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US4679145A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for controlling a clutch-transmission unit

Assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
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Filing: 1984-11-19
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Granted: 1987-07-07
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Expires: 2004-11-19
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling a clutch-transmission unit which makes it possible to intentionally influence the selection of the shifting steps by a parameter which is gained from the detected and stored values of the drive pedal position. Together with further parameters such as transverse acceleration, deceleration and coasting operation, the transmission control is matched optimally to the driving style of the respective driver and to the traffic situation which prevails at that moment.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter op de Beeck
  • 👤 Rainer Wust
  • 👤 Norbert Stelter

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 21:52
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0204; F16H61/0213; B; B60; B60W; B60W2520/00; B60W2520/12; B60W2520/125; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/10; B60W2554/00; F02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F16H59/00; F16H2059/003; F16H59/02; F16H59/08; F16H2059/082; F16H2059/086; F16H59/14; F16H59/18; F16H2059/183; F16H2061/0012; F16H2061/0015; F16H59/48; F16H59/50; F16H59/54

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for controlling a clutch transmission unit of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is adapted to be influenced by an output control device including a drive pedal, and in which the gears of the transmission unit are automatically shifted at least dependent on the position of the drive pedal and the engine rotational speed, comprising the steps of detecting a drive pedal signal proportional to the position of the drive pedal, continuously scanning and storing values of the detected drive pedal signal at scanning intervals, calculating from the stored drive pedal signal values a drive pedal activity as a weighted sum of the stored drive pedal signal values, and changing limit values for shifting decisions as a function of said driven pedal activity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for controlling a clutch transmission unit of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is adapted to be influenced by an output control device including a drive pedal, and in which the gears of the transmission unit are automatically shifted at least dependent on the position of the drive pedal and the engine rotational speed, comprising the steps of detecting a drive pedal signal proportional to the position of the drive pedal, continuously scanning and storing values of the detected drive pedal signal at scanning intervals, calculating from the stored drive pedal signal values a drive pedal activity as a weighted sum of the stored drive pedal signal values, and changing limit values for shifting decisions as a function of said driven pedal activity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the drive pedal signal is scanned cyclically.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the drive pedal signal is scanned anticyclically.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of making the shifting decisions by one of comparison and logic linking of the limit values with signals obtained by measurements as well as with values calculated from the transmission output rotational speed and the engaged speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said signals obtained by measurements are at least one of transverse acceleration, deceleration, braking operation, coasting operation and transmission output rotational speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method according to claim 5, wherein said calculated values include at least one of transmission input rotational speed, transmission input rotational speed in the next higher gear and transmission input rotational speed in the next lower gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 130 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the limit values for the shifting decisions which are changed by the drive pedal activity include the values of shifting limit for shifting-up, shifting limit for shifting-down, width of the shifting line optimized for consumption which is expanded for the shifting quieting into a shifting hysteresis forming a shifting hysteresis width, minimum rotational speed in the engaged gear, maximum rotational speed in the engaged gear, minimum rotational speed in the next higher gear, maximum rotational speed in the next lower gear, maximum transverse acceleration which still permits a shifting-up, minimum deceleration above which a shifting-back takes place during the braking, maximum possible rotational speed in the next lower gear which still permits a shifting-down during braking, and waiting period until shifting-up takes place.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 111 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein with increasing drive pedal activity the limit values of shifting limit for shifting-up, minimum rotational speed in the engaged gear, maximum rotational speed in the engaged gear, minimum rotational speed in the next higher gear, maximum rotational speed in the next lower gear, maximum possible rotational speed in the next lower gear at which during braking a shifting-down is still permitted, and waiting period until shifting-up takes place, are increased, and the limit values shifting limit for shifting-down, shifting hysteresis width, maximum transverse acceleration which still permits a shifting-up, and minimum deceleration above which a shifting-down still takes place during the braking are reduced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the drive pedal activity is reset to a base value in dependence on a reset signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the base value is the starting value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the base value corresponds to the value of the drive pedal activity with a drive pedal that has not been actuated over predetermined scanning intervals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the reset signal is obtained from at least one signal obtained by at least one of measurement and calculation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 54 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein the reset signal is obtained by measurement and calculation from at least one of transverse acceleration, deceleration, braking operation, coasting operation, transmission input rotational speed, transmission input rotational speed in the next higher gear, transmission input rotational speed in the next lower gear, and the engaged speed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the reset signal is obtained by logic linking.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the reset signal is obtained by direct logic linking.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the reset signal is obtained by indirect logic linking.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the reset signal is obtained by a comparison of the signals with defined limit values.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the drive pedal activity is reset to a base value in dependence on a reset signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the base value is the starting value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the base value corresponds to the value of the drive pedal activity with a drive pedal that has not been actuated over predetermined scanning intervals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the reset signal is obtained from at least one signal obtained by at least one of measurement and calculation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 54 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein the reset signal is obtained by measurement and calculation from at least one of transverse acceleration, deceleration, braking operation, coasting operation, transmission input rotational speed, transmission input rotational speed in the next higher gear, transmission input rotational speed in the next lower gear, and the engaged speed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the reset signal is obtained by logic linking.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein the reset signal is obtained by a comparison of the signals with defined limit values.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 110 words
An apparatus for the control of a clutch transmission unit of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is adapted to be influenced by a drive pedal, comprising: drive pedal computer means operable to scan drive pedal signal values, to continuously update the drive pedal signal values scanned over scanning intervals and stored in a first memory means, and to calculate from said drive pedal values the drive pedal activity as a weighted sum of the stored drive pedal signal values, and first characteristic curve converter means, for changing the limit values of shifting decisions as a function of the drive pedal activity.
Claim 27
Independent Claim 110 words
An apparatus for the control of a clutch transmission unit of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is adapted to be influenced by a drive pedal, comprising: drive pedal computer means operable to scan drive pedal signal values, to continuously update the drive pedal signal values scanned over scanning intervals and stored in a first memory means, and to calculate from said drive pedal values the drive pedal activity as a weighted sum of the stored drive pedal signal values, and first characteristic curve converter means, for changing the limit values of shifting decisions as a function of the drive pedal activity.
Claim 28
Independent Claim 256 words
An apparatus for the control of a clutch transmission unit of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is adapted to be influenced by a drive pedal, comprising drive pedal computer means operable to scan drive pedal signal values, to continuously update the drive pedal signal values scanned over scanning intervals and stored in a first memory means, and to calculate from said drive pedal values the drive pedal activity, first characteristic curve converter means for changing the limit values of shifting decisions as a function of the drive pedal activity, sensor means for detecting signals indicative of at least several of transverse acceleration, braking operation, coasting operation, vehicle velocity from which a deceleration signal is obtained by means of a differentiator, transmission output rotational speed and the engaged gear, transmission translator means for deriving, from the transmission output rotational speed and the engaged gear, the signals of transmission input rotational speed, transmission input rotational speed in the next higher gear and transmission input speed in the next lower gear, second characteristic curve converter means for producing a desired output value signal determined from the drive pedal position, program control means for controlling a clutch transmission unit, means for processing said detected and calculated signals and applying the processed signals to said program control means, and means for determining the waiting period for a shifting-up operation which is determined by a third characteristic curve converter means from the drive pedal activity and is applied to the program control means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 256 words
An apparatus for the control of a clutch transmission unit of a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, in which the internal combustion engine is adapted to be influenced by a drive pedal, comprising drive pedal computer means operable to scan drive pedal signal values, to continuously update the drive pedal signal values scanned over scanning intervals and stored in a first memory means, and to calculate from said drive pedal values the drive pedal activity, first characteristic curve converter means for changing the limit values of shifting decisions as a function of the drive pedal activity, sensor means for detecting signals indicative of at least several of transverse acceleration, braking operation, coasting operation, vehicle velocity from which a deceleration signal is obtained by means of a differentiator, transmission output rotational speed and the engaged gear, transmission translator means for deriving, from the transmission output rotational speed and the engaged gear, the signals of transmission input rotational speed, transmission input rotational speed in the next higher gear and transmission input speed in the next lower gear, second characteristic curve converter means for producing a desired output value signal determined from the drive pedal position, program control means for controlling a clutch transmission unit, means for processing said detected and calculated signals and applying the processed signals to said program control means, and means for determining the waiting period for a shifting-up operation which is determined by a third characteristic curve converter means from the drive pedal activity and is applied to the program control means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the signals are processed by comparison with limit values in comparator means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the signals are processed into shifting signals by logic circuit means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 30 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the shifting signals applied to the program control means are subjected to a priority control means which is constructed as logic circuit means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the priority control means is a component of the program control means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 78 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein at least some of the signals of transverse acceleration, braking operation, coasting operation, velocity, deceleration, transmission input rotational speed, transmission input rotational speed in the next higher gear, transmission input rotational speed in the next lower gear and engaged gear are compared by comparator means with defined limit values, and means for resetting the drive pedal activity as a function thereof to a base value within the drive pedal computer means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 12 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said base value is zero.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 77 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the signals transverse acceleration, braking operation, coasting operation, velocity, deceleration, transmission input rotational speed, transmission input rotational speed in the next higher gear, transmission input rotational speed in the next lower gear and engaged speed are processed in logic circuit means into a reset signal, and means for resetting the drive pedal activity to a base value as a function of said processed signal within the drive pedal computer means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the logic comparisons take place at least partially in the drive pedal computer means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the logic comparisons take place entirely in the drive pedal computer means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the signals are detected and processed directly by the drive pedal computer means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 25 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a digital computer means assuming the task of calculating and comparison circuits as well as program control.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the characteristic curve converter means are constructed as read only memories, in which the characteristic curves are stored quasi-continuously.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 23 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the characteristic curves reproduced by the characteristic curve converter means are each different dependent on gear.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the characteristic curves of the characteristic curve converter means for the individual gears are obtained from one another by additive multiples.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4353272A Cited
US4463427A Cited
US4408293A Cited
US4490790A Cited
US4523281A Cited
US4551802A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-07-06 1991-01-05 1991-07-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-07-06 1995-01-05 1995-07-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-07-06 1999-01-05 1999-07-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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