Method and apparatus for controlling joint force of friction-joint component mounted on vehicle

A method of controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the method becomes active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

• producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism;
• setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• controlling both the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline and a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component;
• calculating a maximum value of the transmitted torque capacity settable by the torque transmitting mechanism;
• and
• acquiring an actually transmitted torque capacity set to the torque transmitting mechanism,
• wherein
• the guideline producing step produces not only the first target operation guideline including the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism so that the transmitted-torque capacity is equal to or less than the maximum value but also the second target operation guideline on the basis of the actually transmitted torque capacity.

An apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus is active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, comprising:

• a calculating unit configured to estimate a maximum torque to be applied to the torque transmitting mechanism as the inputted torque;
• a guideline producing unit configured to produce both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism, wherein the guideline producing unit is configured to produce the first target operation guideline indicative of the transmitted torque capacity larger than the maximum torque applied to the torque transmitting mechanism;
• a joint force setting unit configured to set a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• a joint force controlling unit configured to control the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• and
• a drive force controlling unit configured to control a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component.

An apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus becomes active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, comprising:

• a guideline producing unit configured to produce both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism;
• a joint force setting unit configured to set a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• a joint force controlling unit configured to control the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• a drive force controlling unit configured to control a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component;
• and
• a unit configured to estimate a joint condition of the friction-joint component,
• wherein the guideline producing unit has a transmitted-torque capacity producing unit configured to not only produce the transmitted torque capacity given to the torque transmitting mechanism in accordance with a torque applied as the inputted torque to the torque transmitting mechanism and an operated condition of the torque transmitting mechanism but also raise the transmitted torque capacity given to the torque transmitting mechanism in cases where the estimation unit estimates that the joint condition of the friction-joint component is improper.

A method of controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the method becomes active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

• producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism;
• setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• controlling both the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline and a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component;
• and
• estimating a maximum torque to be applied to the torque transmitting mechanism as the inputted torque,
• wherein the guideline producing step produces the first target operation guideline indicative of the transmitted torque capacity larger than the maximum torque applied to the torque transmitting mechanism.

An apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus becomes active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, comprising:

• calculating means for estimating or detecting an actually transmitted torque capacity set to the torque transmitting mechanism;
• guideline producing means for producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism, wherein the guideline producing means is configured to produce the second target operation guideline on the basis of the actually transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force setting means for setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force controlling means for controlling the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• and
• drive force controlling means for controlling a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component.

An apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus becomes active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, comprising:

• calculating means for estimating a maximum torque to be applied to the torque transmitting mechanism as the inputted torque;
• guideline producing means for producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism, wherein the guideline producing means is configured to produce the first target operation guideline indicative of the transmitted torque capacity larger than the maximum torque applied to the torque transmitting mechanism;
• joint force setting means for setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force controlling means for controlling the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• and
• drive force controlling means for controlling a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component.

An apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus becomes active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, comprising:

• guideline producing means for producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism;
• joint force setting means for setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force controlling means for controlling the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• drive force controlling means for controlling a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component;
• and
• estimating means for estimating a joint condition of the friction-joint component,
• wherein the guide line producing means includes transmitted-torque capacity producing means for producing the transmitted torque capacity given to the torque transmitting mechanism in accordance with a torque applied as the inputted torque to the torque transmitting mechanism and an operated condition of the torque transmitting mechanism and for raising the transmitted torque capacity given to the torque transmitting mechanism in cases where the estimation means estimates that the joint condition of the friction-joint component is improper.

A computer-readable program stored in a memory and adapted to be read by a processor, composed of a computer, from the memory, the processor being installed in an apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus is active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, the program allowing the processor to function as:

• calculating means for estimating or detecting an actually transmitted torque capacity set to the torque transmitting mechanism;
• guideline producing means for producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism, wherein the guideline producing means is configured to produce the second target operation guideline on the basis of the actually transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force setting means for setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force controlling means for controlling the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• and
• drive force controlling means for controlling a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component.

A computer-readable program stored in a memory and adapted to be read by a processor, composed of a computer, from the memory, the processor being installed in an apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus is active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, the program allowing the processor to function as:

• calculating means for estimating a maximum torque to be applied to the torque transmitting mechanism as the inputted torque;
• guideline producing means for producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism, wherein the guideline producing means is configured to produce the first target operation guideline indicative of the transmitted torque capacity larger than the maximum torque applied to the torque transmitting mechanism;
• joint force setting means for setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force controlling means for controlling the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• and
• drive force controlling means for controlling a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component.

A computer-readable program stored in a memory and adapted to be read by a processor, composed of a computer, from the memory, the processor being installed in an apparatus for controlling a joint force of a friction-joint component placed in a torque transmitting mechanism mounted on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus is active when the vehicle is running and the friction-joint component receives, as an input torque, a torque generated by a drive source to output the inputted torque, as an outputted torque, from the torque transmitting mechanism, the program allowing the processor to function as:

• guideline producing means for producing both a first target operation guideline directed to the torque transmitting mechanism and a second target operation guideline directed to the drive source, the first target operation guideline including information regulating a transmitted torque capacity of the torque transmitting mechanism;
• joint force setting means for setting a value to the joint force depending on the information regulating the transmitted torque capacity;
• joint force controlling means for controlling the joint force of the friction-joint component based on the first target operation guideline;
• drive force controlling means for controlling a drive force of the drive source based on the second target operation guideline, the drive force leading to the torque inputted to the friction-joint component;
• and
• estimating means for estimating a joint condition of the friction-joint component,
• wherein the guide line producing means includes transmitted-torque capacity producing means for producing the transmitted torque capacity given to the torque transmitting mechanism in accordance with a torque applied as the inputted torque to the torque transmitting mechanism and an operated condition of the torque transmitting mechanism and for raising the transmitted torque capacity given to the torque transmitting mechanism in cases where the estimation means estimates that the joint condition of the friction-joint component is improper.