System for selecting a transmission economy-based shift schedule
First Claim
1. A system for selecting an economy mode shift schedule for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a transmission having a torque converter and a plurality of selectable gear ranges;
a transmission control circuit including a control module having the economy mode shift schedule stored therein, the transmission control circuit configured to operably control the transmission;
an engine control circuit configured to control operation of an engine, the engine being operably coupled to the transmission;
a communication link configured to transfer information between the transmission control circuit and the engine control circuit;
wherein, the control module further includes instructions stored therein for executably controlling the transmission control circuit tocalculate vehicle acceleration,determine a change in accelerator pedal position,compute a net tractive effort force of the vehicle for a current gear range of the transmission,compare the net tractive effort force to a maximum tractive effort for a desired gear range,select the economy mode shift schedule for the transmission based on the comparison; and
control shifting between gear ranges of the transmission according to the economy mode shift schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of selecting an economy mode shift schedule for a transmission coupled to a motor vehicle. The method includes calculating vehicle acceleration and determining a change in accelerator pedal position. Also, a net tractive effort force of the vehicle is determined for a current gear range of the transmission. Also, the method includes comparing the net tractive effort force for the current gear range to a maximum tractive effort force for a desired gear range and selecting the economy mode shift schedule for the transmission based on the comparison. The method further includes controlling shifting between one or more gear ranges of the transmission according to the economy mode shift schedule.
38 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for selecting an economy mode shift schedule for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a transmission having a torque converter and a plurality of selectable gear ranges; a transmission control circuit including a control module having the economy mode shift schedule stored therein, the transmission control circuit configured to operably control the transmission; an engine control circuit configured to control operation of an engine, the engine being operably coupled to the transmission; a communication link configured to transfer information between the transmission control circuit and the engine control circuit; wherein, the control module further includes instructions stored therein for executably controlling the transmission control circuit to calculate vehicle acceleration, determine a change in accelerator pedal position, compute a net tractive effort force of the vehicle for a current gear range of the transmission, compare the net tractive effort force to a maximum tractive effort for a desired gear range, select the economy mode shift schedule for the transmission based on the comparison; and control shifting between gear ranges of the transmission according to the economy mode shift schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for selecting an economy mode shift schedule for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a transmission having a torque converter and a plurality of selectable gear ranges; a transmission control circuit including a control module having the economy mode shift schedule stored therein, the transmission control circuit configured to operably control the transmission; an engine control circuit configured to control operation of an engine, the engine being operably coupled to the transmission; a communication link configured to transfer information between the transmission control circuit and the engine control circuit; wherein, the control module further includes instructions stored therein for executably controlling the transmission control circuit to determine gear ratios of all gear ranges of the transmission; receive engine torque data as a function of engine speed for all gear ranges; calculate vehicle acceleration and determine accelerator pedal position; determine a net tractive effort force of the vehicle for a current gear range of the transmission; compare the vehicle acceleration to a first threshold, the accelerator pedal to a second threshold, and the net tractive effort force to a third threshold; select the economy mode shift schedule for the transmission based on the comparisons to the first, second, and third thresholds; and control shifting between gear ranges of the transmission according to the economy mode shift schedule. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for selecting an economy mode shift schedule for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a transmission having a torque converter and X selectable gear ranges; a transmission control circuit including a control module having the economy mode shift schedule stored therein, the transmission control circuit configured to operably control the transmission; an engine control circuit configured to control operation of an engine, the engine being operably coupled to the transmission; a communication link configured to transfer information between the transmission control circuit and the engine control circuit; wherein, the control module further includes instructions stored therein for executably controlling the transmission control circuit to calculate vehicle acceleration and a change in accelerator pedal position; compute a net tractive effort force of the vehicle for a current gear range N of the transmission, where N<
X;determine a maximum tractive effort force for all upshift gear ranges, the upshift gear ranges comprising gear ranges N+1, N+2, . . . , and N+J, where J=X−
N;compare the net tractive effort force to each maximum tractive effort force; select the economy mode shift schedule for the transmission based on the comparison; and control shifting between gear range N and one of the upshift gear ranges. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification