Control system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018229727-A1
Application number	US-201515507557-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 26, 2015
Priority date	Sep 1, 2014
Publication date	Aug 16, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A speed control system for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle. The system operates according to a method that includes: causing automatically a vehicle to travel at a predetermined speed value at least in part by controlling an amount of torque applied to one or more wheels of a vehicle; determining a recommended transmission gear ratio for a transmission of the powertrain at a given moment in time; providing an indication of the recommended transmission gear ratio to a user; and receiving a clutch actuation signal indicative of an actuation state of a clutch that is configured to connect the transmission to a torque drive source. The system is configured automatically to control a speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed determined in dependence at least in part on at least one predetermined parameter when a predetermined one or more conditions are met,

First claim

1 . A speed control system for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle in accordance with a target speed value, the system comprising:
means for causing automatically a vehicle to travel at a predetermined speed value at least in part by controlling an amount of torque applied to one or more wheels of a vehicle by a powertrain; means for determining a recommended transmission gear ratio for a transmission of the powertrain at a given moment in time; means for providing an indication of the recommended transmission gear ratio to a user; and means for receiving a clutch actuation signal indicative of an actuation state of clutch means that is configured to connect the transmission to a torque drive source of the powertrain, wherein the system is configured automatically to control a speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed determined in dependence at least in part on at least one predetermined parameter when a predetermined one or more conditions are met, the predetermined one or more conditions including the condition that the clutch actuation signal indicates that the actuation state of the clutch means is such that the torque drive source is at least partially disconnected from the transmission.

2 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined parameter includes a parameter indicative of a speed of a predetermined portion of the powertrain corresponding to or substantially equal to a speed of an output portion of the clutch means, the system being configured to control the speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed at which a speed of an input portion of the clutch means is substantially equal to that of an output portion of the clutch means.

3 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the clutch actuation signal indicative of the actuation state of the clutch means comprises a signal indicative of a position of a user actuated clutch means control or an amount of pressure applied to a user actuated clutch means control by a user.

4 . A system according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined one or more conditions include the condition that the clutch actuation signal indicates that the clutch means control is being or has been actuated so as to begin to cause the clutch means to transition from a state in which the torque drive source is at least partially disconnected from the transmission towards a state in which the torque drive source is substantially fully connected to the transmission.

5 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined parameter includes a signal indicative of a currently selected transmission gear ratio, the system being configured to control the speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed at which a speed of an input portion of the clutch means will be substantially equal to that of an output portion of the clutch means with the currently selected transmission gear ratio.

6 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined parameter includes a signal indicative of the recommended transmission gear ratio, the system being configured to control the speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed at which a speed of an input portion of the clutch means would be substantially equal to that of an output portion of the clutch means with the recommended transmission gear ratio selected.

7 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined condition that the clutch actuation signal indicates that the actuation state of the clutch means is such that the torque drive source is at least partially disconnected from the transmission comprises the condition that the clutch actuation signal indicates that the actuation state of the clutch means is such that the torque drive source is substantially fully disconnected from the transmission.

8 . A system according to claim 1 configured temporarily to suspend application of powertrain torque to cause the vehicle to travel at the predetermined speed value in dependence on the clutch actuation signal.

9 . A system according to claim 8 configured temporarily to suspend application of powertrain torque to cause the vehicle to travel at the predetermined speed value in dependence on the clutch actuation signal, the system being configured to attempt to cause the vehicle to travel at the predetermined speed value by causing application of brake torque by means of a braking system when the clutch actuation signal indicates the torque drive source and transmission have been at least partially disconnected from one another.

10 . A system according to claim 8 configured to recommence causing the vehicle to travel at the predetermined speed value at least in part by application of powertrain torque in dependence on the clutch actuation signal.

11 . A system according to claim 10 configured to recommence causing the vehicle to travel at the predetermined speed value at least in part by application of powertrain torque when the clutch actuation signal indicates that the torque drive source has been substantially fully reconnected to the transmission by the clutch means.

12 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the means for causing automatically a vehicle to travel at a predetermined speed value and the means for determining a recommended transmission gear ratio for a transmission comprise an electric controller, the electric controller being configured to output a signal to cause a powertrain to apply a required amount of powertrain torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle.

13 . A system according to claim 12 wherein the electric controller is configured to determine the required amount of powertrain torque in dependence at least in part upon a difference between the instant speed of the vehicle and the required speed value.

14 . A system according to claim 1 wherein the means for providing an indication of the recommended transmission gear ratio to a user comprises means for providing a visual and/or audible indication whether an increase or decrease in transmission gear ratio is required.

15 . A method of controlling automatically a speed of a vehicle in accordance with a target speed value, the method comprising:
causing automatically a vehicle to travel at a predetermined speed value at least in part by controlling an amount of torque applied to one or more wheels of a vehicle by a powertrain; determining a recommended transmission gear ratio for a transmission of the powertrain at a given moment in time; providing an indication of the recommended transmission gear ratio to a user, and receiving a clutch actuation signal indicative of an actuation state of clutch means configured to connect the transmission to a torque drive source of the powertrain, the method comprising automatically controlling a speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed determined in dependence at least in part on a predetermined parameter when a predetermined one or more conditions are met, the predetermined one or more conditions including the condition that the clutch actuation signal indicates that the actuation state of the clutch means is such that the torque drive source is at least partially disconnected from the transmission.

16 . A method according to claim 15 whereby the predetermined parameter includes a parameter indicative of a speed of a predetermined portion of the powertrain corresponding to or substantially equal to a speed of an output portion of the clutch means, the method comprising controlling the speed of the torque drive source to achieve a speed at which a speed of an input portion of the clutch means is su

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Kelly James
• Fairgrieve Andrew

Classifications

• B60W2552/05

  Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads · CPC title

• B60W2510/0638

  Engine speed · CPC title

• F16H61/0403

  Synchronisation before shifting · CPC title

• B60W30/19

  Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift · CPC title

• B60W2540/14

  Clutch pedal position · CPC title