Method and apparatus for controlling reduction ratio of continuously variable transmission with acceleration compensation

Claim 1

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal attains a predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal; and controlling the reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met in such a manner that said actual acceleration indicative signal is adjusted to said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 2

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal attains a predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal; and controlling the reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met in such a manner that said actual acceleration indicative signal is adjusted to said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 3

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal attains a predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of determining, responsive at least to said vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio and a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first derived reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of determining, at least responsive to said vehicle speed indicative signal, a second desired reduction ratio and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said second desired reduction ratio; and repeating said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to attain said predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 4

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal attains a predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of determining, responsive at least to said vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio and a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first derived reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of determining, at least responsive to said vehicle speed indicative signal, a second desired reduction ratio and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said second desired reduction ratio; and repeating said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to attain said predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 7

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal attains a predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal; determining, responsive at least to said vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio; executing a first routine which includes a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting said first desired reduction ratio to give a second desired reduction ratio and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said second desired reduction ratio; and repeating said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to attain said predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 8

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal attains a predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal; determining, responsive at least to said vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio; executing a first routine which includes a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting said first desired reduction ratio to give a second desired reduction ratio and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said second desired reduction ratio; and repeating said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to attain said predetermined relationship with said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 14

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a member that is operable in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the degree in which the member is operated and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; preparing data regarding acceleration values, said data corresponding to combinations of a degree in which the member is operated and a vehicle speed; retrieving said data using said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal to give, as a reference acceleration, an acceleration value for said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration given; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal is less than said reference acceleration indicative signal; determining, responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting said first desired reduction ratio indicative signal to give a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, said first desired reduction ratio determining step, said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be less than said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 15

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a member that is operable in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting the degree in which the member is operated and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; preparing data regarding acceleration values, said data corresponding to combinations of a degree in which the member is operated and a vehicle speed; retrieving said data using said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal to give, as a reference acceleration, an acceleration value for said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration given; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal is less than said reference acceleration indicative signal; determining, responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting said first desired reduction ratio indicative signal to give a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, said first desired reduction ratio determining step, said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be less than said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 18

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a member that is operable in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting degree in which the member is operated and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; preparing data regarding acceleration values, said acceleration data corresponding to combinations of a degree in which the member is operated and a vehicle speed; retrieving said data using said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal to give, as a reference acceleration, an acceleration value for said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration given; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal indicative of an event that said actual acceleration indicative signal is less than said reference acceleration indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of determining responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal and a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting one of said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal to give a corrected signal, a step of determining responsive to said corrected signal and the other one of said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal which has not been subject to the correction to give a second desired reduction ratio and generating a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal indicative of said second desired reduction ratio, and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio indicated by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be less than said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 19

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a member that is operable in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting degree in which the member is operated and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration determined; preparing data regarding acceleration values, said acceleration data corresponding to combinations of a degree in which the member is operated and a vehicle speed; retrieving said data using said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal to give, as a reference acceleration, an acceleration value for said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration given; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal indicative of an event that said actual acceleration indicative signal is less than said reference acceleration indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of determining responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal and a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting one of said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal to give a corrected signal, a step of determining responsive to said corrected signal and the other one of said load indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal which has not been subject to the correction to give a second desired reduction ratio and generating a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal indicative of said second desired reduction ratio, and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio indicated by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be less than said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 22

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a throttle that opens in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting degree in which the throttle is opened and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration calculated; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal is greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal; determining, responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting said first desired reduction ratio indicative signal to give a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio indicated by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, said first desired reduction ratio determining step, and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 23

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a throttle that opens in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting degree in which the throttle is opened and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration calculated; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal is greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal; determining, responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal, a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of correcting said first desired reduction ratio indicative signal to give a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio indicated by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, said first desired reduction ratio determining step, and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 24

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a member that is operable in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting degree in which the member is operated and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration calculated; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal is greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of determining responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal, a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of detecting an engine revolution speed of the internal combustion engine and generating an engine revolution speed indicative signal indicative of the engine revolution speed detected, a step of determining a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal using said engine revolution speed indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal, and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio indicated by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal.

Claim 25

A method for controlling a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission operatively coupled with the engine, the internal combustion engine having a member that is operable in degrees to control load applied to the internal combustion engine, said method comprising the steps of: detecting degree in which the member is operated and generating a load indicative signal indicative of the degree detected; detecting vehicle speed of the motor vehicle at predetermined intervals of time and generating a vehicle speed indicative signal indicative of the vehicle speed detected; determining an actual acceleration based on said vehicle speed indicative signal and generating an actual acceleration indicative signal indicative of the actual acceleration calculated; determining a reference acceleration and generating a reference acceleration indicative signal indicative of the reference acceleration determined; comparing said actual acceleration indicative signal with said reference acceleration indicative signal and generating a comparison result indicative signal when said actual acceleration indicative signal is greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal; executing a first routine which includes a step of determining responsive to said load indicative signal and vehicle speed indicative signal a first desired reduction ratio and generating a first desired reduction ratio indicative signal, a step of adjusting an actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward said first desired reduction ratio; switching from said first routine executing step after said comparison result indicative signal has been generated after a predetermined condition has been met to executing a second routine which includes a step of detecting an engine revolution speed of the internal combustion engine and generating an engine revolution speed indicative signal indicative of the engine revolution speed detected, a step of determining a second desired reduction ratio indicative signal using said engine revolution speed indicative signal and said vehicle speed indicative signal, and a step of adjusting the actual reduction ratio of the continuously variable transmission toward a reduction ratio indicated by said second desired reduction ratio indicative signal; and repeating said degree detecting step, said vehicle speed detecting step, said actual acceleration determining step, said reference acceleration determining step, said comparing step, and said second routine executing step as long as said comparison result indicative signal is generated and said predetermined condition is met until said actual acceleration indicative signal fails to be greater than said reference acceleration indicative signal.