Automatic Transmission Fault Localization From Shift Stage Behavior

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic transmission systems face challenges in rapidly identifying and addressing malfunctions in frictional engagement elements, leading to decreased vehicle travelability and driver stress due to prolonged limp home shift stage identification processes.

Innovation Solution

A malfunction part sensing device is introduced, comprising shift stage monitoring, malfunction sensing, and limiting means, which identifies and limits the malfunctioning frictional engagement element based on vehicle behavior and shift stage combinations, allowing for rapid determination and switching to a limp home shift stage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional prove control is used to identify malfunctioned frictional engagement elements, then the identification process is thorough and reliable, but the time required for identification increases significantly and vehicle travelability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemalfunction identification reliabilityVSAvoididentification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring of shift stages and vehicle behaviors continuously during normal operation. When a malfunction occurs, the necessary data for identification is already collected, enabling rapid diagnosis without requiring extended prove control procedures. This preliminary data collection resolves the contradiction by preparing identification information in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor shift stage transitions and vehicle responses. When a malfunction is detected, the feedback loop rapidly analyzes the collected data to identify the specific failed engagement element. This real-time feedback enables quick identification while maintaining reliability, avoiding the time-consuming conventional prove control process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If conventional prove control procedures are implemented, then accurate malfunction identification is achieved, but vehicle travelability and driver convenience deteriorate due to prolonged identification processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemalfunction detection precisionVSAvoidvehicle travelability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical prove control procedure with an electronic diagnostic system that analyzes shift stage data and vehicle behavior. This substitution eliminates the need for time-consuming mechanical testing while maintaining accurate malfunction identification, thereby preserving vehicle travelability and driver convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary between the malfunctioning engagement element and the driver. It analyzes the malfunction characteristics through monitored parameters and directly identifies the failed component, serving as a mediator that provides accurate diagnosis without requiring the driver to undergo prolonged prove control procedures, thus maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If rapid malfunction identification is implemented through new sensing methods, then vehicle travelability is maintained, but the complexity of the detection system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification timeVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs multiple functions: it monitors shift stages, detects malfunctions, analyzes vehicle behaviors, and identifies specific failed engagement elements. By making the control device universal and multi-functional, the system achieves rapid identification without adding separate dedicated sensing hardware, thus avoiding increased device complexity while maintaining fast response time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the malfunction detection and identification functions into the existing control device that already monitors shift stages. By combining multiple diagnostic functions into a single integrated system, rapid malfunction identification is achieved without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same hardware performs multiple diagnostic tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11536365B2Malfunction location detection device for automatic transmission, and automatic transmission provided with same

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 JATCO LTD

AI summary

A malfunction part sensing device for an automatic transmission for a vehicle which is arranged to attain a plurality of shift stages by selectively engaging a plurality of frictional engagement elements, the malfunction part sensing device includes: a shift stage monitoring section configured to monitor the shift stages before and after the shift of the automatic transmission; a malfunction sensing section configured to sense the malfunction mode from a behavior of the vehicle which is generated in accordance with the malfunction; and a malfunction part limiting section configured to limit the one of the frictional engagement elements in which the malfunction is generated, based on the malfunction mode and a shift manner by a combination of the shift stages before and after the shift.