Vehicle control system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016167663-A1
Application number	US-201414907311-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 24, 2014
Priority date	Jul 25, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relates to a vehicle control system ( 1 ) for controlling a vehicle transfer case ( 3 ). The transfer case ( 3 ) is operable in a high range and a low range. The vehicle control system ( 1 ) is configured to output a range change signal to implement a transfer case range change. The vehicle control system ( 1 ) also outputs a brake control signal for controlling vehicle braking during the range change. The present invention also relates to a vehicle ( 5 ) and a related method of operating a vehicle control system ( 1 ) and optionally also a transmission ( 7 ).

First claim

1 - 39 . (canceled)

40 . A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle transfer case operable in a high range and a low range; the vehicle control system comprising at least one electronic controller configured to output a range change signal to implement a transfer case range change; and a brake control signal for controlling vehicle braking during the range change.

41 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 40 , wherein the brake control signal is operative to either hold the vehicle stationary during the range change or to control vehicle speed during the range change.

42 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 40 , wherein the at least one electronic controller is configured to output a transmission control signal for controlling a vehicle transmission, and
wherein the transmission control signal comprises at least one of a neutral select request for engaging neutral in the vehicle transmission before said range change is initiated; and a gear select request for engaging a gear in the vehicle transmission after said range change has been completed.

43 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 40 , wherein the at least one electronic controller is configured to monitor one or more vehicle operating parameters and to output said range change signal in dependence on said one or more vehicle operating parameters.

44 . A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle transfer case operable in a high range and a low range, the vehicle control system comprising at least one electronic controller configured to
monitor one or more vehicle operating parameters; and output a range change signal for initiating a transfer case range change in dependence on said one or more vehicle operating parameters.

45 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprise vehicle speed and/or vehicle acceleration, and
wherein said range change signal comprises an upshift request to implement a range change from the low range to the high range when said vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predefined speed threshold; and/or vehicle acceleration is greater than or equal to a predefined acceleration threshold.

46 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 45 , wherein said control system is configured to inhibit output of said range change signal when the vehicle speed is above a predefined speed threshold.

47 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprise a torque request for determining a loading of the vehicle, and
wherein said range change signal comprises a downshift request to implement a range change from the high range to the low range when the loading of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predefined load threshold.

48 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprise a rotational speed of an input shaft for the transfer case; the at least one electronic controller being configured to inhibit the output of the range change signal when the rotational speed is above an input shaft speed threshold.

49 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprises engine speed, the at least one electronic controller being configured to output a powertrain control signal to limit or control engine speed during the range change.

50 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprises the operating range of the transfer case;
wherein, if the transfer case is operating in said low range, the at least one electronic controller is configured to output a range change signal comprising an upshift request to implement a range change from the low range to the high range; and, if the transfer case is operating in said high range, the at least one electronic controller is configured to output a range change signal comprising a downshift request to implement a range change from the high range to the low range.

51 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein the at least one electronic controller is configured to:
output a transmission control signal for inhibiting engagement of a gear during the range change; and/or output a selector control signal for locking or inhibiting a gear selector.

52 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 44 , wherein the at least one electronic controller is configured to monitor vehicle systems and to output the range change signal when the following conditions are satisfied:
a vehicle transmission is in neutral; and a vehicle speed is within a predefined range or less than a predefined threshold.

53 . A vehicle control system as claimed in claim 53 , wherein the vehicle control system is configured to output the range change signal when a rotational speed of an input shaft to the transfer case is below an input shaft speed threshold.

54 . A method of controlling a vehicle transfer case operable in a high range and a low range, the method comprising:
monitoring one or more vehicle operating parameters; and outputting a range change signal for initiating a transfer case range change in dependence on said one or more vehicle operating parameters.

55 . A method as claimed in claim 54 , wherein
said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprise vehicle speed and/or vehicle acceleration; and said range change signal comprises an upshift request to implement a range change from the low range to the high range when said vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a predefined speed threshold; and/or vehicle acceleration is greater than or equal to a predefined acceleration threshold.

56 . A method as claimed in claim 55 , wherein said method comprises inhibiting output of said range change signal when the vehicle speed is above a predefined speed threshold.

57 . A method as claimed in claim 54 , wherein
said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprises a torque request; the method includes determining a loading of the vehicle based on said torque request; and said range change signal comprises a downshift request to implement a range change from the high range to the low range when the loading of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predefined load threshold.

58 . A method as claimed in claim 54 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprises a rotational speed of an input shaft for the transfer case; the method comprising inhibiting the output of the range change signal when the rotational speed of the input shaft is above an input shaft speed threshold.

59 . A method as claimed in claim 54 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprises engine speed, the method comprising outputting a powertrain control signal to limit or control engine speed during the range change.

60 . A method as claimed in claim 54 , wherein said one or more vehicle operating parameters comprises the operating range of the transfer case;
wherein the method comprises
outputting a range change signal comprising an upshift request to implement a range change from the low range to the high range when the transfer case is operating in said low range; and
outputting a range change signal comprising a downshift request to implement a range change from the high range to the low range when the transfer case is operating in said high range.

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Sutton Simon
• Ram Malkit
• Burt Sam
• Mullane Steve

Classifications

• B60W10/18

  including control of braking systems · CPC title

• F16H61/0204

  for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signal · CPC title

• B60W10/184

  with wheel brakes · CPC title

• B60W10/111

  with separate change-speed gear trains arranged in series · CPC title

• F16H61/702

  using electric or electrohydraulic control means · CPC title