Method for controlling a power train of a vehicle, and corresponding device and vehicle

• US 10,023,191 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2018
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Fontvieille, Laurent, Buis, Emmanuel, Marchais, Florent
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/870,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20180134299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2018 for braking on a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/30 Parking brake position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/182 including control of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/186 Status of parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18054 at stand still, e.g. engine in idling state hill holding B60W30/18118
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18118 Hill holding
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/076 Slope angle of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/18141 Braking for parking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method controls a power train of a vehicle immobilized in a parking position, the vehicle being provided with a parking brake device for immobilizing the vehicle and at least one electric motor. The method includes detecting the slope direction and/or slope data when the parking brake device is in an actuated position, detecting that the parking brake device has switched from the actuated position to a released position, and applying a motor torque setpoint to the electric motor in accordance with the detected slope direction and/or slope data.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a power train of a vehicle immobilized in a parking position, the vehicle being equipped with a parking brake device for immobilizing the vehicle and with at least one electric motor, the method comprising:

applying the parking brake to an applied position by inserting a blocking finger of the parking brake into an interdental space of a toothed wheel attached connected to a transmission shaft of the electric motor;

detecting a direction of and/or data for a slope when the parking brake device is in the applied position, including detecting a rotation of the toothed wheel via an angular position sensor to determine the direction of and/or the data for the slope;

detecting a transition of the parking brake device from the applied position to a released position; and

applying a motor torque setpoint to the electric motor on the basis of the detected direction of and/or the data for the slope.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising progressive transiting from a non-zero value of the motor torque setpoint towards a zero value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applying the motor torque setpoint is maintained from a start of the transition from the applied position to an end of the transition to the released position.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transition of the parking brake device from the applied position to the released position, and back again, is implemented by actuating a means for controlling the parking brake device.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting the direction of the slope is carried out when a control unit of the parking brake device is in a position of disengagement and when the parking brake device is in the applied position.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting the direction of and/or the data for the slope further comprises determining a value of the slope.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the detecting the direction of and/or the data for the slope and the determining the value of the slope are concurrent.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting the direction of and/or the data for the slope further comprises detecting a direction of tilting of the electric motor in relation to a neutral position of said electric motor.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing the direction of and/or the detected data for the slope.

10. A device for controlling a power train of a vehicle immobilized in a parking position, the vehicle being equipped with a parking brake device for immobilizing the vehicle and with at least one electric motor, the device comprising:

a controller configured to apply the parking brake to an applied position by inserting a blocking finger of the parking brake into an interdental space of a toothed wheel attached connected to a transmission shaft of the electric motor

means for detecting a direction of and/or data for a slope when the parking brake device is in the applied position, the means for detecting including an angular sensor that detects a rotation of the toothed wheel to determine the direction of and/or the data for the slope;

means for detecting a transition of the parking brake device from the applied position to a released position; and

means for applying a motor torque setpoint to the electric motor on the basis of the detected direction of and/or the data for the slope.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a power train;

a parking brake device to immobilize the vehicle in a parking position;

at least one electric motor; and

the device for controlling said power train as claimed in claim 10.

12. The device for controlling said power train as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for detecting the transition of the parking brake device includes a position sensor.

13. The device for controlling said power train as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for applying the motor torque setpoint includes at least one control computer.

14. The device for controlling said power train as claimed in claim 13, wherein the control computer is an electronic control unit.