Transmission Shift Phase Resequencing for Faster Gear Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transmission systems experience undesirable increases in shift duration when an operator changes gears during a shifting transient, leading to decreased shifting performance and customer dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a transmission system that re-estimates the time for each phase of a gear shift based on conditions indicative of an operator's intent to change gears, allowing for a more efficient gear change by altering the sequence of shift phases to minimize duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the transmission system follows the conventional shifting method when an operator changes gears during a shifting transient, then the gear change can be completed, but the shift duration increases undesirably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the shift phase sequence adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The control system dynamically re-estimates the time for each shift phase and resequences them in real-time when a change-of-mind condition is detected, allowing the transmission to adapt its shifting behavior based on operator intent and system state, thereby reducing shift duration while maintaining operational flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting change-of-mind conditions early during the shifting transient and proactively re-estimating phase times and resequencing shift phases before the original shift completes. This allows the system to prepare and execute a shortened shift sequence in advance, preventing the undesirable increase in shift duration from occurring in the first place
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transmission system allows gear changes during shifting transient, then operator intent is accommodated, but shifting performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the shift phase sequence based on detected operator intent (change-of-mind condition). By making the control strategy adaptive rather than static, the transmission can accommodate operator requests while maintaining high shifting performance through real-time optimization of the shift execution sequence
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback by continuously monitoring shift phase timing and detecting change-of-mind conditions during the shifting transient. This feedback information is used to trigger re-estimation of phase times and resequencing of shift phases, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains high shifting performance while responding to operator intent
3Device complexity
If the transmission system uses fixed shift phase timing, then control is simple, but shift duration increases when change of mind occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing the framework for multiple shift phases and their possible sequences. When a change-of-mind condition is detected, the system has already prepared the re-estimation algorithms and alternative phase sequences, allowing for rapid recalculation and resequencing without adding significant real-time complexity to the control logic
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a transmission. The transmission system operating method includes, in one example, re-estimating a time for each phase of an alternate gear shift in response to determining one or more conditions that are indicative of an operator's intent to implement the alternate gear shift. The method further includes performing one or more gear change phases that reduce a duration to implement the alternate gear shift based on the re-estimated time for each phase of the alternate gear shift.