SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROL OF TRANSMISSION AND/OR PRIME MOVER
Methods of controlling a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are described. The CVT has a group of spherical power adjusters. Each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission. The CVT has a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a drive system having a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission.
1 . A method of controlling a drive system in a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the method comprising:
receiving information associated with the drive motor and the CVT;
adjusting the drive motor to operate at a desired setting; and
adjusting the CVT to achieve a desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired setting is based on a throttle input.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the drive motor to operate at the desired setting comprises operating the drive motor at an initial power until the drive motor is at a base speed.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises operating the drive motor at a peak current.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises operating the drive motor at the initial power for a predetermined length of time.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises:
receiving a user input for a current level to be delivered to the drive motor;
determining if the user input exceeds a maximum current limit of the drive motor; and
delivering the current level to the drive motor up to a level that does not exceed the maximum current limit of the drive motor.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the user input is a throttle input.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the CVT to achieve the desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting comprises:
selecting a desired range of current of the drive motor based on an efficiency of the drive motor;
monitoring a current draw;
comparing the current draw to the desired range of current; and
adjusting a ratio of the CVT based at least in part on the comparison.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the current draw is a current provided to the drive motor or a current drawn from a battery.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the CVT comprises selecting a speed ratio for the CVT based on a lookup table selected from a group of lookup tables.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the lookup table is selected from a group of lookup tables including a fast acceleration mode, an economy mode, a fixed ratio simulation mode, and a performance mode.
12 . A control system for controlling a drive system in a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the control system configured to communicate with a sensor and further configured to:
receive information associated with the drive motor and the CVT;
adjust the drive motor to operate at a desired setting; and
adjust the CVT to achieve a desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting.
13 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the control system is coupled to a throttle, and wherein the desired setting is based on a throttle input.
14 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at an initial power until the drive motor is at a base speed.
15 . The control system of claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at a peak current.
16 . The control system of claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at the initial power for a predetermined length of time.
17 . The control system of claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to:
receive a user input for a current level to be delivered to the drive motor;
determine if the user input exceeds a maximum current limit of the drive motor; and
deliver the current level to the drive motor up to a level that does not exceed the maximum current limit of the drive motor.
18 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to adjust the CVT to achieve the desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting by:
selecting a desired range of current of the drive motor based on an efficiency of the drive motor;
monitoring a current draw;
comparing the current draw to the desired range of current; and
adjusting a ratio of the CVT based at least in part on the comparison.
19 . The control system of claim 18 , wherein the current draw is a current provided to the drive motor or a current drawn from a battery.
20 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to adjust the CVT by selecting a speed ratio for the CVT based on a lookup table selected from a group of lookup tables including a fast acceleration mode, an economy mode, a fixed ratio simulation mode, and a performance mode.