METHOD FOR ADAPTING SHIFT SCHEDULE OF AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BASED ON GPS/MAP INFORMATION

• US 20100030437A1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Lee, Chunhao J., Hebbale, Kumaraswamy V., Kim, Daekyun
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/65
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/663 Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/666 Determining road conditions by using vehicle location or position, e.g. from global navigation systems [GPS]
• 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: F16H 61/68 specially adapted for stepped gearings

Abstract

A powertrain control includes monitoring map preview information, determining a road gradient factor based upon the map preview information, and adapting a transmission shift schedule based upon the road gradient factor.

Claims

1. Method of operating a powertrain of a vehicle including an electromechanical transmission having selectively operable clutches engaging torque from said engine to a drivetrain through a plurality of selectable gear states according to a transmission shift schedule, comprising:

monitoring map preview information;

determining a road gradient factor based upon said map preview information; and

adapting said transmission shift schedule based upon said road gradient factor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adapting said transmission shift schedule based upon said road gradient factor includes overriding shift events to a higher gear when an impending vehicle slow down event is indicated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said road gradient factor comprises a numerical value describing an instantaneous maximum curvature though a window of route analysis.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said road gradient factor is expressed as an integer value with a magnitude corresponding to said instantaneous maximum curvature though said window of route analysis.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a distance in front of said vehicle.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a look ahead time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said road gradient factor is determined through an algorithm evaluating the severity of at least one of an upcoming curve and an upcoming slope through a window of route analysis.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said evaluating includes a weighting adjustment applied to said road gradient factor depending upon a distance to said at least one of an upcoming curve and an upcoming slope.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a distance in front of said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a look ahead time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said road gradient factor comprises a numerical value describing an instantaneous maximum slope though a window of route analysis.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said road gradient factor is expressed as an integer value with a magnitude corresponding to said instantaneous maximum slope though said window of route analysis.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a distance in front of said vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a look ahead time.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said road gradient factor is determined through an algorithm evaluating the severity of an upcoming curve and an upcoming slope through a predicted route of travel.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said predicted route of travel is determined by analyzing past driving patterns.

17. Method of operating a powertrain of a vehicle including an electromechanical transmission having selectively operable clutches engaging torque from said engine to a drivetrain through a plurality of selectable gear states according to a transmission shift schedule, comprising:

monitoring map preview information comprising GPS location data in coordination with a digital map though a window of route analysis;

determining a road gradient factor based upon said map preview information; and

adapting said transmission shift schedule based upon said road gradient factor, wherein said adapting comprises increasing a vehicle speed required to indicate an up shift event for a particular foot pedal position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said road gradient factor comprises a numerical value describing an instantaneous maximum curvature.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said road gradient factor comprises a numerical value describing an instantaneous maximum slope.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a distance in front of said vehicle.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a look ahead time.

22. Apparatus for operating a powertrain of a vehicle including an electromechanical transmission having selectively operable clutches engaging torque from said engine to a drivetrain through a plurality of selectable gear states according to a transmission shift schedule, comprising:

a vehicle location device programmed to determine vehicle location in relation to a digital map and to generate a road gradient factor based upon said vehicle location device and said digital map; and

a transmission control module in communication with said vehicle location device and programmed to modifying said transmission shift schedule based upon said road gradient factor.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said road gradient factor comprises a numerical value describing an instantaneous maximum curvature though a window of route analysis.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a distance in front of said vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a look ahead time.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said road gradient factor comprises a numerical value describing an instantaneous maximum slope though a window of route analysis.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a distance in front of said vehicle.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said window of route analysis comprises a look ahead time.