VEHICLE CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20100256880A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Tsuyoshi
• Application Number:
  US12/599,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256880A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/55
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/124 Limiting the input power, torque or speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1284 the failing part is a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/105 consisting of electrical switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/12 Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192; Circumventing or fixing failures

Abstract

In a control apparatus (3, 40) of a vehicle in which a by-wire range switching apparatus (10) that performs range switching of an automatic transmission 2 using an actuator 60 is mounted, even if a range switching failure occurs in the course of performing range switching in a specific pattern (for example, R→D, or D→R) so as to reverse the present drive power direction, vehicle movement can be suppressed or prevented as much as possible.

The control apparatus (3, 40) includes a coping means (Steps S1 and S5) that, when the request to switch to a forward range or a reverse range has been identified as a request in that specific pattern, reduces the generated output of a drive source 1 to a lower limit side, and an execution means (Steps S2, S4, and S6) that controls the range switching apparatus 10 so as to establish the requested range.

Claims

1. A control apparatus of a vehicle in which a by-wire range switching apparatus that performs range switching of an automatic transmission using an actuator is mounted, the control apparatus comprising:

a coping means that, when a range switching request is identified to be in a specific pattern that reverses the present drive power direction, increases the degree of restriction of drive power transmission compared to a case of a range switching request that is not in that specific pattern.

9. A vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the range switching apparatus comprises a detent mechanism for changing the state of a manual valve that is one constituent element of a range switching hydraulic control apparatus provided in the automatic transmission, and an actuator for driving the detent mechanism;

the detent mechanism including a detent member that is displaced by the actuator, and a positioning member that maintains a stopped posture of the detent member;

the detent member having a wave-shaped portion constituted from a plurality of valleys that correspond to each range to which the switching is performed and mountains between the valleys, and the positioning member having an engaging portion that engages with a valley of the wave-shaped portion and generates a biasing force that pushes the engaging portion towards the valley bottom; and

the actuator being controlled to establish a requested range when a range switching request has been received.

10. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the actuator tilts the detent member, and comprises an electric motor that generates rotational power, and a deceleration mechanism that decelerates the rotational power generated by this motor and outputs the decelerated rotational power from an output shaft that is linked coaxially and so as to be capable of rotating as a single body with a support shaft of the detent member.

11. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 10,

comprising a rotor angle detection means that detects the rotation angle of a rotor of the motor, and an output angle detection means that detects the rotation angle of the output shaft of the actuator;

the execution means performing processing that, in response to a range switching request, sets a target rotation angle of the motor that is necessary to engage a valley corresponding to the requested range to the engaging portion, and performs feedback control of driving of the motor until the detected output (actual rotation angle) of the rotor angle detection means reaches the target rotation angle.

12. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the confirmation means, when driving of the motor is stopped, determines whether or not a failure has occurred by checking whether or not the valley corresponding to the requested range has been engaged with the engaging portion, based on output of the output angle detection means.

2. A control apparatus of a vehicle in which a by-wire range switching apparatus that performs range switching of an automatic transmission using an actuator is mounted, the control apparatus comprising:

a coping means that, when a range switching request is identified to be in a specific pattern that reverses the present drive power direction, decreases output of a drive source mounted in the vehicle to a lower limit side; and

an execution means that controls the range switching apparatus so as to establish the requested range.

4. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,

wherein the drive source is an engine, and an idling state of this engine is the lower limit side of the drive source output.

3. A control apparatus of a vehicle in which a by-wire range switching apparatus that performs range switching of an automatic transmission using an actuator is mounted, and also a hydraulic power transmission adjustment means that adjusts drive power transmission from a drive source to drive wheels is mounted, the control apparatus comprising:

a coping means that, when a range switching request is identified to be in a specific pattern that reverses the present drive power direction, decreases output of the drive source to a lower limit side;

an execution means that controls the range switching apparatus so as to establish the requested range;

a confirmation means that checks whether the executed range switching has been properly completed, or a failure has occurred due to an operation malfunction during the range switching; and

a measuring means that, when occurrence of a failure has been detected by the confirmation means, restricts drive power transmission with the power transmission adjustment means.

8. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the power transmission adjustment means comprises frictionally engaging elements provided in the automatic transmission.

5. A control apparatus of a vehicle in which a by-wire range switching apparatus that performs range switching of an automatic transmission using an actuator is mounted, and also a hydraulic power transmission adjustment means that adjusts drive power transmission from a drive source to drive wheels is mounted, the control apparatus comprising:

a coping means that, when a range switching request is identified to be in a specific pattern that reverses the present drive power direction, restricts drive power transmission by the power transmission adjustment means; and

an execution means that controls the range switching apparatus so as to establish the requested range.

6. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a confirmation means that checks whether the executed range switching has been properly completed, or a failure has occurred due to an operation malfunction during the range switching; and

a measuring means that, when occurrence of a failure has been detected by the confirmation means, restricts drive power transmission with the power transmission adjustment means.

7. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the coping means, when restricting drive power transmission with the power transmission adjustment means due to receiving a range switching request in the specific pattern, when a low oil temperature is detected based on output of an oil temperature detection means for detecting a working oil temperature of the automatic transmission, increases the degree of restriction compared to when a high oil temperature is detected.