Engine Output Control Patents (Class 701/54)
  • Patent number: 8718881
    Abstract: A system and method for efficiently regulating the fuel consumption of a variable speed combustion engine used to control loads such as a hoist motor in a mobile gantry crane based on load motor speed commands issued by a crane operator. The system and method can rely on a programmable logic controller to issue engine fuel commands to regulate engine speed based on interpolations derived from data representing the relationship between load motor voltage and engine speed and data representing the relationship between engine speed and engine power capacity. The method may also be used in modified form by combustion engines which need digital fixed speed commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: TMEIC Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Bixel, Marcelo Andres Lara
  • Patent number: 8718854
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a plurality of motor generators and an engine for generating a vehicle-driving force. A motor ECU controls the motor generators in accordance with respective torque command values for the motor generators. The motor ECU selects a motor generator used for performing vibration-reduction control, based on the operating state of the motor generators each. The output torque of the motor generator used for the vibration-reduction control is controlled so that a compensation torque corresponding to a periodic vibration-reduction torque component for cancelling out a periodic variation component of the rotational speed of drive wheels is superimposed on the torque for generating the vehicle-driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiya Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8718878
    Abstract: Power management control for a power machine or vehicle is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments, a user interface of the power machine or vehicle includes a power management selection for activating and deactivating power management control. In illustrated embodiments, power management control is implemented through a power management control component based upon feedback from an RPM sensor. As disclosed in illustrative embodiments, the power management control component utilizes control methods and characteristics stored in system memory to determine control input to adjust hydrostatic parameters for power management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Troy D. Kraft, Scott N. Schuh
  • Patent number: 8718884
    Abstract: A method and associated system for compensation of vehicle speed lag resulting from changing load conditions in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) vehicle includes detecting and measuring true engine torque resulting from load changes placed on the vehicle engine. A true engine speed droop is calculated from the true engine torque. A compensated engine speed signal is generated based on the calculated true engine speed droop and is applied to the engine to produce a true engine speed that corresponds to a target engine speed at the load condition corrected for true engine speed droop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Yanming Hou
  • Publication number: 20140121916
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine and a transmission, the latter of which includes a controller which executes an adaptive speed-based control method. The transmission includes gear sets each having multiple nodes, an input member continuously connected to the engine and to one of the gear sets, and a binary clutch assembly connected to the same gear set as the input member. The controller is programmed to detect a requested transmission shift into an engine braking state while the vehicle is coasting. The controller also commands an increase in engine speed to a target engine speed in response to the requested shift, and applied the binary clutch assembly when the engine output speed reaches the target engine speed. The controller calculates slip across the binary clutch assembly and adjusts the target engine speed as needed over time until the target slip is achieved at the target engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Randall B. Dlugoss
  • Publication number: 20140121917
    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: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Davis, Adam Nackers, Steven Ott
  • Patent number: 8712652
    Abstract: Providing a control device of a hybrid vehicle capable of reducing a rattling noise without changing an engine rotation speed. If the second electric motor torque TM2 is within the rattling noise occurrence region G, the engine rotation fluctuation suppression control (at least one of the EGR amount suppression control, the self-EGR amount suppression control, the lean-burn control, and the ignition delay control) is provided to suppress the engine rotation fluctuations as compared to during normal running while the second electric motor torque TM2 is out of the rattling noise occurrence region G and, therefore, the engine rotation fluctuations can be suppressed to reduce the a rattling noise without changing an engine rotation speed NE. Thus, the rattling noise can be reduced without giving an uncomfortable feeling to a user due to a change in the engine rotation speed NE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Harada, Masatoshi Ito, Kazuyuki Shiiba, Takeshi Kanayama
  • Patent number: 8712651
    Abstract: A method of operating a multi-mode drive system that precisely orchestrates a shift between gear ratios in a power take off unit and a rear drive module. The method first shifts between gear ratios in the power take off unit and then, depending upon the success or failure of the shift of the power take off unit, shifts between gear ratios in the rear drive module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kubina, Aaron E. Thompson, Donald F. Schmanski, Michael W. Gapski, Kenneth M. Pachucki, Richard S. Silbert
  • Patent number: 8712650
    Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Invent.ly, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Koebler, Jason H. Harper, Stephen J. Brown, Nicole G. Goldstein
  • Publication number: 20140114540
    Abstract: Provided is a drive system that enables a reduction in the rise time of foot axis torque even if the drive system has a one-way clutch. The drive system includes a one-way clutch between a transmission and an output shaft. When a coasting determination unit determines to perform a coasting control, a control unit executes the coasting control by reducing the engine rotation speed of an internal combustion engine or stopping the engine rotation to bring the one-way clutch into a non-transmission state, and changing the transmission gear ratio of the transmission to a transmission gear ratio smaller than the transmission gear ratio calculated by a calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Iwadare, Satoshi Kodo, Tsunehiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8701807
    Abstract: An Electronic Control Unit (ECU), and a method and a computer program product are provided for the control of a drive train for a hybrid vehicle, and a drive train including such a control device is also provided. The hybrid vehicle includes an upstream located Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) which is connected to an Electronic Motor/Generator (EMG) via a Master Clutch (MC). The EMG is connected to the wheels via a Mechanical Transmission (MT) including synchronization. The ECU is programmed to control the MC and the MT when shifting from a generating mode, in which the ICE is powering the EMG at or near standstill, to a driving mode in such a way that at least a part of the inertial energy liberated when retarding the EMG in order to synchronize the rotational speed of the EMG and the MT is transferred to the wheels by using the synchronization in the MT to retard the EMG and transfer of power to the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Hans Stervik, Jan Öberg
  • Patent number: 8706367
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine stores priorities preset for a plurality of external loads on the internal combustion engine and actuates the plurality of external loads in order of priority at time intervals when requests for actuation of the external loads are simultaneously made during idling of the internal combustion engine. The plurality of external loads are properly actuated, thus preventing possible engine stall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8706366
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling engine using height information capable of preventing an engine from stopping according to a position of a vehicle. An apparatus for controlling an engine of a vehicle using height information includes: a height information management unit storing a plurality of height information; and an idling controller that extracts one or more height information according to a position of the vehicle from the height information management unit to determine a slope of the vehicle and controls the idling of the vehicle according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jae-Chul Kim, Seong-Ho Lee, Yoon-Seop Chang, Jae-Jun Yoo, Sun-Rae Park
  • Patent number: 8706379
    Abstract: A technique for controlling coasting of a hybrid vehicle equipped with an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) is disclosed herein. First, the amount of regenerative braking is varied based on the degree of manipulation of an accelerator pedal within the predetermined control range of a total degree of manipulation of the accelerator pedal from when the accelerator pedal is not being manipulated. The amount of regenerative braking decreases as the degree of manipulation of the accelerator pedal increases. The control range is used to perform control in such a way as to vary the amount of regenerative braking according to the amount of manipulation of the accelerator pedal. Further, the control range is set to within a range of initial 5 to 20% of the total degree of manipulation of the accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Pil Jang
  • Patent number: 8706373
    Abstract: An aftermarket amplifier of acceleration signal (FIG. 2, box A), which is mounted between the potentiometer of the acceleration pedal (FIG. 2, box B) and the electronic control unit (FIG. 2, box C) and is programmed to control and to modify the signals from the accelerator pedal. The amplifier improves the acceleration of a car and overcomes the problems occurring during overreacting. The amplifier measures the signals from the acceleration pedal, calculates the change of the angle of the potentiometer of acceleration speed (angular speed) and multiplies the signals from the acceleration pedal by a value which is determined by the angular speed of the potentiometer of the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the amplifier includes a function of a cruise control, which can be controlled with a single control switch (FIG. 2, box F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventors: Stamatios Boulekos, Dimitrios Panagopoulos
  • Patent number: 8706337
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having a first driven axle (10) that can be driven exclusively electrically by at least one first electric machine (14) assigned to the first axle (10), and having a second driven axle (12) that can be driven by at least one second electric machine (16) assigned to the second axle (12) and/or by an internal combustion engine (15) assigned to the second axle (12). During each current driving cycle of the hybrid vehicle a kilometer reading/mileage reading, or a variable representing the kilometer reading/mileage reading, of the hybrid vehicle is determined, and an operating strategy is determined for a subsequent new driving cycle of the hybrid vehicle on the basis of the kilometer reading/mileage reading, or the variable representing the kilometer reading/mileage reading, of the previous driving cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Sebastian Neu
  • Patent number: 8700278
    Abstract: An idle stop vehicle performs an idle stop to automatically stop an engine during a stop of the vehicle. The vehicle includes an idle stop condition determination unit for determining whether or not an idle stop condition holds, and an engine control unit for performing the idle stop when the idle stop condition holds before a stoppage time exceeds a specified time and prohibiting the idle stop after the stoppage time exceeds the specified time without the idle stop condition holding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Kousuke Waku, Hideshi Wakayama, Masayuki Miyazono, Naohiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8700247
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes an engine, an electric machine, and a transmission. A method to control the powertrain includes monitoring operation of the powertrain, determining whether conditions necessary for growl to occur excluding motor torque and engine torque are present, and if the conditions are present controlling the powertrain based upon avoiding a powertrain operating region wherein the growl is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Wise, Chihang Lin, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8694231
    Abstract: A control system for an auto-stop/start vehicle includes a transmission load module, a target engine speed module, and an actuator control module. The transmission load module determines a load imposed on an engine through a transmission. The target engine speed module selectively determines a target engine speed during an engine startup event based on the load. The actuator control module controls at least one engine actuator based on the target engine speed during the engine startup event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Qi Ma, Robert Douglas Shafto
  • Patent number: 8688350
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes a combustion engine, an electric machine arrangement, a gearbox operable to receive motive power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement for providing motive power to a load of the powertrain. The powertrain is configurable in operation so that its combustion engine is switchable between an inactive state and an active state. The combustion engine is cranked to switch it from its inactive state to its active state. Application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially temporally coincide with a gear change in the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Carlhammar, Svante Karlsson, Helene Panagopoulos
  • Patent number: 8688337
    Abstract: A driving force control device for controlling engine torque generated by an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle and the engine revolution speed of the internal combustion engine based on the operation amount of driving force request operation on the vehicle to control the driving force of the vehicle is characterized by executing revolution fluctuation suppression control that suppresses fluctuations in engine revolution speeds when the operating point of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the engine torque and the engine revolution speed is within an optimum fuel economy range being a region set with a specified hysteresis width relative to an optimum fuel economy line of the internal combustion engine; accordingly, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the whole driving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoji Takanami, Tomoyuki Honda
  • Patent number: 8682552
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission having an automatic speed change mechanism for changing a driving source speed of rotation and a clutch engaged at a start, a fluid transmission apparatus between the driving source and the automatic speed change mechanism, and a lock-up clutch for locking up the fluid transmission apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tsutsui, Yutaka Teraoka, Masatake Ichikawa, Shoji Omitsu
  • Patent number: 8682546
    Abstract: A vehicular damping control system that executes damping control that suppresses sprung mass vibration in the vehicle by controlling a power source mounted in a vehicle changes the control mode of the damping control according to the operating range of the power source. Changing the control mode of the damping control according to the operating range of the power source enables the vehicular damping control system to improve coordination between the damping control and other control related to the power source, for example, and thus execute appropriate damping control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Otsuka, Kenji Harima
  • Patent number: 8682545
    Abstract: A method for controlling an upshift in a vehicle transmission includes transferring engine torque from an offgoing clutch to an oncoming clutch, using a torque capacity of the offgoing clutch to dampen oscillations when a difference between a speed of a transmission offgoing input and a calculated expected speed of said input is greater than a reference speed difference, and modulating engine torque during a ratio change phase of the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hong Jiang, Zhengyu Dai, Matthew J. Shelton
  • Patent number: 8676455
    Abstract: A method in a system having a transmission and a drive system component is disclosed. The transmission includes two or more gears defining one or more gear ratios and a gear-selection controller having shifting schedules and the drive system component includes a drive system component controller. The method comprises dynamically generating adjustment information having information selected from the group consisting of (i) a desired gear selection; (ii) a desired drive system component speed operating point (iii) engine fuel economy improvement information related to a selection of a desired gear of the two or more gears; (iv) a drive system component energy efficiency map, and (v) a combination thereof, and wherein the generated information relates to one or more given drive system component power levels and adjusting the shifting schedules using the adjustment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: Eaton Corporation, Cummins Inc., PACCAR Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Busdiecker, Vivek A. Sujan
  • Patent number: 8676466
    Abstract: A method for controlling speed of a vehicle based upon control messages received through a communications device within the vehicle includes monitoring communication of control messages to a propulsion controller wherein control messages includes a speed profile including a current speed command representing instantaneous desired speed of the vehicle and future speed commands representing a predetermined controlled vehicle stop through a speed profile period, detecting anomalous communications of the control messages, and controlling the speed of the vehicle during anomalous communications using the future speed commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Upali Priyantha Mudalige
  • Patent number: 8676423
    Abstract: It is known to charge the battery in a hybrid vehicle with a generator such that the efficiency (electric power per fuel quantity) is maximal. It is known that the consumption-optimized mode can be terminated in order to charge the battery faster. A mathematical calculation rule is applied to the optimal value of the efficiency in order to determine a value for an efficiency which then indicates a load point shift for the internal combustion engine. In particular, constant percentages can be used which are applied to the inverse efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Boris Blasinski, Rene Kasteneder
  • Patent number: 8676452
    Abstract: A hybrid-type working machine 1 includes an engine 11; a supercharger 42; an electric generator 12 that performs electricity generation by the driving force of the engine 11 and assists the driving force of the engine 11 through its own driving force; an inverter circuit 18A that is connected to an electric terminal of the electric generator 12; and a controller 30 which includes a nonvolatile memory 31 that stores first information indicating a correlation between the revolutions of the engine 11, the boost pressure of the supercharger 42 and an output upper limit value of the engine 11, and drives the inverter circuit 18A. The controller 30 controls the inverter circuit 18A so that the electric generator 12 assists the driving force when the required output exceeds the output upper limit value, based on a correlation stored in the nonvolatile memory 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kawashima, Makoto Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 8676457
    Abstract: A machine includes a plurality of torque consuming devices drivingly coupled with an internal combustion engine. The plurality of torque consuming devices includes a continuously variable transmission coupling the internal combustion engine with a plurality of ground engaging elements. An electronic controller is in communication with the internal combustion engine and the plurality of torque consuming devices and is configured to execute a torque load control algorithm for generating a torque load limit based, at least in part, on an engine underspeed value. The electronic controller identifies a potential engine stall event during which a current engine speed of the internal combustion engine drops below the engine underspeed value by a predetermined amount, and executes a transient torque load control algorithm to adjust the torque load limit responsive to the identification of the potential engine stall event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Grant Steven Peterson, Randall Todd Anderson
  • Patent number: 8676456
    Abstract: A method of managing tip-in bump in an automatic transmission includes detecting a set of conditions indicative of an impending throttle tip-in event, including calculating a speed difference between engine speed and turbine speed, and reducing a pressure command to a designated clutch of the transmission to a threshold level. The method also include setting an upper limit on engine torque, flaring the turbine speed during the tip-in event, and using proportional-integral-derivative control logic of a controller to reduce flare to about zero in a calibrated duration, thereby allowing the clutch to dissipate engine inertia and minimize the severity of the tip-in bump. A transmission in a vehicle is operatively connected to an engine and has a torque converter with a turbine. The transmission includes a clutch and a controller configured to manage tip-in bump performance in the transmission via the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Todd J. Thor
  • Patent number: 8676458
    Abstract: An automatic clutch control device comprises a clutch interposed between a prime move and an input shaft of a transmission; a target clutch torque calculation section; a gear change control section; an accelerator pressing-down speed detecting section; a judging section for judging whether or not the accelerator pressing-down speed exceeds at least one predetermined pressing-down speed threshold value; a prime mover rotational speed increasing control section operated when the accelerator pressing-down speed exceeds the threshold value, for disconnecting the input shaft and the prime mover and then for controlling the prime mover rotational speed to increase and come to be equal to the input shaft rotational speed which has been increased by a lower speed gear stage having been established; and a target clutch torque change calculation section for calculating a change amount that changes the target clutch torque in dependence on the magnitude of the accelerator pressing-down speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Tanaka, Takeshige Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140074362
    Abstract: A method of operating a transmission with interlocking and friction shifting elements. In or to carry out a gearshift from a currently gear to a target gear, one shifting element is disengaged and another is engaged, and if to carry out a gearshift an interlocking shifting element has to be engaged, the interlocking shifting element is synchronized by partially closing a friction shifting element, with redundancy in the transmission, only if a current speed of the vehicle is lower than a limit value. To monitor for possible malfunction, actuation of the shifting elements and the driving speed are monitored and if, based on the actuation of the shifting elements, it is concluded that there is a redundancy in the transmission, a stored non-actual driving speed is compared with the limit value and if the stored driving speed is higher than the limit value, the redundancy in the transmission is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Jorg ARNOLD, Rainer DENZLER
  • Publication number: 20140074363
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including: a bad-road control-mode switch configured to be manipulated by a driver; and a bad-road control section configured to perform a bad-road control when a bad-road control mode is selected by the bad-road control-mode switch, the bad-road control section including a shift changeover function configured to automatically change a shift state of vehicle between a forward running and a reverse running, and a driving-force applying section configured to reduce a driving force acting on a road-wheel when the shift state of vehicle is changed by the shift changeover function, and configured to apply a predetermined driving force to the road-wheel when a predetermined time has elapsed after the change of shift state, as the bad-road control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki OHTSU
  • Publication number: 20140067211
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for automatically controlling a vehicle speed. The method of automatically controls a driving speed of the vehicle to be a set target vehicle speed by: detecting the driving speed of the vehicle; determining a slope of a driving road; and when the driving road is an inclined road, controlling the driving speed of the vehicle to be the target vehicle speed based on a driving resistance value which reflects an inclination angle of the inclined road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20140067212
    Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of quickly and properly ensuring excellent fuel economy of the engine even when atmospheric pressure has changed. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU performs weighted average calculation on lowland map values and highland map values, based on atmospheric pressure, to thereby calculate map values of a demanded torque that minimize a fuel consumption ratio of the engine in the atmospheric pressure, and calculates engine demanded output. The ECU calculates demanded torque and demanded engine speed using the map values and the engine demanded output, respectively. The ECU controls the engine using the demanded torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki UENO, Akio FUTATSUDERA, Masaya AGATA, Hisashi ITO, Hideharu TAKAMIYA
  • Patent number: 8666618
    Abstract: A machine control system for use with a machine having a power source and a transmission is disclosed. The machine control system may have a clutch configured to connect an output of the power source with an input of the transmission. The machine control system may also have a sensors configured to generate signals indicative of machine operations, and a controller in communication with the clutch and the sensors. The controller may be configured to determine the current machine application based on the signals, and vary an actuating force of the clutch based on the type of machine application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Chin Lin, Rami Nabil Nasrallah
  • Patent number: 8666612
    Abstract: Earth moving equipment and other heavy machinery for environmentally harsh conditions are controlled by a control panel supplied with a lock, and such panels are frequently removable to prevent theft or unauthorized operation. The interface is in the form of a plug-and-socket, the parts of which have to be sealed against dust and humidity when not interfacing. In order to prevent wear and to assure reliable control, according to the invention, no part of the connection between the control panel and a receptable is galvanic, the power supply for the control panel is wireless, such as inductive or optical, while communications may occur by means of a two-way radio protocol or by optical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems Technology A/S
    Inventor: Anders Lindskov
  • Patent number: 8666620
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automated stepped transmission disposed in a drive train of a motor vehicle in conjunction with a turbo-charged internal combustion engine. In which the control of start-up and shifting procedures depends on the response behavior of the internal combustion engine. In order to enable control of the start-up and shifting processes with considerably lower coordination effort, the actual response behavior of the internal combustion engine is taken from an engine dynamics characteristic map in which the immediately available maximum torque (Mmax) of the internal combustion engine is stored as a function of the current engine torque (MM) and the current engine speed (nM, thus (Mmax=f(MM, nM)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Roland Mair
  • Patent number: 8657045
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle and method of control are disclosed wherein the ratio of engine speed to vehicle speed varies continuously in some operating conditions and is controlled to be one of a finite number of preselected ratios in other operating conditions. The transition from continuously variable mode to discrete ratio mode includes selecting a virtual gear number and increasing the engine speed to the corresponding ratio to vehicle speed. Once in a discrete ratio mode, the virtual gear number can vary automatically in response to changes in vehicle speed or in response to driver activation of shift selectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Wang, Matthew Allan Herrmann, Ming Lang Kuang, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Ryan Abraham McGee
  • Patent number: 8660763
    Abstract: A machine control system may include a processor configured to communicate with an operator interface including an acceleration pedal and a forward-neutral-reverse selector, a power source, and a transmission assembly. The processor may be configured to obtain a request from the forward-neutral-reverse selector. The processor may also be configured to provide an instruction for adjusting operation of the transmission assembly in response to the forward-neutral-reverse selector request. The process may also be configured to obtain a request for an increase in a speed of the power source at a first rate. The power source speed request may be based on a position of the acceleration pedal. The processor may also be configured to provide an instruction for increasing the power source speed at a second rate slower than the first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Grant S. Peterson, Randall T. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8655532
    Abstract: A method of modifying the charging target for the state-of-charge (SOC) of a hybrid vehicle battery in response to a sudden power draw includes determining that the hybrid vehicle has entered a steep grade environment, adjusting a power management scheme of the hybrid vehicle from a standard charging mode to an aggressive charging mode, and operating the hybrid vehicle operated using the adjusted power management scheme. The charging target may include both an immediate charging target and an ultimate charging target, where the immediate charging target is less than the ultimate charging target, and where adjusting a power management scheme from a standard charging mode to an aggressive charging mode includes increasing the immediate charging target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Birendra P. Bhattarai, Kevin A. Dietrich, David W. Wright, Kee Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 8655557
    Abstract: A working vehicle motor control device includes: a rotational speed control device that controls a motor rotational speed in accordance with an operation amount of an accelerator pedal; a travel drive device that transmits rotation of the motor to wheels through a torque converter and a transmission; a speed ratio detection device that detects a speed ratio of an input shaft and an output shaft of the torque converter; and a speed restriction device that restricts a maximum rotational speed of the motor in accordance with a speed ratio detected by the speed ratio detection device. In the working vehicle motor control device, the speed restriction device restricts the maximum rotational speed when a detected speed ratio is in an acceleration region of the motor rotational speed to less than the maximum rotational speed when a detected speed ratio is in a non-acceleration region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Hiroki Nakazono, Masaki Yoshikawa, Tadayoshi Aoki, Isamu Aoki
  • Publication number: 20140046559
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a friction clutch located between an engine and a driving wheel; a clutch actuator arranged to disengage and engage the friction clutch; a clutch actuator control section arranged and programmed to control the clutch actuator; a slip detection section arranged to detect a slip of the driving wheel; and an engine control section arranged and programmed to decrease an output of the engine when the slip of the driving wheel is detected by the slip detection section. When the friction clutch is in a half clutch state and the slip of the driving wheel is detected, the clutch actuator control section is arranged and programmed to control the clutch actuator so as to maintain a pushing force of the friction clutch at a fixed or substantially fixed level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kengo MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20140046556
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and a driveline. A method for controlling operation of the powertrain system includes determining a bias engine speed based upon an engine speed. A search is executed including determining a respective candidate power cost for operating the powertrain system in response to an output torque request, and determining a respective candidate driveability cost for the candidate engine speed based upon the bias engine speed. The search also selects one of the candidate engine speeds and candidate engine torques that achieves a minimum of a combination of the respective candidate driveability cost and the respective candidate power cost as a preferred engine speed and preferred engine torque. Operation of the powertrain system is controlled based upon the preferred engine speed and preferred engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Samantha Victoria Lado, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20140046557
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle powertrain includes a controller that is operative to automatically control at least one powertrain function other than engine torque based on a measured torque and a predetermined torque range. The predetermined torque range is based on a first engine torque estimate. The measured torque is related to actual engine torque, and can be measured directly at the engine crankshaft, or in another location in the powertrain and then transferred to the engine space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph F. Kucharski, Yuji Fujii, Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Nimrod Kapas, Gregory Michael Pietron, Diana Yanakiev
  • Publication number: 20140046558
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration control method and apparatus of a power train in a vehicle for reducing the vibrations in a power train when driving on a protruded portion of a road surface using a motor torque control. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to determine the generation of vibrations in a power train as the vehicle passes on the protruded portions of the road surface; and calculate a compensation torque for a vibration reduction of the power train when vibrations occur in the power train as the vehicle passes on the protruded portions of the road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Choong Kim
  • Publication number: 20140039770
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a multi-mode transmission configured to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and a driveline, includes executing a first search to determine a first engine operating point within an all-cylinder state and a corresponding operating cost for operating the powertrain system in response to an output torque request. A second search is executed to determine a second engine operating point within a cylinder deactivation state and a corresponding operating cost for operating the powertrain system in response to the output torque request. One of the first and second engine operating points is selected as a preferred engine operating point based upon the operating costs and the engine is controlled at the preferred engine operating point in the corresponding one of the all-cylinder state and the cylinder deactivation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Kee Yong Kim, Samantha Victoria Lado
  • Patent number: 8645042
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain includes a combustion engine, an electric machine arrangement, a gearbox operable to receive motive power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement for providing motive power to a load of the powertrain. The powertrain is configurable in operation so that its combustion engine is switchable between an inactive state and an active state. The combustion engine is cranked to switch it from its inactive state to its active state. Application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially temporally coincide with a gear change in the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lars Carlhammar, Svante Karlsson, Helene Panagopoulos
  • Patent number: 8645033
    Abstract: An engine driven vehicle includes at least one engine, and control devices that are arranged to control a transmission that is driven by the engine. The control devices are arranged to receive at least two sets of data, each set including at least one of a first signal that includes information about the gradient of the surface on which the vehicle is being driven sent from a first sensor, and at least one second signal that includes information about the vehicle's speed sent from a second sensor, and at least one third signal that includes information about the vehicle's acceleration. The control devices are also arranged to calculate at least one of two different resistance to travel constants k1 and k2, in response to the first, second and third signals, and to control the transmission in response to at least one of the constants k1 and k2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Marcus Steen, Anders Eriksson, Magnus Blanckenfiell, Anders Lindgren
  • Publication number: 20140032065
    Abstract: A system includes an accumulator control module that selectively releases automatic transmission fluid from an accumulator. The accumulator control module also receives a plurality of measured characteristics of the accumulator. A temperature estimation module estimates a temperature of the automatic transmission fluid within the accumulator based on at least one of the measured characteristics of the accumulator. An engine start-stop module selectively disables automatic start-stop events of an internal combustion engine based on the estimated temperature of the automatic transmission fluid within the accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Otanez, Zhen J. Zhang