Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080314663 | System and Method of Extending Regenerative Braking in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle - A method of generating brake force to decelerate a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an internal combustion engine coupled to an input of a first electric energy device, the first electric energy device having an output coupled to a transmission device, and a second electric energy conversion device coupled downstream of the transmission device, the first and second electric energy conversion devices being powered at least by a battery. The method includes during a deceleration condition, generating brake torque via the second electric energy conversion device to generate electric energy storable in the battery; and rotating the internal combustion engine via torque output from the first electric energy device to deplete electric energy from the battery. | 12-25-2008 |
20090095462 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING COOLING FANS IN A VEHICLE - A system and method is disclosed for cooling a control system in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the system comprises vehicle subsystems and a vehicle controller. The vehicle subsystems are configured to generate a plurality of subsystem temperature signals that are indicative of a measured temperature for each vehicle subsystem. The vehicle controller is configured to generate a desired fan speed signal for each vehicle subsystem in response to each subsystem temperature signal and to compare each desired fan speed signal to each other to determine a maximum desired fan speed signal. The vehicle controller controls the fan such that the fan reaches a fan speed that is equal to or greater than the maximum desired fan speed signal. | 04-16-2009 |
20090112439 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING AN ADJUSTABLE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RESPONSE IN A VEHICLE POWERTRAIN - The disclosed system and method changes a traction torque request in a vehicle powertrain with a driver-controlled vehicle accelerator pedal. A desired transfer function parameter in a powertrain control module is chosen by the driver to obtain a desired functional relationship between a traction torque request or a power plant torque request and accelerator pedal position. | 04-30-2009 |
20110009235 | Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Control After a Requested Change in Vehicle Direction - A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain includes operating an engine driveably connected to first vehicle wheels, providing an electric motor driveably connected to second vehicle wheels, shifting a gear selector between a forward drive position and a reverse drive position, reducing vehicle speed to or lower than a reference speed, and using a transmission located between the engine and the first wheels and the electric motor to produce reverse or forward drive corresponding to the position to which the gear selector is shifted. | 01-13-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090082960 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED DISPLAY FUNCTIONS - A method and apparatus for enhancing a user's visual perception of map data in a navigation system of the type used in automotive vehicles. A portion of an object, such as a building, is selected on the screen and a perspective view of the three-dimensional map data corresponding to the selected portion of the object is then depicted on the display screen. In a second form, a map is displayed on the display screen together with the route between the current position of the vehicle and a desired vehicle destination. A portion of the route is selected between the current position of the vehicle and the vehicle destination while the expected time for the vehicle to reach the selected portion is then displayed on the display screen. | 03-26-2009 |
20090240429 | METHOD FOR ROUTE PLANNING ON A NAVIGATION SYSTEM INCLUDING POINTS OF INTEREST - A method for route planning for use with a vehicle navigation system. The method includes the steps of inputting a route origin and route destination on a computer separate from the navigation system, such as a PC. The user also inputs activities or points of interest. The computer then searches a point of interest database which matches the activities inputted by the user and calculates a preferred route from the origin and to the route destination. The preferred route, together with data relating to the points of activity, are then wirelessly transmitted to the navigation system for subsequent display on the navigation system screen. | 09-24-2009 |
20100057334 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ESTIMATE VEHICLE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS - A method and system to estimate vehicle traffic conditions for use in a vehicle navigation system. The system includes a cellular network which receives position data from a plurality of GPS enabled cellular telephones. A processor in the cellular network is programmed to estimate the traffic conditions or density of traffic on at least one road link based upon the received position data while a transmitter at the base station then transmits that estimated traffic condition to automotive vehicles containing navigation systems. A processor in the navigation system then utilizes the estimated traffic conditions for route and/or arrival time calculations. | 03-04-2010 |
20100076680 | VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH INTERSECTION DATABASE - A vehicle navigation system having a processor having access to a map database. An input device enters the destination to the processor and the processor, using data from the map database, calculates a preferred route to the destination. That preferred route is then displayed on a video display. The map database includes a road link database as well as an intersection database which is separate from the road link database which enables a destination to be entered to the input device by an intersection. | 03-25-2010 |