Clutch Control Patents (Class 701/67)
  • Patent number: 12233882
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least one drive wheel, a powerplant, a clutch, and a controller. The powerplant is configured to generate and deliver power to the at least one drive wheel. The clutch is disposed between the at least one drive wheel and the powerplant. The controller is programmed to, in response to detecting the at least one drive wheel disengaging the ground during a vehicle jump, open the clutch to disconnect the at least one drive wheel from the powerplant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Joshua Sharpe, Brendan F. Diamond, James Trent, David Michael Russell
  • Patent number: 12227167
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle drivetrain by an electric motor, in order to synchronize the speed of an internal combustion engine and the speed of gears in the drivetrain, wherein if a speed synchronization error esync(t) is controlled to remain within a prespecified region for a specific period of time, the synchronization is finished, and a gear may be engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Artemis Kostarigka, Ruben König
  • Patent number: 12222034
    Abstract: A shift control method for a vehicle powertrain includes determining, by a controller, whether a transmission is shifting and determining the type of shifting when the transmission is shifting, selecting a predetermined control matrix depending on whether the transmission is shifting and the type of shifting, calculating a necessary torque of a control target shift element on the basis of the selected control matrix, calculating a control hydraulic pressure for implementing the necessary torque of the control target shift element, and controlling the control target shift element by using the calculated control hydraulic pressure, and the control matrix is calculated by using relationship formulas of angular velocities, angular accelerations, moments of inertia, and torques of powertrain components and using a boundary condition according to a state of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 12221092
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, the systems and methods adjust a driveline disconnect clutch boost time duration or magnitude responsive to a pressure error and a time delay error. A driveline disconnect clutch may be operated via supplying a pressure to the driveline disconnect clutch that includes the adjusted boost time duration or magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akshay Bichkar, Jason Meyer, Bradley D. Riedle, Corey James Blue, Joseph F. Kucharski
  • Patent number: 12179735
    Abstract: This clutch control device includes a clutch device configured to connect or disconnect power transmission between a prime mover and an output target, a clutch actuator configured to output a drive force for actuating the clutch device, and a control unit configured to control driving of the clutch actuator, in which the clutch actuator is provided with a drive source that outputs the drive force and a power transmission mechanism that is disposed between the drive source and the clutch device, and the control unit detects parameter values corresponding to friction of the clutch actuator on the basis of a delay in driving of the power transmission mechanism with respect to a change in a control parameter for the drive source, and controls driving of the drive source through use of a control parameter including at least a part of the parameter values corresponding to the friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junya Ono, Tatsuya Ryuzaki
  • Patent number: 12145591
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for slip control of a vehicle wheel driven via an electric drive. The method includes at least the following steps: driving the electric drive of the vehicle wheel using an actual drive torque in a torque control in a torque control step, determining a wheel speed and a wheel slip of the vehicle wheel and evaluating the wheel slip by way of an instability criterion as to whether an instability exists, upon recognizing an instability, direct or indirect transition in a slip control of the wheel slip to a setpoint slip by driving the electric drive, determining whether an end criterion for ending the slip control is satisfied; and, if the end criterion is satisfied, returning to the torque control in the torque control step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Global GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Bensch, Thomas Dieckmann, Johannes Heseding, Christoph Moritz, Gerd Schünemann
  • Patent number: 12142058
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for enabling an autonomous vehicle (AV) to detect objects and forecast their predicted positions. The system can monitor an object within a vicinity of the AV. A plurality of trajectories predicting paths the object will take at a future time can be generated, the plurality of trajectories being based on a generated three-dimensional (3D) point cloud map indicating current and past characteristics of the object. Using a learned model, a forecasted position of the object at an instance in time can be generated along one or more of the plurality of trajectories. A maneuver for the AV can be performed based on the forecasted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Neehar Peri, Deva K. Ramanan
  • Patent number: 12091011
    Abstract: Rolling launch control techniques for a vehicle involve a set of devices configured to obtain rolling launch control information including at least a start speed for a rolling drag race including the vehicle and a controller configured to control a powertrain of the vehicle such that the vehicle maintains the start speed until the start of the rolling drag race, receive a first driver input in preparation for the rolling drag race, the first driver input including at least a fully-depressed accelerator pedal, optimally adjust settings of at least one of the powertrain and a driveline of the vehicle based on the rolling launch control information, and in response to a start signal or indication for the rolling drag race, stop maintaining the vehicle start speed and launch the vehicle with the fully-depressed accelerator pedal and the optimized powertrain/driveline settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Basil M Khaja, James J Daley
  • Patent number: 12069770
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and apparatus for remote sensing with data science. The methods and apparatus have many applications including monitoring the quality of grain during storage and/or transport. The present disclosure describes a way to collect temperature and other environmental data to describe and predict quality of stored grains, current and future, based on a myriad factors including fumigation, external temperature and humidity, in storage grain temperature and humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Telesense, Inc.
    Inventors: Naeem Zafar, Nicholas William Garner, Achint Jagjit Sanghi, Pragya Kumar, Ali Ahmed, Glenn Adler
  • Patent number: 12025192
    Abstract: The mobile body includes: a stepped transmission; a clutch; a control device; a drive source; an output detection means that acquires an output of the drive source; and an acceleration detection means that acquires acceleration; in which the control device includes: a travel resistance calculation means that calculates a travel resistance based on the acceleration; and a clutch capacity setting means that performs clutch capacity setting based on the output and the travel resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eiji Kittaka
  • Patent number: 12000478
    Abstract: A method of controlling a four wheel drive (4WD) low range shift in a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a powertrain including a transmission that drives a transmission output shaft to provide drive torque to a driveline including a power transfer unit (PTU) that delivers torque to front drive wheels and a rear differential unit (RDU) that delivers torque to rear drive wheels. The PTU and RDU are selectively rotatably coupled to each other through a propeller (prop) shaft. The PTU and the RDU are commanded into a neutral position. A clutch at the RDU is commanded to selectively engage to a degree that communicates a desired amount of torque from the prop shaft to the RDU. A determination is made that an output speed of the transmission output shaft is synchronized to match a speed of the RDU and the RDU is commanded to shift into 4WD low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventor: Frank C Thompson, IV
  • Patent number: 11987231
    Abstract: A method ascertains a characteristic variable of a clutch installed in a drive train of a vehicle for transmitting a transmission torque between a clutch input and a clutch output. A first electric motor is connected to the clutch input and to an internal combustion engine and can assume generator operation, during which it is driven by the internal combustion engine. A second electric motor is connected to the clutch output. The clutch input can have a first rotational speed and the clutch output can have a second rotational speed. The transmission torque during generator operation is ascertained by activating the clutch to adopt a slipping state and in doing so by setting a predefined rotational speed difference between the first and second rotational speed. The clutch input torque present at the clutch input is then ascertained and the transmission torque is determined depending on the clutch input torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Mannsperger, Timo Enders
  • Patent number: 11970153
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure is estimated according to a derivative of a driveline disconnect clutch pressure when a driveline disconnect clutch is being de-stroked. The driveline disconnect clutch may be prepositioned in anticipation of driveline disconnect closing based on the estimated driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akshay Bichkar, Corey James Blue, Samuel Melville Glauber, Joseph Kucharski, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 11970149
    Abstract: A rotation restriction control device comprises a selection unit that selects a rotation restriction state, on the basis of a road surface when parking a vehicle traveling on the road surface, and a control unit that controls a rotation restriction state of a restriction mechanism in accordance with a selection result from the selection unit when parking the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Takefumi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11960352
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a controller configured to control an actuator and generate state information representing a state of the actuator, a request arbitration unit configured to arbitrate requests from a plurality of application execution units, and a request generation unit configured to generate a drive request signal to the controller. The controller includes a detection unit configured to detect whether or not the request arbitration unit is abnormal, a first transmission unit configured to transmit the state information to the request arbitration unit, and a second transmission unit configured to, when the detection unit detects that the request arbitration unit is abnormal, transmit the state information to the application execution units such that the state information does not pass through the request arbitration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ueno
  • Patent number: 11904838
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an electric machine control system for a vehicle, the electric machine control system comprising one or more controllers, wherein the vehicle comprises an electric machine arranged to be selectively coupleable to provide torque to at least one wheel of an axle of the vehicle, the control system comprising input means arranged to receive a speed signal (410) indicative of a speed of the vehicle and a status signal (470) indicative of a status of a coupling of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of an axle of the vehicle, output means (340) arranged to output a coupling signal to control coupling of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of the axle, and processing means arranged to determine (1210) a coupling state of the electric machine to the at least one wheel of the axle and to control the output means to output (1220) a coupling signal indicative of the determined coupling state, wherein the processing means is arranged, in dependence on the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Gareth Jones, Blake Hemingway, Christopher Blakesley, Daniele Giovanelli, Matthew Hancock
  • Patent number: 11821509
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A controller controls the shift actuator utilizing an actuating pulse and an opposing pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies
    Inventors: Thomas Connolly, Joseph Paul Furner, Sipei Chen, Jeff Hawarden, Ian Daniel McKenzie, Christopher DeBoer
  • Patent number: 11801812
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The vehicle control apparatus includes an inputter, a determiner, and a controller. The inputter receives an automatic vehicle hold (AVH) switch operation signal from an AVH device, and receives a current vehicle movement value sensed by a sensing device and a current vehicle brake force value of a brake device that generates brake force in response to activation of the AVH device. The determiner determines whether the received AVH switch operation signal transitions from an ON state to an AVH entry state, determines whether vehicle movement occurs on the basis of the received current vehicle movement value during an AVH retention time in the AVH entry state, and determines that the current vehicle brake force value is in an abnormal state when vehicle movement occurs. The controller receives the current vehicle movement value and the current vehicle brake force value, and transmits a command for judgment to the determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seyoung Cheon, Byunghak Kwak, Sukku Kim, Seong Ho Choi, Jung Hun Han
  • Patent number: 11762887
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including: a global map acquiring unit that acquires at least a part of a global map representing positions of objects in a real space where a plurality of users are in activity; a local map generating unit that generates a local map representing positions of nearby objects detectable by a device of one user among the plurality of users; and an updating unit that updates the global map based on position data of objects included in the local map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichiro Oi, Quan Wang, Kouichi Matsuda, Takayuki Yoshigahara
  • Patent number: 11746837
    Abstract: A method for controlling a clutch unit for a drive train of a motor vehicle, wherein the clutch unit comprises a wet-running friction clutch for controllably transmitting torque from an input element to an output element of the clutch unit, wherein the clutch unit comprises oil for cooling the friction clutch, wherein heat inputs which contribute to heating the oil of the clutch unit are calculated, heat outflows which contribute to cooling the oil of the clutch unit are calculated and, as a function of the heat inputs and heat outflows, a maximum admissible clutch torque is calculated, and wherein the current clutch torque of the friction clutch is limited to the maximum admissible clutch torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Michael Kollmann, Jan Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 11713791
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an engine, a first motor directly connected to the engine through a first shaft, a second motor directly connected to a second shaft, and an engine clutch of which one end is connected to the first shaft and the other end is connected to the second shaft so as to selectively connect the first shaft and the second shaft. The (HEV) includes a first controller unit configured to control each of the first motor and the second motor and a second controller unit configured to determine whether a preconfigured touch point learning condition is satisfied, control the first and second motors to respective first and second speeds when the learning condition is satisfied, and learn a touch point of the engine clutch on the basis of a torque change of the first motor or the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Woo Jeon, Weon Jae Lee, Gi Young Kwon, Dae Won Yang
  • Patent number: 11661052
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch pressure is measured just prior to a request to close the driveline disconnect clutch and a time duration for driveline disconnect clutch boost pressure is adjusted in response to the measured driveline disconnect clutch pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akshay Bichkar, Corey James Blue, Samuel Glauber, Joseph Kucharski, Jason Meyer, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 11603894
    Abstract: A method for adapting a biting point filling time of a hydraulically actuated hybrid disengaging clutch is implemented step by step during driving of the motor vehicle via a plurality of selected engagement phases of the hybrid disengaging clutch with a manipulation of the customary rapid filling routine. Proceeding from an initially stored biting point filling time, a filling time which is shortened in comparison with this for a subsequent rapid filling routine is increased step by step, in each case by an increment. Here, an actual value which is set in each case for a test parameter, from which a change in the transmission of torque of the hybrid disengaging clutch can be derived, is detected until the actual value corresponds to a setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Lukas Spath, Robert Weissenrieder, Markus Terwart, Moghtader Salehan
  • Patent number: 11543027
    Abstract: A line pressure control method for a double clutch transmission (DCT) includes estimating a line pressure, which decreases with stoppage of an electric oil pump, based on a linear regression model using state variables of the DCT that are related to a line pressure change, and driving the electric oil pump when the line pressure estimated based on the linear regression model reaches a predetermined lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Ki Hyung Joo, Young Ho Ko
  • Patent number: 11536365
    Abstract: A malfunction part sensing device for an automatic transmission for a vehicle which is arranged to attain a plurality of shift stages by selectively engaging a plurality of frictional engagement elements, the malfunction part sensing device includes: a shift stage monitoring section configured to monitor the shift stages before and after the shift of the automatic transmission; a malfunction sensing section configured to sense the malfunction mode from a behavior of the vehicle which is generated in accordance with the malfunction; and a malfunction part limiting section configured to limit the one of the frictional engagement elements in which the malfunction is generated, based on the malfunction mode and a shift manner by a combination of the shift stages before and after the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Tooyama, Fumitaka Nagashima, Takateru Kawaguchi, Hideharu Yamamoto, Masahiro Hamano
  • Patent number: 11518355
    Abstract: A brake control device for controlling an electric parking brake may include: a piston capable of pressing a brake pad in accordance with the hydraulic pressure in a cylinder; a linearly moving member that adjusts, by reciprocating in the cylinder, the pressing force applied to the brake pad by the piston; and an actuator that moves the linearly moving member by operating based on a target pressing force, which is a target value of the pressing force corresponding to an output value obtained from a sensor that detects information correlating with the hydraulic pressure. The brake control device is provided with: an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of the sensor; and an actuator control unit that, if an abnormality is detected, controls the operation level of the actuator based on an output value obtained prior to the detection of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Terushige Uraoka, Keita Nakano
  • Patent number: 11519501
    Abstract: A transmission includes a shift drum, an angular sensor, and a control unit. The control unit has reference values of the output values at a first rotation angle and a second rotation angle of the shift drum. The control unit is configured to obtain the output values at the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle as a first output value and a second output value, respectively. The control unit is configured to correct the output value output between the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle based on a difference between the first output value and the reference value at the first rotation angle and a difference between the second output value and the reference value at the second rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Kittaka, Takashi Kudo
  • Patent number: 11473633
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automated starter clutch (4) in a drive train of a motor vehicle (1), which drive train has a transmission (3). In at least one first mode, the starter clutch (4) is operated automatically and is transitioned in an event-controlled manner into a second mode, in which the starter clutch (4) can be operated in such a way that upon actuation of the starter clutch (4), at least one jolt-like movement of the motor vehicle (1) is caused. In the second mode, the actuation of the starter clutch (4) is initiated and controlled depending upon operation of an accelerator pedal (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Lutz Müller, Wolfgang Gröner
  • Patent number: 11465615
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus is mounted in a vehicle and includes: an object detecting unit that detects an object in a travelling direction of the vehicle; and a suppressing unit that suppresses driving force of the vehicle when the object detecting unit detects the object. The suppressing unit performs a first process to gradually increase the driving force when a command to move in the travelling direction is issued and the vehicle is stopped in a state in which the driving force of the vehicle is suppressed, and after the vehicle starts to move from the stopped state, performs a second process to gradually increase the driving force with an amount of increase per time in the driving force that is less than that in the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi Fukuman, Akihiro Kida
  • Patent number: 11441622
    Abstract: A method of setting a clutch control reference value may make it possible to more accurately learn the VKP of a hydraulic multi-plate clutch controlled by a solenoid valve, improving the accuracy of clutch control, and furthermore, to improve the quality of shifting a vehicle by the precise control of a transmission provided with such a clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Young Ho Ko, Woo Jung Kim, Young Min Yoon
  • Patent number: 11434960
    Abstract: A method for motion control of a shift sleeve in a stepped gear transmission during a synchronization and gear engagement sequence for avoiding gear teeth interference, wherein the stepped gear transmission includes an axially displaceable shift sleeve arranged on and rotationally secured to a shaft, and a constant mesh gear wheel arranged on and rotatable relative to said shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventors: Johan Hellsing, Muddassar Zahid Piracha
  • Patent number: 11396916
    Abstract: A method ascertains a characteristic variable of a clutch installed into the powertrain of a vehicle for transmitting torque between a clutch input and a clutch output. A first electric motor is connected to the clutch input to introduce a first drive torque into the clutch. The torque is ascertained when the vehicle is at a standstill in that the clutch is first opened; the first electric motor is regulated at a first rotational speed; the clutch output is regulated at a second rotational speed; a counter torque which counteracts the transmission torque is applied to the clutch output; the clutch is then closed in order to assume a slipping state in which a specific differential rotational speed between the clutch input and the clutch output is present; the first drive torque is then ascertained; and the transmission torque is determined on the basis of the first drive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Timo Enders, Ralf Mannsperger
  • Patent number: 11384505
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes an engine, a drive wheel, a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving power of the engine to the drive wheel, and a control unit configured to control the power transmission mechanism. The power transmission mechanism has a torque converter including a first clutch, and a second clutch coupled to the torque converter. The control unit controls an oil pressure supplied to the first clutch to a predetermined oil pressure when the second clutch is partially engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventor: Takao Fukushima
  • Patent number: 11378143
    Abstract: A method sets a predefined position of a clutch actuator comprising a friction spring element. An activation path of the clutch actuator that actuates the clutch is predefined by a coupling torque via a coupling characteristic curve, wherein the predefined position (zo, zu) to be assumed by the clutch actuator is set by a closed-loop controller. To enable the predefined position of the clutch actuator to be set precisely without using additional energy, the predefined position (zo, zu) is corrected by a turning back value (ro, ru) of the friction spring element and the corrected position (zo+ro; zu?ru) of the clutch actuator is approached by the closed-loop controller. After reaching the corrected position (zo+ro; zu?ru) the closed-loop controller is switched off by dissipating the potential energy stored in the friction spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Erhard Hodrus
  • Patent number: 11358586
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a hybrid vehicle during launch conditions from rest. In one example, a driver demand torque is held constant until a threshold vehicle speed is reached when a constant accelerator pedal position is present so that closing of a transmission input clutch may result in reduced driveline torque disturbances while a desired driver demand torque is delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Kevin Ruybal, Bhavesh Paradkar, Todd Mccullough
  • Patent number: 11338660
    Abstract: A modular electric axle head assembly for a vehicle, including a gear assembly including a gear assembly housing defining a hollow portion therein, a first gear shaft having a first gear, a second gear shaft having a second gear and a third gear, wherein at least a portion of the second gear is drivingly connected to the first gear and the third gear, and at least a portion of the gear assembly is disposed within the hollow portion of the gear assembly housing; a motor assembly having an output shaft that is drivingly connected to at least a portion of the gear assembly; and a first mounting assembly including a portion integrally connected to the modular electric head assembly and a portion integrally connected to a support member of the vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the third gear is drivingly connected to a pair of drive shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Laforce, Steven G. Slesinski, Harry W. Trost, George A. Willford
  • Patent number: 11320043
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift control circuit operates a shift actuator using a first opposing pulse command and a first actuating pulse command, and releases pressure with shift actuating and opposing volumes of the shift actuator upon determining a shift completion event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Peterson, Graeme Andrew Jackson, Timothy Scott Smith, Paul Wilson, Christian Chimner, Thomas Connolly, Christopher Deboer
  • Patent number: 11293501
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle is disclosed that includes an electromagnetic driving unit (10) and a transmission module (20) having a controllable clutch (21) the powertrain further includes a control system to control the electromagnetic driving unit and to control the clutch. The controller has a safety operational mode wherein it controls an engagement of the controllable clutch with a feedback loop in which a desired extent of engagement is positively correlated to a difference between an extent of slip as indicated by the slip indicator and a positive reference value for the extent of slip, wherein the slip indicator indicates the extent of slip with a sign that is the product of the sign of the difference between the rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed of the output shaft and a desired driving torque sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Punch Powertrain PSA E-Transmissions N. V.
    Inventor: Bas Gerard Vroemen
  • Patent number: 11249507
    Abstract: A clutch lever device (50) includes a clutch lever (60) rotatably provided and operated by a user, an elastic deformation portion (81) which is a generation source of an operation reaction force of the clutch lever (60), and a rotary body (91) which is configured to rotate around a first axis (O) in accordance with rotation of the clutch lever (60) and elastically deform the elastic deformation portion (81). The rotary body (91) is configured to change an elastic deformation amount of the elastic deformation portion (81) per unit rotation angle of the clutch lever (60) in accordance with a rotation angle from a pre-operation position of the clutch lever (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Shimizu, Yoshinobu Shiomi, Go Morita
  • Patent number: 11230012
    Abstract: A servo calibration method as well as an apparatus and a robot using the same are provided. The method includes: obtaining data of a position sensor on a motor shaft of the servo; obtaining data of a position sensor on an output shaft of the servo; determining whether a clutch protection has been performed on the servo based on data of the position sensor on the motor shaft and data of the position sensor on the output shaft; and calibrating a position of the motor shaft based on the data of the position sensor on the output shaft, if the clutch protection has been performed on the servo. Hence, the problem in the prior art that the process of the calibration is cumbersome can be solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Youjun Xiong, Hanyu Sun, Wenhua Fan, Lifu Zhang, Zhongliang Wang, Jianxin Pang
  • Patent number: 11187162
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle speed comprises selecting an engine speed profile for a vehicle. Road grade data is received and processed to determine a road grade for the vehicle. Vehicle speed data is received and processed to determine a vehicle speed for the vehicle. A cylinder deactivation mode for a valvetrain of a multi-cylinder engine of the vehicle is selected. The cylinder deactivation mode comprises deactivating one or more intake valve, exhaust valve, and fuel injection for one or more cylinder of the multi-cylinder engine. The selected cylinder deactivation mode provides a controlled deviation from the selected engine speed profile at the road grade and vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James E. McCarthy, Jr., Mihai Dorobantu, Douglas J. Nielsen, Brian Franke
  • Patent number: 11167762
    Abstract: This vehicle transmission system includes a transmission (21) in which a gear is shifted by an operation of a driver of a vehicle (1), a clutch device (26) that is disposed in a motion transfer path between the transmission (21) and an engine (13) of the vehicle (1), and is disconnected and connected by an action of a clutch actuator (50), and a clutch control unit (61) that is configured to control disconnection and connection of the clutch device (26) by the clutch actuator (50). In a case where the vehicle (1) is started with a gear position of the transmission (21) located at or above a gear that is set in advance, and a vehicle speed (V) is less than or no higher than a set value (v2) that is set in advance, the clutch control unit (61) transitions to clutch capacity-limiting control in which a clutch capacity is reduced below that during normal clutch control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ryuzaki, Junya Ono
  • Patent number: 11161510
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, an integrated starter/generator, and a transmission are described. In one example, transmission output torque and electric machine torque are adjusted while a brake pedal and accelerator pedal are contemporaneously applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Doering, Jason Meyer, Stan L. Bower, Xiaoyong Wang, Yanan Zhao, Walter Joseph Ortmann, Ming Kuang
  • Patent number: 11162549
    Abstract: A stuck diagnosis apparatus and a method. The method for diagnosing clutch stuck includes allowing a control unit to turn off a clutch actuator after a clutch is engaged by driving of the clutch actuator, allowing the control unit to count a time elapsing from the turn-off time point of the clutch actuator so as to measure a time taken to reach a disengaged state of the clutch for interrupting engine power, and allowing the control unit to determine that the stuck occurs in the clutch when the clutch does not reach the disengaged state within a preset reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: HyeonDeok Seo
  • Patent number: 11078971
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clutch control reference value setting method including generating a current-hydraulic pressure model, setting a temporary VKP to a current causing a maximum difference between a model hydraulic pressure and a measured hydraulic pressure, determining that the temporary VKP is valid when a deflection amount calculated from a difference integral value acquired by integrating differences between the model hydraulic pressure and the measured hydraulic pressure while increasing the current is greater than a first reference value under a condition that the first target pressure is applied to the clutch, determining that the temporary VKP is appropriate when a deflection amount calculated from a difference integral value acquired by integrating differences between the model hydraulic pressure and the measured hydraulic pressure while increasing the current is proper under a condition that a second target pressure is applied to the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Ho Ko, Tae Hee Cho, Ho Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11077751
    Abstract: A weight ratio of each driving wheel of the vehicle at the time of automatic driving is calculated, a front and rear distribution ratio of a driving force of the vehicle is calculated from the weight ratio, a rear wheel plan driving force is calculated from the front and rear distribution ratio and an action plan required driving force, and a temperature of a rear wheel motor is estimated. Then, when the estimated attainment temperature of the rear wheel motor is higher than the upper limit value of the temperature, the front and rear distribution ratio is changed within a range in which excessive slip does not occur at the front wheels, the rear wheel plan driving force is recalculated, and the automatic driving of the vehicle is implemented taking the rear wheel plan driving force as a target driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Sadakiyo, Akiko Nakagawara, Takuro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11078970
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a plurality of friction clutches and a selectable one-way clutch. The transmission also includes a controller programmed to, in response to detecting a component fault, switch the selectable one-way clutch from a passive state to an active state by commanding engagement of a first subset of the friction clutches to establish a slip elimination state. The controller is also programmed to, following establishment of the slip elimination state, command the selectable one-way clutch to the active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dongdong Dee Li, Stephen Michael Cicala, Conor Edward Sullivan, Richard Reynolds Hathaway
  • Patent number: 10913465
    Abstract: A speed changing device includes a control unit (60) that: has a manual mode in which a clutch is engaged and disengaged by operating a clutch lever (4b) and an automatic mode in which the clutch is engaged and disengaged without the clutch lever (4b) being operated and is able to change a setting to the manual mode and the automatic mode; and is configured to signal mode misrecognition when it is determined that mode misrecognition has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ryuzaki, Junya Ono, Seiji Hamaoka
  • Patent number: 10876582
    Abstract: Presented are clutch-type engine disconnect devices, methods for making/using such disconnect devices, and motor vehicles equipped with such disconnect devices. An engine disconnect device includes a notch plate, which has multiple notches and attaches to a torque converter, and a pocket plate, which has multiple pockets and attaches to an engine's crankshaft. A pawl is movably mounted within each notch; these pawls selectively engage the notches with the pockets. A notch plate insert is nested within each notch, supporting thereon one of the pawls. A selector plate interposed between the pocket and notch plates moves from a first position, to shift the pawls out of engagement with the pockets, and a second position, to move the notch plate inserts within the notches and allow the pawls to engage the notches with the pockets to thereby lock the notch plate to the pocket plate to rotate in unison with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Derek F. Lahr, Chunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie, Dongxu Li, Dmitriy Bruder
  • Patent number: 10870423
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a pair of front axle shafts, and a transfer case having a clutch assembly configured to selectively move between a closed position to enable the engine to drive the front axle shafts, and an open position to disable the engine from driving the front axle shafts. A control system is configured to momentarily open the clutch assembly when the vehicle is coming to a stop or is stopped in order to relieve residual torque build-up in the front axle shafts to thereby reduce idle vibration transmission between the engine and a body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M Orzechowski, Kenneth Pachucki, Urmit Patel, Robert R Roco, Gregory A Sbroglia, Donald F Schmanski, Swapneel H Gharpure