Chrysler Corporation

Chrysler Motors Corporation

Other

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Howard L Benford

Maurice B Leising

Gerald L Holbrook

Hemang S Mehta

Hans A Dourra

Francis M Fodale

Berthold Martin

James R Klotz

Nabil M Issa

Michael R Lindsay

Thomas D Nogle

Steven A Mikel

Jay C McCombie

Roy S Nassar

Charles J Redinger

Gary K Lowe

Edward W Czarnecki

Robert H Smith

Alfred P Blomquist

William Nortman

Allen D Adam

Robert J Schichtel

Robert Leslie Bradley

Gerald L Helbrook

A method of controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle operating in a automatic speed control speed mode is provided. The first step in the method is measuring the torque output of the engine. A torque load acting on the transmission in a first gear is then determined. A maximum torque capable of being produced by the engine is then predicted. A torque output of the transmission in a second gear is then determined based upon the predicted maximum torque capable of being produced by the engine. A transmission shift from the first gear to the second gear is then allowed if the determined torque output of the transmission in the second gear is greater than the torque load of the transmission in a first gear.

Adaptive load torque for gear selection in an automatic transmission

A method of shifting in a manual mode of an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system includes the steps of determining whether a shift lever of a shift lever mechanism is presenting a position error when the shift lever is in a manual position, determining whether at least one switch on the shift, lever mechanism is presenting an error if a shift lever position, error is not determined, determining whether a temperature of an, automatic transmission or engine coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold if the at least one switch is not presenting an error, determining whether the manual position conditions have been met, determining whether an upshift or downshift of the automatic transmission is scheduled if the manual position conditions have been met, and executing either an upshift or a downshift of the automatic transmission based on the determined upshift or downshift being scheduled.

Method of shifting in a manual mode of an electronically-controlled

A four-speed automatic transmission for a vehicle includes a transmission housing, an input member, an output member, three planetary gearsets for changing a ratio of torque between the input member and the output member, a plurality of clutch assemblies to selectively couple the input member to predetermined gears of the planetary gearsets, a plurality of brake assemblies to selectively couple predetermined gears of the planetary gearsets to the transmission housing, and a structure for allowing the output member and a planetary carrier from one of the planetary gearsets and an annulus gear of another of the planetary gearsets to rotate simultaneously.

Four-speed automatic transmission

An interactive cruise control system and method for providing automatic speed control of a vehicle with improved shifting of an automatic transmission. The system and method controls speed of a vehicle equipped with cruise control and minimizes downshifts in an automatic transmission of the vehicle. Vehicle speed is detected and compared with a setpoint speed which is associated with the cruise control system. Transmission gear shifting is determined based on predetermined shift schedule points. Determined transmission gear downshifts are prevented for a kickdown delay period based on vehicle speed loss and the presence of vehicle deceleration. Also provided is an overspeed reduction method for causing a transmission downshift during an overspeed condition with the throttle closed. Further, the system provides hunting prevention between both second gear and third gear as well as between third gear and fourth gear for a four speed automatic transmission.

Kickdown delay in cruise control for automatic transmission

An interactive cruise control system and method for providing automatic speed control of a vehicle with improved shifting of an automatic transmission. The system and method controls speed of a vehicle equipped with cruise control and minimizes downshifts in an automatic transmission of the vehicle. Vehicle speed is detected and compared with a setpoint speed which is associated with the cruise control system. Transmission gear shifting is determined based on predetermined shift schedule points. Determined transmission gear downshifts are prevented for a kickdown delay period based on vehicle speed loss and the presence of vehicle deceleration. Also provided is an overspeed reduction method for causing a transmission downshift during an overspeed condition with the throttle closed. Further, the system provides hunting prevention between both second gear and third gear as well as between third gear and fourth gear of a four speed automatic transmission.

Cruise control overspeed reduction with automatic transmission

A method of shifting in a manual mode of an electronically-controlled automatic transmission system includes the steps of determining whether a shift lever of a shift lever mechanism is presenting a position error when the shift lever is in a manual position, determining whether at least one switch on the shift lever mechanism is presenting an error if a shift lever position error is not determined, determining whether a temperature of an automatic transmission or engine coolant temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold if the at least one switch is not presenting an error, determining whether the manual position conditions have been met, determining whether an upshift or downshift of the automatic transmission is scheduled if the manual position conditions have been met, and executing either an upshift or a downshift of the automatic transmission based on the determined upshift or downshift being scheduled.

Shift hunting prevention for an automatic transmission

A method of determining the deterioration of automatic transmission fluid by detecting shudder during the EMCC portion of air conditioner clutch engagement. Shudder is detected by calculating the acceleration of the turbine during EMCC slip with the following equation:

Method of detecting deterioration of automatic transmission fluid

A four speed automatic transmission for a vehicle includes a transmission housing, an input member, an output member, three planetary gearsets for changing a ratio of torque between the input member and the output member, a plurality of clutch assemblies to selectively couple the input member to predetermined gears of the planetary gearsets, a plurality of brake assemblies to selectively couple predetermined gears of the planetary gearsets to the transmission housing, and a structure for allowing the output member and a planetary carrier from one of the planetary gearsets and an annulus gear of another of the planetary gearsets to rotate simultaneously.

A five-speed automatic transmission for a vehicle includes a transmission housing, an input member, an output member, a plurality of planetary gearsets for changing a ratio of torque between the input member and the output member, a plurality of clutch assemblies to selectively couple the input member to predetermined gears of the planetary gearsets, a plurality of brake assemblies to selectively couple predetermined gears of the planetary gearsets to the transmission housing, and a structure for allowing the output member and a planetary carrier from one of the planetary gearsets and an annulus gear from another of the planetary gearsets and a sun gear from yet another of the planetary gearsets to rotate simultaneously.

Five-speed automatic transmission

The present invention provides a method of adaptively modifying the transmission shift schedule during various driving conditions. The method determines a desirable upshift schedule based upon driving conditions, and adaptively adjusts the transmission shift schedule in accordance with a predefined criteria. This is accomplished by observing vehicle speed and other transmission operating parameters and determining whether an adaptive shift schedule adjustment is required. If the shift schedule is adaptively adjusted, the driving parameters are further monitored to determine at which time the shift schedule may be reset to its initial state.

Automatic transmission with adaptive shift schedule

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the hydraulic line pressure in an automatic transmission for a vehicle in response to the torque transmitted through the transmission such that a minimum hydraulic line pressure is provided to the frictional elements to achieve a no-slip condition through the transmission increasing transmission efficiency, thereby increasing the fuel economy of the vehicle. Hydraulic line pressure is controlled by activating a solenoid activated valve which allows fluid recirculation from the high-pressure side of the hydraulic pump to the low-pressure side of the pump. Control signals are generated based on engine speed, turbine speed, output speed (vehicle speed), hydraulic line pressures, driver selected gear, the operating gear and the torque converter operating condition for energizing the solenoid-actuated valve. The present invention further provides closed-loop adaptive control technology to learn the minimum line pressure requirements to compensate for production variability of clutch return springs, friction characteristics, surface finishes and flatness, as well as hydraulic response resulting from valve body part variation, wear, and changes over the life of the transmission.

Adaptive line pressure control for an electronic automatic transmission

A method for predicting the temperature of automatic transmission fluid, in real time, in an automatic transmission. The method involves determining a constant for thermal inertia of the transmission, determining a torque converter heat flow, determining a transmission heat flow, determining a transmission cooler heat flow and determining an exterior-of-transmission heat flow. From each of the four above-mentioned heat flows and the above-mentioned constant, the transmission fluid temperature is predicted. The predicted temperature is used to modify operational parameters of the transmission such as its shift tables.

Method of predicting transmission oil temperature

A valve assembly in a fluid system of an automatic transmission for controlling the lock-up of the torque converter assembly of the automatic transmission includes a regulator valve for establishing a pressure level of fluid flow from a fluid source, a torque converter control valve for controlling fluid pressure to the torque converter assembly during the disengagement operating mode, and a lock-up valve receiving fluid pressure feedback from the torque converter control valve to close a fluid path during the disengagement operating mode and opening the fluid path for allowing fluid pressure to the apply side of the torque converter assembly during the engagement operating mode.

Hydraulic controls for lock-up clutch of a torque converter assembly

A method of adaptively scheduling an upshift. The method determines whether the vehicle can maintain speed in a high gear and, if it cannot, to inhibit the lower to higher gear upshift. This is accomplished by observing vehicle acceleration in the lower gear, determining whether the vehicle will be capable of providing a predetermined value of acceleration after an upshift of the gear assembly to a higher gear. If the vehicle will not be capable of providing the predetermined value of acceleration, then the upshift will be prevented.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Howard L Benford