CONTROL DEVICE OF STRADDLE-TYPE VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION, AND STRADDLE-TYPE VEHICLE

• US 20080287256A1
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: UNNO, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0609 Throttle change rate
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0221 for selecting modes, i.e. input device
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6616 the shifting of the transmission being manually controlled
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/16 Inhibiting or initiating shift during unfavourable conditions, e.g. preventing forward reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine over speed unintentional control input F16H61/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66259 using electrical or electronical sensing or control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 477/905 Acceleration of throttle signal

Abstract

The preferred embodiments of the present invention allow for easy shift-down and adjustment of a shift-down amount. According to some examples, a transmission (20) includes an electronically controlled transmission mechanism (21), and a control unit (5) that controls the transmission mechanism (21). The control unit (5) includes a transmission ratio control portion (55), a shift mode selection portion (52) that can select an AT mode and that shifts to a shift-down permission mode when a shift-down permission signal (101) is output in the AT mode, and a shift-down operation amount computation portion (51) that computes a shift-down operation amount based on a vehicle state of a motorcycle (1). The transmission ratio control portion (55) shifts down the transmission ratio of the transmission (20) based on the shift-down operation amount when a throttle (70) is operated in the shift-down permission mode.

Claims

1. A control device for an electronically controlled transmission disposed between a driving source and a driving wheel of a straddle-type vehicle that is capable of continuously changing a transmission ratio,

wherein the straddle-type vehicle includes

a shift-down permission switch that outputs a shift-down permission signal to the control device,

a throttle operation member that operates a throttle, and

a throttle operation member sensor that detects at least one of an operation amount of the throttle operation member and an operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the control device comprises:

a transmission ratio control portion that controls the transmission ratio of the transmission;

a shift mode selection portion that is capable of selecting, in accordance with a running state of the straddle-type vehicle, an AT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion continuously changes the transmission ratio of the transmission, the shift mode selection portion being configured such that, in the AT mode, the AT mode is shifted to a shift-down permission mode when the shift-down permission signal is output; and

a shift-down operation amount computation portion that computes a shift-down operation amount based on a vehicle state of the straddle-type vehicle that includes at least one of the operation amount of the throttle operation member and the operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the transmission ratio control portion, in the shift-down permission mode, shifts down the transmission ratio of the transmission based on the shift-down operation amount when the throttle is operated.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the shift-down operation amount computation portion computes the shift-down operation amount to be zero in predetermined situations.

3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the shift-down operation amount computation portion computes the shift-down operation amount to be zero when the operation amount of the throttle operation member is equal to or less than a predetermined operation amount, and when the operation speed of the throttle operation member is equal to or less than a predetermined operation speed.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the shift mode selection portion is configured to select the AT mode or the shift-down permission mode only.

5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle state in the transmission includes at least one of a vehicle speed of the straddle-type vehicle and a rotation speed of the driving source.

6. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory that stores a shift-down operation amount map showing the inter-relationship between the vehicle state and the shift-down operation amount,

wherein the shift-down operation amount computation portion computes the shift-down operation amount based on the shift-down operation amount map.

7. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory that stores a transmission ratio map,

wherein the transmission ratio control portion controls, in the AT mode, the transmission ratio of the transmission to a transmission ratio computed from the transmission ratio map, and in the shift-down permission mode, normally controls the transmission ratio of the transmission to a transmission ratio shifted down by the shift-down operation amount from the transmission ratio computed from the transmission ratio map.

8. The control device according to claim 1,

wherein the shift mode selection portion is capable of selecting, in addition to the AT mode, an MT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion changes the transmission ratio of the transmission between a plurality of predetermined transmission ratios,

wherein, in the shift-down permission mode, when the throttle is operated, the shift mode selection portion selects the MT mode, and

wherein the transmission ratio control portion controls the transmission ratio of the transmission to a transmission ratio closest, among the plurality of predetermined transmission ratios, to a transmission ratio shifted down by exactly the shift-down operation amount from the current transmission ratio.

9. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cancellation signal output portion that outputs a cancellation signal when a predetermined operation has been performed on the straddle-type vehicle, and when a determined condition of the straddle-type vehicle has been satisfied; and

a shift-down cancellation portion that cancels the shift-down when the cancellation signal is output in the shift-down permission mode.

10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the cancellation signal output portion outputs the cancellation signal when at least one of a throttle opening degree of the straddle-type vehicle, a rotation speed of the driving source, and a vehicle speed of the straddle-type vehicle has satisfied a predetermined condition.

11. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the cancellation signal output portion outputs the cancellation signal when a predetermined period has elapsed following selection of the shift-down permission mode by the shift mode selection portion.

12. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the straddle-type vehicle further includes a brake, and wherein the cancellation signal output portion outputs the cancellation signal in accordance with an operation state of the brake.

13. The control device according to claim 9,

wherein the shift mode selection portion is capable of selecting, in addition to the AT mode, an MT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion changes the transmission ratio of the transmission between a plurality of predetermined transmission ratios,

wherein the straddle-type vehicle further includes a shift up switch that causes the transmission to shift up in the MT mode, and

wherein the cancellation signal output portion outputs the cancellation signal when the shift up switch is operated in the shift-down permission mode.

14. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the cancellation signal output portion outputs the cancellation signal when the shift-down permission signal is output in the shift-down permission mode.

15. The control device according to claim 1,

wherein the shift mode selection portion is capable of selecting, in addition to the AT mode, an MT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion changes the transmission ratio of the transmission between a plurality of predetermined transmission ratios,

wherein the straddle-type vehicle further includes a shift-down switch that causes the transmission to shift-down in the MT mode, and

wherein the shift-down switch and the shift-down permission switch are the same switch.

16. A control device for an electronically controlled transmission disposed between a driving source and a driving wheel of a straddle-type vehicle,

wherein the straddle-type vehicle includes

a shift-down permission switch that outputs a shift-down permission signal to the control device,

a throttle operation member that operates a throttle, and

a throttle operation member sensor that detects at least one of an operation amount of the throttle operation member and an operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the control device comprises:

a transmission ratio control portion that controls a transmission ratio of the transmission;

a shift mode selection portion that is capable of selecting an MT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion changes the transmission ratio of the transmission between a plurality of predetermined transmission ratios, the shift mode selection portion being configured such that, in the MT mode, the MT mode is shifted to a shift-down permission mode to when the shift-down permission signal is output; and

a shift-down operation amount computation portion that computes a shift-down operation amount based on a vehicle state of the straddle-type vehicle that includes at least one of the operation amount of the throttle operation member and the operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the transmission ratio control portion, in the shift-down permission mode, shifts down the transmission ratio of the transmission based on the shift-down operation amount when the throttle is operated.

17. A transmission, comprising:

an electronically controlled transmission mechanism, disposed between a driving source and a driving wheel of a straddle-type vehicle, that is capable of continuously changing a transmission ratio; and

a control unit that controls the transmission mechanism,

wherein the straddle-type vehicle includes

a shift-down permission switch that outputs a shift-down permission signal to the control unit,

a throttle operation member that operates a throttle, and

a throttle operation member sensor that detects at least one of an operation amount of the throttle operation member and an operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the control unit includes

a transmission ratio control portion that controls the transmission ratio of the transmission,

a shift mode selection portion that is capable of selecting, in accordance with a running state of the straddle-type vehicle, an AT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion continuously changes the transmission ratio of the transmission, the shift mode selection portion being configured such that, in the AT mode, the AT mode is shifted to a shift-down permission mode when the shift-down permission signal is output, and

a shift-down operation amount computation portion that computes a shift-down operation amount based on a vehicle state of the straddle-type vehicle that includes at least one of the operation amount of the throttle operation member and the operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the transmission ratio control portion, in the shift-down permission mode, shifts down the transmission ratio of the transmission based on the shift-down operation amount when the throttle is operated.

18. A straddle-type vehicle, comprising:

a driving source;

a driving wheel that is driven by the driving source;

a transmission including an electronically controlled transmission mechanism, disposed between the driving source and the driving wheel, that is capable of continuously changing a transmission ratio, and a control unit that controls the transmission mechanism;

a shift-down permission switch that outputs a shift-down permission signal to the control unit;

a throttle operation member that operates a throttle; and

a throttle operation member sensor that detects at least one of an operation amount of the throttle operation member and an operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the control unit includes

a transmission ratio control portion that controls the transmission ratio of the transmission,

a shift mode selection portion that is capable of selecting, in accordance with a running state of the straddle-type vehicle, an AT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion continuously changes the transmission ratio of the transmission, the shift mode selection portion being configured such that, in the AT mode, the AT mode is shifted to a shift-down permission mode when the shift-down permission signal is output, and

a shift-down operation amount computation portion that computes a shift-down operation amount based on a vehicle state of the straddle-type vehicle that includes at least one of the operation amount of the throttle operation member and the operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the transmission ratio control portion, in the shift-down permission mode, shifts down the transmission ratio of the transmission based on the shift-down operation amount when the throttle is operated.

19. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the shift-down permission switch is disposed at a position where the shift-down permission switch can be operated by a thumb of a rider.

20. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising:

a handle including a left grip and a right grip that are gripped by a rider,

wherein the shift-down permission switch is disposed at a right side section of the left grip.

21. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 18,

wherein the shift mode selection portion is capable of selecting a plurality of shift modes including an MT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion changes the transmission ratio of the transmission between a plurality of predetermined transmission ratios, the AT mode, and the shift-down permission mode, and the shift mode selection portion successively changes the selected shift mode each time the shift-down permission signal is output.

22. A straddle-type vehicle, comprising:

a driving source;

a driving wheel that is driven by the driving source;

a transmission including an electronically controlled transmission mechanism, disposed between the driving source and the driving wheel of the straddle-type vehicle, and a control unit that controls the transmission mechanism;

a shift-down permission switch that outputs a shift-down permission signal to the control unit;

a throttle operation member that operates a throttle; and

a throttle operation member sensor that detects at least one of an operation amount of the throttle operation member and an operation speed of the throttle operation member,

wherein the control unit includes;

a transmission ratio control portion that controls the transmission ratio of the transmission;

a shift mode selection portion that is capable of selecting an MT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion changes the transmission ratio of the transmission between a plurality of predetermined transmission ratios, the shift mode selection portion being configured such that, in the MT mode, the MT mode is shifted to a shift-down permission mode when the shift-down permission signal is output; and

a shift-down operation amount computation portion that computes a shift-down operation amount based on a vehicle state of the straddle-type vehicle that includes at least one of the operation amount of the throttle operation member and the operation speed of the throttle operation member, and

wherein the transmission ratio control portion, in the shift-down permission mode, shifts down the transmission ratio of the transmission based on the shift-down operation amount when the throttle is operated.

23. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 22, wherein

the shift-down permission switch is disposed at a position where the shift-down permission switch can be operated by a thumb of a rider.

24. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 22, further comprising:

a handle including a left grip and a right grip that are gripped by a rider,

wherein the shift-down permission switch is disposed at a right side section of the left grip.

25. The straddle-type vehicle according to claim 22,

wherein the shift mode selection portion is capable of selecting a plurality of shift modes including an MT mode in which the transmission ratio control portion changes the transmission ratio of the transmission between a plurality of predetermined transmission ratios, the AT mode, and the shift-down permission mode, and the shift mode selection portion successively changes the selected shift mode each time the shift-down permission signal is output.