Vehicle trajectory control system

• US 7,771,313 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cullen, Michael J., Cunningham, Ralph Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US12/415,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 477/107, 477/109, 477/110, 477/111, 477/113
• US Class Current: 477/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/144 characterised by change between positive and negative drive line torque, e.g. torque changes when switching between coasting and acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/186 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/54 Synchronizing engine speed to transmission input speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/18 dependent on the position of the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/54 dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/14 : Control of torque converter lock-up clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/143 : using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 : Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 477/904 : Control signal is acceleration

Abstract

A system, comprising an engine having an electronically controlled throttle plate to adjust airflow to the engine; a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the transmission including a clutch and the transmission coupled to the engine; and a controller configured to: during a tip-out condition and during a gear ratio change to a future gear, and when the transmission does not provide engine braking, control the engine speed to a synchronous speed in the future gear ratio by adjusting an engine operating parameter so that the engine speed is close to the engine speed that will be achieved after the gear change is completed, and maintain engine speed at the close engine speed after the gear change is completed until a tip-in, where engine speed is controlled by adjusting at least the electronically controlled throttle plate.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an engine having an electronically controlled throttle plate to adjust airflow to the engine;

a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the transmission including a clutch and the transmission coupled to the engine; and

a controller configured to;

during a tip-out condition and during a gear ratio change to a future gear, and when the transmission does not provide engine braking, control the engine speed to a synchronous speed in the future gear ratio by adjusting an engine operating parameter so that the engine speed is close to the engine speed that will be achieved after the gear change is completed, and maintain engine speed at the close engine speed after the gear change is completed until a tip-in, where engine speed is controlled by adjusting at least the electronically controlled throttle plate.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said synchronous speed is a synchronous transmission input speed.

3. A system, comprising:

an engine having an electronically controlled throttle plate to adjust airflow to the engine;

a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the transmission coupled to the engine; and

a controller configured to;

during a closed pedal condition and during a manual gear ratio change to a future gear, control the engine speed to a synchronous speed in the future gear ratio by adjusting an engine operating parameter so that the engine speed is close to the engine speed that will be achieved after the gear change is completed, and maintain the engine speed at the synchronous speed after the shift to the future gear until a driver tip-in to provide a reduced-delay wheel torque output increase in response to the tip-in, where engine speed is controlled by adjusting the electronically controlled throttle plate.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said synchronous speed is a synchronous transmission input speed.

5. A system, comprising:

an engine having an electronically controlled throttle plate to adjust airflow to the engine;

a transmission having an input speed and an output speed, the transmission coupled to the engine; and

a controller configured to;

during a closed pedal condition and when the transmission does not provide engine braking, control the engine speed to a synchronous speed, where the synchronous speed is based on a transmission gear state, where the engine speed is maintained at the synchronous speed until positive powertrain output is applied; and

when positive powertrain output torque is again applied, provide said powertrain output torque without delay and with engine speed increasing from the synchronous speed, where engine speed is controlled by adjusting the electronically controlled throttle plate.