Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100305790 | Wheel Torque Disturbance Suppression - A method for controlling restart of an engine in a hybrid electric powertrain, includes engaging a gear of a transmission, releasing a brake pedal, maintaining fluid pressure at an adaptively determined magnitude in a wheel brake, initiating a restart the engine, and reducing fluid pressure in the wheel brake when the engine restarts. | 12-02-2010 |
20110065548 | Brake Assisted Vehicle Engine Restart on a Road Grade - A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle stopped on a grade, comprising the steps of engaging a gear of a transmission through which the engine and wheels of the vehicle are driveably connected mutually, using brake pressure to engage wheel brakes and produce a road gradient wheel torque that holds the vehicle stationary on the grade, initiating an engine restart, operating the engine to produce wheel torque equal to or greater than the road gradient wheel torque, and releasing the brake pressure. | 03-17-2011 |
20110071001 | Brake Assisted Control of an Engine Restart Event - A method for restarting an engine of a vehicle includes engaging a gear of a transmission that driveably connects the engine and wheels of the vehicle; maintaining a current brake pressure greater than a reference brake pressure; initiating an automatic engine restart; using a timer to count down during a period of predetermined length; using a pump to produce a desired magnitude of brake pressure sufficient to suppress a wheel torque surge produced by restarting the engine and to hold the vehicle stationary; and releasing the brake pressure if either the timer expires or a peak in engine speed occurs. | 03-24-2011 |
20110136625 | Hybrid Electric Vehicle Hold Function - A vehicle powertrain with engine start-stop characteristics is capable of maintaining a vehicle stationary on a roadway with a gradient when wheel brakes are applied to stop the vehicle as the engine is shut down. Vehicle creep and vehicle launch is achieved as the engine is re-started following detection of a brake release signal based on engine speed. | 06-09-2011 |
20110166731 | Energy Management Control of a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle - A drive-home button is provided in the dashboard of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The driver presses this button when heading home or to other predetermined destination at which charging is routinely performed. The actual route, the driving style, and other relevant vehicle/road information during the trip home are stored to build up a statistical database. During a present trip home, a highly probably route is predicted based on prior trips and an energy management profile is calculated. The commands to the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are selected to cause the vehicle's battery to be substantially discharged upon arriving at home based on actual data of energy usage by the operator of the vehicle during prior trips. By using actual data, the prediction of energy usage is more accurate allowing more complete discharge of the battery. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166732 | DISTANCE BASED BATTERY CHARGE DEPLETION CONTROL FOR PHEV ENERGY MANAGEMENT - In a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the vehicle may be operated in a charge-(CD) mode to ensure that the battery is effectively discharged or in a charge-sustaining (CS) mode in which the battery state of charge is maintained by operating the internal combustion engine predominantly for propulsion. In trips that are longer than that which fully depletes the battery storage, it is possible to control the proportion in a manner that is between CS and CD modes to provide overall higher efficiency while still effectively discharging the battery over the course of the trip. Such higher efficiency operation is possible when information about the distance until the next charging event is available. | 07-07-2011 |
20110166733 | PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE HOLD FUNCTION AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT - A plugin hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a battery, an electric machine, and a controller. The vehicle is operable in a primary electric vehicle driving mode (EV mode) and in a hybrid electric vehicle driving mode (HEV mode). The controller is programmed to receive input from the driver representing a desired operating mode and a desired energy reservation. If the desired operating mode is HEV mode, then a state of charge (SOC) offset is established as the smaller of a maximum SOC offset and an allowable SOC offset, otherwise, the SOC offset is established based on the desired energy reservation. The vehicle is operated based on the SOC offset. | 07-07-2011 |
20110172863 | Dynamic Traction Control - A vehicle in which propulsion can be distributed between first and second axles includes: a first electric motor coupled to the first axle and a second electric motor coupled to the second axle. An electric control unit (ECU) coupled to the motors causes electrical energy to be generated by the first motor in response to the ECU determining that a wheel speed of at least one wheel associated with the first axle exceeds the vehicle speed and causing electrical energy to be supplied to the second motor in response to electrical energy being generated in the first motor. | 07-14-2011 |
20110172867 | Engine Power Elevation and Active Battery Charge Energy Management Strategies for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles - A method for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) having an engine and a battery configured to respectively deliver engine power and battery power to provide a total output power for powering the vehicle includes the following. An elevated engine power which falls within a total output power range where only engine power without battery power may be delivered to power the vehicle in response to a driver demand power and which is greater than the combination of the driver demand power and vehicle powering losses is determined. The engine delivers the elevated engine power in response to the driver demand power. The extra engine power is transferred to the battery for the battery to buffer. | 07-14-2011 |
20110184600 | Adaptive Initial Estimation and Dynamic Determination and Update of Distance Until Charge of a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle - An electric vehicle such as a PHEV or a BEV and a method of control includes receiving from a user of the vehicle, at an interface of the vehicle, a distance until charge (DUC) value indicative of the distance from a current position that the vehicle is intended to be driven before the vehicle is recharged. Battery usage of the vehicle is controlled as a function of the DUC value. An initial estimate of the DUC value may be made by obtaining historical distance between charges (DBC) values indicative of the distance the vehicle has been driven between each of one or more pairs of consecutive charges of the vehicle. The estimated DUC value is based on the DBC values. | 07-28-2011 |
20110257826 | Vehicle Stability And Steerability Control Via Electronic Torque Distribution - A system for distributing propulsion to front and rear axles of a vehicle includes: a front axle motor coupled to the front axle and a rear axle motor coupled to the rear axle. An electronic control unit (ECU) electronically coupled to the motors commands the rear axle motor to increase torque supplied to the rear axle during understeer and commands the front axle motor to increase torque supplied to the front axle during oversteer. A method to distribute propulsion to front and rear axles of a vehicle includes estimating actual yaw rate, estimating desired yaw rate, providing electrical energy to the front axle motor during oversteer, and providing electrical energy to the rear axle motor during understeer. Additionally, electrical energy may be extracted from the rear axle motor during oversteer and electrical energy may be extracted from the front axle motor during understeer. | 10-20-2011 |
20110288697 | Electric Motor Enhanced Driveability In Vehicle Handling And Stability Control Events - A system and method are disclosed for controlling a vehicle during a turn in which a braking torque is applied to an inside wheel of the vehicle when understeer is detected and to an outside wheel when oversteer is detected. Electrical energy commanded to an electric motor coupled to a first axle of the vehicle is increased in response to application of the braking torque to compensate for the applied braking torque. | 11-24-2011 |
20110307129 | VEHICLE STEERABILITY AND STABILITY CONTROL VIA INDEPENDENT WHEEL TORQUE CONTROL - An independent wheel torque control algorithm is disclosed for controlling motor torques applied to individual electric motors coupled to vehicle wheels in an electric vehicle. In a first range of vehicle states, vehicle steerability is favored so that the operator of the vehicle suffers little or no longitudinal propulsion loss while steering is enhanced. In a second range of vehicle states, vehicle stability is favored. According to embodiments of the disclosure, a desired yaw moment is computed and then may be reduced in magnitude due to system limitations, electrical or friction limits, which prevents the desired yaw moment from being fully realized. | 12-15-2011 |
20120035795 | DISTANCE ORIENTED ENERGY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A vehicle and a method to control a vehicle includes selecting a trip route for the vehicle using a user interface, generating a charge reference profile of a battery coupled to an electric motor based on the trip, and commanding propulsion devices in the vehicle based on a location of the vehicle with respect to the trip route such that a state of charge (SOC) of the battery tracks the reference profile. | 02-09-2012 |
20120116620 | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Method of Control for Providing Distance to Empty and Equivalent Trip Fuel Economy Information - A powertrain for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) such as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) includes an engine, a fuel tank, a battery, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a distance to empty value as a sum of fuel in the fuel tank and a battery equivalent amount of fuel, the sum multiplied by an average fuel economy of the PHEV based on a driving condition of the vehicle. | 05-10-2012 |
20120290159 | Location Enhanced Distance Until Charge (DUC) Estimation for a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) - A method and a system augment or improve a distance until charge (DUC) estimation for a vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) by using location information. Such location information may be provided by a global positioning system (GPS) or the like associated with the vehicle. The method and the system generally estimate the DUC value as a function of past driving pattern historical data that is relevant to a current driving situation. To this end, the method and the system ignore past driving pattern historical data that is not relevant to the current driving situation when estimating the DUC value. | 11-15-2012 |
20120293313 | Method and Apparatus for Generating Vehicle Vibration to Alert Vehicle User of Warning - A drive torque modulation is generated in response to an unintentional lane departure or traffic/obstacle intervention in an electric vehicle or a hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV). At least one of propulsion and braking of the vehicle is controlled via a motor of the vehicle in accordance with the torque modulation. Vehicle oscillation is generated through the torque modulation to let the driver be aware of the impending dangerous driving situation. | 11-22-2012 |
20130073113 | VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING A RANGE FOR THE VEHICLE - A method to control a vehicle includes assigning a predicted driving pattern to a predicted path for the vehicle, and providing a range for the vehicle using the predicted energy efficiency and an amount of energy available to the vehicle. The predicted driving pattern has an associated predicted energy efficiency. A vehicle includes a propulsion device coupled to wheels of the vehicle via a transmission, and a controller electronically coupled to the propulsion device. The controller is configured to: (i) assign a predicted driving pattern to a predicted path for the vehicle, the predicted driving pattern having a predicted energy efficiency, and (ii) provide a range for the vehicle using the predicted energy efficiency and an amount of energy available to the vehicle. | 03-21-2013 |
20130131900 | Engine Power Elevation Energy Management Strategies for Hybrid Vehicles - A method for a hybrid vehicle includes outputting from an engine at least an elevated engine power while a driver demand power is greater than the elevated engine power. The method further includes outputting just the elevated engine power from the engine while the driver demand power is less than the elevated engine power and transferring from the engine to a traction battery an extra engine power between the elevated engine power and the driver demand power. | 05-23-2013 |
20130179015 | Electronic Stability Control System for Electric Drive Vehicle - A stability control system for a vehicle that has an electric traction motor that provides torque to an axle through a differential. The traction motor responds to an instability event that is sensed by sensors on the vehicle by initially reducing the torque provided to the traction wheels to regain steering control. The traction motor then pulses increased torque in sequence with the application of braking force to provide enhanced direct yaw moment control. | 07-11-2013 |
20130179070 | ADAPTIVE METHOD FOR TRIP PREDICTION - A method for predicting a final destination of a vehicle comprises the steps of acquiring a start location of the vehicle, providing a predetermined waypoint distance from the start location, determining a current waypoint location once the vehicle travels the predetermined waypoint distance, receiving historical destination data from a database, including previous destinations associated with the current waypoint location. Then, making a prediction at the current waypoint location of the final destination based on the historical destination data. | 07-11-2013 |
20130332054 | STOP/START VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ENGINE OF SAME - A stop/start system of a vehicle can issue auto stop commands and auto start commands. An engine of the vehicle is auto stopped in response to the auto stop commands and auto started in response to the auto start commands. The stop/start system can prevent an auto stop of the engine based on a predicted stop duration for a predicted stop location for the vehicle such that the engine remains running when the predicted stop duration is less than a threshold duration and the vehicle is stopped in a vicinity of the predicted stop location. | 12-12-2013 |
20140012442 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO AVOID UNINTENDED ENGINE ON/OFFS FOR HYBRID VEHICLES - A system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain having an engine defining one power source, and a traction motor and electrical storage device defining another power source include inhibiting a stopping and a starting of the engine based upon an unintended tip-out event and an unintended tip-in event, respectively. The total power demand and the available electric power are determined. The total power demand is filtered. The engine is prevented from being pulled-up or pulled-down based upon a difference between the total power demand and the filtered power demand being exceeding a threshold. However, if the difference exceeds the threshold, and if the available electric power exceeds the total power demand, then the engine is permitted to pull-up or pull-down. | 01-09-2014 |
20140066255 | BRAKE APPLY AND RELEASE DETECTION FOR STOP/START VEHICLE - A vehicle is provided with an engine that is configured for automatic shutdown and restart. The vehicle is also provided with a controller that is configured to shutdown the engine in response to brake effort exceeding a first threshold and to restart the engine in response to brake effort decreasing below a second threshold. The first threshold and the second threshold are based on an estimated vehicle mass and a road gradient. | 03-06-2014 |
20140066256 | DYNAMIC FILTERING FOR STOP/START VEHICLE LAUNCH PREPARATION - A vehicle includes an engine configured for automatic shutdown and restart. The vehicle is provided with a controller that is configured to restart the engine when a difference between an actual brake pressure and a filtered brake pressure is greater than a threshold value. The filtered brake pressure is dependent upon a magnitude of the actual brake pressure and a rate of change of the actual brake pressure. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067153 | ROAD GRADIENT ESTIMATION ARBITRATION - A vehicle and vehicle system are provided with a controller that is configured to generate output indicative of a road gradient based on at least one of a first estimation, a second estimation and a third estimation. The road gradient is based on the first estimation when a vehicle speed is less than a speed threshold and an input indicative of a longitudinal acceleration is available. The road gradient is based on the second estimation when the vehicle speed is greater than the speed threshold and the longitudinal acceleration is available. The road gradient is based on the third estimation when the longitudinal acceleration is not available. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067154 | KINEMATIC ROAD GRADIENT ESTIMATION - A vehicle and a vehicle system are provided with a controller that is configured to generate output indicative of a kinematic road gradient estimation using an extended Kalman filter. The extended Kalman filter includes a system input based on a longitudinal acceleration and an acceleration offset, and a system output based on a predicted vehicle speed. The acceleration offset is based on at least one of a lateral velocity, a lateral offset, and a vehicle pitch angle. The controller is further configured to generate output indicative of a kinematic quality factor corresponding to an availability of the kinematic road gradient estimation. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067155 | DYNAMIC ROAD GRADIENT ESTIMATION - A vehicle and vehicle system are provided with a controller that is configured to generate output indicative of a vehicle mass estimation. The vehicle mass estimation is based on a longitudinal acceleration and a wheel torque when at least one of the longitudinal acceleration, a vehicle speed and a yaw rate indicate an occurrence of a qualified event. The controller is further configured to generate output indicative of a dynamic road gradient estimation based on the vehicle speed, the wheel torque and the vehicle mass estimation. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067224 | WHEEL TORQUE DISTURBANCE SUPPRESSION CONTROL FOR VEHICLE HOLD BEFORE/DURING ENGINE STARTUP - A vehicle-hold control method is used to hold an engine-powered vehicle from rolling backward on a road gradient during an engine start. The engine shuts down when the vehicle is stopped following operation of the vehicle under engine power. The engine is re-started during an engine cranking interval as vehicle wheel brakes are applied. The brakes are released in response to detection of pre-calibrated engine speed characteristics. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067240 | STATIC ROAD GRADIENT ESTIMATION - A vehicle and a vehicle system are provided with a controller that is configured to generate output indicative of a static road gradient estimation based on a filtered longitudinal acceleration. The filtered longitudinal acceleration is dependent upon a derivative of a longitudinal acceleration. An initial value of the static road gradient estimation corresponds to at least one of a kinematic road gradient estimation and a dynamic road gradient estimation. | 03-06-2014 |
20140081563 | ENGINE-ON TIME PREDICTOR FOR AFTERTREATMENT SCHEDULING FOR A VEHICLE - A method to control a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having a compression ignition engine includes operating the engine based on an engine-on request and performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure based on a completion time for the aftertreatment procedure compared to a predicted engine-on time determined using a driving pattern. An HEV is provided with a compression ignition engine with an aftertreatment system, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) operate the engine based on an engine-on request, and (ii) perform an exhaust aftertreatment procedure for the vehicle based on a completion time for the aftertreatment procedure compared to a predicted engine-on time determined using a driving pattern. A computer readable medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a controller to control a vehicle is provided with instructions for operating the engine based on an engine-on request, and instructions for performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure. | 03-20-2014 |
20140163789 | TRIP ORIENTED ENERGY MANAGEMENT CONTROL - An engine, electric machine and battery of a vehicle are operated such that a state of charge of the battery generally decreases and then achieves approximately a charge-depletion-to-charge-sustaining transition threshold after the vehicle has been driven a distance greater than the pure electrical range of the vehicle. | 06-12-2014 |
20140267415 | ROAD MARKING ILLUMINATTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A controller is configured to enhance driving awareness and safety by recognizing road marking objects and automatically generating laser or light beams to illuminate the road marking objects. The road marking objects are recognized from vehicle surrounding sensing system where cameras are frequently used. The road marking objects are also inferred from navigation information system based on the vehicle's position and knowledge about surrounding environment. Road markings for future vehicle positions are predicted based on present vehicle states and motions. The relative positions of the road marking objects are determined with respect to a vehicle coordinate system. When illuminated from a projector on the vehicle, the projected images of the road markings sufficiently overlap and highlight their target road marking objects on road surface. | 09-18-2014 |
20150042812 | LOCAL POSITIONING AND MOTION ESTIMATION BASED CAMERA VIEWING SYSTEM AND METHODS - A method and a system for controlling camera orientation in training and exhibition systems. The method and system use a control algorithm to drive the orientation of a camera system at a determined reference velocity in order to place the aim-point of the camera system following a target aim-point in a local coordinate system. In some embodiments, the position and velocity of the target aim-point in the local coordinate system are determined based on dynamically filtered position and motion of a target object, where the position and motion of the target object are measured from a local positioning system. | 02-12-2015 |
20150094096 | LOCATION AND EVENT BASED INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND CONTROL SYSTEM - An information system that provides information exchange and control services based on location and event between a subject of information and a service user. The information system first builds up direct referral link between the information resource and the subject of information by referral of a common map location. Information exchange and system control connections between them may also be established. The service next builds up information exchange and system control connections between the information resource and the service user intelligently and dynamically by satisfying conditions that comprises spatial and behavioral relationships and information subject matching rules. After that, information exchange and control channel is indirectly established between the service user and the physical existence of the information subject through the connection provided by the service of information resource, which manages the controllability of the subject and the contents and accessibility of the information related to the subject. | 04-02-2015 |
20150105951 | REGENERATIVE BRAKING IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM CONTROL EVENT - A hybrid electric vehicle includes at least one wheel, a friction brake, a motor, and at least one controller. The friction brake is coupled to the wheel and configured to provide friction brake torque, and the motor is coupled to the wheel and configured to provide regenerative brake torque. The controller is configured to command the motor to provide a regenerative brake torque to satisfy a low frequency torque component or a high frequency torque component of a required antilock wheel brake torque during an antilock braking event. | 04-16-2015 |
20150106427 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND APPLICATIONS BETWEEN CLIENTS IN A TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK - An information system that provides information exchange and application services based on the location and relationships between a landmark client and a service user client. The information service system first builds up direct referral link between a landmark client account and a declared landmark location. The landmark account stores information and applications associated to the landmark client. A service user connects to the information service system via a user client account that stores information and applications associated to the user client. The information service system determines a relationship between the landmark client and the user client using the location and navigation data of the clients as well as their identity and configuration information. The service next builds up information exchange and system control connections between the landmark client and the service user client according to their specified information access and usage rules under prescribed relationship situations. | 04-16-2015 |
20150120106 | Vehicle Dynamic Controls Coordination System for Dual-Axle Driven Electric Vehicles - An electric vehicle (HEV/BEV/EV) includes a dynamic traction control (DTC) system configured to perform a DTC process and an electric motor enhanced dynamic wheel torque control by brake (eDWT-B) system configured to perform an eDWT-B process. A controller selects according to a vehicle criterion a combination of the DTC and eDWT-B processes to control a vehicle operation. | 04-30-2015 |
20150120107 | PHEV Energy Management Control with Trip-Oriented Energy Consumption Preplanning - A driving pattern based plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) energy consumption preplanning process enables a PHEV trip-oriented energy management control (TEMC) to utilize scalable levels of available trip foreknowledge in order to optimize the onboard energy (fuel and electricity) usage. The preplanning process generates an optimal battery state-of-charge (SOC) depletion profile for a given trip to be traveled by a PHEV. The preplanning process may generate the battery SOC profile using a driving pattern based dynamic programming (DP) algorithm. The TEMC controls the onboard energy usage in accordance with the battery SOC profile, which is optimized for the trip. The preplanning process makes use of spatial domain normalized drive power demand (SNDP) (or S-NDP) distributions in which each set of distributions is indicative of a respective driving pattern. The trip foreknowledge is used to select the driving pattern best representative of the driving process for the trip. | 04-30-2015 |
20150120157 | ROAD GRADE ESTIMATION FOR A TRAILERED VEHICLE - An example vehicle control method includes, among other things, controlling a towing vehicle based upon a trailered vehicle road grade. | 04-30-2015 |
20150197235 | EXTENDED ELECTRIC MODE OPERATION FOR HYBRID VEHICLE IN GREEN ZONE - A system and method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle includes issuing an internal combustion engine start command in response to a traction battery state of charge falling below a first threshold when the engine is off. The system and method further includes inhibiting an engine start command when the battery state of charge is below the first threshold and the engine is off in response to the vehicle being within a designated geographical region. | 07-16-2015 |
20150231982 | Active Battery System Estimation Request Generation - Hybrid-electric and pure electric vehicles include a traction battery. During vehicle operation, impedance parameters of the traction battery may be estimated. To ensure accurate estimation results, certain persistent excitation criteria may be met. These conditions may not always be met, in which case active excitation of the traction battery power demand may be initiated. The invocation of active battery excitation may be based on a variability of estimates of a battery parameter and an age of a most recent estimate of the battery parameter. As the variability of the parameter estimates increases, the time between active battery excitation requests may decrease. | 08-20-2015 |
20150232083 | Active Battery Parameter Identification Using Conditional Extended Kalman Filter - Hybrid-electric and pure electric vehicles include a traction battery. During vehicle operation, impedance parameters of the traction battery may be estimated. To ensure accurate estimation results, certain persistent excitation criteria may be met. These conditions may not always be met, in which case active excitation of the traction battery power demand may be initiated. During periods of generally constant battery power demand in which a predetermined range of frequency component amplitudes of battery power demand is less than a predetermined magnitude, active excitation may be desired. A controller may cause at least one of the frequency component amplitudes to exceed the predetermined magnitude without affecting acceleration of the vehicle. Battery power demand may be affected by operation of an electric machine and an electrical load. An engine and a wheel brake may be operated to offset changes in battery power demand such that driver wheel output power is not affected. | 08-20-2015 |
20150239450 | INFORMATIONAL BASED ENGINE STOP/START SENSITIVITY CONTROL FOR MICRO-HEV - A controller may be configured to adjust a brake apply and release detection calibration based on a detection sensitivity associated with a predicted driver start/stop intention for a vehicle and an associated confidence level indicative of a likelihood of the predicted driver intention; and perform at least one of engine startup and engine shutdown according to the adjusted brake pedal detection calibration. | 08-27-2015 |
20150239475 | HYBRID VEHICLE AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A hybrid electric vehicle includes a powertrain controller and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) controller. The powertrain controller modulates the torque delivered by an internal combustion engine, a generator, and a motor to deliver a desired torque to two drive wheels. The ABS controller modulates the braking torque exerted by brakes on each of the four wheels. During modest braking events with good traction, the motor recaptures vehicle kinetic energy. During heavy braking and/or poor traction, the ABS controller and motor controller each respond to speed sensor signals to modulate the motor and brake torques to minimize stopping distance. The motor torque responds more quickly than the brake torque such that the frequency of oscillation is higher for the combined system than for an independent ABS system. | 08-27-2015 |
20150247912 | CAMERA CONTROL FOR FAST AUTOMATIC OBJECT TARGETING - A camera controller is configured to automatically target object in camera view based on determined object position in a field coordinate system. The object position is initially determined based on received radio wave signals from object associated wireless communication device in a wireless local area network. The camera controller targets the object in camera view according to the determined object position using at least one of the camera orientation adjustment and the object recognition methods. The object position is further refined based on recognized object in camera view and the relationship between the camera view coordinate system and the local area coordinate system for better object targeting effect. The camera controller is able to capture an object in camera view even before the object has been specified as the target object. | 09-03-2015 |
20150268053 | TRIP PARTITIONING BASED ON DRIVING PATTERN ENERGY CONSUMPTION - A vehicle includes an electric machine configured to propel the vehicle using battery power. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to operate the electric machine along a predetermined route based on a superposition of a plurality of partitionings of the route. Each of the partitionings is based on a different force characteristic associated with the route and defines at least one segment transition, where each segment transitions defines an end of a previous segment and a beginning of a subsequent segment. The predetermined route segments are such that no two adjacent segments of the superposition are defined by a same force characteristic. | 09-24-2015 |
20150274027 | REDUNDANT ELECTRICAL POWER FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES - A system includes a first battery configured to power at least one vehicle subsystem and a second battery configured to power an electric motor to propel a vehicle. A processing device is configured to detect an inadequate power level provided from the first battery to the at least one vehicle subsystem and selectively partition the second battery to power the at least one vehicle subsystem. | 10-01-2015 |
20150274159 | E-DRIVE TORQUE SENSING VEHICLE STATE ESTIMATION METHODS FOR VEHICLE CONTROL - Vehicle state estimation methods include measuring torque, using the measured torque to formulate a vehicle state estimation for vehicle control and applying the vehicle state estimation to control the vehicle. | 10-01-2015 |
20150274169 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGY OPTIMIZATION IN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OPERATION - Vehicle operating systems are autonomously operated. A transient in an upcoming path of the vehicle is determined from a comparison of vehicle path data and vehicle status data to a threshold of mechanism first operating system. Operational parameters for one of first and second operating systems are selected according to the comparison. The selected operational parameters are applied to the operation of the one of the first and second operating systems. | 10-01-2015 |
20150291145 | ENERGY RESERVATION COORDINATION FOR HYBRID VEHICLE - A hybrid vehicle includes a controller configured to, in response to an anticipated vehicle route for a current drive cycle including at least two preferred electric drive (“EV”) zones, control an engine to charge a battery in response to a battery SOC falling below various thresholds at various portions of the vehicle route. The controller controls the engine to charge the battery in response to the battery SOC falling below a first threshold and the vehicle not having entered the first EV zone, in response to the battery SOC falling below a second threshold and the vehicle having entered the first EV zone but not the second EV zone, and in response to the battery SOC falling below a third threshold and the vehicle having entered the second EV zone. The first threshold is greater than the second threshold, and the second threshold is greater than the third threshold. | 10-15-2015 |
20150298678 | TRACTION CONTROL FOR A HYBRID ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN - An electric machine and internal combustion engine are coordinated to provide traction control for an automotive vehicle. A propulsive torque limit is set by a controller during a loss of traction. When the machine torque limit is greater than the propulsive torque limit, the engine is pulled down. When the machine torque is less than the propulsive torque limit, the engine is pulled up. The controller coordinates the pulled up engine with the machine such that the engine is subordinated to the machine. | 10-22-2015 |
20150300828 | COOPERATIVE LEARNING METHOD FOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION - A method for generating street map data includes collecting acceleration, turning, and geolocation data. The data is collected from acceleration sensors, turning sensors, and geolocation systems in at a least one vehicle across a plurality of vehicle drive cycles. The method additionally includes aggregating the acceleration, turning, and geolocation data. The method further includes predicting the presence of a traffic control device in response to an identified repetitive pattern in the aggregated data. The method further includes updating street map data to include the predicted traffic control device. | 10-22-2015 |
20150314776 | HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE PREFERRED MODE - A vehicle may include a controller programmed to adjust operational parameters defining conditions during which the vehicle is to be operated in electric mode in response to user input selecting an electric mode intensity. A frequency and total duration with which the vehicle is operated in electric mode increases for a given drive cycle as the electric mode intensity increases. | 11-05-2015 |
20160023660 | BRAKE CONTROL FOR STOP/START VEHICLE - A vehicle is provided with an engine and a controller. The engine is adapted to shutdown and restart during a drive cycle and a controller. The controller is programmed to shutdown the engine in response to brake pressure exceeding a pressure threshold and to restart the engine in response to an accelerator pedal position exceeding a position threshold independent of brake pressure | 01-28-2016 |
20160090006 | CREEP COMPENSATION USING ROAD GRADE AND MASS ESTIMATION - A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a torque output of an electric machine of an electrified vehicle during a vehicle creep condition, the torque output calculated based at least on a road grade estimate and a vehicle mass estimate. | 03-31-2016 |
20160094790 | AUTOMATIC OBJECT VIEWING METHODS AND APPARATUS - The apparatus and methods for providing automatic and focused camera view over objects in motion. Camera view stream from a camera system is displayed on a user's mobile device. The invented system recognizes and highlights candidate objects in the camera view. After a user selects one or multiple candidate objects as the target object for view following, the system continuously computes the position and motion of the target object and it controls the camera orientation motion such that the aimpoint of the camera system follows the target object closely and at substantially the same velocity. The system also controls the camera zoom to achieve a reference object presentation ratio during view following. Meanwhile, the camera view stream is transferred to connected mobile devices and display devices. The camera view stream can also be recorded in video file for playback review and for video sharing through internet. | 03-31-2016 |
20160096446 | VEHICLE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TORQUE DELIVERY DURING TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENTS WITH ROAD GRADE AND MASS ESTIMATION - A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a torque output of an electric machine of an electrified vehicle based on estimated loads present during a transmission engagement of the electrified vehicle. | 04-07-2016 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090019851 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION - A system and method for controlling EGR of an internal combustion engine is presented. The system is capable of controlling EGR over a wide range of flow rates. | 01-22-2009 |
20090096400 | Starter Relay Control - A starter control system includes a power source, a starter motor, a starter relay, a control module, and an ignition switch. The starter motor is in operative communication with the power source. The starter relay is operatively interposed between the power source and the starter motor, and includes a high side node and a low side node. The starter relay is controllable to selectively enable power delivery from the power source to the starter motor responsive to activation of the high side node and the low side node. The control module includes a high side driver in operative communication with the high side node of the starter relay and a low side driver in operative communication with the low side node of the starter relay. The ignition switch is in operative communication with the high side node of the starter relay and in operative communication with the control module. | 04-16-2009 |
20090293839 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPTIMIZING AN AUTOMOBILE ENGINE IDLE SPEED BASED ON ACTUAL AIR CONDITIONER USAGE - A system and method for optimizing an automobile engine idle speed based on actual air conditioner usage. The automobile engine may supply power to the air conditioner upon engagement of an air conditioner clutch with the automobile engine. The system may include at least one sensor for transmitting electrical signals representative of air conditioner activities, and a control system for receiving the electrical signals and controlling engagement of the air conditioner clutch with the automobile engine. The control system may determine an air conditioning cycling percentage based on an amount of time the air conditioner clutch is engaged with the automobile engine over an amount of time air conditioning is requested by a user. The control system may adjust an idle engine speed based on the air conditioning cycling percentage to optimize operation of the air conditioner. | 12-03-2009 |
20110023847 | ADAPTIVE EGR CONTROL FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES - A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine having an EGR valve determine a base valve position to deliver a target flow using a stored map and adjust the base position in response to differential pressure across an orifice in the EGR flow to move the valve to a position different from the base position to provide the target flow. | 02-03-2011 |
20110198863 | Starter Relay Control - A starter control system is disclosed. In one example, the starter control system allows both automatic and manual control over an engine starting sequence. The starter control system can enhance starter control system flexibility. | 08-18-2011 |
20110288717 | VEHICLE GRILLE SHUTTER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ITS USE - A vehicle system includes a first sensor that provides first data indicating at least one of vehicle speed and ambient temperature. The system also includes a shutter control module. The shutter control module includes a first sub-module that provides a first amount of modification to an opening amount for a shutter based on the first data. | 11-24-2011 |
20130218408 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY WITH ENERGY STORAGE EFFICIENCY MODEL - A method is described for improving fuel economy in a vehicle having an engine, a generator driven by the engine, and an energy storage unit by using an energy storage efficiency model. The method includes evaluating a current efficiency state of the engine, evaluating a current efficiency state of the generator, evaluating a current efficiency state of the energy storage unit, and, controlling the generator to provide an optimized voltage output, based on the results of the evaluations and the energy storage efficiency model. A voltage regulator implementing this method is also described. | 08-22-2013 |
20130306042 | EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION SYSTEM AND CONTROL STRATEGY - A method for controlling a vehicle's exhaust gas recirculation system. The method controls the exhaust gas recirculation system in a manner that is suitable for a pedal tip-out transition while also being optimized for normal operating situations. | 11-21-2013 |
20140081560 | ENGINE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY - A system and method for controlling a vehicle to implement an engine torque management strategy. The engine torque management strategy implements a sophisticated engine knock control method that alleviates/mitigates the cause of the knock while also optimizing vehicle performance and engine efficiency without compromising engine hardware protection. Whenever suitable, the system and method attempt to reduce the amount of air trapped in a knocking cylinder to reduce its effective compression ratio and to eliminate the knock while keeping the same optimal spark timing for combustion efficiency. | 03-20-2014 |
20140156156 | REAL TIME MODELING OF ENGINE LOAD ADDITION DUE TO ALTERNATOR WITH AN OVER-RUN CLUTCH - A system and method for providing engine torque load in real time. The system includes a sensor to determine, in real time, a clutch state of an alternator clutch and a controller for determining an alternator torque value and applying the alternator torque value to the engine torque load in real time. | 06-05-2014 |
20140158097 | SUPERCHARGED ENGINE AND METHOD OF CONTROL - Methods and systems for minimizing the power consumed by a supercharger pump in an engine system. The methods and systems minimize the delta pressure across the pump with a control strategy for positioning the electronic throttle and supercharger bypass valve in a coordinated manner to deliver the required amount of fresh air flow into engine (i.e., the air flow associated with the driver's requested torque), while, at the same time, minimizing the power consumed by the supercharger pump for best fuel economy. | 06-12-2014 |
20150088392 | TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT INDICATION TECHNIQUES - Transmission gear shift control techniques can include calculating, at a controller of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, the controller including one or more processors, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) for each of: (i) a current gear of a transmission of the vehicle, (ii) a lower gear than the current gear of the transmission, and (iii) a higher gear than the current gear of the transmission, wherein the transmission is one of a manual transmission and an automatic transmission operating in a manual mode. The techniques can include determining, at the controller, which of the current gear, the lower gear, and the higher gear has a smallest BSFC to obtain a desired gear of the transmission. The techniques can also include outputting, from the controller, an indication to shift the transmission to the desired gear. | 03-26-2015 |
20150128904 | TECHNIQUES FOR COORDINATED VARIABLE VALVE TIMING AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL - A method can include determining, at a controller for an engine, the controller having one or more processors, a desired air-per-cylinder (APC) for the engine based on an engine torque request. The method can include determining, at the controller, a target intake manifold absolute pressure (MAP) based on a volumetric efficiency of the engine for electronic throttle control (ETC), wherein the volumetric efficiency for ETC is based on the desired APC and an actual MAP. The method can include commanding, by the controller, a throttle of the engine to deliver the target MAP. The method can include determining, at the controller, a target position for an intake valve of the engine based on a volumetric efficiency of the engine for variable valve timing (VVT), engine speed, and the actual MAP. The method can also include commanding, by the controller, the intake valve to the target position. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134227 | TORQUE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR ENGINE SYSTEMS HAVING BELT-DRIVEN STARTER GENERATORS - A method can include determining a desired torque output from an engine system in response to a torque request, the engine system including an engine and a belt-driven starter generator (BSG). The method can include determining a current engine torque capacity. When the desired torque output is greater than the current engine torque capacity, the method can include (i) determining a maximum engine torque capacity, (ii) determining a current BSG torque capacity, (iii) commanding the BSG to operate as a torque generator or a torque consumer based on a difference between the desired torque output and the maximum engine torque capacity and a state of a battery system configured to power the BSG, and (iv) controlling the engine and the BSG to collectively generate the desired torque output at a flywheel of the engine. | 05-14-2015 |