Fuzzy Logic Patents (Class 701/57)
  • Patent number: 11572068
    Abstract: A system for controlling platooning by a following vehicle includes a sensor located in or on the following vehicle configured to detect data corresponding to a shape of a leading vehicle. The system further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) located in or on the following vehicle, coupled to the sensor, and configured to determine an optimal distance from the following vehicle to the leading vehicle based on the shape of the leading vehicle, the optimal distance corresponding to a distance at which drag applied to the following vehicle is reduced based on a pressure wake from the leading vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMFRICA, INC.
    Inventor: Tenghua Shieh
  • Patent number: 11521117
    Abstract: A control data creation device is provided that has an acquisition part, a creation part and an evaluation part. The acquisition part acquires input information concerning traveling of a human-powered vehicle. The creation part creates by a learning algorithm a learning model that outputs output information concerning control of a component of the human-powered vehicle based on input information acquired by the acquisition part. The evaluation part evaluates output information output from the learning model. The creation part updates the learning model based on training data including an evaluation by the evaluation part, input information corresponding to an output of the output information and the output information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hayato Shimazu, Hitoshi Takayama, Satoshi Shahana, Takehiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11383783
    Abstract: A bicycle control system may be configured to automatically control a bicycle, or components thereof. The bicycle control system may include a system control device configured to provide a simplified shifting system wherein large changes in speed associated with starting and stopping do not require the full attention of the automatic shifting system. The shifting system, or a system control device configured for controlling the shifting system, may be configured to determine when to enter an automatic shifting control mode, establish parameters for the automatic shifting of the automatic shifting control mode, and/or compare detected activities and values of the bicycle to the established parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Wesling
  • Patent number: 11371603
    Abstract: A control device and a transmission system are provided that allow for comfortable traveling with a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a transmission to shift a transmission ratio of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a first shifting condition set based on a first reference value. The electronic controller is configured to shift the transmission ratio of the human-powered vehicle regardless of the first shifting condition upon determining a second shifting condition set based on travel information related to traveling of the human-powered vehicle is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11312442
    Abstract: A creation device is provided that has at least one processor operatively coupled to non-transitory computer readable storage to execute operations that includes an acquisition part and a creation part. The acquisition part acquires input information concerning traveling of a human-powered vehicle. The creation part uses a learning algorithm to create a learning model that outputs output information concerning control of the components of the human-powered vehicle based on the input information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Hayato Shimazu, Hitoshi Takayama, Satoshi Shahana, Takafumi Nishino, Takehiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11226034
    Abstract: A CPU sets a gear ratio, which is an action, on the basis of an accelerator operation amount, a vehicle speed, a gradient, a curvature, and a current gear ratio, until a predetermined amount of time elapses. The CPU operates a transmission in accordance with the set gear ratio and obtains a rotation speed NE of a crankshaft at that time. When the predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the CPU updates an action value function by providing a reward in accordance with whether the number of times of switching the rotation speed NE or the gear ratio meets a standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Hashimoto, Akihiro Katayama, Yuta Oshiro, Kazuki Sugie, Naoya Oka
  • Patent number: 11079011
    Abstract: A vehicle control system and a method for a vehicle running on a low friction road inhibit repetitive gear shifts of a transmission of the vehicle. The vehicle control system of the vehicle includes: one or more sensors for sensing an engine speed of the vehicle, an engine oil temperature, a position of an accelerator pedal, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a rotational angle of a steering wheel, or whether a low friction road running mode switch is turned on or off; and a controller for receiving sensor data from the sensors. In particular, the controller determines whether the vehicle satisfies an entry condition for performing a repetitive shift prevention control based on the sensor data, and controls a gear shift of the transmission and an engine torque to inhibit the repetitive gear shifts of the vehicle when the downshift occurs when the vehicle has satisfied the entry condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI KEFICO CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Ha Lee, Nam Hoon Kim, Se Hoon Son, Seo Yeon Cho
  • Patent number: 10444029
    Abstract: A driver coaching system may have an input device generating an input signal indicative of a road condition. The system may also include an advisory device determining an output conveyed to a driver and indicative of a fuel efficiency rating based on an actual vehicle speed and an optimum fuel efficient speed. The advisory device may not decrease the fuel efficiency rating when the road condition does not warrant the optimum fuel efficient speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mathew Alan Boesch, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Patent number: 9494091
    Abstract: A driving force control system for vehicle for controlling a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver. The control mode is selected from a first mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected, and to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Kazuo Tsuruoka, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Hiroki Kaneko, Koji Tsurumura
  • Patent number: 9194489
    Abstract: An automatic transmission shift control device include a controller that is programmed to shift an automatic transmission by issuing a command for switching an interference shift element from an engaged state to a disengaged state, and by issuing a command for switching a friction shift element from a released state to a locked state. The controller includes a progressive friction-shift-element switchover section which causes progressive switching of the friction shift element from the released state to the locked state prior to the command for switching of the interference shift element from the engaged state to the disengaged state. The controller includes an interference-shift-element switchover section which causes the switching of the interference shift element from the engaged state to the disengaged state when transmission torque of the interference shift element decreases to a predetermined value as the friction shift element progressively switches from the released state to the locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryohey Toyota
  • Patent number: 9175768
    Abstract: A system and a method of controlling a transmission for a vehicle can protect the transmission by controlling an oil temperature in the transmission when driving on a long uphill road. The system may include: an engine generating driving torque; a transmission converting and outputting the driving torque generated at the engine; a lock-up clutch disposed between the engine and the transmission, and directly coupling the engine to the transmission selectively; a data detector detecting data for controlling the transmission; and a controller determining whether a long uphill road condition is satisfied based on the data, determining whether a protective logic operating condition is satisfied if the long uphill road condition is satisfied, and operating a protective logic if the protective logic operating condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Hoon Jeong, Byeong Wook Jeon
  • Patent number: 8996263
    Abstract: An electronic controller for a variable ratio transmission and an electronically controllable variable ratio transmission including a variator or other CVT are described herein. The electronic controller can be configured to receive input signals indicative of parameters associated with an engine coupled to the transmission. The electronic controller can also receive one or more control inputs. The electronic controller can determine an active range and an active variator mode based on the input signals and control inputs. The electronic controller can control a final drive ratio of the variable ratio transmission by controlling one or more electronic solenoids that control the ratios of one or more portions of the variable ratio transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Stanley B. Quinn, Jr., Alan L. Miller, Scott R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8983743
    Abstract: A variable control apparatus and method determines a short-term driving tendency. The apparatus may include a driving information collecting unit configured to collect driving information for determining a driving tendency, a first short-term driving tendency calculating module configured to calculate a first short-term driving tendency index using a fuzzy control theory based on an inputted opening degree of an accelerator pedal position sensor (APS), a second short-term driving tendency calculating module configured to calculate a second short-term driving tendency index using the fuzzy control theory based on an inputted forward vehicle relative speed, and a control module configured to calculate a final short-term driving tendency index by differentially applying weight values of the first short-term driving tendency index and the second short-term driving tendency index for each vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byeong Wook Jeon, Dong Hoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 8965644
    Abstract: A system and a method of controlling shifting for a vehicle includes a data detector detecting data for a shift control, a road condition determiner determining a road condition based on the data, a short term driving tendency determiner determining a short term driving tendency of a driver based on the data, and a long term driving tendency determiner determining a long term driving tendency of the driver based on the short term driving tendency of the driver. An optimal driving mode determiner determines an optimal driving mode based on the road condition, the short term driving tendency of the driver, and the long term driving tendency of the driver, wherein the system controls shifting according to the optimal driving mode determined by the optimal driving mode determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byeong Wook Jeon, Heeyong Lee
  • Publication number: 20150039194
    Abstract: A shift control device for a vehicle which includes an automatic transmission disposed in a driving system from a driving source, and a shift controller configured to perform a shill control of the automatic transmission, the shift control device includes: the shift controller being configured to retain a start of the shift while a torque which is equal to or greater than a predetermined value is acted to an engagement clutch when a shift command to shift by a disengagement of the engagement clutch engaging by meshing is outputted, and to allow the start of the shift when the torque acted to the engagement clutch becomes smaller than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Atsushi Tsukizaki
  • Patent number: 8903614
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method determines a short-term driving tendency. The apparatus may include a driving information collecting unit configured to collect driving information including a vehicle speed, and an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle of the driver and a forward vehicle, a short-term driving tendency calculating module configured to receive a plurality of input variables for determining the short-term driving tendency and calculate a short-term driving tendency index using a fuzzy control theory, and a calculation prohibition control module configured to check the inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle of the driver and the forward vehicle and prohibit calculation of the short-term driving tendency index when the inter-vehicle distance is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byeong Wook Jeon, Dong Hoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 8874334
    Abstract: A shift control system of a hybrid vehicle with an automatic transmission may include a fuzzy function calculator that receives an accel position sensor (APS) signal that may be an input variable, and outputs a severity value by determining a driver's driving severity value through a plurality of fuzzy rules including a fuzzy function for the APS signal, a sporty degree calculator that may be electrically connected with the fuzzy function calculator and determines a sporty degree corresponding to the severity value, and a mode determiner that may be electrically connected with the sporty degree calculator and determines whether an engine operates in accordance with the sporty degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Byeongwook Jeon, Heeyong Lee
  • Patent number: 8788113
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle may include at least one controller configured to monitor a plurality of parameters representing a driver's dynamic control of the vehicle and to establish a reference range based on values of the monitored parameters during a first time period. The at least one controller may be further configured to detect a change in driver behavior condition when, during a second time period, a parameter derived from the monitored parameters falls outside of the reference range, and in response to detecting the change in driver behavior condition, to alter a response of the vehicle to driver inputs or to generate output representing a recommendation to alter a response of the vehicle to driver inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Steven Joseph Szwabowski, Perry Robinson MacNeille, Christopher John Teslak, Fazal Urrahman Syed, Fling Tseng
  • Patent number: 8788162
    Abstract: A system and method for shifting a hybrid vehicle is provided which utilizes one or more controllers to release one or more clutches and brakes when a transmission is shifted into neutral or park and then prevents a rotational element from being rotated by controlling an engine and a motor/generator when the transmission is in neutral or park. Accordingly, shift shock or slip is minimized when a transmission is shifted from a park or a neutral to a drive or a reverse, thus improving a shifting feeling and safety of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Joonyoung Park
  • Patent number: 8775040
    Abstract: A vehicle control system obtains an index indicating a running condition of a vehicle on the basis of a vehicle parameter indicating a motion of the vehicle and then sets a running characteristic of the vehicle in accordance with the index. The vehicle control system includes a noise reduction unit that is configured to obtain the index on the basis of the vehicle parameter of which a fluctuating component that fluctuates because of a driver's driving operation or the influence of a running road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara, Kaiji Itabashi
  • Patent number: 8738255
    Abstract: Disclosed here are inventive systems and methods for a powertrain of an electric vehicle (EV). In some embodiments, said powertrain includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to an electric drive motor, wherein a control system is configured to control the CVT and/or the drive motor to optimize various efficiencies associated with the EV and/or its subsystems. In one specific embodiment, the control system is configured to operate the EV in an economy mode. Operating in said mode, the control system simultaneously manages the CVT and the drive motor to optimize the range of the EV. The control system can be configured to manage the current provided to the drive motor, as well as adjust a transmission speed ratio of the CVT. Other modes of operation are also disclosed. The control system can be configured to manage the power to the drive motor and adjust the transmission speed ratio of the CVT taking into account battery voltage, throttle position, and transmission speed ratio, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy Carter, Brad P Pohl, Loren T McDaniel, Cyril Keilers, Tim Ruggles, David Rogers, Eric Diehl, Austin Orand, Alan Mark Delz, Paul Argus Parks, Mark E Bartholomew, Christopher M Vasiliotis
  • Patent number: 8738228
    Abstract: A method for tuning a vehicle's performance may include measuring a plurality of parameters representing the vehicle's current handling condition and the vehicle's limit handling condition, determining a margin between the vehicle's current handling condition and limit handling condition, characterizing the driver's dynamic control of the vehicle based on the margin, and altering at least one tunable vehicle performance parameter based on the characterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Jianbo Lu, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Fling Tseng
  • Patent number: 8688336
    Abstract: A system for controlling power downshifts of a transmission includes a flare generation module, a flare control module, and a shift control module. The flare generation module generates turbine speed flare by decreasing pressure applied to an off-going clutch of the transmission. The flare control module decreases the turbine speed flare by increasing the pressure applied to the off-going clutch of the transmission. The shift control module increases a pressure applied to an on-coming clutch of the transmission when the turbine speed flare is less than a predetermined amount from a desired turbine speed flare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Todd J. Thor
  • Patent number: 8612077
    Abstract: A path-dependent control of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes segmenting an original route into segments. A virtual route based on the remaining portion of the original route is generated once the HEV reaches a current segment of the original route. The virtual route includes a first segment corresponding to the current segment of the original route and a last segment representing at least two other segments of the remaining portion of the original route. Battery SoC set-points for the segments of the virtual route are generated. The vehicle is controlled according to the battery SoC set-point for the first segment of the virtual route as the vehicle travels along the current segment of the original route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Phillips, Georgia-Evangelia Katsargyri, Ming Lang Kuang, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky, John Ottavio Michelini, Munther Abdullah Dahleh, Michael David Rinehart
  • Patent number: 8600614
    Abstract: A system and method for providing driving support system to a vehicle. The vehicle includes a set of control modules, having at least one operational setting, configured for electronically controlling the vehicle components. The system includes an integrated drive mode selection module having a set of drive modes for modifying the settings for each control module. A sensing system detects at least one condition associated with the driver, vehicle or surroundings. A controller determines an appropriate drive mode for the vehicle based on the condition and the output of a safety module that ensures that the drive mode is safe while driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Greg Stevens, Jianbo Lu, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Ilya Kolmanovsky, Steven J. Szwabowski, Stefano Di Cairano
  • Patent number: 8577566
    Abstract: A driving instability determination device is provided to improve the precision in detecting the driving instability. The driving state determination section determines whether the state is a prescribed driving state by determining whether the information of the operation state of the driving operation unit and the vehicle state as the running state data is disturbed. Based on the running state data for detecting the unstable state of the driver, the running state distribution computing section excludes the running state data when the state is determined to be the prescribed driving state, and the running state distribution computing section computes the first and second running state distributions in different time ranges. The driving instability determination section determines the instability of the driving from the difference between the two computed running state distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Kondoh
  • Patent number: 8565985
    Abstract: A transmission control device includes a load increase rate computation portion and a transmission control portion. The load increase rate computation portion is configured to compute an increase rate of a load acting on the work vehicle. The transmission control portion is configured to shift a high-speed gear down to a low-speed gear with producing a lock-up state in which a lock-up clutch is engaged when the load increase rate is less than a load increase rate threshold in shifting the high-speed gear down to the low-speed gear, and producing a torque converter state in which the lock-up clutch is disengaged when the load increase rate is equal to or greater than the load increase rate threshold in shifting the high-speed gear down to the low-speed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakagawa, Shigeru Yamamoto, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 8515635
    Abstract: A method and system provides a Brake Transmission Shift Interlock Override mode in a vehicle including a shift-by-wire transmission. With power applied and ignition on, a driver will press and hold an override switch for a calibrated time. While the override switch is pressed, the driver presses a non-Park button for another calibrated time. The result will be that the vehicle is placed in the selected range wherein the transmission will not automatically shift to Park upon detecting a triggering event. The driver is able to shift the vehicle from Park, even if an electrical failure prevents the transmission from shifting out of Park. As such the vehicle can be driven until the failure is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Curtis Spaulding, Brian J Deurloo, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Jeffrey James Turnavitch, Christopher Lee Danks, David Spuller, Charles C Poon, Matthew Luke Fyie
  • Patent number: 8515634
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a shift of an automatic transmission of a four-wheel low-speed drive vehicle, in which when a four-wheel low-speed drive mode is selected, it is possible to accomplish an appropriate operational condition for the four-wheel low-speed drive mode that can realize a variety of operational conditions of the vehicle while effectively limiting additional use of memories for storing shift patterns, by controlling a shift point of the automatic transmission to be appropriate for the four-wheel low-speed drive mode with appropriate change in a basic shift pattern according to a basic operational condition to consider together with the four-wheel low-speed drive mode without separately using a specific shift pattern and by controlling the apply and release parts to be appropriate for the control of the shift point, thereby it is possible to ensure a stable and smooth shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Kefico Corporation
    Inventors: Byungjun Kim, Taekyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 8494730
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus includes a clutch that operates based on pressure of a fed fluid to adjust a mode of power transmission of an engine or/and a motor/generator on a power transmission route, a first driving pump that feeds the fluid to the clutch by being driven in accordance with rotation of the motor/generator, and a second driving pump that feeds the fluid to the clutch by being driven in accordance with electric power, wherein a first engagement unit and a second engagement unit can be caused to engage rapidly or slowly by selecting one of the first driving pump and the second driving pump as a source of the fluid, and when a drive request of the clutch is present and a rotation speed of the motor/generator is lower than a predetermined rotation speed, the first engagement unit and the second engagement unit are caused to engage rapidly by feeding the fluid from the second driving pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8489313
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for identifying through traffic, entry into and exit from a predefined area are ascertained and the transit time is used to determine whether unauthorized transit through the area has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolph Vollmer, Joachim Rentel
  • Patent number: 8447438
    Abstract: An apparatus on an integrated circuit provides a real-time flexible interface between inputs from a vehicle components and outputs to the vehicle control components. The functions comprises of a programmable interconnection matrix, engine sensors and a control interface. Both engine sensors and control functions comprise of fixed hardwired functions and a customization hardware area. The apparatus therefore provides means for flexible powertrain events control target for the next generation of low-polluting power trains of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Scaleo Chip
    Inventors: Khaled Douzane, Stephane Le Merdy, Loic Vezier, Pascal Jullien
  • Patent number: 8311713
    Abstract: A multi-ratio tractor transmission system including a series arrangement of a speed changing gearbox and a range changing gearbox. The system is selectively operable in a field working automatic mode and a road working automatic mode, wherein the transmission can only operate automatically within its speed change gearbox when the system is operating in the field working automatic mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO SA
    Inventors: Dominique Szymczak, Malcolm Shute
  • Patent number: 8296026
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for a powertrain that includes an automatic transmission, occurrence of slip in a one-way clutch is determined when one gear is formed if a first rotation member and a second rotation member of the one-way clutch rotate relatively. If slip in the one-way clutch is detected, it is determined whether the rotational speed difference between the first rotation member and the second rotation member has increased. If the rotational speed difference between the first rotation member and the second rotation member has increased when slip is detected in the one-way clutch, a control is executed to engage a predetermined frictional engagement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Maeda, Hideharu Nohara, Toshinari Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8271169
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program that outputs a shift command when a determination has been made to perform a power-on downshift (i.e., YES in S100); controls the hydraulic pressure supplied to a friction engagement element to perform the power-on downshift; allows the correction of the hydraulic pressure supplied to the friction engagement element during the power-on downshift when the difference between a target input torque and an estimated input torque is equal to or less than a threshold value ?TT (1) (i.e., YES in S130); and correcting the hydraulic pressure supplied to the friction engagement element during the power-on downshift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshio Hasegawa, Takaaki Tokura
  • Patent number: 8265839
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic gearbox pertaining to a motor vehicle in a braking phase. According to the method, a gear ratio or speed value of the gearbox, requested on the basis of pre-established laws, is determined; and, on the basis of the value and parameters representative of the situation of the vehicle, a corrected gear ratio or speed value of the gearbox, able to trigger an anticipated downshifting of the automatic gearbox, is determined. The corrected gear ratio value of the gearbox is determined on the basis of an estimation of the desired primary speed for the automatic gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Renault s.a.s.
    Inventors: Carine Poisson, Eric Brun
  • Patent number: 8237386
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to manage working states of a data processing system. At least one embodiment of the present invention includes a data processing system with one or more sensors (e.g., physical sensors such as tachometer and thermistors, and logical sensors such as CPU load) for fine grain control of one or more components (e.g., processor, fan, hard drive, optical drive) of the system for working conditions that balance various goals (e.g., user preferences, performance, power consumption, thermal constraints, acoustic noise). In one example, the clock frequency and core voltage for a processor are actively managed to balance performance and power consumption (heat generation) without a significant latency. In one example, the speed of a cooling fan is actively managed to balance cooling effort and noise (and/or power consumption).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Culbert, Keith Alan Cox, Brian Howard, Josh de Cesare, Richard Charles Williams, Dave Robbins Falkenburg, Daisie Iris Huang, Dave Radcliffe
  • Patent number: 8195345
    Abstract: The method for generating an integrated guidance law for aerodynamic missiles uses a strength Pareto evolutionary algorithm (SPEA)-based approach for generating an integrated fuzzy guidance law, which includes three separate fuzzy controllers. Each of these fuzzy controllers is activated in a unique region of missile interception. The distribution of membership functions and the associated rules are obtained by solving a nonlinear constrained multi-objective optimization problem in which final time, energy consumption, and miss distance are treated as competing objectives. A Tabu search is utilized to build a library of initial feasible solutions for the multi-objective optimization algorithm. Additionally, a hierarchical clustering technique is utilized to provide the decision maker with a representative and manageable Pareto-optimal set without destroying the characteristics of the trade-off front. A fuzzy-based system is employed to extract the best compromise solution over the trade-off curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventors: Hanafy M. Omar, Mohammad A. Abido
  • Patent number: 8190307
    Abstract: The control optimization method for helicopters carrying suspended loads during hover flight utilizes a controller based on time-delayed feedback of the load swing angles. The controller outputs include additional displacements, which are added to the helicopter trajectory in the longitudinal and lateral directions. This simple implementation requires only a small modification to the software of the helicopter position controller. Moreover, the implementation of this controller does not need rates of the swing angles. The parameters of the controllers are optimized using the method of particle swarms by minimizing an index that is a function of the history of the load swing. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the controller in suppressing the swing of the slung load while stabilizing the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventor: Hanafy M. Omar
  • Patent number: 8185259
    Abstract: The fuzzy logic-based control method for helicopters carrying suspended loads utilizes a controller based on fuzzy logic membership distributions of sets of load swing angles. The anti-swing controller is fuzzy-based and has controller outputs that include additional displacements added to the helicopter trajectory in the longitudinal and lateral directions. This simple implementation requires only a small modification to the software of the helicopter position controller. The membership functions govern control parameters that are optimized using a particle swarm algorithm. The rules of the anti-swing controller are derived to mimic the performance of a time-delayed feedback controller. A tracking controller stabilizes the helicopter and tracks the trajectory generated by the anti-swing controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventor: Hanafy M. Omar
  • Patent number: 8180538
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission includes applying a reference stroke pressure to an oncoming control element while executing a downshift to a target gear, determining a stroke pressure adjustment in response to a turbine speed flare during the downshift, and re-executing the downshift while applying to the oncoming element an adapted stroke pressure that is a sum of the stroke pressure adjustment and the reference stroke pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Terry G. Feldpausch, Karl M. Jungbluth, Christopher M. Williams, Todd J. Newman, Henry A. Rebandt
  • Patent number: 8014928
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to enhance the ability of a driver to safely slipstream a leading vehicle to realize a fuel economy benefit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Anthony Gerald King, Alex Miller, John Curtis Hickey, Robert Lietz
  • Patent number: 7979184
    Abstract: An automatic transmission controller system and method are disclosed. In particular, disclosed is a system and method for controlling solenoid pressure control valves associated with an automatic transmission. The automatic transmission controller system comprises a controller which is configured to receive one or more electrical signal inputs for attributing each solenoid pressure control valve with one of a set of I-P calibration curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael T. Dickinson, Chris Hopp
  • Patent number: 7957876
    Abstract: A deceleration control apparatus and method for a vehicle applies a deceleration, which is equal to or smaller than a guard value, to the vehicle based on a vehicle running environment parameter. The deceleration control apparatus determines the manner in which a driver performs an operation for decelerating the vehicle, and changes the guard value based on the manner in which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle. The manner in which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle may be determined based on at least one of the time at which the driver performs the operation for decelerating the vehicle, the time period during which the driver operates the brake, and the deceleration achieved by the brake operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiiba, Kunihiro Iwatuki
  • Patent number: 7953521
    Abstract: A learning controller overcomes tuning problems in vehicle simulation programs by estimating requisite vehicle-specific parameters, effectively learning from its mistakes, as the vehicle is automatically driven around a track. After a sufficient period of calibration, the learned parameters are automatically saved to a car-specific file. The file parameters may be loaded in the controller in the future to optimally control a vehicle without the need to re-run the learning procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Tipping, Mark Andrew Hatton, Barry L. Brumitt
  • Patent number: 7912665
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting the absence of contact between the hands of a driver of a vehicle and a steering wheel of the vehicle that have particular application in ensuring the proper functioning of various components of the driver assist steering systems and maintaining driver attentiveness. The method for detecting a no-contact condition between the hands of the driver of the vehicle and the steering wheel includes generating a model of the no-contact condition using a second-order transfer function. The method further includes obtaining a set of model-generated steering dynamics by estimating a plurality of parameters of the second-order transfer function and a set of measured steering dynamics using a plurality of sensors. The set of model-generated steering dynamics and the set of measured steering dynamics are then compared and the no-contact condition is detected based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Weiwen Deng, Yong H. Lee, Haicen Zhang
  • Patent number: 7908066
    Abstract: The power train (1) includes a controlled drive source (3), a clutch (6), an automatically shifting transmission (7) and a data transmission device (2). The power train contains an additional drive source (12) and is fitted with a control system by means of which a correction value (K pid) for the drive source torque is generated on the basis of the comparison of the actual behavior of the drive train with a modeled behavior of a drive train fitted with a hydrodynamic torque converter. The behavior of a torque converter is simulated by a regulating circuit (21-27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Graf, Florian Gutknecht-Stöhr, Gregor Probst, Martin Rampeltshammer
  • Patent number: 7832511
    Abstract: A rule-based fuzzy gain-scheduling proportional integral (PI) controller is provided to control desired engine power and speed behavior in a power-split HEV. The controller includes a fuzzy logic gain-scheduler and a modified PI controller that operates to improve on the control of engine power and speed in a power-split HEV versus using conventional PI control methods. The controller improves the engine power and speed behavior of a power-split HEV by eliminating overshoots, and by providing enhanced and uncompromised rise-time and settling-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Fazal Syed, Ming Kuang, Shunsuke Okubo, Matt Smith, John Czubay
  • Patent number: 7765047
    Abstract: A shift control method of an automatic transmission includes the steps of: determining whether a road has a gradient; calculating road gradient in real time; filtering the gradient; controlling shifting according to the greater of calculated and filtered gradients if the calculated gradient is negative; and controlling shifting according to the calculated gradient if the calculated gradient is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Pyung Hwan Yu
  • Patent number: 7734400
    Abstract: A system and method that provides improved fault detection in turbine engines is disclosed. The fault detection system provides the ability to detect symptoms of engine faults based on a relatively limited number of engine parameters that are sampled relatively infrequently. The fault detection system includes a sensor data processor that receives engine sensor data during operation and augments the sensor data. The augmented data set is passed to a fuzzy logic inference system that determines the likelihood that a fault has occurred. The inference system output can then be passed to a diagnostic system where evaluation of the output may yield a detailed diagnostic result and a prediction horizon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dennice F. Gayme, Sunil K. Menon, Emmanuel O. Nwadiogbu, Dale W. Mukavetz, Charles M. Ball