Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of controlling a direct-coupling mechanism of hydraulic power transmission means having an input member and an output member, of an automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle, said direct-coupling mechanism being operable to mechanically engage and disengage said input member and said output member with and from each other, wherein a transmission capacity of said direct-coupling mechanism is controlled such that the value of a predetermined parameter indicative of an amount of relative slip between said input member and said output member lies within a predetermined reference range, the method comprising the steps of: (1) detecting the value of said predetermined parameter; (2) comparing the detected value of said predetermined parameter with said predetermined reference range; (3) determining a desired value of said transmission capacity and a predetermined period of time on the basis of the result of said comparison such that as the detected value of said predetermined parameter approaches said predetermined reference range, a rate of change in said transmission capacity is decreased; and (4) controlling the transmission capacity to the determined desired value thereof for the determined predetermined period of time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of controlling a direct-coupling mechanism of hydraulic power transmission means having an input member and an output member, of an automatic transmission for an automotive vehicle, said direct-coupling mechanism being operable to mechanically engage and disengage said input member and said output member with and from each other, wherein a transmission capacity of said direct-coupling mechanism is controlled such that the value of a predetermined parameter indicative of an amount of relative slip between said input member and said output member lies within a predetermined reference range, the method comprising the steps of: (1) detecting the value of said predetermined parameter; (2) comparing the detected value of said predetermined parameter with said predetermined reference range; (3) determining a desired value of said transmission capacity and a predetermined period of time on the basis of the result of said comparison such that as the detected value of said predetermined parameter approaches said predetermined reference range, a rate of change in said transmission capacity is decreased; and (4) controlling the transmission capacity to the determined desired value thereof for the determined predetermined period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determined desired value of the transmission capacity is maintained so long as the detected value of said predetermined parameter lies within said predetermined reference range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including providing at least first and second transmission capacity increasing regions corresponding to larger values of said amount of relative slip than said predetermined reference range, wherein the difference between the value of said predetermined parameter falling within said first transmission capacity increasing region and said predetermined reference range is smaller than the difference between the value of said predetermined parameter falling within said second transmission capacity increasing region and said predetermined reference range, and setting a rate of increase of the transmission capacity in said first transmission capacity increasing region to a value smaller than that in said second transmission capacity increasing region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said predetermined period of time in said first transmission capacity increasing region is set to a value larger than that in said second transmission capacity increasing region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said transmission capacity is increased in said first transmission capacity increasing region by an increment smaller than in said second transmission capacity increasing region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including providing a fine-control region adjacent at least one of extreme limits of said predetermined reference range, wherein the transmission capacity is finely controlled toward said predetermined reference range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including providing a fine-control region adjacent one of extreme limits of said predetermined reference range, wherein the transmission capacity is finely controlled so as to decrease toward said predetermined reference range.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the value of said predetermined parameter enters said fine-control region from said predetermined reference range and then returns to the latter, the determined desired value of the transmission capacity immediately after the value of the predetermined parameter returns to said predetermined reference range is set to a value smaller than that immediately before the predetermined parameter value enters said fine-control region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the predetermined parameter value returns to said predetermined reference range the desired value of the transmission capacity in said predetermined reference range is determined in dependence on a manner of change of the predetermined parameter value occurring in said fine-control region immediately before the predetermined parameter value returns to said predetermined reference range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein when the predetermined parameter value returns to said predetermined reference range the desired value of the transmission capacity in said predetermined reference range is set to a value corresponding to a period of time for which the predetermined parameter value has stayed in said fine-control region immediately before the predetermined parameter value returns to said predetermined reference range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the predetermined parameter value enters said fine-control region from said predetermined reference range before the predetermined period of time determined in said predetermined reference range elapses, the predetermined period of time and the desired value of the transmission capacity are set to respective new values immediately upon the entrance of the predetermined parameter value to the fine-control region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the predetermined parameter value returns to said predetermined reference range from said fine control region before the predetermined period of time set to said new value, the predetermined period of time and the desired value of the transmission capacity are set to respective new values immediately upon the return of the predetermined parameter value to the predetermined reference range.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 1-12 wherein the predetermined parameter is the ratio in rotational speed between said input member and said output member of said hydraulic power transmission means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 1-12 wherein the predetermined parameter is the difference in rotational speed between said input member and said output member of said hydraulic power transmission means.