Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-03
2002-06-25
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C180S337000, C477S034000, C477S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06411879
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a device that detects when the driver of a motor vehicle is about to shift gear; and it further relates to a method of detecting when a gear shift is about to occur.
Motor vehicles with a device for detecting a driver's intention to shift gear are known from DE 197 34 038 A1. The device according to the aforementioned publication is based on a sensor that is arranged at the actuating linkage of the transmission. When the sensor detects a move to change the position of the actuating linkage, the activity is interpreted as a signal that the driver intends to shift gear, whereupon the signal is forwarded to a clutch control device. After the driver's intent to shift gear has been recognized, the clutch control device issues a control command for the clutch to be taken out of engagement.
This known device is especially appropriate for motor vehicles without a clutch pedal, where the driver initiates a gear change in the transmission only through a shift lever.
A motor vehicle with a device for detecting a driver's intention to shift gear is further known from DE 195 04 847.1, which describes a device that detects the magnitude of a change in the shift lever position and generates a shift lever signal of proportionate magnitude as the change in the shift lever position. The shift lever signal is processed through a digital/analog filter with a time lag, so that the filtered signal comes out as a linearized signal with a time delay in relation to the movement of the shift lever. A reference level for the filtered signal is generated by combining a constant value with an offset signal that depends on the magnitude of a torque in the power train of the vehicle. As soon as there is a cross-over in a real-time comparison between the shift signal and the reference signal, a shift-intent counter is set to start counting up from zero. The shift-intent counter runs up to a defined reference count at a speed that depends on the clock frequency of the control unit. As soon as the shift-intent counter has reached the reference value, it sends a shift-intent signal to an actuator system. While the shift-intent counter is incrementing from zero towards the reference value, the count can be stopped and reset to zero, if a control signal based on the driving torque, the torque load on the power train, and the further movement of the shift lever indicates that the driver no longer intends to shift gear.
With the device of the foregoing description, an intention to shift gear can be detected at a relatively early stage.
Nevertheless, in certain situations, the device of the foregoing description could benefit from improvements with respect to its accuracy and responsiveness. In particular, it would be desirable to give more weight to operational, vehicle-specific, and situational parameters in the detection of an intent to shift gear.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle with a capability to detect when a driver intends to shift gear through a concept that is cost-effective, uncomplicated to realize, detects an incipient gear shift promptly and reliably, takes vehicle-specific and operational parameters into account, and responds to each shift situation in an optimally adapted manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the foregoing objective in a motor vehicle with at least one drive source and at least one output device in its power train, and at least one transmission device arranged in the power train between the drive source and the output device. The transmission device converts a transmission input quantity into a transmission output quantity and is operable to shift gear, i.e., to change the transmission from one to another of at least two different gear levels with different ratios between an input quantity and an output quantity of the transmission. At least one actuating device is used to actuate the shifting of the transmission device. The vehicle is equipped with at least one detecting device (herein referred to as an intent-to-shift detecting device) that is responsive to conditions or activities indicating that the driver of the vehicle intends to shift gear. The vehicle further has at least one detector system to monitor one or more vehicle components for the presence of performance-affecting conditions that have an influence on the shifting of the transmission device.
Such performance-affecting conditions can be caused, e.g., by production-related or wear-related variances of a component, and are characterized by associated operating parameters of the vehicle. Typically, the intent-to-shift detecting device generates a signal when an intent to shift gear has been detected. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor vehicle is equipped with one or more adaptation devices to adapt the intent-to-shift signal to the performance-affecting condition.
The scope of the present invention also encompasses a method of detecting a driver's intent to shift gear in a motor vehicle with one or more transmission devices and one or more shifting devices. With the inventive method, the intent to shift is detected in accordance with a set of detection characteristics, where a degree of mechanical play in the transmission device and/or the shifting device is taken into account to an at least partial extent.
Thus, the invention provides that a motor vehicle be equipped with one or more transmission devices, one or more actuating devices for the transmission device, at least one intent-to-shift detection device, as well as at least one detector system to detect conditions which may be related to vehicle components and/or to a signal indicating an intent to shift gear and/or to a signal from the shift lever, and/or to the function of the shift lever.
The motor vehicle has a drive source such as any kind of motor, e.g., an electric motor, or a combustion engine. The drive source generates a mechanical drive quantity which may be, for example, of an electrical or mechanical nature, such as a torque.
An output device of the motor vehicle serves to produce one or more output quantities, such as for example a mechanical output quantity, specifically a torque acting on the drive wheels of the motor vehicle.
The transmission device serves to convert a transmission input quantity into a transmission output quantity. For example, a torque of a transmission input shaft may be converted into a torque of a transmission output shaft. Preferably, the transmission has a neutral position, in which a torque at the input shaft does not result in a torque on the output shaft, and vice versa. With particular preference, the transmission device has different shift levels, commonly referred to as different gears, gear levels, etc. The shift levels or gear levels are distinguished in that each produces a different transmission ratio, i.e., a different ratio between the respective rpm rates of the transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft.
A particularly preferred kind of transmission is a gear-shifting transmission, where discrete gear levels are clearly defined and are shifted in stepwise sequence.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission device is configured at least in part as a step-less transmission, in which the transmission ratio has a continuous rather range of variation rather than discrete steps.
It is also preferred if the transmission is at least in part an automatic transmission or an automated gear-shifting transmission.
A vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is equipped with a torque-transmitting device such as, e.g., a clutch.
Also among preferred concepts of the invention are configurations of the torque-transmitting device with or without a power-branching arrangement.
In place of, or in addition to, a clutch, the torque transmitting device may also include a torque-converter device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the t
Küpper Klaus
Salecker Michael
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Darby & Darby
Hernandez Olga
LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
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