Vehicle Shift Control Using Acceleration History and Throttle Maps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shift controlling apparatuses for vehicles, like motorcycles, are not efficient in managing fuel cost and engine noise across varying terrain without gradient detection sensors, and require frequent shifting operations.
Innovation Solution
A shift controlling apparatus with automatic shift maps that adjust gear stages based on vehicle speed and throttle opening, featuring drive and sport modes with different gear ratio regions, and a mode selection system that automatically changes gear ratios based on acceleration history and user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gradient detection means is used to manage shifting on uphill and downhill, then appropriate running control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's own acceleration sensor data and throttle opening information to determine driving conditions and select appropriate shift maps, eliminating the need for external gradient detection means. The ECU processes readily available vehicle data to achieve appropriate running control on varying terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical gradient detection sensors with an electronic control system that uses acceleration history and throttle opening data to infer driving conditions. This substitution of mechanical sensing with electronic processing reduces device complexity while maintaining control accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If frequent shifting operations are required to adapt to terrain changes, then appropriate running is improved, but loss of time and driver convenience worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores multiple shift maps (ordinary, sport, and intermediate modes) with different gear stage selections for various driving conditions. The ECU selects the appropriate pre-prepared map based on acceleration history and throttle opening, eliminating the need for real-time shifting decisions and frequent gear changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the shift map selection based on real-time acceleration history and throttle opening data, providing smooth transitions between different driving modes. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize gear stages continuously without requiring frequent manual or automated shifting operations.
3Device complexity
If a single shift map is used for all conditions, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different running states worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The shift control system is segmented into multiple shift maps (ordinary mode, sport mode, and intermediate mode) each optimized for specific driving conditions. The ECU divides the control space into different acceleration history ranges and throttle opening levels, selecting the appropriate segment (shift map) for the current driving state, thereby achieving both simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of the shift map selection based on acceleration history and throttle opening. By varying these input parameters, the system automatically selects from multiple pre-configured shift maps with different gear stage characteristics, achieving adaptability to different running states without increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Shift controlling apparatus for a vehicle which automatically carries out changeover between a plurality of shift gear stages based on an automatic shift map including a drive mode shift map and a sport mode shift map having an increased region in which a speed change ratio is low compared to the drive mode shift map and corresponds to more sporty operation than that of the drive mode shift map. The drive mode shift map has a first mode portion and a second mode portion having an increased region in which the change gear ratio is low compared to the first mode portion, but smaller than the increased region of the sport mode shift map. Changeover between the first and second mode portions is carried out based on an acceleration history in accordance with a throttle opening of the vehicle.