IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,850,838
Granted Patent B1
US 9,850,838 · App. 15/284,322 · Granted Dec 26, 2017

Engine shock dampening system

Inventor: Justin J. Chow (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
F02D41/062B60W20/40F02D41/0097F02D41/26B60Y2200/92B60Y2300/58F02D2200/501F02D2200/602F02D2250/28Y10S903/905
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,850,838
App. No.
15/284,322
Granted
Dec 26, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system for reducing vibration from an engine shock event caused by turning on an engine of a vehicle. The system includes an engine vibration sensor connected to the engine and configured to detect vibration data. The system includes an engine shock dampening unit configured to analyze the vibration data received from the engine vibration sensor to detect the engine shock event. The engine shock dampening unit is further configured to determine a vibration cancellation instruction for partially or completely cancelling the vibration from the engine shock event when the engine shock event is detected. The system includes a vibration unit configured to vibrate in an opposing direction of the vibration from the engine shock event based on the vibration cancellation instruction such that the vibration from the engine shock event is reduced.

Claims (50)

1. A system for reducing vibration from an engine shock event caused by turning on an engine of a vehicle, the system comprising:

an engine vibration sensor connected to the engine and configured to detect vibration data;

an engine shock dampening unit configured to:

analyze the vibration data received from the engine vibration sensor to detect the engine shock event, and

determine a vibration cancellation instruction for partially or completely cancelling the vibration from the engine shock event when the engine shock event is detected; and

a vibration unit configured to vibrate in an opposing direction of the vibration from the engine shock event based on the vibration cancellation instruction such that the vibration from the engine shock event is reduced.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the vibration cancellation instruction comprises determining a vibration waveform based on the vibration data, and determining a cancelling waveform having a same amplitude as the vibration waveform and an inverted phase of the vibration waveform.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises determining a vibration waveform based on the vibration data, and detecting the engine shock event when an amplitude of the vibration waveform exceeds an amplitude threshold or a period of the vibration waveform is less than a period threshold.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine shock dampening unit is further configured to detect an engine state based on engine state data received from the engine, and detect the engine shock event when the engine state transitions from an off state to an on state.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine shock dampening unit is further configured to detect a transmission mode based on transmission mode data received from a transmission of the vehicle, and determine a vehicle speed based on vehicle speed data received from a speedometer, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises:

detecting the engine shock event when the transmission mode is park, neutral, or reverse, and

detecting the engine shock event when the transmission mode is drive, and a vehicle speed is less than a vehicle speed threshold.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pedal unit configured to detect accelerator pedal position data, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises detecting the engine shock event when the accelerator pedal position data received from the pedal unit indicates an accelerator pedal position less than an accelerator pedal position threshold.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a suspension sensor configured to detect suspension data, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises detecting the engine shock event when the suspension data received from the suspension sensor indicates a suspension variance less than a suspension variance threshold.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pedal unit configured to detect brake pedal position data, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises detecting the engine shock event when the brake pedal position data received from the pedal unit indicates a brake pedal position less than a brake pedal position threshold.

9. A vehicle comprising:

an engine causing an engine shock event when turned on;

an engine vibration sensor connected to the engine and configured to detect vibration data;

an engine shock dampening unit configured to:

determine a vibration waveform based on the vibration data,

analyze the vibration data received from the engine vibration sensor to detect the engine shock event, and

determine a vibration cancellation instruction for partially or completely cancelling the vibration from the engine shock event when the engine shock event is detected; and

a vibration unit configured to vibrate in an opposing direction of the vibration from the engine shock event based on the vibration cancellation instruction such that the vibration from the engine shock event is reduced.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein determining the vibration cancellation instruction comprises determining a cancelling waveform having a same amplitude as the vibration waveform and an inverted phase of the vibration waveform.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises detecting the engine shock event when an amplitude of the vibration waveform exceeds an amplitude threshold or a period of the vibration waveform is less than a period threshold.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the engine shock dampening unit is further configured to detect an engine state based on engine state data received from the engine, and detect the engine shock event when the engine state transitions from an off state to an on state.

13. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the engine shock dampening unit is further configured to detect a transmission mode based on transmission mode data received from a transmission of the vehicle, and determine a vehicle speed based on vehicle speed data received from a speedometer, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises:

detecting the engine shock event when the transmission mode is park, neutral, or reverse, and

detecting the engine shock event when the transmission mode is drive, and a vehicle speed is less than a vehicle speed threshold.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a pedal unit configured to detect accelerator pedal position data or brake pedal position data, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises detecting the engine shock event when the accelerator pedal position data received from the pedal unit indicates an accelerator pedal position less than an accelerator pedal position threshold or the brake pedal position data received from the pedal unit indicates a brake pedal position less than a brake pedal position threshold.

15. The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a suspension sensor configured to detect suspension data, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises detecting the engine shock event when the suspension data received from the suspension sensor indicates a suspension variance less than a suspension variance threshold.

16. A method for reducing vibration from an engine shock event caused by turning on an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by an engine vibration sensor, vibration data;

analyzing, by an engine shock dampening unit, the vibration data received from the engine vibration sensor to detect the engine shock event;

determining, by the engine shock dampening unit, a vibration cancellation instruction for partially or completely cancelling the vibration from the engine shock event when the engine shock event is detected; and

vibrating, by a vibration unit, in an opposing direction of the vibration from the engine shock event based on the vibration cancellation instruction such that the vibration from the engine shock event is reduced.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein determining the vibration cancellation instruction comprises determining a vibration waveform based on the vibration data, and determining a cancelling waveform having a same amplitude as the vibration waveform and an inverted phase of the vibration waveform.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises determining a vibration waveform based on the vibration data, and detecting the engine shock event when an amplitude of the vibration waveform exceeds an amplitude threshold or a period of the vibration waveform is less than a period threshold.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting, by the engine shock dampening unit, an engine state based on engine state data received from the engine, and detecting the engine shock event when the engine state transitions from an off state to an on state.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting, by the engine shock dampening unit a transmission mode based on transmission mode data received from a transmission of the vehicle, and determining a vehicle speed based on vehicle speed data received from a speedometer, and

wherein analyzing the vibration data to detect the engine shock event comprises:

detecting the engine shock event when the transmission mode is park, neutral, or reverse, and

detecting the engine shock event when the transmission mode is drive, and a vehicle speed is less than a vehicle speed threshold.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2016
From: CHOW, JUSTIN J.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 039926/0027 →