MODULE IN A VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20120123651A1
• Filed: 05/31/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Johansson, Oskar, Hansson, Jörgen, Pettersson, Henrik, Swartling, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 9,132,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/103 Speed profile
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• 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 2061/0216 Calculation or estimation of post shift values for different gear ratios, e.g. by using engine performance tables
• 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: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A module for determining speed set-point values v_ref for a vehicle'"'"'s control systems includes an input unit configured for input, e.g. by the vehicle'"'"'s driver, of a reference speed v_set which is the speed desired by the driver for the vehicle. A horizon unit is configured for determining a horizon by means of received position data and map data of an itinerary made up of route segments with at least one characteristic for each segment. A processor unit is configured for calculating v_ref across the horizon according to rules pertaining to categories in which segments within the horizon are placed, so that v_ref is within a range bounded by v_mir, and v_max, where v_min≦v_set≦v_max. The processor unit is further configured for determining a control signal with control parameters for the vehicle'"'"'s automatic gear change control unit, based on one or more vehicle-specific values and a calculated speed set-point value v_ref.

Claims

1. A module for determining speed set-point values v_ref for a vehicle'"'"'s control systems, comprising

an input unit configured to input a reference speed v_set which is the speed desired by the driver for the vehicle,

a horizon unit configured to determining a horizon by means of received position data and map data of an itinerary made up of route segments with at least one characteristic for each segment;

a processor unit configured to calculating v_ref across the horizon according to rules pertaining to categories in which segments within the horizon are placed, so that v_ref is within a range bounded by v_min and v_max, where v_min≦

v_set≦

v_max;

the processor unit is further configured to determining a control signal with control parameters for the vehicle'"'"'s automatic gear change control unit, based on one or more vehicle-specific values and a calculated speed set-point value v_ref across the future horizon.

2. A module according to claim 1, in which the processor unit is configured to calculating engine load and for engine speed across the future horizon on the basis of one or more vehicle-specific values, and to using the calculated engine load and/or engine speed to determine the one or more control parameters.

3. A module according to claim 1, in which the control parameters comprise one or more of the following:

the engine'"'"'s speed limits for changing gear,

distance from the vehicle to a crest of a hill, and

average gradient of the hill.

4. A module according to claim 1, in which the control parameters comprise one or more of the following:

a lowest engine speed limit of the vehicle for changing down;

a flag indicating that an upward change of gear should not take place;

a gradient of a current segment and remaining distance to a segment classified as “

gentle upgrade”

if the vehicle is on a segment classified as “

steep upgrade”

;

a desired speed at transition to “

gentle upgrade”

if the vehicle is on a segment classified as “

steep upgrade”

.

5. A module according to claim 1, in which the processor unit is configured to calculating threshold values for the at least one characteristic of segments according to the one or more vehicle-specific values, wherein the threshold values serve as boundaries for assigning segments to different categories;

and to comparing at least one characteristic of each segment with the calculated threshold values and placing each segment in a category according to the results of the comparisons.

6. A module according to claim 1, in which the vehicle-specific values are determined by current transmission ratio, current vehicle weight, the engine'"'"'s maximum torque curve, mechanical friction and/or the vehicle'"'"'s running resistance at current speed.

7. A module according to claim 1, in which the characteristics of segments are their length and gradient and the processor unit is configured to calculating the threshold values in the form of gradient threshold values l_min and l_max.

8. A module according to claim 1, in which the characteristics of segments are their length and gradient and the processor unit is configured to calculating the threshold values in the form of lateral acceleration threshold values.

9. A module according to claim 1, wherein position data are determined by using GPS.

10. A module according to claim 1, in which the horizon unit is configured to determining the horizon continuously so long as the horizon does not exceed a planned itinerary for the vehicle, and in which the processor unit is configured to continuously performing steps to calculate and update the set-point values for the control system for the whole length of the horizon.