motor vehicle

Abstract

motor vehicle with an automatic transmission (18) and comprising a steering wheel (20) with a paddle shifter arrangement (25): at least one rocker switch element (26) which can be moved when actuated by a user, a switching request detection device (34) which has a switching request detection unit (35) for detecting a switching actuation of the rocker switch element (26), and a mechanical counterforce generating device (30) which has a counterforce generating unit (32) which interacts with the rocker switch element (26) in such a way that when the rocker switch element (26) is actuated, a counterforce (GK) acts against an actuating force (NK) applied by the user, wherein the switching request detection device (34) comprises an acceleration sensor (38) and a switching signal module (36), wherein the acceleration sensor (38) is arranged on the rocker switch element (26) and is designed to detect the actuation acceleration of the rocker switch element (26) when actuated by the user, and wherein the shift signal module (36) is configured to transmit the sensor signals of the acceleration sensor (38) and the actuation signals of the shift request detection unit (35) to the automatic transmission (18), wherein the steering wheel has a steering wheel control unit (28) which is connected to a transmission control unit (181) via signals, wherein the steering wheel control unit (28) has the shift signal module (36).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with an automatic transmission, a steering wheel and a shift paddle arrangement provided on the steering wheel with at least one shift paddle element which can be moved when actuated by a user, a shift request detection device which has a shift request detection unit for detecting a shift actuation of the shift paddle element, and a mechanical counterforce generation device which has a counterforce generation unit which interacts with the shift paddle element in such a way that when the shift paddle element is actuated, a counterforce acts against an actuating force applied by the user.

[0002] Such paddle shifter arrangements or steering wheels with such a paddle shifter arrangement are generally known from the prior art in combination with an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle. The paddle shifter arrangement offers the possibility of initiating a gear change manually by the driver, despite the automatic transmission. Such a gear change could, for example, occur during a planned overtaking maneuver, where the driver can manually downshift to a lower gear to achieve greater acceleration during the overtaking maneuver. Alternatively, there are drivers who prefer to shift gears manually in certain driving situations.

[0003] Typically, the paddle shifter assembly comprises two paddle shift elements, a first for downshifting and a second for upshifting. Each paddle shift element interacts with a mechanical counterforce generation unit and a shift request detection unit. The mechanical counterforce generation unit interacts with the paddle shift element in such a way that when the paddle shift element is actuated, a counterforce is generated that opposes the actuating force applied by the user. The shift request detection unit is designed such that a shift request for engaging the gear of the vehicle's automatic transmission is detected when a predefined shift force is applied to the paddle shift element by the user. Such a paddle shifter assembly is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2019 101 961 A1.

[0004] The activation signal determined by the shift request detection unit depends solely on the force applied to the shift paddle by the driver. Other, situation-dependent parameters are not taken into account when the shift paddles are activated.

[0005] DE 198 26 861 C1 discloses a shift paddle assembly comprising two shift paddle elements that can be moved when actuated by a user, a shift request detection device which includes a shift request detection unit for detecting a shift action of the shift paddle element, and a mechanical counterforce generation device. The shift paddle assembly also includes a sensor, which may be an acceleration sensor, and a shift signal module. The sensor is arranged on the shift paddle element and is configured to detect the actuation acceleration of the shift paddle element when actuated by the user. The shift signal module is configured to transmit the sensor signals from the acceleration sensor and the actuation signals from the shift request detection unit to the automatic transmission. Depending on the sensor signals, a shift operation of the automatic transmission takes place.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle with a paddle shifter arrangement which allows temporary situations, in particular the driving situation or the mood of the driver, to be taken into account in a simple way during the shifting operations of the automatic transmission.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

[0008] The shift request detection device comprises an acceleration sensor and a shift signal module, wherein the acceleration sensor is arranged on the shift paddle element and is configured to detect the actuation acceleration of the shift paddle element when actuated by the user, and wherein the shift signal module is configured to transmit the sensor signals from the acceleration sensor and the actuation signals from the shift request detection unit to the automatic transmission. The acceleration sensor can be formed by various generally known sensors for determining acceleration.

[0009] In addition to detecting the basic actuation of the shift paddle element, which is recorded by the shift request detection unit, the acceleration sensor can also detect the dynamics with which the shift paddle element is actuated. The actuation signal from the shift request detection unit and the sensor signal from the acceleration sensor are transmitted by the shift signal module to the automatic transmission or transmission control unit, whereby a shift operation occurs based on the sensor signal from the acceleration sensor and the actuation signal from the shift request detection unit. The shifting behavior of the automatic transmission varies depending on the actuation acceleration of the shift paddle element, which is transmitted to the transmission control unit by the sensor signal from the acceleration sensor and is taken into account when controlling the components of the automatic transmission. For this purpose, the automatic transmission or transmission control unit...The transmission control unit stores different shift behaviors for the automatic transmission, each corresponding to a specific signal from the accelerometer. This allows the transmission's shift behavior to be adjusted based on the acceleration applied to the shift paddle. For example, before overtaking, one or more gears are typically downshifted to achieve greater acceleration. In such situations, the shift paddle is usually operated very dynamically. The accelerometer detects this dynamic operation before the overtaking maneuver and transmits its signal, along with the shift request signal, to the transmission control unit. This shift request signal conveys the driver's basic shift request to the transmission control unit. Based on the accelerometer signal, i.e.,Due to the high, detected acceleration of the actuating element, the shifting behavior of the automatic transmission is adapted in such a way that the shifting takes place directly and quickly.

[0010] The steering wheel has a steering wheel control unit which is connected to a transmission control unit via signals. The steering wheel control unit includes the shift signal module. The signals from the shift request detection unit and the acceleration sensor are processed in the steering wheel control unit and transmitted together to the transmission control unit via the shift signal module.

[0011] Preferably, the counterforce generation unit is designed as an elastically deformable plastic element. The elastically deformable plastic element is designed such that, when the rocker switch element is actuated, the force exhibits a force-displacement behavior such that it initially increases over the displacement and then decreases before increasing again to the maximum actuation displacement. Alternatively, the counterforce generation unit is designed as a permanent magnet unit.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, two shift paddle elements are provided, each equipped with an acceleration sensor and interacting with a shift request detection unit and a counterforce generation unit. The acceleration sensors and shift request detection units are connected to the shift signal module. A first shift paddle element initiates an upshift, while a second shift paddle element initiates a downshift. Because an acceleration sensor is located on each of the shift paddle elements and the actuation dynamics are detected on both, the shifting behavior of the automatic transmission can be adapted to the actuation dynamics of the shift paddle elements during both upshifts and downshifts.

[0013] Preferably, the automatic transmission or the transmission control unit is designed to evaluate the signal profile of the acceleration sensor signal over the entire actuation range of the shift paddle element and to determine the shift dynamics over a subsection of the actuation range. This allows, for example, the detection of a jerky actuation of the shift paddle element at the beginning of the actuation, i.e., in a first relatively short subsection of the signal profile, from which a very dynamic actuation of the shift paddle element can be inferred relatively quickly.

[0014] During a desired gear shift, when a shift paddle is activated, the shift request detection unit detects an activation signal, and the acceleration of the shift paddle is detected by the acceleration sensor. The sensor signal from the acceleration sensor and the activation signal from the shift request detection unit are then transmitted to the automatic transmission or the transmission control unit. Based on the sensor signal from the acceleration sensor, the shift behavior of the automatic transmission is determined, and a gear shift is executed based on the activation signal from the shift request detection unit and the determined shift behavior.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle in a top view, Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a steering wheel of the motor vehicle. Fig. 1 in perspective view, and Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows a paddle shifter arrangement of the steering wheel. Fig. 2.

[0016] Fig. Figure 1 shows a motor vehicle 10 with a motor vehicle body 12, a drive engine 16, in particular an internal combustion engine, and an automatic transmission 18. The automatic transmission 18 is interposed between the drive engine 16 and a drive axle 151 with a transfer case 152.

[0017] The automatic transmission 18 is connected via signals to a transmission control unit 181, which controls the various clutches and actuators of the automatic transmission 18. Two vehicle wheels 141, 142 are fixedly mounted on the drive axle 151, so that the drive motor 16 can drive the vehicle wheels 141, 142 at a speed adjusted by the automatic transmission 18. Two further vehicle wheels 143, 144 are also provided, which are located on a different axle and are not driven.

[0018] To steer the motor vehicle 10 from Fig. The motor vehicle 10 has a steering wheel 20 which interacts with a steering system not shown in the figures. The steering wheel 20 has a steering wheel rim 22 and several steering wheel spokes 24.

[0019] During driving, the automatic transmission 18 shifts gears automatically, so the driver does not need to perform any manual gear changes. However, if the driver wishes to shift manually, this can be done using a paddle shifter arrangement 25. In the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows such a rocker switch arrangement 25.

[0020] The paddle shifter arrangement 25 comprises two paddle shifter elements 26, the paddle shifter elements 26 being arranged on opposite sides of the steering wheel 20, one of the paddle shifter elements 26 being used for downshifting and the other paddle shifter element 26 for upshifting. The paddle shifter elements 26 are each pivotably mounted on a component of the steering wheel 20 about a pivot axis D. Fig. Figure 2 shows only one of the two rocker switch elements 26. Also in Fig. Figure 3 shows only a rocker switch element 26.

[0021] The rocker switch arrangement 25 also has a mechanical counterforce generation device 30 and a switching request detection device 34 for each rocker switch element 26.

[0022] The mechanical counterforce generation device 30 comprises a counterforce generation unit 32, designed as an elastically deformable plastic element, in particular a silicone element, with an associated force-spring curve. It serves to generate a counterforce GK against the force NK applied by the driver when the shift paddle elements 26 are actuated, and to provide the driver with haptic feedback when the shift paddle elements 26 are actuated. In the non-actuated state, the shift paddle elements 26 rest against a stop 29.

[0023] The shift request detection device 34 has a shift request detection unit 35, designed as an electrical switch, for each shift paddle element 26. When a predefined shift force is applied and the shift paddle element 26 is rotated as a result, the shift request detection unit 35 is actuated, generating an actuation signal. The shift request detection device 34 also has an acceleration sensor 38 for each shift paddle element 26, which detects the actuation acceleration of the corresponding shift paddle element 26. The shift request detection device 34 further includes a shift signal module 36, which is integrated into a steering wheel control unit 28. The acceleration sensor 38 and the shift request detection unit 35 are connected to the shift signal module 36 via signals.

[0024] During vehicle operation 10, when the driver activates one of the two shift paddle elements 26, the activation signal from the shift request detection unit 35 and the sensor signal from the acceleration sensor 38 are first transmitted to the shift signal module 36. The signals are processed in the shift signal module 36 and then transmitted to the transmission control unit 181 of the automatic transmission 18, which is connected to the steering wheel control unit 28. Based on the signal from the shift request detection unit 35 and the acceleration sensor 38, the corresponding components of the automatic transmission 18 are controlled by the transmission control unit 181, and a shift operation is performed. To control the components of the automatic transmission 18, i.e.,Different clutches, brakes, and actuators are used in the transmission control unit 181, and different control sets are stored there. These sets are applied depending on the gear pairing and the transmitted actuation acceleration of the shift paddle elements 26. The transmitted sensor signals from the acceleration sensor 38 are used to adapt the shifting behavior of the automatic transmission 18 to the actuation dynamics when the driver operates the shift paddle element 26.

[0025] By taking into account the actuation accelerations of the shift paddle elements 26 when controlling the components of the automatic transmission 18, the shifting operations of the automatic transmission 18 are adapted to the driving situation and the mood of the driver.

Claims

[1] motor vehicle with an automatic transmission (18) and comprising a steering wheel (20) with a paddle shifter arrangement (25): at least one rocker switch element (26) which can be moved when actuated by a user, a switching request detection device (34) which has a switching request detection unit (35) for detecting a switching actuation of the rocker switch element (26), and a mechanical counterforce generating device (30) which has a counterforce generating unit (32) which interacts with the rocker switch element (26) in such a way that when the rocker switch element (26) is actuated, a counterforce (GK) acts against an actuating force (NK) applied by the user, wherein the switching request detection device (34) comprises an acceleration sensor (38) and a switching signal module (36), wherein the acceleration sensor (38) is arranged on the rocker switch element (26) and is designed to detect the actuation acceleration of the rocker switch element (26) when actuated by the user, and wherein the shift signal module (36) is configured to transmit the sensor signals of the acceleration sensor (38) and the actuation signals of the shift request detection unit (35) to the automatic transmission (18), wherein the steering wheel has a steering wheel control unit (28) which is connected to a transmission control unit (181) via signals, wherein the steering wheel control unit (28) has the shift signal module (36). [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by , that the counterforce generating unit (32) is an elastically deformable plastic element or a permanent magnet unit. [3] Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that two rocker switch elements (26) are provided, on each of which an acceleration sensor (38) is arranged and which interact with each of a switching request detection unit (35) and a counterforce generation unit (32), wherein the acceleration sensors (38) and the switching request detection units (35) are connected to the switching signal module (36) by means of a signal. [4] Motor vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the automatic transmission (18) is designed to evaluate the signal profile of the sensor signal of the acceleration sensor (38) over the entire actuation path of the shift rocker element (26) and to determine the shift dynamics over a partial section of the actuation path.

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