Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8147374 | Method of controlling hybrid vehicle A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle including an automatic transmission and a motor generator comprises a pre-gearshift control, a mid-gearshift control, and a post-gearshift control. It is possible to prevent abnormal operations and damage of an automatic tran... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8137235 | Braking method and device with energy recovery in particular for a vehicle equipped with hybrid traction system A braking method and device with energy recovery for a hybrid traction vehicle, which, according to the requested braking target, regulates the intervention of the engine-generator and the connection or disconnection of the endothermic engine from the transmission l... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8092338 | Method for recovering electrical energy in vehicle with regenerative braking Method for recovering electrical energy in a vehicle with regenerative braking is used in a vehicle equipped for this purpose with an electrical capacitance device to store electrical energy supplied by a rotary electrical machine of the vehicle during regenerative ... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8083639 | Method for the wear-free braking of a vehicle with an electrodynamic drive system A method for wear-free braking of a vehicle having an electrodynamic drive system including an electric machine and a planetary gearset with a crankshaft of the combustion engine being connected with a first element of the gearset, the electric machine connected to ... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7976427 | Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle equipped with the control apparatus This invention provides a vehicle control apparatus constructed so that during the control of a downshift for deceleration, braking shocks can be reduced and the amount of energy regenerated can be increased, and a hybrid vehicle equipped with the control apparatus.... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7901320 | Control device and control method for powertrain, program for implementing the control method, and recording medium containing the program A shock caused due to a change in the direction of torque transferred to an output shaft is reduced. There is provided a control device for a powertrain including a drive power source that transfers torque to an output shaft connected to a wheel of a vehicle, and a ... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7803087 | System and method for controlling a vehicle The embodiments described herein include a control system and method for a vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system is able to determine the occurrence of NVH anomalies due to gear lash and control the operation of various vehicle devices to reduce the effects... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7794357 | Control device for power train A control device is provided for a power train including: a differential mechanism having a first rotating element linked to a first rotary electric machine, a second rotating element linked to a second rotary electric machine and a third rotating element linked to ... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7654931 | Method for operating a drive train A method of operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, an automatic transmission. The drive train also having a clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a c... | 02/02/2010 |
| 7597648 | Input brake providing electric only fixed gear A vehicle powertrain for a hybrid vehicle includes an electronically variable transmission (EVT) with an input member to receive mechanical rotary power from the engine, an output member to provide mechanical rotary power to a vehicle powertrain to propel the vehicl... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7566288 | Control apparatus for vehicular drive system A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including a continuously-variable transmission portion operable as an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission having a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine to a first... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7507181 | Method for determining a driving torque correction factor for compensating cooperating driving torques of different drive devices A method and device for determining a driving torque correction factor for compensating the driving torques of a drive unit including a first drive device and a second drive device, both of which act with their driving torque on a common drive shaft. The method incl... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7374509 | Method for controlling a hybrid drive of a vehicle A method for controlling a hybrid drive of a vehicle is described, the hybrid drive including as propulsion motors an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor/generator, and the output shafts of the propulsion motors being operatively linkable to a... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7334667 | Selective actuation device Selective actuation device (1) including an actuator (5) operating on an actuation mechanism (2). The mechanism (2) is equipped with at least one shaft (7) connected to a pusher element (8) to actuate a first operating group... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7322902 | Control device for vehicular transmission mechanism A control device for a vehicular drive system including a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine to a first electric motor and a power transmitting member, and a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the po... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7311627 | Drive arrangement for the drive of attached implements for a vehicle The present invention concerns a drive arrangement for the drive of attached implements for a vehicle, particularly an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle, with a combination gearbox, an electrical machine and a power take-off shaft, where a gearbox interface... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7305294 | Vehicle stopping system and method A method of controlling a vehicle includes reducing a speed of the vehicle in response to a vehicle shutdown signal, monitoring at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a torque of an engine of the vehicle, determining whether the monitored at least one of the spe... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7291090 | Motor torque control system for vehicle A motor torque control system for a vehicle equipped with a drive torque generating motor is comprised of a vehicle speed detector, an accelerator opening detector, a brake depression detector and a control unit. The control unit rapidly brings a motor torque to zer... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7282008 | Mode switch control system for hybrid transmission A mode switch control system for a hybrid transmission for a powertrain, the powertrain including an engine, a first motor/generator, and a second motor/generator, which controls a mode switch from a high speed mode to a low speed mode. The high speed mode is establ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7278940 | Powertrain with electrically variable transmission providing improved gradeability A powertrain includes an engine with an engine output member and a transmission with two motor/generators and a transmission input member operatively connected to the engine output member. A control unit is configured to selectively cause a device to resist or preve... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7252619 | Control device for vehicular drive system A vehicular transmission mechanism, switchable between a continuously-variable shifting state and a step-variable shifting state, and a control device for controlling an operation of switching of the shifting state of the transmission mechanism so as to reduce its s... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7223200 | Hybrid-vehicle drive system and operation method with a transmission A hybrid-vehicle drive method and system includes an internal combustion engine that includes an output shaft, a first electric motor/generator connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine via a power distribution mechanism, a wheel drive shaft co... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7217221 | Method for active engine stop of a hybrid electric vehicle A method for providing an active engine stop of the engine of a hybrid electric vehicle. The method utilizes the electric machine to oppose and rapidly stop the rotation of the engine at a controlled rate. The method includes the calculation of an input speed reduct... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7200476 | Optimal selection of input torque considering battery utilization for a hybrid electric vehicle A preferred input torque for a hybrid powertrain is determined within a solution space of feasible input torques in accordance with a plurality of powertrain system constraints that results in a minimum overall powertrain system loss. System power losses and battery... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7176385 | EMI protection and fuel cell systems employing the same A scheme is provided for reducing the degree to which EMI from high voltage components of a fuel cell system or a fuel cell powered vehicle is induced in low voltage components of the system or vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7174979 | Hybrid vehicle There is provided a hybrid car which includes an internal combustion engine; an electric motor disposed coaxially with a rotary shaft of the internal combustion engine; a planetary gear mechanism which is disposed coaxially with the rotary shaft of the internal comb... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7171870 | Geared fluid drive with parallel start-up capability In a system in which a large motor, to be energized from a power grid, is connected to drive a main fluid drive through a main impeller shaft that has a main impeller shaft gear mounted on it, a relatively small start-up motor is provided, driving a start-up fluid d... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7163487 | Engine retard operation scheduling and management in a hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle includes a powertrain having a retarded diesel engine, an electric machine and energy storage system. The engine and motor are operatively coupled through one or more planetary gearsets and selective coupling paths in accordance with application and... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7145436 | Door opening and closing apparatus A door opening and closing apparatus has a motor, a door latch and a power generation mechanism. When the voltage of the battery is below a level needed to drive the electric actuator, a predetermined manipulation of the power generation mechanism generates the powe... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7140459 | Vehicle driving force control apparatus A vehicle driving force control apparatus is provided for a vehicle having a drive source configured to drive a generator and an electric motor configured to drive an electric motor driven wheel by electricity from the generator. The vehicle driving force control ap... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7041030 | Hydraulic control apparatus for hybrid vehicle A hydraulic control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which enables a smooth torque transmission when an engine of the vehicle is started from an idling stop state. The hydraulic control apparatus includes an engine and a motor as power sources, a transmission having ... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7032697 | Drive control system for vehicles with an auxiliary driving system A vehicle drive control system comprising a primary driving system having a first power source for providing torque to a first set of one or more wheels and an auxiliary driving system having a second power source for providing torque to a second set of one or more ... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7028793 | Internal combustion engines for hybrid powertrain A hybrid powertrain and method for operating same in which the operation of the engine is modified to effect an improvement in the fuel economy and/or emissions performance of the hybrid powertrain. In one embodiment, the battery of the powertrain is employed to pro... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7014586 | Electro-mechanical transmission systems An electro-mechanical transmission system, driven by a prime mover, includes two epicyclic gearsets connected between input and output shafts, and two electrical machines having their rotors connected to respective elements of the two gearsets. The torque on the out... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7001306 | Brake control apparatus A brake control apparatus is provided that distributes an engine braking torque Tbe to the front and rear wheels in accordance with an ideal braking torque distribution to suppress and prevent the tendency for one of either the front or rear wheels to lock when the ... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6998727 | Methods of operating a parallel hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a secondary power source The invention is directed toward methods for operating a parallel hybrid vehicle in a manner that responds to the operator's demand for power output, while maximizing engine efficiency and minimizing disruptions in vehicle drivability. According to principles of the... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6986727 | Retarding control for an electric drive machine A method of dissipating power in a propelled machine having an electric drive includes converting undesired power to electric power by the electric drive, and driving an internal combustion engine with at least a portion of the electric power prior to substantially ... | 01/17/2006 |
| 6978854 | Hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with an alternate operating mode without a high voltage system A hybrid electric powertrain and control method for an automotive vehicle having mechanical and electro-mechanical power flow paths from an engine to a power output member. A mechanical power flow path is maintained when the electro-mechanical power flow path is dis... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6966866 | Power outputting apparatus and vehicle equipped with same A power outputting apparatus determines whether a parking gear and a parking lock pole of a parking lock mechanism are engaged. When they are engaged, a second motor outputs a torque which is the sum of a pushing torque that is slightly greater than torque pulses ge... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6953021 | Controller of hybrid vehicle A control device for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a motor as driving sources for the vehicle, and when decelerating, the control device stops the fuel supply to the engine and generates energy by regenerative braking. The engine is a cylinder pause-type eng... | 10/11/2005 |
