Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090066495 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING DRIVER EFFICIENCY AND OPERATING MODES IN A HYBRID VEHICLE - A method for determining driver efficiency in a hybrid vehicle includes the steps of measuring a hybrid vehicle parameter, and calculating driver efficiency based, at least in part, on the hybrid vehicle parameter. The hybrid vehicle parameter is influenced, at least in part, by an action taken by a driver. | 03-12-2009 |
20090070027 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING DRIVER EFFICIENCY IN A VEHICLE - A method for determining driver efficiency in a vehicle includes the steps of measuring a vehicle parameter, and calculating the driver efficiency based, at least in part, on the vehicle parameter. The vehicle parameter is influenced, at least in part, by an action taken by a driver. | 03-12-2009 |
20090114468 | Method for Vehicle Creep Torque Control - A vehicle and a method of operation is disclosed. The method of operating the vehicle may include a method of controlling a creep torque in a vehicle having a powertrain configured to provide variable creep torque. The method may comprise the steps of: detecting a vehicle creep torque condition, determining a brake torque, and adjusting a creep torque applied by the powertrain based on the brake torque. | 05-07-2009 |
20100094511 | Optimization of Vehicle Stability and Steering During a Regenerative Braking Event - A method of optimizing steering and stability performance of a vehicle includes measuring a set of inertial data during a regenerative braking event (RBE), calculating a set of vehicle performance data using the inertial data, and comparing the performance data to calibrated threshold data to determine a maximum regenerative braking torque (RBT). The maximum RBT is automatically applied during the active RBE. The vehicle includes a chassis, an electric motor/generator for applying an RBT, a frictional braking system, chassis inertial sensors for measuring a set of chassis inertial data, and a controller having an algorithm for calculating a set of vehicle performance data using the chassis inertial data. The controller determines the maximum RBT by comparing the vehicle performance data to corresponding threshold data. The chassis inertial sensors can include accelerometers, a yaw rate sensor, a steering rate sensor, speed sensors, and/or a braking input sensor. | 04-15-2010 |
20100280724 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CALIBRATING BRAKING SYSTEMS AND CONTROLLING BRAKING IN VEHICLES - A method for controlling braking in a vehicle having a brake pedal includes the steps of obtaining a first measure of braking intent based on movement of the brake pedal, obtaining a second measure of braking intent based on a force applied to the brake pedal, controlling the braking based on the first measure provided that a transition parameter is less than a first predetermined value, controlling the braking based on the second measure provided that the transition parameter is greater than a second predetermined value, and controlling the braking based on the first measure and the second measure provided that the transition parameter is greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value. | 11-04-2010 |
20100305793 | METHOD FOR STARTING A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A method of starting a hybrid electric vehicle when a low voltage battery used for starting the vehicle has a depleted charge and a high voltage battery used for propelling the vehicle has ample charge to share. Assuming that other factors are satisfied, the system and method described herein may enable the high voltage battery to provide the low voltage battery with enough charge so that it is able to start an internal combustion engine but not so much charge that it undesirably drains the high voltage battery to a point where it cannot be replenished. | 12-02-2010 |
20110012553 | METHOD OF CHARGING A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A method for charging a hybrid electric vehicle having a high voltage battery that both propels the vehicle and starts the vehicle. More specifically, if the high voltage battery has a depleted or diminished charge and is unable to start an internal combustion engine, then the method described herein may be used to charge the high voltage battery with energy from a low voltage external power source. In one embodiment, the low voltage external power source is a conventional car battery that is connected to the hybrid electric vehicle by way of jumper cables. | 01-20-2011 |
20110015845 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKING OF A VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY - A method for controlling braking of a vehicle includes the steps of calculating a first pressure based on a driver request, and providing pressure that does not exceed a predetermined pressure threshold if the vehicle is stationary and the first pressure is less than the predetermined pressure threshold. | 01-20-2011 |
20110049974 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BRAKING DIFFERENT AXLES OF A VEHICLE USING A DECELERATION VALUE - A method for controlling braking of a vehicle having a first axle and a second axle includes the steps of obtaining a deceleration value pertaining to an input from a driver of the vehicle, braking the first axle with a first pressure, braking the second axle with a second pressure that is substantially equal to the first pressure if the deceleration value has not exceeded a predetermined threshold, and braking the second axle with a third pressure that is greater than the first pressure if the deceleration value has exceeded the predetermined threshold. | 03-03-2011 |
20110127097 | WHEEL SLIP DETERMINATION FOR VEHICLES - A method for assessing slippage of wheels in a vehicle includes the steps of measuring, via a sensor, an initial value of vehicle speed, determining, via a processor, at least one of a minimum vehicle speed and a maximum vehicle speed, and determining, via the processor, wheel slip using the initial value and the at least one of the minimum vehicle speed and the maximum vehicle speed. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130935 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BRAKE PEDAL TUNING AND BRAKING CONTROL IN VEHICLES - A method for calibrating a braking system of a vehicle having a brake pedal includes the steps of measuring, via a sensor, a speed of the vehicle, generating, via a processor, an optimized mapping relating a movement of the brake pedal and a deceleration of the vehicle based at least in part upon the speed of the vehicle, and calibrating, via the processor, a relationship between an engagement of the brake pedal and the deceleration of the vehicle using the optimized mapping. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130937 | BRAKING TORQUE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON WHEEL SLIP - A method for adjusting braking in a vehicle having wheels and a regenerative braking system is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing regenerative braking torque for the vehicle via the regenerative braking system at a first level if a wheel slip of the vehicle is not present, and providing regenerative braking torque for the vehicle via the regenerative braking system at one of a plurality of modulated levels if the wheel slip is present. Each of the plurality of modulated levels is dependent on a magnitude, a location, or both, of the wheel slip. Each of the modulated levels is less than the first level. | 06-02-2011 |
20110153140 | METHOD FOR CONDITIONING ONE OR MORE ASPECTS OF A VEHICLE - A method for conditioning one or more aspects of a vehicle, where a user may customize their vehicle by providing desired departure times and conditioning preferences so that the vehicle automatically wakes up, performs the requested conditioning, and is ready for operation by the requested departure time. Some examples of potential conditioning events include activating: a heated or cooled seat, a heated steering wheel, a heated engine block, a heated mirror, a cabin heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a heating or cooling element for a battery pack, a heating or cooling element for a battery charger, and a heating or cooling element for a fuel cell, to name a few. | 06-23-2011 |
20110191220 | METHOD FOR CHARGING A PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle with an external power source. In an exemplary embodiment, the method receives one or more utility rate preferences from a user, determines the utility rates of a local utility company, determines the total charging time needed to charge the plug-in electric vehicle, uses the utility rate preferences, the utility rates and the total charging time to develop several charging options that are presented to a user, and charges the plug-in electric vehicle according to the charging option selection made by the user. | 08-04-2011 |
20110221265 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM - A method for operating a vehicle brake system having both frictional and regenerative braking capabilities. According to one embodiment, the method monitors wheel slip at a number of vehicle wheels, evaluates individual wheel slip at a single wheel as well as collective wheel slip involving multiple wheels, compares the wheel slips to one or more speed-based thresholds that are based on vehicle speed, and uses the comparisons to help distinguish between those situations that warrant disengagement of regenerative braking operations and those that do not. | 09-15-2011 |
20110276245 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM - A method for operating a vehicle brake system during a wheel slip condition. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method involves receiving a requested brake torque, monitoring wheel slip, and if no wheel slip is detected then operating the vehicle brake system according to the requested brake torque. If, however, wheel slip is detected then the method may operate the vehicle brake system according to a modified brake torque that is less than the requested brake torque. | 11-10-2011 |
20120133202 | DYNAMIC REGENERATIVE BRAKING TORQUE CONTROL - Methods, systems, and program products for adjusting regenerative braking torque in a vehicle having wheels and a regenerative braking system providing the regenerative braking torque are provided. A deceleration of the vehicle is determined. A wheel slip of the wheels is determined. The regenerative braking torque is adjusted for the regenerative braking system using the deceleration and the wheel slip. | 05-31-2012 |
20130345913 | VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A vehicle brake system and method designed to maximize the contributions from a regenerative braking system, yet still provide adequate safety measures that address potential regenerative braking failure. According to one embodiment, the method determines both a requested deceleration from the driver and an actual deceleration experienced by the vehicle, and uses the difference between these two values to calculate a deceleration error that can be integrated over time and compared to an error threshold. If the integrated or accumulated deceleration error surpasses the error threshold, then the method may reduce or disable the regenerative braking system until it can confirm that it is operating properly. | 12-26-2013 |
20140081545 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKING OF A VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY - A method for controlling braking of a vehicle includes the steps of calculating a first pressure based on a driver request, and providing pressure that does not exceed a predetermined pressure threshold if the vehicle is stationary and the first pressure is less than the predetermined pressure threshold. | 03-20-2014 |