Granted Patent B2

US 8,046,144 · App. 11/768,334 · Granted Oct 25, 2011

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A non-linear proportional and derivative control method to adjust a duty cycle of an applying clutch for a garage shift, comprising using a processor to perform the steps of:

turning a solenoid on for a period of time responsive to a garage shift to a desired gear,

applying a duty cycle to the solenoid until a turbine speed begins to separate from an engine speed; and

utilizing non-linear proportional and derivative control to adjust the duty cycle to control a rate of turbine speed change as the desired gear is engaged.

2. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 1 , wherein the proportional and derivative control comprises:

determining turbine acceleration error, wherein the turbine acceleration error comprises a difference between measured turbine acceleration and desired turbine acceleration;

computing a rate of change of the turbine acceleration error; and

selecting a change in duty cycle responsive to the turbine acceleration and the rate of change of the turbine acceleration error.

3. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 2 , wherein proportional and derivative control further comprises:

determining whether the garage shift is a rolling garage shift or a stationary garage shift;

and adjusting the duty cycle by the change in duty cycle, wherein the change in duty cycle is subtracted from the duty cycle for the rolling garage shift and the change in duty cycle is added to the duty cycle for the stationary garage shift.

4. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 3 , wherein the determining step selects the stationary garage shift unless the rolling garage shift is detected;

and wherein the rolling garage shift is detected based upon a turbine speed transitioning through zero and by comparing one or more of turbine speed to a turbine speed threshold value, transmission output speed to a transmission output speed threshold value, and turbine acceleration to a turbine acceleration threshold value.

5. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 3 , wherein the adjusting the duty cycle comprises adjusting one of a pulse-width modulated and a variable force solenoid valve.

6. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 2 , wherein the non-linear proportional and derivative control is repeated until the desired gear is engaged.

7. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 2 , wherein the change in duty cycle is selected responsive to a sign of the rate of change of the turbine acceleration error and the sign and magnitude of the turbine acceleration error.

8. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 7 , wherein the change in duty cycle is set equal to one of four equations, f 1δDC (Δa), f 2δDC (Δa), f 3δDC (Δa), and f 4δDC (Δa), where δDC comprises the change in duty cycle and Δa comprises the turbine acceleration;

wherein the change in duty cycle is set equal to f 1δDC (Δa) when the rate of change of the turbine acceleration error is positive and the turbine acceleration error is greater than or equal to zero;

wherein the change in duly cycle is set equal to −f 2 δDC (Δa) when the rate of change of the turbine acceleration error is positive and the turbine acceleration error is less than zero;

wherein the change in duty cycle is set equal to f 3 δDC (Δa) when the rate of change of the turbine acceleration error is negative or equal to zero and the turbine acceleration error is greater than or equal to zero;

and wherein the change in duty cycle is set equal to −f 4δDC (Δa) when the rate of change of the turbine acceleration error is negative or equal to zero and the turbine acceleration error is less than zero.

9. The non-linear proportional and derivative control method of claim 8 , wherein the four equations are adjusted to provide a smooth engagement during one of a rolling and stationary garage shift based upon a vehicle's characteristics.

10. A vehicle control unit configured, to adjust a duty cycle of a solenoid valve of an applying clutch for a garage shift, comprising: input and output interfaces connected to a solenoid driver and a sensor;

and a processor connected to the input and output interfaces and a data store, wherein the processor is configured to: detect a rolling and stationary garage shift;

activate the solenoid driver to engage a solenoid valve, wherein the solenoid valve is configured to engage a clutch;

receive turbine speed measurements from the sensor,

and perform non-linear proportional and derivative control to adjust the duty cycle.

11. The vehicle control unit of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a transmission turbine speed sensor configured to measure a speed of a transmission turbine.

12. The vehicle control unit of claim 11 , wherein the processor detects the rolling and stationary garage shift responsive to measurements from the turbine speed sensor.

13. The vehicle control unit of claim 10 , wherein activate the solenoid driver comprises turning the driver full on for a time period and implementing a fill duty cycle on the driver after the time period.

14. The vehicle control unit of claim 13 , wherein the non-linear proportional and derivative control comprises adjusting the fill duty cycle responsive to received turbine speed measurements and calculations of turbine acceleration, turbine acceleration error, and rate of change of turbine acceleration error;

and wherein the turbine acceleration error comprises a difference between measure turbine acceleration and a desired turbine acceleration.

15. The vehicle control unit of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting the fill duty cycle comprises: calculating a change in duty cycle responsive turbine acceleration error and rate of change of turbine acceleration error;

adjusting the fill duty cycle by the change in duty cycle, wherein the adjusted duty cycle comprises a current duty cycle;

and repeating the changing and adjusting steps to adjust the current duty cycle until a desired gear is engaged.

Assignments (18)