Transmission Control Unit Traffic Light Downshift Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission control devices for automatic or automated manual transmissions in vehicles struggle to accurately identify driver intention based on environmental information, particularly in situations involving traffic signals, leading to potential delays when downshifting, as they rely on available data about traffic signal durations which can be challenging to obtain.
Innovation Solution
A transmission control device that influences gear shifts based on driving status and driver intention data, specifically considering the status of relevant traffic signals to prevent downshifts when the driver intends to maintain velocity or accelerate, by proactively calculating the time required to reach an intersection with and without downshifting, and employing a downshift preventer mechanism to ensure timely passage through intersections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the transmission control device performs downshifts based on driver intention and environmental information, then the vehicle can respond quickly to acceleration requests, but the downshift may cause brief traction interruption and delay passage through intersections
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control device performs preliminary evaluation of traffic signal status and calculates whether a downshift would cause the vehicle to miss the green phase. This advance assessment prevents unnecessary downshifts that would interrupt traction and delay intersection passage, while still allowing beneficial downshifts for genuine acceleration needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors environmental information including traffic signal status, vehicle velocity, and distance to intersection. This feedback loop allows the control device to dynamically adjust shifting decisions based on real-time conditions, preventing downshifts when they would cause traction interruption and timing delays.
2Loss of time
If the transmission control device suppresses downshifts to maintain continuous traction, then intersection passage timing is improved, but the vehicle's acceleration response to driver input is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts shifting parameters based on multiple factors including traffic signal phase, time remaining in green phase, vehicle velocity, and distance to intersection. This parameter-based control allows the system to permit downshifts when they benefit acceleration without compromising intersection timing, while suppressing them when timing is critical.
3Productivity
If the transmission control device uses available traffic signal data to influence shifting strategy, then shifting decisions are optimized for intersection passage, but the complexity of data acquisition and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control device acts as an intermediary that integrates traffic signal status data with vehicle operating parameters. It processes this information through a structured evaluation method that calculates whether downshifts would cause missed green phases, optimizing shifting decisions without requiring complex autonomous systems.
Data Source
AI summary
In a transmission controller for the open-loop and/or closed-loop control of the operation of an automatic or automated manual transmission of a motor vehicle, a shifting strategy of the transmission control unit controls the operation of the transmission in an open-loop and/or closed-loop manner based on driving status data and/or driver intention data. The shifting strategy of the transmission control unit influences a gear change from a current actual gear into a target gear based on available environmental data. In the event of a required down-shift from a current actual gear into a lower target gear, the transmission control unit is configured to take into account available information relating to a traffic light status, in particular relating to a change of a traffic light status of a relevant traffic light.