US 5,716,301 A · System for determining a gear ratio change for an automatic transmission

Abstract

The invention is based on an adaptive transmission control wherein changes in the gear ratio of the automatic transmission are determined in dependence upon the detected position of the accelerator pedal actuated by the driver or variables associated therewith and in dependence upon the vehicle straight-line speed and/or the output rpm of the transmission and/or the motor rpm or variables associated therewith. Also, an adaptive variable is determined which adapts the changes of the transmission gear ratio at least to the driving situation then present. The essence of the invention is that the path data of a navigation system is used to determine the above-mentioned adaptation variable. The navigation system is a known map-supported navigation system. In this way, it is advantageously possible to precisely detect the present as well as future driving and environmental situations to which the vehicle is just then subjected or will be subjected in the near future. Accordingly, a very precise estimate of the then existing driving or environmental situation is obtained to which the vehicle is just then subjected or will be subjected in the near future. Shifting strategy can be adapted to these present and future driving situations.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A system for controlling gear ratio changes in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle equipped with an accelerator pedal, the system comprising:

map-supported navigation means for detecting path data (I);
first sensor means for detecting the position (DKI) of said accelerator pedal actuated by the driver and for generating a first input variable representative thereof;
second sensor means for detecting at least one of a vehicle straight-line speed (Vx), the transmission output rpm and the motor rpm or variables associated therewith and for generating a second input variable representative thereof;
and,
forming means for receiving path data (I), said first input variable and said second input variable and for forming an adaptation variable (BZ) in dependence upon said path data, said first variable and said second variable;
and,
means for determining gear ratio changes (SG) of said automatic transmission at least in dependence upon one of said adaptation variable (BZ), said first input and said variable second input variables.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for determining a gear ratio change for an automatic transmission

Life of this patent

System for determining a gear ratio change for an automatic transmission

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9