Actuation of a clutch of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018347646-A1
Application number	US-201815995228-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2018
Priority date	Jun 1, 2017
Publication date	Dec 6, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A control device and method are configured to actuate a clutch between a drive unit and at least one driven wheel of a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car. The control device at least partially engages the clutch differently in dependence on a distance of the motor vehicle from an environment and/or a change of this distance.

First claim

1 - 12 . (canceled)

13 . A method for actuating a clutch operatively arranged between a drive unit and at least one driven wheel of a motor vehicle comprising:
determining a distance parameter for the motor vehicle, wherein the distance parameter is selected from a group of parameters consisting of a distance between the motor vehicle and an object in an environment of the motor vehicle, a change in the distance, a first time derivative of the change in the distance, a second time derivative of the change in the distance or a combination thereof; and at least partially engaging the clutch with a control device according to a clutch torque curve as a function of the distance parameter.

14 . The method according to claim 13 further comprising assigning the clutch torque curve at least one predefined characteristic with which the control device at least partially engages the clutch, wherein the at least one predefined characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a degree of clutch engagement, a time of clutch engagement, a torque gradient or a combination thereof.

15 . The method according to claim 13 further comprising:
at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device according to a first characteristic when the distance parameter has a first value; and
at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device according to a second clutch torque curve when the distance parameter has a second value, wherein the second clutch torque curve and the second value are different from the first clutch torque curve and the first value respectively.

16 . The method according to claim 16 further comprising assigning each of the first and second clutch torque curves at least one predefined characteristic with which the control device at least partially engages the clutch, wherein the at least one predefined characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a degree of clutch engagement, a time of clutch engagement, a torque gradient or a combination thereof.

17 . The method according to claim 13 further comprising:
determining an actuation parameter for an actuator of the motor vehicle;
at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device as a function of the distance parameter and the actuation parameter.

18 . The method according to claim 13 further comprising:
determining an operating mode of the vehicle; and
at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device as a function of the distance parameter and the operating mode.

19 . The method according to claim 20 , wherein the operating mode is selected from the group consisting of a driving start mode or a parking mode.

20 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein determining the distance parameter for the motor vehicle comprises:
sensing a distance between the motor vehicle and an object in an environment around the motor vehicle with a sensor arrangement; and computing the distance parameter from the sensed distance.

21 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the sensor arrangement is selected from the group consisting of a driver assistance sensor, a parking sensor, a camera, a radar sensor, a front sensor, a rear sensor or a combination thereof.

22 . A control device comprising an actuator and a controller actuating a clutch to selectively couple a drive unit and a driven wheel, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a distance parameter for the motor vehicle, wherein the distance parameter is selected from a group of parameters consisting of a distance between the motor vehicle and an object in an environment of the motor vehicle, a change in the distance, a first time derivative of the change in the distance, a second time derivative of the change in the distance or a combination thereof; determine a clutch torque curve as a function of the distance parameter; and control the actuator for at least partially engaging the clutch according to the clutch torque curve.

23 . The control device according to claim 24 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
control the actuator for at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device according to a first characteristic when the distance parameter has a first value; and control the actuator for at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device according to a second clutch torque curve when the distance parameter has a second value, wherein the second clutch torque curve and the second value are different from the first clutch torque curve and the first value respectively.

24 . The control device according to claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to assigning each of the first and second clutch torque curves at least one predefined characteristic with which the control device at least partially engages the clutch, wherein the at least one predefined characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a degree of clutch engagement, a time of clutch engagement, a torque gradient or a combination thereof.

25 . The control device according to claim 24 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine an actuation parameter for an actuator of the motor vehicle; control the actuator for at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device as a function of the distance parameter and the actuation parameter.

26 . The control device according to claim 24 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine an operating mode of the vehicle; and control the actuator for at least partially engaging the clutch with the control device as a function of the distance parameter and the operating mode.

27 . The control device according to claim 24 , wherein the operating mode is selected from the group consisting of a driving start mode or a parking mode.

28 . The control device according to claim 24 , wherein the controller is further configured to compute the distance parameter from a sensed distance between the motor vehicle and an object in an environment around the motor vehicle.

29 . A motor vehicle comprising:
a drive unit; at least one driven wheel; a clutch selectively coupling the drive unit and the driven wheel; and a control device including an actuator and a controller actuating the clutch to selectively couple the drive unit and the driven wheel, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a distance parameter for the motor vehicle, wherein the distance parameter is selected from a group of parameters consisting of a distance between the motor vehicle and an object in an environment of the motor vehicle, a change in the distance, a first time derivative of the change in the distance, a second time derivative of the change in the distance or a combination thereof;
determine a clutch torque curve as a function of the distance parameter; and
control the actuator for at least partially engaging the clutch according to the clutch torque curve.

30 . The motor vehicle according to claim 29 , wherein the clutch is arranged between the drive unit and a shift gearbox operative coupled to the at least one driven wheel.

31 . The motor vehicle according to claim 29 , wherein the shift gearbox is selected from the group consisting of an at least partially automatic shift gearbox, an at least partially or manual shift gearbox, a dual-clutch gearbox, or an electrically-actuated shift gearbox.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Dietsch Florian

Classifications

• B60W10/02 Primary

  including control of driveline clutches · CPC title

• F16D48/064 Primary

  Control of electrically or electromagnetically actuated clutches (F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60W40/105

  Speed · CPC title

• F16D27/00

  Magnetically- {or electrically-} actuated clutches; Control or electric circuits therefor (clutches with magnetisable particles F16D37/02; {with electro-rheological fluids F16D37/008}) · CPC title

• F16D2500/30421

  Torque of the output shaft · CPC title