Method and apparatus for the generation of a setting signal for an actuator of a clutch unit of a motor vehicle

A power transmission device for a vehicle drivetrain, comprising:

• a first rotatable shaft;
• a second rotatable shaft;
• a clutch for selectively transferring torque between the first and second shafts;
• an actuator for providing an apply force to the clutch;
• and
• a control system for generating a setting signal for the actuator to set a magnitude of torque to be transmitted by the clutch, the control system including a first control unit to determine a desired clutch torque range based on a set of predetermined parameters and a second control unit to determine an actual value of transmissible torque and a new setting signal for the actuator when the actual value is outside the desired clutch torque range.

A power transmission device for a vehicle drivetrain, comprising:

• a first rotatable shaft;
• a second rotatable shaft;
• a clutch for selectively transferring torque between the first and second shafts;
• an electric motor for providing torque to a gear reduction unit, an output of the gear reduction unit providing an apply force to the clutch;
• a first control unit to determine a desired clutch torque range based on a set of predetermined parameters;
• and
• a second control unit in communication with the first control unit for storing an initial setting signal to set a magnitude of torque to be transmitted by the clutch and to determine an actual value of transmissible torque based on a measured angle of rotation of the electric motor, the second control unit determining a new setting signal for the electric motor when the actual value is outside the desired clutch torque range.

A method for controlling an actuator of a clutch unit in a power transmission device of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining a desired value of torque to be transmitted with a main control unit in dependence on preset first parameters;
• determining a setting signal for the actuator with an additional control unit based on the determined desired value;
• determining a desired value tolerance range for the determined desired value of torque with the main control unit in dependence on preset second parameters;
• transmitting the desired value of torque and the desired value tolerance range, including an upper and a lower difference value for the desired tolerance range, to the additional control unit;
• determining with the additional control unit an actual value of torque transmissible by the clutch unit;
• generating a new setting signal for the actuator when the actual value is outside the desired value tolerance range;
• determining with the additional control unit an actual value tolerance range for the determined actual value of torque;
• and
• generating a new setting signal for the actuator when the actual value tolerance range is at least partly outside the desired value tolerance range.

A method for controlling an actuator of a clutch unit in a power transmission device of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining a desired value of torque to be transmitted with a main control unit in dependence on preset first parameters;
• determining a setting signal for the actuator with an additional control unit based on the determined desired value;
• determining a desired value tolerance range for the determined desired value of torque with the main control unit in dependence on preset second parameters;
• transmitting the determined desired value and the desired value tolerance range, including an upper and lower desired values, to the additional control unit;
• determining with the additional control unit an actual value of torque transmissible by the clutch unit;
• and
• generating a new setting signal for the actuator when the actual value is outside the desired value tolerance range.