motor vehicle

Abstract

Motor vehicle comprising an automatic transmission with multiple gears and an operating device (2), wherein the gears differ from one another by a gear ratio, wherein the operating device (2) comprises a moving element and a damping element, wherein the moving element is movable from a first position to a second position and vice versa, wherein a movement from the first position to the second position triggers an automatic change from a first gear to a second gear, wherein the damping element is configured to exert a damping force on the moving element when the moving element moves from the first to the second position, wherein the damping force depends on the gear ratio of the second gear, characterized in that the damping force is greater the smaller the gear ratio of the second gear.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Motor vehicles with automatic transmissions are known from the prior art, in which a transmission gear can be manually selected by means of a control device, often located on the steering wheel. The shifting process into the selected transmission gear is then carried out by the automatic transmission. Such control devices are often referred to as shift paddles or shift levers.

[0003] EP 1 571 377 A1 discloses a steering wheel with shift paddles. Haptic feedback indicates to the driver whether a manual gear selection corresponds to an automatic transmission strategy. In particular, a higher force threshold must be overcome when operating the shift paddles if the resulting gear change does not correspond to the automatic transmission strategy. An electromagnetic actuator is used to change the force threshold.

[0004] DE 10 2015 117 909 A1 discloses a method for controlling an automatic transmission connected to an engine in a motor vehicle. It comprises receiving an input signal generated by the application of force through a switch within the vehicle. The switch has a predetermined path and is configured to request a transmission speed ratio change via an output signal that specifies the received input signal. The output signal is received by a controller programmed with a predetermined engine speed range. The transmission is instructed to perform a change from a currently selected speed ratio to another speed ratio if the requested speed ratio change would produce an engine speed within the permissible engine speed range.The switch is instructed to execute a full travel when force is applied and a change in the gear ratio is requested. Alternatively, the switch is instructed to execute a partial travel when force is applied and no change in the gear ratio is requested.

[0005] DE 10 2024 000 371 A1 discloses a method for adapting the switching behavior of an actuating element for switching between two states of a vehicle function. In a method by which an actuating force of the actuating element is individually adapted, the switching behavior of the actuating element is adjusted by an electromagnetic, viscous medium whose viscosity is varied under the influence of an electromagnetic field, thereby changing the resistance of the actuating element for a manual switching operation of the actuating element.

[0006] DE 10 2010 007 507 A1 discloses a method for blocking at least one selection position of a dial element. The dial element is moved from a starting position to a test position preceding an intended selection position. In the test position, it is checked whether the selection position associated with the test position is currently permissible. Further movement of the dial element to the intended selection position is blocked by means of an electro- or magnetorheological blocking device if the selection position associated with the test position is currently impermissible.

[0007] In contrast, the present invention is based on the objective of transmitting information to the user about the gear he has selected.

[0008] This problem is solved by a motor vehicle according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] The motor vehicle comprises an automatic transmission with multiple gears and a control device. For the purposes of this description, an automatic transmission is understood to be a transmission that transmits drive power from a drive unit to at least one wheel of the motor vehicle. Gear changes are performed automatically and can be initiated either automatically or manually. The control device is designed for manually initiating gear changes. The gears differ from one another by their gear ratios. For example, a gear with a high gear ratio can be selected to initiate a starting maneuver. Using a gear with a low gear ratio, the motor vehicle can be accelerated to a particularly high speed.

[0010] The operating device comprises a moving element and a damping element. The moving element can be moved from a first position to a second position and vice versa. A movement from the first position to the second position triggers an automatic shift from the first to the second gear.

[0011] The damping element is designed to exert a damping force on the moving element when it moves from the first to the second position. This damping force must be overcome to trigger the gear change. The damping force depends on the gear ratio of the second gear.

[0012] When manually initiating a gear change, the user receives information about the gear ratio of the second gear based on the damping force. For example, the damping force can be greater the lower the gear ratio. Since, with an automatic transmission with, for example, six or more gears, the user can easily lose track of which gear is currently selected, especially during sporty driving, they don't necessarily need to look at a display that might show the currently selected gear. During the shift, they can feel which gear is being engaged based on the damping force. Especially after the user has manually initiated a certain number of shifts, their experience grows, and they can estimate the gear from the damping force.This is particularly advantageous when driving in a sporty manner, as the user does not have to take their eyes off the road to obtain information about the selected gear.

[0013] The damping force is greater the smaller the gear ratio of the second gear. The smaller the gear ratio, the higher the vehicle's speed is typically. Conversely, a vehicle typically travels at a lower speed when the gear ratio of the selected gear is high. A high damping force at a low gear ratio makes this relationship easily understandable for the user.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the damping element can be configured to block the moving element when the second gear has a higher gear ratio than the first gear and the automatic transmission is free of any gear with a higher gear ratio than the second gear. Alternatively or additionally, the damping element can be configured to block the moving element when the second gear has a lower gear ratio than the first gear and the automatic transmission is free of any gear with a lower gear ratio than the second gear.

[0015] In the aforementioned cases, the user selects, for example, the gear with the highest or lowest gear ratio using the operating device. In this case, the user receives haptic feedback, through the blocking of the moving element, that there is no gear with an even higher or lower gear ratio. Preferably, the damping element is designed to block the moving element only for a limited period of time, for example, less than 5 seconds. The blocking can be achieved, for example, by a particularly high damping force.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the operating device can include a user input means configured to detect user input. The damping force can depend on the user input. In this way, the user can adjust the level of damping force to their needs.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the damping element can be designed in two parts. A first part of the damping element can be configured to exert a constant amount of damping force. The first part can, for example, be a silicone switching mat or a magnetic element. A second part of the damping element can be configured to exert a variable amount of damping force.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the damping force can be electrically adjustable. For example, the damping force can depend on an electrical voltage or current.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the damping element can comprise a magnetorheological fluid. This fluid can, for example, be a liquid. The magnetorheological fluid can, for example, be a component of the second part. Alternatively or additionally to the magnetorheological fluid, the damping element can comprise an electromagnet.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the damping element can be configured to change the damping force during the movement of the moving element from the first position to the second position. In particular, it is possible for the damping element to be configured to change the damping force during movement by changing a parameter, for example, the electrical voltage or the current. However, the change in damping force during movement should explicitly not be understood to mean that the damping force is changed due to a deformation of the damping element.

[0021] Changing the damping force during movement is advantageous in order to give the user even better haptic feedback.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the operating device can include a sensing means configured to detect the position of the moving element. The damping element can be configured to change the damping force depending on the detected position of the moving element. In this embodiment as well, the change in damping force is explicitly not to be understood as a change due to deformation of the damping element.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor vehicle can comprise wheels, a body, a drive system, a chassis, and a selection device. The drive system can be configured to drive at least one of the wheels. The wheels are attached to the body via the chassis. The selection device is configured to select a driving mode. For example, the selection device can be configured to receive a user selection and select the driving mode depending on the user selection.

[0024] The damping element can be designed to change the damping force depending on the selected driving mode. At least one parameter of the transmission and / or at least one parameter of the drive system can depend on the selected driving mode.

[0025] The driving mode can, for example, influence the comfort of the suspension and / or the performance of the drive system. For instance, one driving mode might be "Normal," another "Comfort," and yet another "Sport." Adjusting the damping force according to the driving mode enhances the user experience. In Comfort mode, for example, relatively low damping force might be desirable, while in Sport mode, relatively high damping force might be preferable.

[0026] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures. The same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components and for components with identical or similar functions. Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a steering system of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of an operating device according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 3 schematic force-displacement diagrams of different operating devices according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0027] The steering system made of Fig. 1 comprises a steering wheel 1 and two control devices 2 arranged on the steering wheel 1. The steering wheel 1 can be used in a motor vehicle to cause the wheels of the motor vehicle to turn. The control devices 2 can, for example, trigger gear changes in the motor vehicle's transmission. Fig. Figure 2 shows an operating device 2 which is designed as a rocker switch.

[0028] The operating device 2 comprises a moving element and a damping element. The moving element is movable from a first position to a second position and vice versa. When the moving element is moved from the first position to the second position, a shift operation of the vehicle's automatic transmission from first to second gear is triggered. The movement from the first to the second position is damped by a damping force exerted by the damping element. The damping force must therefore be overcome by the user if they wish to move the moving element from the first to the second position.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 3 represents the force applied by a user to move the motion element, plotted on the Y-axis as a function of the resulting movement of the motion element on the X-axis. The force is strongly dependent on the damping force.

[0030] The damping element is designed to adjust the damping force depending on the gear ratio of second gear. For example, the lower the gear ratio of second gear, the higher the damping force can be set. In this way, the user receives haptic feedback about second gear. They don't have to take their eyes off the road to a display to determine which gear they have selected. This is particularly advantageous during sporty driving.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle comprising an automatic transmission with multiple gears and an operating device (2), wherein the gears differ from one another by a gear ratio, wherein the operating device (2) comprises a moving element and a damping element, wherein the moving element is movable from a first position to a second position and vice versa, wherein a movement from the first position to the second position triggers an automatic change from a first gear to a second gear, wherein the damping element is configured to exert a damping force on the moving element when the moving element moves from the first to the second position, wherein the damping force depends on the gear ratio of the second gear. characterized by , that the damping force is greater the smaller the gear ratio of the second gear. [2] Motor vehicle according to the previous claim, characterized by , that the damping element is designed to block the moving element when the second gear has a larger gear ratio than the first gear and the automatic transmission is free of a gear with a larger gear ratio than the second gear, and / or when the second gear has a smaller gear ratio than the first gear and the automatic transmission is free of a gear with a smaller gear ratio than the second gear. [3] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the operating device (2) comprises a user input means configured to detect user input, wherein the damping force depends on the user input. [4] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the damping element is designed in two parts, wherein a first part of the damping element is designed to exert an unchanging amount of the damping force, and wherein a second part of the damping element is designed to exert a variable amount of the damping force. [5] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the damping force is electrically adjustable. [6] Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the damping element comprises a magnetorheological fluid. [7] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the damping element is designed to change the damping force during the movement of the moving element from the first position to the second position. [8] Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the operating device (2) comprises a detection means configured to detect a position of the moving element, wherein the damping element is configured to change the damping force depending on the detected position of the moving element. [9] Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the motor vehicle comprises wheels, a body, a drive system, a chassis and a selection device, wherein the drive system is configured to drive at least one of the wheels, wherein the wheels are attached to the body via the chassis, wherein the selection device is configured to select a driving mode, wherein the damping element is configured to change the damping force depending on the selected driving mode, wherein at least one parameter of the chassis and / or at least one parameter of the drive system depends on the selected driving mode.

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