POWER TRAIN CONTROLLER AND ASSOCIATED MEMORY DEVICE

• US 20120143447A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Howenstein, Michael J., Litscher, Christian M., Rues, Jeanne O.
• Granted Patent: US 9,216,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/00 Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines ; Control systems therefor, i.e. systems controlling two or more prime movers, or controlling one of these prime movers and any of the transmission, drive or drive units arrangement or mounting in vehicles of electrical gearing, in which an electrical machine serves only as reduction gearing and not as the prime mover and in which no electrical storing means are used B60K17/12; control and regulation of purely electrical prime movers B60L; prime-movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors in a common engine block or housing per se F02B65/00; electric motors or motor-generators used for starting the combustion engine F02N11/04; electric motors for synchronising gearing F16H3/12 Informative references: mechanical gearings with secondary electric drive F16H3/72; arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with the dynamo-electric machine H02K7/00; machines comprising structurally interrelated motor and generator parts H02K51/00; dynamo-electric machines not otherwise provided for in H02K see H02K99/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• 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 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/02 Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0204 for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/28 for testing brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/04 Suspension or damping
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/48 Analogue computers for specific processes, systems or devices, e.g. simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A power train subsystem for a motorized vehicle and methods of programming such power train controllers of the power train subsystem are disclosed. The power train subsystem may include a power train component, a controller, and a memory device. The controller may be coupled to the power train component to control operation of the power train component. The memory device may include boot code, application software, standard calibration parameters, and custom calibration parameters. The boot code provides an environment upon which the application software executes per the standard calibration parameters and custom calibration parameters. The standard calibration provides parameters which configure the controller for a range of vehicular applications. The custom calibration parameters provide parameters which configure the controller for a particular vehicular application in the range of vehicular applications.

Claims

1. A power train subsystem for a motorized vehicle, comprising:

a power train component to drive a drive assembly,

a controller coupled to the power train component to control operation of the power train component, and

a memory device comprising a boot code executed by the controller to define an operating environment, application software to provide the controller with commands to control the power train component, standard calibration parameters which configure the controller and power train component for a range of vehicular applications, and custom calibration parameters which configure the controller and power train component for a particular vehicular application of the range of vehicular applications.

2. The power train of claim 1, wherein

the power train component comprises a transmission to transfer torque from an engine to the drive assembly, and

the controller comprises a transmission control module externally coupled to the transmission to control operation of the transmission.

3. The power train of claim 1, wherein

the power train component comprises a transmission to transfer torque from an engine to the drive assembly, and

the controller comprises a transmission control module integrated into the transmission to control operation of the transmission.

4. The power train of claim 1, wherein,

the power train component comprises an engine to deliver torque to the drive assembly transmission, and

the controller comprises an engine control unit externally coupled to the engine to control operation of the engine.

5. The power train of claim 1, wherein,

the power train component comprises an engine to deliver torque to the drive assembly transmission, and

the controller comprises an engine control unit integrated into the engine to control operation of the engine.

6. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device further stores on-board diagnostic codes.

7. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device further stores freeze frame data regarding operational parameters of one or more components of the motorized vehicle.

8. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device further stores service manuals for one or more components of the motorized vehicle.

9. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device further stores service history for one or more components of the motorized vehicle.

10. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device further stores an as-built parts list for one or more components of the motorized vehicle.

11. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device is affixed to the controller.

12. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device is removably coupled to a connector of the controller.

13. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device is removably coupled to the controller via a wiring harness coupled to the power train component.

14. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device is removable coupled to the controller via a connector associated with a shift selector of the motorized vehicle.

15. The power train of claim 1, wherein the memory device is removable coupled to the controller via a connector associated with a fuse block of the motorized vehicle.

16. A method of customizing a transmission for a particular vehicular application, comprising

programming a transmission control module to obtain a partially programmed control module comprising standard calibration parameters that configure the transmission control module and transmission for a range of applications of the transmission, and

programming the partially programmed transmission control module to obtain a programmed transmission control module that includes custom calibration parameters that configure the transmission control module and the transmission for the particular vehicular application.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising

programming the transmission control module to obtain the partially programmed transmission control module prior to receiving a request for a programmed transmission control module for the particular vehicular application, and

programming the partially programmed transmission control module to obtain the programmed transmission control module in response to receiving the request for the programmed transmission control module for the particular vehicular application.

18. A method of customizing transmissions for vehicular applications, comprising

programming a plurality of transmission control modules to obtain a plurality of partially programmed control modules that each comprise standard calibration parameters that configure the plurality of transmission control modules for a range of vehicular applications of a transmission, and

providing a customer with a partially programmed transmission control module of the plurality of partially programmed control modules to permit the customer to program the partially programmed transmission control modules for a particular vehicular application of the transmission.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing another customer with another partially programmed transmission control module of the plurality of partially programmed transmission control modules to permit the another customer to program the another partially programmed transmission control module for another vehicular application of the transmission.