Vehicle driveline control including open clutch indicator
AssigneeZF Meritor, LLC
InventorsMuneer Abusamra, Ronald Peter Muetzel, James Henry Devore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle driveline control system includes monitoring when the transmission is in gear and the clutch is left open. If that condition exists for a selected amount of time, the controller provides an indication to the driver regarding the open clutch status. In one example, the controller alters the RPM rate of the engine to provide audible feedback to the driver. For example, the controller raises the engine RPM rate from an idle rate to a higher rate to simulate what the driver hears upon vehicle launch. A variety of indicators and control strategies may be used with a system designed according to this invention.
Claims22
A vehicle drive control system, comprising:
- a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios that can be selectively engaged;
- a clutch that selectively couples the transmission to an engine;
- and
- a controller that determines whether the clutch is open and the transmission is in gear prior to vehicle launch, the controller providing an indication that the clutch is open when the transmission is in gear and the clutch is open for at least a selected period, the Controller providing at least one of an audible or a visible open clutch indication to a driver.
A method of controlling a clutch on a vehicle that has a transmission, a clutch and an automated clutch mover that selectively moves the clutch between an open and a closed position, comprising the steps of:
- determining that the transmission is in gear;
- determining that the clutch is open;
- determining whether a selected time period has passed during which the transmission is in gear and the clutch is open prior to vehicle launch;
- and
- providing at least one of an audible or a visible open clutch indication to a driver after the selected time period has passed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.