Vehicle Control Apparatus Engine Speed Management During Gear Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle control systems that increase engine speed during gear switching between forward and reverse can cause unusual sensations for the driver due to temporary engine stalls when the engine is cold, as they engage and disengage the transmission while switching gears.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus that includes a torque transmission switching part, switch instruction parts, a torque transmission detecting part, and an electronic control unit with a microprocessor to manage the engine speed by setting a target speed based on the torque transmission state, preventing unnecessary engine speed increases during temporary off-gear states during gear switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engine speed is increased during temporary off-gear state when switching between forward and reverse gears, then engine stall is prevented, but the driver feels strange discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the engine speed control strategy based on the specific gear switching context. When switching between forward and reverse gears, the system identifies this as a temporary off-gear state and maintains normal engine speed, whereas in other off-gear states (like neutral selection), it increases engine speed to prevent stall. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying engine speed increase only where necessary for reliability without causing driver discomfort in gear switching scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts engine speed control based on real-time detection of torque transmission state and gear switching context. The ECU monitors whether the off-gear state is temporary (during forward-reverse switching) or extended (other scenarios) and dynamically modifies the engine speed increase instruction accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability when needed while avoiding driver discomfort during gear transitions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the transmission is temporarily put in off-gear state during gear switching, then shock and unusual noise are reduced, but engine stall may occur when engine temperature is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between temporary off-gear states during gear switching and other off-gear states. During forward-reverse gear switching, the system allows the transmission to pass through the off-gear state without increasing engine speed, accepting the temporary shock and noise as necessary for smooth gear transition. In other scenarios, the system increases engine speed to prevent stall. This localized approach resolves the contradiction by applying engine speed increase only where reliability is at risk without compromising the shock and noise reduction benefits during gear switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of the gear switching state before the off-gear transition occurs. The ECU monitors the transmission control signal and identifies when a forward-reverse gear switch is initiated, preparing to maintain normal engine speed control during the upcoming temporary off-gear state. This preliminary action ensures that the engine speed is appropriately managed before the shock and noise reduction benefit is realized, preventing engine stall while maintaining smooth gear transition.
3Reliability
If engine speed is increased during off-gear state, then engine stall is prevented, but unnecessary engine speed increase occurs during temporary off-gear state in gear switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing context-specific engine speed control. The system identifies the local condition of temporary off-gear state during forward-reverse gear switching and applies a different control strategy (no engine speed increase) compared to other off-gear states (engine speed increase to prevent stall). This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by eliminating unnecessary engine speed increases during gear switching while maintaining stall prevention in scenarios where it is truly needed, thereby optimizing engine operation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the transmission control signal and torque transmission state detection to dynamically adjust engine speed control. The ECU continuously monitors whether the transmission is in a temporary off-gear state during gear switching and feeds this information back to the engine control logic. Based on this feedback, the system selectively applies or withholds engine speed increase instructions, resolving the contradiction by ensuring engine speed increase is applied only when necessary for reliability without degrading productivity during normal gear operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control apparatus including a torque transmission detecting part detecting a torque transmission state switched by a torque transmission switching part and a microprocessor configured to perform setting a target speed of an internal combustion engine in accordance with the torque transmission state detected by the torque transmission detecting part. The microprocessor is configured to perform the setting including increasing the target speed when a switch to the off-gear state is detected by the torque transmission detecting part after a switch instruction to an off-gear state the first is output by a first switch instruction part, while not increasing the target speed even when the switch to the off-gear state is detected by the torque transmission detecting part after a switch instruction to a reverse in-gear state or forward in-gear state is output by the second switch instruction part.