IP Library Granted Patent US 8,463,516
Granted Patent B2
US 8,463,516 · App. 11/295,788 · Granted Jun 11, 2013

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,463,516
App. No.
11/295,788
Granted
Jun 11, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A process and device for controlling a motor vehicle with an initialization device ( 43 ) for startup and a clutch actuated by means of a clutch actuator set ( 45 ) between a drive unit and a gear with a control device ( 41 ) by means of which at least one control of the clutch actuator set ( 45 ) and an acquisition of measurement data of a sensor ( 47 ) takes place for the purpose of determining the position of the clutch, characterized in that to verify the state “clutch open” upon startup, a positioning of the clutch actuator set ( 45 ) that has been set and stored before or during shutdown is compared to a positioning that was acquired during a predetermined movement course of the clutch actuator set ( 45 ) after startup by means of a distance measurement, which takes place at least in a segment of that movement course, whereby the state “clutch open” is recognized, in particular, when the magnitude of the comparison is within a predetermined tolerance range. By means of the invention one can further reduce the probability of the setting into motion of a motor vehicle after startup, which is critical in terms of safety.

Claims (28)

1. A process for controlling a motor vehicle start up, the motor vehicle including a clutch, an initialization device, a clutch actuator set, a control device, and a sensor, wherein the clutch actuator set is located between a drive unit and a gear and wherein the clutch is actuated by means of the clutch actuator set, comprising:

receiving in the initialization device, information that the motor vehicle is in a shutdown;

displacing the clutch actuator to a first position and storing the first position in response to receipt of the information regarding the shutdown;

executing a predetermined movement course of the clutch actuator set after a startup, wherein the predetermined movement course includes opening the clutch;

determining, using the control device and data acquiring from the sensor, a second position of the clutch after opening the clutch as part of the predetermined movement course;

comparing the first and second positions to determine a magnitude of the difference between the first and second positions; and,

verifying that the clutch is in a “clutch open” state when the magnitude of the difference is within a predetermined tolerance range.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a self-locking clutch actuator set before or during the shutdown is positioned remote by a predetermined distance from a stop “clutch open” in the direction of “clutch closed”.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a non-self-locking clutch actuator set is moved before or during shutdown upon a stop “clutch open”.

4. The process according to claim 2 , wherein upon startup, one moves with the self-locking clutch actuator set in the direction of “clutch open” and that the covered distance is measured until a stop is recognized.

5. The process according to claim 3 , wherein upon startup using the non-self-locking actuator set, one moves for a predetermined distance in the direction “clutch closed” and that one stops then and thereupon moves back in the other direction, in the direction of “clutch open”, and that the return-run distance is measured until a stop is recognized.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the movement and positioning of the actuator set take place electrically with an actuator motor.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein a reset movement of the actuator set in the direction of “clutch open” takes place through impacting by a spring device.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch is considered as opened when the deviation of a measured distance from a predetermined distance is within the predetermined tolerance range.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the clutch is subjected to a diagnosis procedure when the deviation of a measured distance from a predetermined distance is not within the predetermined tolerance range.

10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the starter release is not given when the diagnosis procedure determines an implausible actuator set behavior.

11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the procedural steps must be applied to both clutches in case of a dual-clutch gear.

12. A device for controlling a motor vehicle start up, comprising:

a clutch actuator set located between a drive unit and a gear;

a clutch actuated by means of the clutch actuator set;

an initialization device;

a control device; and,

a sensor, wherein the initialization device is for receiving information that the motor vehicle is in a shutdown and transmitting the information to the control device and wherein the control device is for:

causing the clutch actuator to displace to a first position and storing the first position in response to receipt of the information regarding the shutdown;

causing the clutch actuator to execute a predetermined movement course of the clutch actuator set after a startup, wherein the predetermined movement course includes opening the clutch;

determining, using data acquiring from the sensor, a second position of the clutch after opening the clutch as part of the predetermined movement course;

comparing the first and second positions to determine a magnitude of the difference between the first and second positions; and,

verifying that the clutch is in a “clutch open” state when the magnitude of the difference is within a predetermined tolerance range.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 037732 FRAME 0347. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE APP. NO. 14/553248 SHOULD BE APP. NO. 14/553258. Recorded Oct 11, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 040404/0530 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG; SCHAEFFLER VERWALTUNGS 5 GMBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0228 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2016
From: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 037732/0347 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
To: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
Reel/Frame 028106/0668 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2012
From: LUK VERMOEGENSVERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
To: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 028106/0935 →