Electronic Control Unit Patents (Class 73/114.61)
  • Patent number: 12174690
    Abstract: An information processing device is disclosed. In the information processing device, a derivation unit derives, for each of sensors, a constraint expression obtained by substituting an observation value for a term of an observation value variable in an error model. The observation value indicates the number of present objects observed by the sensors. The error model represents correspondence between: the number of present objects in an observation range represented by the observation value variable and an error term related to an assumed detection error range of the sensor, and the number of present objects in an observation range represented by a variable indicating the number of present objects in an observation unit space. A range calculation unit calculates a possible range of the number of present objects. A reliability calculation unit calculates reliability of an estimation value of the number of present objects for each of the areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Arika Fukushima, Takufumi Yoshida, Koichi Kondo, Shuuichiro Imahara
  • Patent number: 11959433
    Abstract: At least one server comprising at least one processor coupled to at least one memory storing instructions. The server can receive a first signal from a first monitored system comprising an internal combustion engine and a first sensor, the first signal associated with a first occurrence of an internal combustion engine event, a second occurrence of the internal combustion engine event, and first measurement data of the first sensor. The server can determine a first measurement from the first measurement data. The server can determine a second measurement from the first measurement data. The server can determine a measurement deviation between the first measurement and the second measurement. The server can compare the measurement deviation to a stored measurement threshold. The server can determine a first exhibited useful life of the first sensor based on the measurement deviation and at least one of the first measurement or the second measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Swapnali Gujar, Kapil Rajkumar Dhanwani, Kwadwo O. Owusu, Premjee Sasidharan, Alan H. Zhao, Jinqian Gong, Jeffrey Diwakar Abraham, Thomas C. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11624523
    Abstract: A system and method for remote calibration of an air-quality sensor device. The method includes receiving sensor data from at least one sensor device; analyzing the received sensor data to identify at least statistically-significant values indicating on at least drift from initial calibrated values of each of the at least one sensor device; for each identified drifted sensor device, computing re-calibration updates, wherein the re-calibration updates adjust the initial calibrated values such that readings of the respective drifted sensor device fall within a range of expected values; and transmitting the re-calibration updates to the respective drifted sensor device, wherein the respective drifted sensor device upon receiving the re-calibration updates is configured to update its calibration parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: INTEGRATED ENERGY SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brock L. Nigg, Steve Schlanger, Frank Ableson
  • Patent number: 11554809
    Abstract: A steering angle detection device includes plural control units and plural steering angle sensors. Each control unit is configured to transmit steering angle information related to a steering angle of a vehicle to an external device and transmit and receive information mutually therebetween. Each steering angle sensor is provided in correspondence to each control unit and configured to output a sensor signal corresponding to a detection value of a change in the steering angle to the corresponding control unit. One of the control units transmits, as a transmission control unit, the steering angle information to the external device at one transmission timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuko Oka, Shuji Kuramitsu, Koichi Nakamura, Yuki Watanabe, Toshihiro Fujita, Takaharu Kozawa, Shuhei Miyachi, Katsuhiko Hayashi, Masaya Taki, Toshimitsu Sakai
  • Patent number: 10629008
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to, based on a vehicle destination, identify a diagnostic condition and a specified operating pattern of a vehicle component that includes at least one of vehicle propulsion, braking, and steering. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to operate the vehicle based on the vehicle component and the operating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Hassene Jammoussi, Pankaj Kumar, Imad Hassan Makki
  • Patent number: 10519875
    Abstract: An ECU that is a diagnostic device includes a calculation unit that is a water temperature obtaining unit obtaining the temperature of a discharge coolant which is a coolant discharged from an engine, a diagnostic unit that diagnoses a thermostat which is a temperature adjusting valve by comparing the temperature of the discharge coolant and a threshold, and a suspending unit that suspends a diagnosis performed by the diagnostic unit. The suspending unit suspends a diagnosis performed by the diagnostic unit in a case where the temperature of the discharge coolant is estimated to be lower than the threshold according to an operating condition of the vehicle even though the thermostat is normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9709543
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is described in conjunction with a method for dynamically determining a mass flow rate of nitrogen oxides (NOx) for its exhaust gas feedstream. The method includes determining a present engine operating point and determining a reference NOx content for a reference engine operating point. A combustion chemical reaction rate is determined based upon the present engine operating point and the reference engine operating point. A NOx content in the exhaust gas feedstream is dynamically determined during operation of the internal combustion engine based upon the reference NOx content, the combustion chemical reaction rate and a combustion mixing rate constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Min Sun, Shifang Li
  • Patent number: 9470168
    Abstract: A method of diagnosing deterioration of an oxygen sensor of a vehicle may include detecting a first exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) amount by a mass air flow (MAF) sensor, detecting a second EGR amount by the oxygen sensor, comparing a first difference between the first EGR amount and the second EGR amount with a first predetermined value in a first predetermined operating region, and determining that the oxygen sensor may be in danger of the deterioration when the first difference between the first EGR amount and the second EGR amount may be greater than or equal to the first predetermined value in the first predetermined operating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sang Il Yoon
  • Patent number: 9354625
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for effectively detecting an abnormality occurring in a control system and isolating the control system in which abnormality is acknowledged. The mechanism receives, from one or more control systems in the plurality of control systems, respective abnormality notifications for respective counter control systems to be monitored by the plurality of control systems. The mechanism adds up abnormality notifications transmitted from respective monitoring sections of the plurality of control systems so as to evaluate the reputation of a control system suspected to have an abnormality. The mechanism causes a protected area for operating the control system suspected to have an abnormality to restrict outbound traffic from at least the inside of the protected area, when an indication is identified that the control system is abnormal according to criteria from a result of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ohkado, Yukihiko Sohda, Masami Tada, Tadashi Tsumura
  • Patent number: 9330812
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating between the cab interior and exterior chassis of a truck comprises a custom-designed multi-conductor cable having a plurality of circuits. Each multi-conductor cable is terminated at each end with non-proprietary connectors and fabricated into a harness of a length that is truck brand and model specific determined by the truck manufacturer and carry various communication functions between the cab interior and the distal exterior truck cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Alliance Wireless Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Silc, Kelly Genzer
  • Patent number: 9075410
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for effectively detecting an abnormality occurring in a control system and isolating the control system in which abnormality is acknowledged. The mechanism receives, from one or more control systems in the plurality of control systems, respective abnormality notifications for respective counter control systems to be monitored by the plurality of control systems. The mechanism adds up abnormality notifications transmitted from respective monitoring sections of the plurality of control systems so as to evaluate the reputation of a control system suspected to have an abnormality. The mechanism causes a protected area for operating the control system suspected to have an abnormality to restrict outbound traffic from at least the inside of the protected area, when an indication is identified that the control system is abnormal according to criteria from a result of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ohkado, Yukihiko Sohda, Masami Tada, Tadashi Tsumura
  • Patent number: 8930121
    Abstract: A method that includes in-vehicle systems and practices for determining whether a NOx sensor in an exhaust stream is performing properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sai S. V. Rajagopalan, Yue-Yun Wang, Scott T Feldmann
  • Patent number: 8682501
    Abstract: A data processing device includes a memory, an arithmetic circuit that accesses the memory by outputting an access control signal CTRL that controls access to the memory, a first data storage unit that stores first data used when a self-diagnosis is performed, a read-modify-write circuit that generates second data by replacing a part of the first data stored in the first data storage unit with modify data outputted from the arithmetic circuit, and a determination unit that diagnoses a failure of the read-modify-write circuit by comparing the second data with an expected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Hosotani
  • Patent number: 8666642
    Abstract: A system for detecting memory corruption in an engine control module includes a variable selection module, an output module, an input module, and a response comparing module. The variable selection module selects a variable of a control system for testing. The output module outputs a predetermined value of said variable to a memory location where said variable is stored in said engine control module. The input module receives a response of said control system to said predetermined value when said predetermined value is written in said memory location. The response comparing module compares said response to a predetermined range and determines that said memory location is defective when said response is not within said predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph M. Stempnik, James A. Shore, Bryan D Lehman
  • Patent number: 8489272
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for a vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine acquires a diagnostic driving pattern defined by a vehicle speed; stores a drive train model for calculating a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine backward from a vehicle speed and an acceleration; stores map data in which a fuel consumption is associated with a torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine; updates the map data on the basis of a result of actual control over the internal combustion engine; uses the drive train model to calculate changes in torque and rotational speed of the internal combustion engine when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern; and uses the calculated changes in torque and rotational speed and the map data to calculate a fuel efficiency when the vehicle is caused to drive in accordance with the driving pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Sano, Koichi Ueda
  • Patent number: 8375778
    Abstract: An engine control module having an environmentally-sealed housing includes a housing-mounted air pressure sensor for providing a reliable measure of atmospheric air pressure to a control circuit mounted within the housing. The sensor is mounted on an inboard face of the housing, and includes a sensor element, a body portion and a riser portion. The sensor element is mounted in the body portion, and the riser portion protrudes through an opening in the housing to couple the sensor element to atmospheric pressure outside the housing. The body portion is sealingly secured to the inboard face of the housing, and a set of conductor pins molded into the body portion extend inward to engage a circuit board enclosed by the housing, and thereby directly couple the sensor element to the ECM's control circuit. The top of the riser portion is capped by a splash-proof lid to prevent water intrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hamid R. Borzabadi, Ronald D. Wilcox, Philip D. Kuznia, Timothy A. Vas, Lewis H. Little, David G. Miller
  • Patent number: 8184437
    Abstract: A modular equipment testing apparatus is suitable for use in severe environments. The testing apparatus comprises a base computing unit, an interchangeable test instrument board, and an interchangeable equipment interface pod. The base computing unit and the interchangeable test instrument board are sealed within a computing case. A bottom panel of the computing case is formed of a heat conducting material and acts as a heat sink for removing heat from inside the computing case. The computing case and the equipment interface pod interface to form a hermetically sealed case, which can withstand a drop of 1 meter to a solid surface and immersion to a depth of 0.5 meters in water without damage to components located within the sealed case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Pallas Systems, LLC
    Inventor: John D. Berlekamp
  • Patent number: 8042385
    Abstract: An engine controller diagnostic system includes a cylinder identification (ID) comparison module and a synchronization diagnostic module. The cylinder ID comparison module compares a first cylinder ID associated with a first controller with a second cylinder ID associated with a second controller. The synchronization diagnostic module determines a synchronization status of the first controller based on a comparison between the first cylinder ID and the second cylinder ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Jason T. Davis, David S. Mathews, Kevin J. Storch
  • Patent number: 8011233
    Abstract: A vehicle that is equipped with an idling stop and restarting system and method thereof for testing a function of the idling stop and restarting system may include counting the ignition number of an engine including a first ignition, accumulating the operating time period after the first ignition, and setting a charging value of a battery as a predetermined value, if the ignition number is smaller than a predetermined ignition number and/or if operating time period is shorter than a predetermined operating time period, wherein the idling stop and restarting system is operated regardless of the real charging value of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Tae Pyo Lee
  • Patent number: 7942043
    Abstract: A method to determine hydrocarbon slip in a compression ignition engine equipped with an electronic control unit having memory and coupled to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system having a diesel oxidation catalyst, a diesel particulate filter, a selective catalyst reducer and a clean up diesel oxidation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Liu, Kevin Dean Sisken
  • Patent number: 7912619
    Abstract: An engine control system is provided having a control unit and a monitoring module. The monitoring module, together with the control unit, forms one structural unit and is designed as a detachable module having an independent electromagnetic shielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Geissler, Thomas Goeler, Werner Riebesel
  • Publication number: 20110056278
    Abstract: An engine controller diagnostic system includes a cylinder identification (ID) comparison module and a synchronization diagnostic module. The cylinder ID comparison module compares a first cylinder ID associated with a first controller with a second cylinder ID associated with a second controller. The synchronization diagnostic module determines a synchronization status of the first controller based on a comparison between the first cylinder ID and the second cylinder ID.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Brennan, Jason T Davis, David S. Mathews, Kevin J. Storch
  • Publication number: 20100206060
    Abstract: A method to determine hydrocarbon slip in a compression ignition engine equipped with an electronic control unit having memory and coupled to an exhaust gas aftertreatment system having a diesel oxidation catalyst, a diesel particulate filter, a selective catalyst reducer and a clean up diesel oxidation catalyst
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Yi Liu, Kevin D. Sisken
  • Publication number: 20090308148
    Abstract: A vehicle that is equipped with an idling stop and restarting system and method thereof for testing a function of the idling stop and restarting system may include counting the ignition number of an engine including a first ignition, accumulating the operating time period after the first ignition, and setting a charging value of a battery as a predetermined value, if the ignition number is smaller than a predetermined ignition number and/or if operating time period is shorter than a predetermined operating time period, wherein the idling stop and restarting system is operated regardless of the real charging value of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Tae Pyo Lee
  • Publication number: 20090241652
    Abstract: The control device, which is driven by an engine mounted on the vehicle, generates electric power and determines a power generation voltage for supplying the electric power to an electrical load and the electricity storage means, comprising electricity storage amount detection means for detecting an amount of electricity stored in the electricity storage means, by integrating an input/output current to/from the electricity storage means, voltage lowering means for lowering the power generation voltage when a predetermined electricity storage amount is detected by the electricity storage amount detection means, time measuring means for measuring time elapsed after termination of charging/discharging of the electricity storage means, and lowering prohibition means for prohibiting the power generation voltage from being lowered by the voltage lowering means if the time elapsed after termination of the charging/discharging is longer than or equal to a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Hiroshi FUNAKOSHI
  • Publication number: 20090165543
    Abstract: An error detection apparatus detects an error of a NOx sensor, which is located on a downstream side of a NOx remover in a discharge passage of the internal combustion engine. In the error detection apparatus, a running state detector detects a running state of the internal combustion engine. An unsteady state determiner determines whether the running state of the internal combustion engine detected by the running state detector is unsteady or not. A NOx amount retriever retrieves the amount of NOx on the downstream side of the NOx sensor by receiving an output signal of the NOx sensor. An error determiner determines the error of the NOx sensor on the basis of the amount of the NOx that is retrieved by the NOx amount retriever during a predetermined period under the running state of the internal combustion engine including the unsteady state determined by the unsteady state determiner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiji WAKAHARA
  • Publication number: 20090164144
    Abstract: A method for estimating pump torque of a computer-controlled fuel injection heat engine for a motor vehicle. The method determines the pumping torque in a for of a relative pumping torque representative for total pumping torque contribution of an intake and exhaust valve system, wherein the relative pumping torque is determined by a relation factoring in engine cubic capacity, a pressure difference, an exhaust pressure differential estimation due to the presence of the exhaust valves, and an intake pressure differential estimation due to the presence of the intake valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christophe Mounetou, Jerome Cruchet
  • Patent number: 7481103
    Abstract: An engine control device controls an engine of a motor vehicle. The engine control device predefines an admissible engine torque on the basis of a torque envelope curve in dependence on an accelerator pedal position and an engine speed. The engine control device is connected to a diagnostic device. An intervention variable, that represents an engine torque and/or an engine speed and on the basis of which the engine can be actuated for test/diagnostic purposes, can be predefined for the engine control device by the diagnostic device. When at least one test criterion is fulfilled in the engine control device and/or the diagnostic device, the torque envelope curve of the engine control device can be widened or bypassed for test/diagnostic purposes in such a way that given an unactivated accelerator pedal for a defined engine torque at the request of the diagnostic device a larger engine torque is admissible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Gruenter, Marko Geertz
  • Patent number: 7438032
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising an inlet tract, leading to the inlet to a cylinder where a gas inlet valve is arranged. A valve drive for the gas inlet valve is provided, by means of which the valve stroke of the gas inlet may be adjusted using an actuator element, which permits differing cams to operate the gas inlet valve. An inductive actuator drive is arranged on the actuator element in which a voltage is induced during a switching process. A first unit is embodied for recognition of whether a switching of the valve stroke has occurred by means of the voltage induced in the inductive actuator drive which is characteristic of the switching process. A second unit is embodied for the control of at least one further actuator body depending on whether a switching of the valve is recognized in the first switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Herold, Thomas Knorr, Frank Weiss
  • Patent number: 7433777
    Abstract: An engine protection system for a construction machine can individually diagnose the exhaust temperature specific to each cylinder of an engine corresponding to an engine revolution speed in order to find an abnormal condition of each engine cylinder in advance. A revolution speed sensor 14 detects revolution speed of an engine mounted in the construction machine and, a plurality, e.g., 16, cylinder temperature sensors 20a-20p detect exhaust temperatures of respective cylinders of the engine. A data recording unit 26 and a display controller 24 store the detected engine revolution speed and the detected exhaust temperatures of the respective cylinders. Trend data, which is produced based on the stored data, is sent to an office via a portable terminal and the display controller 24 outputs, a signal for playing back and displaying snapshots based on the stored data to a display unit 23 disposed in the cab 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Ikari, Yoshinori Ohwada, Yoshinori Furuno, Shinji Akino, Daisuke Takagi