With Indicator Or Control Of Power Plant (e.g., Performance) Patents (Class 701/99)
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Publication number: 20150081191Abstract: A vehicle speed control apparatus of an industrial vehicle has a controller that determines a target engine speed by PI control based on a deviation between a target vehicle speed and an actual vehicle speed. The controller controls an upper limit of the target engine speed according to an actual engine speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKIInventors: Norihiko KATO, Yukikazu KOIDE
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Publication number: 20150081192Abstract: A method for monitoring a drive of a motor vehicle, including acceleration monitoring, including: ascertaining an actual acceleration of the motor vehicle with the aid of a signal of a kinematics sensor, in particular of an acceleration sensor or of a wheel speed sensor, ascertaining a permissible acceleration of the motor vehicle as a function of a position of a gas pedal, and ascertaining the permissibility of an operating state of the drive as a function of the ascertained actual acceleration and the ascertained permissible acceleration, the permissibility of the operating state of the drive being monitored with the aid of alternative monitoring instead of acceleration monitoring when the operating state of the drive meets at least one predetermined condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Gabor PONGRACZ, Dalibor Kovac, Matthias Schueler
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Publication number: 20150081190Abstract: In a method for controlling a traction system for a heavy road vehicle, the system includes a first mechanical propulsion system, a second hydraulic propulsion system, and a control unit. The method includes measuring a first parameter value, indicative of the rolling radius of a first traction wheel, measuring a second parameter value, indicative of the rolling radius of a second traction wheel, and the control unit using the first and second parameter values for determining a present relation between the rolling radii of the first and second traction wheels. The control unit provides an output signal based on the present relation to optimize the traction applied to the second traction wheel. A traction system and a heavy vehicle incorporating a traction system are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2012Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR ABInventors: Lena Larsson, Jan Öberg, Filip Alm
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Patent number: 8983752Abstract: A system for calculating a first mass value indicative of a first mass of a vehicle is provided, wherein the vehicle has a vehicle interface capable of providing fuel data indicative of a rate at which fuel is being consumed by an engine of the vehicle at each point in time. The system includes: an interface coupled with the vehicle interface, the interface configured for: receiving the fuel data; and receiving movement data indicative of a movement of the vehicle at the each point in time; and a data processing system configured for: deriving a plurality of mass values from the fuel data and the movement data, each mass value corresponding to a respective point in time; and calculating, using the plurality of mass values, the first mass value indicative of the first mass of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventor: Richard Harvie
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Patent number: 8983704Abstract: The disclosure herein provides systems for a versatile electric bicycle that is configured to be easily adapted to accommodate various needs and requirements. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may provide features and/or models that are configured to be easily adapted to accommodate parts of varying dimensions, different seating configurations, and/or particular laws and regulations of different jurisdictions.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Civilized Cycles IncorporatedInventor: Zachary Schieffelin
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Patent number: 8977476Abstract: A system for automatically shutting down an engine of a motor vehicle includes a plurality of status indicators, each providing status data in response to an operational parameter of the vehicle, wherein the status data from each of the status indicators has a predetermined status value. A controller is responsive to the status data and is configured to (1) sum the status values of the status data received by the controller to determine an aggregated status value, (2) compare the aggregated status value to a predetermined shutdown threshold value, and (3) provide a shutdown signal if the aggregated status value is at least equal to the shutdown threshold value for a predetermined time interval. An engine control unit in signal communication with the controller is operable to shut down the engine in response to the shutdown signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Safety Shutdown, LLCInventors: Michael W. Kirshon, Barry Kupferberg, Martin Schneider
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Publication number: 20150066331Abstract: An apparatus and system that ensures that defined equipment systems are monitored and checked before the equipment may be used is described. The invention includes apparatus that encourages the equipment operator to perform specified monitoring checks on specified systems at specified intervals, and requires that the check is done by the operator physically removing a check device such as a crankcase or transmission dipstick, radiator cap, air filter, and so on. Failure to perform the required monitoring task results in the equipment being disabled or locked out so that the operator is unable to use the equipment; for example, a starter motor may be locked out so that the engine cannot start until a specified monitoring check has been completed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Safe T Start LLCInventors: Vito Ignatius Bartolatta, Justin Green
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Publication number: 20150066330Abstract: A utility vehicle having a plurality of wheels, a motive source providing a motive drive force to at least one of the plurality of wheels, and a vehicle master controller module operably coupled to the motive source. The vehicle master controller module provides a control signal to the motive source. The utility vehicle further includes a consumer electronics device and a wireless module being physically connected to the vehicle master controller module to permit two-way operational communication therebetween. The wireless module is also wirelessly connected to the consumer electronics device to permit two-way operational communication therebetween. The wireless module receives a wireless communication from the consumer electronics device in a first protocol and translates and transmits the wireless communication to the vehicle master controller according to a second protocol.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2013Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: TEXTRON INC.Inventors: Patrick WARDEN, Robert BRADLEY, Trenton MUNSELL
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Patent number: 8972163Abstract: Approaches for indicating vehicle fuel efficiency for vehicle usage patterns are provided. Patterns of inefficient operation are detected and conveyed to a user to inform the user of the impact of his/her inefficient operation. In these embodiments, a fuel efficiency tool provides this capability. The fuel efficiency tool comprises: an analysis component configured to analyze usage patterns of a vehicle; a calculation component configured to calculate a vehicle fuel efficiency for each of the usage patterns; and a notification component configured to: provide a real-time notification to a user of the vehicle indicating each of the following via a feedback device within the vehicle: a numerical representation of the vehicle fuel efficiency calculated for each of the plurality of recurring driver habits; and a monetary value indicating an amount of money sacrificed by at least one vehicle usage pattern that is contributing to inefficient vehicle fuel consumption.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Rendell L. Green, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, James W. Seaman, Richard H. Stephen
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Patent number: 8972148Abstract: A vehicle provided with a motor generator as a driving source includes a battery to supply electric power to the motor generator, an engine, and an ECU to control the vehicle in one of a CS mode and a CD mode in which opportunity for operation of the engine is limited compared to in the CS mode. The ECU controls the engine in accordance with a condition different from a condition used to control the engine in the CS mode, if the engine is started at least due to decrease in a state of charge of the battery while the vehicle is controlled in the CD mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidekazu Nawata, Shunsuke Fushiki, Makoto Yamazaki
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Patent number: 8965664Abstract: A controller for a plant that controls a controlled variable for the plant in accordance with estimated values, allowing to reduce any error in the estimated values that is caused by solid variation or aging of the plant. A controller for an exhaust emission control system has an estimated Inert-EGR value calculation section (711) to calculate the estimated value IEGRHAT for the Inert-EGR amount on the basis of an input vector U through a neural network, an estimated LAF sensor output value calculation section (712) to calculate the estimated value ?HAT for an exhaust air-fuel ratio correlating with the Inert-EGR amount on the basis of the input vector U through the neural network, an LAF sensor (34) to detect the exhaust air-fuel ratio, and a nonlinear adaptive corrector (713) to calculate the adaptive input UVNS such that the estimated error EHAT between the detected value ?ACT from the LAF sensor (34) and the estimated output value ?HAT of the LAF sensor (34) is minimized.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Koichi Nakajima, Michael Fischer
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Patent number: 8965631Abstract: A control specifications changing system includes a control specifications data server and a specifications changeable vehicle. The control specifications data server includes a second communication device and a determining device. The second communication device is configured to communicate with the specifications changeable vehicle. The determining device is configured to determine data for changing specifications upon receipt of first vehicle information data from the specifications changeable vehicle through the second communication device. The data for changing specifications includes data for use in changing control specifications of the specifications changeable vehicle to control specifications suited for the received first vehicle information data. The determining device is configured to transmit the determined data for changing specifications to the specifications changeable vehicle through the second communication device.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takatsugu Koyama, Chihiro Wake
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Publication number: 20150051807Abstract: A vehicle 10 including sensors 40-48 and 50 and a processor assembly 30 which, when operational according to one or more strategies, reduce the likelihood of the vehicle 10 being operated by an inebriated driver and the strategy may be portable and suitable for aftermarket applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Hiren Harshadrai Desai, Karan Hiren Desai
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Patent number: 8958970Abstract: A vehicle control system and a vehicle control device can switch control of a supporting device for support a drive of a vehicle between an ordinary travel in which the vehicle travels in a state that a power source for causing the vehicle to travel is operated and an inertia travel in which the vehicle travels in a state that an operation of the power source is stopped. Accordingly, since the vehicle control system and the vehicle control device switch the control of the supporting device between the ordinary travel and the inertia travel, the vehicle control system and the vehicle control device achieve an effect that the vehicle can be caused to appropriately travel by inertia.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaki Matsunaga, Nobukazu Ueki, Hiroshi Tsujii, Koji Ito
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Publication number: 20150046060Abstract: Settings in a vehicle are adjusted by first learning a predictive model of output vectors that correspond to input vectors of sensor data acquired from vehicle subsystems during training. Each input vector defines a known context associated with the vehicle. During later operation of the vehicle, additional input vectors are obtained from the subsystems, and the corresponding output vectors to adjust the settings are then determined using the predictive model.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Nikolaev Nikovski, Michael Jones
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Publication number: 20150046059Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring vibration data. A vehicle, for example, may include at least one engine component, a sensor coupled to the at least one engine component and configured to monitor a vibration of the at least one engine component, and a processor communicatively coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to determine a plurality of envelope spectrums based upon vibration data from the sensor, determine fault frequencies for each of the at least one engine component based upon a rotating speed of each of the at least one components, and monitor each envelope spectrum for changes at the determined fault frequencies.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Kyusung Kim, Chris Hickenbottom, David Daniel Lilly
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Publication number: 20150046046Abstract: The present application is related to an vehicle driving mode detection system. The system may comprise a sensor interface and a processor. The sensor interface may be configured to receive measurement data associated with a plurality of operating parameters of a vehicle; and send the measurement data to a processor. The processor may be configured to execute a set of instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium to receive the measurement data from the sensor interface; determine a driving mode of the vehicle based on the measurement data; compare the driving mode of the vehicle with a first reference driving mode of the vehicle; produce an alert signal when the driving mode is substantially different from a first reference driving mode; and send the alert signal to an information center remote to the sensor unit when a predetermined condition occurs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Ronald Muetzel, Sabine Ibele, Thomas Roesch
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Patent number: 8954214Abstract: A motor assembly comprises an electric power train that is adapted to be connected to a power source and is also adapted to impart a torque to a wheel when the motor assembly is operating. The assembly further comprises a power determination means adapted to determine the amount of power supplied from the power source to the electric power train when the motor assembly is operating. In addition, the assembly comprises a rotational speed determination means adapted to determine a rotational speed of the wheel when the motor assembly is operating. Moreover, the assembly comprises a torque determination means adapted to determine a command torque value indicative of a requested torque to the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Volvo Car CorporationInventors: Hans Pehrson, Sture Wingard
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Patent number: 8954236Abstract: A device combining motor driven power steering with a compressor, may include a deceleration gearbox connected to a steering shaft, a motor selectively providing a steering force to the deceleration gearbox, a first electronic clutch mounted between the deceleration gearbox and a first shaft of the motor, and transmitting or discontinuing transmission of power from the motor to the deceleration gearbox, a power transmitting gear set transmitting power from the motor to a compressor, a second electronic clutch mounted between a second shaft of the motor and an input side of the power transmitting gear set, and transmitting or discontinuing transmission of power from the motor to the power transmitting gear set, and the compressor for an air conditioner, connected to an output side of the power transmitting gear set.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Dae Suk Jung, Un Koo Lee, Soo Bo Park
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Patent number: 8949010Abstract: An inverted pendulum type vehicle capable of making mounting and dismounting of an occupant smooth. A control device of an inverted pendulum type vehicle includes a control gain adjustment unit. The control gain adjustment unit changes the magnitude of the control gain used for motion control of an actuator device according to the tilting state of an occupant riding section in a situation where the stepping on of an occupant to the occupant riding section is executed or in a situation where the stepping off of the occupant from the occupant riding section is executed.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Hasegawa, Shinichiro Kobashi, Shinya Shirokura, Hideo Murakami
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Patent number: 8948996Abstract: Vehicle operations data is received from a plurality of data capturing devices installed at a plurality of transport vehicles. The vehicle operations data is representative of sensor output captured by the data capturing devices. Data sets are processed to obtain different vehicle safety metrics defined by the different types of sensors. An indication of non-conformance can be output when a compared vehicle safety metric does not conform to a threshold. Vehicle safety metrics can be combined into a combined representation of a categorical aspect of vehicle safety, which can be dynamically updated whenever a metric is added or removed. Combined representations can be filtered or grouped according to a reporting criterion to generate reports for drivers, units, company divisions, and the like. Vehicle operations data can be converted from multiple different formats used by different data sources to a common format used for processing metrics and combined representations.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Fleetmetrica Inc.Inventor: W. Ward Warkentin
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Publication number: 20150032354Abstract: A method for compensating for the change in longitudinal dynamics variables in a motor vehicle brought about by a braking intervention of an electronic stability program (ESP) includes: identifying the change in longitudinal dynamics variables; defining a filter to filter the identified value of the change in longitudinal dynamics variables; filtering the identified value of the change using the defined filter, in order to obtain a filtered value; identifying the difference between the identified raw value and the filtered value of the change in longitudinal dynamics variables; modifying the engine torque that is requested by the driver and is acting on the drive wheels of the motor vehicle, by an amount equal to the identified difference value, in order to obtain a compensating engine torque.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2012Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventor: Stephan Elter
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Publication number: 20150032355Abstract: In a vehicle, a CPU of an ECU calculates a rotation speed of an engine based on an assumption that a clutch is in a connected state based on a speed of a vehicle detected by a vehicle speed sensor as a hypothetical engine rotation speed. Subsequently, the CPU acquires a target degree of opening of a throttle valve based on the calculated hypothetical engine rotation speed and a set target engine torque. Then, the CPU controls a throttle drive device such that an actual degree of opening of the throttle valve is the acquired degree of opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventor: Manabu Fujito
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Publication number: 20150028153Abstract: A power plant (1) having two engine groups (10, 20) and a main gearbox (MGB) (2), and a rotary wing aircraft (30) having such a power plant (1). Each engine group (10, 20) drives said MGB (2) mechanically to rotate a main outlet shaft (3) and, consequently, a main rotor (31) of said aircraft (30) at a frequency of rotation NR. A first engine group (10) has two main engines (11, 12) and is by a first setpoint NR* for said frequency of rotation NR, while a second engine group (20) has one secondary engine (21) and is regulated by a second setpoint W1* for power from said second engine group (20). The first engine group (10) is also regulated by a third setpoint W2f* for anticipating power such that said first engine group (10) and said second engine group (20) deliver the power needed at said main rotor (31).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventors: Regis ROSSOTTO, Hanno BOIE
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Patent number: 8938348Abstract: A method determines a run-curve of a motion of a vehicle as a function of at least a speed of the vehicle and a position of the vehicle in a continuous space. First, the method determines Markov decision process (MDP) with respect to a set of anchor states selected from the continuous space, such that a control moving the vehicle to a state transitions the MDP to an anchor state with a probability determined as a function of a distance between the anchor state and the state in the continuous space, and solves the MDP subject to constraints to determine an MDP policy optimizing a cost function representing a cost of the motion of the vehicle. Next, the method determines the run-curve based on the MDP policy.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2011Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Nikovski, Bernard Lidicky
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Patent number: 8935024Abstract: According to one implementation of an engine system, a power device is selectively actuated to provide energy to a storage device. Energy from the storage device is selectively provided to a boost assist device to supplement the normal energy supply to a boost device and enable an increased power output of the engine in at least certain engine or vehicle operating conditions. In one form, the power device may be a source of electrical energy and the storage device is capable of storing an electrical charge. In another form, the power device is a fluid pump and the storage device is capable of storing pressurized fluid. Various methods may be employed to control operation of the power device and energy storage in the storage device.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: John Shutty, David B. Roth, Volker Joergl, Robert Czarnowski
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Patent number: 8935030Abstract: A vehicle control device is disclosed which calculates a drive torque requirement Treq as a target running force output value for a vehicle on the basis of the amount of driving operation by a driver; calculates a correction torque ?Treq for suppressing vehicle sprung body vibration; controls an engine and an electric motor on the basis of a post-correction drive torque requirement Tareq which is derived by correcting the drive torque requirement Treq with the correction torque ?Treq, and controls the indication of the operation state of the electric motor. The correction torque ?Treq includes at least a feed-back control amount ?Tfb as a disturbance-based correction amount. The indication of the operation state of the electric motor is conducted on the basis of a target running force output value for display in which the influence of the feed-back control amount ?Tfb is reduced as compared with the value Tareq.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshitaka Oikawa
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Patent number: 8935061Abstract: Controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine that includes a dipper, a crowd motor drive, and a controller. The crowd motor drive is configured to provide one or more control signals to a crowd motor, and the crowd motor is operable to provide a force to the dipper to move the dipper toward or away from a bank. The controller is connected to the crowd motor drive and is configured to monitor a characteristic of the industrial machine, identify an impact event associated with the dipper based on the monitored characteristic of the industrial machine, and set a crowd motoring torque limit for the crowd motor drive when the impact event is identified.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Colwell, William Hren, David Wendt, Michael Linstroth
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Patent number: 8930117Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a hybrid drive system including a power source. The hybrid drive system can include a hydraulic system operatively coupled to the power source. The hydraulic system can include at least one hydraulic module coupled to the power source and at least one accumulator fluidly coupled to the hydraulic module. The drive system can include at least one drive wheel operatively coupled to the hydraulic system. The drive wheel can be configured and arranged to receive power only from the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system can be configured and arranged to supplement power provided by the power source to the drive wheel. The hybrid drive system can include an electronic control unit in communication with the power source, the hydraulic module, and a sensor associated with the accumulator.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Inventor: Jason James Raasch
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Publication number: 20150006057Abstract: A method of stopping an overspeeding engine (4) of a rotorcraft (1). A protection device stops the overspeeding engine (4) on condition of a comparison between a mechanical power requirement (19) of the rotorcraft (1) and a predefined power threshold (22). Stopping of the overspeeding engine (4) is authorized by the protection device (8) on condition that said mechanical power requirement (19) is identified as being less than or equal to the predefined power threshold (22). The mechanical power requirement (19) of the rotorcraft (1) is calculated on the basis of at least one current or anticipated value for the opposing torque (15) of a main rotor (5) of the rotorcraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventors: Benoit DOMINGO, Guillaume DUMUR, Stephane BAILLY
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Publication number: 20150006035Abstract: The present disclosure describes a microprocessor executable installation supervisor operable to determine, for a selected computational component to be installed in the vehicle, whether the selected computational component satisfies a requirement and/or restriction associated with the selected computational component, when installed, and, when the selected computational component can satisfy the requirement and/or restriction, create a set of data structures in the selected computational component and/or a computer readable medium on board the vehicle to bind the selected computational component to the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2014Publication date: January 1, 2015Applicant: FLEXTRONICS AP, LLCInventor: Christopher P. Ricci
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Patent number: 8924123Abstract: An internal combustion engine boost pressure diagnostic apparatus includes a boost pressure sensor, a throttle valve opening degree sensor, a bypass valve opening degree sensor and a control unit. The boost pressure sensor detects a pressure between a forced induction device and a throttle valve. The throttle valve opening degree sensor detects a throttle valve opening degree of the throttle valve. The bypass valve opening degree sensor detects a valve opening degree of a bypass valve. The control unit determines that the pressure between the forced induction device and the throttle valve is abnormal upon the boost pressure sensor detecting the pressure being equal to or larger than a prescribed value, the throttle valve opening degree sensor detecting the throttle valve opening degree being in a prescribed opening degree region, and the bypass valve opening degree sensor detecting the bypass valve opening degree being in a prescribed opening degree region.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiko Kubota, Masahiro Arai
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Publication number: 20140379187Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor generator and an engine generating driving power for running, and an ECU for controlling the motor generator and the engine. If user request power and a vehicle speed are substantially constant when inertial running control is selected by a user, the ECU causes driving power variation operation to be performed on the motor generator and the engine in which the motor generator and the engine are switched between a low output state and a high output state. The vehicle runs with inertial force of the vehicle in the low output state. As a result, energy efficiency during vehicle running can be improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2011Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi Amano
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Publication number: 20140372007Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a preferably serial hydraulic hybrid drive system (1), comprising an internal combustion engine (8), a first expulsion machine (11), a second expulsion machine (12), a pressure accumulator (20) and an isolating valve device (30). For the purpose of optimization it is proposed that for various operating modes in each case a total efficiency level is read out from characteristic maps. These total efficiency levels are compared with one another. The operating mode with the best total efficiency level is subsequently selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: December 18, 2014Inventor: Richard Bauer
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Patent number: 8914205Abstract: A system and method combines integrated system health usage monitoring and flight tracking of a helicopter, and transmits the information to monitoring sites for managing flight operations in real time, thereby providing the functionality of both system health and flight tracking and reducing weight related constraints faced by helicopters. With enhanced availability of system health data, vital information for maintenance and flight position data-stream, operations, flight dispatch and maintenance can plan for required services more efficiently.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Nagarajan Chandran, Vidhyashankaran Ramamoorthy Iyer, Kanniganti Venkata Ramana
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Publication number: 20140365099Abstract: A request to fully charge a battery and a request to execute idling stop are made compatible with each other. A vehicle control apparatus is mounted in a vehicle having an engine, and a battery that can be charged by an electric power generator that is driven by a motive power of the engine. The vehicle control apparatus is equipped with an idling stop control unit that stops the engine, an SOC change amount detection unit that detects an amount of change in a state of charge (an SOC) of the battery, and an execution restriction unit that permits and prohibits stop of the engine by the idling stop control unit in accordance with the amount of change in the SOC. The execution restriction unit determines timings for the permission and the prohibition such that an amount of increase in the SOC at a time when the engine is not stopped by the idling stop control unit becomes larger than an amount of decrease in the SOC at a time when the engine is stopped.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2012Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kohei Tochigi, Koji Ito, Michihiro Miyashita, Nobukazu Ueki
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Publication number: 20140365100Abstract: A system may include a sensor configured to detect an environmental condition within a vehicle and a controller, operatively coupled to the sensor, configured to control an operation of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the environmental condition as detected by the sensor and an operation state of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventor: Gary J. Speier
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Patent number: 8909439Abstract: An excavation control system includes a working unit having a bucket, a designed landform data storage part storing designed landform data, a bucket position data generation part that generates bucket position data, a designed surface data generation part, and an excavation limit control part. The designed surface data generation part generates superior and subordinate designed surface data based on the designed landform and bucket position data. The superior designed surface data indicates a superior designed surface corresponding to a prescribed position on the bucket. The subordinate designed surface data indicates a plurality of subordinate designed surfaces linked to the superior designed surface. The designed surface data generation part generates shape data based on the superior and subordinate designed surface data. The shape data indicates shapes of the superior designed surface and the plurality of subordinate designed surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventors: Toru Matsuyama, Yoshiki Kami, Shin Kashiwabara, Masashi Ichihara
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Patent number: 8909453Abstract: A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft includes measuring actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft, the actual usage including at least a torque measurement. The method further includes a step of adjusting a life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the measuring of the actual usage. Another method of the present disclosure includes determining a main rotor mast torque by measuring a tail rotor drive shaft torque and deriving a main rotor mast torque by considering the measured tail rotor drive shaft torque and a total torque output of an engine. A system of the present disclosure is configured for determining the main rotor mast torque in part by measuring the tail rotor torque.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Bell-Helicopter Textron Inc.Inventors: Joseph W. Wendelsdorf, Keith Hale, Walter West Riley, Charles Eric Covington, Brian E. Tucker
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Publication number: 20140358398Abstract: An automated method for resolving fault in an engine is disclosed. The method may include providing a reasoner module for recommending a set of maintenance actions to resolve fault in the engine, inputting steady state performance data from the engine into the reasoner module, and using the reasoner module to recommend a set of maintenance actions based at least in part on the steady state performance data. A fault resolution system for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed. The fault resolution system may include at least one computer processor operatively configured to receive steady state performance data from the gas turbine engine, and recommend a set of maintenance actions to resolve fault in the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the steady state performance data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Anya R. Brunschwig, Amy R. Nordmark, Bryan P. Donovan, Andrew D. Ruestow, Gregory J. Kacprzynski, Charles Pelosi
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Patent number: 8903634Abstract: The engine control apparatus includes a governor control mechanism for keeping the engine frequency constant, decides the “presence” or “absence” of the engine load by the throttle aperture and forcibly changes the engine frequency to a predetermined frequency depending on the presence or absence of the load, the engine control apparatus includes an engine controlling unit (10) for controlling fuel supply to an engine (1), an engine temperature detecting unit (4) for detecting an engine temperature of the engine (1), and a threshold changing unit (10a) for changing each throttle aperture as a threshold for deciding the “presence” or “absence” of an engine load depending on the engine temperature detected by the engine temperature detecting unit (4).Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keiichiro Bungo
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Patent number: 8903582Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid automobile is provided. Only a drive force of the motor is outputted to wheels by stopping the engine while operating the motor when a required drive force is below a predetermined switch value, and at least a drive force of the engine is outputted to the wheels by operating at least the engine when the required drive force is above the switch value. The method includes estimating, when the required drive force is below the switch value, a switching possibility of the required drive force increasing above the switch value, operating the engine so that a temperature of a catalyst becomes a first temperature when the estimated switching possibility is above a predetermined level, and operating the engine so that the temperature of the catalyst becomes a second temperature lower than the first temperature when the estimated switching possibility is below the predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kiyotaka Mamiya, Tadayoshi Kaide, Minji Sakaki, Taizo Shoya, Kanichi Yamaguchi, Tetsuya Tateishi
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Publication number: 20140343820Abstract: An everywhere risk detection apparatus for construction equipment is disclosed, which includes an IECU generating and outputting a prevent signal to a VECU if a moving object in an image input from a camera is positioned within a set radius (or area) from the equipment, and generates and outputs the prevent signal to the VECU if a distance between the moving object in the image input from the camera and the equipment is shorter than a set distance. Accordingly, the equipment is compulsorily stopped regardless of an operator's equipment operation, and thus the occurrence of an accident is prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ABInventor: Young-Don Kim
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Patent number: 8886448Abstract: A method of providing a volume-mass law for determination of a fuel flow rate of an engine, particularly providing a fuel flow rate to a helicopter turbine, comprising the steps of: determining a sample type of fuel and a start density ?o of said sample type of fuel in said fuel tank using an equation ?0=aT+b0, with a and b0 being known for said sample type of fuel and calculating real time offset parameters bn from an algorithm to determine real time densities ? of the fuel.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2013Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Airbus HelicoptersInventors: Jean-Philippe Evrard, Cyril Passemard
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Patent number: 8886365Abstract: A method for advising a driver of a vehicle may include monitoring driver torque requests, establishing categories of driver behavior based on a history of driver torque requests and associated rates of change thereof, categorizing current driver behavior into one of the established categories based on current driver torque requests and associated rates of change thereof, and initiating an alert for the driver if the categorization is of a particular type.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Jianbo Lu, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Fling Tseng
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Patent number: 8880268Abstract: Assumed torque Tb is calculated based on an operation state of an engine when there is no abnormality in sensors, the engine is in a warm-up completion state, and a travel mode is a series mode, and actual torque Ta is calculated and friction torque Tf is calculated based on information on an actual amount of electric power generation of a generator. When the friction torque Tf is larger than an upper limit clip value, the upper limit clip value is the friction torque Tf, and when the friction torque Tf is smaller than the lower limit clip value, the lower limit clip value is the friction torque Tf, correction torque Tc is calculated, and an operation of an electronic control instrument of the engine is controlled so as to set the assumed torque Tb to the correction torque Tc.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshihiro Omi, Jun Aizawa, Tatsuya Tawaki
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Patent number: 8880301Abstract: A front wheel power system which may enable independent control of power to each wheel as well as yield direct control over average and differential front wheel torques.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Todd Velde
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Publication number: 20140324318Abstract: A vehicle powertrain control system causes friction torque to be delivered to wheels at a generally constant value for a range of increasing requested friction torque values such that commanded powertrain torque values are reduced to a generally constant floor value. The range of increasing requested torque values is less than a requested powertrain torque value under foot off accelerator pedal and vehicle stop conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Dale Scott Crombez
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Publication number: 20140324317Abstract: A display device for presenting vehicle variables for a motor vehicle, wherein the display device has a display unit for displaying the vehicle variables, a first selection module for selecting vehicle variables to be displayed and at least one interface to at least one vehicle device of the motor vehicle, wherein the selected vehicle variables to be displayed can be retrieved from the vehicle device via the interface and can be displayed on the display unit and a corresponding method.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2013Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Heiko SCHILLING, Thomas Rauner
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Patent number: 8874328Abstract: A method for controlling an auto idle state of heavy construction equipment of an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: storing, by a vehicle controller (VCU) that receives engine actuation information from an engine controller (ECU), an average traveling value of a worker-set engine RPM for a first set time when the heavy construction equipment is actuated at the worker-set engine RPM; and actuating, by the engine controller (ECU) that receives information on the average traveling value of the worker-set engine RPM for the first set time from the vehicle controller (VCU), an engine at a variable auto idle engine RPM, which varies depending on the average traveling value of the worker-set engine RPM for the first set time, when work is temporarily stopped and the worker-set engine RPM is switched to an auto idle engine RPM.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jun Hong Park, Jeong Kwon Jang