# US 8,751,123 B2 · Control device and control method for transmission mechanism, and control method for vehicle with engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,123 B2 - Document ID: US8751123B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/426,788 - Filed: 2009-04-20 - Published: 2009-10-29 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-25 - Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toru Zenno - Inventors: Toru Zenno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751123B2 ## CPC - F16D 48/06: Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure - F16D 2500/10412: Transmission line of a vehicle - F16D 2500/1045: Friction clutch - F16D 2500/1083: Automated manual transmission - F16D 2500/1117: Motorcycle - F16D 2500/30426: Speed of the output shaft - F16D 2500/3067: Speed of the engine - F16D 2500/30816: Speed of the input shaft - F16D 2500/3144: Accelerator pedal position - F16D 2500/50684: Torque resume after shifting - F16D 2500/70235: Displacement - F16D 2500/70247: Engine - F16D 2500/7027: Engine speed - F16D 2500/7041: Position - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES ## Abstract A control device for a transmission including a clutch driven by an actuator mechanism, such as a motor, is provided. The control device controls the actuator so that the rider does not perceive generation of a braking force when the clutch is shifted from a disengaged state to an engaged state while traveling, thereby enhancing riding comfort. In performing the control to actuate a clutch from a disengaged state to an engaged state, the control device makes a determination about whether or not to restrict engagement of the clutch based on information about a rotational speed on an upstream side of the clutch and information about a rotational speed on a downstream side of the clutch. If it is determined that engagement of the clutch is to be restricted, the control device delays engagement of the clutch until the engine speed is increased to an acceptable level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism of a vehicle with an engine including only one clutch and a transmission each of which is driven by an actuator, comprising: an engagement control module operatively coupled to the actuator to control the actuation of the only one clutch from a disengaged state to an engaged state; and a determination module operatively coupled to the actuator and operatively configured to determine whether or not to restrict engagement of the only one clutch based on information about a rotational speed on an upstream side of the only one clutch and information about a rotational speed on a downstream side of the only one clutch, wherein when the engagement control module performs a control to actuate the only one clutch to an engaged state, the engagement control module restricts engagement of the only one clutch if the determination module determines that the rotational speed on the downstream side of the only one clutch is higher by a prescribed value or more than the rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the information about a rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch is a rotational speed of the engine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the information about a rotational speed on the downstream side of the only one clutch is information about a speed of the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the information about a rotational speed on the downstream side of the only one clutch is a rotational speed of a drive shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the prescribed value is set according to the information about the rotational speed on the downstream side of the only one clutch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the engagement control module restricts operation to engage the only one clutch by retaining the only one clutch in the disengaged state. ### Claim 7 A control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism of a vehicle with an engine including only one clutch and a transmission each of which is driven by an actuator, comprising: an engagement control module operatively coupled to the actuator to control the actuation of the only one clutch from a disengaged state to an engaged state; and a determination module operatively coupled to the actuator and operatively configured to determine whether or not to restrict engagement of the only one clutch based on information about a rotational speed on an upstream side of the only one clutch and information about a rotational speed on a downstream side of the only one clutch, wherein when the engagement control module performs a control to actuate the only one clutch to an engaged state, the engagement control module restricts engagement of the only one clutch if the determination module determines engagement of the only one clutch is to be restricted, wherein the determination module updates a clutch actuator position control map when the determination module determines engagement of the only one clutch is to be restricted. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle with an engine comprising the control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) A vehicle with an engine comprising the control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 2. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) A vehicle with an engine comprising the control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 3. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) A vehicle with an engine comprising the control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 4. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) A vehicle with an engine comprising the control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 5. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) A vehicle with an engine comprising the control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 6. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A vehicle with an engine comprising the control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 7. ### Claim 15 A control device implemented control method for a single-clutch transmission mechanism for a vehicle with an engine including only one clutch and a transmission each of which is driven by an actuator, the control method comprising: a. performing an engagement control step to actuate the only one clutch from a disengaged state to an engaged state; and b. determining in a determination step whether or not to restrict engagement of the only one clutch based on information about a rotational speed on an upstream side of the only one clutch and information about a rotational speed on a downstream side of the only one clutch, wherein the engagement control step includes restricting engagement of the only one clutch if the determination step determines engagement of the only one clutch is to be restricted when the rotational speed on the downstream side of the only one clutch is higher by a prescribed value or more than the rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the engagement control step includes actuating the only one clutch from a disengaged to an engaged state based on an actuator position control map, and the method further comprises generating a modified clutch actuator position control map if the determination step determines engagement of the only one clutch is to be restricted. ### Claim 17 A control device implemented control method for a vehicle with an engine having a single-clutch transmission mechanism including a only one clutch and a transmission each of which is driven by an actuator, the control method comprising: a. performing an engagement control step to actuate the only one clutch from a disengaged state to an engaged state; and b. determining in a determination step whether or not to restrict engagement of the only one clutch based on information about a rotational speed on an upstream side of the only one clutch and information about a rotational speed on a downstream side of the only one clutch, wherein the engagement control step includes restricting engagement of the only one clutch if the determination step determines engagement of the only one clutch is to be restricted when the rotational speed on the downstream side of the only one clutch is higher by a prescribed value or more than the rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the engagement control step includes actuating the only one clutch from a disengaged to an engaged state based on an actuator position control map, and the method further comprises generating a modified clutch actuator position control map if the determination step determines engagement of the only one clutch is to be restricted. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the engagement control module retains the only one clutch in the disengaged state until the rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 7) The control device for a single-clutch transmission mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the engagement control module retains the only one clutch in the disengaged state until the rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the engagement control step includes retaining the only one clutch in the disengaged state until the rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the engagement control step includes retaining the only one clutch in the disengaged state until the rotational speed on the upstream side of the only one clutch exceeds a predetermined value.