Comparing Current Sensor Output With Previously Stored Value Thereof Patents (Class 701/30.8)
  • Patent number: 11854383
    Abstract: A system to predict a startup condition of an auxiliary power unit (APU) of an aircraft includes a machine learning device configured to receive data including sensor data of the aircraft and weather forecast data of a destination airport. The machine learning device is also configured to process the data to generate a prediction regarding the startup condition and to generate a message based on the prediction. The message indicates that an alternate startup procedure of the APU is to be performed after the aircraft has landed at the destination airport to avoid an error condition associated with a primary startup procedure of the APU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Omid B. Nakhjavani, Shervin Beygi, Allen Lee
  • Patent number: 11119478
    Abstract: An example method involves detecting a sensor-testing trigger. Detecting the sensor-testing trigger may comprise determining that a vehicle is within a threshold distance to a target in an environment of the vehicle. The method also involves obtaining sensor data collected by a sensor of the vehicle after the detection of the sensor-testing trigger. The sensor data is indicative of a scan of a region of the environment that includes the target. The method also involves comparing the sensor data with previously-collected sensor data indicating detection of the target by one or more sensors during one or more previous scans of the environment. The method also involves generating performance metrics related to the sensor of the vehicle based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Stephanie McArthur, Mark Alexander Shand, Colin Braley
  • Patent number: 10363821
    Abstract: A method for controlling regenerative braking of a vehicle is provided, in which a driving area of a motor is decided when shifting gears during regenerative braking, and an amount of regenerative braking is determined based on the decided result. The method includes a first process of deciding whether motor torque is in a constant power mode, a second process of deciding whether the motor torque is in a constant torque mode, and a third process of deciding whether the mode of the motor torque is converted into the constant torque mode from the constant power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyoung Cheol Oh, Deok Keun Shin, Jee Wook Huh
  • Patent number: 9656652
    Abstract: A method for controlling regenerative braking of a vehicle is provided, in which a driving area of a motor is decided when shifting gears during regenerative braking, and an amount of regenerative braking is determined based on the decided result. The method includes a first process of deciding whether motor torque is in a constant power mode, a second process of deciding whether the motor torque is in a constant torque mode, and a third process of deciding whether the mode of the motor torque is converted into the constant torque mode from the constant power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoung Cheol Oh, Deok Keun Shin, Jee Wook Huh
  • Patent number: 9188602
    Abstract: An acceleration detection device is provided with a zero point correction unit for correcting a zero point position of a sensor signal value by using the correction amount (absolute value of a correction value) based on the acceleration when the vehicle transitions from a stopped state on a sloping road to a running state. The acceleration detection device is also provided with a correction amount restriction unit for restricting the correction amount, thereby suppressing calculation of an excessive correction amount due to road surface irregularities or movement of the occupant and deterioration in correction accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuzuru Tohta
  • Patent number: 9020776
    Abstract: An inclination angle compensation system for determining an inclination angle of a machine is disclosed. The inclination angle compensation system may have a non-gravitational acceleration estimator configured to estimate a non-gravitational acceleration of a machine based on an estimated inclination angle and an acceleration output from a forward acceleration sensor. The inclination angle compensation system may also have an inclination angle sensor corrector configured to receive an inclination angle output from an inclination angle sensor, determine an inclination angle sensor acceleration based on the inclination angle output, and calculate a corrected inclination angle of the machine based on the non-gravitational acceleration and the inclination angle sensor acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Russell Friend
  • Patent number: 9002569
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Kirk Pebley, William David Treharne, Kevin Thomas Hille, Daniel M King
  • Patent number: 9002616
    Abstract: In one aspect, a digital engine control system for an aircraft engine is provided. The control system includes a selection unit, the selection unit including a monitoring module configured to determine a measurement of the speed of rotation of the engine from the output signal from one or more protection sensors and to compare the or each speed measurement determined by the selection unit with speed measurements supplied by electronic control units to determine an operating state of each electronic control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Gilles Genevrier, Claude Bresson
  • Publication number: 20140365066
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes a control portion and a soak timer. The control portion acquires first time information of a clock device when a power switch is turned off and stores the first time information in a nonvolatile storage portion. The control portion acquires second time information of the clock device when the soak timer activates the control portion or when the control portion receives an activation request. The control portion calculates a first time difference between the second time information and the first time information stored in the nonvolatile storage portion and determines an abnormality of the soak timer based a difference between the first time difference and the soak timer value of the soak timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Yuuichi MURASE, Shinichiro ODA
  • Patent number: 8909413
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for using a feedback correction factor to determine whether a motor vehicle should be placed in a judging or non-judging mode regarding the on-board diagnostic system. If the feedback correction factor is within a predetermined range, the vehicle is placed in a judging mode. If the feedback correction factor is outside a predetermined range, the vehicle is placed in a non-judging mode. Methods and systems for using an engine oil temperature to determine whether a motor vehicle should be placed in a judging or non-judging mode regarding the on-board diagnostic system are disclosed. If an engine oil temperature, or predicted engine oil temperature, is below a predetermined temperature, the motor vehicle is placed in a non-judging mode. If an engine oil temperature, or predicted engine oil temperature, is above a predetermined temperature, the motor vehicle is placed in a judging mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Anthony P. Mortensen
  • Patent number: 8886394
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing data describing states of a plurality of targets using a processor in a system having at least one onboard sensor. The method includes obtaining data from at least one onboard sensor and performing a first data fusion process on the obtained onboard sensor data to produce onboard sensor fused data. Data is also obtained from at least one off-board sensor, and a second, different data fusion process is performed on the obtained off-board sensor data and the onboard sensor fused data to produce target state data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventor: Colin Anthony Noonan
  • Patent number: 8844346
    Abstract: A dynamic load estimation system is provided including: a vehicle load bearing tire; at least one tire sensor mounted to the tire, the sensor operable to measure a tire deformation of the one tire and generate a raw load-indicating signal conveying measured deformation data; road roughness estimation means for determining a road roughness estimation; filtering means for filtering the measured deformation data by the road roughness estimation; and load estimation means for estimating an estimated load on the one tire from filtered measured deformation data. A road profile estimate is fused with the static load estimate in order to obtain an instantaneous tire load estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Kanwar Bharat Singh, Anthony William Parsons, Marc Engel, Peter Jung-min Suh
  • Patent number: 8838325
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a plurality of control module structures. A first control module structure is configured for determining a current motive mode of the vehicle. A second control module structure is configured for determining information indicating that a driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in a motive-enabled mode. A third control module structure is configured for causing a secure idle mode to be implemented as a function of determining the information indicating that the driver of the vehicle has left the vehicle unattended while the vehicle is in the motive-enabled mode. Implementing the secure idle mode can include inhibiting the vehicle from being driveable until a driver access code is successfully received and authenticated by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Filip Tomik, Kirk Pebley, William David Treharne, Kevin Thomas Hille, Daniel M King
  • Patent number: 8825273
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring a pedestrian detecting device for a vehicle, wherein an absorber is provided on a bumper of the vehicle. The absorber can deform in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The deformation is transferred to a connecting element, and the connecting element actuates a sensor that generates a sensor signal. The functionality of the pedestrian detecting device can be monitored by saving the current sensor signal as a target value every time the vehicle is parked, and saving the current sensor signal as an actual value every time the vehicle is restarted. The actual value is compared to the target value, and a deviation of the target value from the actual value is detected and/or displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Koestler, Wilhelm Riedl, Gerhard Fichtinger
  • Patent number: 8818684
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for detecting failure in gas turbine hardware. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for detecting a failure in a gas turbine is provided. The method can include monitoring a parameter associated with the turbine, wherein the monitored parameter comprises at least one turbine bucket temperature, detecting an event associated with operation of the turbine, wherein the event is based at least in part on the monitored parameter, and initiating shutdown of the turbine upon detection of the event wherein the monitored parameter is above a predetermined value for at least a predetermined time duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin V. John, Nirm Velumylum Nirmalan, John Charles Intile, Scott William Szepek, Daniel Joseph Peczka, Bradley Steven Carey
  • Patent number: 8818672
    Abstract: A controller sets a target hydraulic pressure of a master cylinder based on the operation amount of a brake pedal, and controls the action of an electric motor so that a master cylinder hydraulic pressure attains the target hydraulic pressure. A brake characteristic representing a relationship between a motor rotation position detected by a resolver and the master cylinder hydraulic pressure as detected by the hydraulic pressure sensor is stored and updated. When the hydraulic pressure sensor is abnormal, a target motor rotation position corresponding to the target hydraulic pressure is set using the updated brake characteristic, and the action of the electric motor is controlled. The electric motor is controlled based on the updated brake characteristic, and hence fluctuations in the vehicle deceleration with respect to the brake operation can be suppressed and a sense of discomfort for the driver can be alleviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Takeda, Tohma Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8774988
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an aircraft part environmental stress analysis system includes a part failure repository, a part history repository, and a failure analysis engine. The part failure repository is configured to store a plurality of failure records, each failure record identifying a failed aircraft part. The part history repository is configured to store a plurality of part records, each part record storing, for a failed aircraft part, at least one measurement of an aspect of a natural environment of which the failed aircraft part was subject to. The failure analysis engine is operable to compare the plurality of failure records to the plurality of part records and identify at least one potential environmental cause of failure for a plurality of failed aircraft parts based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Plowman, Charles Eric Covington, Brian E. Tucker
  • Patent number: 8775017
    Abstract: A method for wear control of vehicle tires, includes: detecting deformation of an inner surface of a first tire by means of a first sensor; determining a first level of wear of the first tire; detecting a deformation of an inner surface of a second tire by means of a second sensor; determining a second level of wear of the second tire; comparing the first and second levels of wear with each other; and generating a notification signal representative of the comparison. Also disclosed is a system for wear control of vehicle tires, a method of determining the wear of a tire and a system for determining the wear of a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Brusarosco, Federico Mancosu
  • Publication number: 20140188327
    Abstract: A method and a system determines failure of a urea quality sensor. The method may include: determining whether a urea temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature; determining, if the urea temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature, whether a vehicle speed is faster than a predetermined vehicle speed; determining, if the vehicle speed is faster than the predetermined vehicle speed, whether a difference between a current urea quality and a previous urea quality is higher than a predetermined urea quality; and storing a failure code if the difference between the current urea quality and the previous urea quality is higher than the predetermined urea quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae-Yoon JUNG
  • Patent number: 8731771
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure obtaining unit obtains tire inflation pressure. An inflation pressure storing unit stores a tire inflation pressure after start of travel of a vehicle as an after-travel inflation pressure. A pressure reduction determining unit determines reduction in the tire inflation pressure based on the tire inflation pressure obtained. A reference pressure setting unit sets larger one of the after-travel inflation pressure and a predetermined lowest reference pressure as a reference pressure of tire inflation pressure determination when reduction in the tire inflation pressure is determined, and sets the lowest reference pressure as a reference pressure of tire inflation pressure determination when reduction in the tire inflation pressure is not determined. An alarm unit generates an alarm when the tire inflation pressure becomes below an alarm pressure threshold which is determined from the reference pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Kusunoki, Hideki Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8706346
    Abstract: A method to control a powertrain having an electric motor includes monitoring a torque command to the motor, predicting a motor torque for the motor based upon the torque command, monitoring an actual motor torque of the motor, comparing the actual motor torque to the predicted torque, and indicating a motor fault when the actual motor torque and the predicted torque differ by more than a calibratable threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wei D. Wang, Brian A. Welchko, Kevin P. Houle, Darren Crewes
  • Patent number: 8706344
    Abstract: A system for identifying an object impacting a vehicle bumper during a collision. The system receives acceleration values from each of a plurality of sensors and calculates a center strength value based on the acceleration values. The center strength value is indicative of the amount of force that is applied to the center of the vehicle bumper. The system then determines a preliminary impact location on the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the acceleration values. A normalized intrusion value is calculated based on the center strength value, the impact location, and a bumper stiffness factor. The bumper stiffness factor is indicative of the stiffness of the bumper at the impact location. The system then identifies the object impacting the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the normalized intrusion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Seo-Wook Park
  • Patent number: 8694197
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing vehicle NOx sensor faults that includes sensing that an exhaust gas recirculating (EGR) valve is closed and that fuel flow to a vehicle engine is above a predetermined rate using an electronic control unit (ECU) located on a vehicle; recording the output received from an NOx sensor relative to an amount of fuel consumption over a period of time using the ECU; calculating the mean of the NOx sensor output relative to fuel consumption recorded over the period of time using the ECU; performing a least-squares estimation (LSE) using the ECU for more than one calculated mean based on an expected NOx sensor output; generating a NOx sensor gain for the NOx sensor using the ECU based on the LSE; and determining whether the NOx sensor gain is above or below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Yue-Yun Wang, Scott T Feldmann
  • Patent number: 8694233
    Abstract: This method is for managing fuel consumption of a hybrid vehicle on a given trip, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine, an electric energy storage arrangement and at least an electric machine adapted to work as a generator or as a motor. This method includes: a) determination, for the given trip, of a target value of a parameter representative of fuel economy resulting from the use of the electric machine, b) determination of an actual value of the parameter when the vehicle is running on the trip, c) comparison of said target value and the actual value, and d) information of a user of the result of the comparison, at least at the end of the trip. The vehicle is provided with a computation arrangement and display for allowing steps c) and d) to take place onboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventors: Philippe Le Brusq, Richard Valayer
  • Patent number: 8651256
    Abstract: A method of determining the wear condition of a shifting clutch (1) of a motor vehicle which is provided either for interrupting the force flow or equalizing the rotation speed between a drive output shaft (2) of an internal combustion engine (3) and a drivetrain (4). The wear condition of the clutch (1) is determined from the parameters of clutch release path (sausrück) the and release force (Fausrück), at a release bearing (5) of the clutch (1) and, for this purpose, a difference between the clutch release path (sausrück), at a first increase-point (11; 12) of the release force (Fausrück) and at a reference point (13) represented by a second increase of the release force (Fausrück), is measured when the clutch is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8620516
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for performing engine material temperature sensor diagnostics includes a coolant flow sensor configured to provide an indication of coolant flow within a coolant system; an engine state sensor configured to provide an indication of an operational state of an internal combustion engine; and a diagnostic module in communication with the coolant flow sensor and engine state sensor. The diagnostic module is configured to use the indication of coolant flow and the indication of an operational state of the internal combustion engine to estimate an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, Daniel A. Bialas, Morena Bruno, John W. Siekkinen
  • 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: 8554401
    Abstract: There are provided: control valves 22-24 that control flow of pressure oil from the hydraulic source 21 to the hydraulic actuators 15-17; electric lever devices 51-53 that output electrical operation signals v51-v53 in correspondence to lever operation; electromagnetic proportional valves 25-30 through which control pressures for controlling the control valves 22-24 are output; a pressure calculating unit 50 that calculates control pressures P25-P30 in correspondence to the operation signals V51-v53; a control unit 50 that controls the electromagnetic proportional valves 25-30 so that control pressures to be output from the electromagnetic proportional valves 25-30 become the control pressures P25-P30 that have been calculated; a high-pressure selection circuit 41-44 that selects a higher pressure between control pressures that have been output from the electromagnetic proportional valves 25-30; pressure detectors 45 and 46 that detect a control pressure selected by the high-pressure selection circuit 41-44;
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Satake, Katsuaki Kodaka, Yuuki Gotou, Yuuji Nagashima, Kazuhiro Ichimura
  • Patent number: 8538623
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a coolant temperature sensor of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein an actual value (TCOist=TCOSt) of a coolant temperature (TCO) is determined by a coolant temperature sensor when an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle is started (t=tSt), and the coolant temperature sensor is diagnosed as a functional coolant temperature sensor if the actual value (TCOist) of the coolant temperature (TCO) drops briefly (tmin0) when the internal combustion engine is started (t=tSt). A controller, e.g., an engine controller, for performing such method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Patent number: 8463486
    Abstract: A system for identifying an object impacting a vehicle bumper during a collision. The system receives acceleration values from each of a plurality of sensors and calculates a center strength value based on the acceleration values. The center strength value is indicative of the amount of force that is applied to the center of the vehicle bumper. The system then determines a preliminary impact location on the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the acceleration values. A normalized intrusion value is calculated based on the center strength value, the impact location, and a bumper stiffness factor. The bumper stiffness factor is indicative of the stiffness of the bumper at the impact location. The system then identifies the object impacting the vehicle bumper based at least in part on the normalized intrusion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Seo-Wook Park
  • Patent number: 8457835
    Abstract: A method for use in evaluating an operation of a combustion machine. A plurality of current average intensities is calculated by a computing device based on a series of intensity readings from a flame sensor. Each current average intensity corresponds to a current time interval. The computing device selects a plurality of past average intensities, each of which corresponds to a past time interval equal in duration to the current time interval corresponding to a current average intensity. The computing device calculates a plurality of decay rates indicating a change in intensity readings over a current time interval based on the current average intensities and the past average intensities. The computing device estimates a predicted flame sensor malfunction time based on the plurality of decay rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gaurav Nigam
  • Publication number: 20130103251
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring a pedestrian detecting device for a vehicle, wherein an absorber is provided on a bumper of the vehicle. The absorber can deform in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. The deformation is transferred to a connecting element, and the connecting element actuates a sensor that generates a sensor signal. The functionality of the pedestrian detecting device can be monitored by saving the current sensor signal as a target value every time the vehicle is parked, and saving the current sensor signal as an actual value every time the vehicle is restarted. The actual value is compared to the target value, and a deviation of the target value from the actual value is detected and/or displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
  • Patent number: 8423233
    Abstract: A vehicle identifying unit obtains an identification number of a vehicle from the vehicle. A first evaluation unit evaluates a degradation state of a power storage device based on the use history of the power storage device obtained from the vehicle, using data analyzed beforehand concerning the relation between the use history and the degradation state of the power storage device. A second evaluation unit evaluates a degradation state of the power storage device using data collected when the power storage device of the vehicle is charged from a power station or when power is fed from the vehicle to the power station. A degradation determining unit determines the degradation state of the power storage device based on the degradation states evaluated by the first and second evaluation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 8417413
    Abstract: In an oxygen sensor control apparatus, after start of fuel cut, the weighted average Ipd of corrected values obtained by multiplying the output value of a mounted oxygen sensor by a correction coefficient Kp is obtained as a representative value Ipe, representing the corrected values in the fuel cut period (S19). In the case where the number of times the representative value Ipe is continuously judged not to fall outside a second range (S21: NO) and to fall outside a first range (S23: YES) reaches 10 (a first number of times) (S26: YES), a new correction coefficient Kp is computed (S27). In the case where the number of times the representative value Ipe is continuously judged to fall outside the second range (S21: YES) reaches 4 (a second number of times smaller than the first number of times) (S29: YES), a new correction coefficient Kp is computed (S30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ishiguro, Katsunori Yazawa, Yuji Kimoto
  • Patent number: 8412403
    Abstract: In a method and a device for increasing the precision of the position determination of a motor-driven closure element of a vehicle, the data corresponding to a force-displacement reference curve and the data corresponding to a force-displacement actual value curve are used, a correlation function is calculated, the maximum thereof is found, and the counter status of a position counter is corrected by using the position offset associated with the determined maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Köllner, Roman Morawek, Peter Stephan Mulacz
  • Patent number: 8401760
    Abstract: A system and method of monitoring oil consumption in a gas turbine engine system are provided. When the gas turbine engine is not running the reservoir oil level, reservoir oil temperature, and reservoir attitude are sensed. The current gas turbine engine system oil quantity is determined based on at least the sensed reservoir oil level, the sensed reservoir oil temperature, and the sensed reservoir attitude. When a predetermined event has occurred, an average gas turbine engine system oil quantity is automatically calculated. The gas turbine engine system oil consumption rate is determined from a plurality of the average oil quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Payne, Harold Riley
  • Patent number: 8392052
    Abstract: The vehicle inspection apparatus is for inspecting behavior of at least one control object mounted on a vehicle whose behavior is controlled through behavior control performed by a control section included in a control system mounted on the vehicle in accordance with a behavior request inputted from an external device. The vehicle inspection apparatus includes a behavior judging section to judge whether or not the control object is abnormal on the basis of a detected behavior value of the control object and an estimated behavior value of the control object, whose dimensions have been matched with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Takeda
  • Patent number: 8386118
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting an anomaly in a hidden portion of a first layer of a multi-layer structure. A monitoring element is provided on at least one exposed end of a fastener that extends through the multi-layer structure, and another monitoring element on an exposed portion of the first layer. With at least one of the monitoring elements, an inspection signal is introduced into the multi-layer structure including the hidden portion of the first layer. The inspection signal is then sensed with at least another one of the monitoring elements following propagation of the inspection signal through at least a portion of the multi-layer structure including the hidden portion of the first layer. Finally, an anomaly may be detected in the hidden portion of the first layer based upon the inspection signal that has been sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Edward V. White, James P. Dunne
  • Patent number: 8380387
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting increased internal friction in a steering mechanism of a vehicle having a steering system including a steering linkage and a steering wheel. The method includes detecting a steering acceleration {umlaut over (?)}L value of an element of the steering system and comparing the steering acceleration {umlaut over (?)}L value with a stored maximum steering acceleration threshold value {umlaut over (?)}n, max. Based on the comparison, if the steering acceleration {umlaut over (?)}L value is greater than the maximum steering acceleration threshold value {umlaut over (?)}n, max, the method generates at least one first signal r1 for further processing. The method may further include counting a number of events n occurring owning to the first signal r1 and comparing n with a possible maximum number of events nmax. If n is greater than nmax, the method generates a second signal r2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Torsten Kluge
  • Patent number: 8380397
    Abstract: An off-road work vehicle has a steer-by-wire steering system having a device for determining the angular displacement of a steering wheel. The device has a cam configured to rotate about an axis at an identical angular speed as the steering wheel, a first sensor proximal to a facing outer surface of the cam and being configured to determine a distance between the first sensor and the facing outer surface of the cam, a second sensor proximal to a facing outer surface of the cam and being configured to determine a distance between the second sensor and the facing outer surface of the cam, and a processor operably connected with the first and second sensors and configured to determine an angular position of the steering wheel and a direction of rotation of the steering wheel based upon data generated by the first and/or the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Foster, Richard P. Strosser
  • Patent number: 8370056
    Abstract: A collision warning apparatus includes sensors, output devices, memory locations, a GPS device, and a processor. The processor may receive information from the sensors. The processor may also process the information to identify a detected object as a present potential collision object. The processor may compare present GPS coordinates of the vehicle with stored vehicle GPS coordinates saved in memory, to determine whether or not the present GPS coordinates correspond to stored vehicle GPS coordinates associated with a previously identified potential collision object. If the present GPS coordinates correspond to stored vehicle GPS coordinates associated with a previously identified potential collision object, the processor is operable to suppress a potential collision warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti
  • Publication number: 20120330496
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a coolant temperature sensor of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein an actual value (TCOist=TCOSt) of a coolant temperature (TCO) is determined by a coolant temperature sensor when an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle is started (t=tSt), and the coolant temperature sensor is diagnosed as a functional coolant temperature sensor if the actual value (TCOist) of the coolant temperature (TCO) drops briefly (tmin0) when the internal combustion engine is started (t=tSt). A controller, e.g., an engine controller, for performing such method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Gerhard Eser, Stefan Seyfferth
  • Patent number: 8340860
    Abstract: An acceleration detection device for detecting detected acceleration of a vehicle is provided with a stopped acceleration detector, an acceleration change detector, an acceleration estimating unit and a correcting unit. The stopped acceleration detector detects a detected stationary acceleration value when the vehicle is stopped on a sloping road based on an acceleration sensor signal from an acceleration sensor mounted on the vehicle. The acceleration change detector detects an acceleration change associated with the vehicle transitioning from a stationary state to a driving state on the sloping road based on the acceleration sensor signal. The acceleration estimating unit estimates an estimated stationary acceleration value based on the acceleration change that was detected by the acceleration change detector. The correcting unit corrects the detected stationary acceleration value based on a deviation between the estimated stationary acceleration value and the detected stationary acceleration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsufumi Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Suzuki, Takashi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8332094
    Abstract: A vehicular passenger detection system includes a load detection device configured to detect a load that acts upon a seat that is installed upon a vehicle, a passenger seating detection device configured to determine whether or not a passenger is seated upon the seat, in accordance with a result of a detection of the load detection device, and a fault recording device configured to record an information of a fault that has occurred upon either the load detection device or the passenger seating detection device. The fault recording device includes a fault determination device configured to determine whether or not the information of the fault is information of a fault for which a repair is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120303206
    Abstract: A method that includes in-vehicle systems and practices for determining whether a NOx sensor in an exhaust stream is performing properly. The method uses the gain and/or the offset of the NOx sensor to determine its accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATION LLC
    Inventors: Sai S.V. Rajagopalan, Yue-Yun Wang, Scott T. Feldmann
  • Publication number: 20120265396
    Abstract: A diagnostic method for an engine having a valve for controlling dilution of intake air. The method comprises, during engine fueling, indicating a degradation of the valve when the valve is commanded closed but sensor output corresponds to an oxygen level below that of air. The method further comprises, absent engine fueling, indicating degradation of the sensor when the valve is commanded closed but the sensor output corresponds to an oxygen level below that of air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Imad Hassan Makki, James Michael Kerns, Timothy Joseph Clark, Robert Roy Jentz, Michael James Uhrich
  • Publication number: 20120215397
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for performing engine material temperature sensor diagnostics includes a coolant flow sensor configured to provide an indication of coolant flow within a coolant system; an engine state sensor configured to provide an indication of an operational state of an internal combustion engine; and a diagnostic module in communication with the coolant flow sensor and engine state sensor. The diagnostic module is configured to use the indication of coolant flow and the indication of an operational state of the internal combustion engine to estimate an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Igor Anilovich, Daniel A. Bialas, Morena Bruno, John W. Siekkinen
  • Publication number: 20120203423
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an abnormality judgment device including: a change amount calculator configured to calculate a change amount between currently-obtained and previously-obtained steering angles; a storage section configured to store a threshold value; a reference setting section configured to set a reference steering angle; an incrementing section configured to continue gradually incrementing the threshold value after the change amount exceeds the threshold value, for a judgment time; a deviation comparator configured to compare an absolute deviation between the currently-obtained steering angle and the reference steering angle with the threshold value, and to count a counter when the absolute deviation exceeds the threshold value; and a judgment section configured to judge that the steering angle sensor is abnormal when the counter reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi TAKI
  • Patent number: 8175768
    Abstract: An aircraft system includes an aircraft subsystem generating monitor trips related to the health of the aircraft subsystem; and an area health manager coupled to the aircraft subsystem. The area health manager includes a data receiver for receiving the monitor trips from the aircraft subsystem; a fault detector for processing inputs based on the monitor trips to identify faults; and an execution sequence queue coupled to the fault detector for storing a plurality of execution entities. Each of the plurality of execution entities is associated with a specific logic operation in the fault detector that is executed when the associated execution entity is in a first predetermined state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Bishop, Timothy J. Felke, Pavel P H Hynek