Speed, Acceleration, Deceleration Patents (Class 701/110)
  • Publication number: 20140136083
    Abstract: The functionality of a “Launch Control” is implemented in a hybrid vehicle, i.e. the hybrid vehicle can be accelerated to a maximum degree by starting the internal combustion engine immediately from the stationary state (S20), and acceleration takes place with the aid of the electric motor with full torque (S22) before a changeover to accelerating the internal combustion engine takes place (S24). The “Launch Control” differs from a further mode in which firstly acceleration takes place from the stationary state using a partial torque of the electric motor (S14), with the result that the internal combustion engine can be tow-started by means of the electric motor (S16) before a changeover to acceleration using the internal combustion engine (S18) occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Meitinger, Stefan Ullmann
  • Publication number: 20140136084
    Abstract: A brake override system (BOS) (1) prioritizes braking when both an accelerator and a brake are operated simultaneously by reducing the required accelerator operation amount value that is used to control drive force so that it is lower than the actual accelerator operation amount. The BOS (1) thus achieves a balance between hill-start performance after operation by the BOS (1) is cancelled and stopping performance during operation of the BOS (1) by increasing the required accelerator operation amount value at the time at which the return of the required accelerator operation amount value to the actual accelerator operation amount is initiated when the simultaneous operation of the accelerator and the brake ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masashi Takagi, Shinya Kodama, Akihiro Kida, Motonari Obayashi, Hiroshi Shimada, Akito Oonishi, Takamasa Kitamura, Michihito Shimada
  • Patent number: 8725390
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing fuel injection in an internal combustion engine adjust start of fuel injection by calculating whether one of advancing or retarding start of fuel injection will provide a shortest path from a source angle to a destination angle. Based on the source angle and a given injection pulse width and angle increment, it is determined whether fuel injection will overlap with a specified engine event if start of fuel injection is moved in a direction of the shortest path. A control circuit increments start fuel injection in the direction of the shortest path if it is determined that fuel injection will not overlap with the specified engine event, or increments start fuel injection in a direction opposite that of the shortest path if it is determined that fuel injection will overlap with the specified engine event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew W. Snyder, Thomas S. Kirchhoff, David G. Camp
  • Publication number: 20140129068
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle outputs creep torque by output torque of a second MG. A creep control unit controls creep torque when an accelerator pedal is not operated. The creep control unit controls a creep cut amount defined by a decrement of creep torque when the brake pedal is operated relative to creep torque when the brake pedal is not operated such that the creep cut amount when reverse running is selected is smaller than the creep cut amount when forward running is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Higa, Eiji Fukushiro, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8718914
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method of providing a driver with eco-driving information. More specifically, the disclosed method and device induces a driver to operate a vehicle in an eco-friendly manner by computing for and displaying to the driver a fuel efficiency oriented vehicle speed that maximizes the vehicle's driving distance based on the vehicle's current weight and electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Woong Kim, Jae Hyun Park, Joon Hyung Park, Sang Hun Kim
  • Patent number: 8707924
    Abstract: An engine is driven by a starter including a pinion gear that can be engaged with a ring gear coupled to a crankshaft; an actuator causing, in a driven state, the pinion gear to be moved to a position where the pinion gear is engaged with the ring gear; and a motor causing the pinion gear to be rotated. The engine is provided with a rotation angle sensor for detecting rotation of the crankshaft. ECU detects the crank angle of the crankshaft based on a signal from the rotation angle sensor after the actuator is driven and the motor is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouki Moriya
  • Publication number: 20140114553
    Abstract: A method for running of a vehicle having a combustion engine which can selectively be connected to a driveshaft (104, 105) for propulsion of the vehicle, the vehicle can be run in a first mode (M1) with the engine connected to the driveshaft (104, 105) and in which fuel supply to the engine is substantially shut off, in a second mode (M2) with the engine disconnected from the driveshaft (104, 105) and a third mode like the first mode, but with the fuel supply not cut off. On a downgrade, determining whether running in the first mode (M1) will result in a speed increase, and then running in the second mode (M2) if running it in the first mode (M1) would cause a speed increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Mustafa Abdul-Rasool, Oskar Johansson, Mikael Ögren
  • Patent number: 8700292
    Abstract: A system and method for limiting torque produced by each of piston engine driven race cars in which the engine ignition timing is set by reference to an ignition timing table and a torque table. The engine torque is sensed by a torque sensor installed in the drive train and engine speed by an RPM sensor. An ECU receives the torque and engine speed signals and sets the ignition timing in accordance with the ignition tables to produce torque levels below the maximum capacity of the engine. If the sensed torque exceeds the torque level in the torque table, the ignition table value is adjusted by the ECU to maintain the preset torque limits. If the sensed torque level declines below the preset limit, the ECU adjusts the ignition table values to increase the torque level correspondingly but only when the throttle is sensed to be fully advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: David Cook
  • Patent number: 8694194
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a vehicular navigation control are disclosed herein. Some embodiments include a navigation system and a vehicle with a vehicle control module (VCM), a navigation control module (NCM), and a navigation control interface, where the VCM receives a manual command from an operator to implement a manual control function. In some embodiments the NCM receives an automatic command from the navigation system to implement an automatic control function via the VCM and the navigation control interface directly connects the VCM and the NCM to facilitate communication between the VCM and NCM for implementing automatic mode and for reporting implementation of a manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Lucas B. Waltz, Bing Zheng, Thomas L. Mallak, Steve Mangette
  • Publication number: 20140081559
    Abstract: A driver request module determines a driver torque request based on an accelerator pedal position, a first difference between a target engine speed and a transmission input speed, and a second difference between the transmission input speed and a measured engine speed. A request generating module generates first and second torque requests based on the driver torque request. An engine speed control module generates third and fourth torque requests based on a target engine speed and the first and second differences. Based on a mode signal: a first selection module sets a fifth torque request to one of the first and third torque requests; and a second selection module sets a sixth torque request to one of the second and fourth torque requests. An adjusting module selectively adjusts an engine operating parameter based on at least one of the fifth and sixth torque requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Krishnendu Kar
  • Patent number: 8676466
    Abstract: A method for controlling speed of a vehicle based upon control messages received through a communications device within the vehicle includes monitoring communication of control messages to a propulsion controller wherein control messages includes a speed profile including a current speed command representing instantaneous desired speed of the vehicle and future speed commands representing a predetermined controlled vehicle stop through a speed profile period, detecting anomalous communications of the control messages, and controlling the speed of the vehicle during anomalous communications using the future speed commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Upali Priyantha Mudalige
  • Patent number: 8671909
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an engine via an outlet control device of an intake manifold, such as via variable valve lift operation. The engine may further include an inlet control device, such as an electronic throttle, as well as coordination between the inlet and outlet control devices for controlling airflow in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Russell, Allan J. Kotwicki, Brian D. Rutkowski
  • Patent number: 8676474
    Abstract: A control system for a machine may include a processor configured to communicate with a power source. The processor may also be configured to communicate with a transmission assembly. The processor may be configured to determine whether the power source is in a potential stall condition based at least in part on an actual speed of the power source and a requested speed of the power source. If the power source is in the potential stall condition, the processor may be configured to request that fuel be supplied to the power source although the fuel is not currently required by the power source, in anticipation of an increase in load on the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Grant S. Peterson, Randall T. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8676422
    Abstract: Disclosed is a creep control system and method for a hybrid vehicle, which controls the driving of a motor according to the distance to a preceding vehicle in order to provide creep driving when the hybrid vehicle has come to a complete stop. In particular, driving information is detected and a determination is made as to whether the hybrid vehicle is in an idle stop and completely stationary state. Then when the hybrid vehicle is in the idle stop and completely stationary state, a determination is made as to whether a distance from a preceding vehicle is more than a predetermined distance. When the distance to the preceding vehicle is more than the predetermined distance, a motor is driven to perform creep driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Taewoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20140074383
    Abstract: An on-vehicle carbon monoxide detector is provided where the detector has an on-board diagnostic, 16-pin connector which interfaces the carbon monoxide detector with a vehicle's computer system. This interface allows the detector to be installed on any vehicle with a 16-pin connector and provide functionality when the carbon monoxide content of air exceeds a predetermined level. With an interface with a vehicle's computer system, the present disclosure may warn an occupant with many different signals, or combination of signals. Examples include visual signals and audible signals. Further, the present disclosure provides a system for altering the performance of the vehicle if an occupant is unresponsive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Maxwell Everett Frey
  • Publication number: 20140058649
    Abstract: A wheel loader includes a vehicle body frame, an engine, a working unit including a boom and a bucket, a cab accommodating therein an operator seat, a boom operating member an operating member that switches forward/rearward travelling, a first sensor configured and arranged to detect that the operating member is located in a neutral position, and a second sensor configured and arranged to detect that the boom has been operated. An engine control unit is configured to limit a maximum rotation speed of the engine to a predetermined rotation speed when the operating member for switching of forward/rearward travelling is located in the neutral position and the boom operating member has been operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 8660774
    Abstract: An engine governor calculates the amount of fuel supplied to an engine based on the difference in speed between the target engine speed (Nset) and actual engine speed (Nact). The amount of fuel supplied to the engine is adjusted based on the calculation results. When the difference in speed between the target engine speed (Nset) and low idle engine speed (Nlow) is equal to or less than a first predetermined speed, the difference in speed between the actual engine speed (Nact) and target engine speed (Nset) is equal to or greater than a second predetermined speed, and the calculation results are equal to or less than the minimum value of the actual engine speed (Nact), the P gain is set at a value equal to or greater than the normal value, and in cases where the I component is a negative value, the I component is set to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taichi Togashi, Hideo Shiomi
  • Patent number: 8660738
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for evaluating performances of a piece of equipment and equipment operator. One disclosed method includes sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the equipment. The method then includes resolving a plurality of segments the equipment is sequentially performing from the sensed operating parameters to provide a sequence of resolved segments. The method then includes resolving what application the equipment is performing based upon the sequence of resolved segments to provide at least one resolved application. The method then includes applying at least one metric to the resolved application to provide at least one applied application metric. Then, the method includes evaluating the performance of the equipment and operator using the applied application metric. Various systems for installation on existing work equipments or new work equipments such as loaders and excavators are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Catepillar Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Faivre, Bradley K. Bomer, Chandrasekar Ramkumar, John J. Krone
  • Patent number: 8659409
    Abstract: A visual feedback system for a vehicle including an engine, includes an operating control for varying the engine's speed. Connected to the engine, an engine acceleration reporter reports an amount of acceleration of the engine. A creation control being linked to both the engine acceleration reporter and the operating control enables the creation of images on a visual display according to a variation in the engine speed. Accordingly, the creation control creates a pendulum image within a sector of a circle, with the pendulum image swinging in response to the amount of acceleration being reported by the engine acceleration reporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Allen Greenberg, Dean Mengel, Les R. Bodnar, Sonya Nematollahi, Finn Tseng
  • Patent number: 8655573
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided that can successfully achieve a desired acceleration by avoiding an absence of torque of the internal combustion engine due to an influence of EGR gas when the torque increases toward a required torque. A required throttle valve opening degree TAreq is set based on a required torque TQreq in accordance with a required throttle valve opening degree map that defines a relation between the required torque TQreq and the required throttle valve opening degree TAreq. In addition, a required EGR valve opening degree EGRreq is set based on a required load factor KLreq in accordance with a required EGR valve opening degree map that defines a relation between the required load factor KLreq and the required EGR valve opening degree EGRreq.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hokuto
  • Patent number: 8649959
    Abstract: To balance between air-fuel ratio controllability and torque response performance in a control device for an internal combustion engine performing a throttle delay control. An air quantity requirement is calculated based on torque required of an internal combustion engine. A throttle opening for achieving the air quantity requirement is calculated by using an inverse model of an intake system model that models response of a cylinder intake air quantity relative to an operation of a throttle. A throttle opening delayed by a predetermined delay time Td is outputted as an operation amount to the throttle. When, however, there is no allowance for introducing the delay time Td between the response time of the cylinder intake air quantity to a throttle operation to be achieved at a current engine speed and a torque response time requirement, the delay processing of the throttle opening is restricted by, for example, making the delay time Td zero or shortening the delay time Td.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Soejima
  • Patent number: 8645047
    Abstract: A method for controlling operations of a power system having at least one internal combustion power unit includes: (a) identifying a plurality of discrete potential dynamic events; (b) for each potential dynamic event, computing an optimization profile which describes power settings for the power system to follow in order to optimize at least one operating parameter of the at least one power unit; (c) selecting one of the optimization profiles based on the potential dynamic event with the highest current probability; and (d) operating the system in accordance with the selected optimization profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, Glenn Robert Shaffer, Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Gerald Douglas Rose, Scott Sexauer
  • Patent number: 8639431
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying alcohol content of a fuel in an engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting fuel injection to the engine based on fuel alcohol content identified from crankshaft acceleration. For example, the crankshaft acceleration may be generated by modulating an air/fuel ratio in a selected cylinder across a range of air/fuel ratios while keeping the engine at stoichiometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Roy Jentz, John Eric Rollinger, Brandon M. Dawson, Michael Igor Kluzner
  • Patent number: 8635004
    Abstract: A control system includes an axle torque arbitration module, a power security module, a propulsion torque arbitration module, and an actuation module. The axle torque arbitration module determines an axle torque request based on a driver input and a vehicle speed. The power security module determines a secured torque request based on the axle torque request, the vehicle speed, and an engine speed. The propulsion torque arbitration module determines a propulsion torque request based on the axle torque request and the secured torque request. The actuation module controls at least one of air, spark, and fuel provided to a cylinder of an engine based on the propulsion torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher E. Whitney, Michael Livshiz
  • Patent number: 8626424
    Abstract: An engine control system of the present disclosure comprises a target speed module and a coupling module. The target speed module determines a target speed of a vehicle based on a speed of the vehicle and at least one of an accelerator input and a speed control input. The coupling module controls coupling of an engine system and a drive system of the vehicle based on the speed and the target speed. The engine system transfers torque to the drive system when coupled and does not transfer torque to the drive system when decoupled. In other features, the engine control system further comprises a torque control module that controls torque output by the engine system based on the coupling of the engine system and the drive system, the speed, and the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jayson S. Schwalm, Steven Thomas Ford, John J. Koenig
  • Patent number: 8620566
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal depression force control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is arranged to increase the depression force of the accelerator pedal than a base depression force when the accelerator opening degree becomes larger than an accelerator opening degree threshold value, and arranged to set a the first accelerator opening degree based on an accelerator opening degree which switches from a first running mode in which the vehicle runs by driving only the electric motor, to a second running mode in which the internal combustion engine is driven, to set a second accelerator opening degree based on the accelerator opening degree by which the vehicle can run at a constant speed at each vehicle speed, and to set the accelerator opening degree threshold value as a larger one of the first accelerator opening degree and the second accelerator opening degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munetoshi Ueno, Masahide Hashida, Daisuke Yoshinoya
  • Patent number: 8620554
    Abstract: An accelerator reaction force control apparatus has an accelerator position detecting device that detects an accelerator position and a reaction force varying device that varies a reaction force of an accelerator. The reaction force varying device increases the accelerator's reaction force beyond a base reaction force in response to the accelerator position being equal to or larger than a reaction force increase threshold, and decreases the accelerator's reaction force toward the base reaction force in response to the accelerator position becoming equal to or smaller than a reaction force increase cancellation threshold after the reaction force has been increased beyond the base reaction force. The reaction force varying device varies a reaction force decrease rate at which the accelerator's reaction force is decreased based on an accelerator position change condition existing at a time when the accelerator position becomes equal to or smaller than the reaction force increase cancellation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Sakaguchi, Masao Shiomi, Masahiro Omori
  • Patent number: 8620499
    Abstract: After completion of warm-up of an engine, upon satisfaction of an exhaust gas recirculation condition by setting the drive mode of a hybrid vehicle to a normal mode according to the driver's accelerator operation, when a power difference ?Pe representing a decrease rate of a power demand Pe* required for the engine is less than a preset reference value ?, the engine and motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled to ensure output of a power equivalent to the power demand Pe* from the engine with prohibition for exhaust gas recirculation via an EGR valve and to ensure output of a torque equivalent to a torque demand Tr* to a ring gear shaft or an axle (steps S300 to S330 and step S390).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Tomatsuri, Takeshi Harada
  • Patent number: 8620501
    Abstract: A starting system of an engine mounted in a vehicle capable of running using torque output from an electric motor includes a estimation portion that estimates engine speed and output torque of the engine when the engine is driven to realize the power requested by the driver, a comparing portion that compares a time for which the engine continues to be stopped with a first time and a second time that is longer than the first time, a first starting portion that starts the engine when estimated engine speed is greater than first speed and less than second speed, and the estimated output torque is greater than first value and less than second value, and a second starting portion that starts the engine when the time for which the engine continues to be stopped is longer than the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8615353
    Abstract: A method for driveline impact reverberation reduction including operating an engine coupled to a transmission; regulating operation of the engine with a controller to adjust fueling of the engine which includes providing a signal to the controller representative of a requested engine torque; determining a first fueling rate as a function of the signal and a set of preselected operating instructions; adjusting a set of engine operating parameters according to the first fueling rate; determining a second fueling rate as a function of the first fueling rate; and adjusting a set of engine operating conditions according to the second fueling rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Bellinger, Balaji Arumugam
  • Patent number: 8612116
    Abstract: A target TH opening degree change amount calculating unit 26 calculates a change amount of a target throttle opening degree ?THCMD. In accordance with whether or not the change amount of the target throttle opening degree ?THCMD is not less than a predetermined control start threshold, a collision prevention process determining unit 27 determines whether a throttle grip 21 has been operated to rapidly close. When the rapid closing operation of the throttle grip 21 is detected, a change-amount basic value calculating unit 28 calculates a change-amount basic value of the target throttle opening degree. A correction term calculating unit 29 inputs to a multiplying unit 30 a correction term for correcting the change-amount basic value. The multiplying unit 30 multiplies the change-amount basic value by the correction term, and outputs a change amount of the target throttle opening degree thus calculated. The correction term can be set, for example, to have a value not more than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Yukihiro Asada
  • Patent number: 8612122
    Abstract: A method controls an internal-combustion engine (1) supercharged by a turbocharger (12) and including a turbine (13) and compressor (14). The control method comprises steps of determining a current reduced-mass-flow rate (QAHR) of the compressor (14), determining a safety threshold (Mmax_turbo) of the reduced-mass-flow rate (QAHR) that delimits in a “reduced-mass-flow rate/compression ratio” plane an area substantially close to achievement of sonic conditions, and imposing that the reduced-mass-flow rate (QAHR) has to be lower than a safety threshold (Mmax_turbo) of the reduced-mass-flow rate (QAHR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Panciroli
  • Patent number: 8606488
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating the drive of a hybrid motor vehicle by an internal combustion engine torque and the torque of at least one electric motor which are superimposed in such a way that a common drive torque of the hybrid motor vehicle is produced. According to the invention, the torque of the internal combustion engine is influenced by the speed of rotation thereof or a signal derived therefrom and the torque of the electric motor is influenced by the speed of rotation or the signal derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jens-Werner Falkenstein
  • Patent number: 8600645
    Abstract: A control system for an engine having at least one manifold, a throttle, and a crank wheel, includes a pressure sensor to measure a pressure in the at least one manifold, a throttle position sensor to measure a position of the throttle of the engine, a revolution sensor to measure a rate of rotation of the crank wheel of the engine, a processor in communication with each of the pressure sensor, the throttle position sensor, and the revolution sensor to receive an input signal, analyze the input signal based upon an instruction set, and generate a control signal in response to analysis of the input signal, wherein the input signal is representative of at least one of the pressure, the throttle position, and the rate of rotation, and an engine system in communication with the processor and responsive to the control signal to control a function thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Raymond Culbertson, Eric Bender
  • Patent number: 8600609
    Abstract: A method for operating a longitudinal driver assist system of an automobile, in particular an ACC system, wherein environmental data of the automobile are evaluated with respect to travel in a longitudinal convoy with at least three automobiles which include the automobile and at least two additional automobiles, which are driving immediately behind one another and each have an active longitudinal driver assist system. A convoy value is formed, and at least one operating parameter of the driver assist system is adapted depending on the convoy value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Manfred Holzmann, Carmen Staudte
  • Patent number: 8594909
    Abstract: A method of stoichiometrically operating a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine. A control unit is provide with stored data representing, within a range of exhaust valve timing or event modifications, an amount of fresh air flow and exhaust gas residuals resulting from each modification. During operation of the engine, the control unit is used to determine a desired amount of exhaust gas residuals for a given engine load; to access the stored data to determine a modification that will provide the desired amount of exhaust gas residuals; and to generate a control signal that will result in the desired modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Chad P. Koci, Darius Mehta, Charles E. Roberts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8594905
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided. In the control system, a target intake air amount is calculated according to a target output torque of the engine, and an intake air amount of the engine is controlled according to the target intake air amount. An ignition timing of the engine is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Shiomi, Hiroshi Yatani, Takaaki Fukusako
  • Patent number: 8584649
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus includes an ISS control unit provided with an ISS determination unit for inputting at least an engine cooling water temperature, vehicle speed, and brake information, and target opening setting unit for setting a target opening in an idle stop/start control period. A throttle control unit is provided with a proportional gain correction coefficient operator for correcting a proportional gain to a value that is larger than a proportional gain outside the idle stop/start control period, a throttle opening feedback controller for performing throttle opening feedback control based on an opening deviation between a target opening and an actual opening, and a PWM driver outputting a voltage proportional to the operation amount, to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8584651
    Abstract: An ignition control module for an internal combustion engine is incorporated directly into an existing ignition module package design and thereby preserves stock appearance, and is cooperative with stock magnetos, distributors and coils. The module incorporates both ignition pulse generation and adjustable rev limiting. A pushbutton switch allows manual selection of a preferred RPM to rev limit to, and the selection may be carried out under the hood while the engine is running. A plurality of light emitting diodes display the selected rev limit RPM by flashing a corresponding LED, and when not being used to select rev limit RPM, display the engine RPM in bar graph format. A digital flywheel is provided to reduce adverse affect of mechanical jitter in distributor mechanical parts, to improve timing of individual sparks. Dwell and timing curves are programmed into a microprocessor, and may be changed through external input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventors: Laura J. Martinson, Troy P. Martinson, John S. Titus
  • Publication number: 20130304358
    Abstract: A vehicular control apparatus performs control of enabling idle operation of an internal combustion engine that generates a motive power applied to a driving wheel of a vehicle if a vehicle speed of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined vehicle speed that is set in advance, and disabling idle operation of the internal combustion engine if the vehicle speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than the predetermined vehicle speed, when the vehicle is in a state other than an acceleration running state. Accordingly, the vehicular control apparatus achieves an effect of making it possible to suppress the consumption of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masaki Matsunaga, Koji Ito, Michihiro Miyashita, Nobukazu Ueki, Yasuyuki Mikami
  • Publication number: 20130297190
    Abstract: An output characteristic control device for an internal combustion engine includes a road traffic environment detection unit configured to detect a road traffic environment in which an own vehicle is running, a recommended vehicle speed calculation unit configured to calculate a recommended vehicle speed of the own vehicle in the detected road traffic environment, a target output characteristic setting unit configured to set a target output characteristic of the internal combustion engine so that an output of the internal combustion engine corresponding to an accelerator operation amount is reduced as a vehicle speed difference between the recommended vehicle speed and an own-vehicle speed decreases, and an output characteristic changing unit configured to change the output characteristic of the internal combustion engine to the target output characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Daigo Kishi, Shuusaku Katakura, Yoshinori Yamamoto, Kenichiro Murakami
  • Publication number: 20130297189
    Abstract: A method for detecting and correcting vehicle reference speed, in particular when the speed undergoes a controlled reduction due to drag or regeneration torque, of an all-wheel drive vehicle. The longitudinal acceleration of the motor vehicle, and the wheel accelerations are determined by sensors. The method is to provide reliable determination of the vehicle reference speed and the initiation of corrective measures once a controlled reduction has been recognized. The steps include filtering the wheel accelerations, filtering the longitudinal accelerations, forming a corrected longitudinal acceleration by applying a safety offset and a correction offset to the filtered longitudinal acceleration, and temporal integration of the difference between the corrected longitudinal acceleration and the respective wheel acceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Continental Teve AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Arne Cornils, Manuel Kasten, Nikolaus Reim
  • Patent number: 8577584
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which a setpoint torque to be output by the internal combustion engine is restricted to a specifiable torque, in particular in response to an error in the control of the internal combustion engine. An engine speed of the internal combustion engine is determined as a function of at least one performance quantity of the internal combustion engine, and the specifiable torque is modified as a function of the determined engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Gwinner, Gholamabas Esteghlal
  • Publication number: 20130289853
    Abstract: A variety of skip fire engine controllers and control methods are described that utilize look-up tables, state machines, or other data structures to determine the sequence or ordering of skip-fire firings. In one aspect, a skip fire engine controller utilizes a look-up table to determine when firings are appropriate to deliver a desired engine output. In some embodiments, a firing timing controller tracks a value indicative of the portion of a firing that has been requested, but not yet directed and such information is utilized in the determination of the timing of the firings. The accumulator value is particularly useful when transitioning between different requested firing fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: TULA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Louis J. SERRANO
  • Patent number: 8566008
    Abstract: A control device for an internal-combustion engine designed to ensure that required responsiveness is obtained as actual torque responsiveness with respect to a torque demand even when the torque responsiveness with respect to the actuation of a particular actuator is affected by the operating conditions. A response compensating filter is provided at a preceding stage to an air inverse model, and the target torque which has been corrected by the response compensating filter is converted by the air inverse model to obtain a target opening degree of a throttle. A time constant of the response compensating filter is set on the basis of the operating conditions of the internal-combustion engine so that the responsiveness of actual torque with respect to the torque demand reaches a preset standard responsiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Ken Koibuchi, Hirotada Otake, Keisuke Kawai
  • Patent number: 8562482
    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: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Koichiro Muta
  • Patent number: 8560199
    Abstract: A control system in a vehicle including a front wheel which is a driven wheel and a rear wheel which is a drive wheel, the control system including: a control unit configured to control a driving power generated in a driving source according to a driving state of the vehicle; and a front wheel speed sensor configured to detect a rotational speed of the front wheel; the control unit including: a wheelie determiner configured to determine whether or not a predetermined wheelie starting condition is met, based on a value detected by the front wheel speed sensor; and a driving power controller configured to suppress the driving power if the wheelie determiner determines that the predetermined wheelie starting condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20130261939
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing vehicle ECU reprograming, so the ECU programming, which plays a large role in vehicle performance characteristics, is tailored to current operational requirements, which may be different than the operational characteristics selected by the manufacturer when initially programming the vehicle ECU (or ECUs) with specific instruction sets, such as fuel maps. In one embodiment, a controller monitors the current operational characteristics of the vehicle, determines the current ECU programming, and determines if a different programming set would better suited to the current operating conditions. In the event that the current programming set should be replaced, the controller implements the ECU reprogramming. In a related embodiment, users are enabled to specify the ECU programming to change, such as changing speed limiter settings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ZONAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: CHARLES MICHAEL MCQUADE, BRYAN HUNT, DAN MAYER
  • Patent number: 8543316
    Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control device comprising a fuel supply unit, engine operation state detector, air-fuel ratio information detector, and an electronic control unit is disclosed. The electronic control unit determines a fuel injection amount which realizes a target air-fuel ratio while using engine load information by the engine operation state detector on the basis of air-fuel ratio information by the air-fuel ratio information detector, and then outputs a driving signal to the fuel supply unit, to execute feedback control mainly at an excessively rich side air-fuel ratio, characterized in that the air-fuel ratio information detector is an exhaust gas temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Buso Takigawa, Umerujan Sawut, Tohti Gheyret
  • Publication number: 20130245923
    Abstract: While a vehicle speed is between a first certain vehicle speed and a second certain vehicle speed lower than the first certain vehicle speed, it is determined whether to perform vehicle control in accordance with conditions excluding a condition based on the estimated road surface slope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuda, Shouta Hamane, Motoyuki Hattori, Kouichi Mori