Method and apparatus for operating a motor vehicle

• US 20040142793A1
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
• Inventors: Boll, Bernhard, Pollack, Burkhard, Jung, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 6,976,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0164 mainly during accelerating or braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/302 Selected gear ratio; Transmission function
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/32 Torque on propulsion shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/62 Seat occupation; Passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/954 Wheelbase
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1877 Adaptive Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/18 Starting, accelerating
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/22 Braking, stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/915 Suspension load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0014 : Adaptive controllers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0208 : Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0225 : Clutch actuator position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 : Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/102 : Input speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 : Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/16 : Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 : Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 : Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 : Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/003 : Detecting or using driving style of a driver, e.g. for adapting shift schedules
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2300/14 : Selecting a state of operation, e.g. depending on two wheel or four wheel drive mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/42 : Changing the input torque to the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/00 : Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0206 : Layout of electro-hydraulic control circuits, e.g. arrangement of valves for control of actuators selecting and moving final output members, e.g. shift forks F16H61/2807
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and their utilization in operating a motor vehicle having a drive motor with an automated or automatic transmission in the drive train for transmitting a torque, a driver-identifying lock recognition system, as well as a transmission control unit that is equipped with a memory function, especially for improving driving comfort, are proposed, wherein it or they are characterized by at least one of the characterizing features contained in the application documents, or by a combination of at least two of those characterizing features.

Claims

1. Method and apparatus for operating a motor vehicle having a driving engine and an automated or automatic transmission in the drive train for transmitting a torque, a transmission control unit that is equipped with a memory function, particularly to improve riding comfort during a shift of gears from R to D that is connected with an engagement/disengagement process, characterized in that a momentary engagement of the engine torque occurs before a shift of gears takes place by means of the transmission actuator.

2. Method and apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a driver-identifying lock recognition system is provided.

3. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the engine torque is changed by means of the transmission control system that is regulated by the CAN bus.

4. Method in accordance with claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the engine torque is less than 10 Nm before the gear shift.

5. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the memory function of the transmission control unit (13) or of the driver-identifying lock system is utilized to balance relevant adaptation parameters in the corresponding control units (13, 13c and 13d).

6. Method in accordance with claims 1 and 5, characterized in that in the communication with the transmission control unit (13) an additional signal is established that identifies the corresponding driver (Driver-ID).

7. Method in accordance with claims 1, 5 and 6, characterized in that the adaptation parameters for the shift program of the transmission (4) are input following the boot process of the transmission control unit (13) and the driver identification.

8. Method in accordance with claims 1, 5 and 7, characterized in that the linking of the signals from the control units (13, 13c, and 13d) takes place through the CAN bus of the motor vehicle (1).

9. Method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the data from the actuators are detected in the control unit for the level control of the chassis and are correlated with the transmission control.

10. Method in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that a level control of the chassis takes place as a function of the engagement/disengagement and shift processes.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claims 1, 9 and 10, characterized in that the actuators (43) are arranged in at least the forward and/or rear axles of the motor vehicle (1), and are either parallel to the respective shock absorber of the chassis or are a component of the shock absorber.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that during the control process the regulating distances of the actuators (43) of an axle can be regulated equally or individually for each wheel.