# US 9,435,434 B2 · Continuously variable transmission and control method therefor

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- Number: US 9,435,434 B2
- Document ID: US9435434B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/430,665
- Filed: 2013-09-03
- Published: 2015-09-10
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-09-27
- Assignees: JATCO Ltd; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Jatco Ltd; Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Mamiko Inoue; Hiroyasu Tanaka; Takuichiro Inoue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435434B2

## CPC

- F16H 61/66259: {using electrical or electronical sensing or control means}
- F16H 61/702: {using electric or electrohydraulic control means}
- F16H 59/141: {of rate of change of torque or torque demand}
- F16H 59/18: dependent on the position of the accelerator pedal
- F16H 61/66227: {controlling shifting exclusively as a function of speed and torque}
- F16H 61/6625: {controlling shifting exclusively as a function of torque}
- F16H 2037/023: {the combined gearing being provided with at least two forward and one reverse ratio in a serially arranged sub-transmission}
- F16H 2059/147: {Transmission input torque, e.g. measured or estimated engine torque}
- F16H 2059/183: {Rate of change of accelerator position, i.e. pedal or throttle change gradient}
- F16H 2061/66218: {dependent on control input parameters other than ambient conditions or driver's choice}
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A transmission controller determines whether or not to downshift a sub-transmission mechanism based on an opening and an opening speed of an accelerator pedal and a torque change rate of an engine, and downshifts the sub-transmission mechanism when a determination is made to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A continuously variable transmission with a variator capable of continuously changing a speed ratio and a stepped sub-transmission mechanism for shifting and outputting output ration of a power source, comprising:
a downshift determining unit configured to determine whether or not to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism based on an opening and an opening speed of an accelerator pedal, which is an output adjusting device of the power source, and a torque change rate of the power source; and
a shifting unit configured to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism when a determination is made to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The continuously variable transmission according to claim 1, wherein:
the downshift determining unit determines not to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism regardless of values of the opening and the opening speed of the accelerator pedal if the torque change rate of the power source is smaller than a predetermined low change rate.

### Claim 3

A control method for a continuously variable transmission with a variator capable of continuously changing a speed ratio and a stepped sub-transmission mechanism for shifting and outputting output ration of a power source, comprising:
determining whether or not to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism based on an opening and an opening speed of an accelerator pedal, which is an output adjusting device of the power source, and a torque change rate of the power source; and
downshifting the sub-transmission mechanism when a determination is made to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism.

### Claim 4

A continuously variable transmission with a variator capable of continuously changing a speed ratio and a stepped sub-transmission mechanism for shifting and outputting output ration of a power source, comprising:
downshift determining means for determining whether or not to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism based on an opening and an opening speed of an accelerator pedal, which is an output adjusting device of the power source, and a torque change rate of the power source; and
shifting means for downshifting the sub-transmission mechanism when a determination is made to downshift the sub-transmission mechanism.