Method and apparatus for controlling pickup on uphill for a motor-vehicle provided with an automatic or robotized gearbox

• US 8,781,695 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.P.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Fiat Group Automobiles S.P.A. (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Cimmino, Francesco, Bianco, Andrea, Cervone, Claudio, Gatti, Giuseppe, Lorusso, Giuseppe, Pagliarulo, Euplio
• Primary Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/329,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 701/65, 701/51, 701/69, 701/89, 701/67, 701/82, 701/90, 180/337, 180/338, 477/34, 477/70, 477/73, 477/80, 477/83, 477/90, 477/91, 477/97, 477/114, 477/120, 477/166, 477/174
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/663 Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/66 Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals

Abstract

A method and apparatus to control the pickup on an uphill slope of an automotive vehicle provided with an automatic or robotized gearbox provide the definition of a control strategy of the gear box operation, also according to the gradient of the uphill slope, which is preferably calculated based on a longitudinal acceleration value of the automotive vehicle, and based on the altitude at which the automotive vehicle can be found, which is preferably calculated based on a detected atmospheric pressure value. In this way, it is also possible to consider the reduction in the engine torque due to the reduction in the air density with altitude.

Claims

1. A method to control a friction clutch of an automatic or robotised gear box of an automotive vehicle,

wherein a gear box operating control strategy is defined according to an engine speed of the vehicle and a gradient angle of an uphill slope, the gradient angle of the uphill slope being calculated based on a detected acceleration value of the automotive vehicle in its longitudinal direction,

wherein the gear box operating control strategy is defined with reference to an acceleration stage in which the automotive vehicle must start from a stationary condition on an uphill slope, in which the driver keeps the vehicle brake pedal pressed,

wherein the gear box operating strategy in said acceleration stage is defined also as a function of a measurement of the time that elapses between the moment in which the driver keeps the brake pedal pressed and the moment in which the driver presses the vehicle accelerator pedal, and

wherein the gear box operating control strategy is also defined according to an altitude at which the automotive vehicle is operating, calculated based on a detected value of the atmospheric pressure, and

wherein a control unit controls the friction clutch of the automatic or robotized gear box by calculating an optimal threshold for obtaining an increase in engine torque at pickup, this calculation including a first contribution that is determined considering a shift time from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal, a second contribution which takes into account the altitude and gradient angle of the uphill slope and a third contribution weighing the first contribution and the second contribution and based on a position of the accelerator pedal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gradient angle of the uphill slope is calculated as follows: