Interrelated power delivery controls – including engine control – Transmission control – Control by sensed ambient condition – pattern indicia,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-11-27
Estremsky, Sherry (Department: 3681)
Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control
Transmission control
Control by sensed ambient condition, pattern indicia,...
C477S046000, C477S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322477
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for influencing a shift process connected with a change in transmission ratio when driving a motor vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to control automatic transmissions so that up-shifting into a higher gear is prevented when traveling around a curve. The purpose is that a driver who, for example, lets upon on the accelerator immediately before a curve or in a curve and depresses the accelerator again after leaving the curve will have the same amount of torque available after the curve as when entering the curve. It is thus intended that a driver who for example lets up on the accelerator immediately before a curve or in a curve, after travelling past the curve when pushing down on the accelerator again has the same power and performance as when driving into the curve. During normal shift programs, letting up on the accelerator would lead to the transmission shifting into a higher gear and on leaving the curve there would be insufficient acceleration power or the transmissions would only shift back to a lower bear before renewed acceleration.
It is known from DE 196 18 804 to develop a method where shifts are suppressed in curves to the extent that in addition the type of driver is determined and the type of shift suppression is influenced.
In many cases, for example when travelling around very long curves or in the case of vehicles with manual shift transmissions it is neither desirable nor possible to fully suppress gear changes when travelling around curves. In these cases it is however desirable in order to let the shifting process take place in a manner that is adapted to the momentary conditions of a curved course of travel.
Accordingly the invention is concerned with the problem of providing a method for influencing a shift process connected to a change in transmission ratio when driving a motor vehicle which also leads when driving round curves to comfortable shifting which does not impair driving safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for influencing a shift process connected to a change in transmission ratio when driving a motor vehicle that results in comfortable shifting when driving around curves and does not impair driving performance or safety.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of performing the above described process.
The present invention influences the shift process that occurs during a change in transmission ratio when a motor vehicle follows a curved path, such as a curve in the road. This allows the driving character of the vehicle during the shift process to be altered as desired, such as the performance of the vehicle or maintaining adequate safety and control over the vehicle.
Preliminarily, the state of the vehicle in a curved path must be detected. This may be accomplished by detecting one or more characteristics of the vehicle that indicate the vehicle is driving in a curved path. Various characteristics, by way of example, may include the transverse force exerted on the drive wheels of the vehicle, the transverse acceleration of the vehicle, the steering angle, difference in speed between wheels on an axle, operating condition of vehicle systems, and the navigational position of the car. In addition, the measured characteristics may be compared against predetermined values or using algorithms to determine amount of actual or desired curvature of the vehicle path.
Once it is detected that the vehicle is traveling on a curved path, which may include the degree, the shift process during a transmission ratio change may be influenced in a predetermined way. The result of this influence may be, for example, to decrease the longitudinal forces that act on the driven wheels, increasing comfort, safety or performance. Ways to influence the shift process may include, by way of example, altering the rate of ratio change or clutch engagement, or modifying the activation of various running modes.
According to the present invention, an apparatus is provided for accomplishing the processes of the invention. The apparatus can include a detector for detecting whether the vehicle is traveling around a curve, and a transmission ratio shifter that is responsive to the detector and influences the shift process. The detector may be capable of detecting one or more characteristics of the vehicle that indicate that the vehicle is driving in a curved path. Examples of such detectors may include sensors to detect forces exerted on the driven wheels, vehicle acceleration, wheel speeds, steering angle, vehicle system operating parameters and navigational position of the car. The apparatus may also evaluate the vehicle characteristics, to which the transmission ratio shifter may respond in predetermined ways. The transmission ratio shifter, for example, may alter the rate of ratio change or clutch engagement, or modify the activation of various running modes.
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Eich Jürgen
Jager Thomas
Salecker Michael
Darby & Darby
Estremsky Sherry
Lewis Tisha D.
LuK Getriebe GmbH
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