Method and system to coach driver of manual transmission vehicle

• US 9,174,573 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pietron, Gregory Michael, Fujii, Yuji, McCallum, James William Loch, Meyer, Christian, Lee, Seunghoon
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US14/288,987
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 340/453, 340/439, 340/454, 340/438, 340/517, 340/524, 701/54, 701/64, 116/28.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 23/12 Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such specific for combined clutches F16D21/00; mechanisms specific for synchronisation F16D23/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30405 Estimated clutch temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30412 Torque of the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30415 Speed of the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30421 Torque of the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30426 Speed of the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3107 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3127 Road slope
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3166 Detection of an elapsed period of time
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50296 Limit clutch wear
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7101 Driver alarm
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7103 Acoustic alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/7104 Visual alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/06 Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/014 of friction elements in transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/016 Monitoring of overload conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/01 Monitoring wear or stress of gearing elements, e.g. for triggering maintenance

Abstract

A coaching system for drivers of vehicles monitors the power dissipation of a manual transmission clutch and, when the energy dissipated during an event is excessive, suggests modified driving technique. The system may monitor launch events, shift events, and steady state driving. The system may adjust the energy threshold at which a suggestion is provided based on vehicle weight or road gradient. The system may also adjust the energy threshold when an estimate of clutch temperature is elevated. The suggestion may be provided on a graphic display or may be provided verbally over a speaker. In some cases, the suggested may also be conveyed to a third party outside the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of coaching a driver of a vehicle having a manual transmission comprising:

monitoring, in a controller, a clutch input speed, a clutch output speed, and a clutch torque;

based on the input speed, output speed, and torque, estimating a clutch power dissipation; and

in response to the power dissipation exceeding a power threshold for longer than a duration threshold, automatically outputting a suggested driving technique change to mitigate clutch degradation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting a suggested driving technique change comprises displaying a suggestion on a graphic display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting a suggested driving technique change comprises making an audible announcement through a speaker.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein outputting a suggested driving technique change comprises sending the suggestion to a third party through a communications interface.

5. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a transmission having a driver-controlled clutch; and

a controller programmed to monitor a clutch input speed, a clutch output speed, and a clutch torque, to estimate a power dissipation based on the input speed, output speed, and torque, and to respond to the power dissipation exceeding a power threshold for more than a threshold time by suggesting a driving technique change to mitigate clutch degradation.

6. A method of coaching a driver of a vehicle comprising:

in response to an estimated energy dissipation of a manual transmission clutch during a launch or shift event exceeding an energy threshold, automatically outputting a suggested driving technique change to mitigate degradation of the clutch on future events of a same type, wherein the estimated energy dissipation is based on an input speed, an output speed, and a torque capacity of the clutch.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising adjusting the energy threshold based on an estimate of vehicle weight.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising adjusting the energy threshold based on an estimate of road gradient.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

based on the input speed, the output speed, the torque, and a model of clutch cooling, estimating a clutch temperature; and

adjusting the energy threshold based on the clutch temperature.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the event is a vehicle launch beginning with the output speed equal to zero and ending with the output speed equal to the input speed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the suggested driving technique change comprises utilizing lower clutch torque capacity during future vehicle launch events.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the suggested driving technique change comprises utilizing lower engine speed during future vehicle launch events.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the event is a shift beginning with the output speed equal to the input speed and a first gearbox speed ratio established and ending with the output speed equal to the input speed and a second gearbox speed ratio established.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the suggested driving technique change comprises utilizing lower engine speed while re-engaging the clutch during future shift events.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the suggested driving technique change comprises delaying resumption of engine torque command until after the clutch is re-engaged during future shift events.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein the event is defined by clutch input speed exceeding clutch output speed and clutch output speed exceeding a minimum engine speed for more than a threshold duration and the suggested driving technique change comprises fully engaging the clutch.

17. The method of claim 6 wherein the suggested driving technique change comprises waiting for the clutch to cool down.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein the suggested driving technique change comprises waiting to perform future vehicle launches until more space exist between the vehicle and another vehicle.