Automatic calibration of vehicle transmission using load sensing

• US 7,445,079 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Biallas, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/285,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20070114091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 180/338, 701/51, 701/52, 701/55, 701/56, 701/58, 701/65
• US Class Current: 180/338
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/52 dependent on the weight of the machine, e.g. change in weight resulting from passengers boarding a bus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals

Abstract

A method for automatically calibrating a transmission of a vehicle using load sensing includes sensing a change in ride height of the vehicle and measuring a magnitude of the change in ride height of the vehicle. The method includes selecting a predefined set of parameters to calibrate the transmission depending on the magnitude of the change in ride height and calibrating the transmission using the selected predefined set of parameters.

Claims

1. A method for automatically calibrating a transmission of a vehicle using load sensing, comprising:

sensing a change in ride height of the vehicle;

measuring a magnitude of the change in ride height of the vehicle;

selecting a predefined set of parameters to calibrate the transmission depending on the magnitude of the change in ride height;

calibrating the transmission using the selected predefined set of parameters; and

selectively displaying ride height and the magnitude of the chance in ride height of the vehicle to indicate unsafe and overloaded vehicle conditions.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining a plurality of sets of parameters to calibrate the transmission of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining a threshold for the magnitude of the change in ride height of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether the magnitude of the change in ride height exceeds a predefined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively calibrating the transmission manually.

6. A system for automatically calibrating a transmission of a vehicle using load sensing, comprising:

a sensor that detects a change in ride height of the vehicle while the vehicle is stationary;

a control module that measures a magnitude of the change in ride height of the stationary vehicle and depending on said magnitude selects one of a plurality of predefined sets of parameters to calibrate the transmission of the vehicle when said magnitude exceeds a predefined threshold; and

an indicator module that selectively displays ride height and the magnitude of the change in ride height of the vehicle to indicate unsafe and overloaded vehicle conditions.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the control module calibrates the transmission of the vehicle using the selected parameters.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a manual override module that selectively enables manual calibration of the transmission.