Shift control device for vehicle

• US 10,221,942 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jonggap, Ito, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Edwin A
• Application Number:
  US14/889,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20160084376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,128 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/18083 without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0218 Calculation or estimation of the available ratio range, i.e. possible gear ratios, e.g. for prompting a driver with a display
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0234 Adapting the ratios to special vehicle conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0481 during range shift from drive (D) or reverse (R) to neutral (N)
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0488 during range shift from neutral (N) to drive (D)
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/04 Smoothing ratio shift

Abstract

Provided is a shift control device for a vehicle in which an automatic transmission in which a gear stage is set based on data showing traveling states including at least a driving demand is mounted, the shift control device for a vehicle setting a neutral state where power is not transmitted by releasing an engagement mechanism engaged such that a predetermined gear stage is set in the automatic transmission when the driving demand becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value determined in advance during traveling, in which the shift control device for a vehicle is configured such that a virtual gear stage as an input rotation speed close to an input rotation speed of the automatic transmission in the neutral state is obtained based on a vehicle speed at a time point when the virtual gear stage is obtained and a gear ratio at a gear stage allowed to be set in the automatic transmission when a target gear stage based on the driving demand is set with the neutral state eliminated by the driving demand exceeding the predetermined value during the traveling in the neutral state, and the shift control device for a vehicle is configured such that control of a second shift toward the target gear stage is initiated during a first shift between a current gear stage to be set based on the data showing the traveling states during the elimination of the neutral state and the virtual gear stage.

Claims

1. A shift control device for a vehicle, the vehicle including an automatic transmission, the shift control device comprising:

an electronic control unit configured to;

i) set a target gear stage based on data showing traveling states, including at least a driving demand;

ii) set a neutral state, where power is not transmitted, by releasing an engagement mechanism engaged such that a predetermined gear stage is set in the automatic transmission, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during traveling, such that coasting is allowed;

iii) eliminate the neutral state, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied during the coasting in the neutral state, by engaging the engagement mechanism;

iv) calculate a virtual gear stage, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied during the coasting in the neutral state, such that the virtual gear stage is set as a gear stage of the automatic transmission at which a rotation speed is closest to an input rotation speed, the virtual gear stage being calculated based on a vehicle speed at a time point when the virtual gear stage is calculated and a gear ratio at a gear stage allowed to be set in the automatic transmission;

v) control a first shift of the automatic transmission, when the neutral state is eliminated, such that a first shift change between a current gear stage during the neutral state and the virtual gear stage is initiated, and a second shift change toward the target gear stage is initiated during the first shift; and

vi) supply hydraulic pressure for forming the target gear stage to the engagement mechanism before the first shift is completed.

2. The shift control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to calculate the virtual gear stage such that the virtual gear stage is a gear stage at which a product of a gear ratio and an output rotation speed of the automatic transmission is closest to the input rotation speed in the neutral state at a time point when the virtual gear stage is calculated, and at which the product is less than the input rotation speed.

3. The shift control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to perform a pre-shift gear stage in a case where the virtual gear stage is a gear stage corresponding to the current gear stage or a gear stage on a higher-speed side than the current gear stage.

4. The shift control device according to claim 3, wherein the pre-shift gear stage includes a gear stage on a lower-speed side than the virtual gear stage by a margin of one stage.

5. A shift control device for a vehicle, the vehicle including an automatic transmission, the shift control device comprising:

an electronic control unit configured to;

i) set a target gear stage based on data showing traveling states, including at least a driving demand;

ii) set a neutral state, where power is not transmitted, by releasing an engagement mechanism engaged such that a predetermined gear stage is set in the automatic transmission, when a predetermined condition is satisfied during traveling, such that coasting is allowed;

iii) eliminate the neutral state, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied during the coasting in the neutral state, by engaging the engagement mechanism;

iv) calculate a virtual gear stage, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied during the coasting in the neutral state, such that the virtual gear stage is set as a gear stage of the automatic transmission at which a rotation speed is closest to an input rotation speed, the virtual gear stage being calculated based on a vehicle speed at a time point when the virtual gear stage is calculated and a gear ratio at a gear stage allowed to be set in the automatic transmission;

v) control a first shift of the automatic transmission, when the neutral state is eliminated, such that a first shift change between a current gear stage during the neutral state and the virtual gear stage is initiated, and a second shift change toward the target gear stage is initiated during the first shift;

vi) control a second shift, that is initiated during the first shift, before reaching a torque capacity of the virtual gear stage; and

vii) reduce a hydraulic pressure necessary for forming the virtual gear stage, that is unnecessary for forming the target gear stage, and that is supplied to the engagement mechanism.

6. The shift control device according to claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to calculate the virtual gear stage such that the virtual gear stage is a gear stage at which a product of a gear ratio and an output rotation speed of the automatic transmission is closest to the input rotation speed in the neutral state at a time point when the virtual gear stage is calculated, and at which the product is less than the input rotation speed.

7. The shift control device according to claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to perform a pre-shift gear stage in a case where the virtual gear stage is a gear stage corresponding to the current gear stage or a gear stage on a higher-speed side than the current gear stage.

8. The shift control device according to claim 7, wherein the pre-shift gear stage includes a gear stage on a lower-speed side than the virtual gear stage by a margin of one stage.