Method for controlling an automated gearbox, electronic safety system and adapter plug

• US 7,151,990 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Eich, Juergen, Maxon, Andreas, Henneberger, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/268,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/5018 Calibration or recalibration of the actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50245 Calibration or recalibration of the clutch touch-point
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/5108 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/5118 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0053 Initializing the parameters of the controller
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/064 for calibration of pressure levels for friction members, e.g. by monitoring the speed change of transmission shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1208 with diagnostic check cycles; Monitoring of failures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1216 Display or indication of detected failures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/122 Avoiding failures by using redundant parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1228 Fixing failures by repairing failed parts, e.g. loosening a sticking valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1232 Bringing the control into a predefined state, e.g. giving priority to particular actuators or gear ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1268 Electric parts of the controller, e.g. a defect solenoid, wiring or microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1288 the failing part is an actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2342/04 Calibrating engagement of friction elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2342/06 Determining which part to calibrate or timing of calibrations
• 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 method for controlling an automated gearbox of a motor vehicle. An electronic control unit controls pre-determined functionalities, and especially pre-determined functionalities of the automated gearbox. Functional software runs on a main processor of the control unit, controlling pre-determined functionalities of the motor vehicle and especially the automated gearbox. An electronic safety system is able to determine safety-critical operating conditions of the motor vehicle in advance, and includes a redundant processor and monitoring software.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an automated gearbox of a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing an electronic control unit having a main processor;

controlling a predefined functionality of the automated gearbox using a function software running on the main processor under predefined conditions;

detecting a safety-critical operating state of the motor vehicle in advance using an electronic safety system having a redundant processor, a monitoring software and a plurality of function blocks, each function block having a signal input and a signal output.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks of the electronic safety system includes a first function block check of whether a predefined input signal describes an operating state of at least one of the motor vehicle, a clutch unit, and a transmission unit in a plausible way.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a signal plausibility check function block.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a situation recognition function block.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an action monitoring function block.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an actuator monitoring function block.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an error handling function block.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a situation recognition function block.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an action monitoring function block.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an actuator monitoring function block.

11. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an error handling function block.

12. An electronic safety system for motor vehicles, wherein the electronic safety system is of modular design and has a plurality of function blocks, each function block having a signal input and a signal output,

wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a signal plausibility check function block,

wherein the plurality of function blocks includes a situation recognition function block.

13. The electronic safety system as recited in claim 12 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an action monitoring function block.

14. The electronic safety system as recited in claim 13 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an actuator monitoring function block.

15. The electronic safety system as recited in claim 14 wherein the plurality of function blocks includes an error handling function block.

16. An adapter connector for connecting a wire harness plug connector with a control unit connector of an electronic control unit, the wire harness plug connector being directly connectable with the control unit connector to define electrical signal connections, the adaptor connector comprising:

first plug connections connecting directly to the control unit connector and second plug connections connecting directly to the wire harness plug connector, the adaptor electrically connecting at least one of the first plug connections to the second plug connections to provide at least one of the electrical signal connections;

the adapter connector being configured to enable the electronic control unit to work together with an electronic safety system that has a redundant processor;

at least one other of the first plug connections being electrically isolated from the second plug connections so that the adaptor connector interrupts at least one of the electrical signal connections provided when the wire harness plug connector is directly connected to the control unit connector.