Systems and methods for controlling transmission shifting during vehicle braking along a decline
First Claim
1. A method of controlling transmission downshifting of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- monitoring various vehicular conditions during vehicle travel;
transmitting signals indicative of the vehicular conditions;
processing the transmitted signals;
generating instructions for a downshifting of a transmission gear position of a transmission system of the vehicle when the processed signals indicate vehicle travel along a declining road grade, when braking is being applied by a brake, and when downshifting would not cause a predefined limit of a vehicular condition to be exceeded;
transmitting the instructions for the downshifting to the transmission system; and
downshifting the transmission gear position according to the instructions,wherein the instructions for the downshifting are canceled when at least one of one or more accelerator conditions achieve a predefined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided for controlling transmission downshifting of a vehicle. The systems and methods monitor vehicular conditions continuously throughout vehicle travel such that downshifting may occur during braking along a decline and are not influenced by and do not interfere with road grade calculation systems. In one embodiment, a system comprises sensors that monitor vehicular conditions. The sensors transmit signals indicative of vehicular conditions to an electronic controller that processes the signals. The electronic controller generates instructions for downshifting where the processed signals indicate vehicle travel along a decline and when downshifting would not cause exceeding of a maximum revolutions per minute limit. The instructions are transmitted to a transmission system that downshifts the transmission gear position according to the instructions. The electronic controller cancels the instructions for the downshifting when the degree or duration of accelerator pedal depression exceed predefined values.
51 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling transmission downshifting of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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monitoring various vehicular conditions during vehicle travel; transmitting signals indicative of the vehicular conditions; processing the transmitted signals; generating instructions for a downshifting of a transmission gear position of a transmission system of the vehicle when the processed signals indicate vehicle travel along a declining road grade, when braking is being applied by a brake, and when downshifting would not cause a predefined limit of a vehicular condition to be exceeded; transmitting the instructions for the downshifting to the transmission system; and downshifting the transmission gear position according to the instructions, wherein the instructions for the downshifting are canceled when at least one of one or more accelerator conditions achieve a predefined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for controlling transmission downshifting of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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one or more sensors configured to monitor vehicular conditions indicative of vehicle travel, wherein the sensors are configured to transmit signals indicative of the vehicular conditions; an electronic controller configured to process the signals, wherein the electronic controller is configured to generate instructions for a downshifting of a transmission gear position of a transmission system of the vehicle when the processed signals indicate vehicle travel along a declining road grade and when the processed signals comport with predefined limits at vehicular conditions where downshifting is permitted; and circuitry for transmitting the signals to the electronic controller and for transmitting the instructions to a transmission system of the vehicle, wherein the transmission system is configured to downshift the transmission gear position according to the instructions, wherein the sensors are configured to monitor the vehicular conditions continuously throughout vehicle travel such that downshifting occurs during vehicle braking along the declining road grade. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A vehicle comprising a system for controlling transmission downshifting of a vehicle, wherein the system comprises:
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one or more sensors configured to monitor vehicular conditions indicative of vehicle travel, wherein the sensors are configured to transmit signals indicative of the vehicular conditions; an electronic controller configured to process the signals, wherein the electronic controller is configured to generate instructions for a downshifting of a transmission gear position of a transmission system of the vehicle when the processed signals indicate vehicle travel along a declining road grade and when the processed signals comport with predefined limits of vehicular conditions that permit downshifting; and circuitry configured to transmit the signals to the electronic controller and to transmit the instructions to a transmission system of the vehicle, such that the transmission system downshifts the transmission gear position according to the instructions, wherein the sensors are configured to monitor the vehicular conditions continuously throughout vehicle travel such that downshifting occurs during vehicle braking along the declining road grade, wherein the system is not influenced by and does not interfere with any road grade calculation systems of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification