Transmission Control Using Standardized Engine Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission systems lack an efficient method to utilize engine fuel consumption data to optimize engine operation, as this data is often not standardized and not in a format that can be compared across different engine manufacturers, leading to suboptimal fuel efficiency and inconsistent shift operations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize engine patterns to model operating characteristics, record power operating points and fuel consumption values, determine a minimum brake specific fuel consumption (MnBSFC) value, calculate error values, and select the most appropriate engine pattern to operate the transmission efficiently, allowing for adaptive fuel-efficient operation based on actual fuel consumption data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If fuel consumption data is used to optimize transmission operation, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the data format inconsistency between engine manufacturers prevents effective utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms fuel consumption data from manufacturer-specific formats into a standardized parameter set including minimum brake specific fuel consumption (MnBSFC) values, power operating points, and engine patterns. This parameter transformation enables consistent comparison and utilization across different engine manufacturers while maintaining the ability to optimize transmission operation for fuel efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer that receives fuel consumption data from various engine manufacturers, standardizes it into a common format, and then applies it to transmission control. This intermediary standardization process resolves the format incompatibility issue while preserving the fuel efficiency optimization capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple engine patterns are stored for different engines, then adaptability to different engines is improved, but memory requirements and data processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential characteristics needed for transmission control from complete engine fuel consumption data sets. By storing only key parameters such as MnBSFC values at critical operating points and simplified engine patterns rather than complete fuel consumption maps, the system achieves multi-engine adaptability while reducing memory requirements and processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments engine characteristics into discrete, manageable components including power operating points, MnBSFC values, and engine patterns. This segmentation allows the transmission control system to handle different engines through modular data structures, improving adaptability while keeping individual data elements simple and efficient to process.
3Productivity
If real-time fuel consumption data is recorded and processed, then transmission operation is optimized, but computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing of fuel consumption data during engine testing and operation to pre-determine MnBSFC values and engine patterns. By preparing and storing this processed information in advance rather than calculating it in real-time during transmission operation, the system achieves optimization without excessive computational load or processing delay during critical transmission control moments.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of controlling the operation of a transmission using fuel consumption data. The system and method includes controlling the operation of a vehicle transmission which is operatively connected to an engine and to a transmission control module having access to a memory. Fuel consumption data for a plurality of engines is converted to engine efficiency loss data representative of the each of the engines' operation. The plurality of patterns, each representative of the operating characteristics of one of plurality of engines, is stored in the memory. Engine operating characteristics are recorded during operation of the vehicle. One of the pluralities of patterns is selected based on the recorded operating characteristics to operate the vehicle in a fuel efficient manner.