Control device for vehicle hydraulic control circuit

• US 8,676,433 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Endo, Hiroatsu, Ito, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US13/144,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20110270483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1, 701/29.7, 701/64, 701/62, 701/31.6, 701/31.8, 701/34.4, 477/97, 477/906, 475/127
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1228 Fixing failures by repairing failed parts, e.g. loosening a sticking valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1284 the failing part is a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/68 Inputs being a function of gearing status
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/686 with orbital gears

Abstract

A control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit having a hydraulic switch disposed on a hydraulic control circuit of an automatic transmission, includes: a malfunction detecting portion configured to detect a malfunction of the hydraulic switch; and a malfunction removing portion configured to execute an operation for restoring a contact of the hydraulic switch when a malfunction of the hydraulic switch is detected.

Claims

1. A control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit having a hydraulic switch disposed on a hydraulic control circuit of an automatic transmission, comprising:

a malfunction detecting portion configured to detect a malfunction of the hydraulic switch;

a malfunction removing portion configured to execute an operation for restoring a contact of the hydraulic switch when the malfunction of the hydraulic switch is detected;

an actual malfunction confirming portion configured to confirm that the hydraulic switch as an actual malfunction if the malfunction of the hydraulic switch continues despite the operation of the malfunction removing portion;

the malfunction removing portion configured to intermittently change an oil pressure applied to the hydraulic switch to repeat ON/OFF operations of the contact of the hydraulic switch; and

the hydraulic switch configured to output a hydraulic signal by making the contact of the hydraulic switch conducting.

2. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 1, wherein the malfunction removing portion increases an electric current applied to the hydraulic switch.

3. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 2, the malfunction removing portion is implemented at the time of system activation of a vehicle.

4. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 2, the malfunction removing portion is implemented after completion of shift of the automatic transmission.

5. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 2, including

a hydraulic switch usage prohibiting portion configured to prohibit use of the hydraulic switch confirmed as having an actual malfunction by the actual malfunction confirming portion.

6. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 1, the malfunction removing portion is implemented at the time of system activation of a vehicle.

7. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 6, including

a hydraulic switch usage prohibiting portion configured to prohibit use of the hydraulic switch confirmed as having an actual malfunction by the actual malfunction confirming portion.

8. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 1, the malfunction removing portion is implemented after completion of shift of the automatic transmission.

9. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 8, including

a hydraulic switch usage prohibiting portion configured to prohibit use of the hydraulic switch confirmed as having an actual malfunction by the actual malfunction confirming portion.

10. The control device for a vehicle hydraulic control circuit of claim 1, including

a hydraulic switch usage prohibiting portion configured to prohibit use of the hydraulic switch confirmed as having an actual malfunction by the actual malfunction confirming portion.