Fail-safe Control (e.g., Preventing A Gear Shift) Patents (Class 701/62)
  • Patent number: 8712657
    Abstract: A method and a device for operating a vehicle having a hybrid drive are described, in which a first drive unit and a second drive unit contribute jointly or individually to the drive of the vehicle, the first drive unit driving the second drive unit in the manner of a generator for charging an energy storage device, the first drive unit and the second drive unit being separable by a drive train element transferring a torque of the first drive unit. In a method in which it is ensured that the vehicle may continue to drive safely even in the event of a defect in a drive train element between the first drive unit and the second drive unit, the torque portion used for charging the energy storage device is reduced to a minimum torque, while the torque excess, which is reduced in the event of a defect in the drive train element but still exceeds the minimum torque, is utilized to propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Khatchikian, Manfred Hellmann, Felix Reber, Mykhaylo Klymenko
  • 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: 8706377
    Abstract: A controller system in which a plurality different main functions are integrated includes a plurality of microcontrollers. Each of the microcontrollers is associated with one of the main functions. At least one monitoring unit is implemented for the plurality of the main functions, for example a brake monitor and a comfort monitor. When the at least one monitoring unit detects a defect of a main function in the controller, only the defective main function is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Lothar Weichenberger, Franz Obesser
  • Patent number: 8688339
    Abstract: A method and system provides a Neutral Tow mode in a vehicle with a shift-by-wire transmission by displaying a Neutral Tow mode option when the transmission control mechanism has been used to select Park, an ignition switch is on, and an engine is off or an information button has been pushed and entering a Neutral Tow mode upon detecting a triggering event. The Neutral Tow mode is canceled upon detecting a certain sequence of events, such as turning on the ignition switch, depressing and holding a brake pedal, and selecting Park. When in Neutral Tow mode the transmission will stay in Neutral, without automatically shifting to Park or using battery power, thereby enabling the vehicle to be towed long distances without draining battery power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Luke Fyie, Todd Curtis Spaulding, Brian J Deurloo, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Charles C Poon, William Russell Goodwin, Christopher Lee Danks, Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Jeffrey James Tumavitch
  • Patent number: 8682548
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle washing mode for a vehicle equipped with shift-by-wire shifting device, may include performing an N-range-off determining step that determines whether a shift lever is in an N-range when an engine stops, performing an ACC determining step that determines whether the vehicle is in an ACC state, and performing a shifting step that shifts a P-range state of a transmission to a N-range state thereof by operating an actuator, when the N-range-off determining step determines that the shift lever is in the N-range when the engine was stopped, and when the ACC determining step determines that the vehicle is in the ACC state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hangil Park
  • Patent number: 8676460
    Abstract: A shift control device is provided for a vehicle of shift-by-wire type having shift operation detecting means electrically detecting a shift operation of a driver, range switching means switching a shift range in response to the shift operation of the driver, failure detecting means detecting a failure in a shift operation detection executed by the shift operation detecting means, and vehicle state detecting means detecting a vehicle state upon detection of the failure in the shift operation detection, the range switching means being switched to a fail-safe mode, when the shift operation detection is recovered from a failed state to a normal state and the range switching means is switched from the fail-safe mode to a normal control mode, a recovery condition for determining switching of the fail-safe mode to the normal control mode being altered depending on the vehicle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koki Ueno, Takahiko Tsutsumi, Ichiro Kitaori, Hiroatsu Endo, Takashi Yuma, Masayuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 8676433
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit having a hydraulic switch disposed on a hydraulic control circuit of an automatic transmission, includes: a malfunction detecting portion configured to detect a malfunction of the hydraulic switch; and a malfunction removing portion configured to execute an operation for restoring a contact of the hydraulic switch when a malfunction of the hydraulic switch is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Endo, Masatoshi Ito
  • Publication number: 20140074367
    Abstract: A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Patent number: 8657720
    Abstract: A shift control apparatus for a continuously variable transmission includes: a target transmission gear ratio setting section configured to set a target transmission gear ratio with reference to a map based on an accelerator opening degree and a vehicle speed; a shift control section configured to control a shift of the continuously variable transmission based on the target transmission gear ratio; and a downshift restricting section configured to judge whether or not a restriction of the downshift is needed based on at least one of a variation amount of the accelerator opening degree and an accelerator depression speed, and to perform the restriction of the downshift when the downshift restricting section judges that the restriction of the downshift is needed, irrespective of a variation of the accelerator opening degree inputted to the target transmission gear ratio setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kabe, Nobuhiko Morifuji, Keisuke Ichikawa, Nobuhide Kato, Yuki Ono, Hiromu Ogino, Yukinobu Sakakibara, Hisao Nakanishi, Takahiro Nakata, Mitsuki Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8649952
    Abstract: A method for controlling a backing vehicle includes if a back-up sensor indicates that an obstacle is present behind the vehicle and a gear selector is moved to a reverse position, delaying reverse gear engagement and producing a warning signal, and producing a transmission tie-up if brakes are applied insufficiently to stop the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Steven G. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8649951
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus includes an actuator to direct a travel range setting of a vehicle transmission, a selector to indicate a desired travel range setting, a transmission controller to move the actuator into the travel range setting in response to the desired travel range setting of the selector, and a restrictor to restrict an output of a drive motor if the vehicle transmission is in a travel range setting other than the desired travel range setting. A method to control a vehicle transmission includes detecting a travel range setting of the vehicle transmission, detecting a desired travel range setting of a selector, and entering a limp-home mode if the detected travel range setting is different from the desired travel range setting and a detected vehicle travel direction corresponding to the detected travel range setting is the same as a desired travel direction corresponding to the desired travel range setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Funakoshi, Hiroaki Akazawa
  • Patent number: 8634995
    Abstract: A voting strategy is used to determine the mode state of a transmission when a vehicle is restarted. A Powertrain Control Module, a Transmission Range Control Module, and a Gear Shift Module communicate through a communication network during execution of the voting strategy. Each module stores a remembered mode state (Normal, Neutral Hold, Neutral Tow, etc.) of the transmission in non-volatile memory. Upon module initialization, the Powertrain Control Module will compare its own remembered mode state of the transmission with the remembered mode state reported by the other two modules. A basic voting strategy is that if two of the three modules report the same remembered mode state then the Powertrain Control Module changes the transmission to that same mode state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian J Deurloo, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Christopher Lee Danks, Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Jeffrey James Tumavitch
  • Publication number: 20130338891
    Abstract: A transmission includes an electro-hydraulic controller that includes redundancy in the hydraulic circuit that permits single fault failures to be compensated for by changing the flow path of hydraulic fluid to bypass the single fault failure. The redundancy results in the ability of the transmission to maintain full operation in all modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller, Stephen Murray
  • Patent number: 8606475
    Abstract: The shift range switching apparatus includes a switching mechanism driven to switch a shift range of an automatic transmission, a drive section which drives the switching mechanism, an operating member operated to switch the shift range, a control section to control the drive section such that the shift range is switched in accordance with a switching operation by a vehicle driver, an abnormality detection section configured to cause the drive section to drive the switching mechanism when a predetermined abnormality detection condition is satisfied indicating that the vehicle driver is unlikely to operate the operating member, a driving state detection section to detect a driving state of the drive section after the abnormality detection section causes the drive section to drive, and an abnormality determination section to determine whether the drive section is abnormal in accordance with a detection result by the driving state detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Yasui
  • Publication number: 20130317714
    Abstract: One of two clutches etc. engaged concurrently with each other to establish a second speed, a third speed, or a fourth speed is determined in advance as an abnormal-time engagement element that is kept engaged when an abnormality occurs in which one different clutch or brake is engaged during concurrent engagement of the two clutches etc. The other of the two clutches etc. is determined in advance as an abnormal-time slipping element that is caused to slip when such an abnormality occurs. During concurrent engagement of the two clutches etc., a hydraulic pressure (target hydraulic pressure) to be supplied to the abnormal-time engagement element is set to be higher than a hydraulic pressure (target hydraulic pressure) to be supplied to the abnormal-time slipping element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiya Ozeki, Taihwan Kim, Jun Igarashi, Eiji Moriyama, Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8589043
    Abstract: A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Publication number: 20130275016
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic transmission control apparatus which comprises a first temperature detection device for detecting a temperature of hydraulic oil stored in an automatic transmission; an automatic transmission control device installed in a same casing as that in which the hydraulic oil is stored; a second temperature detection device for detecting a temperature of the automatic transmission control device; and a malfunction determination section for comparing the temperature of the automatic transmission control device detected by the second temperature detection device with the temperature of the hydraulic oil detected by the first temperature detection device to determine whether or not a malfunction occurs in the first temperature detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Mitani, Keiichiro Sueshige, Yasuo Shigenaka, Daisuke Shishido, Yusuke Moriyama, Kenji Sawa
  • Patent number: 8560194
    Abstract: A shifting range sensing system, may include a shift lever pivotally connected to a vehicle body, a shift range sensing apparatus to sense a pivotal movement of the shift lever, an inhibitor switch mounted in a transmission, and a controller taking an emergency measure when a signal of the inhibitor switch and a signal of the shifting range sensing apparatus do not indicate the same shifting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eunsik Kim, Dohyon Won, Kangyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 8560193
    Abstract: A system for shifting a transmission range includes a selector producing a signal representing a selected range, and the system has a primary state wherein a source of electric power shifts the transmission to the selected range in response to the signal, and a secondary state wherein a source of mechanical energy shifts the transmission to a Park range when the primary state is unable to shift the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ram Krishnaswami, Matthew L. Fyie, Todd C. Spaulding, William R. Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20130261913
    Abstract: A safety control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes a speed range detector, an oil temperature detector, a vehicle speed detector, a speed-range shifting device, a shift inhibiting device, and a maximum-speed limiting device. The shift inhibiting device is configured to inhibit an automatic downshift and a manual downshift by a driver if the speed-range shifting device performs a forcible upshift. The maximum-speed limiting device is configured to limit a maximum vehicle speed to a third vehicle speed if an oil temperature reaches a second oil temperature which is higher than a first oil temperature and if a vehicle speed is not lower than a second vehicle speed which is higher than a first vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka ISHIKAWA, Nobuyuki WATANABE, Kazuhiko IMAMURA, Ryuichi MORI
  • Patent number: 8548695
    Abstract: A method is provided for emergency unlocking of an automatic transmission in a vehicle. The transmission may be unlocked from a blocked state for protection against unauthorized use, by an emergency unlocking unit. Upon actuation of the emergency unlocking unit, the automatic transmission cannot be operated in a forward driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Jaegers, Frank Gielisch, Rainer Andres
  • Patent number: 8548670
    Abstract: A shift lever position determining unit determines whether a shift lever position of a vehicle satisfies predetermined conditions. If the shift lever position is determined to satisfy the predetermined conditions, a travel distance adding-up unit adds up an optimum shift lever position travel distance. If the shift lever position is determined not to satisfy the predetermined conditions, the travel distance adding-up unit adds up an inappropriate shift lever position travel distance. A fuel-saving driving rating unit rates driving by a driver based on each added-up value added up by the travel distance adding-up unit. A fuel-saving driving advice generating unit notifies the driver of fuel-saving driving advice together with a rating result in accordance with the rating result. Therefore, it is possible to encourage the driver to select an optimum shift lever position with high fuel efficiency and thereby to improve the driver's knowledge and awareness of the fuel-saving driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Fujitsu Ten Limited, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Harumoto, Kouei Kiyo, Shojiro Takeuchi, Naoki Miura, Masaki Nakamura, Hiroaki Sugiura, Yoshio Yamatani, Junichi Nonomura
  • Patent number: 8538647
    Abstract: In an operation of controlling an automatic transmission, an engagement pressure for each hydraulic servo in a normal operation is determined so that none of friction engagement elements slips at each shift speed in the normal operation, and so that in case of a failure in which the friction engagement element that is supposed to be disengaged in the normal operation is engaged, one of the friction engagement elements slips, and thus one of the shift speeds is established. In the control operation, upon detection of a failure state in which a gear ratio after a shift operation is a gear ratio of a shift speed different from a shift speed to be established, the slipping friction engagement element is disengaged, and the shift speed that is different from the shift speed to be established is temporarily retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sahashi, Shin-ichirou Murakami, Masaki Nishide, Tatsuya Oba
  • Patent number: 8532894
    Abstract: A shifting range sensing device may include an electronic communication unit that includes a housing fixed to an outside of an external bracket of a shift lever, a magnet being disposed in the housing and rotatable in a forward-backward direction therein wherein the magnet pivots with rotation of the shift lever in the forward-backward direction, and a Hall sensor sensing the forward-backward direction movement of the magnet, and a microswitch electrically connected with the electronic communication unit and engaged to a side of the shift lever, wherein the microswitch may be turned on/off in accordance with a left-right rotation of the shift lever, wherein the microswitch transmits on/off signal to the electronic communication unit and the electronic communication unit transmits information sensed by the Hall sensor and the on/off signal sensed by the microswitch to a transmission controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Kyun Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eunsik Kim, Kangyoung Kim, Dohyon Won
  • Patent number: 8532893
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission with a speed changer having a plurality of engagement elements and configured to shift the speed changer into a selected one of a plurality of shift stages by switching engaged and disengaged states of the engagement elements, a first rotation sensor is provided for detecting input rotation of the speed changer and a second rotation sensor for detecting output rotation of the speed changer. Also provided is a transmission controller configured to determine whether a change in input torque inputted into the speed changer occurs. The transmission controller is further configured to determine that interlock has occurred in the speed changer, when there is no pulse signal output from the second rotation sensor though, during a vehicle stopped state, the input-torque change has occurred and the pulse signal from the first rotation sensor has been outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Yutaka Tohyama, Hideharu Yamamoto, Masahiro Hamano, Hiroyasu Tanaka, Youhei Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20130218430
    Abstract: A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Patent number: 8515639
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide an automatic clutch system for automobiles. The system comprises a mechanical section and an electronic section. The mechanical section comprises a rail support base with a rail-shaped ridge installed, dynamic parts installed on the rail-shaped ridge, supporting arms, an elevator mechanism connected to the clutch pedal and a clutch pedal lever. The electronic section comprises an input section for placing the elevator mechanism in due place and a keyboard for regulation, a sensor circuit, a command circuit including microcontroller, an exit section for changing a position of the elevator mechanism, a feedback circuit including a rotary encoder and monitors. The command circuit processes an instruction data from the input resources based on the regulations set by the user and transmits a command to the output section to position the elevator mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Mehdi Zaerin
  • Patent number: 8510004
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes at least one valve configured to control fluid flow in a dual-clutch transmission system. A solenoid is operably connected to the at least one valve and configured to move the valve to a plurality of positions. A primary processing unit is in communication with the solenoid and configured to determine an intended position of the valve. A controller is configured to receive the intended position of the valve from the primary processing unit and generate a primary control signal associated with the intended position of the valve. The solenoid is configured to move the valve to the intended position based on the primary control signal. A secondary processing unit is configured to receive information from the primary processing unit and prevent the primary control signal from controlling the solenoid if the primary processing unit is unable to control the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kerfegar Khurshed Katrak, Jeffrey Philip Hawarden, Steven Harvey Lapointe, Eric Allen Metheny, Todd William Fritz, John Kimmel Vandervoort
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130151096
    Abstract: A method and system provides a Neutral Tow mode in a vehicle with a shift-by-wire transmission by displaying a Neutral Tow mode option when the transmission control mechanism has been used to select Park, an ignition switch is on, and an engine is off or an information button has been pushed and entering a Neutral Tow mode upon detecting a triggering event. The Neutral Tow mode is canceled upon detecting a certain sequence of events, such as turning on the ignition switch, depressing and holding a brake pedal, and selecting Park. When in Neutral Tow mode the transmission will stay in Neutral, without automatically shifting to Park or using battery power, thereby enabling the vehicle to be towed long distances without draining battery power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Luke Fyie, Todd Curtis Spaulding, Brian J. Deurloo, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Charles C. Poon, William Russell Goodwin, Christopher Lee Danks, Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Jeffrey James Tumavitch
  • Publication number: 20130151095
    Abstract: A method and system provides a Neutral Hold mode in a vehicle having a shift-by-wire transmission with a return to park feature. The Neutral Hold mode is entered upon detecting when the transmission control mechanism has been used a first time to select Neutral when a driver's door is open or has been used a second time to select Neutral. When in Neutral Hold mode, the transmission will stay in Neutral and not shift to Park upon detecting that a driver has exited the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Luke Fyie, Todd Curtis Spaulding, Brian J. Deurloo, Mark Edward Zyskowski, William Russell Goodwin, Charles C. Poon, Christopher Lee Danks, Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Jeffrey James Tumavitch
  • Publication number: 20130151097
    Abstract: A voting strategy is used to determine the mode state of a transmission when a vehicle is restarted. A Powertrain Control Module, a Transmission Range Control Module, and a Gear Shift Module communicate through a communication network during execution of the voting strategy. Each module stores a remembered mode state (Normal, Neutral Hold, Neutral Tow, etc.) of the transmission in non-volatile memory. Upon module initialization, the Powertrain Control Module will compare its own remembered mode state of the transmission with the remembered mode state reported by the other two modules. A basic voting strategy is that if two of the three modules report the same remembered mode state then the Powertrain Control Module changes the transmission to that same mode state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Deurloo, Mark Edward Zyskowski, Christopher Lee Danks, Richard Reynolds Hathaway, Jeffrey James Tumavitch
  • Patent number: 8442733
    Abstract: A skip shift device performance detecting method used to more accurately enable skip shift diagnostic execution in a manual transmission equipped vehicle where a skip shift has been requested and a transmission clutch remains engaged. Where a skip shift request ceases during clutch engagement, a timed loop is used to monitor if clutch disengagement occurs before the loop times out. Where clutch disengagement occurs before the loop times out, skip shift diagnostic execution is enabled. Where the loop times out before disengagement, skip shift diagnostic execution is disabled. Where the skip shift is requested and the clutch remains engaged, the skip shift request is monitored to determine whether it is withdrawn before clutch disengagement. If it is withdrawn before clutch disengagement, the aforementioned timed monitoring loop is executed. If it is not withdrawn before clutch disengagement, execution of the skip shift diagnostic is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Kulas, Steve Wante, Joel D. Ball, Gregory L. Ohl
  • Patent number: 8437930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a TCU fail-safe using an electronic shift lever. A failure state of TCU is verified through CAN BUS (serial communication, or hardware wire) using an electronic shift lever unit, and a parking sprag is forcibly unlocked from a parking gear by pulling an override cable for parking by the an electronic shift lever unit when TCU being in the failure state, so that the implementation of fail-safe according to a failure of TCU is accomplished with higher control stability than using a transmission and without an addition of a component or a change of design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hangil Park
  • Patent number: 8428833
    Abstract: An engine control device detects the state of work of a working vehicle such as a construction machine or the like, and controls the power output capacity of an engine automatically. A determination is made as to whether excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, based upon the detection signals from a hydraulic oil pressure detector for a hydraulic cylinder of an arm, detectors for arm and bucket operation commands, a shift operation detector for a transmission, a pitch angle detector for the vehicle body, a traveling acceleration detector, and an accelerator opening degree detector. When the result of this determination is that excavation or uphill traveling is being performed, the engine is controlled to operate at a high power capacity, while at other times it is controlled to operate at a low power output capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Toda
  • Patent number: 8423248
    Abstract: In a method for checking the operation of specifying an output variable of a drive unit, when a setpoint value of the output variable is specified, a check is performed as to whether this specification of the setpoint is caused by an operation of the control element. If it is determined that this is not the case, then an error is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Kettenacker, Christian Ruland, Maria-Dolores Sanchez Moreno
  • Patent number: 8423247
    Abstract: A speed change control system for industrial vehicle, includes: a speed ratio detecting unit that detects a speed ratio of speeds of an input shaft and of an output shaft of a torque converter; speed changer for operating based on the torque converter speed ratio that shifts up or down a speed stage of a transmission in response to the detected speed ratio; a braking detection unit that detects an operation of a braking device for traveling; and a downshift limit unit that permits a downshift to a 1st speed by the speed changer when a non-operation of the braking device is detected by the braking detection unit and limits a lowest speed stage upon downshift by the speed changer to a 2nd speed when an operation of the braking device is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hyodo, Tetsuji Tanaka, Eiichi Sakai
  • Publication number: 20130080008
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle continuously variable transmission, includes a pair of variable pulleys consisting of an input-side variable pulley and an output-side variable pulley whose effective diameters are variable; a transmission belt wound around the pair of variable pulleys; an electromagnetic valve that controls an oil pressure fed to prevent a slip of the transmission belt; and an oil pressure sensor that detects the oil pressure controlled by the electromagnetic valve, wherein a sensor failure determination for determining whether a failure occurs in the oil pressure sensor is executed after execution of an electronic valve failure determination for determining whether a failure occurs in the electromagnetic valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8406967
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission system having a serial arrangement of a stepwise variable automatic transmission mechanism and a continuously variable automatic transmission mechanism, the control apparatus being disposed in the automatic transmission system and performing a shift control of the continuously variable automatic transmission mechanism in accordance with variation in transmission ratio of the stepwise variable automatic transmission mechanism, the control apparatus including a control section configured to execute a retardation processing upon shift control of one of the continuously variable transmission mechanism and the stepwise variable transmission mechanism which has a smaller response delay of an actual transmission ratio from a target transmission ratio than that of the other transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Tatsuo Ochiai, Masaaki Uchida, Masato Koga, Ryoji Kadono, Tateki Jozaki, Hideaki Suzuki, Ryousuke Nonomura, Mamiko Inoue
  • Patent number: 8406944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a start-protection system for an engine of a marine vessel. The engine has gears and a shift actuator for operatively shifting the gears. The system includes a first position sensor disposed to operatively sense whether the engine is in a forward, neutral or a reverse gear position. The first position sensor generates a signal representative of the gear position. The system includes a second position sensor adjacent to a shift control which controls shift functions of the engine. The second position sensor generates a signal representative of the position of the shift control. The system includes processing means. The processing means are configured to receive the signals of the position sensors, determine the gear position and the position of the shift control and enable the engine to start upon determining that both the shift control and the engine are in neutral positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventors: Pierre Garon, Neil Garfield Allyn, Ray Tat Lung Wong
  • Patent number: 8401747
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire device including a shaft position sensor that detects a shaft rotating angle, a drive unit that drives an actuator of the shaft, an operational function unit including an operational CPU that receives the shaft rotating angle from the shaft position sensor, receives a shift command from an administrative electronic control unit to transmit the shaft rotating angle of the shaft to the administrative electronic control unit, and controls the drive unit according to the shaft rotating angle and shift command. The device further includes a monitoring function unit including a monitoring CPU that receives the shaft rotating angle in order to monitor whether there is an abnormality in the operational function unit and transmits the shaft rotating angle to the administrative electronic control unit when a detected abnormality occurs in the operational function unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Ito
  • Patent number: 8401752
    Abstract: A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Darren J. Weber, John William Edward Fuller
  • Publication number: 20130066529
    Abstract: In a vehicle drive device including a transmission mechanism 54, a range changing mechanism 55, a motor generator MG1 or MG2, and a control device 200, 300, when a clutch sleeve 553 becomes unable to slide during a range changing process, the clutch sleeve 553 is restored as quickly as possible so that the clutch sleeve 553 can slide, whereby changing of ranges can be completed. The control device 200, 300 causes a connection target gear piece 551 or 552 to rotate in the same direction as the direction of input rotation to the transmission mechanism 54 in response to a range change request, and causes the clutch sleeve 553 to slide. When determining that the clutch sleeve 553 has become unable to slide during the range change process, the control device 200, 300 causes the motor generator MG1 or MG2 to rotate the connection target gear piece 551 or 552 in a direction opposite to the direction of input rotation to the transmission mechanism 54.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mai Murayama
  • Patent number: 8392078
    Abstract: A method is provided for adjustment of an automatically selected gear shifting rotational speed limit when an automatic step geared vehicle transmission is in an automatic gear shifting drive mode, and where the transmission includes a drive mode selector for selection of at least the automatic gear shifting drive mode and a neutral mode. The adjustment of the automatically selected gear shifting rotational speed limit is performed temporarily by a driver of the vehicle when the automatic gear shifting drive mode is selected. Driving flexibility in automatic drive mode increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Eriksson, Johan Bjernetun
  • Patent number: 8392080
    Abstract: A process for monitoring a direction of drive from an automatic or automated vehicle transmission at near-zero vehicle speed via an engaged gear. A desired direction of drive of the transmission is determined from an engaged gear at the time the vehicle begins motion. An actual direction of drive is determined from the transmission and if different from the desired direction of drive, an error signal is produced. The process including determining the actual drive either from a sensed rotational direction of a transmission input shaft and a sensed rotational direction of a transmission output shaft or a sensed valve setting, a sensed pressure in an transmission electro-hydraulic control system or on a transmission shifting element or from a sensed direction of rotation of a transmission gearset element or from axial movement or force of a transmission constructional element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Georg Gierer, Christian Popp, Thilo Schmidt, Klaus Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 8386141
    Abstract: A vehicle control system for an automatic transmission includes a range selector for outputting a range instruction signal representing the selected shift range and a range shifter for manually outputting a shift instruction signal, and a by-wire control part for controlling the change-over of the shift range according to the range instruction signal input from the range selector. The by-wire control part has a range control circuit, which uses the shift instruction signal input from the range shifter if the range instruction signal is abnormal while monitoring the range instruction signal input from the range selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koutarou Tanaka, Haruki Matsuzaki, Atsushi Kashiwazaki
  • Patent number: 8370036
    Abstract: An automatic transmission calculates a current thermal load state of the frictional element, predicts (S24, S31), prior to the start of the shift, a heat generation amount of the frictional element if the shift is performed in the first shift mode, predicts (S25, S32) a thermal load state of the frictional element upon shift completion on the basis of the current thermal load state of the frictional element and the predicted heat generation amount, and either performs (S28, S38) the shift in a second shift mode, in which a heat generation amount is lower than that of the first shift mode, or prohibits (S39) the shift when the predicted thermal load state upon shift completion is inside a predetermined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Tomomasa Ikeda, Hiroki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8370035
    Abstract: A gear control system includes a pulse modulating circuit, a motor, and a central processing unit operatively coupled to the pulse modulating circuit and configured to control rotation of the motor from an original gear position to a desired gear position via the pulse modulating circuit. A motor position detecting device is operatively coupled to the central processing unit and detects the motor rotation position and transmits the motor position information corresponding to the motor rotation position to the central processing unit. The central processing unit determines whether the motor has reached the desired gear position based on the motor position information, and actuates the pulse modulating circuit to transmit pulses to actuate the motor to reach the desired gear position when the motor has not reached the desired gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: BYD Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xianggen Ding, Bo Zu, Xuguang Zhou
  • Patent number: 8366588
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drivetrain including an automatically shifted starting clutch and gear-shift clutch and a transmission, with a non self-locking clutch actuator, a gear actuator for engaging and disengaging transmission gears and a control unit which generates control commands for the clutch actuator and gear actuator and transmits such commands to the actuators such that, when the vehicle is at rest and a gear is engaged and if the clutch actuator fails, the clutch does not inadvertently engage. When a transmission gear is engaged, a control command is generated and sent for the clutch actuator to disengage the clutch. Thereafter, the vehicle speed is determined and if the speed is essentially zero and the clutch begins to engage, a control command is sent to the gear actuator to shift the transmission to its neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Florian Schneider, Thomas Jäger
  • Patent number: 8364359
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for an automatic transmission, a gear shift state of a stepwise variable transmission mechanism is controlled to a target gear shift state by releasing a first engagement section according to a reduction in a capacity of the first engagement section and, simultaneously, by engaging a second engagement section according to an increase in the capacity of the second engagement section, in accordance with a torque inputted to the stepwise variable transmission mechanism and, during an inertia phase, either one of the first and second engagement sections functions as a gear shift state control side engagement section and the capacity of a gear shift state non-control side engagement section which is the other engagement section is increased when determining that it is impossible to make the gear shift state follow up the target gear shift state at the gear shift state control side engagement section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Jatco Ltd
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Tatsuo Ochiai, Masaaki Uchida, Masato Koga, Ryoji Kadono, Tateki Jozaki, Hideaki Suzuki, Ryousuke Nonomura, Mamiko Inoue