Cruise Control Clutch Threshold Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles equipped with speed control devices that cancel cruise control when the clutch is disengaged, there is a tendency for cruise control to be inadvertently canceled against the rider's intention, particularly due to temporary decreases in engine or vehicle speed caused by external factors like bumps, leading to discomfort and potential engine stall.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that includes an engine, clutch actuator, engine rotation speed sensor, vehicle speed detection sensor, and a control device to manage clutch engagement and disengagement based on distinct threshold values, ensuring cruise control is maintained by engaging the clutch only when necessary, thereby preventing unintended cancellation and ensuring comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the clutch is disengaged when the rotation speed of the engine becomes lower than a prescribed threshold value, then the comfort of riding is improved, but the cruise control may be canceled against the rider's intention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by switching between two different threshold values based on the cruise control state. When cruise control is active, a first threshold value is used; when inactive, a second (lower) threshold value is used. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the clutch disengagement criteria to the current operational context, preventing unintended cancellation while maintaining riding comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamics by making the threshold value for clutch disengagement changeable based on the cruise control determination result. The system transitions between different threshold states depending on whether cruise control is determined to be active, allowing the control characteristics to adapt dynamically to rider intentions and operational conditions.
2Reliability
If the threshold value is decreased to prevent cruise control cancellation, then the cruise control stability is improved, but engine stall may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing parameter changes through context-dependent threshold selection. The system uses a higher first threshold value when cruise control is active to prevent cancellation, and a lower second threshold value when inactive to prevent engine stall. This conditional parameter adjustment allows the system to avoid both unintended cruise control cancellation and engine stall conditions.
3Device complexity
If a single threshold value is used for clutch disengagement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different operating conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dynamics by implementing a determination device that detects the cruise control state and dynamically selects between two threshold values. This dynamic adaptation allows the simple two-threshold system to respond appropriately to different operating conditions (cruise control active vs. inactive), achieving high adaptability without significant complexity increase.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle includes a cruise control section arranged and programmed to perform control to maintain the vehicle speed at a prescribed vehicle speed while a clutch is engaged. A clutch actuator control section performs control to disengage the clutch when the value of a parameter becomes equal to or lower than a first threshold value, in the case where the cruise control section is determined to not be performing the control to maintain the vehicle speed at a prescribed vehicle speed; and performs the control to disengage the clutch when the value of the parameter becomes equal to or lower than a second threshold value, which is lower than the first threshold value, in the case where the cruise control section is determined to be performing the control to maintain the vehicle speed at a prescribed vehicle speed.