Automatic Transmission Controller Gear Shift Shock Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic transmissions face gear shift shock issues due to insufficient gear shifting time, particularly during downshifts from higher to lower gear ratios, especially at low vehicle speeds, where the synchronization time is shorter than the required shifting time.

Innovation Solution

An automatic transmission controller that includes an insufficient gear shifting time determining device and a double engage/disengage prohibiting device, which prevents gear shifts when the shifting time is deemed insufficient, allowing shifts only through intermediate gears to avoid shock and ensuring sufficient synchronization time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If gear shift control is executed via an intermediate gear to suppress gear shift shock, then gear shift smoothness is improved, but gear shift time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear shift shockVSAvoidgear shift time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an intermediate gear as a mediator in the gear shift process. When shifting from a higher gear to a lower gear, the transmission temporarily passes through the intermediate gear to reduce the gear ratio change magnitude, thereby suppressing gear shift shock while maintaining acceptable shift time through optimized control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If synchronization time is shortened at low vehicle speeds, then gear shifting speed is improved, but gear shift shock occurs due to insufficient time for gear shifting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear shifting speedVSAvoidgear shift shock

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the synchronization time and gear shift control parameters based on vehicle speed. At low vehicle speeds, the system extends the synchronization time and modifies the engagement sequence to ensure sufficient time for gear shifting, preventing gear shift shock while maintaining efficient shifting at higher speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If two engaging elements are disengaged and two engaging elements are engaged simultaneously, then gear shift efficiency is improved, but gear shift shock increases due to insufficient time for each engagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear shift efficiencyVSAvoidgear shift shock

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the simultaneous engagement of multiple engaging elements into sequential operations. Instead of engaging two elements simultaneously, the system engages them in a controlled sequence with appropriate timing intervals, ensuring each element has sufficient time to engage properly while maintaining overall gear shift efficiency through optimized coordination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7578760B2Automatic transmission controller for a vehicle and method for controlling an automatic transmission system for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2009.08.25 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An automatic transmission controller for a vehicle has an insufficient gear shifting time determining device that determines whether a gear shifting time for shifting performed by disengagement of two engaging elements and engagement of two engaging elements is insufficient; and a double engage/disengage prohibiting device that prohibits the gear shift after the disengagement of two engaging elements and engagement of two engaging elements when the insufficient shifting time determining device determines that the gear shifting time for shifting after the disengagement of two engaging elements and engagement of two engaging elements is insufficient.