System and method for eliminating error code of an automatic transmission and related control

• US 5,715,161 A
• Filed: 04/23/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Seo, Jeongdo
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/636,853
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 371/37.1, 371/38.1, 371/39.1, 371/41, 371/55, 371/68.2, 371/30, 371/3, 371/5.1, 371/5.2, 371/5.3, 395/183.21, 395/185.01, 395/185.08, 395/185.05, 395/181, 395/182.04, 395/183.01, 395/184.01, 364/424.04, 364/424.034, 364/424.035, 364/423.098, 364/424.039, 364/424.082, 364/424.036, 364/431.04, 364/431.11, 364/431.12
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/385 Turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/746 Engine running state, e.g. on-off of ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1212 Plausibility checks; Counting means for repeated failures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/105 consisting of electrical switches or sensors
• 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 61/12 Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192; Circumventing or fixing failures

Abstract

A system and method for eliminating error codes of an automatic transmission includes an ignition switch for producing an electrical signal in response to an activation of the switch. A control unit includes a memory for storing data corresponding to an abnormal operating condition and a counter for counting the number of times the ignition switch is activated when the switch is turned on. A sensor determines whether an abnormal operating condition has occurred and the counter is increased by a predetermined number when the abnormal operating condition has not occurred. Another sensor determines whether an error code is generated and a comparator compares a value of the counter to a predetermined value when the error code is not generated. An error code eliminator eliminates the error code is response to the comparison from the comparator.

Claims

1. A system for eliminating an error code of an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle comprising:

means for sensing a rotating frequency of an engine and producing a first electrical signal corresponding to a first rotating frequency;

means for sensing a rotating frequency of a turbine and producing a second electrical signal corresponding to a second rotating frequency;

means for sensing a rotating frequency produced from an automatic transmission and producing a third electrical signal corresponding to a third rotating frequency;

means for sensing an amount of opening of a throttle valve and producing a fourth electrical signal corresponding to the opening amount;

a switching unit including an ignition switch, a mode selection switch, and an inhibiter switch for producing a fifth electrical signal according to a selection by a driver; and

an automatic transmission controlling unit including;

means for setting a timer and a counter when power is applied;

means, responsive to the switching unit, for determining whether an ignition fault has occurred;

means for determining whether a malfunction has occurred in any one of the plurality of the sensing means and in a part receiving the engine rotation;

means for receiving the first signal corresponding to the first rotating frequency to determine whether the engine is stopping when the ignition fault has not occurred;

means for receiving the second signal corresponding to the second rotating frequency and the third signal corresponding to the third rotating frequency to determine whether the engine stopping when the ignition fault has occurred and the malfunction occurs in any of the plurality of the sensing means;

means for receiving the second signal corresponding to the second rotating frequency to determine whether the engine is stopping when the malfunction occurs in the part receiving the engine rotation;

means for determining a position of a shift lever and a driving mode when the engine is stopping and an opening level of the throttle valve is greater than or equal to a predetermined lever; and

means for setting a counter to one of a plurality of predetermined numbers according to the position of the shift lever and driving mode to eliminate the error code.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic transmission controlling unit further includes:

means for setting the counter to a first set number when the shift lever is set at a first gear position and the driving mode is in an economy mode at an initial stage;

means for setting the counter to a second set number when the shift lever is set at a second gear position and the driving mode is the power mode;

means for setting the counter to a third set number when the shift lever is set at a third gear position and the driving mode is the economy mode; and

means for initializing the counter when the shift lever is set at a fourth gear position and the driving mode is a power mode to eliminate the error code.

3. A method for eliminating an error code of an automatic transmission vehicle comprising the steps of:

initializing a counter and a timer when power is applied;

determining whether conditions for turning on an ignition switch and stopping an engine and the automotive vehicle are satisfied;

determining whether an opening level of a throttle valve is greater than a predetermined level;

determining whether a position of a shift lever is set at a first gear position and a driving mode is an economy mode;

setting the timer to a first number and setting the counter to the first number when the shift lever is at the first gear position and the driving mode is the economy mode;

increasing the timer by the first number and setting the counter to a second number when the shift lever is at a second gear position and the driving mode is a power mode;

increasing the timer by the first number and setting the counter to a third number when the shift lever is at a third gear position and the driving mode is the economy mode; and

initializing the timer and the counter and eliminating the error code when the shift lever is set at a fourth gear position and the driving mode is the power mode.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step for determining whether conditions for eliminating the error code are present comprises the steps of:

determining whether a turbine rotating frequency is less than a predetermined value and whether the engine is stopping when the ignition fault occurs in a part receiving a rotation of the engine;

sensing the turbine rotating frequency and an output rotation signal and determining whether the engine is stopping when the ignition fault occurs and malfunctions occur in a plurality of sensors;

sensing the engine rotating frequency and determining whether the engine is stopping when the ignition fault does not occur; and

adjusting an opening level of a throttle valve to a predetermined level for eliminating the error code when the engine is stopping.

5. A system for eliminating an error code of an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle comprising:

an ignition switch for producing an electrical signal in response to an activation of the switch by a driver;

means for sensing speed of the vehicle and producing a signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle; and

a controller including;

a memory for storing data corresponding to an abnormal operating condition;

a counter;

means for setting the counter to count the number of times the ignition switch is turned on;

means for determining whether the abnormal condition has occurred when the counter is recognizable and the speed of the vehicle is greater than a reference speed;

means for increasing the counter by a predetermined number when the abnormal operating condition has not occurred;

means for determining whether an error code corresponding to the abnormal condition is generated;

means for comparing a value of the counter to a predetermined value when the error code is generated, the value of the counter being equal to the number of times the ignition switch is turned on; and

means, responsive to the comparing means, for eliminating the error code when the value of the counter is larger than the predetermined value.

6. A method for eliminating an error code of an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle comprising:

producing an electrical signal in response to turning on an ignition switch by a driver;

sensing speed of the vehicle and producing a signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle;

storing data corresponding to an abnormal operating condition;

setting a counter to count the number of times the ignition switch is turned on;

determining whether the abnormal condition has occurred when the counter is recognizable and the speed of the vehicle is greater than a reference speed;

increasing the counter by a predetermined number when the abnormal operating condition has not occurred;

determining whether an error code corresponding to the abnormal condition is generated;

comparing a value of the counter to a predetermined value when the error code is generated, the value of the counter being equal to the number of times the ignition switch is turned on; and

eliminating the error code when the value of the counter is larger than the predetermined value.