Patent Application
20080097676
The invention relates to a method for controlling a drive system and/or a wheel braking system of a vehicle.
For motor vehicles having driver assistance systems by which, in particular, a predetermined speed or a predetermined distance from the vehicle traveling ahead is to be held constant, methods are known for controlling a drive system and/or a wheel braking system to achieve the driver assistance objectives. In this regard, however, problems continually arise, in particular for downhill travel. Either the wheel braking systems become very hot, or actions of the drive system, such as downshifting of the automatic transmission or changing the type of overrun mode (fired/unfired), result in sacrifices in comfort.
The invention provides an improved method for controlling a drive system and/or a wheel braking system, in particular for downhill travel, with regard to comfort, while at the same time taking into account a reduction in the load on the wheel braking system.
According to the invention, a method for controlling a drive system and/or a wheel braking system of a vehicle, in which a total brake power (Ptotal
For downhill travel, the invention is used in particular when, starting from a stationary operating mode, i.e., in particular for travel at an approximately constant speed, an intention to decelerate occurs, as the result of which the required total braking power instantaneously changes in a relatively intense manner. Such an intention to decelerate may be provided either by the driver via manual adjustment of the specified vehicle speed, or by the system itself when the distance from the vehicle traveling ahead drops below a predetermined value.
The total braking power may be specified, for example, by the driver's intent, determined by an interpretation of a brake and/or accelerator pedal, or by a driver assistance system (cruise control, ACC, etc.). The invention is particularly advantageous when used in motor vehicles having driver assistance systems based on the principle of maintaining a constant predetermined speed.
The wheel braking power is the proportion of the total braking power exerted on the wheels, which is performed by the wheel braking system.
The drive braking power is, preferably, the proportion of the total braking power exerted on the wheels, which is performed by the total drive system including at least one engine and a transmission, whereby both the engine and the transmission may be electronically controllable.
The present invention prevents uncomfortable transmission downshifting and/or abrupt changes in engine torque as the result of the transition from unfired to fired overrun mode, and vice versa.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The drawings illustrate one exemplary embodiment of the invention. For the case that the total braking power is specified by a driver assistance system as the setpoint value, the drawings show the following:
It is an objective increase comfort by taking into account driving conditions in which abrupt changes in wheel power are particularly noticeable to the driver. Tests have shown that changes, in particular abrupt changes, such as those occurring during gear shifting or when a change is made from fired to unfired overrun mode and vice versa, in the course of increasing the drive braking power may have a particularly disadvantageous effect on the comfort level in non-stationary operating mode. It is also an objective to reduce load on the brakes. The aim in principle is to set the highest possible drive braking power while taking into account demands on the drive system for relieving load on the wheel braking system. In this manner the increase in the drive braking power may proceed in any given manner, and preferably may always be set at the maximum possible level.
In the present exemplary embodiment, in order to maintain a constant predetermined setpoint vehicle speed, the driver assistance system 3 is designed to specify a total braking power Ptotal
The total braking power (Ptotal
When downhill travel is detected and the change in vehicle speed v has not exceeded a tolerance range of zero, and thus stationary operation is detected, a maximum possible drive braking power Pdrive
This operation takes place until the gradient of the required total braking power Ptotal
The change in the gradient of the total braking power Ptotal
It is further noted that the gradient monitoring in the stationary operation may be carried out based not only on power, but also based on wheel torque in an equivalent manner, since at approximately constant vehicle speed a wheel torque is present which is proportional to the power. Lastly, the power to be set in each case may also be specified in the form of a wheel torque at the moment of control of the setting of the actuators, which is necessary for this purpose.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2005 029 528.2 | Jun 2005 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2006/005919, filed on Jun. 20, 2006, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to German Application No. 10 2005 029 528.2, filed Jun. 25, 2005, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2006/005919 | Jun 2006 | US |
| Child | 11961959 | Dec 2007 | US |
