Method for controlling a drivetrain of a vehicle, with a drive motor and a gearbox

• US 8,165,766 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Schuler, Franz-Josef, Kuhn, Clemens, Müller, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Peter D
• Application Number:
  US11/994,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,128 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701/53, 701/55, 701/56, 701/58, 701/59, 701/60, 701/65, 701/66, 701/93, 477/80, 477/120, 477/174, 477/84, 477/91, 477/97, 477/105, 477/108, 477/109, 477/110, 477/132, 477/135, 477/139, 477/140, 477/144, 477/148
• US Class Current: 701/66
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/101 Infinitely variable gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0042 Transfer function lag; delays
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 Adaptive cruise control

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicles drivetrain including an engine and automatic transmission, such that transmission ratios are shifted within a range of transmission ratios in a continuous and/or stepped manner as function of preset target speeds that are adjustable via a vehicle speed control and actual vehicle inclinations in relation to the vehicles longitudinal axis. When the actual speed of the vehicle differs from a preset threshold speed, a request to change an actual ratio of the transmission is generated, if it has been determined that the output torque is smaller than a threshold value or an output torque required to adjust the preset threshold speed of the vehicle. The ratio of the transmission is shifted so the torque applied to the output is modified toward the output torque required to adjust the threshold speed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a drivetrain of a vehicle with a prime mover and a transmission with ratios (i_ist) that are automatically varied within a ratio range in at least one of a continuous manner and a stepped manner as function of target speeds (v_ziel), which are preset via a vehicle speed control, and a vehicle inclination, calculated at any time, relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a request to change a current transmission ratio (i_ist) when the vehicle speed control is activated and an actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) is different from a preset target speed (v_ziel), and when a determination has been made that an output torque applied to an output of the drivetrain is less than one of an output torque threshold value and an output torque required to adjust the preset target speed (v_ziel);

varying the transmission current ratio (i_ist) of the transmission such that the output torque applied to the output of the drivetrain approaches the output torque required to approach the target speed (v_ziel);

starting a first timer (TIMER1) after an increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and preventing another change of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) until the first timer (TIMER1) has expired;

determining and evaluating, during the first timer (TIMER1) a filtered actual acceleration of the vehicle;

omitting an additional increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) of the vehicle when the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) changes after an increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and approaches the target speed (v_ziel), with changes in the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) being associated with the actual acceleration of the vehicle; and

altering the output torque of the vehicle, after a change of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) by changing an input torque of the prime mover.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the request to change a current transmission ratio (i_ist) when a parameter (a_diff) exceeds a threshold value of vehicle acceleration differential (a_schwell), the parameter (a_diff) characterizing the vehicle inclination and corresponding to a difference from a nominal acceleration of the vehicle, determined with an actual input torque of the prime mover, and further corresponding to the actual acceleration of the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating the request to change the current transmission ratio (i_ist) when the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) differs quantitatively by more than a vehicle speed threshold value, preferably dependent on at least one of the request to change the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and a rotational speed of the output of the drivetrain.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting one other increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) after expiration of the first timer (TIMER1), when the vehicle speed control is activated and the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) is different from the preset target speed (v_ziel), the output torque represented with the actual transmission ratio (i_ist) on the output of the drivetrain is less than one of the output torque threshold value and an output-side output torque required for approaching the preset target speed (v_ziel) and the vehicle inclination and the parameter (a_diff) of the vehicle inclination exceeds a threshold value of vehicle acceleration differential (a_schwell) coordinated at a point in time.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a request to reduce the current transmission ratio (i_ist) when the vehicle speed control is activated and a difference between the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) from the preset target speed of the vehicle (v_ziel) is smaller than a vehicle speed threshold value (v_schwell) and when the output torque applied to the output of the drivetrain is greater than one of the output torque required to approach the preset target speed (v_ziel) and the output torque threshold value, the current transmission ratio (i_ist) being reduced so that the output torque applied to the output of the drivetrain is adjusted in one of a direction of the output torque required for approaching the target speed (v_ziel) and in a direction of an applied output torque threshold value.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of starting a second timer (TIMER2) when an input torque threshold value of an input torque of the prime mover is exceeded.

7. The method to claim 6, further comprising the step of after requesting a reduction ratio (i_ist) after expiration of the second timer (TIMER2) when the input torque is for a long time greater than the input torque threshold value, while the second timer (TIMER2) is activated.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of starting a third timer (TIMER3) after reducing the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and preventing another change of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) during the third timer (TIMER3).

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of generating a request to reduce the current transmission ratio (i_ist) after the third timer (TIMER3) has expired and during a divergence of the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) from the preset target speed (v_ziel), the divergence being smaller than a vehicle speed threshold value, when the output torque from the current transmission ratio (i_ist) applied on the output of the drivetrain is one of greater than the output torque required for adjusting the preset target speed (v_ziel) and the output torque threshold value, the current transmission ratio (i_ist) being reduced in a manner such that the output torque applied on the output of the drivetrain is changed to approach one of the output torque required to approach the target speed of the vehicle and the output torque threshold value.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of preventing an increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and verifying whether a reduction of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) is required to change the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) to approach the target speed (v_ziel), when there is a filtered positive actual acceleration and the output torque greater than the output torque threshold value.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of preventing any change of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) until the first timer (TIMER1) has expired.

12. A method of controlling a drivetrain of a vehicle with a prime mover and a transmission with ratios (i_ist) that are automatically varied within a ratio range in at least one of a continuous manner and a stepped manner as a function of target speeds (v_ziel) which are preset, via a vehicle speed control, and a vehicle inclination, calculated at any time, relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a request to change a current transmission ratio (i_ist) when the vehicle speed control is activated and an actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) is different from a preset target speed (v_ziel), and when a determination has been made that an output torque applied to an output of the drivetrain is less than one of an output torque threshold value and an output torque required to adjust the preset target speed (v_ziel);

varying the transmission current ratio (i_ist) of the transmission such that the output torque applied to the output of the drivetrain approaches the output torque required to approach the target speed (v_ziel);

starting a first timer (TIMER1) after an increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and preventing another change of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) until the first timer (TIMER1) has expired;

determining and evaluating, during the first timer (TIMER1)m a filtered actual acceleration of the vehicle;

omitting an additional increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) of the vehicle when the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) changes after an increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and approaches the target speed (v_ziel), with changes in the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) being associated with the actual acceleration of the vehicle; and

re-starting the first timer (TIMER1) after at least one increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist).

13. A method of controlling a drivetrain of a vehicle with a prime mover and a transmission with ratios (i_ist) that are automatically varied within a ratio range in at least one of a continuous manner and a stepped manner as a function of target speeds (v_ziel) which are preset, via a vehicle speed control, and a vehicle inclination, calculated at any time, relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a request to change a current transmission ratio (i_ist) when the vehicle speed control is activated and an actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) is different from a preset target speed (v_ziel), and when a determination has been made that an output torque applied to an output of the drivetrain is less than one of an output torque threshold value and an output torque required to adjust the preset target speed (v_ziel);

varying the transmission current ratio (i_ist) of the transmission such that the output torque applied to the output of the drivetrain approaches the output torque required to approach the target speed (v_ziel);

starting a first timer (TIMER1) after an increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and preventing another change of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) until the first timer (TIMER1) has expired;

determining and evaluating, during the first timer (TIMER1)m a filtered actual acceleration of the vehicle;

omitting an additional increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) of the vehicle when the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) changes after an increase of the current transmission ratio (i_ist) and approaches the target speed (v_ziel), with changes in the actual speed of the vehicle (v_ist) being associated with the actual acceleration of the vehicle; and

requesting a change to the actual transmission ratio (i_ist) according to an information signal concerning a road actually traveled by the vehicle which is sent by a transmitter device to a receptor device of the vehicle.