Systems and methods for control of transmission and/or prime mover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9878717-B2
Application number	US-201615180347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2016
Priority date	Aug 5, 2008
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

Methods of controlling a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are described. The CVT has a group of spherical power adjusters. Each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission. The CVT has a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a drive system having a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a motor;
a continuously variable transmission (CVT) coupled to the motor, the CVT having a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation; and
a processor coupled to a memory storing a data structure and a set of instructions executable by the processor to perform
receiving, from a user interface, an input associated with a desired operating mode selected from a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least one operating mode allows the vehicle to operate in an efficiency mode and at least one operating mode allows the vehicle to operate in a performance mode,
receiving an input associated with a motor speed,
receiving information associated with the CVT, and
adjusting a speed ratio of the CVT based on the operating mode and the motor speed.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions executable by the processor further comprises instructions to perform:
monitoring a sensor to determine a current draw of the motor when operating the CVT and the motor;
comparing the current draw of the motor to a desired range of current draw associated with the operating mode; and
if the current draw of the motor is outside the desired range of current draw, adjusting the current draw of the motor to change the motor speed.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein monitoring a sensor to determine a current draw of the motor comprises determining a wheel speed.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the set of instructions are executable to create a table indicative of the relationship between the current draw of the motor and wheel speed.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the set of instructions are executable to receive an input associated with a desired vehicle speed.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein receiving an input associated with a desired vehicle speed comprises reading a throttle position.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein receiving an input associated with a desired vehicle speed comprises determining a throttle position rate of change.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein receiving an input associated with a desired vehicle speed comprises determining a current draw based on the throttle position.

9. A method of operating a vehicle having a motor coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the CVT having a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tillable axis of rotation, the CVT comprising a controller coupled to a memory storing a set of instructions, the method comprising:
receiving, from a user interface, an input associated with a desired operating mode selected from a plurality of operating modes, wherein at least one operating mode allows the vehicle to operate in an efficiency mode and at least one operating mode allows the vehicle to operate in a performance mode;
receiving an input associated with a motor speed;
receiving information associated with the CVT; and
adjusting a speed ratio of the CVT based on the operating mode and the motor speed.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
monitoring a sensor to determine a current draw of the motor when operating the CVT and the motor;
comparing the current draw of the motor to a desired range of current draw associated with the operating mode; and
if the current draw of the motor is outside the desired range of current draw, adjusting the current draw of the motor to change the motor speed.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein monitoring a sensor to determine a current draw of the motor comprises determining a wheel speed.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising creating a table indicative of the relationship between the current draw of the motor and wheel speed.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving an input associated with a desired vehicle speed.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving an input associated with a desired vehicle speed comprises reading a throttle position.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein receiving an input associated with a desired vehicle speed comprises determining a throttle position rate of change.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein receiving an input associated with a desired vehicle speed comprises determining a current draw based on the throttle position.

Assignees

• Fallbrook Ip Co Llc

Inventors

• Keilers Cyril
• Rogers David Lynn
• Diehl Eric
• Orand Austin
• Bartholomew Mark Edward
• Vasiliotis Christopher M
• Mcdaniel Loren T
• Carter Jeremy

Classifications

• B60W2520/28

  Wheel speed · CPC title

• B60W2710/083

  Torque · CPC title

• Y02T10/642

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B60W10/108

  Friction gearings · CPC title

• F16H61/6648

  controlling of shifting being influenced by a signal derived from the engine and the main coupling · CPC title