US5594643A — Method and system for diagnosing a drivetrain dur…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 286 words

A system for providing information relating to a drivetrain during shifting operations, the drivetrain includes an engine, a torque converter and a transmission, wherein a shifting operation is initiated by an electronic transmission control via actuation of a gear spool by a solenoid, comprising: a sensor for detecting, after initiation of the shifting operation when said gear spool is in a valid position and responsively producing a gear spool signal; means for sensing a rotational output speed of the engine and responsively producing an engine speed signal; means for sensing an output speed of the torque converter and responsively producing a torque converter speed signal; means for sensing an output speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission output speed signal; and means for receiving said engine speed signal, torque converter speed signal and transmission output speed signal, responsively determining an actuator movement time as a function of said spool gear signal, for detecting transmission breakaway as a function of said torque converter speed signal and transmission output speed signal and determining a transmission breakaway time as a function of said spool gear signal and transmission breakaway, for detecting torque converter breakaway as a function of said engine speed signal and said torque converter speed signal and determining a LUC breakaway time as a function of torque converter breakaway, for detecting transmission engagement as a function of said torque converter speed signal and transmission output speed signal and determining a transmission output fill and slip time as a function of transmission breakaway and transmission engagement, and for detecting LUC engagement as a function of said engine speed signal and determining a LUC fill and slip time as a function of LUC breakaway and LUC engagement.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 286 words

A system for providing information relating to a drivetrain during shifting operations, the drivetrain includes an engine, a torque converter and a transmission, wherein a shifting operation is initiated by an electronic transmission control via actuation of a gear spool by a solenoid, comprising: a sensor for detecting, after initiation of the shifting operation when said gear spool is in a valid position and responsively producing a gear spool signal; means for sensing a rotational output speed of the engine and responsively producing an engine speed signal; means for sensing an output speed of the torque converter and responsively producing a torque converter speed signal; means for sensing an output speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission output speed signal; and means for receiving said engine speed signal, torque converter speed signal and transmission output speed signal, responsively determining an actuator movement time as a function of said spool gear signal, for detecting transmission breakaway as a function of said torque converter speed signal and transmission output speed signal and determining a transmission breakaway time as a function of said spool gear signal and transmission breakaway, for detecting torque converter breakaway as a function of said engine speed signal and said torque converter speed signal and determining a LUC breakaway time as a function of torque converter breakaway, for detecting transmission engagement as a function of said torque converter speed signal and transmission output speed signal and determining a transmission output fill and slip time as a function of transmission breakaway and transmission engagement, and for detecting LUC engagement as a function of said engine speed signal and determining a LUC fill and slip time as a function of LUC breakaway and LUC engagement.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 51 words

A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said set of performance parameters includes an overlap phasing time and a shift phasing time, said overlap phasing time being a function of LUC breakaway and transmission engagement and said shift phasing time being a function of transmission engagement and LUC engagement.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said performance parameter signals producing means includes means for storing said performance parameter signals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

A system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said performance parameter signals producing means includes means for determining at least one trapping factor and storing said performance parameter signals as a function of said trapping factor.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 264 words

A method of providing information relating to a drivetrain during a shifting operation, the drivetrain including an engine and a transmission, wherein a shifting operation is initiated by an electronic transmission control via actuation of a gear spool by a solenoid, including: detecting, after initiation of the shifting operation, when said gear spool is in a valid position and responsively producing a gear spool signal; sensing a rotational output speed of the engine and responsively producing an engine speed signal; sensing an input speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission input speed signal; sensing an output speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission output speed signal; receiving said engine speed signal, transmission input speed signal, and transmission speed signal, responsively determining an actuator movement time as a function of said spool gear signal; detecting transmission breakaway as a function of said transmission input speed signal and transmission speed signal and determining a transmission breakaway time as a function of said spool gear signal and transmission breakaway; detecting torque converter breakaway as a function of said engine speed signal and said transmission input speed signal and determining a LUC breakaway time as a function of torque converter breakaway; for detecting transmission engagement as a function of said transmission input speed signal and transmission speed signal and determining a transmission fill and slip time as a function of transmission breakaway and transmission engagement; and detecting LUC engagement as a function of said engine speed signal and determining a LUC fill and slip time as a function of LUC breakaway and LUC engagement.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 264 words

A method of providing information relating to a drivetrain during a shifting operation, the drivetrain including an engine and a transmission, wherein a shifting operation is initiated by an electronic transmission control via actuation of a gear spool by a solenoid, including: detecting, after initiation of the shifting operation, when said gear spool is in a valid position and responsively producing a gear spool signal; sensing a rotational output speed of the engine and responsively producing an engine speed signal; sensing an input speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission input speed signal; sensing an output speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission output speed signal; receiving said engine speed signal, transmission input speed signal, and transmission speed signal, responsively determining an actuator movement time as a function of said spool gear signal; detecting transmission breakaway as a function of said transmission input speed signal and transmission speed signal and determining a transmission breakaway time as a function of said spool gear signal and transmission breakaway; detecting torque converter breakaway as a function of said engine speed signal and said transmission input speed signal and determining a LUC breakaway time as a function of torque converter breakaway; for detecting transmission engagement as a function of said transmission input speed signal and transmission speed signal and determining a transmission fill and slip time as a function of transmission breakaway and transmission engagement; and detecting LUC engagement as a function of said engine speed signal and determining a LUC fill and slip time as a function of LUC breakaway and LUC engagement.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method, as set forth in claim 5, including the step of storing said performance parameter signals.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said step of determining a transmission breakaway time includes the steps of: detecting a divergence condition of said transmission input speed signal relative to said transmission output speed signal; and, determining the time at which said divergence condition occurs.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said transmission breakaway time is a function of the time at which said divergence condition occurred and said actuator movement time.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step of detecting said divergence condition includes the step of defining a divergence area as a function of a previous gear ratio and a predetermined percentage width and wherein said divergence condition is defined as occurring when said transmission input speed signal leaves said divergence area.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step of determining a transmission fill and slip time includes the steps of: detecting a convergence condition of said transmission input speed signal relative to said transmission output speed signal; determining the time at which said convergence condition occurs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said transmission fill & slip time is a function of the time at which said convergence condition occurred and said transmission breakaway time.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said step of detecting said convergence condition includes the step of defining a convergence area as a function of a new gear ratio and a predetermined percentage width and wherein said convergence condition is defined as occurring when said transmission input speed signal enters said convergence area.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method, as set forth in claim 11, including the step of determining a transmission shift time as a function of said transmission fill & slip time.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method, as set forth in claim 10, where in the drivetrain includes a torque converter, the method including the step of detecting actuation of a lockup solenoid of the torque converter.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of determining LUC breakaway time includes the steps of: detecting a divergence condition of said engine speed signal relative to said transmission input speed signal; and determining the time at which said divergence condition occurs.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said lockup breakaway time is a function of the time at which said divergence condition occurred and actuation of said lockup solenoid.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of said divergence condition includes the step of defining a divergence area as a function of said transmission input speed signal and a predetermined speed percentage width and wherein said divergence condition is defined as occurring when said engine speed signal leaves said divergence area.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 49 words

A method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of determining a LUC fill and slip time includes the steps of: detecting a convergence condition of said engine speed signal relative to said transmission input speed signal; and determining the time at which said convergence condition occurred.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said LUC fill & slip time is a function of the time at which said convergence condition occurred and said lockup breakaway time.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 55 words

A method, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said step of detecting said convergence condition includes the step of defining a convergence area as a function of said transmission input speed signal and a predetermined percentage width and wherein said convergence condition is defined as occurring when said engine signal enters said convergence area.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method, as set forth in claim 18, including the step of determining a lockup shift time as a function of said lockup fill & slip time.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method as set forth in claim 21, including the steps of: determining a transmission event time as a function of said transmission fill & slip time.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

A method, as set forth in claim 5, including the steps of determining at least one trapping factor and storing said performance parameter signals as a function of said trapping factor.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 242 words

A method for providing information relating to a drivetrain during a shifting operation, the drivetrain including an engine, a torque converter, a transmission, and an electronic transmission control, including: beginning the shifting operation by actuating a gear spool via the electronic transmission control and a solenoid; detecting when said spool gear is in a valid position and responsively producing a spool gear signal; determining an actuator movement time as a function of said spool gear signal; sensing an input speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission input speed signal; sensing an output speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission output speed signal; detecting transmission breakaway as a function of said transmission input and output speed signals; determining a transmission breakaway time as a function of said spool gear signal and transmission breakaway; sensing a rotational output speed of the engine and responsively producing an engine speed signal; detecting torque converter breakaway as a function of said engine speed signal and said transmission input signal; determining a LUC breakaway time as a function of torque converter breakaway; detecting transmission engagement as a function of said transmission input and output speed signals; determining a transmission fill and slip time as a function of transmission breakaway and transmission engagement; detecting LUC engagement as a function of said engine speed and said transmission input speed; and, determining a LUC fill and slip time as a function of LUC breakaway and LUC engagement.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 242 words

A method for providing information relating to a drivetrain during a shifting operation, the drivetrain including an engine, a torque converter, a transmission, and an electronic transmission control, including: beginning the shifting operation by actuating a gear spool via the electronic transmission control and a solenoid; detecting when said spool gear is in a valid position and responsively producing a spool gear signal; determining an actuator movement time as a function of said spool gear signal; sensing an input speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission input speed signal; sensing an output speed of the transmission and responsively producing a transmission output speed signal; detecting transmission breakaway as a function of said transmission input and output speed signals; determining a transmission breakaway time as a function of said spool gear signal and transmission breakaway; sensing a rotational output speed of the engine and responsively producing an engine speed signal; detecting torque converter breakaway as a function of said engine speed signal and said transmission input signal; determining a LUC breakaway time as a function of torque converter breakaway; detecting transmission engagement as a function of said transmission input and output speed signals; determining a transmission fill and slip time as a function of transmission breakaway and transmission engagement; detecting LUC engagement as a function of said engine speed and said transmission input speed; and, determining a LUC fill and slip time as a function of LUC breakaway and LUC engagement.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method, as set forth in claim 24, including the step of determining an overlap phasing time as a function of LUC breakaway and transmission engagement.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

A method, as set forth in claim 24, including the step of determining a transmission/LUC shift phasing time as a function of transmission engagement and LUC engagement.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-01-14	2000-07-15	2001-01-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-01-14	2004-07-15	2005-01-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-01-14	2008-07-15	2009-01-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for diagnosing a drivetrain during shifting operations

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