Start clutch control system and method

A control device for a start clutch disposed between an engine and a transmission in a vehicle, the control device comprising:

• means for detecting vehicle running conditions including a vehicle speed and an engine throttle opening;
• means for judging whether the detected vehicle speed is higher than or equal to a given vehicle speed threshold;
• means for determining a target transmission torque of the start clutch according to the detected engine throttle opening;
• first target filtering means for filtering the target transmission torque to set a first torque transmission characteristic;
• second target filtering means for filtering the target transmission torque to set a second torque transmission torque differently from the first torque transmission characteristic;
• means for switching between said first and second target filtering means so as to output the first torque transmission characteristic when the detected vehicle speed is higher than or equal to the vehicle speed threshold and to output the second torque transmission characteristic when the detected vehicle speed is lower than the vehicle speed threshold;
• phase compensating means for making a phase compensation for the outputted torque transmission characteristic;
• and
• means for controlling the start clutch according to the phase-compensated torque transmission characteristic.

A control method for a start clutch disposed between an engine and a transmission in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• detecting vehicle running conditions including a vehicle speed and an engine throttle opening;
• judging whether the detected vehicle speed is higher than or equal to a given vehicle speed threshold;
• determining a target transmission torque of the start clutch according to the detected engine throttle opening;
• filtering the target transmission torque to set different first and second torque transmission characteristics;
• outputting the first torque transmission characteristic when the detected vehicle speed is higher than or equal to the vehicle speed threshold and outputting the second torque transmission characteristic when the detected vehicle speed is lower than the vehicle speed threshold;
• making a phase compensation for the outputted torque transmission characteristic;
• and
• controlling the start clutch according to the phase-compensated torque transmission characteristic.