Automatic Transmission Target Switching with Dynamic Consolidation Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automatic transmission control methods for vehicles with discrete ratios, electric, hybrid, or thermal systems fail to minimize the frequency of state changes in the kinematic chain, leading to performance degradation, increased service interruptions, and reduced reactivity due to inadequate consideration of the impact of state changes on overall transmission and vehicle performance.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines the consolidation time for substituting a state based on the cause of the current target's elimination, using an adjustment parameter to optimize reactivity or sequencing of target substitutions, allowing for targeted authorization of state changes to improve vehicle performance by considering the specific reasons for state change interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the target state is changed during the execution of a state in the drivetrain, then the transmission can respond to new driver requests or braking changes, but the execution time of operations is lengthened and performance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness to driver requestVSAvoidexecution time of operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control method determines the cause of target elimination in advance and applies different consolidation times based on pre-defined criteria. By preparing the consolidation time strategy beforehand based on the elimination cause, the system can switch targets more efficiently without extending execution time unnecessarily.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the consolidation time parameter dynamically based on the cause of target elimination. When the elimination cause indicates a priority change (such as safety-critical braking requests), the consolidation time is reduced or waived, allowing immediate target switching. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system both responsive and time-efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the consolidation time for target substitution is reduced to improve responsiveness, then the vehicle reacts faster to new requests, but the quality of state execution degrades and clunking noises or jolts appear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponsiveness of transmissionVSAvoidquality of state execution
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control method dynamically adjusts the consolidation time parameter based on the cause of target elimination. For non-critical changes, full consolidation time is applied to ensure smooth execution. For critical changes (safety, performance), the consolidation time is reduced or eliminated. This conditional parameter change resolves the contradiction by adapting the strictness of execution to the urgency of the situation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention makes the consolidation time dynamic rather than fixed. The system transitions from a static consolidation time approach to a dynamic one that adapts to the elimination cause. This allows the system to be strict when needed for quality and lenient when needed for responsiveness, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional control methods allow target changes during state execution, then the transmission can adapt to performance requirements, but the frequency of target changes increases and overall performance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to change targetsVSAvoidoverall transmission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control method incorporates feedback by continuously monitoring the cause of target elimination and using this information to determine the appropriate consolidation time. This feedback loop prevents unnecessary target changes by evaluating whether a change is truly warranted before initiating the substitution process, thereby reducing the frequency of changes and improving overall performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the consolidation time parameter based on the elimination cause to control the frequency of target changes. By applying longer consolidation times for non-critical changes and shorter times for critical changes, the system optimizes the balance between adaptability and performance, preventing excessive target substitutions that would degrade productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3994376B1Method for controlling the target of a vehicle automatic transmission
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 RENAULT SA
  • EP3994376B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3994376B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3994376B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for controlling the target of a vehicle automatic transmission during the implementation thereby of a state of the drivetrain of the vehicle pre-consolidated as target (OPT_DLS_CS), characterized in that the period of consolidation (DLS_CGE_TMR_THD) necessary in order to allow the substitution of a state (OPT_DLS), which has become optimal for the drivetrain subsequent to the start of the current implementation, for a target (OPT_DLS_CS) currently being implemented is determined as a function of the cause of elimination (OPT_DLS_CS_FORB_VAL) of the target (OPT_DLS_CS) currently being implemented.