US5620393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Power train controller and control method
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1995-09-05
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Granted: 1997-04-15
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Expires: 2015-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A power train controller and control method are provided for a passenger car driven by a combustion engine and an automatic gear changing transmission. Control sensors detect a current operating state of the passenger car. Three different modes of operation, including sports mode, economy mode, and comfortable mode are selected by the driver. Depending on the selected mode, the automobile transmission is controlled in different shifting patterns as a function of the sensed vehicle operating conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshimichi Minowa
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Yoshida
- 👤 Junichi Ishii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; F; F02; F02D; F02D35/00; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/10; B60K28/16; B60K28/165; B60W10/10; B60W10/11; B60W10/115; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W30/1819; B60W30/182; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0204; F16H61/0213; B60W50/00; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0043; B60W2050/0057; B60W2510/00; B60W2510/06; B60W2510/0604; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/30; B60W2552/00; B60W2552/15; B60W40/00; B60W40/08; B60W40/09; F16H59/00; F16H2059/003; F16H59/02; F16H59/08; F16H2059/082; F16H2059/084; F16H2059/085; F16H59/36; F16H59/38; F16H2059/385; F16H59/50; F16H2059/506; F16H59/60; F16H59/66; F16H2059/663; F16H2061/0015; F16H2061/0075; F16H2061/0081; F16H2061/022; F16H2061/0227; F16H2300/00; F16H2300/14; F16H2302/00; F16H2302/04; F16H59/14; F16H59/16; F16H59/24; F16H59/44; F16H59/48; F16H59/58; F16H59/74; F16H61/04; F16H61/08; F16H61/14; F16H61/18; F16H61/21; F16H61/68; F16H61/684; F16H61/686; F16H63/00; F16H63/40; F16H63/50; F16H63/502; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A motor vehicle control system comprising: an automatic change speed transmission operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and a transmission control unit for automatically controlling the operation of the transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, said control unit being operable to control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of sad operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A motor vehicle control system comprising: an automatic change speed transmission operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and a transmission control unit for automatically controlling the operation of the transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, said control unit being operable to control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of sad operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least two control functions includes: a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps, and a shifting time line control function establishing the duration of transmission gear shifting steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
A motor vehicle power train system comprising: a combustion engine having a fuel and air supply system, an automatic change speed transmission drivingly connected to the engine and operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and a control unit for automatically controlling the operation of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, said control unit being operable to control at least two control functions of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
A motor vehicle power train system comprising: a combustion engine having a fuel and air supply system, an automatic change speed transmission drivingly connected to the engine and operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and a control unit for automatically controlling the operation of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, said control unit being operable to control at least two control functions of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A power train system according to claim 3, wherein said at least two control functions include: a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps, and a shifting time line control function establishing the duration of transmission gear shifting steps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A motor vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission includes the following control functions: a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps, and a shifting time line control function establishing the duration of transmission gear shifting steps, and a transmission lockup control function.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A motor vehicle control system according to claim 5, wherein said control unit is operable to control said speed change line control function and said transmission locking control function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system according to claim 1, wherein said operating mode selector accommodates vehicle operator selection of three vehicle operating modes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A control system according to claim 7, wherein said three vehicle operating modes include a sports operation mode, an economy operation mode, and a comfortable operation mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A control system according to claim 8, wherein said control unit is operable to effect different speed change line control functions establishing different times of initiation of automatic transmission gear shifting steps for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control system according to claim 9, wherein said control unit is operable to effect different shifting time line control functions establishing different durations of automatic transmission gear shifting steps for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control system according to claim 9, wherein said control unit is operable to effect different shifting time line control functions establishing different durations of automatic transmission gear shifting steps for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A control system according to claim 7, wherein said control unit includes means for automatically inhibiting operation in said sports operation mode whenever said vehicle operating condition sensors detect a vehicle operating condition which would be unsafe in said sport operation mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A control system according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors include: (i) a driven wheel velocity sensor for sensing driver wheel velocity V f , and (ii) a drive wheel velocity sensor, for sensing drive wheel velocity V r wherein said control unit includes means for computing a slip rate S equal to (v f -V r )/V f , and wherein said control unit includes means for automatically inhibiting operation in said sports operation mode whenever said slip rate S is above a predetermined value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A control system according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors include: (i) a driven wheel velocity sensor for sensing driver wheel velocity V f , (ii) a drive wheel velocity sensor, for sensing drive wheel velocity V r , (iii) an engine intake air volume sensor, (iv) a vehicle speed sensor, (v) an engine speed sensor, (vi) a turbine speed sensor for sensing speed of a turbine arranged in said drive train between a vehicle engine and the change speed transmission, (vii) a throttle angle sensor, (viii) a steering wheel angle sensor, (ix) a vehicle acceleration sensor, (x) an engine output shaft torque sensor, and (xi) an accelerator pedal angle sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control system according to claim 14, wherein said control unit includes means for controlling a speed change point solenoid, a clutch pressure solenoid, a lock-up solenoid, a fuel injection valve, and a throttle valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
A motor vehicle power train system according to claim 3, wherein said transmission includes the following control functions: a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps, and a shifting time line control function establishing the duration of transmission gear shifting steps, and a transmission lockup control function.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A motor vehicle power train system according to claim 16, wherein said control unit is operable to control said speed change line control function and said transmission locking control function.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system including: a combustion engine having a fuel and air supply system, an automatic change speed transmission drivingly connected to the engine and operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, and a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, said method comprising: vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and automatically controlling the operation of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, with control of at least two control functions of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system including: a combustion engine having a fuel and air supply system, an automatic change speed transmission drivingly connected to the engine and operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, and a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, said method comprising: vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and automatically controlling the operation of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of the respective selected operating mode and as a function of a plurality of said operating conditions sensed by said sensors, with control of at least two control functions of at least one of the engine and transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 18, wherein said at least two control functions include: a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps, and a shifting time line control function establishing the duration of transmission gear shifting steps.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 19, wherein said vehicle operating modes include a sports operation mode, an economy operation mode, and a comfortable operation mode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 20, wherein said control functions include establishing different times of initiation of automatic transmission gear shifting steps for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 20, wherein said control functions are operable to effect different shifting time line control functions establishing different durations of automatic transmission gear shifting steps for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of operating a motor vehicle power train system according to claim 21, wherein said control functions are operable to effect different shifting time line control functions establishing different durations of automatic transmission gear shifting steps for each of the sports operation mode, the economy operation mode, and the comfortable operation mode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
86 words
A motor vehicle control system comprising: an automatic change speed transmission operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and a computer control unit programmed to automatically control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
86 words
A motor vehicle control system comprising: an automatic change speed transmission operable to shift between a plurality of transmission gears, a plurality of vehicle operating condition sensors for sensing respective vehicle operating conditions, an operating mode selector for accommodating vehicle operator selection of one of a plurality of vehicle operating modes, and a computer control unit programmed to automatically control at least two control functions of said transmission as a function of said operating conditions in respective different control patterns for respective different selected operating modes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
A motor vehicle control system according to claim 24, wherein one of said at least two control functions includes: a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A motor vehicle control system according to claim 24, wherein one of said at least two control functions includes: a shifting time line control function establishing the duration of transmission gear shifting steps.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A motor vehicle control system according to claim 26, wherein a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
A motor vehicle control system according to claim 24, wherein said transmission includes the following control functions: a speed change line control function establishing the time of initiation of transmission gear shifting steps, and a shifting time line control function establishing the duration of transmission gear shifting steps, and a transmission lockup control function.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A motor vehicle control system according to claim 28, wherein said control unit is operable to control said speed change line control function and said transmission locking control function.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-14 | 2000-10-14 | 2001-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-14 | 2004-10-14 | 2005-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-14 | 2008-10-14 | 2009-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |