VEHICLE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ANTICIPATORY LINE PRESSURE FOR TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENTS

• US 20150370264A1
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Colvin, Daniel, Connolly, Francis Thomas, Kraska, Marvin Paul, Nefcy, Bernard D., Makkiya, Hussam
• Granted Patent: US 9,477,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/18016 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/14 Going to, or coming from standby operation, e.g. for engine start-stop operation at traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0021 Generation or control of line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/2066 using controlling means acting on the pressure source

Abstract

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present discourse includes, among other things, controlling a vehicle by pressurizing a transmission pump in response to an anticipated shift change trigger. The anticipated shift change trigger may include touching a shift device of the vehicle, or detecting that a vehicle occupant is in proximity to the shift device of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

controlling a vehicle by pressurizing a transmission pump in response to an anticipated shift change trigger.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the anticipated shift change trigger includes touching a shift device of the vehicle.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the anticipated shift change trigger includes detecting that a vehicle occupant is in proximity to a shift device of the vehicle.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlling step is performed if the vehicle is in Park or Neutral.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising starting an engine of the vehicle to pressurize the transmission pump.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising spinning up an electric machine of the vehicle to pressurize the transmission pump.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising ending the controlling step if a shift change request is not received after a threshold amount of time has passed since the anticipated shift change trigger.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising spinning an input shaft of a transmission by powering on a power source in response to the anticipated shift change trigger.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a stop/start vehicle and the power source is an engine of the stop-start vehicle.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the vehicle is an electrified vehicle and the power source is an electric machine of the electrified vehicle.

11. A method, comprising:

activating a sensor associated with a shift device of a vehicle;

powering an input shaft of a transmission; and

pressurizing a transmission pump in response to powering the input shaft.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the activating step includes touching a component of the shift device.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the activating step includes detecting a vehicle operator in proximity to the shift device.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the powering step is performed by starting an engine of the vehicle.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the powering step is performed by spinning up an electric machine of the vehicle.

16. A vehicle system, comprising:

a transmission pump; and

a control unit configured to command pressurization of said transmission pump in response to an anticipated shift change trigger.

17. The vehicle system as recited in claim 16, comprising a shift device and a sensor associated with said shift device, said sensor configured to detect said anticipated shift change trigger.

18. The vehicle system as recited in claim 17, wherein said anticipated shift change trigger is sensed by touching said shift device.

19. The vehicle system as recited in claim 16, comprising a power source actuable to pressurize said transmission pump.

20. The vehicle system as recited in claim 19, wherein said power source is an engine or an electric machine.