Methods and systems of actuating a clutch of a manual transmission during autonomous braking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10427675-B2
Application number	US-201715623673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2017
Priority date	Jun 15, 2017
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for actuating a clutch of a manual transmission of a vehicle comprising. An automatic emergency braking (AEB) system is configured to automatically initiate an AEB event and a brake controller is configured to automatically actuate a braking system of the vehicle. A powertrain controller in is configured to monitor vehicle parameters and determine when an engine of the vehicle is nearing stall. A clutch control module is configured to actuate a clutch hydraulic master cylinder and actuate the clutch. A vehicle sensor network is configured to detect objects surrounding the vehicle. The AEB system is configured to initiate the AEB event based on detected objects surrounding the vehicle and, when the AEB event is initiated, instruct the brake controller to automatically actuate the braking system and instruct the clutch control module to actuate the clutch when the vehicle is nearing stall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for actuating a clutch of a manual transmission of a vehicle comprising:
a vehicle sensor network configured to detect objects surrounding the vehicle and generate sensor data;
an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system configured to automatically initiate an AEB event based on the sensor data;
a clutch hydraulic line fluidly coupling a hydraulic braking system with a clutch hydraulic master cylinder and configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the clutch hydraulic master cylinder;
a brake controller in communication with the AEB system, the brake controller configured to automatically actuate a braking system of the vehicle when the AEB event is initiated, the brake controller further configured to control fluid flow and pressure from the braking system to the clutch hydraulic master cylinder when the AEB event is initiated,
a clutch control module in communication with the AEB system, the clutch control module configured to
determine that an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system has initiated an AEB event;
automatically actuate the clutch to disengage the engine from the manual transmission;
continue to actuate the clutch for the duration of the AEB event; and
release the clutch when the AEB event has completed.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a powertrain controller in communication with the AEB system, the powertrain controller configured to monitor vehicle parameters and determine when an engine of the vehicle is nearing stall and communicate the determination to the
wherein the clutch control module is further configured to instruct the clutch control module to actuate the clutch when the vehicle is nearing stall.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a clutch pedal,
wherein the clutch control module is further configured to automatically release the clutch when the clutch pedal of the vehicle is depressed.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the clutch control module is further configured to transition the clutch from an actuated state to a released state based on a predetermined period of time starting from when the AEB system has initiated the AEB event.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the clutch control module is further configured to transition the clutch from the actuated state to the released state based on vehicle parameters from a powertrain controller.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle parameters include vehicle speed and engine speed.

7. They system of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle parameters include transmission gear.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the clutch control module is further configured to transition the clutch from the actuated state to the released state based on a predetermined period of time starting from when the AEB event is over.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the clutch control module is integrated within the brake controller.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Carpenter Michael G
• Zagorski Chad T

Classifications

• B60W2555/00

  Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00 · CPC title

• B60W2510/0638

  Engine speed · CPC title

• B60W30/09 Primary

  Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering · CPC title

• B60W10/18

  including control of braking systems · CPC title

• B60W10/02 Primary

  including control of driveline clutches · CPC title