Method and apparatus to control continuously variable transmission of motor vehicle

• US 6,459,978 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yoshiaki, Inoue, Daisuke, Tamura, Tadashi, Hattori, Yuji, Sayo, Syoichi, Matsuo, Kenji, Kondo, Hiroki, Taniguchi, Hiroji, Yasue, Hideki, Kono, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/853,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 475/210, 475/127, 475/116, 475/211, 475/212, 475/208, 475/320, 475/321, 474/28, 474/11, 477/45, 477/39, 477/48
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/107 with endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/66218 dependent on control input parameters other than ambient conditions or driver's choice
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/54 dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66259 using electrical or electronical sensing or control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66272 characterised by means for controlling the torque transmitting capability of the gearing

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle includes a controller that controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition. The method and apparatus perform shift control in a specific manner during an operation of an anti-lock brake system, for example, by smoothing at least one of the rotational speed of the input shaft and the rotational speed of the output shaft, reducing a rate of change in the speed ratio during down shifting, restricting upshifting of the CVT, increasing an amount of hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump, and/or increasing belt clamping force.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle that is provided in a power transmission path between a power source that runs the vehicle and at least one drive wheel, wherein a speed ratio of the transmission can be continuously varied, and wherein the speed ratio is defined as a ratio of a rotational speed of an input shaft on a side of the power source to a rotational speed of an output shaft on a side of the at least one drive wheel, the apparatus comprises:

a controller that;

controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition; and

smoothes at least one of the rotational speed of the input shaft and the rotational speed of the output shaft for use in control of the speed ratio by the controller, during an operation of an anti-lock brake system that controls a braking force to prevent the at least one drive wheel from locking during a braking operation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller restricts an upshift of the continuously variable transmission during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the continuously variable transmission is a belt-and-pulley type and comprises a pair of pulleys and a transmission belt that is wound around the pulleys, and the transmission belt transmits power between the power source and the at least one drive wheel by using a frictional force;

the controller controls a belt clamping force by hydraulically operating at least one of the pulleys to clamp the transmission belt; and

the controller increases the belt clamping force during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller reduces a rate of change in the speed ratio of the transmission by restricting a shift speed during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rate of change in the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission is restricted by a smaller degree when power transmission between the power source and the at least one drive wheel is cut off, as compare d with when power transmission is transmitted between the power source and the at least one drive wheel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the continuously variable transmission is of a belt-and-pulley type and comprises a pair of pulleys and a transmission belt that is wound around the pulleys, and the transmission belt transmits power between the power source and the at least one drive wheel by using a frictional force; and

the controller;

controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission by hydraulically changing a groove width of each of the pulleys,

controls a belt clamping force by hydraulically operating at least one of the pulleys to clamp the transmission belt; and

increases an amount of a hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated, and wherein the oil pump generates a hydraulic pressure for controlling the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission and the belt clamping force.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:

the power source comprises an internal combustion engine that generates a driving force by utilizing combustion of a fuel;

the oil pump comprises a mechanically-operated pump that is driven and rotated by the internal combustion engine; and

the controller increases the amount of the hydraulic oil delivered from the oil pump by increasing an idle speed of the internal combustion engine.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller increases the amount of the hydraulic oil delivered from the oil pump when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated and the anti-lock brake system is in operation.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the continuously variable transmission is of a belt-and-pulley type and comprises a pair of pulleys and a transmission belt that is wound around the pulleys, and the transmission belt transmits power between the power source and the at least one drive wheel by using a frictional force; and

the controller;

controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission by hydraulically changing a groove width of each of the pulleys,

controls a belt clamping force by hydraulically operating at least one of the pulleys to clamp the transmission belt; and

increases an amount of a hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated, and wherein the oil pump generates a hydraulic pressure for controlling the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission and the belt clamping force.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the continuously variable transmission is a belt-and-pulley type and comprises a pair of pulleys and a transmission belt that is wound around the pulleys, and the transmission belt transmits power between the power source and the at least one drive wheel by using a frictional force; and

the controller controls a belt clamping force by hydraulically operating at least one of the pulleys to clamp the transmission belt; and

the controller increases the belt clamping force during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller reduces a rate of change in the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission by restricting a shift speed during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller reduces a rate of change in the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission by restricting a shift speed during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

13. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller increases the belt clamping force during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

14. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller reduces a rate of change in the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission by restricting a shift speed during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller increases the belt clamping force during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller reduces a rate of change in the speed ratio of the transmission by restricting a shift speed during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

17. An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle that is provided in a power transmission path between a power source that runs the vehicle and at least one drive wheel, wherein a speed ratio of the transmission can be continuously varied, and wherein the speed ratio is defined as a ratio of a rotational speed of an input shaft on a side of the power source to a rotational speed of an output shaft on a side of the at least one drive wheel, the apparatus comprises:

a controller that;

controls the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition; and

restricts an upshift of the continuously variable transmission, during an operation of an anti-lock brake system that controls a braking force to prevent the at least one drive wheel from locking during a braking operation.

18. An apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle that is provided in a power transmission path between a power source that runs the vehicle and at least one drive wheel, wherein a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission can be continuously varied, and wherein the speed ratio is defined as a ratio of a rotational speed of an input shaft on a side of the power source to a rotational speed of an output shaft on a side of the at least one drive wheel, the continuously variable transmission comprises a pair of pulleys and a transmission belt that is wound around the pulleys, the transmission belt transmits power between the power source and the at least one drive wheel by using a frictional force, the apparatus comprises:

a controller that;

controls the speed ratio of the transmission by hydraulically changing a groove width of each of the pulleys;

controls a belt clamping force by hydraulically operating at least one of the pulleys to clamp the transmission belt; and

increases an amount of a hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated and wherein the oil pump generates a hydraulic pressure to control the speed ratio of the transmission and to control the belt clamping force.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the controller increases the amount of the hydraulic oil delivered to the oil pump when an anti-lock brake system is in operation.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

the power source comprises an internal combustion engine that generates a driving force by utilizing combustion of a fuel;

the oil pump comprises a mechanically-operated pump that is driven and rotated by the internal combustion engine; and

the controller increases the amount of the hydraulic oil delivered from the oil pump by increasing an idle speed of the internal combustion engine.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the controller increases the amount of the hydraulic oil delivered to the oil pump when an anti-lock brake system is in operation.

22. A method for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle that is provided in a power transmission path between a power source that runs the vehicle and at least one drive wheel, wherein a speed ratio of the transmission can be continuously varied, and wherein the speed ratio is defined as a ratio of a rotational speed of an input shaft on a side of the power source to a rotational speed of an output shaft on a side of the at least one drive wheel, the method comprises:

controlling the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition; and

smoothing at least one of the rotational speed of the input shaft and the rotational speed of the output shaft for use in control of the speed ratio by the controller, during an operation of an anti-lock brake system that controls a braking force to prevent the at least one drive wheel from locking during a braking operation.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the continuously variable transmission is a belt-and-pulley type and comprises a pair of pulleys and a transmission belt that is wound around the pulleys, and the transmission belt transmits power between the power source and the at least one drive wheel by using a frictional force, and wherein the method further comprises:

controlling a belt clamping force by hydraulically operating at least one of the pulleys to clamp the transmission belt; and

increasing the belt clamping force during the operation of the anti-lock brake system.

24. A method for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle that is provided in a power transmission path between a power source that runs the vehicle and at least one drive wheel, wherein a speed ratio of the transmission can be continuously varied, and wherein the speed ratio is defined as a ratio of a rotational speed of an input shaft on a side of the power source to a rotational speed of an output shaft on a side of the at least one drive wheel, the method apparatus comprises:

controlling the speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission in accordance with a predetermined shift condition; and

restricting an upshift of the continuously variable transmission, during an operation of an anti-lock brake system that controls a braking force to prevent the at least one drive wheel from locking during a braking operation.

25. A method for controlling a continuously variable transmission of a motor vehicle that is provided in a power transmission path between a power source that runs the vehicle and at least one drive wheel, wherein a speed ratio of the continuously variable transmission can be continuously varied, and wherein the speed ratio is defined as a ratio of a rotational speed of an input shaft on a side of the power source to a rotational speed of an output shaft on a side of the at least one drive wheel, the continuously variable transmission comprises a pair of pulleys and a transmission belt that is wound around the pulleys, the transmission belt transmits power between the power source and the at least one drive wheel by using a frictional force, the method comprises:

controlling the speed ratio of the transmission by hydraulically changing a groove width of each of the pulleys;

controlling a belt clamping force by hydraulically operating at least one of the pulleys to clamp the transmission belt; and

increasing an amount of a hydraulic oil delivered from an oil pump when the vehicle is rapidly decelerated and wherein the oil pump generates a hydraulic pressure to control the speed ratio of the transmission and to control the belt clamping force.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein:

the power source comprises an internal combustion engine that generates a driving force by utilizing combustion of a fuel;

the oil pump comprises a mechanically-operated pump that is driven and rotated by the internal combustion engine; and

the method further comprises;

increasing the amount of the hydraulic oil delivered from the oil pump by increasing an idle speed of the internal combustion engine.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the amount of the hydraulic oil delivered to the oil pump is increased when an anti-lock brake system is in operation.