Method of learning for adaptively controlling an electronic automatic transmission system

• US 4,982,620 A
• Filed: 03/19/1990
• Issued: 01/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Leising, Maurice B., Holbrook, Gerald L., Benford, Howard L., Mehta, Hemang S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Diehl, Dwight
• Application Number:
  US07/496,114
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 74/731.1, 74/866, 192/3.3, 192/103 F, 192/109 F, 192/85 AA, 475/59, 475/60, 475/61, 475/64
• US Class Current: 74/731.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/425 Rate of change of input or turbine shaft speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/6807 Status of gear-change operation, e.g. clutch fully engaged
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/683 Sensing pressure in control systems or in fluid controlled devices, e.g. by pressure sensors for hydrostatic transmissions F16H2059/6861
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0034 Accumulators for fluid pressure supply; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/004 Venting trapped air from hydraulic systems venting of hydrostatic transmissions F16H61/4174; deaeration or removal of unsolved gas F15B21/044
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0087 Adaptive control, e.g. the control parameters adapted by learning
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/062 for controlling filling of clutches or brake servos, e.g. fill time, fill level or pressure during filling
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1204 for malfunction caused by simultaneous engagement of different ratios resulting in transmission lock state or tie-up condition lock state for braking F16H61/0059
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1208 with diagnostic check cycles; Monitoring of failures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/122 Avoiding failures by using redundant parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1232 Bringing the control into a predefined state, e.g. giving priority to particular actuators or gear ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1264 Hydraulic parts of the controller, e.g. a sticking valve or clogged channel
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1268 Electric parts of the controller, e.g. a defect solenoid, wiring or microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1284 the failing part is a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1292 the failing part is the power supply, e.g. the electric power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2302/06 Determining timing parameters of shifting, e.g. start of shifting for smoothing gear shift F16H61/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/00 Shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/42 : Changing the input torque to the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2312/08 : Rocking
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/50 : Inputs being a function of the status of the machine, e.g. position of doors or safety belts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/72 : dependent on oil characteristics, e.g. temperature, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/061 : using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/12 : Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192; Circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 : Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/686 : with orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19153 : Condition responsive control

Abstract

A method of monitoring an output and adjusting the action affecting the output continuously for an electronic automatic transmission system wherein a controller is programmed to "learn" from the results of its operation. The method includes monitoring the speed of an input member and the instantaneous fluid volume of a friction element. The method also includes setting a learned volume value equal to an instantaneous fluid volume whenever the input speed is within a predetermined range of a predetermined speed. The method further includes comparing the learned volume value to a stored fill volume value at the end of the shift and adjusting the stored fill volume value based on the difference between the learned volume value and the stored fill volume value.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having an engine and a transmission system including an input member, an output member, a torque converter assembly for transmitting torque between the engine and the input member, a gear assembly for changing the ratio of torque between the input member and output member, a plurality of friction elements for shifting the gear assembly, a fluid actuating device being moveable for applying at least one friction element, at least one solenoid-actuated valve being moveable in response to the presence or absence of electrical power to the valve for directing fluid flow between a fluid source and the fluid actuating device, input sensors providing input signals indicative of predetermined conditions, a controller having memory for processing and storing the input signals and predetermined values and providing output signals to control the solenoid-actuated valves, a method of monitoring an output and adjusting the action effecting the output continuously in a vehicle transmission, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the speed of a turbine in a torque converter assembly;

monitoring the instantaneous fluid volume of a friction element;

setting a learned volume value equal to an instantaneous fluid volume value indicative of the instantaneous fluid volume whenever the turbine speed is within a predetermined range of a predetermined speed;

comparing the learned volume value to a stored fill volume value in memory at the end of the shift; and

adjusting the stored fill volume value based on the difference between the learned volume value and the stored fill volume value.

2. In a vehicle having an engine and a transmission system including an input member, an output member, a torque converter assembly for transmitting torque between the engine and the input member, a gear assembly for changing the ratio of torque between the input member and output member, a plurality of friction elements for shifting the gear assembly, a fluid actuating device being moveable for applying at least one friction element, at least one solenoid-actuated valve being moveable in response to the presence or absence of electrical power to the valve for directing fluid flow between a fluid source and the fluid actuating device, input sensors providing input signals indicative of predetermined conditions, a controller having memory for processing and storing the input signals and predetermined values and providing output signals to control the solenoid-actuated valves, a method of monitoring an output and adjusting the action effecting the output continuously in a vehicle transmission, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the speed of a turbine in a torque converter assembly;

monitoring the instantaneous fluid volume of a friction element;

setting a learned volume value equal to an instantaneous fluid volume value indicative of the instantaneous fluid volume when the time to nearly fill the friction element is approximately zero;

re-setting the learned volume value equal to the instantaneous fluid volume value whenever slip is detected;

comparing the learned volume value to a stored fill volume value in memory at the end of the shift; and

adjusting the stored fill volume value based on the difference between the learned volume value and the stored fill volume value.

3. In a transmission system including an input member, an output member, a gear assembly for changing the ratio of torque between the input member and output member, a plurality of friction elements for shifting the gear assembly, a fluid actuating device being moveable for applying at least one friction element, at least one solenoid-actuated valve being moveable in response to the presence or absence of electrical power to the valve for directing fluid flow between a fluid source and the fluid actuating device, input sensors providing input signals indicative of predetermined conditions, a controller having memory for processing and storing the input signals and predetermined values and providing output signals to control the solenoid-actuated valves, a method of monitoring an output and adjusting the action effecting the output continuously in the transmission system, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the speed of an input member;

monitoring the instantaneous fluid volume of a friction element;

setting a learned volume value equal to an instantaneous fluid volume value indicative of the instantaneous fluid volume whenever the monitored speed of the input member is within a predetermined range of a predetermined speed;

comparing the learned volume value to a stored fill volume value in memory at the end of the shift; and

adjusting the stored fill volume value based on the difference between the learned volume value and the stored fill volume value.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 including the step of identifying a vent rate of a release friction element when slip of the release friction element occurs during an upshift of the gear assembly.

5. A method as set forth in claim 3 including the step of identifying the fill volume of an apply friction element when slip of a release friction element occurs during an upshift of the gear assembly.

6. A method as set forth in claim 3 including the step of identifying an apply rate of an apply friction element when slip of a release friction element occurs during an upshift of the gear assembly.