METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VARYING AN OUTPUT OF A DRIVEFORCE UNIT BASED ON LOAD DATA

• US 20110218725A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Choby, Jordan
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/99
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method and system for varying an output of a driveforce unit based on load data. The present invention includes an automobile including a driveforce system. The driveforce system includes a driveforce unit for generating an output according to a driveforce map, a memory for storing the driveforce map, a load determination unit for determining a load data indicating a load on the automobile, a speed sensor for detecting speed data indicating a speed of the automobile and/or an acceleration of the automobile, an acceleration input device for detecting acceleration input data indicating a percent application of the acceleration input device, and a processor. The processor receives the acceleration input data, the speed data, and the load data, and adjusts a driveforce curve in the driveforce map to maintain a speed of the automobile, even when the load data indicates an increased or decreased load on the automobile.

Claims

1. A driveforce system comprising:

a load determination unit for determining load data;

a memory for storing a driveforce map; and

a processor connected to the load determination unit and the memory, the processor configured to analyze the load data and adjust the driveforce map based on the load data.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an acceleration input device connected to the processor and detecting acceleration input data; and

a driveforce unit connected to the processor and generating an output, wherein the output of the driveforce unit is varied by the processor.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the driveforce map includes a driveforce curve indicating the output of the driveforce unit for a corresponding acceleration input data.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the processor adjusts the driveforce map by increasing the driveforce curve.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the processor adjusts the driveforce map by decreasing the driveforce curve.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising a speed sensor connected to the processor and detecting a speed of an automobile, wherein the processor adjusts the driveforce map by increasing the driveforce curve to substantially maintain the speed of the automobile when the load data indicates an increased load.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the speed of the automobile is maintained when the acceleration input data remains substantially the same.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the speed of the automobile is increased when the acceleration input data is increased.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the processor receives the acceleration input data and the processor varies the output of the driveforce unit according to the driveforce curve.

10. An automobile comprising:

a load determination unit for determining load data;

an acceleration input device for detecting acceleration input data;

a driveforce unit for generating an output;

a memory for storing a driveforce map including a driveforce curve indicating the output of the driveforce unit for a corresponding acceleration input data; and

a processor connected to the load determination unit and the memory, the processor configured to analyze the load data, adjust the driveforce map based on the load data, and vary the output of the driveforce unit according to the driveforce map.

11. The automobile of claim 10 wherein

the processor adjusts the driveforce map by increasing the driveforce curve when the load data indicates a load above a first predetermined load threshold, and

the processor adjusts the driveforce map by decreasing the driveforce curve when the load data indicates a load below a second predetermined load threshold.

12. The automobile of claim 10 further comprising a speed sensor connected to the processor and detecting a speed of the automobile, wherein the processor adjusts the driveforce map by increasing the driveforce curve to substantially maintain the speed of the automobile when the load data indicates an increased load.

13. The automobile of claim 12 wherein the speed of the automobile is maintained when the acceleration input data remains substantially the same, and wherein the speed of the automobile is increased when the acceleration input data is increased.

14. The automobile of claim 10 wherein the processor receives the acceleration input data and the processor varies the output of the driveforce unit according to the driveforce curve.

15. A method for varying an output of a driveforce unit in an automobile comprising:

determining load data for the automobile;

analyzing the load data;

storing a driveforce map;

adjusting the driveforce map based on the load data; and

varying an output of the driveforce unit according to the driveforce map.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising

detecting acceleration input data, wherein the driveforce map includes a driveforce curve indicating the output of the driveforce unit corresponding to the acceleration input data.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

adjusting the driveforce map by increasing the driveforce curve when the load data indicates a load above a first predetermined load threshold; and

adjusting the driveforce map by decreasing the driveforce curve when the load data indicates a load below a second predetermined load threshold.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

detecting a speed of the automobile; and

adjusting the driveforce map by increasing the driveforce curve to substantially maintain the speed of the automobile when the load data indicates an increased load.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising maintaining the speed of the automobile when the acceleration input data remains substantially the same.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising increasing the speed of the automobile when the acceleration input data is increased.