IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0071859
(2008-02-27)
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등록번호 |
US-8620537
(2013-12-31)
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우선권정보 |
JP-2007-051735 (2007-03-01) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
8 |
초록
▼
A shift-by-wire system improves responsiveness to a shift command and ensures safety. An electric motor generates a rotational output to be used to switch the ranges of an automatic transmission. A by-wire control circuit unit electrically controls the rotation of the electric motor to comply with a
A shift-by-wire system improves responsiveness to a shift command and ensures safety. An electric motor generates a rotational output to be used to switch the ranges of an automatic transmission. A by-wire control circuit unit electrically controls the rotation of the electric motor to comply with an inputted shift command. If a re-shift command is inputted during switching control, the by-wire control circuit unit modifies rotation control. The modification can be implemented until the rotational position of the electric motor reaches a new target rotational position to comply with the re-shift command.
대표청구항
▼
1. A shift-by-wire system comprising: an electric motor that generates a rotational output to be used to switch a range of an automatic transmission in a vehicle that includes in succession at least a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range and a drive range; anda by-wire control circuit tha
1. A shift-by-wire system comprising: an electric motor that generates a rotational output to be used to switch a range of an automatic transmission in a vehicle that includes in succession at least a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range and a drive range; anda by-wire control circuit that is configured to electrically control rotation of the electric motor to a target rotational position to comply with an inputted shift command,wherein the actual rotational position of the electric motor lies in a neutral region when a rotational region of the electric motor brings the automatic transmission to a neutral state,wherein the actual rotational position of the electric motor lies in a non-neutral region when a rotational region of the electric motor brings the automatic transmission to a non-neutral state,wherein said control circuit is configured such that:when a re-shift command is inputted during a rotation control operation that switches the range, the rotation control operation applied to the electric motor so as to generate the rotational output to comply with the inputted shift command according to the actual rotational position of the electric motor attained when the re-shift command is inputted, the by-wire control circuit modifies the rotation control operation until the rotational position of the electric motor reaches a new target rotational position to comply with the re-shift command; andwhen the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position, the by-wire control circuit selects one of first and second operations according to a relationship between (a) the actual rotational position and (b) the neutral position,wherein the first and second operations include: a first operation which includes a first sequence of operations selected as a function of then existing actual rotational position of the electric motor; anda second operation, different than said first operation, also selected as a function of then existing actual rotational position of the electric motor, and including a second sequence of operations which differs in at least one operation from said first sequence of operations; andwherein:(i) when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position;(ii) when the actual rotational position lies in a non-neutral region that includes a rotational region of the electric motor that brings the automatic transmission to a non-neutral state and the neutral region lies in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position; and(iii) after the by-wire control circuit unit continues the rotation in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the neutral region in the actual rotational direction, and controls the rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null in the neutral region,the by-wire control circuit unit rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 2. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein: (a) when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position;(b) when the actual rotational position lies in a neutral region that includes a rotational region of the electric motor that brings the automatic transmission to a neutral state; and(c) after the by-wire control circuit unit controls the rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null in the neutral region to which the actual rotational position belongs,then the by-wire control circuit is configured to rotate the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 3. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 2, wherein: (i) when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor attained at the time point of input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position;(ii) when the actual rotational position lies in a non-neutral region that includes a rotational region of the electric motor that brings the automatic transmission to a non-neutral state; and the neutral region does not lie in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position; and(iii) after the by-wire control circuit unit controls the rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null in the non-neutral region, to which the actual rotational position belongs, while implementing fail-safe control for ensuring vehicle safety,then the by-wire control circuit is configured to rotate the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 4. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 3, further comprising an engine control circuit configured for controlling an engine of the vehicle, wherein a fail-safe control mode includes decreasing an output torque of the engine by the engine control means. 5. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 3, further comprising a transmission control circuit configured for controlling the automatic transmission independently of the shift-by-wire system, wherein a fail-safe control mode includes fixing the automatic transmission in the neutral state. 6. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 3, further comprising a warning unit that gives warning during fail-safe control. 7. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 2, wherein the neutral region includes a rotational region of the electric motor over at least one of a neutral range and a parking range of the automatic transmission. 8. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 2, wherein the neutral region is set among a plurality of rotational regions of the electric motor over a plurality of ranges of the automatic transmission. 9. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein the non-neutral region includes a rotational region of the electric motor over a running range of the automatic transmission. 10. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein, when the new target rotational position lies in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor attained at the time point of input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position, the by-wire control circuit is configured to continue rotation in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 11. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, further comprising a limit value configured to limit the number of times a given re-shift command is inputted, wherein when a next re-shift command exceeds the limit value, the by-wire control circuit is configured to reject input of the next re-shift command. 12. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second operations include: a first operation which is selected in such a manner that the by-wire control circuit initially continues rotation in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor, then controls rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null, and then rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position; anda second operation which is selected in such a manner that the by-wire control circuit initially controls rotation of the electric motor so that rotation of the electric motor will be null, and then rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 13. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein: when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position, the by-wire control circuit selects one of first and second operations according to the actual rotational position, the operations including: a first operation where the by-wire control circuit continues rotation in actual rotational direction of the electric motor, controls rotation of the electric motor so that rotation of the electric motor will be null, and rotates the electric motor in an opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position; anda second operation where the by-wire control circuit controls rotation of the electric motor so that rotation of the electric motor will be null, and rotates the electric motor in an opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position, andthe range of the automatic transmission includes at least a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range and a drive range. 14. A shift-by-wire system comprising: an electric motor that generates a rotational output to be used to switch a range of an automatic transmission in a vehicle; anda by-wire control circuit that is configured to electrically control the rotation of the electric motor to a target rotational position to comply with an inputted shift command;wherein:when a re-shift command is inputted during a rotation control operation that switches the range, the rotation control operation applied to the electric motor so as to generate the rotational output to comply with the inputted shift command according to the actual rotational position of the electric motor attained when the re-shift command is inputted, the by-wire control circuit modifies the rotation control operation until the rotational position of the electric motor reaches a new target rotational position to comply with the re-shift command;when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position;when the actual rotational position lies in a non-neutral region that includes a rotational region of the electric motor that brings the automatic transmission to a non-neutral state and a neutral region lies in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position;after the by-wire control circuit unit continues the rotation in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the neutral region in the actual rotational direction, and controls the rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null in the neutral region;the by-wire control circuit unit rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position; andwhen at least one neutral region lies in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position, the by-wire control circuit is configured to cause the rotational position of the electric motor to reach the neutral region nearest the actual rotational position in the actual rotational direction. 15. A shift-by-wire system comprising: an electric motor that generates a rotational output to be used to switch a range of an automatic transmission in a vehicle; anda by-wire control circuit that is configured to electrically control the rotation of the electric motor to a target rotational position to comply with an inputted shift command;wherein:when a re-shift command is inputted during a rotation control operation that switches the range, the rotation control operation applied to the electric motor so as to generate the rotational output to comply with the inputted shift command according to the actual rotational position of the electric motor attained when the re-shift command is inputted, the by-wire control unit modifies the rotation control operation until the rotational position of the electric motor reaches a new target rotational position to comply with the re-shift command;said system further comprising:a limit value to limit the number of times a given re-shift command is inputted, wherein when a next one of the given re-shift command that has already been inputted exceeds the limit value, the by-wire control circuit unit rejects input of the next one of the given re-shift command; and a warning unit that gives warning during rejection of the re-shift command; andwherein:(i) when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position;(ii) when the actual rotational position lies in a non-neutral region that includes a rotational region of the electric motor that brings the automatic transmission to a non-neutral state and the neutral region lies in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position; and(iii) after the by-wire control circuit unit continues the rotation in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the neutral region in the actual rotational direction, and controls the rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null in the neutral region,the by-wire control circuit unit rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 16. A method for reducing a sense discrepancy between an actual shift operation and a desired shift operation in a shift-by-wire system for a vehicle having an automatic transmission, the shift-by-wire system being configured so as to be capable of receiving a shift command for shifting a range of the automatic transmission by rotation of an electric motor in an actual rotational direction from an actual rotational position to a target rotational position associated with the shift command during a rotation control operation between successive shift ranges that include at least a parking range, a reverse range, a neutral range and a drive range, the method comprising: receiving a re-shift command input associated with a new target rotational position; andmodifying the rotation control operation until the actual rotational position of the electric motor reaches the new target rotational position to comply with the re-shift command;wherein the actual rotational position of the electric motor lies in a neutral region when a rotational region of the electric motor brings the automatic transmission to a neutral state,wherein the actual rotational position of the electric motor lies in a non-neutral region when a rotational region of the electric motor brings the automatic transmission to a non-neutral state,wherein when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position, the shift-by-wire system selects one of first and second operations according to a relationship between (a) the actual rotational position and (b) the neutral position,wherein the first and second operations include: a first operation which includes a first sequence of operations selected as a function of then existing actual rotational position of the electric motor; anda second operation, different than said first operation, also selected as a function of then existing actual rotational position of the electric motor, and including a second sequence of operations which differs in at least one operation from said first sequence of operations; andwherein:(i) when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position;(ii) when the actual rotational position lies in a non-neutral region that includes a rotational region of the electric motor that brings the automatic transmission to a non-neutral state and the neutral region lies in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position; and(iii) after the by-wire control circuit unit continues the rotation in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the neutral region in the actual rotational direction, and controls the rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null in the neutral region,the by-wire control circuit unit rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position and when the actual rotational position lies in a neutral region associated with a neutral state of the automatic transmission, the method further comprises: stopping the rotation of the electric motor in the neutral region; andreversing a direction of the rotation of the electric motor such that the actual rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor at the time of the input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position and when the actual rotational position lies in a non-neutral region associated with a non-neutral state of the automatic transmission and a neutral region associated with a neutral state of the automatic transmission lies in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position, the method further comprises: continuing the rotation of the electric motor to reach the neutral region in the actual rotational direction;stopping the rotation of the electric motor in the neutral region,reversing a direction of the rotation of the electric motor such that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein when at least one neutral region lies in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position, the method further comprises: causing the rotation of the electric motor to reach the neutral region nearest the actual rotational position in the actual rotational direction. 20. The shift-by-wire system according to claim 16, wherein when the new target rotational position lies in a direction opposite to the actual rotational direction of the electric motor attained at the time point of input of the re-shift command with respect to the actual rotational position and when the actual rotational position lies in a non-neutral region associated with a non-neutral state of the automatic transmission and when and a neutral region associated with a neutral state of the automatic transmission does not lie in the actual rotational direction with respect to the actual rotational position, the method further comprises: causing the rotation of the electric motor to stop in the non-neutral region where the actual rotational position lies, while implementing fail-safe control for ensuring vehicle safety,reversing a direction of the rotation of the electric motor so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position. 21. The method according to claim 16, further comprising limiting the number of times a given re-shift command is inputted, wherein when a next one of the given re-shift command that has already been inputted exceeds a predetermined limit value, input of the next one of the given re-shift command is rejected. 22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first and second operations include: a first operation which is selected in such a manner that the by-wire control circuit initially continues rotation in the actual rotational direction of the electric motor, then controls rotation of the electric motor so that the rotation of the electric motor will be null, and then rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position; anda second operation which is selected in such a manner that the by-wire control circuit initially controls rotation of the electric motor so that rotation of the electric motor will be null, and then rotates the electric motor in the opposite direction so that the rotational position of the electric motor will reach the new target rotational position.
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