Method and apparatus for operating a motor vehicle

• US 6,976,935 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2003
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.KG (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
• Inventors: Pollack, Burkhard, Boll, Bernhard, Jung, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US10/616,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20040142793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 477/77, 477/79, 477/83, 477/86, 477/181
• US Class Current: 477/77
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0164 mainly during accelerating or braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/302 Selected gear ratio; Transmission function
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/32 Torque on propulsion shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/62 Seat occupation; Passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/954 Wheelbase
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1877 Adaptive Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/18 Starting, accelerating
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/22 Braking, stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/915 Suspension load distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0014 : Adaptive controllers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0208 : Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0225 : Clutch actuator position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 : Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/102 : Input speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 : Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/16 : Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 : Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 : Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 : Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/003 : Detecting or using driving style of a driver, e.g. for adapting shift schedules
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2300/14 : Selecting a state of operation, e.g. depending on two wheel or four wheel drive mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/42 : Changing the input torque to the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/00 : Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0206 : Layout of electro-hydraulic control circuits, e.g. arrangement of valves for control of actuators selecting and moving final output members, e.g. shift forks F16H61/2807
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmitting a torque and for operating a motor vehicle having a drive motor with an automated or automatic transmission in the drive train. A driver-identifying lock recognition system, as well as a transmission control unit that includes a memory function for storing driver-related parameters, especially for improving driving comfort, are provided.

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle having a driving engine and an automated or automatic transmission in a drive train for transmitting a torque, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a transmission control unit including a memory function and operable to control a shift of gears within the transmission, controlling a clutch engagement/disengagement process to improve riding comfort during a shift of gears from R to D by momentary engagement of engine torque before a shift of gears takes place by means of a transmission actuator.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of providing a driver-identifying lock recognition system that includes driver-specific parameters for controlling vehicle operation in accordance with predetermined driver-related vehicle operation characteristics.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of changing engine torque by means of the transmission control unit that is regulated by a CAN bus.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the engine torque is less than 10 Nm before the gear shift.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of utilizing at least one of the memory function of the transmission control unit and a driver-identifying lock system to balance relevant adaptation parameters in the control unit.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of establishing an additional signal during communication with the transmission control unit to identify the corresponding driver.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of inputting adaptation parameters for a transmission shift program following a boot process of the transmission control unit and the identification of the driver.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the linking of the signals from the control unit takes place through a CAN bus of the motor vehicle.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, including the step of detecting in a chassis level regulation control unit for level control of a chassis data received from level control actuators, and correlating the level control actuator data with the transmission control unit to control vehicle pitch angle.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein a level control of the chassis takes place as a function of clutch engagement/disengagement and transmission shift processes.

11. Apparatus for operating a motor vehicle having a driving engine and an automated or automatic transmission in a drive train for transmitting a torque, said apparatus comprising:

a control unit including a memory function, wherein the control unit is operable to control operation of a clutch and a shift of gears within the transmission to provide a clutch engagement/disengagement process to improve riding comfort during a shift of gears from R to D by momentary engagement of engine torque before a shift of gears takes place, and a transmission actuator operatively connected with the transmission control unit for shifting gears.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, including vehicle leveling actuators arranged in at least one of a forward and a rear axle of the motor vehicle, wherein the leveling actuators are parallel to respective chassis-mounted shock absorbers.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein during a control process regulating distances of the leveling actuators of an axle are regulated individually for each wheel of the vehicle.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, including a driver identification system for accessing driver-specific vehicle operating parameters for controlling vehicle operation and transmission gear shifts.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, including vehicle leveling actuators arranged in at least one of a forward and a rear axle of the motor vehicle, wherein the leveling actuators are components of shock absorbers.