Variable operation of vehicle transmissions using rough road sensing

• US 20070219698A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Albertson, William, McDonald, Mike, Van Maanen, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/65
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0227 Shift map selection, i.e. methods for controlling selection between different shift maps, e.g. to initiate switch to a map for up-hill driving
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/66 Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19251 Control mechanism

Abstract

A method for variable operation of a vehicle transmission using rough road sensing includes defining a first set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a smooth road condition and a second set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a rough road condition. The method includes sensing a road condition, generating a road condition signal corresponding to the road condition, and measuring a magnitude of the road condition signal. The method includes switching from the first set of parameters to the second set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method includes switching from the second set of parameters to the first set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than a second predetermined threshold that is different than the first predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method for variable operation of a vehicle transmission using rough road sensing, comprising:

defining a first set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a smooth road condition and a second set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a rough road condition;

sensing a road condition and generating a road condition signal corresponding to the road condition;

measuring a magnitude of the road condition signal;

switching from the first set of parameters to the second set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and

switching from the second set of parameters to the first set of parameters to operate the vehicle transmission when the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than a second predetermined threshold that is different than the first predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether a transmission is operating using one of the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing the magnitude of the road condition signal to one of the first predetermined threshold and the second predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds the first predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than the second predetermined threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating the vehicle transmission using one of the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters.

7. A system for variable calibration of a vehicle transmission using rough road sensing, comprising:

memory that stores a first set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a smooth road condition and a second set of parameters to calibrate the vehicle transmission for a rough road condition;

a road sensing module that comprises a road sensor that senses a road roughness and generates a road condition signal based on the roughness;

a signal processing module that measures a magnitude of the road condition signal; and

a control module that switches from the first set of parameters to the second set of parameters when the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold and from the second set of parameters to the first set of parameters when the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than a second predetermined threshold that is different than the first predetermined threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said control module comprises at least one of said memory and said signal processing module.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module determines whether the vehicle transmission is calibrated using one of the first and the second sets of parameters.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module compares the magnitude of the road condition signal to one of the first and the second predetermined thresholds stored in the memory.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module determines whether the magnitude of the road condition signal exceeds the first predetermined threshold.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module determines whether the magnitude of the road condition signal is less than the second predetermined threshold.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module calibrates the vehicle transmission using one of the first and the second sets of parameters.