SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING A VEHICLE MASS

• US 20110015808A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ingo-Gerd Sauter, Loren Christopher Dreier
• Original Assignee: Ingo-Gerd Sauter, Loren Christopher Dreier
• Inventors: Sauter, Ingo-Gerd, Dreier, Loren Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/883,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20110015808A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/52 dependent on the weight of the machine, e.g. change in weight resulting from passengers boarding a bus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals

Abstract

A vehicle mass estimation system for use in a vehicle, such as a truck, including a transmission is provided. A processor may be operable to receive a signal relating to a mass of at least a portion of the vehicle. The processor may be further operable to estimate a vehicle mass based, at least in part, on the signal. The processor may be further operable to select a desired gear ratio for engagement in a transmission based, at least in part, on the estimated vehicle mass.

Claims

1. A vehicle mass estimation system, comprising:

a processor in a vehicle having a transmission, the processor operable to;

communicate with a remote station that transmits a mass signal indicative of the mass of at least a portion of the vehicle;

receive the mass signal; and

select a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the mass signal.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle operable to wirelessly receive the mass signal from the remote station,

wherein the processor receives the mass signal from the receiver circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle operable to receive the mass signal from the remote station over a selectively coupled wired connection,

wherein the processor receives the mass signal from the receiver circuit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mass signal is received while the vehicle is in motion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mass signal comprises a plurality of mass signal portions, and receiving the mass signal comprises:

receiving a first mass signal portion; and

receiving a second mass signal portion.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to confirm the mass signal using another vehicle mass signal, and wherein the desired gear ratio is selected if the mass signal is confirmed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to replace a prior vehicle mass signal with the mass signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission is selected if a priority assigned to the mass signal is higher than a priority assigned to a vehicle mass determined at another time or using another method.

9. A method of estimating a vehicle mass, comprising:

in a vehicle having a processor and a transmission, performing by the processor;

communicating with a remote station, the remote station operable to transmit a mass signal indicative of the mass of at least a portion of the vehicle;

receiving the mass signal; and

selecting a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the mass signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mass signal is received via a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle, and the receiver circuit is operable to wirelessly receive the mass signal from the remote station.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the mass signal is received via a receiver circuit in or on the vehicle, and the receiver circuit is operable to receive the mass signal from the remote station over a selectively coupled wired connection.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the mass signal is received while the vehicle is in motion.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the mass signal comprises a plurality of mass signal portions, and wherein receiving the mass signal comprises:

receiving a first mass signal portion; and

receiving a second mass signal portion.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising confirming the mass signal using another vehicle mass signal, wherein the desired gear ratio is selected if the mass signal is confirmed.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the processor is further operable to replace a prior vehicle mass signal with the mass signal.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission is selected if a priority assigned to the mass signal is higher than a priority assigned to a vehicle mass determined at another time or using another method.

17. A vehicle, comprising:

a transmission;

a receiver circuit operable to receive a mass signal from a remote station that transmits a mass signal indicative of the mass of at least a portion of the vehicle;

a processor operable to;

receive the mass signal via the receiver circuit; and

select a desired gear ratio for engagement in the transmission based, at least in part, on the mass signal.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the receiver circuit receives the mass signal from the remote station over a wireless connection.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the receiver circuit receives the mass signal from the remote station over a selectively coupled wired connection.

20. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the mass signal is received while the vehicle is in motion.