PITCH-BASED SHIFTING

• US 20150120158A1
• Filed: 10/30/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Vande Haar, William J., Finley, Jeffery M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,279,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/65
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/663 Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0227 Shift map selection, i.e. methods for controlling selection between different shift maps, e.g. to initiate switch to a map for up-hill driving
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/00 Shifting
• 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: F16H 61/16 Inhibiting or initiating shift during unfavourable conditions, e.g. preventing forward reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine over speed unintentional control input F16H61/18

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and a control system are described for controlling the shifting of a vehicle, at least in part, according to its pitch. The method includes using a pitch-detection mechanism to determine one or more indicators of the pitch of the vehicle. The method includes receiving, at one or more computing devices, a signal associated with the pitch indicators and determining a pitch value for shifting. The method further includes determining, by the one or more computing devices, a shift procedure based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value and implementing the shift procedure to effect a shift operation for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented shifting method for a vehicle with an associated pitch-detection mechanism, the method comprising:

determining, by the pitch-detection mechanism, one or more indicators of a pitch of the vehicle;

receiving, at one or more computing devices, a signal associated with the one or more indicators of the pitch of the vehicle;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, a pitch value for shifting based upon, at least in part, receiving the signal;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, a shift procedure based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value; and

implementing, by the one or more computing devices, the shift procedure to effect a shift operation for the vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 1, wherein the shift procedure is determined to include an immediate reduction of a first clutch pressure from a current operating pressure to a shifting clutch pressure based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

3. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 2, wherein the shift procedure is further determined to include an immediate increase of a second clutch pressure from the shifting clutch pressure to an engagement clutch pressure upon identifying a ready state of a target shift range.

4. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 3, wherein the engagement clutch pressure is determined based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

5. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 1, wherein the shift procedure is determined to include one or more of an adjusted starting clutch pressure and an adjusted clutch pressure engagement profile, the one or more of the adjusted starting clutch pressure and the adjusted clutch pressure engagement profile being determined based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

6. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 1, wherein the pitch-detection mechanism includes an accelerometer;

and

wherein determining the pitch value is based upon, at least in part, determining, with the accelerometer, a first acceleration value for the vehicle.

7. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 6, wherein determining the pitch value is further based upon, at least in part, determining a second acceleration value of the vehicle, based upon, at least in part, determining a wheel speed of the vehicle;

and

wherein the pitch value is determined, at least in part, based upon subtracting the second acceleration value from the first acceleration value.

8. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 1, wherein determining the shift procedure includes determining, based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value, one or more of a starting time for the shift procedure, a target gear for the shift procedure, and a target range for the shift procedure.

9. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 1, wherein the shift operation is one of a forward to reverse and a reverse to forward shift operation;

and

wherein determining the shift procedure includes determining a timing for clutch engagement based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

10. The computer-implemented shifting method of claim 1, wherein determining the shift procedure includes determining a timing for brake engagement based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

11. A control system for shifting operations in a vehicle, comprising:

one or more processor devices; and

one or more memory architectures coupled with the one or more processor devices;

wherein the one or more processor devices are configured to;

receive a signal associated with the one or more indicators of a pitch of the vehicle, the one or more indicators being determined by a pitch-detection mechanism;

determine a pitch value for shifting based upon, at least in part, receiving the signal; and

determine a shift procedure based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value; and

implement the shift procedure to effect a shift operation for the vehicle.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the shift procedure is determined to include an immediate reduction of a first clutch pressure from a current operating pressure to a shifting clutch pressure based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the shift procedure is further determined to include an immediate increase of a second clutch pressure from the shifting clutch pressure to an engagement clutch pressure upon identifying an engagement of a target shift range.

14. The control system of claim 13, wherein the engagement clutch pressure is determined based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

15. The control system of claim 11, wherein the shift procedure is determined to include one or more of an adjusted starting clutch pressure and an adjusted clutch pressure engagement profile, the one or more of the adjusted starting clutch pressure and the adjusted clutch pressure engagement profile being determined based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

16. The control system of claim 11, wherein the pitch-detection mechanism includes an accelerometer;

and

wherein determining the pitch value is based upon, at least in part, determining, with the accelerometer, a first acceleration value for the vehicle.

17. The control system of claim 16, wherein determining the pitch value is further based upon, at least in part, determining a second acceleration value of the vehicle, based upon, at least in part, determining a wheel speed of the vehicle;

and

wherein the pitch value is determined, at least in part, based upon subtracting the second acceleration value from the first acceleration value.

18. The control system of claim 11, wherein determining the shift procedure includes determining, based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value, one or more of a starting time for the shift procedure, a target gear for the shift procedure, and a target range for the shift procedure.

19. The control system of claim 11, wherein the shift operation is one of a forward to reverse and a reverse to forward shift operation;

and

wherein determining the shift procedure includes determining a timing for clutch engagement based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.

20. The control system of claim 11, wherein determining the shift procedure includes determining a timing for brake engagement based upon, at least in part, the determined pitch value.