US 6,662,098 B2Granted

Method and device for setting a gear ratio in a motor vehicle having a distance and/or vehicle-speed controller

AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH

InventorsManfred Hellmann, Hermann Winner, Albrecht Irion

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Abstract

A method and a device for setting a gear ratio of the transmission while a distance and/or vehicle-speed control system (ACC system) is activated. A setpoint variable, as a function of which at least the driving motor of the vehicle is controlled, is input. The setpoint variable or a value derived from this setpoint variable is limited in response to the existence of a first operating state, and the gear ratio is then set as a function of the limited variable, or as a function of the limited value. The gear ratio is set as a function of the setpoint variable, or as a function of the value, in response to the existence of a second operating state. The method and device prevent unnecessary and uncomfortable occurrences of downshifting during ACC operation, without losing the option of accelerating sharply.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for setting a gear ratio of a transmission in a drive train of a motor vehicle while at least one of a distance control system and a vehicle-speed control system is activated, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting a first setpoint variable during an activation of the at least one of the distance control system and the vehicle-speed control system, an engine of the motor vehicle being controllable as a function of the set point variable;
limiting at least one of the first setpoint variable and a derived value of the first setpoint variable to provide at least one of a limited setpoint variable and a limited derived value;
setting a gear ratio as a function of the at least one of the limited setpoint variable and the limited derived value in response to a first operating state and setting the gear ratio as a function of the at least one of the first setpoint variable and the derived value in response to a second operating state;
inputting an accelerator-pedal value representing a position of an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle, wherein the step of inputting is performed by a driver operating the accelerator pedal;
ascertaining another setpoint variable from the accelerator-pedal value using a nonlinear first engine characteristics map;
and
ascertaining a virtual accelerator-pedal value using a second engine characteristics map by using the first setpoint variable when the at least one of the distance control system and the vehicle-speed control system is activated, and by using the another setpoint variable when the at least one of the distance control system and the vehicle-speed control system is not activated,
wherein:
the step of setting the gear ratio is performable as a function of the virtual accelerator-pedal value;
and
the step of limiting is performable by limiting an inverse accelerator-pedal value.

8 more elements

A device for setting a gear ratio of a transmission in a drive train of a motor vehicle while at least one of a distance control system and a vehicle-speed control system is activated, a first setpoint variable being input during an activation of the at least one of the distance control system and the vehicle-speed control system, an engine of the motor vehicle being controllable as a function of the first setpoint variable, the device comprising:

an arrangement for limiting at least one of the first setpoint variable and a derived value of the first setpoint variable to provide at least one of a limited setpoint variable and a limited derived value;
an arrangement for setting a gear ratio as a function of the at least one of the limited setpoint variable and the limited derived value, in response to a first operating state and for setting the gear ratio as a function of the at least one of the first setpoint variable and the derived value in response to a second operating state;
an arrangement for ascertaining another setpoint variable from an accelerator-pedal value using a nonlinear first engine characteristics map;
an arrangement for ascertaining a virtual accelerator-pedal value from a second engine characteristics map by using the first setpoint variable when the at least one of the distance control system and the vehicle-speed control system is activated, and by using the another setpoint variable when the at least one of the distance control system and the vehicle-speed control system is not activated,
an arrangement for setting the gear ratio as a function of the virtual accelerator-pedal value;
wherein:
a driver of the motor vehicle inputs an accelerator-pedal value representing the position of an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle by operating the accelerator pedal;
and
the arrangement for limiting is operable for limiting an inverse accelerator-pedal value.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/836,799Filed 17 Apr 2001
Priority: DE 100 18 91117 Apr 2000
Published: US 2002/0069009 A16 Jun 2002
Granted: 9 Dec 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B60W 30/16
Adaptive cruise control: control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
B60K 31/0008
Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an…:…
B60K 31/047
In a memory, e.g. a capacitor: the memory being digital
F02D 11/105
Of the electric type: characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal…