Torque-Corrected Gradient Sensor for Vehicle Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicles with automatic or semi-automatic gearboxes face challenges in accurately estimating resistance to travel, which affects optimal gear changing and fuel efficiency, especially when encountering varying road gradients and torque conditions.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle is equipped with control devices that receive signals from sensors measuring torque and gradient, with the control devices correcting the gradient signal based on torque data to provide more accurate information for transmission control, thereby compensating for torque effects and improving gear changing strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a gradient sensor is used to measure road gradient, then gradient information is obtained, but the measurement is affected by torque causing inaccurate readings
Solution Approach 1:
The control device receives both gradient sensor signals and torque sensor signals, then uses the torque information to correct the gradient measurements. This feedback mechanism compensates for the torque-induced measurement errors, improving the accuracy of gradient data used for transmission control
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being measured by correcting the gradient value based on torque. Instead of directly using the raw gradient sensor output, the control device adjusts the gradient parameter by compensating for the torque effect, thereby obtaining a more accurate representation of the actual road gradient
2Measurement precision
If torque compensation is implemented to improve gradient accuracy, then transmission control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions: it controls the transmission based on gradient information, monitors torque, and compensates for torque effects on the gradient measurement. By making the control device multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated compensation hardware, thus improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A motor-driven vehicle includes at least an engine, control devices arranged to control a transmission driven by the engine, a first sensor that is arranged to communicate with the control devices, and a second sensor that is arranged to communicate with the control devices, with the control devices being arranged to receive a first signal sent from the first sensor that includes information about the gradient of the surface on which the vehicle is being driven, and with the control devices being arranged to receive a second signal sent from the second sensor that includes information about torque. The control devices are arranged to correct the first signal in response to the second signal, and to control the transmission in response to the corrected first signal, and thereby compensate for the effect of the torque on the first sensor.