SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF TRANSMISSION AND/OR PRIME MOVER

• US 20180148056A1
• Filed: 01/26/2018
• Published: 05/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC (Fallbrook Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Keilers, Cyril, Rogers, David Lynn, Diehl, Eric, Orand, Austin, Bartholomew, Mark Edward, Vasiliotis, Christopher M., McDaniel, Loren T., Carter, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US15/881,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20180148056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/105 of electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/108 Friction gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/106 Rate of change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/248 Current for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6648 controlling of shifting being influenced by a signal derived from the engine and the main coupling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

Methods of controlling a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are described. The CVT has a group of spherical power adjusters. Each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission. The CVT has a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a drive system having a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a drive system in a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the method comprising:

receiving information associated with the drive motor and the CVT;

adjusting the drive motor to operate at a desired setting; and

adjusting the CVT to achieve a desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired setting is based on a throttle input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the drive motor to operate at the desired setting comprises operating the drive motor at an initial power until the drive motor is at a base speed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises operating the drive motor at a peak current.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises operating the drive motor at the initial power for a predetermined length of time.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises:

receiving a user input for a current level to be delivered to the drive motor;

determining if the user input exceeds a maximum current limit of the drive motor; and

delivering the current level to the drive motor up to a level that does not exceed the maximum current limit of the drive motor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user input is a throttle input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the CVT to achieve the desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting comprises:

selecting a desired range of current of the drive motor based on an efficiency of the drive motor;

monitoring a current draw;

comparing the current draw to the desired range of current; and

adjusting a ratio of the CVT based at least in part on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the current draw is a current provided to the drive motor or a current drawn from a battery.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the CVT comprises selecting a speed ratio for the CVT based on a lookup table selected from a group of lookup tables.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the lookup table is selected from a group of lookup tables including a fast acceleration mode, an economy mode, a fixed ratio simulation mode, and a performance mode.

12. A control system for controlling a drive system in a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the control system configured to communicate with a sensor and further configured to:

receive information associated with the drive motor and the CVT;

adjust the drive motor to operate at a desired setting; and

adjust the CVT to achieve a desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the control system is coupled to a throttle, and wherein the desired setting is based on a throttle input.

14. The control system of claim 12, wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at an initial power until the drive motor is at a base speed.

15. The control system of claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at a peak current.

16. The control system of claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at the initial power for a predetermined length of time.

17. The control system of claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to:

receive a user input for a current level to be delivered to the drive motor;

determine if the user input exceeds a maximum current limit of the drive motor; and

deliver the current level to the drive motor up to a level that does not exceed the maximum current limit of the drive motor.

18. The control system of claim 12, wherein the control system is configured to adjust the CVT to achieve the desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting by:

selecting a desired range of current of the drive motor based on an efficiency of the drive motor;

monitoring a current draw;

comparing the current draw to the desired range of current; and

adjusting a ratio of the CVT based at least in part on the comparison.

19. The control system of claim 18, wherein the current draw is a current provided to the drive motor or a current drawn from a battery.

20. The control system of claim 12, wherein the control system is configured to adjust the CVT by selecting a speed ratio for the CVT based on a lookup table selected from a group of lookup tables including a fast acceleration mode, an economy mode, a fixed ratio simulation mode, and a performance mode.