Power train controller and control method

• US 5,776,031 A
• Filed: 01/23/1997
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Minowa, Toshimichi, Yoshida, Yoshiyuki, Ishii, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US08/787,818
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 477/143, 477/154, 477/155
• US Class Current: 477/155
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/165 acting on elements of the vehicle drive train other than the propulsion unit and brakes, e.g. transmission, clutch, differential acting on brakes B60T8/17
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0057 Frequency analysis, spectral techniques or transforms
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/003 Detecting or using driving style of a driver, e.g. for adapting shift schedules
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/082 with different modes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/084 Economy mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/085 Power mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/385 Turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/506 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/663 : Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0015 : Transmission control for optimising fuel consumptions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0081 : Fuzzy logic
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/022 : Calculation or estimation of optimal gear ratio, e.g. best ratio for economy drive or performance according driver preference, or to optimise exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0227 : Shift map selection, i.e. methods for controlling selection between different shift maps, e.g. to initiate switch to a map for up-hill driving
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2300/14 : Selecting a state of operation, e.g. depending on two wheel or four wheel drive mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2302/04 : Determining a modus for shifting selection of shift speed modus F16H2059/0226
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/16 : Dynamometric measurement of torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/24 : dependent on the throttle opening
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/36 : Inputs being a function of speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/44 : dependent on machine speed of the machine, e.g. the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/48 : Inputs being a function of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/58 : dependent on signals from the steering
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/66 : Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/74 : Inputs being a function of engine parameters F16H59/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 : characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/08 : Timing control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/14 : Control of torque converter lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/18 : Preventing unintentional or unsafe shift , e.g. preventing manual shift from highest gear to reverse gear
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 : Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/686 : with orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 : Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A power train controller and control method are provided for a passenger car driven by a combustion engine and an automatic gear changing transmission. Control sensors detect a current operating state of the passenger car. Three different modes of operation, including sports mode, economy mode, and comfortable mode are selected by the driver. Depending on the selected mode, the automobile transmission is controlled in different shifting patterns as a function of the sensed vehicle operating conditions.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle control system for a vehicle having an automatic change speed transmission operable to change a rotational speed ratio between an input shaft and an output shaft, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, and an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, comprising:

a transmission control unit for automatically controlling the operation of the transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, said control unit being operable to control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control parameters for respective different selected operating modes,

wherein said transmission includes the following control functions;

a transmission speed ratio pattern control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission speed change operation,

a shifting period control function establishing the duration of transmission speed change operation, and

a transmission lock-up control function.

2. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is operable to control said transmission speed ratio pattern line control function and said transmission lock-up control function.

3. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein said operating mode selector accommodates vehicle operator selection of three vehicle operating modes.

4. A motor vehicle control system for a vehicle having an automatic chance speed transmission operable to change a rotational speed ratio between an input shaft and an output shaft, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, and an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, comprising:

a transmission control unit for automatically controlling the operation of the transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, said control unit being operable to control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control parameters for respective different selected operating modes,

wherein said operating mode selector accommodates vehicle operator selection of three vehicle operating modes,

wherein said three vehicle operating modes include a sports operation mode, an economy operation mode, and a comfortable operation mode.

5. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein said control unit is operable to effect different transmission speed ratio pattern control functions establishing different times of initiation of transmission speed change operation for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode,and the comfortable operation mode.

6. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein said control unit is operable to effect different shifting period control functions establishing different durations of initiation of transmission speed change operation for each of the sports operation mode,the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.

7. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein said control unit includes a function of automatically inhibiting operation in said sports operation mode whenever said vehicle operating condition sensors detect a vehicle operating condition which would be unsafe in said sport operation mode.

8. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein said control unit calculates a slip rate S in accordance with a driven wheel velocity and a drive wheel velocity and operates inhibiting operation in said sports operation mode whenever said slip rate S is above a predetermined value.

9. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors include:

(a) a driven wheel velocity sensor sensing driver wheel velocity;

(b) a drive wheel velocity sensor sensing drive wheel velocity;

(c) an engine intake air volume sensor;

(d) a vehicle speed sensor;

(e) an engine rotational speed sensor;

(f) a turbine speed sensor sensing speed of a turbine arranged in said drive train between a vehicle engine and the change speed transmission;

(g) a throttle angle sensor;

(h) a steering wheel angle sensor;

(i) a vehicle acceleration sensor;

(j) an engine output shaft torque sensor; and

(k) an accelerator pedal angle sensor.

10. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein said control unit delivers signals controlling a speed change device, a lock-up solenoid, fuel injection valves,and a throttle valve.

11. A motor vehicle control system according to claim 4, wherein said transmission includes the following control functions:

a transmission speed ratio pattern control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission speed change operation,

a shifting period control function establishing the duration of transmission speed change operation, and

a transmission lock-up control function.

12. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system for a vehicle having an automatic change speed transmission operable to change a rotational speed ratio between an input shaft and an output shaft, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, and an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, comprising steps of:

automatically controlling the operation of the transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, while being operable to control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control parameters for respective different selected operating modes,

establishing the time of initiation of transmission speed change operation as transmission speed ratio pattern control function,

establishing the duration of transmission speed change operation as a shifting period control function, and

controlling a transmission lock-up operation.

13. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

controlling said transmission speed ratio pattern control function, and

controlling said transmission lock-up control function.

14. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 12, further comprising a step of:

operating said control functions based on vehicle operator selection of three vehicle operating modes.

15. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 12, further comprising a step of:

operating said control functions based on vehicle operator selection of three vehicle operating modes,

wherein said three vehicle operating modes include a sports operation mode, an economy operation mode, and a comfortable operation mode.

16. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 14, further comprising a step of:

automatically inhibiting operation in said sports operation mode whenever said vehicle operation condition sensors detect a vehicle operating condition which would be unsafe in said sport operation mode.

17. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 14, further comprising a step of:

calculating a slip rate S in accordance with a driven wheel velocity and a drive wheel velocity and operating inhibiting operation in said sports operation mode whenever said slip rate S is above a predetermined value.

18. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system for a vehicle having an automatic change speed transmission operable to change a rotational speed ratio between an input shaft and an output shaft, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, and an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, comprising steps of:

automatically controlling the operation of the transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, while being operable to control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control parameters for respective different selected operating modes,

and operating said control functions based on vehicle operator selection of three vehicle operating modes,

wherein said three vehicle operating modes include a sports operation mode, an economy operation mode, and a comfortable operation mode.

19. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 18, further comprising a step of:

operating to effect different transmission speed ratio pattern control functions establishing different times of initiation of transmission speed change operation for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.

20. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 18, further comprising a step of:

operating to effect different shifting period control functions establishing different durations of initiation of transmission speed change operation for each of the sports operation mode,the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.

21. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

sensing driver wheel velocity by a driven wheel velocity sensor,

sensing drive wheel velocity by a drive wheel velocity sensor,

sensing engine intake air volume by an engine intake air

sensing vehicle speed by a vehicle speed sensor,

sensing engine rotational speed by an engine rotational speed sensor,

sensing rotational speed of a turbine arranged in said drive train between a vehicle engine and the change speed transmission by a turbine speed sensor,

sensing throttle angle by a throttle angle sensor,

sensing steering wheel angle by a steering wheel angle sensor,

sensing vehicle acceleration by a vehicle acceleration sensor,

sensing engine output shaft torque by an engine output shaft torque sensor, and

sensing accelerator pedal angle by an accelerator pedal angle sensor.

22. A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 18, further comprising a step of:

delivering signals controlling a speed change device, a lock-up solenoid, fuel injection valves, and a throttle valve.