VEHICLE DRIVE DEVICE CONTROLLER

• US 20090248265A1
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Yuji, Tabata, Atsushi, Kamada, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/59
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0873 : with switching, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0087 : Adaptive control, e.g. the control parameters adapted by learning
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0047 : the gear ratios comprising five forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2012 : with four sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/061 : using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus that includes a differential mechanism and an electric motor provided in the differential mechanism, which can be miniaturized in structure with improved fuel economy and enabling suppression of occurrence in switching shocks. With a provision of a switching clutch or a switching brake, a shifting mechanism is placed in either a continuously variable shifting state or a step variable shifting state. During a shifting of an automatic shifting portion, an engaging control variable control alters a method of learning an engaging pressure. This allows a rotation speed of a transmitting member to achieve a given variation during the shifting, depending on a continuously variable shifting state and a non-continuously variable shifting state, for thereby providing a balance between an improvement in a feeling and a suppressing of shifting shocks.

Claims

1. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus,

the vehicle drive apparatus having an engine, a continuously variable shifting portion including a differential mechanism for distributing an output of the engine to a first electric motor and a transmitting member and a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and drive wheels, to be operative as an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting portion, and a shifting portion forming a part of the power transmitting path and operative to engage or disengage an engaging device for thereby executing a shifting,

the control device comprising:

a differential state switching device disposed in the differential mechanism and operative to selectively switch the continuously variable shifting portion in a continuously variable shifting state available to perform an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation and a non-continuously variable shifting state disenabling the electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation; and

engaging control variable control means for controlling the engaging device for the shifting of the shifting portion, and altering a learning method of the engaging device based on whether or not the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state.

5. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engaging control variable control means learns the control variable of the engaging device so that the rotation speed of the transmitting member has a predetermined variable.

6. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the engaging control variable control means learns an unlearned control variable of the engaging device, appearing when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state, based on a control variable of an engaging device that is learned when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the non-continuously variable shifting state, or

the engaging control variable control learns the unlearned control variable of the engaging device, appearing when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the non-continuously variable shifting state, based on the learned control variable of the engaging device appearing when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state.

8. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising rotation control means for varying a rotation speed of the transmitting member using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor so as to allow the rotation speed of the transmitting member to achieve a given variation during the shifting of the shifting portion, and

with the rotation control means operated for the rotation speed of the transmitting member to be varied, the engaging control variable control means inhibits the learning on the control variable of the engaging device.

9. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising rotation control means for varying a rotation speed of the transmitting member using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor so as to allow the rotation speed of the transmitting member to achieve a given variation during the shifting of the shifting portion, and

with the rotation control means operated for the rotation speed of the transmitting member to be varied, the engaging control variable control means learns the control variable of the engaging device in consideration of a variation in the rotation speed of the transmitting member.

10. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus, according to one of claims 1 to 4,

the control device comprising:

rotation control means for varying an input rotation speed of the shifting portion during the shifting thereof using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor; and

engaging pressure control means for controlling an engaging pressure of the engaging device for the shifting of the shifting portion, and altering a learning method of the engaging pressure of the engaging device based on whether or not the rotation control means varies the input rotation speed of the shifting portion.

11. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus, according to one of claims 1 to 4,

the control device comprising:

rotation control means for varying an input rotation speed of the shifting portion during the shifting thereof using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor; and

engaging pressure control means for controlling an engaging pressure of the engaging device for the shifting portion to perform the shifting, and inhibiting learning of the engaging pressure of the engaging device when the rotation control means varies the input rotation speed of the shifting portion.

12. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus, according to one of claims 1 to 4,

the control device comprising:

rotation control means for varying an input rotation speed of the shifting portion during the shifting thereof using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor; and

engaging pressure control means for controlling an engaging pressure of the engaging device for the shifting portion to perform the shifting, and correcting a learned value on the engaging pressure of the engaging device based on a control variable of the input rotation speed effectuated by the rotation control means when the rotation control means varies the input rotation speed of the shifting portion.

13. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus, according to one of claims 1 to 4,

the control device comprising:

rotation control means for varying an input rotation speed of the shifting portion during the shifting of the shifting portion using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor; and

engaging pressure control means for controlling an engaging pressure of the engaging device for the shifting portion to perform the shifting, and altering a learning method of the engaging pressure of the engaging device based on whether or not the rotation control means varies the input rotation speed of the shifting portion.

14. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus, according to one of claims 1 to 4,

the control device comprising:

rotation control means for varying an input rotation speed of the shifting portion during the shifting thereof using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor; and

engaging pressure control means for controlling an engaging pressure of the engaging device for the shifting portion to perform the shifting and inhibiting learning the engaging pressure of the engaging device when the rotation control means varies the input rotation speed of the shifting portion.

15. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus, according to one of claims 1 to 4,

the control device comprising:

rotation control means for varying an input rotation speed of the shifting portion during the shifting thereof using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor; and

engaging pressure control means for controlling an engaging pressure of the engaging device for the shifting portion to perform the shifting, and correcting a learned value on the engaging pressure of the engaging device when the rotation control means varies the input rotation speed of the shifting portion.

16. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation control means controls the input rotation speed of the shifting portion and/or the engine rotation speed during the shifting of the shifting portion, using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor, so as to allow these factors to achieve given states.

17. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engaging pressure control means learns the engaging pressure of the engaging device so as to allow the input rotation speed of the shifting portion to achieve the given varying state during the shifting of the shifting portion.

18. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation control means varies the input rotation speed of the transmission in a given varying rate using the first electric motor and/or the second electric motor.

19. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotation control means compels the engine rotation speed not to vary on a stage before and after the shifting of the shifting portion using the first electric motor.

20. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the differential state switch means switches the continuously variable shifting state and the step variable shifting state of the continuously variable shifting portion based on a required output torque.

21. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the differential state switch means switches the continuously variable shifting state and the step variable shifting state of the continuously variable shifting portion based on a vehicle speed.

22. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the differential state switch means switches the continuously variable shifting state and the step variable shifting state of the continuously variable shifting portion based on an output torque of the engine.

23. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the differential state switch means switches the continuously variable shifting state and the step variable shifting state of the continuously variable shifting portion based on a rotation speed of the engine.

2. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus,

the vehicle drive apparatus having an engine, a continuously variable shifting portion including a differential mechanism for distributing an output of the engine to a first electric motor and a transmitting member and a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and drive wheels, to be operative as an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting portion, and a shifting portion forming a part of the power transmitting path and operative to engage or disengage an engaging device for thereby executing a shifting,

the control device comprising:

a differential state switching device disposed in the differential mechanism and operative to selectively switch the continuously variable shifting portion in a continuously variable shifting state available to perform an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation and a non-continuously variable shifting state disenabling the electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation; and

engaging control variable control means for controlling the engaging device for the shifting of the shifting portion, and classifying a learned value of the control variable of the engaging device based on whether or not the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state.

3. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus,

the vehicle drive apparatus having an engine, a continuously variable shifting portion including a differential mechanism for distributing an output of the engine to a first electric motor and a transmitting member and a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and drive wheels, to be operative as an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting portion, and a shifting portion forming a part of the power transmitting path and operative to engage or disengage an engaging device for thereby executing a shifting,

the control device comprising:

a differential state switching device disposed in the differential mechanism and operative to selectively switch the continuously variable shifting portion in a continuously variable shifting state available to perform an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation and a non-continuously variable shifting state disenabling the electrically controlled continuously variable shifting operation; and

engaging control variable control means for controlling the engaging device for the shifting of the shifting portion, and operative, when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state, to alter a learning method of the control variable of the engaging device depending on a shifting for a total gear ratio, established with the continuously variable shifting portion and the shifting portion, to be continuously varied or a shifting for the total gear ratio to be non-continuously varied.

7. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the engaging control variable control means learns an unlearned control variable of the engaging device, appearing when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state with the shifting executed for the total gear ratio to be continuously varied, based on a learned control variable of the engaging device with the continuously variable shifting portion placed in the continuously variable shifting state for the total gear ratio to be non-continuously varied, or

the engaging control variable control learns the unlearned control variable of the engaging device, appearing when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state with the shifting executed for the total gear ratio to be non-continuously varied, based on the learned control variable of the engaging device appearing when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state with the shifting executed for the total gear ratio to be continuously varied.

4. A control device for a vehicle drive apparatus,

the vehicle drive apparatus having an engine, a continuously variable shifting portion including a differential mechanism for distributing an output of the engine to a first electric motor and a transmitting member and a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and drive wheels, to be operative as an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting portion, and a shifting portion forming a part of the power transmitting path to engage or disengage an engaging device for thereby executing a shifting,

the control device comprising:

a differential state switching device disposed in the differential mechanism and operative to selectively switch the continuously variable shifting portion in a continuously variable shifting state available to perform an electrically controlled continuously variable shifting and a non-continuously variable shifting state for disenabling the electrically controlled continuously variable shifting; and

engaging control variable control means for controlling the engaging device for the shifting portion to perform the shifting, and operative, when the continuously variable shifting portion is placed in the continuously variable shifting state, to classify a learned value of the control variable of the engaging device depending on a shifting for a total gear ratio, established with the continuously variable shifting portion and the shifting portion, to be continuously varied or a shifting for the total gear ratio to be non-continuously varied.