Process for determining the operating point of a continuously variable transmission

• US 6,216,075 B1
• Filed: 01/25/1999
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Gillich, Udo, Vorndran, Ralf, Speicher, Patrick, Danz, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/230,404
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701/58, 701/62, 701/66, 474/28, 474/70, 474/18, 474/29, 477/45, 477/48, 477/46, 477/47, 477/43, 477/904, 477/905, 477/39, 477/40, 477/37, 477/42, 477/49
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/101 Infinitely variable gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66254 controlling of shifting being influenced by a signal derived from the engine and the main coupling
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/6648 controlling of shifting being influenced by a signal derived from the engine and the main coupling

Abstract

In the process according to the invention for predetermining the ratio of a continuously variable transmission (5), a dynamic driving range is generated. The actual, minimum and maximum acceleration (a_akt, a_min, a_max) is calculated. Further detected is the driver'"'"'s wish to accelerate or to decelerate (a_fwu) and an acceleration (a_vorg) is determined. Also calculated is a change of ratio per time unit of the continuously variable transmission (iV_pkt), which is guided by the engine speed of rotation during adjustment of the continuously variable transmission (5).

Claims

1. A process for determining an operating point of an automatic transmission, especially a continuously variable transmission having a primary pulley and a secondary pulley, the continuously variable transmission having means for detecting input signals which are drawn from a driver vehicle system and are processed at least to one output signal by which is produced within the scope of an operating strategy at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a standard of the reduction ratio, a standard of the speed of rotation of an engine, and a standard of a vehicle acceleration, said process comprising the steps of;

generating a driving range having a lower and an upper limit (UG, OG);

changing an actual operating point standard (B_akt), by calculating an actual acceleration (a_akt), a minimum theoretical acceleration (a_min) having a highest and lowest value, and a maximum theoretical acceleration (a_max) having a highest and lowest value, the actual acceleration, the minimum theoretical acceleration, and the maximum theoretical acceleration are together calculated as a function of an actual engine torque (M_mot) at the actual operating point (B_akt), and as a function of both the lower limit (UG) and the upper limit (OG) of the driving range;

determining a driver'"'"'s desire (a_fwu) to perform one of accelerate and decelerate;

presetting an acceleration (a_vorg) from actual values of the minimum acceleration (a_min) and maximum acceleration (a_max) and the driver'"'"'s desire (a_fwu);

calculating a ratio change per unit time (iV_pkt) of the continuously variable transmission from the acceleration (a_vorg), said ratio change per unit time is guided by the engine speed of rotation (n_mot) during the change of ratio.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein during a change of ratio of the continuously variable transmission an engine speed of rotation upper limit value (n_Mot_grenz) is preset from which is calculated a limit value for a change of ratio per unit time (iV_pkt_grenz) which is limited upon reaching a maximum admissible variable speed.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the limit value for changing the ratio per unit time (iV_pkt_grenz) is model-based calculated.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein after a transition function the acceleration (a_vorg) is converted to a theoretical acceleration (a_soll).

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the conversion to the theoretical acceleration (a_soll) is affected in increments (inc_a_soll).

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the change of ratio per unit time (iV_pkt) of the continuously variable transmission is model-based calculated.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the driver'"'"'s desire (a_fwu) is determined in a function block (35) on which act input variables which represent one of an acceleration and a deceleration desire.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the driver'"'"'s desire (a_fwu) is expressed in a percent value which is in relation to the maximum theoretical acceleration (a_max).

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein a variable speed for the ratio of the continuously variable transmission is guided so that a change in the engine speed of rotation (n_Mot) is guided according to a secondary pulley actual speed of rotation (n_S2).

10. The process according to claim 9, wherein a negative gradient of the engine speed of rotation (n_Mot) during a transition to a lower operating point following a starting operation is limited to an extent accepted by the driver.