And Other Vehicle Control Patents (Class 701/53)
  • Patent number: 8954232
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a control portion configured to determine a single parameter based on a running condition of a vehicle, and determine control amounts for a plurality of actuators provided in the vehicle based on the parameter. A relation of the control amount for each of the plurality of actuators to the parameter is predetermined. The control portion is configured to, when the parameter is determined, determine the control amounts for the respective actuators based on the parameter, and control the actuators based on the determined control amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Youji Kanehara, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Tomohide Kawasaki, Ken Koibuchi, Kaiji Itabashi, Shin Noumura
  • Publication number: 20150039191
    Abstract: A system for decelerating a hybrid vehicle, the system includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT), a brake pedal, an accelerator pedal, a sensor for detecting a vehicle deceleration, a memory for storing a target deceleration corresponding to a coasting deceleration of the vehicle, and a processor. When the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal are released, the vehicle coasts. If the vehicle deceleration does not match the target deceleration, the processor adjusts the torque output by the CVT so that the vehicle deceleration substantially matches the target deceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig A. Cauthen
  • Patent number: 8948945
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is equipped with a required driving force acquiring element 22 which obtains a required driving force necessary to be output, and an electric motor driving force acquiring element 23 which acquires a maximum electric motor driving force Tm capable of being output by the force output from an electric motor MG according to each speed stage, taking into consideration a remaining capacity of an electric storage device BATT. When the required driving force Tq is equal to or smaller than the maximum electric motor driving force Tm, a highest speed stage in which the electric motor MG is capable of outputting the required driving force Tq is determined, an automatic transmission 1 is controlled so that the determined speed stage is set, and the vehicle is made to travel only by the force of the electric motor MG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Junya Tsuneishi, Atsushi Izumiura, Masahiro Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20150032341
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of oncoming clutches that are hydraulically-actuated. A controller is operatively connected to the plurality of oncoming clutches. An algorithm stored on and executable by the controller causes the controller to determine if at least one predefined coast condition is met and identify the plurality of oncoming clutches configured to be engageable during a downshift event from an initial gear ratio to respective other gear ratios. The initial gear ratio is greater than each of the respective other gear ratios. The algorithm causes the controller to generate a first pressure command to at least partially pressurize a first one of the oncoming clutches to a first staging pressure (PS1) if the at least one predefined coast condition is met prior to the downshift event. The first staging pressure (PS1) is defined as a first return spring pressure (PR1) minus a first variable correction factor (CF1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kristopher J. Kokko, Dara Monajemi, David C. Webert, Amanda P. Igel
  • Publication number: 20150032342
    Abstract: A vehicle includes torque sources, a transmission, and a controller programmed to execute a method. In executing the associated method, the controller determines whether continuous output torque is required through a torque exchange. When continuous output torque is required, the controller synchronizes and fills the oncoming clutch, estimates capacity of the oncoming clutch, and expands a short-term torque capacity of the oncoming clutch during the torque exchange, doing so in response to a control objective having a threshold priority. Onset of the torque exchange delays until the short-term torque capacity is sufficient for receiving all torque load from the offgoing clutch without affecting output torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pinaki Gupta, Lawrence A. Kaminsky, Sean W. McGrogan
  • Patent number: 8938343
    Abstract: A method of dissipating power on a propelled machine includes setting a target ground speed for the machine, and, if the throttle position is less than a first predetermined minimum and if the machine is on a negative grade in the direction of travel no greater than a second predetermined minimum, and the calculated machine resistance power is less than the calculated grade power, the method include engaging at least a portion of the energy-dissipating electrically or electrohydraulically controlled accessories to retard the machine to maintain the machine within a set range of a target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Jensen
  • Patent number: 8935439
    Abstract: An oil pressure control system of an automatic transmission for a vehicle includes a lock-up clutch, a TC regulator valve, an LC control valve, an LC shift valve, an oil cooler, a control area determination device, a torque transmission capacity calculator, a high load state determination device, and an oil pressure controller. The oil pressure controller is configured to control a TC regulator pressure outputted by a TC regulator valve, so that a torque transmission capacity of a lock-up clutch is greater than a reference torque transmission capacity calculated by the torque transmission capacity calculator, if a control area determined by the control area determination device is a complete engagement area and the high load state determination device determines that an operational state is in a high load state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Murasawa, Satoru Miyata, Akihiro Shibahara
  • Publication number: 20150012191
    Abstract: An automatic transmission capable of causing first and second clutches and a connection/disconnection device to properly operate during stoppage of a vehicle, thereby enabling preventing vibration and improving marketability as well as obtaining excellent vehicle startability. When a shift position is switched to a forward travel position, first and second connection operations are executed for connecting transmission of a motive power of a prime mover, from first and second gear mechanisms to drive wheels, respectively, while changing the speed thereof. If the shift position is switched to the forward travel position and no request for a standing start of the vehicle is determined to be made by a driver, engagement of first and second gear clutches for connecting/disconnecting between the prime mover and the gear mechanisms is permitted when both the first and second connection operations have been completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Kumiko OHYA, Shinichi OKUBO
  • Patent number: 8930039
    Abstract: An evaluation tool related to operation of a combine is provided to aid an operator of the combine. A processing device implements the evaluation tool by receiving an input related to an evaluation to be performed from the operator of the combine. The processing device initializes the evaluation to be performed. A plurality of sensors are operably connected to the processing device and collect data related to the operation of the combine during the evaluation. The processing device analyzes the collected data and presents the analyzed data to the operator of the combine. As such, the operator may review the analyzed data and make an informed choice in proceeding with the combine operation, such as changing settings or operating components to affect the combine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Craig E. Murray, Dale W. Panoushek, Tyler L Nelson
  • Patent number: 8930089
    Abstract: The systems and methods of the present invention employ either a sensor in communication with the auger or a sensor in the form of a switch operated by the user of the auger. When the sensor detects that the auger is operating or the switch is operated by the auger operator, an indication of auger operation is published to a remote location. The indication may be in the form of an aural or visual indication or in the form of a wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Barry H. Reeves
  • Patent number: 8930100
    Abstract: A vehicle has a shift mechanism and a position detection device that detects an operation position of the shift mechanism. A transmission is brought to a power transmission state when an operation unit of the shift mechanism is operated to a driving position, and is brought to a power interrupt state when the operation unit is operated to a non-driving position. A driving force limitation process for reducing the driving force of an internal combustion engine is executed when it is determined that the non-driving position has been shifted to the driving position on the basis of the operation position of the operation unit as detected by the position detection device. The driving force limitation process is prohibited when it is determined that the vehicle is traveling and that the operation unit is not operated to any of the operation positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuki Minase, Masashi Takagi, Motonari Ohbayashi, Hiroshi Shimada, Toshihiro Takagi
  • Publication number: 20150006046
    Abstract: A shift control system and method that determine whether an ABS is operating in a running vehicle to operate a transmission of the vehicle are provided. The system determines whether the vehicle can be shifted to a neutral stage (N) based on vehicle conditions. A shift control signal is then generated and transmitted to a transmission to execute a shift of the vehicle to the stage N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Kyoung Cheol Oh, Seung Han Lee, Teh Hwan Cho, Donghoon Kang, Jee Wook Huh
  • Publication number: 20150006047
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to impart a suitable target slip amount depending on a state of change in an output from a driving power source to a torque converter, while simplifying control. A controller has a calculation part for calculating an engine torque change rate that is a rate of change in the output, and a target slip addition amount calculation part for calculating a negative value as an addition amount, when the engine torque change rate is less than or equal to a predetermined value that is a positive value, and for calculating a positive value as the addition amount, when the engine torque change rate is greater than the predetermined value. The controller is configured to set the target slip amount of a lockup clutch by arithmetic processing that integrates the addition amount, determined based on the calculated engine torque change rate, every control period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Morimasa Yamawaki, Tatsuya Hayashi, Yuzuru Tohta
  • Patent number: 8924105
    Abstract: A controller can execute a method to reduce a speed of a vehicle by initiating a vehicle stop request in response to a vehicle signal received while the vehicle is in motion. The method includes: (a) applying a wheel brake in response to initiation of the vehicle stop request when the vehicle is moving at a vehicle speed less than or equal to a first vehicle speed threshold in order to reduce the vehicle speed; and (b) actuating a parking sprag assembly to stop rotation of an output member of a transmission when the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a second vehicle speed threshold. By example, the vehicle signal may be a park signal, an engine off signal, or a plurality of signals defining a condition set. The wheel brake may be at least one of an electronic park brake and a service brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Frederick P. Miesterfeld, Orson S. Wang
  • Patent number: 8924603
    Abstract: A protocol adapter for transferring diagnostic messages between networks within a vehicle and a host computer. The protocol adapter operates as a voltage translator to support J1708 software. The protocol adapter also recognizes when the protocol adapter is connected to a host computer running the J1939 and/or J1708 protocols and automatically switches to that protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. McClure, David M. Such
  • Publication number: 20140371999
    Abstract: A method of controlling a start-stop vehicle transmission pump, includes: assessing how long an engine has been turned off; and when the engine has been turned off for longer than a predetermined threshold and the vehicle is on, priming the transmission pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel T. Lin, Eric F. Banners, Stephen M. Cicala, Tim J. Kropf, Bradley D. Riedle
  • Publication number: 20140371998
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller which executes a method. The transmission includes a clutch having an actuator which applies the clutch using position-based control logic. The transmission also includes a fluid pump and a variable-force or other solenoid valve positioned downstream of the pump and upstream of the clutch. The valve outputs a flow rate (Q) for a corresponding solenoid control current (I). The controller adapts a calibrated Q vs. I characteristic table of the valve for different transmission temperatures by applying closed-loop position control signals to the actuator at the different transmission temperatures and recording a null point(s) describing the corresponding solenoid control current (I) at a zero flow rate condition. The controller calculates an offset value for solenoid control current (I) using the recorded null point(s), applies the offset value to the characteristic table, and controls the clutch using the adapted characteristic table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Steven P. Moorman, David H. Vu
  • Patent number: 8914174
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a vehicle drive unit including an input member drivingly connected to an engine; an output member drivingly connected to a wheel; and a transmission device that includes engagement elements, that switches between shift speeds by control of engagement and disengagement of engagement elements, and that transmits a rotational driving force of the input member to the output member at a speed changed at a speed ratio of each of the shift speeds. The control device includes a control unit that controls the transmission device to achieve a one-way transmission speed in a running idle state in which a vehicle is running while the rotational driving force of the input member is not transmitted to the output member and a rotational speed of the engine is controlled to a predetermined idle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Suzuki, Kyosuke Komizo, Takahiro Sekii
  • Patent number: 8914208
    Abstract: When the vehicle decelerates on the ascending slope, a required brake axle torque is calculated in accordance with vehicle deceleration, so that the swinging back is suppressed. At start timing after that, initial and final values of the required brake axle torque and a correction duration are determined. During the correction duration from the start timing, the required brake axle torque is decreased from the initial value to the final value. Then, based on change in a detected vehicular speed at or before a time which is a last moment of a period in which the detected vehicular speed detected based on detection signals of the wheel speed sensors are equal to or larger than a minimum detectable vehicular speed, a stop time at which an actual vehicle speed becomes zero is estimated, a period from the start time to the stop time is identified as the correction duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Masayoshi Takeda, Koji Fujiki, Daisuke Tokumochi
  • Publication number: 20140365091
    Abstract: An oil pump system and method of a hybrid vehicle stably supplies an operating hydraulic pressure to an automatic transmission using only an electric oil pump. The oil pump system of the hybrid vehicle, which supplies an operating hydraulic pressure to an automatic transmission of the hybrid vehicle, includes: an automatic transmission control unit controlling operation of the automatic transmission; an electric oil pump pumping oil to generate an operating hydraulic pressure which is to be supplied to the automatic transmission; and an oil pump control unit receiving information on a state of the automatic transmission from the automatic transmission control unit and controlling operation of the electric oil pump. The operating hydraulic pressure supplied to the automatic transmission may be generated solely through the electric oil pump which is electrically operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicants: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Haksung LEE, SangLok SONG, Jang Mi LEE, Gyeongcheol KIM
  • Patent number: 8909437
    Abstract: A payload control system includes a sensor system and a force sensor system. A controller determines a calibration machine state, a calibration linkage force, and machine calibration parameters based at least in part upon the calibration machine state and the calibration linkage force. The controller also determines a loaded implement machine state, a loaded implement linkage force, and a mass of the payload based at least in part upon the machine calibration parameters, the loaded implement machine state, and the loaded implement linkage force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yongliang Zhu, Joseph Faivre, Drew A. Fehr
  • Publication number: 20140358388
    Abstract: A method for interactive transmission garage shifts includes receiving a request for a transmission garage shift; controlling the transmission to bring the vehicle to a stop state based on determining that the vehicle is rolling backwards on a grade above a predetermined grade threshold and at a speed below a predetermined speed threshold; controlling an electric park brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at the stop state; controlling the transmission to engage a dog clutch so as to place the transmission in a forward drive gear; and controlling the EPB to i) deactivate if the dog clutch is determined to be engaged, or ii) maintain activation to maintain the vehicle at the stop state if the dog clutch is determined to be disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph B. Adams, Changwei Cao, Jason P. Frisch, David D. Dicks, Richard G. Mayer, Joseph J. Sobczak, William Mayhew, Raymond J. Tessier, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140350806
    Abstract: In order to enable a transmission to reliably perform a switching to a parking range thereof, a vehicle control device includes a shift-by-wire device which switches a shift range of a transmission mounted on a vehicle in accordance with a request by an electric signal, an acceptance unit which accepts a request for switching to a parking range of the transmission, a detection unit which detects that switching to the parking range of the transmission has been settled, and a braking device which generates a braking force when the acceptance unit accepts a request for switching to the parking range of the transmission, from the time of acceptance of the request for switching until the detection unit detects settlement of the switching to the parking range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki KOIKE, Kohei AKAMINE, Hisashi ISHIKAWA, Shinichiro WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20140350805
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes detecting an occurrence of a downshift in the transmission from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio. A determination is made whether the vehicle is operating within a freeway speed range, and whether an accelerator pedal is depressed at least a minimum percentage of a fully depressed position. When the downshift from the high gear ratio to the low gear ratio is detected, the vehicle is operating within the freeway speed range, and the accelerator pedal is depressed at least the minimum percentage of the fully depressed position, a countdown timer is started to count down from a pre-defined time to zero. An upshift of the transmission from the second gear ratio to the first gear ratio is restricted while the countdown timer defines a time that is greater than zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eric Piper, Alexander K. Rustoni, John Janczak, Samantha Victoria Lado
  • Publication number: 20140336886
    Abstract: A system for operating a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission and a vehicle road speed limiter (RSL) which is programmable to limit the maximum vehicle speed for a given transmission gear includes at least on controller. The at least one controller is operable, when the speed limiter (RSL) is active, to determine if the vehicle is operating in a shuttle shifting range based on the current status of preselected operating parameters. When the vehicle is operating in a shuttle shifting range, the at least one controller is operable to control transmission operation to prevent shifting under conditions where shifting would otherwise normally occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: International Engine Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Ravi Rayala, Rogelio Rodriguez, Tashmin Lopa
  • Publication number: 20140336885
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling anti-jerk in order to reduce vibration of a vehicle is provided. More specifically, a rotation speed (?m) of a driving source device of the vehicle is received and a speed (?lwh, ?rwh) of a left wheel and a right wheel connected to the driving source device is detected by a sensor respectively. Then, a controller, which receives this data, calculates an average speed (?fwh) based on the detected left and right wheel speeds, produces a virtual speed through interpolation of the detected left and right wheel speeds and the average speed based on a predetermined sampling value, and calculates a model speed (?ref) based on the detected left and right wheel speeds, the average speed, the virtual speed, and a final gear ratio (?j; where j is the number of the gear) considering a final reduction gear ratio (FGR) and a current gear of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jae Sung Bang, Won Woo Suh, Hong Kee Sim, Youngkwan Ko
  • Patent number: 8880305
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle control apparatus. The vehicle control apparatus includes: an automatic return type select switch that receives an operation for selecting an operating condition of an automatic transmission and outputs a selection signal corresponding to the received selection operation; a switch controller that switches the operating condition of the automatic transmission in accordance with the selection signal output by the select switch; an emergency determining unit that determines whether or not the select switch has been operated consecutively at least a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period while the vehicle travels, and outputs an emergency operation signal when determining that the select switch has been operated consecutively; and a brake control unit and an electric parking brake control unit that apply braking to the vehicle on the basis of an operation by a driver and the emergency operation signal output by the emergency determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Inoue, Takahiro Kinoshita, Noriaki Tatematsu, Hironaga Ito
  • Patent number: 8880307
    Abstract: A coasting control device for avoiding dangerous modes such as tire lock up upon the end of coasting control. The device, which performs coasting control to disengage the clutch and to reduce the engine revolutions per minute (RPM), also prevents a gearshift operation during coasting control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Transtron Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwao, Yasushi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Arai, Kouhei Takama
  • Publication number: 20140324304
    Abstract: A transmission controller determines that a select operation has been performed from a reverse range to a drive range if a time during which a range other than the drive range has been selected is longer than a predetermined time threshold value and an input rotation speed of a transmission is lower than a predetermined rotation speed threshold value and determines that the select operation has been performed from a parking range or a neutral range to the drive range if the time during which the range other than the drive range has been selected is shorter than the time threshold value or the input rotation speed is higher than the rotation speed threshold value when the select operation has been performed from the range other than the drive range to the drive range during vehicle stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicants: JATCO Ltd, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiromichi Akebono
  • Patent number: 8868305
    Abstract: An apparatus for parking control of an automatic transmission vehicle may include a speed detector that provides a controller with a vehicle speed, a shift lever detector that provides the controller with a position of a shift lever, the controller that analyses the vehicle speed and the position of the shift lever, and supplies a predetermined hydraulic pressure to brake elements and clutch elements in order to create drag on a parking gear shaft in conversion into a parking mode, and an actuator that supplies the hydraulic pressure to the clutch elements and the brake elements or discharges the hydraulic pressure from the clutch elements and the brake elements according to the control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Wookjin Jang, Jaeweon Jun, Kunsoo Jung, Chang Kook Chae, Jae Joon Seo, Wan Soo Oh, Jae Woong Hwang, Ho Rim Yang, Jin Hee Lee, Jin Soo Lee, Woochurl Son
  • Patent number: 8868252
    Abstract: A microprocessor driven two dimensional search engine examines transmission operating points within a plurality of search range spaces and assists in determining properties associated with the driveline at various operating points within the space. The size of the space is reduced by rearrangement of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Bin Wu
  • Publication number: 20140309896
    Abstract: A method is provided for processing an actuation of an operating element in a motor vehicle, particularly of an operating lever, wherein the operating element can be actuated at least by the driver of the motor vehicle. A plurality of sensors are arranged on the operating element, which sensors are at least partially activated when the operating element is actuated. The time sequence of the activation of the sensors is detected when the operating element is actuated, and, based on the time sequence, it is determined whether an undesired actuation is occurring, undesired actuations including unintended actuations and/or actuations by a front-seat passenger. In the event of an undesired actuation, the implementation of one or more actions coupled to the actuation of the operating element in the vehicle is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Matthias LINDNER, Thomas TILLE
  • Publication number: 20140309895
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for controlling transmission clutch and/or variator system pressures is provided. A transmission control unit and a pressure control device including an electro-hydraulic valve and a pressure switch cooperate to provide self-calibrating clutch and/or variator pressure control systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas H. Wilson, Charles F. Long, Travis A. Brown, Darren J. Weber
  • Patent number: 8862346
    Abstract: A mobile computing apparatus simulates the performance of a virtual vehicle using the route, driving behavior and loading experience of a baseline vehicle. The baseline vehicle is instrumented and operational data is collected, forming a data set. The apparatus includes simulator logic configured to construct a duty cycle from the data set representative of the operation of the baseline vehicle during travel along the route (e.g., a loading duty cycle). The data set includes route data with distance and vehicle speed information, engine data associated with the engine, and operational element data. The logic defines a virtual vehicle that is the same as the baseline vehicle but that includes a virtual operational element, such as a transmission, that is different than that in the baseline vehicle. The logic determines a performance characteristic, such as fuel economy, of the virtual vehicle using the constructed duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Saltsman, Xubin Song, Benjamin J. Morris, Chia-Hsiang Liu, Zhijun Tang
  • Patent number: 8862354
    Abstract: A method for determining initial or starting temperatures for a dry dual clutch mechanism at vehicle start-up includes as determining a time lapse from shut-down to start-up. The method determines a housing air start temperature of the housing air within a bell housing case of the dry dual clutch mechanism at vehicle start-up, reads a first clutch stop temperature of a first clutch at vehicle shut-down, reads a housing air stop temperature of the housing air at vehicle shut-down, and determines a heat transfer coefficient between the first clutch and the housing air. The method includes determining a first clutch start temperature from, at least: the heat transfer coefficient between the first clutch and the housing air; a temperature differential between the first clutch stop temperature and the housing air stop temperature; and the housing air start temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kumaraswamy V. Hebbale, Farzad Samie
  • Patent number: 8855876
    Abstract: A system for managing a temperature of a working fluid in a vehicle powertrain can include a temperature sensor and a controller. The working fluid can be located in a transmission of the powertrain, and a temperature sensor can be in thermal contact with the working fluid and configured to output data indicative of a real-time temperature of the working fluid. The controller can be in electrical communication with the temperature sensor and at least one of a power source and the transmission. The controller can be configured to compare the data from the temperature sensor to a temperature threshold, select a terminal speed limit when the data indicates that the temperature is less than or substantially equal to the temperature threshold, and select a reduced speed limit when the data indicates that the temperature is greater than the temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James Robinson
  • Patent number: 8855874
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for controlling a vehicle cruise control in a vehicle, the method including registering a starting point and an end destination for a possible traveling route of the vehicle, registering a desired traveling time for the traveling route, calculating and setting limits for parameters of the cruise control in order to arrive at the end destination on the desired traveling time with as low fuel consumption as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Eriksson, Johan Bjernetun
  • Publication number: 20140297138
    Abstract: A control method of an electric oil pump for an automatic transmission that minimizes power loss by normally controlling driving of the electric oil pump when a start intention of a driver is detected after a power source is turned on is provided. The method includes driving an electric oil pump at ‘A’ RPM which is a maximum velocity when the power source is turned on. The driving of the electric oil pump is stopped when a set time t determined by the temperature of the automatic transmission oil has elapsed. The electric oil pump is driven at ‘A’ RPM for the time t, and thereafter, the electric oil pump is driven at ‘B’ RPM when a selection of a driving shift stage is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Young HWANG, Taehwan WI, Se Hwan JO
  • Publication number: 20140297139
    Abstract: In response to driver selection of PARK, a vehicle transmission is commanded to momentarily select and hold NEUTRAL before PARK, whilst a vehicle wheel brake is applied. Such an arrangement avoids trapping torque in the driveline, and thus can obviate pawl ‘thump’ when PARK is next disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Clarke, Simon Sutton, Kevin Holt
  • Patent number: 8849527
    Abstract: A machine may include a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively coupled to a power source. A virtual gear ratio may be selected from a plurality of virtual gear ratios associated with the CVT. A power source speed may be locked between a minimum power source limit and a maximum power source limit that are associated with the selected virtual gear ratio. If the virtual gear ratio is changed, a controller including one or more control maps may compare the power source speed as locked to the minimum power source limit and the maximum power source limit as they relate to the newly selected virtual gear ratio. If power source speed is outside the minimum or maximum power source limits, the method may limit the power source speed. In some embodiments, the minimum and/or maximum power source limits may vary with respect to the plurality of virtual gear ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Davis, Adam Nackers, Steven Ott
  • Publication number: 20140277973
    Abstract: A system and method of immobilizing a vehicle include receiving a driver presence signal and a transmission state signal and commanding a transmission tie-up in response to the driver presence signal and the transmission state signal. In one embodiment, controlling a transmission element to tie-up a transmission includes braking approximately simultaneously a combination of transmission elements to inhibit rotation of a transmission output and maintaining transmission line pressure to maintain the transmission tie-up when an engine is off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Steven Gerald Thomas, Alexander O'Connor Gibson
  • Patent number: 8831810
    Abstract: A bicycle drive apparatus includes a bicycle crankset, a bicycle transmission, a drive assistance electric motor and a microcomputer. The microcomputer includes an output control section, a gear shift feasibility determining section and a gear shift control section. The output control section controls an output of the drive assistance electric motor. The gear shift feasibility determining section determines if an output condition of the bicycle crankset satisfies a gear shift allowable condition. The gear shift control section receives a gear shift request, instructs the output control section to at least one of stop the output of the drive assistance electric motor and decrease the output of the drive assistance electric motor, and instructs the transmission to execute a gear shifting operation upon the gear shift permission determining section determining that the gear shift allowable condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Shoge, Etsuyoshi Watarai
  • Patent number: 8831847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drivetrain having an automatic clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Winkelmann, Boris Serebrennikov
  • Patent number: 8831842
    Abstract: A system for simulated shifting for a hybrid vehicle, the system includes a plurality of wheels, an engine, a sensor, a transmission, a memory for storing target engine speeds and deceleration torques for a plurality of simulated gears, and a processor. The engine provides a torque to the plurality of wheels. The sensor detects a requested deceleration torque. The transmission simulates a current simulated gear by delivering an applied torque, which corresponds to the requested deceleration torque, to the plurality of wheels and an engine speed corresponding to the simulated gear. The processor simulates a downshift by increasing an engine speed of the engine without changing the applied torque to the plurality of wheels when the requested deceleration torque exceeds a deceleration torque of a lower simulated gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammad E. Dufford
  • Publication number: 20140249726
    Abstract: An object is to provide a vehicle start-up control, mechanism capable of preventing the occurrence of clutch judder with no need of paying excessive attention thereto for a driver. For this purpose, the present invention is provided with a clutch judder detection device (1) for. detecting the occurrence of clutch judder, a clutch state detection, device (3) for detecting a partially engaged clutch state, and a control unit, (10), wherein the control unit (10) has a function, for storing an accelerator opening (position) in the partially engaged clutch state in a case where the clutch judder has occurred during start-up and a function, for comparing an accelerator opening during next start-up with an accelerator opening in case where the clutch judder has occurred during previous start-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: UD TRUCKS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunihiro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8825324
    Abstract: A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes: a drive source which generates torque forming a driving force of the vehicle; a driving force transmission system which transmits the torque of the drive source to main driven wheels and auxiliary driven wheels; and a dog clutch provided in the driving force transmission system and capable of transmitting the torque to an auxiliary driven wheel side by engagement of a recess portion and a protruding portion. The vehicle further includes: a determination unit which determines whether a friction coefficient of a road surface is lower than a predetermined value based on an index value relating to the friction coefficient of the road surface; and a control unit which generates a control signal which causes engagement of the dog clutch before the vehicle starts when the determination unit determines that the friction coefficient of the road surface is lower than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Horaguchi, Akihiro Ohno, Masaki Mita
  • Publication number: 20140244119
    Abstract: A multi-mode powertrain system includes a transmission configured to transfer torque among an internal combustion engine, torque machines and an output member. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a desired acceleration profile for the internal combustion engine, determining a constrained acceleration profile by imposing prioritized constraints on the desired acceleration profile, integrating the constrained acceleration profile to determine a preferred speed profile, determining a preferred acceleration profile including a derivative of the preferred speed profile constrained by minimum and maximum hard acceleration constraints, and controlling operation of the internal combustion engine in response to the preferred acceleration profile and the preferred speed profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: SEAN W. MCGROGAN, ANTHONY H. HEAP, LAWRENCE A. KAMINSKY
  • Patent number: 8818659
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a thermal management system and method that can recommend operational behavior to an operator of an engine system to optimize fuel economy over a period of time in which a components of the engine system is in a warm up and/or regeneration state. In one representative embodiment, the expected temperature change of the engine component at a later time is determined based on inefficient operation of the engine, such as a transmission down shift resulting in higher engine speed and lower engine torque, and the expected temperature change of the engine component resulting from operating the engine under current conditions or expected conditions at that later time is determined. A determination is made as to whether the inefficient engine operation is the optimal operation in view of fuel economy and a recommendation is generated for the operator based if optimal operation is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek A. Sujan, Phani Vajapeyazula, Kenneth Follen, An Wu, Barty L. Moffett
  • Patent number: 8818658
    Abstract: An active damping system provides a torque adjustment command that is combined with the raw motor torque command of a vehicle to compensate for oscillations and vibrations in the driveline of a hybrid vehicle. Active damping may be provided by a derivative controller or by a lead-lag compensation between initiation of clutch engagement and full clutch engagement. Active damping is terminated upon full clutch engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Wei Liang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 8812207
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and correcting mismatches between an electronic shifter position and a vehicle's actual transmission gear. The method and system implement a correction scheme that may initially set a period for manual correction, if possible, then initiate automatic correction if correction is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Chrysler Group LLC, Kostal of America
    Inventors: Brian L Wagoner, Eugene Karpinsky, Matthew S Martin, Michael F Tefend, Steven R Hoskins