Energy-Optimized Acceleration Control for Motor Vehicles

• US 20110288736A1
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: SPANNHEIMER, Helmut, WISSELMANN, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 9,487,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

An energy-optimized acceleration control is provided for a motor vehicle having an internal-combustion engine and/or an electric drive motor, a transmission unit and an accelerator element to be operated by the driver for accelerating the motor vehicle. In the course of the restoring force, when the accelerator element is operated, an inflection point with an increased restoring force is provided. The acceleration control is set up for operating the motor vehicle in two different operating modes, wherein during operation of the accelerator element leading to a reaching of the inflection point, the acceleration control changes into an energy-optimized acceleration mode.

Claims

1. An energy-optimized acceleration control method for a motor vehicle comprising at least one of an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor, and a transmission unit and an accelerator element operable by the driver for accelerating the motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

providing an accelerator element operable with an inflection point at which an increased restoring force occurs;

providing an acceleration control by which the motor vehicle is operable in two different operating modes; and

during operation of the accelerator element, changing the acceleration control into an energy-optimized acceleration mode upon reaching the inflection point.

2. The energy-optimized acceleration control method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

in the energy-optimized acceleration mode, adapting parameterization of the acceleration control such that the motor vehicle accelerates with an energy-optimized load for an energy-optimized acceleration.

3. The energy-optimized acceleration control method according to claim 2, wherein the adaptation is carried out via at least one of a characteristic engine diagram stored in the motor vehicle, a generator control, and characteristic shifting curves.

4. The energy-optimized acceleration control method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

maintaining the energy-optimized acceleration mode active until the inflection point or an area defined around the inflection point is left in the course of the restoring force as a result of a corresponding operation of the accelerator element.

5. The energy-optimized acceleration control method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

changing into the energy-optimized acceleration mode upon reaching the inflection point during operation of the accelerator element only if an energy-saving mode of operation is activated by a driver of the motor vehicle.

6. The energy-optimized acceleration control method according to claim 1, wherein the inflection point is arranged approximately at three fourths of a section of an entire course of the restoring force.

7. The energy-optimized acceleration control method according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle comprises an automatic transmission unit, the method further comprising the act of:

providing a kick-down inflection point in addition to the inflection point for changing into the energy-optimized acceleration mode, said kick-down inflection point not being arranged in front of the inflection point for changing into the energy-optimized acceleration mode.