Time Regulated Operations Patents (Class 701/66)
  • Patent number: 8219290
    Abstract: When a gear change has been decided, the coil resistance value of a motor which manipulates the transmission is measured. The coil temperature of the motor is estimated from the measured coil resistance value of the motor. In a case where the estimated coil temperature of the motor has been decided to be a predetermined temperature or above, the speed change inhibition time period of the transmission is calculated, and the speed change of the transmission is inhibited during the calculated speed change inhibition time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasufumi Ogawa, Shiro Yonezawa, Takeru Okabe, Osamu Ishikawa, Tomohisa Shoda, Nozomu Kamioka, Masaki Horii
  • Publication number: 20120173102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determination of one or more shift points for a gearbox in a motor vehicle which comprises an engine connected to, in order to drive, said gearbox, where a shift point represents an engine speed at which said gearbox is adapted to effecting a downshift or upshift, said one or more shift points are determined on the basis of an engine target speed ?T and a first engine speed difference ??TT, said target speed ?T is a desired speed for said engine, said first engine speed difference ??TT is a difference between a first engine speed at a first time t1 and said target speed ?T at a second time t2, and said first and second times t1 and t2 are separated by a time period T. The invention relates also to a system, a motor vehicle, a computer programme and a computer programme product thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Fredrik Swartling, Anders Kjell, Tom Nystrom
  • Patent number: 8214118
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission including an automatic speed change mechanism that has an input shaft connected to a drive source, an output shaft connected to driving wheels, and a plurality of friction engagement elements, and that performs a shifting operation among a plurality of shift speeds by changing engagement/disengagement states of the plurality of friction engagement elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Murakami, Masaki Nishide, Tatsuya Oba
  • Publication number: 20120150401
    Abstract: A system for control of a gearbox: At least one control unit controls the gearbox in a motor vehicle which comprises an engine connected to drive the gearbox. The system responds to receiving an indication by choosing for the gearbox a gear among various possible gears which causes the engine to reach a desired speed ?KD in a shorter time than with any other gear from among the various possible gears. Also, a method, a motor vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product thereof for performing the method are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Fredrik Swartling, Mikael Oun
  • Patent number: 8190340
    Abstract: In a shift control device for an automatic transmission according to this invention, when the engine load increases such that a shift to a first gear position on a low speed side of a current gear position is required, control is performed to calculate an estimated vehicle speed following the elapse of a time required to shift to the first gear position and set a second gear position from the estimated vehicle speed and the engine load on the basis of the shift map. When the first gear position is on the low speed side of the second gear position, a shift is performed to a gear position on a high speed side of the first gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventor: Naohiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8165766
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicles drivetrain including an engine and automatic transmission, such that transmission ratios are shifted within a range of transmission ratios in a continuous and/or stepped manner as function of preset target speeds that are adjustable via a vehicle speed control and actual vehicle inclinations in relation to the vehicles longitudinal axis. When the actual speed of the vehicle differs from a preset threshold speed, a request to change an actual ratio of the transmission is generated, if it has been determined that the output torque is smaller than a threshold value or an output torque required to adjust the preset threshold speed of the vehicle. The ratio of the transmission is shifted so the torque applied to the output is modified toward the output torque required to adjust the threshold speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Norbert Müller, Franz-Josef Schuler, Clemens Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8155848
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a vehicle drive device having a friction engagement element capable of being engaged and disengaged by an oil pressure generated by an electric oil pump, a start operation detecting unit that detects a start operation of the vehicle, a vehicle status change detecting unit that detects a status change of the vehicle, an electric oil pump control unit that controls the electric oil pump, and a management unit that is connected between the vehicle status change detecting unit and the electric oil pump control unit in a manner capable of transmitting data. The management unit transmits a wakeup signal to the electric oil pump control unit when a status change of the vehicle is detected, and when the wakeup signal is received prior to detection of the start operation, the electric oil pump control unit starts the electric oil pump in response to the wakeup signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kobayashi, Yoshinori Shibayama
  • Patent number: 8150588
    Abstract: Methods and a system for vehicle control are provided. The system includes an input device configured to receive a required time of arrival at a waypoint and a processor communicatively coupled to the input device. The processor is programmed to determine a forward late time profile, determine a forward early time profile representing the earliest time the vehicle could arrive at a point along the track and still arrive at the waypoint while transiting at a maximum available speed, and determine an estimated time uncertainty (ETU) associated with at least one of the forward late time profile and the forward early time profile. The system also includes an output device communicatively coupled to the processor, the output device configured to transmit the determined uncertainty with a respective one of the at least one of the forward late time profile and the forward early time profile to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joel Kenneth Klooster
  • Patent number: 8135521
    Abstract: A control device for an automatic transmission capable of operating in an automatic shift mode in which a gear ratio is automatically selected based on driving conditions of a vehicle, and also capable of operating in a manual shift mode in which the gear ratio is changed based on an upshift command or a downshift command by manual operation of a manual operation device, the control device includes a manual shift control unit that changes and sets the gear ratio after downshift depending on a degree of requirement for deceleration based on a driving operation when the downshift command has been operated by the manual operation device in the manual shift mode, and performs the downshift to the gear ratio that has been changed and set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Sugiura, Yosuke Takei, Hideaki Ogasawara, Hiroshi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8135522
    Abstract: A vehicular drive system switchable between a continuously-variable and step-variable shifting states, and a control device for controlling the vehicular drive system so as to reduce a shifting shock of an automatic transmission included in the drive system, which takes place due to an overlap control involving a switching control of the drive system and a shifting control of the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Yutaka Taga
  • Patent number: 8116932
    Abstract: A system includes an auxiliary pump that provides pressurized fluid to a transmission during an engine auto stop/start event. A mechanical pump provides pressurized fluid to a transmission during engine operation after the engine auto stop/start event. An auxiliary pump diagnostic system includes a slip determination module that determines slip of a torque converter based on an engine speed and a transmission input speed. A fault determination module diagnoses a fault in the auxiliary pump in response to an engine auto start and based on the slip of the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventors: William L. Aldrich, III, Steven A. Tarnowsky, Michael E. Polom, Roger Joseph Rademacher, Donald D. Crites, Keith D. Van Maanen, Brian M Porto, Michael Chernyak
  • Patent number: 8103447
    Abstract: A map displaying device for displaying an accessible range in an arbitrary display form determined in accordance with the scale of a displayed map and/or with the running state of a vehicle is provided. The map displaying device includes: a display unit for displaying map information stored in a map database; a search unit for calculating travel time information regarding a travel time to an arbitrary point accessible from a reference point; and a time information drawing unit for displaying the travel time information in a superimposed manner on the display unit by varying a display form in accordance with the scale of a map and/or with the running state of a user's vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kindo, Takahiro Kudoh, Takashi Akita
  • Patent number: 8095284
    Abstract: An automatic transmission control unit determines whether or not a constantly open failure, in which a switch valve cannot switch a pressure regulating valve and a second hydraulic chamber to a non-communicative state, has occurred on the basis of a parameter (an inertia phase time, for example) representing a dynamic characteristic during a shift from a first gear position to a second gear position. The determination of the constantly open failure is begun after initial variation in the parameter representing the dynamic characteristic during the shift has been eliminated through learning control in which the dynamic characteristic during the shift is caused to approach a target dynamic characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Fumitaka Nagashima, Hajime Tasaka, Yoshihide Shinso
  • Publication number: 20120004818
    Abstract: When a select lever is in a drive range, a microcomputer reads a value of an output voltage by a switch-operation-signal output circuit after detecting that both shift-up switch and shift-down switch are substantially simultaneously turned on, checks whether or not the output voltage by the switch-operation-signal output circuit is the output voltage indicating that the switch after a predetermined time has elapsed is in a normal condition, and only when the output voltage is such an output voltage, permits a manual mode of an automatic transmission and when the output voltage is not such an output voltage, cancels the manual mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi WAKITA, Yoshiyuki NAGAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20110320098
    Abstract: A cubic metric calculator performs a calculation of a time average of power of the amplitude of a transmission signal when a cubic metric value is calculated as a product-sum operation between a transmission power-dependent term including an amplitude value depending on the transmission power of a transmission signal and a time average term including only a modulation parameter not depending on the transmission power of the transmission signal. When the transmission signal is transmitted, the operator inputs the amplitude value to calculate the transmission power-dependent term, reads the value of the time average term from coefficient memory, and performs the product-sum operation using an operation result of the transmission power-dependent term and the read value of the time average term, thereby calculating a time average of the power of the amplitude of the transmission signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Akira ITO, Takashi DATEKI, Masahiko SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8086402
    Abstract: A map displaying device for displaying an accessible range in an arbitrary display form determined in accordance with the scale of a displayed map and/or with the running state of a vehicle is provided. The map displaying device includes: a display unit for displaying map information stored in a map database; a search unit for calculating travel time information regarding a travel time to an arbitrary point accessible from a reference point; and a time information drawing unit for displaying the travel time information in a superimposed manner on the display unit by varying a display form in accordance with the scale of a map and/or with the running state of a user's vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kindo, Takahiro Kudoh, Takashi Akita
  • Publication number: 20110295475
    Abstract: A speed changing control apparatus for use in a vehicle includes: a driving power source configured to generate driving power for running; a transmission having a synchromesh mechanism configured to synchronize an input shaft revolution number with an output shaft revolution number and an actuator configured to automatically carry out a shift operation; and an automatic clutch disposed between the driving power source and the transmission. The speed changing control apparatus is configured to start a shift disengaging operation for the transmission after a speed change is requested and before the automatic clutch turns into a decoupled state, so as to suppress torsional vibration at the time of decoupling the automatic clutch. Such control enables the synchromesh mechanism to carry out revolution synchronization with the input shaft revolution number of the transmission in a lowered state, and diminishes a revolution difference subjected to synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Shimizu, Masato Tateno, Masayasu Mizobuchi
  • Patent number: 8057358
    Abstract: A control system and method for an electromagnetic clutch brake, including an electromagnetic clutch brake actuator coil surrounding a power input shaft for a multiple-ratio transmission in a vehicle powertrain. A protective circuit of the control system normally monitors data inputs from a databus that may indicate conditions that are not favorable for clutch brake actuation. The protective circuit prevents actuation of the clutch brake under such conditions. In the event the data inputs are not available from the databus, the protective circuit permits operation in a fall-back mode in which a brake ON timer is checked prior to clutch brake actuation. A primary counter is incremented with each normal clutch brake actuation and a secondary counter is incremented with each fall-back clutch brake actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Hornbrook, Yeidei Wang
  • Publication number: 20110264343
    Abstract: A command hydraulic pressure learning control unit includes an output-side torque time rate of change calculation unit for calculating a time rate of change of a torque at an output side of an automatic transmission, and a correction unit for correcting a command hydraulic pressure when transmission of a drive force of a friction element to be engaged is started at the time of a next shift based on a difference between the calculated time rate of change of the output-side torque and a target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Ikuhiro IWAMOTO, Osamu SATO
  • Publication number: 20110264341
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drive train with at least one drive unit, in particular for a vehicle is disclosed. A setpoint value for a torque of the at least one drive unit can be predefined. The actual value of this torque is detected and a first signal is generated which ensures reliable operation of the drive train if the deviation of the actual value from the setpoint value is greater than a predefinable absolute value of the deviation value and/or the deviation of the actual value from the setpoint value lasts for longer than a predefinable absolute value of the deviation time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Heyl
  • Patent number: 8041486
    Abstract: A method of gear shifting in a servo-controlled gearbox. The method generates an oscillation on angular velocities of primary and secondary shafts of the gearbox, separates the primary shaft from the secondary shaft thus disengaging a first current gear when the oscillation has taken the angular velocity of the primary shaft close to the angular velocity that the primary shaft must assume to engage a second next gear, and connects the primary shaft to the secondary shaft thus engaging the second next gear when the oscillation has led the angular velocity of the secondary shaft to equalize the current angular velocity of the primary shaft multiplied by the transmission ratio of the second next gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventors: Franck Baldet, Luca Poggio, Amedeo Visconti
  • Patent number: 8032273
    Abstract: In a section overspeed regulating method of determining whether a vehicle overspeeds on the basis of whether an average speed of the vehicle in a regulation section exceeds a speed limit, the section overspeed warning apparatus and system determine whether the current speed of the vehicle traveling on a regulation section exceeds the speed limit, and warn a driver. Whether the speed of the vehicle traveling on the regulation section exceeds the speed limit of the section is determined depending on a travel distance from a starting position of the regulation section to a current position of the vehicle, a travel time taken for the vehicle to travel by the travel distance, and a remaining distance from the current position of the vehicle to an end position of the regulation section. If it is determined that the current position of the vehicle will exceed the speed limit of the section, overspeed warning messages are output in the form of text, voice, or warning sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Manseok Yang, Changgyu Lim, Hyungjoo Kim, Taejoon Park, Taeman Han, Dongsun Lim
  • Publication number: 20110231074
    Abstract: A method of operating of a drivetrain, having a drive motor and an automatic transmission with at least five shift elements, to improve a shift speed of at least one of a successive upshift and a successive downshift, such that at least one required shift element is prepared so that, when a synchronization point is reached, the successive upshift or downshift can be immediately carried out. The method comprises the steps of requiring, at most, two of the at least five shift elements be disengaged and a remainder of the shift elements be engaged, in each of the gears; and preparing a shift element, to be engaged before reaching the synchronization point, by a first time interval, that is applied in a time-controlled manner or an event-controlled manner for engagement, while the first upshift or the first downshift is being carried out while giving consideration to the successive upshift or the successive downshift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Klaus STEINHAUSER, Christian POPP
  • Patent number: 8019519
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire control unit is provided that includes, but is not limited to a sensor for detecting the position of a shift lever, which is movable on a path between a neutral position and at least one shift position, a control circuit, and an actuator for driving a selector fork in accordance with a movement of the shift lever detected by the control unit. The control circuit is set up to predefine a setpoint position of the actuator for each detected position of the shift lever, the rate of change of the setpoint position as a function of the shift lever position being higher in a first area of the path adjacent to the neutral position than in a second area of the path, which is at a greater distance from the neutral position than the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christian Ruebsam, Jan Sporleder
  • Patent number: 8014916
    Abstract: The internal-combustion-engine ignition diagnosis apparatus is configured in such a way that the first duration setting unit sets the first detection duration in a predetermined duration including a time instant when the spark discharge is generated, the second duration setting unit sets the second detection duration after the first detection duration, the diagnosis unit determines normality of the spark discharge, based on a signal state in the second detection duration, and regardless of the signal state in the second detection duration, determines abnormality of the spark discharge, based on a signal state in the first detection duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kimihiko Tanaya
  • Publication number: 20110213533
    Abstract: When the change speed is instructed, without changing value of a suppressing vibration flag set to value 1 as initial value, a fast fill as the preparation of a brake to be engaged when the change speed is executed and low pressure standby of hydraulic pressure to set the brake in a half-engaged state. Then the suppressing vibration flag is set to value 0 when a predetermined time passed since the change speed is instructed, a sum of a drive torque required for driving and a suppressing vibration torque, which is in the same direction as suppressing rotational fluctuation of a drive shaft, is output from a motor when the suppressing vibration flag is set to value 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyoshiro Ueoka, Hiroki Tsutsumi, Yoichi Tajima, Takeshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8010267
    Abstract: Methods and a system for a vehicle control system using a reference time profile including an upper control bound and a lower control bound are provided. The system includes an input device configured to receive a required time of arrival at a waypoint and a processor communicatively coupled to said input device wherein the processor is programmed to generate a reference time profile using a first speed profile up to an intermediate control point and a second speed profile between the intermediate control point and an RTA waypoint. The system also includes an output device communicatively coupled to the processor wherein the output device is configured to transmit a speed control signal based on the reference time profile to a vehicle speed control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joel Kenneth Klooster, Keith Douglas Wichman
  • Patent number: 7983841
    Abstract: A system and method of vehicular wireless communication over a Dedicated Short Range Communication service band is provided. The system includes a vehicle having a navigation means, a processor, and a communication means for transmitting a message via a wireless communications link. The system includes a control channel for communicating a safety message and a service channel for communicating a non-safety message. The control channel is subdivided into a contention-free period having a safety exchange interval and a contention period having a non-safety service interval. The system further includes a dedicated group manager that partitions the vehicles into groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., University of California, Berkeley
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Laberteaux, Tony K. Mak, Raja Sengupta
  • Patent number: 7970540
    Abstract: A system and method of vehicular wireless communication over a Dedicated Short Range Communication service band. The system and method include a vehicle having a navigation system, a processor, and a communication system for transmitting a message via a wireless communications link. The system and method also include a control channel for communicating a safety communication and a service channel for communicating a non-safety communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Laberteaux, Tony K. Mak, Raja Sengupta
  • Patent number: 7962280
    Abstract: A map displaying device for displaying an accessible range in an arbitrary display form determined in accordance with the scale of a displayed map and/or with the running state of a vehicle is provided. The map displaying device includes: a display unit for displaying map information stored in a map database; a search unit for calculating travel time information regarding a travel time to an arbitrary point accessible from a reference point; and a time information drawing unit for displaying the travel time information in a superimposed manner on the display unit by varying a display form in accordance with the scale of a map and/or with the running state of a user's vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kindo, Takahiro Kudoh, Takashi Akita
  • Patent number: 7957330
    Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for failsafe management of periodic communications between network devices. A first network device, for example, establishes with a second network device a first response interval by which the first device responds to a message received from the second device. Prior to commencing a software upgrade, the first device determines whether the event requires an interval of time during which the first device cannot respond to the message within the established first response interval. Based on the determination and prior to commencing the upgrade, the first device establishes with the second device a second response interval that equals or exceeds the first response interval. Upon completion of the event, the first device establishes with the second device a third response interval. The first network device therefore may automatically adjust response intervals to accommodate upgrades that may cause unnecessary thrashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Bahadur, David M. Katz, Nischal Sheth, Rahul Aggarwal
  • Patent number: 7930086
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including a step of detecting a running speed of a vehicle and a current gear stage of the vehicle, a step of determining whether or not shifting is required, a step of calculating a required period T(D) for performing double clutch control if shifting is required, a step of calculating a required period T(S) for synchro-rotational synchronization, a step of determining whether or not the required period T(D) for double clutch control is equal to or shorter than the required period T(S) for synchro-rotational synchronization, and a step of carrying out shifting by performing double clutch control if the required period T(D) for double clutch control is equal to or shorter than the required period T(S) for synchro-rotational synchronization. A sense of incongruity felt by a driver during shifting is thereby suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Otsubo
  • Patent number: 7905814
    Abstract: A shift control method of an automatic transmission for controlling a shift from an nth speed, achieved by engagement of first and second frictional elements to an (n?3)th speed, achieved by engagement of third and fourth frictional elements. The method includes (a) beginning release control of the first element; (b) beginning release control of the second element after step (a) and after the shift is completed; (e) beginning engagement control of the third element; and (d) beginning engagement control of the fourth element after step (c). An alternative method includes (a) beginning release control of the first element; (b) beginning engagement control of the third element after step (a); (c) beginning actual engagement of the third element; (d) beginning actual release of the first element after step (c); (e) beginning engagement control of the fourth element after step (d); (f) beginning release control of the second element after step (e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jin Soo Lee
  • 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: 7894969
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a torque-boost control portion that boosts torque output from the engine, and corrects the operation amount of an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the amount of air taken into the engine to increase the amount of air during a torque phase when the automatic transmission upshifts; and an inertia-phase determination portion that determines whether an inertia phase has started. The torque-boost control portion includes a torque-boost end control portion that executes a torque-boost end control that gradually decreases a correction amount, by which the operation amount is corrected, to zero when the inertia-phase determination portion determines that the inertia phase has started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Asami, Toshio Sugimura, Takaaki Tokura, Nobufusa Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7894965
    Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes a first gear set and a second gear set. A first plurality of elements are operable in an applied state and a released state and a second plurality of elements are operable in an applied state and a released state. A controller toggles the first and second plurality of elements between the applied state and the released state to achieve a desired gear ratio. The controller times entry of at least one of the first and second plurality of elements into the released state with entry of at least another of the first and second plurality of elements into the applied state by controlling a hold pressure applied to the at least one element entering the released state. The controller determines the hold pressure by referencing current operating conditions of the transmission in a lookup table stored in a memory of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Hussein A. Dourra, Ali M. Mourtada, David L. Kwapis
  • Patent number: 7894966
    Abstract: An upshift control system for use in an automatic transmission including first and second friction elements, the upshift control system including a control unit that determines variation in an engagement capacity of the first friction element or an engagement capacity of the second friction element on the basis of combination of occurrence or non-occurrence of engine racing and compared lengths between a first time that elapses from output of a shift command to a start of an inertia phase and a second time that elapses from the out output of a shift command to a start of change in an actual gear ratio toward a target gear ratio to be achieved after the shifting, and performs a learning correction of a command pressure for the first friction element or a command pressure for the second friction element on the basis of the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Cheol Park, Osamu Sato
  • Patent number: 7860632
    Abstract: At least one input signal is detected in a time slot, representing the temporal progression of at least one rotational value of the motor of a drive train section and/or the respective corresponding power thereof and is electronically treated and/or evaluated a plurality of times in a parallel manner and according to different characteristics. At least one comparison of the different treating and/or evaluation results of the same input signal is determined, whether the transmission behavior of the drive train or at least one predetermined drive train component is altered. A PT1 filtering, for example, is used for the treatment and/or evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ekkehard Reibold
  • Publication number: 20100305824
    Abstract: A method for controlling operating mode of a vehicle having the electrically variable transmission includes requesting a shift in the operating mode of the transmission and determining if the shift in operating mode is desirable given vehicle conditions. If a shift is desirable then the system compares a timer value with a predetermined time value. The system instructs a shift in the operating mode of the transmission when the timer value is greater than or equal to the predetermined time value and instructs no shift in operating mode of the transmission when the timer value is less than the predetermined time value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal A. Chaperon, Goro Tamai, Jeffrey R. Aldrich
  • Patent number: 7844373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring the following of a reference trajectory by an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Guy Deker
  • Publication number: 20100250055
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire system, connected to a manual shaft in a vehicle, includes: an electric motor having a rotary shaft which rotates the manual shaft; an angle-of-rotation sensor that detects angle position of the rotary shaft for control of the electric motor; a shaft position sensor that detects angular position of the manual shaft; and a control unit that, when the angle-of-rotation sensor functions normally, controls the electric motor according to the sensed angular position of the rotary shaft, so that the sensed angular position of the shaft comes within a predetermined range, and when the angle-of-rotation sensor does not function normally, initiates sensor-less control of the electric motor while estimating the direction of rotation of the rotation shaft, based on the sensed angular position of the shaft, and ceases sensor-less control when the sensed angular position is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu ITO, Tomohiro Aritake
  • Publication number: 20100250078
    Abstract: A transmission includes a controller being provided with a change-speed stage anticipator. The controller adopts a time, which one of the transmission's gear-mechanism selectors requires in shifting a current change-speed stage to another change-speed stage, as a pre-shift time for selecting the latter change-speed stage. The change-speed stage anticipator operates the one of the gear-mechanism selectors while adopting a temporary change-speed stage as a subsequent change-speed stage when the temporary change-speed stage, which is estimated from a state of vehicle after the pre-shift time, the state of vehicle being relevant to each element of an anticipated change-speed stage group that is made up of one or more of the change-speed stages that can be selected by the one of the gear-mechanism selectors being set on one of the transmission's input shafts that is disconnected from a power source, coincides with an anticipated change-speed stage that corresponds to the pre-shift time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroki HATORI, Hiroshi Toyoda, Takeshige Miyazaki, Yoshiki Ito, Kiyoshi Nagami, Atsushi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7801655
    Abstract: A signal processing system with rapid signal processing, for example for controlling the transmission of a motor vehicle, with an input module that calls for a desired reaction by emitting a request signal, a signal processing module, and a target module that implements the desired reaction, which, to accelerate processing, provides that several steps are carried out in parallel, such that the said signal processing module comprises a check module and a clock module each of which receives the request signal, the signal processing module also comprises an actuator module acting between the input module and the clock module, the clock module is connected to the output of the check module, and the actuator module is connected to the target module for transmitting the output signal of the signal processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Bürker, Mario Steinborn
  • Patent number: 7774777
    Abstract: A method for partial initialization of a real-time computation device that is connected via a communication system to further computation devices. Various functionalities are implemented in the computation device by executing a computer program in different fixed time interval patterns. Communication to the further computation devices is performed in a fixed communication pattern. Time interval patterns that are slower than the communication pattern can be influenced from the computer program via the communication pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Hurich
  • Patent number: 7769516
    Abstract: An ECU executes a program including determining whether a mode is a neutral control execution mode, determining whether the mode is a neutral control return mode, detecting a proceeding state of the neutral control return mode when an accelerator is activated during the neutral control return mode, and inhibiting slip start when the mode is in an initial stage of the neutral control return mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Kondo, Makoto Nakayashiki, Tomohiro Asami, Shun Minaki
  • Publication number: 20100174461
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle powertrain having an automatic transmission coupled to an engine through a lock-up torque converter includes determining when a torque converter unlock is imminent during a deceleration fuel shut-off event, and delaying the resumption of fuel flow to the engine for a calibratable time period to reduce the likelihood of an undesirable increase in engine output torque when the torque converter has not fully transitioned to an unlocked state. The method also includes determining whether one or more breakout conditions exist that require enabling fuel flow to the engine and, perhaps, triggering an active unlocking of the lock-up torque converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Paul R. Arlauskas, P. Brian McGrath, Zhong Li, Chad Dalberg, Iqbal A. Chowdhury, Jeremy Smith
  • Publication number: 20100168972
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an automatic transmission including an automatic speed change mechanism that has an input shaft connected to a drive source, an output shaft connected to driving wheels, and a plurality of friction engagement elements, and that performs a shifting operation among a plurality of shift speeds by changing engagement/disengagement states of the plurality of friction engagement elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Murakami, Masaki Nishide, Tatsuya Oba
  • Patent number: 7706979
    Abstract: The invention is a sense-and-avoid display system that obtains position and/or velocity data for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and other aerial vehicles (AVs) from one or more radar and/or GPS data sources by wireless and/or wired data transfer pathways. The UAV and AV data are used to compute and display: present and projected future positions of UAV and other AVs; time and distance of closest approach between UAV and an AV; and recommended change in UAV's flight path and/or flight speed for conflict avoidance. This information is provided to the UAV pilot in 2D and 3D graphic displays. In standard mode of operation, UAV position and/or velocity data are obtained from UAV ground control station (GCS), while data for other AVs are obtained from a non-GCS data source (e.g., radar). In an alternative mode, UAV and other AV data are obtained from the same non-GCS data source. This alternative is an option when UAV is equipped with an identification device (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: Stanley Robert Herwitz
  • Patent number: 7706949
    Abstract: A method and system for executing a shift from a first fixed gear to a second fixed gear in a powertrain system comprising a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission operative to receive a speed input from an engine is described. It includes deactivating an off-going clutch, and generating a time-based profile for rotational speed of an oncoming clutch. The input speed is controlled based upon the rotational speed of the oncoming clutch and an output of the transmission. The oncoming clutch is actuated, preferably when the input speed is synchronized with a rotational speed of an output shaft of the transmission multiplied by a gear ratio of the second fixed gear, preferably after a predetermined elapsed period of time in the range of 500 milliseconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 7699750
    Abstract: A method for controlling a partially unsynchronized manual transmission, which realizes the increase of a rotational speed of a transmission part to be synchronized during a gear change procedure by connecting one element of the transmission, via a shiftable clutch, to a drive motor and by making available to this drive motor the required rotational speed as well as the necessary torque at its output shaft. It is also provided that when the rotational speed and/or the torque made available by the drive motor is not sufficient to ensure the synchronization of the manual transmission within a fixed time period, a shifting strategy is pursued, which prevents an unintentional holding of the manual transmission in its neutral position or idle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Mertinkat, Rainer Petzold, Andreas Wolf, Gerd Sauermann, Klaus Hensinger, Wolfgang Gröner, Ulrich Reith