Method for operating an automatic gearbox on a motor vehicle

• US 7,029,421 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Kiefer, Michael, Jauch, Friedemann, Schuler, Franz-Josef, Henneken, Markus, Mauz, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, HA DINH
• Application Number:
  US10/478,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20040266583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,431 Days
• Field of Search: 477/34, 477/37, 477/46, 477/64, 477/68, 477/115, 477/120, 701/51, 701/52
• US Class Current: 477/120
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/003 Detecting or using driving style of a driver, e.g. for adapting shift schedules
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0239 Up- and down-shift or range or mode selection by repeated movement mechanical step by step selection devices F16H63/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/0204 for automatic transmissions with means for range selection and manual shifting, e.g. range selector with tiptronic
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/48 Inputs being a function of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/72 dependent on oil characteristics, e.g. temperature, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/16 Inhibiting or initiating shift during unfavourable conditions, e.g. preventing forward reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine over speed unintentional control input F16H61/18

Abstract

A method is described for operating an automatic transmission in which a command for changing a current ratio of the automatic transmission is generated when achieving preset operating states of the vehicle automatically or by manual input in a manual shifting mode, the activated manual shifting mode being preferred to an automatic shifting mode. The manual shifting mode is quit when a current vehicle speed is less than a threshold value, or when a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is within a defined range, a lateral acceleration is less than a threshold value and a driver type evaluation counter is less than a limiting value.

Claims

1. A method for operating an automatic transmission (3) comprising the steps of:

generating a command automatically or by manual input in a manual shifting mode, to change a current ratio of the automatic transmission (3) when achieving a preset operating state of the vehicle, an activated shifting mode being preferred to the manual shifting mode; and

ending the manual shifting mode when a current vehicle speed is less than a threshold value and ending the manual shifting mode when at least one of the three following criteria are met;

a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is within a defined range;

a lateral acceleration of the vehicle is less than the threshold value; and

a driver type evaluation counter is less than a limiting value.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of deactivating the manual shifting mode when no other manual input is detected.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adding an offset value to the driver type evaluation counter during activation of the manual shifting mode by manual input.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adding an offset value to the driver type evaluation counter during the manual input in the manual shifting mode.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of decreasing the driver type evaluation counter during the activated manual shifting mode without the manual input.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the manual input when a selector lever (5) is moved in a selector device to a manual gate (7) or an inching push button (22) of said selector device is actuated.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of taking over and maintaining an actual ratio of a former shift program of the automatic transmission (3) during a change to the manual shifting mode.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting, after quitting the manual shifting mode, a special shift program before changing back to the manual shifting mode.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of carrying out a change from manual to automatic shifting mode by actuating said selector device (5,22), when the manual shifting mode is quit, a time lag after the lapse of which a first ratio change to the automatic shifting mode can be implemented.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of activating in manual shifting mode, an inching shift program in which coordinated gear and converter characteristic lines are stored.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of providing the inching shift program with a function for detecting a kick-down, a kick-down state being kept maximum for an applicable time.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of issuing at least one of an acoustic, haptic and optical signal when said inching shift program detects an inadmissible shifting command from a driver.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of terminating the manual shifting mode when an inadmissibly high temperature of the automatic transmission and of the engine is found, and selecting shifting characteristic lines of the automatic shifting mode which lead to lowering of the temperature of the automatic transmission and of the engine.

14. A method for operating an automatic transmission (3) comprising the steps of:

generating a command automatically or by manual input in a manual shifting mode, to change a current ratio of the automatic transmission (3) when achieving a preset operating state of the vehicle, the activated shifting mode being preferred to the manual shifting mode; and

encing the manual shifting mode when a current vehicle speed is less than a threshold value or when the three following criteria are met;

a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle is within a defined range;

a lateral acceleration of the vehicle is less than the threshold value; and

a driver type evaluation counter is less than a limiting value, and

activating a shift program coordinated with the actual driver type evaluation counter during a change to the automatic shifting mode.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step in manual shifting mode of at least one of:

adding an offset value to the driver type evaluation counter during activation of the manual shifting mode by manual input,

adding the offset value to the driver type evaluation counter during the manual input in the manual shifting mode, and

decreasing the driver type evaluation counter during the activated manual shifting mode without the manual input.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step in manual shifting mode of at least one of:

before changing back to the manual shifting mode, selecting a special shift program, and

during a change to the manual shifting mode, taking over and maintaining an actual ratio of a former shift program of the automatic transmission (3) during a change to the manual shifting mode.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step in manual shifting mode of at least one of:

activating in manual shifting mode, an inching shift program in which coordinated gear and converter characteristic lines are stored,

providing the inching shift program with a function for detecting a kick-down, a kick-down state being kept maximum for an applicable time.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of:

issuing at least one of an acoustic, hapic and optical signal when an inching shift program detects an inadmissible shifting command from a driver.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of at least one of:

deactivating the manual shifting mode when no other manual input is detected, and

terminating the manual shifting mode when an inadmissibly high temperature of the automatic transmission and of the engine is found, and selecting shifting characteristic lines of the automatic shifting mode which lead to lowering of the temperature of the automatic transmission and of the engine.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of at least one of:

generating the manual input when

one of a selector lever (5) is moved in a selector device to a manual gate (7) and

an inching push button (22) of said selector device is actuated, and

carrying out the change from manual to automatic shifting mode by actuating said selector device (5, 22), and

after a time lag after changing to the manual shifting mode, implementing a first ratio change to the automatic shifting mode.