Transmission Mode Switching to Prevent Unwanted Sailing Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle transmission systems with automatic gear-shifting modes often activate the sailing functionality unnecessarily, leading to inefficient energy consumption and deceleration control, as drivers must apply brakes or constantly shift gears to deactivate it, especially at lower speeds.
Innovation Solution
A method and transmission system that allow users to manually change modes from automatic to manual and back, using a user input device like a shift lever or paddles to select an operating gear lower than the recommended gear, thereby deactivating the sailing functionality and enabling controlled deceleration without brake application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the sailing functionality is activated in automatic mode, then fuel consumption is reduced and travel distance is extended, but deceleration rate is reduced and engine braking is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control unit continuously monitors the operational mode and gear selection, and automatically adjusts the sailing functionality activation status based on feedback from the driver's gear selection behavior, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to driver intentions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing gear selection mechanism to automatically control the sailing functionality, allowing the driver's natural gear selection behavior to serve dual purposes: both gear control and sailing mode control, without requiring additional inputs
2Speed
If the driver applies the brake pedal to deactivate sailing functionality, then deceleration rate is increased and engine braking is restored, but energy consumption in the brake system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical brake system with the transmission system to achieve deceleration. By using gear selection to control sailing functionality, the system substitutes friction-based brake deceleration with transmission-based engine braking, eliminating unnecessary energy loss in the brake system
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the driver moves the transmission shift lever to manual mode to avoid sailing functionality, then sailing is deactivated, but constant driver inputs are required at lower speeds and the system is less convenient
Solution Approach 1:
The gear selection mechanism serves dual functions: traditional gear control and sailing functionality control. The same input device and operational sequence used for gear selection also controls sailing mode activation/deactivation, eliminating the need for separate controls or constant mode switching
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically controls sailing functionality based on the driver's gear selection behavior, allowing the existing gear selection process to serve the additional purpose of sailing mode control without requiring additional driver inputs or complex operations
4Ease of operation
If the driver slides the shift lever back to automatic mode to avoid manual down-shifting, then sailing functionality is reactivated, but unnecessary energy consumption in the brake system occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission control unit monitors when the driver returns to automatic mode and uses this feedback to determine whether to reactivate sailing functionality. When downshifting was previously performed, the system interprets this as a driver intention to maintain engine braking, so sailing functionality is not reactivated even though the driver returned to automatic mode
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the driver's gear selection history and behavior to automatically maintain the desired deceleration mode, eliminating the need for the driver to consciously manage sailing functionality when returning to automatic mode
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and transmission system for avoiding activation of a sailing functionality in a vehicle, where the vehicle comprises a powertrain with the transmission system. The transmission system is configured for automatic gear-shifting in an operational automatic mode and manual gear-shifting by a user of the vehicle in an operational manual mode, and the transmission system comprises a user input device configured for manually changing the operational mode of the transmission system between the automatic mode and the manual mode. The transmission system comprises a transmission control unit for determining a recommended gear in the automatic mode and the manual mode. The transmission system is operated in the manual mode, and in the manual mode, an operating gear of the transmission system is detected by the transmission control unit. A change of the operational mode of the transmission system from the manual mode to the automatic mode by means of the user input device is detected, and if the detected operating gear in the manual mode when changing the operational mode to the automatic mode by means of the user input device is lower than the recommended gear the sailing functionality in the automatic mode is deactivated.