Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-12
2001-02-13
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C701S054000, C180S065230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188945
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a drive train control system for a motor vehicle, by which the position of the accelerator pedal is interpreted as a wheel torque or transmission output torque desired by the driver and used for calculating desired values for the engine and transmission of the motor vehicle.
Prior art control systems for the engine, for the transmission, and for the secondary assemblies of a motor vehicle operate largely independently; that is, they establish the operating point and operating mode of the controlled assembly largely independently of one another. Means are also available for communication among the various components of the drive train of a motor vehicle, for instance in the form of a CAN bus or the like, but these means are predominantly used only for exchanging sensor data in the course of multiple utilization. Moreover, the control systems affect one another by means of communication in certain operations, for instance to make for smoother shifting by reducing the engine torque upon a change of transmission ratio in the transmission.
Other examples are engine drag torque control during braking and braking intervention or torque reduction if drive slip arises in the traction control context. A system for linking together systems in the automobile has become known heretofore that seeks an integrated drive train control system for a motor vehicle by means of which the position of the accelerator pedal is interpreted as a wheel torque desired by the driver and used for calculating desired values for the engine and transmission of the motor vehicle (F & M 101 (1993) 3, pp. 87-90). The goal of the overriding optimization, proposed in this publication, of the parts of the system embodied by the engine control unit, electronic accelerator pedal and transmission control unit, is to reduce fuel consumption and improve the drivability, in particular with regard to the spontaneous reaction to movements of the accelerator pedal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a drive train control for a motor vehicle, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which globally improves the operation of the motor vehicle. Emissions (hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, etc.) are to be minimized by centrally defining a strategy for the engine control, engine performance adjuster and transmission control, that minimizes the emission of pollutants, especially in urban areas. The central strategy may also have as its goal a performance-oriented mode of the motor vehicle. In such a strategy, all the decentralized function units are adjusted in such a way that the best possible acceleration and rapid response of the drive to driver demands are available. Such a mode is required in a sporty driving mode and in driving uphill.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a drive train control system for a motor vehicle having an engine, a transmission, wheels, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal, the drive train control system comprising:
a calculating device connected to receive position signals representing a position of the accelerator pedal and a position of the brake pedal, the calculating device interpreting the position of the accelerator pedal as a wheel torque or transmission output torque desired by a driver of the motor vehicle and calculating therefrom setpoint values for the engine and the transmission of the motor vehicle;
a classification device connected to receive sensor signals from the drive train, the classification device being programmed to evaluate the sensor signals and to classify operating parameters of the motor vehicle; and
the calculating device combining the position signals and the classified operating parameters and generating therefrom central control parameters for drive sources and decelerating units of the drive train of the motor vehicle.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the calculating device is programmed to adjust a transmission ratio in the transmission.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the calculating device adjusts the engine output torque.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the calculating device defines a type of drive source of the motor vehicle. Where the engine is a hybrid drive, the calculating device defines and adjusts individual operating points of the hybrid drive.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the calculating device adjusts the engine torque as a function of the transmission ratio of the hybrid drive.
In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the system further includes:
a selection circuit connected to receive output signals of the classification circuit, the selection circuit selecting a driving strategy based on the output signals of the classification circuit; and decentralized control units connected to receive output signals of the calculating device and of the selection circuit, the decentralized control units generating control signals for the engine, the transmission and a brake system of the motor vehicle.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, a data exchange among the control units is effected in a torque-based manner.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a drive train control system for a motor vehicle, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 4853720 (1989-08-01), Onari et al.
patent: 4866622 (1989-09-01), Dreher et al.
patent: 5012418 (1991-04-01), Petzoid
patent: 5113721 (1992-05-01), Polly
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patent: 5351776 (1994-10-01), Keller et al.
patent: 5450324 (1995-09-01), Cikanek
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International Applicatio WO 90/03898 (Lang), dated Apr. 19, 1990.
“Systemvernetzung im Automobil”, R. Leonhard, Stuttgart, Feinwerkstechnik im Fahrzeugbau, München, 1993, pp. 87-90.
“Fahrzeugregelung und regelungstechnische Komponentenabstimmung”, U. Zoelch et al., VDM Berichte No. 1225, 1995, pp. 281-297, pertains to motor vehicle control and closed-loop/open-loop control adjustment.
Graf Friedrich
Probst Gregor
Strasser Roman
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Stemer Werner H.
Zanelli Michael J.
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