CLUTCH CONTROL WITH INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTICS/PROGNOSTICS AND TELEMATICS INTERFACE

• US 20160223034A1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DANA Limited (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: DANA Limited (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: DE MARE, ARNOUT R.L., VYNCKE, THOMAS J., VERSTEYHE, MARK R.J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,174,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10412 Transmission line of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3124 Driving conditions, e.g. climbing hills, cornering, traffic
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3128 Distance from the vehicle to an external element, e.g. to an obstacle, to an other vehicle or a target
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/5118 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70673 Statistical calculations
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/06 Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure

Abstract

A controller for a vehicle system and a method for updating a plurality of control settings and system parameters for a controller for a vehicle system are provided. The controller comprises a control unit portion, a prognostic module, a diagnostic module, and a telematics interface. The control unit portion is in communication with the vehicle system to initiate a vehicle system procedure. The prognostic module is in two way communication with the control unit portion. The diagnostic module is in communication with the prognostic module and is in two way communication with the control unit portion. The telematics interface is in two way communication with the control unit portion. A plurality of control settings and system parameters are sent to one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module to be compared with previously stored data stored in one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module.

Claims

1. A controller for a vehicle system, the controller comprising:

a control unit portion in communication with the vehicle system to initiate a vehicle system procedure;

a prognostic module in two way communication with the control unit portion;

a diagnostic module in communication with the prognostic module and in two way communication with the control unit portion; and

a telematics interface in two way communication with the control unit portion, wherein a plurality of control settings and system parameters are sent to one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module to be compared with previously stored data stored in one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module.

2. The controller according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle dashboard in communication with the telematics interface, the control unit portion, the prognostic module, and the diagnostic module.

3. The controller according to claim 1, further comprising a control sensor, the diagnostic module and the prognostic module in communication with the control sensor.

4. The controller according to claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic sensor, the diagnostic module and the prognostic module in communication with the diagnostic sensor.

5. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the telematics interface is in two way communication with a computer network.

6. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of control settings and system parameters are supplemented with data obtained from the telematics interface.

7. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of control settings and system parameters are supplemented with statistical information obtained from testing of the vehicle system.

8. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle system is a transmission.

9. The controller according to claim 8, wherein in response to the plurality of control settings and system parameters the controller adjusts a shifting procedure of the transmission.

10. The controller according to claim 7, wherein the diagnostic module and the prognostic module are used to predict a condition of the transmission based on a long term evolution of the control settings and system parameters.

11. The controller according to claim 10, wherein the prognostic module interacts with the telematics interface to schedule vehicle maintenance or to provide information to a central fleet management controller.

12. The controller according to claim 10, wherein the prognostic module is used to determine if the long term evolution of the control settings and system parameters are consistent with empirical and theoretical models of the control settings and system parameter.

13. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the telematics interface performs at least a portion of diagnostic and prognostic calculations in an offline manner to increase a precision of the diagnostic and prognostic calculations.

14. The controller according to claim 5, wherein the telematics interface uses information about an operating environment of the vehicle in the diagnostic module and the prognostic module.

15. The controller according to claim 5, wherein the telematics interface uses information from other vehicles obtained through a computer network.

16. The controller according to claim 15, wherein the telematics interface adapts the interpretation of the signals from other vehicles by enriching a database.

17. A method for updating a plurality of control settings and system parameters for a controller for a vehicle system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a control unit portion in communication with the vehicle system to initiate a vehicle system procedure;

providing a prognostic module in two way communication with the control unit portion;

providing a diagnostic module in communication with the prognostic module and in two way communication with the control unit portion;

providing a telematics interface in two way communication with the control unit portion;

sending a plurality of control settings and system parameters to one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module; and

comparing the plurality of control settings and system parameters sent to one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module to previously stored data stored in one of the diagnostic module and the prognostic module.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising a vehicle dashboard in communication with the telematics interface, the control unit portion, the prognostic module, and the diagnostic module.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising a control sensor and at least one diagnostic sensor, the diagnostic module and the prognostic module in communication with the control sensor and the at least one diagnostic sensor.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the vehicle system is a transmission and in response to the plurality of control settings and system parameters the controller adjusts a shifting procedure of the transmission.