Drive force control system for vehicle with infinite speed ratio continuously variable transmission

• US 20010041644A1
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sakai, Hiromasa, Yasuoka, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,612,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/101 Infinitely variable gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/109 of the toroïd type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0886 with switching means, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6601 with arrangements for dividing torque and shifting between different ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/086 CVT using two coaxial friction members cooperating with at least one intermediate friction member
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/54 dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/664 Friction gearings

Abstract

When an engine control unit (70) controls an engine rotation speed Ne to an idle rotation speed, and a select range is changed over from a non-travel range to a travel range, a speed change control unit (80) commands an increase of engine torque supplied to the engine control unit (70), and increases the transmission torque of a continuously variable transmission (2) according to the increase amount of the engine torque.

Claims

1. A drive force control system for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising an engine, a continuously variable transmission having a first output shaft and transmitting a rotation of the engine at an arbitrary speed ratio to the first output shaft, a fixed speed ratio transmission having a second output shaft and transmitting the rotation of the engine at a fixed speed ratio to the second output shaft, a planetary gear set having a first rotation element joined to the first output shaft, a second rotation element joined to the second output shaft, and a third rotation element which varies a rotation direction and a rotation speed according to a difference between a rotation speed of the first rotation element and a rotation speed of the second rotation element, the vehicle running according to the rotation of the third rotation element, and a selector lever which selects an operating range, the operating range comprising a travel range and a non-travel range, the system comprising:

a sensor which detects the operating range;

a first mechanism which increases an output torque of the engine;

a second mechanism which increases a torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission; and

a microprocessor programmed to;

determine if the engine rotation speed is equal to a predetermined idle rotation speed;

determine if the operating range has changed over from the non-travel range to the travel range;

control the first mechanism to increase the output torque of the engine and control the second mechanism to increase the torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission, when the operating range has changed over from the non-travel range to the travel range.

2. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the vehicle further comprises a power recirculation mode clutch which connects and disconnects the second rotation element and the second output shaft, and the microprocessor is further programmed to prevent the first mechanism from increasing the output torque of the engine and prevent the second mechanism from increasing the torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission, when the power recirculation mode clutch is not connecting the second rotation element and the second output shaft.

3. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the vehicle further comprises a brake, the system further comprises a sensor which detects if the brake is operating, and the microprocessor is further programmed to prevent the first mechanism from increasing the output torque of the engine and prevent the second mechanism from increasing the torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission, when the brake is operating.

4. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the engine comprises a throttle which adjusts an intake air amount of the engine, and the microprocessor is further programmed to control the throttle to increase the intake air amount when the microprocessor controls the first mechanism to increase the output torque of the engine.

5. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the first mechanism comprises a fuel injector which injects fuel in the engine, and the microprocessor is further programmed to control the injector to increase a fuel injection amount to increase the output torque of the engine.

6. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 1

, wherein the system further comprises a sensor which detects an output torque of the engine, and the microprocessor is further programmed to control the second mechanism to increase the torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission in synchronism with an increase of the output torque of the engine.

7. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 6

, wherein the engine comprises an intake passage, the first mechanism comprises a throttle provided in the intake passage, and the microprocessor is further programmed to increase the output torque of the engine by outputting an intake air amount command signal to the throttle to increase an intake air amount of the engine, and wherein the engine output torque detecting sensor comprises the microprocessor which is further programmed to estimate a real intake air amount of the engine by applying a first order delay processing to the intake air amount command signal and calculate the engine output torque based on the real intake air amount.

8. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 7

, wherein the system further comprises a sensor which detects a rotation speed of the engine, and the microprocessor is further programmed to calculate the engine output torque based on the real intake air amount and the rotation speed of the engine.

9. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 7

, wherein the first mechanism further comprises a fuel injector and the microprocessor is further programmed to control the injector to increase a fuel injection amount as the real intake air amount increases.

10. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 6

, wherein the second mechanism comprises a piston which, according to a hydraulic pressure, regulates the torque transmitted by the continuously variable transmission, and the microprocessor is further programmed to control the second mechanism to increase the hydraulic pressure in synchronism with the increase of the output torque of the engine.

11. The vehicle drive force control system as defined in

claim 9

, wherein the second mechanism further comprises a servo valve which regulates the hydraulic pressure according to an command signal and the microprocessor is further programmed to output the command signal to the servo valve to increase the hydraulic pressure.