Shift Range Control for Uphill Vehicle Start Gear Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing gear position selection systems in vehicles face a limitation where the lowest-speed gear position is used as the vehicle-start gear position, leading to insufficient driving force when traveling on upward gradients, as higher-speed gear positions are not selectable within the limited range.
Innovation Solution
A gear position selection apparatus that adjusts the selection range by changing the lowest-speed gear position from the first gear position to a lower-speed second gear position when the first gear position is the third gear, allowing for a more suitable gear selection on upward gradients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the selection range of gear positions is limited such that the first gear position (used as vehicle-start gear position) is the lowest-speed gear position, then the vehicle can start moving smoothly on flat or downward gradients, but the vehicle cannot select lower-speed gear positions when traveling on upward gradients, resulting in insufficient driving force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the selection range of gear positions changeable based on vehicle conditions. Specifically, the control device dynamically adjusts whether the first gear position serves as the lowest-speed gear position in the selection range, allowing the system to adapt between different operating modes (vehicle-start mode vs. traveling mode) to resolve the contradiction between reliable vehicle-start and adaptable gear selection for different gradient conditions
2Productivity
If a higher-speed gear position is selected as the vehicle-start gear position for downward gradient scenarios, then the vehicle can start moving efficiently on downward gradients, but the selection range becomes limited and cannot provide sufficient driving force on upward gradients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the selection range parameters of gear positions based on vehicle operating conditions. When the vehicle is in traveling mode and requires climbing capability, the control device changes the parameter configuration to allow lower-speed gear positions (including second gear position) to be selectable, thereby providing sufficient driving force on upward gradients while maintaining efficient vehicle-start capability on downward gradients
Data Source
AI summary
A shift level selection device comprising: a setting unit that sets a selection range in which the lowest speed shift level is a first shift level used in a set-off shift level among two or more shift levels; and a changing unit that, in accordance with the first shift level used in the set-off shift level, changes the selection range so that the lowest speed shift level is a second shift level, which is a lower speed than the first shift level.