source; a controller for executing a starting sequence for rendering On the first relay and the second relay from Off state; and a storing portion for storing information relating to the starting sequence executed by the controller; wherein when the electric power supply device is actuated, the controller switches the starting sequence on the basis of the information stored in the storing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuya Nishida
  • Patent number: 9260112
    Abstract: The control apparatus includes a clutch release determining portion configured to detect that a clutch is placed in the released state, and an engine starting control portion configured to initiate an engine starting control to start an engine after the clutch release determining portion has detected that the clutch is placed in the released state, when the engine starting control is implemented during an output gear is rotated in a reverse direction with a torque generated by at least one of first and second electric motors MG1 and MG2. The initiation of the engine starting control after the detection of the released state of the clutch permits effective prevention of reversal of the rotating direction of the output gear from the reverse direction to the forward direction and a rise of the rotating speed of the output gear with a rise of the operating speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeru Kimura
  • Patent number: 9236813
    Abstract: An inverter assembly includes an inverter and a load sensor. The inverter is configured to provide electrical power to a load. The load sensor has a first amplifier for sensing current of the load when the load is a low power load connected to the inverter and a second amplifier for sensing the load current when the load is a high power load connected to the inverter. Vehicle functionality such as start/stop functionality may be disabled while the load sensor senses that the load is connected to the inverter whereas the start/stop functionality may be disabled while the load sensor senses that the load is not connected to the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Krzysztof Klesyk
  • Patent number: 8838307
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has two drive units that can be operated jointly or individually to generate drive torque. The motor vehicle also has a device for predefining a driver's request. The device for predefining the driver's request is embodied so that a force level (K) with an increased restoring force is present within an adjustment range of the device. A control unit processes the driver's request and generates a control signal for actuating the drive units. The control unit operates so that, starting from a driving mode in which only one drive unit for generating a positive drive torque is active, switching over occurs from one drive unit to the other or the other drive unit also is activated when the force level is exceeded. At least one feature that characterizes the force level (K) can be varied based peripheral conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Philipp Soell
  • Patent number: 8781659
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for controlling transition between an electric vehicle (EV) mode and a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode in a hybrid vehicle. More specifically, the technique includes first determining a drive mode of the hybrid vehicle by monitoring an average vehicle speed and an accelerator position sensor. Next, an engine on map value is determined for entering into the HEV mode and a hysteresis map value is determined for controlling the transition between the EV mode and the HEV mode based on a battery's state-of-charge (SOC), the average vehicle speed, and the drive mode; Based on the above steps, the technique determines whether the hybrid vehicle should transition between the EV mode or the HEV mode based on a driver's requisite torque calculated by monitoring the accelerator position sensor and a gear position sensor and on the determined engine on map value and hysteresis map value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jeong Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 8721495
    Abstract: A motorized rear derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, a pulley arrangement, a motor unit and a power limit circuit. The movable member is movably mounted to the base member between a plurality of gear positions. The pulley arrangement is supported by the movable member. The pulley arrangement includes a pulley having a dynamo that generates electrical energy in response to rotation of the pulley. The motor unit is operatively coupled between the base member and the movable member to selectively move the movable member relative to the base member between the gear positions. The motor unit is electrically coupled to the dynamo to selectively receive electrical energy generated by the dynamo. The power limit circuit is electrically coupled between the dynamo and the motor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Shintaro Mori
  • Patent number: 8608614
    Abstract: An actuation system for a drive unit of a motor vehicle includes a control unit which is assigned to the drive unit and which has a function level, a function monitoring level, and having a power output stage for actuating the drive unit or actuators or sensors which are assigned to the drive unit. To relieve the function a data transmission device for outputting data to a data bus is arranged in the function monitoring level. The data transmission device can output a drive setpoint torque to the drive unit, to actuators or sensors which are assigned to it, or to a power output stage (9, 9?) of a separate, second drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Detlef Fuchs, Lothar Rehm, Thomas Von Raumer
  • Patent number: 8612112
    Abstract: When the driver steps on an accelerator peal to a certain depth and practically keeps the accelerator pedal at the certain depth to maintain a substantially constant accelerator opening, a target additional torque, a maximum reflection rate, and an increment of a reflection rate are set based on the accelerator opening and a vehicle speed. The reflection rate is gradually increased by the increment to the maximum reflection rate after elapse of a preset time period since a start of decreasing a base torque demand affected by the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed. An object torque demand is computed as the sum of the base torque demand and an additional torque, which is given as the product of the target additional torque and the gradually increasing reflection rate. The operations of an engine and two motors are then controlled with the setting of the object torque demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoshiro Ueoka
  • Patent number: 8606441
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including the steps of: setting a creep torque reflection ratio; if brake is applied and the vehicle is currently stopped, updating the creep torque reflection ratio to 0; if brake is not applied and despite that the brake fluid's pressure is larger than a hydraulic pressure value, determining that brake hold control is currently exerted, and reducing the creep torque reflection ratio, as based on a map having the brake fluid's pressure as a parameter, to update the creep torque reflection ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kiyoshiro Ueoka
  • Patent number: 8585541
    Abstract: A combined power transmission and drive unit for use in hybrid systems between a first engine and a transmission device, broadly including at least an input connectable with the engine, a power transmission device by which the output is connected with a transmission input shaft, a device for selectively at least interrupting/establishing the power flow to the input of the power transmission device and an electric machine including at least one rotor that is connected non-rotatably with the input of the power transmission device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a hybrid system, including a first engine and a combined power transmission and drive unit connected downstream of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bruno Mueller
  • Patent number: 8579760
    Abstract: An engine start-up control device for a vehicle is provided with a structure which prevents the occurrence of an uncomfortable shock arising from amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance, when an output of a first motor generator starting up an engine by driving the same is limited. With a second motor generator having reactive torque restricting the rotation of a transfer member, the first motor generator rotatably drives a sun gear to crank the engine for start-up thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Atsushi Tabata, Keita Imai, Yuji Iwase, Takuma Kakinami
  • Publication number: 20130244828
    Abstract: An ECU selects a power supply mode which controls a power supply to an inverter apparatus, in a case where a fuel cell vehicle is instructed to start-up by an ignition switch and it is detected that a power supply inlet and a power supply connector are fitted together based on voltage of CONNECT signal, and selects a driving mode which controls the driving of the fuel cell vehicle, in a case where the fuel cell vehicle is instructed to start-up by the ignition switch and it is detected that the power supply inlet and the power supply connector are not fitted together based on voltage of CONNECT signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Morio KAYANO, Daishi Igarashi, Suguru Kato
  • Patent number: 8535201
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine, a generator, and a motor connected via a planetary gear set to detect lockup in the planetary gear set and control the powertrain in response. When torque is distributed in an electric mode of operation with the engine disabled, the generator is disabled based at least upon a difference between actual generator speed and an expected generator speed exceeding a threshold, indicating a lockup in the planetary gear set. When the engine is activated and distributes torque through the powertrain, the engine and the generator are disabled based at least upon a difference between engine acceleration and an expected engine acceleration exceeding a first threshold, and a difference between engine speed and ring gear speed being less than a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Lang Kuang, Shailesh Shrikant Kozarekar, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Edward William Haran, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Kimberly Murphy
  • Patent number: 8512200
    Abstract: In a method for operating a hybrid drive of a vehicle having at least one internal combustion engine and at least one first electric machine as drive machines of a first drive train of the vehicle, and an associated first transmission, the total torque of the drive machines is adapted in a shifting operation of the transmission in order to reduce the load at the transmission and/or in order to modify rotational speeds according to the new transmission ratio, and/or the torque gradient of the drive machines is restricted to a specifiable, maximum torque gradient of the resulting total torque of the drive machines of the first drive train in a transition between acceleration operation and trailing throttle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens-Werner Falkenstein, Michael Glora
  • Patent number: 8475328
    Abstract: The micro-hybrid system for a transport vehicle comprises a rotary electric machine suitable for being coupled mechanically to an engine of the vehicle, an AC-to-DC converter, a DC-to-DC converter, first and second electrical energy reservoirs suitable for storing an electrical energy produced by the rotary machine and for returning the electrical energy to consumer devices equipping the vehicle, and a controller for controlling the operation of the micro-hybrid system. The controller comprises piloting strategies module suitable for autonomously piloting the operating modes of the micro-hybrid system according to a plurality of strategies depending on information provided to said piloting means regarding an internal state of the micro-hybrid system and of a state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Oussama Rouis, Farouk Boudjemai, Brice Lecole, Julien Masfaraud, Magali Laurence, Mattieu Treguer, Hugues Doffin, Cedric Leboeuf, Ertugrul Taspinar, Paul Armiroli, Alain Gerard, Jean-Marc Dubus, Arnaud De Vries, Eric Blanc
  • Patent number: 8457825
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes an electric machine mechanically coupled to an internal combustion engine mechanically coupled to a transmission. A method for operating the powertrain system includes determining an engine stall threshold rate during engine operation in a low load condition. A time-rate change in an accessory load is controlled by the electric machine operating in an electric power generating mode in response to the engine stall threshold rate during the engine operation in the low load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D Haggerty, Sean W McGrogan, Adam J Heisel
  • Publication number: 20130123064
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for preventing driveaway or roll away of a plug-in electric vehicle when it is being charged or is coupled to an external power supply cord. When it is detected based on at least one of the following conditions: a current is flowing to the battery charger, a voltage source is coupled to the battery charger, an access door allowing access to the receptacle on board the vehicle is open and/or a plug detect switch indicates that a plug is coupled with the receptacle, a mechanical restraint on the driveline is prevented from being released. The mechanical restraint may be a parking brake. Alternatively, the mechanical restraint may include preventing the gear shift selector from being moved out of the park position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Patent number: 8419581
    Abstract: A hub motor for electric vehicles and includes a rim, connecting members, a motor housing, a gear ring, a coil unit, a shaft, a tube, a magnet unit, a sun gear, a planet gear frame and multiple planet gears. The gear ring and the coil unit are fixed in the motor housing and two bearings are located between the shaft and the motor housing so that the motor housing is rotatable relative to the shaft. The tube has the magnet unit and the sun gear, and the planet gear frame is fixed to the shaft and the planet gears are connected to the planet gear frame. The planet gears are engaged with the gear ring and the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Chiu-Hsiang Lo
  • Patent number: 8419580
    Abstract: An electric wheel for electric vehicles includes a rim, connecting members, a hub motor, a battery, and a control device. The connecting members are connected to an inside of the rim and the hub motor is connected to the connecting members. The hub motor includes a shaft, a rotor and a stator. The shaft is located on a central axis of the rim and two ends of the shaft are fixed to a vehicle frame. The battery is located on the rim and the control device receives a wireless command signal and generating a control signal to control the battery to provide power to the hub motor, and to allow the hub motor to operate. The rim is equipped with the battery and the hub motor and directly connected to the vehicle frame without wires connected to the vehicle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Chiu-Hsiang Lo
  • Patent number: 8403807
    Abstract: In a vehicular power transmitting apparatus provided with an electrically-controlled differential portion in which controlling an operating state of an electric motor controls a differential state of a differential mechanism, a control device for starting up a drive force source in an appropriate mode depending on a vehicle condition can be provided. The control device includes drive-force source start control means for switching start modes of an engine depending on a vehicle condition to achieve an appropriate start mode for the engine depending on the vehicle condition, so that for instance a contracted drive range by a second electric motor can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Hiroyuki Shibata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yuji Iwase, Masakazu Kaifuku
  • Patent number: 8380381
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a pitching state quantity detector for detecting quantity of a pitching-motion of the vehicle, a vehicle weight determiner, a pitching target quantity calculator for calculating a target quantity of a pitching motion at least from the determined vehicle weight, and a torque correction calculator for increasing/reducing a driving torque output, according to a particular differential between the detected pitching-motion state quantity and the calculated target quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ichinose, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8346421
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for initiating starting of an engine in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) for a first time since a vehicle drive start request. Based on a predetermined fluid temperature and a powertrain fluid temperature from at least one of the powertrain elements in the HEV, it is determined whether energy from the engine is demanded. When the energy from the engine is demanded, the engine is started to provide energy for at least one of heating of a cabin compartment in the HEV and lubrication of a portion of powertrain elements in the HEV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Bryan, Christopher A. Lear, Mike P. Lindlbauer, Linda K. Ringlein, William David Treharne
  • Publication number: 20120309588
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes: a motor to propel the electric vehicle; a secondary battery that exchanges power with the motor via a power line; a capacitor that is connected to the power line; a collision detection unit that detects a collision of the electric vehicle; a rotation speed detection unit that detects a rotation speed of the motor; and a control unit that, when a collision of the electric vehicle is detected and the detected rotation speed of the motor equals or exceeds a predetermined rotation speed, controls the motor such that the rotation speed of the motor falls below the predetermined rotation speed and then executes discharge control to discharge the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinjiro Ashida, Kenji Yamada, Makoto Nakamura, Tomoko Shimana, Takaya Soma
  • Patent number: 8323144
    Abstract: A vehicle hybrid drive supplies torque to an axle. The drive includes a first engine and a transmission which couples the first engine to the axle. The drive also includes a second engine, a flywheel driven by the second engine, an electric generator driven by the flywheel, a generator controller coupled between the generator and a motor controller, and an electric motor coupled to the motor controller. A gearbox is coupled between the electric motor and the axle. The vehicle drive may also include a further flywheel driven by the first engine, with the transmission being driven by the second flywheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Shi Bin, Andrew K. Rekow, Janet R. Willett
  • Patent number: 8265815
    Abstract: A method of controlling output torque in a hybrid or electric vehicle transmissions includes calculating a first long-term output torque constraint and a first short-term output torque constraint. A first effective output torque constraint is determined from at least one of the first long-term and short-term output torque constraints. The first effective output torque constraint is bounded by both of the first long-term and short-term output torque constraints. The method may further include calculating a rate limit, such that determining the first effective output torque constraint includes restricting the magnitude of changes in the first long-term output torque constraint to the calculated rate limit. A spread between the first short-term output torque constraint and the first effective output torque constraint may be measured, and the rate limit calculated as a function of that spread. The rate limit may also be calculated with an inversely-proportional relationship to the spread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sean W McGrogan, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8256548
    Abstract: A method controls or regulates the charge state of an electrical energy accumulator of a hybrid vehicle, where, in some operating states, the energy accumulator is charged from a low to a higher charge state level by way of an electric machine driven by an internal-combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle and operating as a generator. The level of the charge state to which the energy accumulator is charged by the internal-combustion engine is selected as a function of a parameter representing the load of the electrical system or correlating thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Holger Hummel
  • Patent number: 8214096
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for controlling an accelerator for electric vehicles. The method comprises steps of: acquiring an actual accelerator pedal depth value and a current vehicle speed; determining a maximum output torque of motor under the current vehicle speed based on the current vehicle speed; and controlling the output torque of motor in such a way that the growth rate of the output torque higher than that of the actual accelerator pedal depth value at the beginning and then closed to that of the actual accelerator pedal depth value during the actual accelerator pedal depth value growing. The invention makes the output torque grown rapidly within the shallow range of accelerator pedal depth, while makes the output torque grown closed to that of the accelerator pedal depth within the relative deep range of accelerator pedal depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: BYD Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yingwu Xu, Xuguang Zhou, Xiaohua Tang, Jian Gong, Nan Liu, Guangming Yang, Ming Yu
  • Patent number: 8209098
    Abstract: A method to monitor integrity of a signal output from an operator-manipulable transmission range selector for a powertrain system includes equipping the transmission range selector with a range encoder and a direction encoder, determining a range state and a direction state based upon signals from the range encoder and the direction encoder, determining a discrete position of the transmission range selector based upon the range state and the direction state, and performing back rationality to verify the discrete position of the transmission range selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanne Buur, Richard E. Robinette, Peter E. Wu
  • Publication number: 20120150371
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission that receives torque from an engine and/or a motor. A clutch assembly that may be actuated by a driver is operably disposed between the transmission and the motor, the engine, or both. A controller is configured to control the torque provided by the motor and the engine to prevent engine stall, excessive engine flare, or both, during manual actuation of the clutch assembly by the driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shawn H. Swales, Hong Yang, Joel M. Maguire, Donald L. Dusenberry, Craig S. Ross
  • Patent number: 8195351
    Abstract: Changes in the number of passengers or in load cause significant changes in vehicle weight, thus making it impossible to appropriately suppress a pitching motion of a vehicle chassis, hence rendering a necessary driving torque difficult to ensure, resulting in a decrease in drivability being insuppressible. An electric vehicle with a drive including a motor and a controller comprises a pitching quantity detector that detects a magnitude of a pitching motion of the vehicle, a vehicle weight determination unit that determines weight of the vehicle, a torque correction calculator that uses a traveling state of the vehicle and the determined vehicle weight to change a driving torque output from the drive, and a control gain varying element that adjusts a control gain of the torque correction calculator according to a magnitude of the vehicle weight value output from the vehicle weight determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Ichinose, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8152667
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular drive system is disclosed as including reverse drive for suppression means operative to preclude output member, such as an output shaft and drive wheels, of an automatic transmission portion from inputting a reverse drive force to a differential portion. This prevents a power transmitting member from rotating in a direction opposite to a rotational direction of the same with a running position being set. This suppresses a first electric-motor rotation speed, determined with an engine rotation speed and a power transmitting member rotation speed based on the relationship on mutually relative rotation speeds in the differential portion, from increasing to a high level. This results in improved durability of a first electric-motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 8095255
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle provided with a power dividing mechanism comprising a clutch mechanism, an ECU performs speed-change control. In the control, the ECU performs an engage preparing process if it is necessary to engage clutch plates of the clutch mechanism with each other. In the process, the ECU switches a reference value which is referred in a feedback control for performing a rotation synchronization and a position synchronization for the clutch plates from a calculated value which is calculated from a pulse signal of first rotational sensor mounted the clutch plate to an estimated value which is estimated from a pulse signal of each of second and third rotational sensors for detecting rotational speed of each motor generators if clutch rotational speed as rotational speed corresponding to the clutch plate as an engagement element decreases to less than a criterion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiromichi Kimura, Hirotatsu Kitabatake, Takaji Umeno
  • Patent number: 8055425
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the amount of torque generated by at least one torque generating device in a vehicle is provided. A vehicle layer transmits arbitrated torque request signals indicative of first and second amounts of torque and at least one torque reservation request signal indicative of whether the vehicle is in an anticipated vehicle dynamic state or in a non-anticipated vehicle dynamic state. A coordination layer controls the torque generating device to generate the first amount of torque in response to the arbitrated torque request signal and the torque reservation request signal indicating that the vehicle is in the non-anticipated vehicle dynamic state. The coordination layer controls torque generating device to generate the second amount of torque in response to the arbitrated torque request signal and the torque reservation request signal indicating that the vehicle is in the anticipated vehicle dynamic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Aswani, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Deepa Ramaswamy, Anthony David Tsakiris, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 8033955
    Abstract: A method for regulating the speed at which an electric vehicle descends a hill includes determining a position of a shift lever and determining if the vehicle accelerator and/or the vehicle brake are depressed. If the vehicle is in either drive or reverse and neither the vehicle accelerator nor the vehicle brake is depressed, a change in the motor speed is determined based on the current motor speed and a reference motor speed. The current braking assist is then adjusted based on the change in the motor speed such that the motor speed, and therefore the speed of the electric vehicle, remains constant as the vehicle descends the hill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jared Michael Farnsworth
  • Patent number: 8002665
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain system includes controlling a first power actuator based upon a set of power constraints for the first power actuator. The method further includes controlling a second power actuator based upon the set of power constraints for the second power actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, William R. Cawthorne
  • Patent number: 7988593
    Abstract: The control system may have an electric motor and a traction device connected to an output of the motor. The control system may also have a decelerator and a controller. The controller may be in communication with the motor and the decelerator. The controller may be configured to determine a creep torque and apply the creep torque to the traction device when the decelerator is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David Staub, William James Tate, Cameron T. Lane, Frederick Gaylord Beach, Douglas J. Lockhart
  • Publication number: 20110165991
    Abstract: An electric vehicle and a range extender engine are shown including the controls to operate the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: Swissauto Powersports LLC
    Inventors: Urs Wenger, Beat Rene Kohler, Hans-Rudolph Jenni
  • Publication number: 20110160019
    Abstract: An ECU controls SOCs of a master battery and a sub battery so that the SOCs vary within the range of a predetermined upper limit value and lower limit value. A control is made so that the SOC of the sub battery is lower than the SOC of the master battery when the condition that execution of charging with electric power supplied from the source external to a plug-in hybrid vehicle is predicted is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hironori Harada
  • Patent number: 7959534
    Abstract: When a sub transmission mechanism is switched to the LO-side gear stage, a hybrid control unit executes a control operation such that vehicle speed does not exceed limit vehicle speed determined in advance in accordance with the transmission gear ratio of LO-side gear stage. Specifically, the hybrid control unit reduces at least one of the driving torque generated by the engine and the second motor generator, so that rotation speed of the second motor generator does not exceed tolerable rotation speed. Further, the hybrid control unit reduces at least one of the driving torque generated by the engine and the second motor generator when any of temperatures respectively detected by temperature sensors exceed corresponding upper limit temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Kasuga, Yutaka Taga, Daiki Suyama, Yoshiyuki Onozawa