Method and system for establishing an engine speed target for use by a centrifugal clutch control system to launch a vehicle

A method for controlling a vehicular automated transmission system to modulate engagement of a centrifugal clutch, the automated transmission system including an internal combustion engine having an engine output member, a multiple speed change gear transmission having an input shaft, the centrifugal friction clutch for drivingly connecting the engine output member to the input shaft, a throttle responsive to manually requesting of a degree of engine fueling, the system controller receiving input signals including two or more of signals of (i) engine speed, (ii) input shaft speed, (iii) throttle position, (iv) vehicle speed, and (v) engaged transmission ratio, the system controller having at least one mode of operation for selectively controlling engine fueling to control at least one of engine speed and engine torque, and the system controller processing the signals according to logic rules to issue command output signals to system actuators including at least the engine controller, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) sensing input shaft rotation;
• b) upon sensing an initiation of input shaft rotation, recording a touch point speed equal to the engine speed at the initiation of input shaft rotation,
• c) establishing a curve of an engine speed limit as a function of a throttle position and the touch point speed and storing the curve within the system controller;
• d) sensing the throttle position;
• e) establishing a target engine speed limit for the sensed throttle position using the stored curve;
• f) sensing the engaged transmission ratio;
• g) after sensing engagement of a drive transmission ratio, automatically increasing the engine speed under control of a vehicle-start-from-rest routine until the target engine speed limit is reached;
• and
• h) after sensing that the clutch is engaged, releasing control of the engine speed by the vehicle-start-from-rest routine with the centrifugal friction clutch drivingly connecting the engine output member to the input shaft.

A control system for controlling a vehicular automated transmission system to modulate engagement of a centrifugal clutch, the automated transmission system including an internal combustion engine having an engine output member, a multiple speed change gear transmission having an input shaft, the centrifugal friction clutch for drivingly connecting the engine output member to the input shaft, a throttle responsive to manually requesting of a degree of engine fueling, the system controller receiving input signals including two or more of signals of (i) engine speed, (ii) input shaft speed, (iii) throttle position, (iv) vehicle speed, and (v) engaged transmission ratio, the system controller having at least one mode of operation for selectively controlling engine fueling to control at least one of engine speed and engine torque, and the system controller processing the signals according to logic rules to issue command output signals to system actuators including at least the engine controller, the controller characterized by the system controller having logic rules effective for:

• a) establishing a curve of an engine speed limit as a function of a throttle position, the curve being at least in part a function of a touch point speed, and storing the curve within the system controller;
• b) sensing the throttle position;
• c) establishing a target engine speed limit for the sensed throttle position using the stored curve;
• d) sensing the engaged transmission ratio;
• e) after sensing engagement of a drive transmission ratio, automatically increasing the engine speed under control of a vehicle-start-from-rest routine until the target engine speed limit is reached;
• and
• f) after sensing that the clutch is engaged, releasing control of the engine speed by the vehicle-start-from-rest routine, with the centrifugal friction clutch drivingly connecting the engine output member to the input shaft.