Vehicle Speed Control Settings for Progressive Shift Limits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining progressive shift and gear down protection setpoints in vehicles are based on trial and error, making it difficult to achieve efficient and reliable operation across various vehicle configurations and intended uses, as setpoints determined for one vehicle or use case may not be appropriate for another.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that calculates optimal progressive shift and gear down protection setpoints based on vehicle configuration, including engine model, transmission, and optimization goals, using a setting calculation component and vehicle simulation component to determine suitable speed control management settings, and allows users to modify these settings within dynamically determined bounds to ensure acceptable driveability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If trial and error methods are used to determine progressive shift and gear down protection setpoints, then some vehicle configuration can achieve acceptable operation, but the method is inefficient and cannot accommodate the high degree of vehicle customizability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetpoint determination efficiencyVSAvoidaccommodation of vehicle configuration variations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines progressive shift and gear down protection setpoints by calculating optimal parameters based on vehicle configuration data, replacing manual trial-and-error adjustment with automated parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-configuration by automatically determining appropriate setpoints based on the vehicle's own configuration parameters, eliminating the need for external manual tuning for each vehicle variant

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual trial and error adjustment of setpoints is performed, then some configurations may achieve acceptable performance, but the process is time-consuming and impractical for highly customized vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidsetpoint configuration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automatic calculation and determination of optimal setpoints during the vehicle configuration phase, before the vehicle enters production or operation, ensuring reliability is established in advance rather than through iterative testing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment and trial-and-error testing with an automated computational system that calculates optimal setpoints based on vehicle configuration parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If fixed setpoints are used for progressive shift and gear down protection, then the system is simple to implement, but the setpoints are not appropriate for different vehicle configurations or intended uses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetpoint system complexityVSAvoidapplicability across vehicle configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from fixed static setpoints to dynamic setpoints that automatically adapt to different vehicle configurations, allowing the control parameters to change based on the specific vehicle setup while maintaining system simplicity through automated calculation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3896313B1Nontransitory computer readable medium, method and computer device for determining speed control management settings
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 PACCAR INC
  • EP3896313B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3896313B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3896313B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and devices for determining speed control management settings are provided. A vehicle configuration is obtained, specifying at least a transmission, including a number of gears present in the transmission. One or more speed control management modules, such as progressive shift and/or gear down protection modules, are selected by a customer. One or more default progressive shift limits and a default gear down protection limit are calculated, along with gears for which they are active. Performance of the vehicle using the default speed control management settings is simulated and compared to typical vehicle performance. The customer may alter the speed control management settings within dynamically determined valid ranges. The speed control management settings are used in the manufacture or other configuration of the vehicle for the customer.