Vehicle trajectory control system

• US 20040152562A1
• Filed: 01/02/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cunningham, Ralph Wayne, Cullen, Michael John
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/107
• 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 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• 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: F16H 2059/144 characterised by change between positive and negative drive line torque, e.g. torque changes when switching between coasting and acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/186 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/54 Synchronizing engine speed to transmission input speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/18 dependent on the position of the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/54 dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/14 : Control of torque converter lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/143 : using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 : Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 477/904 : Control signal is acceleration

Abstract

A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission is described. The method is especially suited for a transmission having at least one gear in which an over-running clutch is present. The invention describes a method for adjusting an engine operating parameter to maintain transmission input speed at or below a synchronous transmission input speed when the transmission is in the gear with the over-running clutch. The synchronous transmission input speed is based on transmission state and transmission output speed. Alternatively, vehicle speed can be used in place of transmission output speed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the method comprising:

during a tip-out condition and during a gear ratio change to a future gear, controlling the engine speed to a synchronous speed in the future gear ratio by adjusting an engine operating parameter so that the gear change can be performed with the engine speed close to the engine speed that will be achieved after the gear change is completed.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said synchronous speed is a synchronous transmission input speed.

3. A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the method comprising:

during a closed pedal condition and during a gear ratio change to a future gear, controlling the engine speed to a synchronous speed in the future gear ratio by adjusting an engine operating parameter so that the gear change can be performed with the engine speed close to the engine speed that will be achieved after the gear change is completed.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said synchronous speed is a synchronous transmission input speed.

5. A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the method comprising:

during a tip-out condition, controlling the engine speed to a synchronous speed, where the synchronous speed is based on a transmission state and the transmission output speed so that transmission input speed is at, or slightly below, the transmission output speed times the current gear ratio of the transmission; and

when positive powertrain output torque is again applied, providing said powertrain output torque without delay.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the engine is coupled to the transmission via a torque converter, wherein said torque converter is unlocked while maintaining a positive powertrain output and then locked after transitioning from said positive powertrain output to a negative powertrain output.

7. A method for controlling an engine coupled to a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the method comprising:

during a closed pedal condition, controlling the engine speed to a synchronous speed, where the synchronous speed is based on a transmission state and the transmission output speed so that transmission input speed is at, or slightly below, the transmission output speed times the current gear ratio of the transmission; and

when positive powertrain output torque is again applied, providing said powertrain output torque without delay.