Process and a device for determining the driving torque of a vehicle

• US 6,859,711 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Diebold, Jürgen, Eckert, Alfred, Berthold, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US10/175,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/51, 701/53, 701/54, 701/65, 701/70, 701/84, 477/185, 477/186
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/001 Proportional integral [PI] controller
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0031 Mathematical model of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0037 Mathematical models of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0042 Transfer function lag; delays
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/16 Driving resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18118 Hill holding
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1004 Estimation of the output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/142 of driving resistance calculated from weight, slope, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/00 Measuring torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency, in general
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

The invention proposes a process for determining the driving torque of a vehicle as it is starting. This process and device uses a model of the idling properties of the engine, a comparing element for the output values of the model and corresponding measured values or values derived therefrom, and a determining element for determining the driving torque of the vehicle according to the results of the comparison. Furthermore, the invention discloses a process and device for determining an externally generated variable that drives or brakes the vehicle as well as for supporting uphill starting. In addition, processes and devices for determining externally generated variables/torques as well as for supporting uphill starting are disclosed.

Claims

1. A process for determining the driving torque of a vehicle as the vehicle is starting, comprising the steps:

determining an estimated engine speed when the engine is in a non-loaded state on the basis of a model,

determining the actual engine speed on the basis of measured values,

determining the driving torque of the vehicle according to the actual and estimated engine speed.

2. A process according to claim 1, further including the step of determining the estimated engine speed on the basis of the idling engine torque wherein the idling engine torque is determined based on measured values.

3. A process according to claim 2, further including the step of also using the driving torque of the vehicle to estimated engine speed.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the step of determining the estimated engine speed further includes the steps of:

determining an engine drag torque,

adding the torques acting on the engine according to their signs, followed by calibrating, delaying and integrating.

5. A process according to claim 4, wherein the step of determining the estimated engine speed further includes adding a delay of first or higher order.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the driving torque of the vehicle is determined according to the difference between the actual and estimated engine speed.

7. A process according to claim 4, wherein the engine drag torque is determined according to an engine speed.

8. A process according to claim 2, wherein the idling engine torque is determined, in part, according to the angle of the throttle valve.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the driving torque is determined taking into consideration the properties of a torque converter.

10. A process according to claim 9, wherein the characteristics of the torque converter are taken into consideration after forming the difference between the actual and estimated engine speed according to a characteristics map or an equation.

11. A process according to claim 9, wherein the characteristics of the torque converter are determined according to the estimated engine speed and at least the speed of one vehicle wheel on the basis of a model, with this model also providing the driving torque of the vehicle.

12. A process according to claim 11, wherein the characteristics of the torque converter include factoring in a pump torque of the torque converter, and the estimated engine speed also is determined according to the torque converter pump torque.

14. A device according to claim 6, wherein said modeling means includes a first determining element for determining the idling engine torque, and wherein said comparing element includes,

a second and a third determining element, said second determining element for determining an estimated engine speed based on the idling engine torque, and said

third determining element for determining the actual engine speed on the basis of measured values, and wherein said deriving means includes,

a fourth determining element for determining the driving torque of the vehicle according to the actual and estimated engine speed.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the third determining element determines the estimated engine speed also according to the driving torque of the vehicle.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the third determining element further includes a fifth determining element for determining an engine drag torque, an adder to add the torques acting on the engine according to their signs, and a calibrating element, a first delay element, and an integrator.

17. A device according to claim 16, further including a second delay element of first or higher order is provided in the third determining element.

18. A device according to claim 14, wherein the fourth determining element includes a subtractor that forms the difference between the actual and the estimated engine speed.

19. A device according to claim 16, wherein the fifth determining element determines the engine drag torque according to an engine speed.

20. A device according to claim 14, wherein the engine torque is determined according to the angle of the throttle valve with reference to an equation or a characteristics map.

21. A device according to claim 14, further including a torque converter model wherein the driving torque of the vehicle is determined taking into consideration an output of the torque converter model.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the torque converter model acts according to the difference between the actual and estimated engine speed and in particular according to a characteristics map or an equation.

23. A process according to claim 21, wherein the torque converter model receives the estimated engine speed and at least one wheel speed and outputs the driving torque of the vehicle.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the converter model outputs a pump torque and the third determining element determines the estimated engine speed also according to the pump torque.

13. A device for determining the driving torque of a vehicle as the vehicle commences movement, comprising the steps of:

modeling means for modeling the idling properties of the engine in a non-loaded state,

a comparing element for the output values of the model and corresponding measured values or values derived therefrom, and

means for deriving the driving torque of a vehicle according to the results of the comparison.

25. A process for determining an externally generated variable that drives or brakes a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining the running properties of the vehicle on the basis of a model,

comparing the values output by the model with corresponding measured values or values derived therefrom, and

determining the externally generated variable according to the results of the comparison.

26. A process according to claim 25, wherein said determining the running properties further includes:

determining internal torques or forces that drive or brake the vehicle, and wherein the comparing step further includes,

determining an estimated vehicle speed based on the determined torques or forces, and determining the actual vehicle speed on the basis of measured values, and wherein said determining the externally generated variable includes determining torque, according to the actual and estimated vehicle speed.

27. A device for determining an externally generated variable, comprising:

means for modeling the running properties of the vehicle,

a comparing element for comparing model output values with corresponding measured values or values derived therefrom, and

an element for determining the externally generated variable according to the result of the comparison.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein said means for modeling include

a first modeling element for modeling internal torques or forces that drive or brake the vehicle,

a second modeling element for determining an estimated vehicle speed on the basis of determined torques or forces,

means for determining the actual vehicle speed on the basis of measured values, and

means for determining a torque, according to the actual and estimated vehicle speed.