US5765117A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1995-11-07
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Granted: 1998-06-09
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Expires: 2015-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A down-shift acceleration resistance and a down-shift target acceleration are compared, and only when a deceleration intent by the driver is detected, is a down-shift to a gear ratio which is one step higher than a gear ratio which will produce deceleration in excess of that indicated necessary by the comparison, permitted. In the absence of any detected deceleration intent by the driver, a forcible downshifting is inhibited. The shifting is controlled through computation which does not rely on large amounts of prestored table data.
Inventors
- 👤 Masanobu Horiguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:31
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0204; F16H61/0213; F16H61/21; F16H59/00; F16H59/14; F16H2059/142; F16H2061/0075; F16H2061/0096; F16H2061/0234; F16H2061/0237; F16H59/36; F16H59/44; F16H59/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said method comprising: a vehicle speed detection step for detecting vehicle speed; a vehicle running resistance detection step for detecting vehicle running resistance; an engine load detection step for detecting engine load; a deceleration intention detection step for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; a vehicle acceleration estimation step for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of a speed change to a speed change step on a lower speed side of a current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; a target acceleration setting step for setting a target acceleration; an acceleration comparison step for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation step, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting step; and a speed change control step for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said method comprising: a vehicle speed detection step for detecting vehicle speed; a vehicle running resistance detection step for detecting vehicle running resistance; an engine load detection step for detecting engine load; a deceleration intention detection step for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; a vehicle acceleration estimation step for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of a speed change to a speed change step on a lower speed side of a current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; a target acceleration setting step for setting a target acceleration; an acceleration comparison step for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation step, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting step; and a speed change control step for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison step.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said method comprising: a vehicle speed detection step for detecting vehicle speed; an engine load detection step for detecting engine load; a deceleration intention detection step for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; a vehicle acceleration detection step for detecting vehicle acceleration; a target acceleration setting step for setting a target acceleration; an acceleration comparison step for comparing the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection step, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting step; and a speed change control step for controlling speed change from a current speed change step to a speed change step on the higher side, when a deceleration intention of the driver is detected by said deceleration intention detection step, and the comparison results of said second acceleration comparison step, give the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection step as less than the target acceleration.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said method comprising: a vehicle speed detection step for detecting vehicle speed; an engine load detection step for detecting engine load; a deceleration intention detection step for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; a vehicle acceleration detection step for detecting vehicle acceleration; a target acceleration setting step for setting a target acceleration; an acceleration comparison step for comparing the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection step, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting step; and a speed change control step for controlling speed change from a current speed change step to a speed change step on the higher side, when a deceleration intention of the driver is detected by said deceleration intention detection step, and the comparison results of said second acceleration comparison step, give the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection step as less than the target acceleration.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said method comprising: a vehicle speed detection step for detecting vehicle speed; a vehicle running resistance detection step for detecting vehicle running resistance; an engine load detection step for detecting engine load; a deceleration intention detection step for detecting a deceleration intention-of a driver based on the engine load; a vehicle acceleration estimation step for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of travelling in a speed change step on a high speed side of the current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; a target acceleration setting step for setting a target acceleration; an acceleration comparison step for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said second vehicle acceleration estimation step, with the target acceleration, and a speed change control step for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection step, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation step as being equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison step.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said method comprising: a vehicle speed detection step for detecting vehicle speed; a vehicle running resistance detection step for detecting vehicle running resistance; an engine load detection step for detecting engine load; a deceleration intention detection step for detecting a deceleration intention-of a driver based on the engine load; a vehicle acceleration estimation step for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of travelling in a speed change step on a high speed side of the current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; a target acceleration setting step for setting a target acceleration; an acceleration comparison step for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said second vehicle acceleration estimation step, with the target acceleration, and a speed change control step for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection step, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation step as being equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison step.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detections means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of a speed change to a speed change step on a lower speed side of a current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detections means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of a speed change to a speed change step on a lower speed side of a current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission according to claim 4, wherein said vehicle acceleration estimation means estimates a vehicle acceleration when the throttle valve is fully closed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission according to claim 4, wherein said speed change control means controls speed change by selecting a speed change step on a lower speed side of the speed change steps which give a vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means to be equal to or above the target acceleration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission according to claim 4, wherein at the time of brake operation, speed change control by said speed change control means is not carried out.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; engine load detection means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration detection means for detecting vehicle acceleration; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration and; acceleration comparison means for controlling a speed change from a current speed change step to a speed change step on a higher side of the current speed change step, when a deceleration intention of the driver is detected by said deceleration intention detection means, and the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means, give the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection means as less than the target acceleration.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; engine load detection means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration detection means for detecting vehicle acceleration; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration and; acceleration comparison means for controlling a speed change from a current speed change step to a speed change step on a higher side of the current speed change step, when a deceleration intention of the driver is detected by said deceleration intention detection means, and the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means, give the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection means as less than the target acceleration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission according to claim 8, wherein at the time of brake operation, speed change control by said speed change control means is not carried out.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detection means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of travelling in a speed change step on a high speed side of the current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration, and speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means to be equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
195 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detection means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of travelling in a speed change step on a high speed side of the current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration, and speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means to be equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission according to claim 10, wherein said vehicle acceleration estimation means estimates a vehicle acceleration when the throttle valve is fully closed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission according to claim 10, wherein said speed change control means controls speed change by selecting a speed change step on a lower speed side of the speed change steps which gives a vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means to be equal to or above the target acceleration.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission according to claim 10, wherein at the time of brake operation, speed change control by said speed change control means is not carried out.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
299 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detection means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of a speed change to a speed change step on a lower speed side of a current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means; vehicle acceleration detection means for detecting vehicle acceleration, target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and speed change control means for controlling speed change from a current speed change step to a higher speed change step, when a deceleration intention of the driver is detected by said deceleration intention detection means, and the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means, give the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection means as less than the target acceleration.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
299 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed; vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detection means for detecting engine load; deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating vehicle acceleration in the case of a speed change to a speed change step on a lower speed side of a current speed change step, based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means; vehicle acceleration detection means for detecting vehicle acceleration, target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and speed change control means for controlling speed change from a current speed change step to a higher speed change step, when a deceleration intention of the driver is detected by said deceleration intention detection means, and the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means, give the vehicle acceleration detected by said vehicle acceleration detection means as less than the target acceleration.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed, vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detection means for detecting engine load, deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating the current speed change step and vehicle acceleration in the case based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
181 words
An apparatus for controlling the speed change of a vehicle automatic transmission which is connected to an engine output shaft, said apparatus comprising: vehicle speed detection means for detecting vehicle speed, vehicle running resistance detection means for detecting vehicle running resistance; engine load detection means for detecting engine load, deceleration intention detection means for detecting a deceleration intention of a driver based on the engine load; vehicle acceleration estimation means for estimating the current speed change step and vehicle acceleration in the case based on the vehicle speed and vehicle running resistance; target acceleration setting means for setting a target acceleration; acceleration comparison means for comparing the vehicle acceleration estimated by said vehicle acceleration estimation means, with the target acceleration set by said target acceleration setting means; and speed change control means for controlling speed change by selecting, at the time of detecting a deceleration intention of the driver by said deceleration intention detection means, a speed change step to give a vehicle acceleration equal to or above the target acceleration, based on the comparison results of said acceleration comparison means.
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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) | 2001-06-08 | 2001-12-08 | 2002-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-08 | 2005-12-08 | 2006-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-08 | 2009-12-08 | 2010-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |