Device for electronically controlling a gearbox, particularly an automatic gearbox

• US 20040078128A1
• Filed: 11/13/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Company KG (Voith GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Company KG (Voith GmbH)
• Inventors: Burk, Richard, Ehleiter, Joachim, Dietzel, Bernd
• Application Number:
  US10/451,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078128A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/00 Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for electronically controlling a drive assembly, particularly a gear box (2), which is used in a vehicle, comprising a control unit (3) associated with the drive assembly and arranged at a spatial distance from the drive assembly, and an identification module (4) which is electronically connected to the control unit and comprises a characteristic memory unit (5) associated with the drive assembly for storing at least the production-related characteristics of controllable devices and components of the drive assembly. The invention is characterised by the following characteristics:

the identification module is arranged in the drive assembly, particularly in the housing thereof and the identification module contains an operational and/or functional data memory unit (6) for storing updated operational data and/or functional data.

Claims

1. Device (1;

1.1b) for electronically controlling a drive unit, particularly a gearbox (2;

2.1b) for use in vehicles;

1.1 with a control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.4) allocated to the drive unit (2;

2.1b) and arranged at a distance from the drive unit (2;

2.1b);

1.2 with an identification module (4;

4.2a;

4.2b;

4.4) electrically connected with the control unit (3;

3.1b), comprising a properties storage unit (5;

5.2a;

5.2b;

5.4) allocated to the drive unit (2;

2.1b) for storage of at least manufacture-conditioned properties of controllable devices and components of the drive unit (2;

2.2b);

characterized by the following features;

1.3 the identification module (4;

4.1b;

4.2a;

4.2b;

4.4) is arranged in the drive unit, particularly in its casing (2;

2.1b);

1.4 the identification module (4;

4.1b;

4.2a;

4.2b;

4.4) further contains an operating and/or functional data storage unit (6;

6.1b;

6.2a;

6.2b;

6.4) for storage of updated operating data and/or functional data.

3. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the properties storage unit (5;

5.1b;

5.2a;

5.2b;

5.3;

5.4) and the operating and/or functional data storage unit (6;

6.1b;

6.2a;

6.2b;

6.3;

6.4) are formed by a memory unit (12;

12.1b;

12.2b;

12.3;

12.4)

4. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the memory unit (12;

12.1b;

12.2b;

12.3;

12.4) is formed by a non-volatile memory, particularly an EEPROM (12.4).

5. Device (1.4) according to one of claims 1 through 4, characterized by the following features:

5.1 The identification module (4.4) comprises a microcomputer (14), comprising a microprocessor (16) with at least one read-only memory (17) for the storage of programs and at least one read-write memory (18) for the storage of data;

5.2 with an interface (19) for communication with other systems;

5.3 the operating and/or functional data storage unit (6;

6.1b;

6.2a;

6.2b;

6.3;

6.4) and the properties storage unit (5;

5.1b;

5.2a;

5.2b;

5.3;

5.4) are integrated in the microcomputer (14).

6. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 5, characterized by the fact that the control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.3;

3.4) and the identification module (4;

4.1b;

4.2a;

4.2b;

4.3;

4.4) are coupled with each other by resources (9) for communication and data transfer.

7. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the resources (9) comprise a serial data transfer and communication facility (11).

8. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the properties storage unit (5;

5.1b;

5.2a;

5.2b;

5.3;

5.4) and/or the operating and/or functional data storage unit (6;

6.1b;

6.2a;

6.2b;

6.3;

6.4) and the interface (19) form one structural unit.

9. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to claim 6 through 8, characterized by the fact that the resources (9) comprise a voltage supply line which simultaneously is the line for communication.

10. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 9, characterized by the fact that the control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.3;

) of the drive unit can be interconnected with a central control unit in the vehicle of higher ranking.

11. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 9, characterized by the fact that the control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.3;

) is integrated in a central device for controlling a vehicle.

12. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 11, characterized by the fact that two supply lines are allocated to the control unit—

a first supply line and a second permanent plus line, whereby the power supply of the permanent plus line can be deactivated by means of the control unit.

13. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 12, characterized by the following features;

13.1 The operating and/or functional data storage unit and the properties storage unit can be split up into at least two blocks;

13.2 a counter or an identification about its validity is allocated to each block.

14. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 13, characterized by the following features;

14.1 with a facility for recording at least one variable characterizing at least indirectly the startup operation of the vehicle;

14.2 with a facility for processing the variable characterizing at least indirectly the startup operation of the vehicle or the activation of the control unit of the drive unit and formation of a correcting variable for controlling a facility for activation of the communication and data transfer between the control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.3;

3.4) and the gear detection system (4;

4.1b;

4.2a;

4.2b;

4.3;

4.4).

15. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 14, characterized by the following features;

15.1 with a facility for recording at least one variable at least indirectly describing the termination of a driving operation or the deactivation of the control unit of the drive unit;

15.2 with a facility for processing the variable at least indirectly characterizing the termination of a driving operation of the vehicle or the deactivation of the control unit of the drive unit and formation of a correcting variable for controlling a facility for activation of the communication and data transfer between the control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.3;

3.4) and the gear detection system (4;

4.1b;

4.2a;

4.2b;

4.3;

4.4).

16. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 1 through 14, characterized by the following features;

16.1 with a facility for recording a variable at least indirectly characterizing the temperature of the identification module;

16.2 with a facility for processing the variable at least indirectly characterizing the temperature of the identification module of the vehicle and formation of a correcting variable for controlling a facility for activation of the communication and data transfer between the control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.3;

3.4) and the gear detection system (4;

4.1b;

4.2a;

4.2b;

4.3;

4.4).

17. Device (1;

1.1b;

1.3) according to one of claims 13 through 15, characterized by the fact that the facility for formation of the correcting variable for controlling a setting facility is formed by the control unit (3;

3.1b;

3.3) of the gearbox.

2. Device (1.3) for electronically controlling a drive unit, particularly a gearbox (2.3), particularly an automatic gearbox for use in vehicles

2.1 with a control unit (3.3) allocated to the drive unit (2.3) and arranged on or in the casing of the drive unit;

characterized by the following features;

2.2 with an identification module (4.3) electrically connected with the control unit (3.3), comprising one properties storage unit (5.3) allocated to the drive unit (2.3) for storage of at least manufacture-conditioned properties of controllable devices and components of the drive unit (2.3);

2.3 the identification module (4.3) is arranged in the drive unit (2.3), particularly in its case;

2.4 the identification module (4.3) contains an operating and/or functional data storage unit (6.3) for storage of updated operating data and/or functional data.