# US 10,309,467 B2 · Vehicle, controller for vehicle, and control method for vehicle

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- Number: US 10,309,467 B2
- Document ID: US10309467B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/412,848
- Filed: 2017-01-23
- Published: 2017-08-03
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-02-01
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Kohei Ito
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309467B2

## CPC

- F16D 48/06: Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure
- F16H 63/46: Signals to a clutch outside the gearbox
- B60Y 2300/20: Reducing vibrations in the driveline
- F16D 2500/102: Actuator
- F16D 2500/10412: Transmission line of a vehicle
- F16D 2500/1045: Friction clutch
- F16D 2500/30421: Torque of the output shaft
- F16D 2500/3067: Speed of the engine
- F16D 2500/30814: Torque of the input shaft
- F16D 2500/30816: Speed of the input shaft
- F16D 2500/3109: Vehicle acceleration
- F16D 2500/3125: Driving resistance, i.e. external factors having an influence in the traction force, e.g. road friction, air resistance, road slope
- F16D 2500/31413: Clutch pedal position
- F16D 2500/3166: Detection of an elapsed period of time
- F16D 2500/50293: Reduction of vibrations
- F16D 2500/70408: Torque
- F16D 2500/70426: Clutch slip
- F16D 2500/7044: Output shaft torque
- F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES
- F16H: GEARING
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A clutch is controlled to increase torque capacity of the clutch when fluctuations in torsional torque generated in a power transmission route between the clutch and a drive wheel are larger than a specified value during deceleration traveling. Accordingly, engine brake whose magnitude corresponds to an increased amount of the torque capacity of the clutch is actuated. Therefore, the fluctuations in the torsional torque can be suppressed by the engine brake.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a drive wheel;
a clutch configured to connect and disconnect a power transmission route between the engine and the drive wheel;
a clutch actuator configured to switch between engagement and disengagement of the clutch;
a transmission provided in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel; and
an electronic control unit configured to:
switch an actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator;
determine whether fluctuations in torsional torque generated in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel are larger than a specified value; and
control the clutch so as to increase torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value during deceleration traveling of the vehicle, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to determine whether the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value, based on a magnitude of fluctuation width of an input rotational speed of the transmission in a specified period, and
the electronic control unit is configured to determine that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when a value of an integral of a speed difference between a speed of the engine and the input rotational speed of the transmission in the specified period is equal to or larger than a predetermined first determination value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to:
determine whether the value of the integral of the speed difference between the speed of the engine and the input rotational speed of the transmission is smaller than a predetermined second determination value that is smaller than the predetermined first determination value; and
terminate control for increasing the torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the value of the integral is smaller than the predetermined second determination value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to control the clutch actuator so as to engage the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when the clutch is disengaged during deceleration traveling of the vehicle.

### Claim 4

A vehicle comprising:
an engine;
a drive wheel;
a clutch configured to connect and disconnect a power transmission route between the engine and the drive wheel;
a clutch actuator configured to switch between engagement and disengagement of the clutch; and
an electronic control unit configured to:
switch an actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator;
determine whether fluctuations in torsional torque generated in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel are larger than a specified value; and
control the clutch so as to increase torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value during deceleration traveling of the vehicle,
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to:
compute an increased torque capacity of the clutch that is required to suppress the fluctuations in the torsional torque;
switch the actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator such that a driver requested torque capacity is obtained, the driver requested torque capacity being based on an operation of a clutch pedal by a driver of the vehicle; and
control the clutch so as to increase the torque capacity by the smaller of (1) the increased torque capacity and (2) a differential torque capacity which is a difference between a maximum torque capacity of the clutch and the driver requested torque capacity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to control the clutch actuator so as to engage the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when the clutch is disengaged during deceleration traveling of the vehicle.

### Claim 6

A controller for a vehicle, the vehicle including
an engine,
a drive wheel,
a clutch configured to connect and disconnect a power transmission route between the engine and the drive wheel,
a clutch actuator configured to switch between engagement and disengagement of the clutch, and
a transmission provided in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel,
the controller comprising
an electronic control unit configured to:
switch an actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator;
determine whether fluctuations in torsional torque generated in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel are larger than a specified value; and
control the clutch so as to increase torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value during deceleration traveling of the vehicle, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to determine whether the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value, based on a magnitude of fluctuation width of an input rotational speed of the transmission in a specified period, and
the electronic control unit is configured to determine that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when a value of an integral of a speed difference between a speed of the engine and the input rotational speed of the transmission in the specified period is equal to or larger than a predetermined first determination value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The controller according to claim 6, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to:
determine whether the value of the integral of the speed difference between the speed of the engine and the input rotational speed of the transmission is smaller than a predetermined second determination value that is smaller than the predetermined first determination value; and
terminate control for increasing the torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the value of the integral is smaller than the predetermined second determination value.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The controller according to claim 6, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to control the clutch actuator so as to engage the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when the clutch is disengaged during deceleration traveling of the vehicle.

### Claim 9

A controller for a vehicle, the vehicle including
an engine,
a drive wheel,
a clutch configured to connect and disconnect a power transmission route between the engine and the drive wheel,
a clutch actuator configured to switch between engagement and disengagement of the clutch, and
a transmission provided in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel,
the controller comprising
an electronic control unit configured to:
switch an actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator;
determine whether fluctuations in torsional torque generated in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel are larger than a specified value; and
control the clutch so as to increase torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value during deceleration traveling of the vehicle, wherein
the electronic control unit is further configured to:
compute an increased torque capacity of the clutch that is required to suppress the fluctuations in the torsional torque;
switch the actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator such that a driver requested torque capacity is obtained, the driver requested torque capacity being based on an operation of a clutch pedal by a driver of the vehicle; and
control the clutch so as to increase the torque capacity by the smaller of (1) the increased torque capacity and (2) a differential torque capacity which is a difference between a maximum torque capacity of the clutch and the driver requested torque capacity.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The controller according to claim 9, wherein
the electronic control unit is configured to control the clutch actuator so as to engage the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when the clutch is disengaged during deceleration traveling of the vehicle.

### Claim 11

A control method for a vehicle, the vehicle including
an engine,
a drive wheel,
a clutch configured to connect and disconnect a power transmission route between the engine and the drive wheel,
a clutch actuator configured to switch between engagement and disengagement of the clutch, and
an electronic control unit configured to switch an actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator,
the control method comprising:
determining, by the electronic control unit, whether fluctuations in torsional torque generated in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel are larger than a specified value; and
controlling the clutch by the electronic control unit so as to increase torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value during deceleration traveling of the vehicle, wherein
the electronic control unit determines whether the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value, based on a magnitude of fluctuation width of an input rotational speed of a transmission in a specified period, the transmission is provided in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel, and
the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when a value of an integral of a speed difference between a speed of the engine and the input rotational speed of the transmission in the specified period is equal to or larger than a predetermined first determination value.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The control method according to claim 11, wherein
the electronic control unit determines whether the value of the integral of the speed difference between the speed of the engine and the input rotational speed of the transmission is smaller than a predetermined second determination value that is smaller than the predetermined first determination value, and
control for increasing the torque capacity of the clutch is terminated by the electronic control unit when the electronic control unit determines that the value of the integral is smaller than the predetermined second determination value.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The control method according to claim 11, wherein
the clutch actuator is controlled by the electronic control unit so as to engage the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when the clutch is disengaged during deceleration traveling of the vehicle.

### Claim 14

A control method for a vehicle, the vehicle including
an engine,
a drive wheel,
a clutch configured to connect and disconnect a power transmission route between the engine and the drive wheel,
a clutch actuator configured to switch between engagement and disengagement of the clutch, and
an electronic control unit configured to switch an actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator,
the control method comprising:
determining, by the electronic control unit, whether fluctuations in torsional torque generated in the power transmission route between the clutch and the drive wheel are larger than a specified value; and
controlling the clutch by the electronic control unit so as to increase torque capacity of the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value during deceleration traveling of the vehicle, wherein
an increased torque capacity of the clutch is computed by the electronic control unit, the increased torque capacity being required to suppress the fluctuations in the torsional torque, and
the control method further comprises:
switching the actuation state of the clutch by the clutch actuator with the electronic control unit such that a driver requested torque capacity is obtained, the driver requested torque capacity being based on an operation of a clutch pedal by a driver of the vehicle; and
controlling the clutch by the electronic control unit so as to increase the torque capacity by the smaller of (1) the increased torque capacity and (2) a differential torque capacity which is a difference between a maximum torque capacity of the clutch and the driver requested torque capacity.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The control method according to claim 14, wherein
the clutch actuator is controlled by the electronic control unit so as to engage the clutch when the electronic control unit determines that the fluctuations in the torsional torque are larger than the specified value when the clutch is disengaged during deceleration traveling of the vehicle.