Power train control apparatus and method for a vehicle

• US 5,658,213 A
• Filed: 07/25/1995
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Engineering Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.), Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sato, Kazuhiko, Ibamoto, Masahiko, Kuroiwa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENSEN, NATHAN
• Application Number:
  US08/506,631
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 475/125, 475/904
• US Class Current: 475/125
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0045 using databus protocols
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1025 Input torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/142 of driving resistance calculated from weight, slope, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/467 of torque converter
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0087 Adaptive control, e.g. the control parameters adapted by learning
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0096 using a parameter map
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/14 Inputs being a function of torque or torque demand
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/36 Inputs being a function of speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/40 Output shaft speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/42 Input shaft speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/70 dependent on the ratio established
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 475/904 Particular mathematical equation

Abstract

In a power train control apparatus including an engine, an automatic transmission having a torque converter, and a control unit for controlling the engine and the automatic transmission, the control apparatus is provided with a microcomputer for calculating and estimating values of the input shaft torque and a gear ratio of the automatic transmission. Various characteristics of the engine and the torque converter are obtained in advance by experiments, such as the relationship between an engine torque and an engine speed, and that between a pump capacity coefficient data and a slip ratio of the torque converter. Thereafter, data tables are made by using these characteristics, and control factors required to control the engine and the automatic transmission are made as an equation in relation to the input shaft torque and the gear ratio so as that they can be calculated by the microcomputer.

Claims

1. A power train control apparatus, comprising an engine, an automatic transmission having a torque converter, and a control unit for controlling the engine and the automatic transmission,

and means for calculating and estimating values of an input shaft torque and a gear ratio of the automatic transmission.