JAGUAR CARS, LIMITED Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140125473 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A TARGET OBJECT - Embodiments of the present invention provide monitoring apparatus for monitoring a target object external to a vehicle. The apparatus is operable to determine whether the target object is a valid target object in dependence on a value of a maximum range R | 05-08-2014 |
20140088848 | Selective Automated Vehicle Brake Force Release on an Inclined Surface - An system for controlling vehicle movement includes a brake assembly configured to selectively resist movement of the vehicle. A controller selectively controls a brake force applied by the brake assembly. The controller is configured to determine a drive torque condition when the vehicle is stationary on an inclined surface. The controller selectively controls a rate of automatically reducing the brake force dependent on the determined drive torque condition to allow the vehicle to accelerate. | 03-27-2014 |
20140081562 | VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROL THEREOF IN START AND STOP CONDITION - In one aspect of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle comprising drive means operable to provide motive power to the vehicle, the vehicle operable automatically to switch off and subsequently to restart the drive means during a drivecycle thereby to reduce a value of one or more prescribed operating parameters, wherein the vehicle may be placed in an eco-stop condition by driver-operated brake means in which the vehicle is held stationary and the drive means is off, the vehicle being operable automatically to restart the drive means when the driver signals release of the brake means, the vehicle comprising means for detecting departure of the driver from the vehicle, in the event that departure of the driver is detected when the vehicle is in the eco-stop condition the vehicle being arranged not to restart the drive means when the driver signals release of the brake means. | 03-20-2014 |
20140039773 | MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROL THEREOF - Illustrative example embodiments provide a motor vehicle including an actuator means operable to provide motive power to the vehicle. The vehicle is operable automatically to switch off and subsequently to restart the actuator means during a drivecycle thereby to reduce an amount of time the actuator means is on during a given drivecycle. The vehicle may be placed in an eco-stop condition by driver-operated brake means in which the vehicle is held stationary and the actuator means is off, The vehicle. is operable automatically to perform an eco-start operation in which the actuator means is restarted when the driver signals release of the brake means. When an eco-start is performed the vehicle is arranged automatically to continue to be held stationary by means of the brake means while the actuator means is restarted. If the actuator means fails to restart, the vehicle is arranged automatically to assume a failed start condition in which the vehicle continues to be held stationary. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039720 | MOTOR VEHICLE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A MOTOR VEHICLE - The present invention provides a method of managing shut down of a motor vehicle ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140002294 | RANGE DETERMINATION APPARATUS AND METHOD | 01-02-2014 |
20130227488 | COMPUTING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED FUNCTION SELECTION AND METHOD - A computing device having a display portion for displaying information and a user input portion for receiving an input from a user. The device is operable to display a first set of user-selectable function elements in a first format, and is responsive to an input from a user corresponding to a user-selected portion of the display portion and to display a second set of function elements that include one or more function elements of the first set of user-selectable function elements that are associated with the selected portion of the display portion in a second format different from the first format. The device is operable to allow a function element displayed in the second format to be selected by the user thereby to execute a function associated with the element. | 08-29-2013 |
20130090780 | SPEED AND SEVERITY TRIGGER FOR AN ACTIVE DEVICE OF A VEHICLE - A method of determining the category of action of an active device of a vehicle comprises repeatedly measuring a vehicle parameter indicative of a change of vehicle state, determining a rate of change of the vehicle parameter and determining a modified vehicle parameter by reference to said rate of change. A threshold is applied to said modified vehicle parameter and a trigger signal is generated for an active device of the vehicle in response to the threshold being reached and in accordance with a severity of said vehicle parameter, which may be vehicle speed related. | 04-11-2013 |
20130079997 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF TRIGGERING AN ACTIVE DEVICE OF A VEHICLE - An active device of a vehicle, for example a seat belt tensioner, is triggered by reference to an estimated vehicle roll rate exceeding a threshold roll rate. The estimated vehicle roll rate may be conditioned according to vehicle speed, and is determined from inputs of vehicle lateral acceleration, steering wheel angle, and steering wheel speed. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079996 | CONTROL OF ACTIVE VEHICLE DEVICES DURING CORNERING - A method of triggering an active device of a vehicle at a pre-determined threshold comprises generating a steering wheel signal from steering angle rate of change of steering angle of the vehicle, the signal representing an advance in time in comparison to the steering wheel position and/or speed, and determining a conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration in dependence on the steering wheel signal and a measured vehicle lateral acceleration, the conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration being advanced in time in comparison with the measured vehicle lateral acceleration. An active device of the vehicle is triggered if the conditioned vehicle lateral acceleration exceeds a threshold lateral acceleration. | 03-28-2013 |
20130079994 | ACTUATION OF AN ACTIVE DEVICE OF A VEHICLE UNDER BRAKING - Early actuation of an active device of a vehicle (e.g., a seat belt tensioner) is provided by applying rate of change of brake pressure to monitored brake pressure, so as to produce a modified brake pressure characteristic which is advanced in time. The active device is actuated at a brake pressure threshold. | 03-28-2013 |
20120280019 | ULTRASONIC WELDING APPARATUS - An ultrasonic welding apparatus and method for detaching or effecting release of an ultrasonic welding tool stuck or attached to a weldment. The method includes the step of utilizing a mechanism mounted adjacent to the ultrasonic welding tool to hold the weldment in position during welding and/or while the ultrasonic welding tool is withdrawn and, if necessary, using the mechanism to detach the weldment from the ultrasonic welding tool. The method contemplates providing a twist, rotary or axial motion to one of the ultrasonic welding tool or weldment to effect release of the ultrasonic welding tool. The apparatus may include a clamp member having a distinct clamping area or pad located adjacent to the sonotrode or anvil of the ultrasonic welding tool. The clamp mechanism provides vibration control, noise mitigation, and a more uniform boundary condition during welding and facilitates part release upon the completion of the welding process. | 11-08-2012 |
20120253549 | MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus for monitoring one or more target objects in an environment external to a host vehicle by means of at least one sensor, the apparatus being arranged to trigger at least one action responsive to the detection of prescribed relative movement between the host vehicle and the one or more target objects. The apparatus is arranged to determine whether the at least one sensor is correctly aligned with respect to the host vehicle whereby, when the apparatus commences monitoring of the environment, the apparatus is arranged not to trigger the at least one action until the apparatus has determined that the at least one sensor is correctly aligned. | 10-04-2012 |
20120090915 | AIR DUCT ATTENUATOR - An attenuator for the air inlet tract of an internal combustion engine comprises an unobstructed tube ( | 04-19-2012 |
20110141041 | TOUCH SCREENS - A touch screen control system comprising a touch screen having first and second conductive layers arranged to be brought together by touching of the screen. A detection system is arranged to detect a contact position at which the screen is touched by monitoring electrical signals from at least one of the layers. The system further comprises an antenna, and the detection system includes a proximity sensing signal generator arranged to generate a proximity sensing signal to be transmitted between the antenna and the first layer via a user of the system. The detection system is further arranged to receive the transmitted proximity sensing signal and determine therefrom the distance between a part of the user and the touch screen. | 06-16-2011 |
20110133439 | RESTRAINT SYSTEM LOAD LIMITER - A vehicle occupant restraint system includes a load limiting device for and an anchorage position where the load limiting device may have a one-piece energy absorbing member configured for connecting the occupant restraint system and the vehicle anchorage position. The energy absorbing member may further include an integrally formed break-out region and force dissipation region. The force dissipation region may be adapted to inhibit translation of the energy absorbing member until a threshold force is applied to the occupant restraint system. When a threshold force is applied to the occupant restraint system, the anchorage position may become slidably engaged with at least a portion of a force dissipation region thereby displacing the energy observing member such that the occupant restraint system may be lengthened in order to reduce the load on the occupant. | 06-09-2011 |
20110060510 | Systems and Methods for Increasing Brake Pressure - A vehicle brake system includes a brake unit, a brake line associated with the brake unit, and an activatable pyrotechnic device associated with the brake line. Upon activation, the pyrotechnic device is configured to supply gas directly into the brake line to increase pressure in the brake line, such that increased pressure is applied to the brake unit. | 03-10-2011 |
20110011358 | VCT Active Lock Pin Control - A spool valve | 01-20-2011 |
20100038932 | PANORAMIC VEHICLE ROOF MODULE ASSEMBLIES - A panoramic vehicle roof module assembly is provided with front and rear cross members. A pair of extruded side rails are each mounted to the cross members. Each side rail has a front integrated roof track, a rear integrated roof track and an integrated sun shade track, each track formed therein along its length. A roof panel is supported by one of the integrated roof tracks of the side rails to interface with the front cross members. An intermediate cross member is mounted to the side rails and is interfaced with the roof panel. A second panel is provided mounted to the side rails to interface with the rear cross member and the intermediate cross member. The side rails each include an integrated support flange to mount the assembly to a vehicle. A method of manufacturing a panoramic vehicle roof module assembly is provided. | 02-18-2010 |
20090271080 | Selector Mechanism for a Motor Vehicle Transmission - A rotatable selector mechanism for a motor vehicle transmission has a selector knob rotatable in a housing to select an operating mode of the transmission among a number of selector positions indicated by a label (P, R, N, D, M). The selector mechanism further includes a detent plate which cooperates with a detent pin for maintaining the selector knob in each of positions. The detent plate is connected to position sensors for generating selector signals to a transmission control unit which supplies control signals to an actuator for operate the transmission according to the operating mode selected. The detent plate is also associated to the selector knob and to a drive correction means by means of clutch devices respectively to engage the detent plate to one of the selector knob and the drive correction means. The clutch devices and the drive corrections means are controlled by the transmission control unit to move the detent plate from a selector position selected by the driver to another selector position representative of the operating mode of the transmission by means of the drive correction means without moving the selector knob. The selector knob further includes an illuminated pointer constituted by one of several LEDs controlled by the transmission control unit so as to change the LED illuminated in front of the label according to the position of the detent plate when the latter has been moved by the drive correction means in order to indicate the operating mode of the transmission. | 10-29-2009 |
20090159019 | COOLING SYSTEM EXPANSION TANK - A expansion tank for an engine cooling system comprises a housing forming a main chamber and a swirl chamber, the swirl chamber being defined by a cylindrical wall. An inlet connection discharges through an inlet orifice towards a collector duct having an entrance. From the inlet orifice the coolant is directed as a stream or jet along the adjacent surface of the cylindrical wall towards the entrance of the collector duct, guided by circumferential ribs. The kinetic energy of the stream is converted into pressure energy so that the pressure delivered from the outlet connection is slightly above the pressure at the top of the swirl chamber, above the level of liquid. This swirl chamber pressure is set by the relief pressure allowed by a filler cap, the gain in pressure helping to avoid cavitation in a coolant circulation pump. | 06-25-2009 |
20090145374 | TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE FLOW CONTROL VALVE FOR AN ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM - A temperature responsive control valve is disclosed. The valve may have a housing having a hot inlet, a cold inlet and an outlet. A first valve member, and a second valve member, may be configured to move within the housing to selectively prevent and permit flow from the hot inlet and the cold inlet to the outlet when a sensed temperature is within predetermined ranges. A temperature responsive actuator may be disposed to move the first and second valve members within the housing in accordance with the sensed temperature. A first bias may be configured to bias the first valve member toward preventing flow from the hot inlet to the outlet, and a second bias may be configured to bias the second valve member toward preventing flow from the cold inlet to the outlet. | 06-11-2009 |
20090055059 | SHIFT-BY-WIRE SELECTOR CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE TRANSMISSION - A method for operating a multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system of a motor vehicle transmission. The multi-stable shift-by wire selector control system includes a multi-stable selector which is operable by the driver of the vehicle to select a respective one of the operating modes of the transmission, an arrangement of illuminated labels indicating the selector mode and an indexing mechanism for maintaining the immobilization of the selector in its different positions. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052201 | LAMP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES - A lamp assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing receiving at least one light source. The housing includes a covering pane and including first and second fixing arrangement for releasably securing the lamp to the vehicle. | 02-26-2009 |
20090051145 | INFLATABLE CURTAIN AIRBAGS - An inflatable airbag system for a motor vehicle includes a restraining strap for delaying inflation of a central portion of an airbag and deflecting gas into adjacent elongate portions in the initial stages of deployment. | 02-26-2009 |