Solenoid Valve Temperature Sensing for Transmission Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid pressure control systems for automatic transmissions face inaccuracies due to the use of a single remote temperature sensor, which fails to accurately measure solenoid valve temperatures, leading to compromised system model accuracy and pressure control precision, especially with multiple solenoids and varying oil levels.
Innovation Solution
An assembly with multiple individual fluid pressure control solenoid valves, each equipped with a proximally located temperature sensor, such as a thermistor, to provide precise temperature measurements directly to the electronic control unit, allowing for accurate pressure control by compensating for local temperature variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single remote temperature sensor is used to measure transmission oil temperature, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of solenoid valve temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single temperature sensing function into multiple segment sensors, each assigned to specific solenoid valves. This segmentation allows each sensor to independently measure the temperature of its associated solenoid valve, thereby improving measurement precision while the modular design keeps the overall system complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local temperature measurement by placing temperature sensors in close proximity to each solenoid valve. This local quality approach ensures that each sensor captures the specific thermal conditions of its nearby solenoid valve, rather than relying on a remote average temperature measurement, thus significantly improving temperature measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If multiple individual temperature sensors are installed near each solenoid valve, then the measurement precision of local temperatures is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature sensing functions into a unified control system where multiple individual sensors are integrated with the electronic control unit. This merging allows the system to process multiple temperature signals through a single control architecture, managing device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision through individualized sensing.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single common temperature sensor is used for all VBS devices, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of pressure control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the temperature monitoring function from a single common sensor to multiple individual sensors associated with each VBS device. This segmentation improves reliability by ensuring that each device's temperature is accurately captured, which is critical for precise pressure control, while the modular sensor design maintains ease of manufacture through standardized individual sensor units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by positioning temperature sensors close to each VBS device to capture local thermal conditions. This local measurement approach ensures that pressure control algorithms receive accurate temperature data specific to each device, thereby improving pressure control reliability while the standardized local sensor placement facilitates ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the accuracy of fluid pressure control by directly measuring solenoid-specific temperatures, reducing the impact of thermal variations and oil level changes, resulting in improved predictability and precision of solenoid valve operations.
Implementation Method 1
an individual transmission oil temperature sensor, such as preferably a thermistor, packaged on the lead-frame support proximate the output fluid flow port of a respective one of the individual solenoid valves
Data Source
AI summary
Assembly of multiple individual fluid pressure control solenoid valves and an individual fluid temperature sensor so packaged relative to a respective one of the individual solenoid valves as to permit direct or indirect fluid temperature measurement at individual solenoid valves. The assembly can include a lead-frame support (e.g. a printed circuit board) having multiple individual fluid pressure control solenoid valves and an individual transmission oil temperature sensor disposed on the lead-frame support in an oil passage that communicates to an output flow port of a respective one of the individual solenoid valves to provide transmission oil temperature information to a transmission electronic control unit, wherein the transmission electronic control unit provides command signals to the individual solenoid valves in response to the individual transmission oil temperature input signals associated with an individual solenoid valve to achieve more accurate pressure control.