Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ronald James Vodicka

Pramod Kumar Jain

Howard Cecil Kuhn

An adaptive electronic transmission control for an automatic transmission having multiple-ratio gearing establishing plural torque flow paths between a torque input member and a driven member, the relative motion of the elements of the gearing being controlled by a friction torque establishing member and an overrunning coupling connection between two gear elements of the gearing. A ratio shift is achieved by establishing a driving connection between a selected gearing element and a torque delivery shaft. The shift is achieved by controlling the capacity of the friction element using a fluid pressure actuator. Shift quality is optimized by establishing a bias pressure on a friction element accumulator and by using a feedback control system to control the rate of change of transmission ratio during the shift.

Adaptive electronic transmission control system and strategy for nonsynchronous automatic transmission

An adaptive control system and method for direct clutch engagement control for an automatic transmission including a micro-controller that receives and stores input data from driveline sensors and executes transmission clutch control logic. The micro-controller develops output signals in real time and transfers the signals to a driver circuit that controls solenoids that enable clutch engagement. The signals for establishing clutch pressure buildup are delivered to a driver circuit that produces hydraulic pressure at the clutch to achieve a smooth torque and speed transition for the torque input elements of the transmission. Adaptive pressure values are stored in a keep-alive memory. The pressure values are adjusted values based on the result of previous engagements. This compensates for driveline variables such as changes in coefficients of friction, spring loads, clutch wear, etc., whereby engagement cycle time is reduced and actual pressure buildup rate is maintained close to desired value to achieve a desired slip change rate, thereby achieving consistent, improved engagement quality.

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Ronald James Vodicka