Abstract: A system for controlling a transmission of a vehicle powered by an engine includes a torque determination module and a shift determination module. The torque determination module determines a desired exhaust brake torque for the engine based on an actual speed of the vehicle and a desired speed of the vehicle. The shift determination module determines whether to shift between gear ratios of the transmission based on the desired exhaust brake torque and an exhaust brake torque capacity of the engine.

Abstract: A transmission control module including a shift control module that generates an enable signal when an up-shift is requested and the engine torque is below a threshold torque value. A turbine speed profile determination module that selectively generates a desired turbine speed profile. The shift control module controls a clutch pressure of an off-going clutch based on a measured turbine speed and the desired turbine speed profile when the enable signal is generated.

Abstract: An improved method for predicting the health of a power transmission and an apparatus for practicing the same are provided. The method includes: monitoring a total number of converged shifts after a first shift has converged; determining if the total number of converged shifts is greater then a calibrated number of completed converged shifts; if yes, determining an initial clutch volume, an initial free running clearance, a free running clearance, and a free running clearance per face and monitoring a change in free running clearance per face; determining if either the free running clearance per face is greater than a calibrated free running clearance per friction surface for failure or if the change in free running clearance per face is greater than a calibrated change in free running clearance per friction surface for failure; if yes, activating a service indicator configured to warn vehicle occupants that transmission service is required.

Abstract: A control system comprising a brake torque determination module that determines a desired brake torque and a vane position determination module that determines a vane position based on an engine speed and the desired brake torque, and that adjusts the vane position to a position between an open position and a closed position. A method comprising determining a desired brake torque, determining a vane position based on an engine speed and the desired brake torque, and adjusting the vane position to a position between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: An improved downshift control for an automatic transmission optimized for sequential shifting achieves a non-sequential fifth gear to third gear downshift by reducing the main pressure of the transmission hydraulic control system, allowing a offgoing clutch to slip, disengaging the offgoing clutch, using torque reduction to control engine speed, engaging the oncoming clutch, increasing the main pressure of the transmission hydraulic control system and using torque reduction to synchronize the transmission input speed with the third gear transmission output speed.

Abstract: A system for controlling a transmission of a vehicle powered by an engine includes a torque determination module and a shift determination module. The torque determination module determines a desired exhaust brake torque for the engine based on an actual speed of the vehicle and a desired speed of the vehicle. The shift determination module determines whether to shift between gear ratios of the transmission based on the desired exhaust brake torque and an exhaust brake torque capacity of the engine.

Abstract: An improved method for predicting the remaining useful life of transmission oil and an apparatus for practicing the same are provided. The method includes: detecting if the transmission has completed a new shift; if yes, determining a total shift count; determining accumulated distance and accumulated time parameters; determining a transmission temperature degradation factor; detecting if the lockup clutch is open and if the transmission is in range; if yes, determining a converter degradation factor; determining a total degradation factor based at least in part upon the transmission temperature degradation factor and converter degradation factor; determining an oil life time limit and oil life distance limit; determining if either the accumulated time parameter is greater than the oil life time limit or the accumulated distance parameter is greater than the oil life distance limit; if yes, activating a service indicator to notify vehicle occupants that transmission oil service is required.

Abstract: An improved downshift control for an automatic transmission optimized for sequential shifting achieves a non-sequential fifth gear to third gear downshift by reducing the main pressure of the transmission hydraulic control system, allowing a offgoing clutch to slip, disengaging the offgoing clutch, using torque reduction to control engine speed, engaging the oncoming clutch, increasing the main pressure of the transmission hydraulic control system and using torque reduction to synchronize the transmission input speed with the third gear transmission output speed.

Abstract: A vehicle has a transmission, a transmission filter, and a controller having an algorithm or method for predicting the remaining useful life of the filter. The algorithm or method uses a sensor to detect an operating event of the transmission, such as a completed shift event or zero transmission output speed event, and increases a stored value of an accumulated distance and time variable. A shift sensor is operable for comparing a detected speed ratio of the transmission to a stored threshold speed ratio for determining the completed shift event. The remaining useful filter life is predicted using one or more look up tables using the values of the accumulated distance and time variables. The accumulated distance is calculated in part by dividing a prior recorded accumulated distance value by a ratio of an output speed of the transmission to an actual vehicle speed.

Abstract: A control system comprising a brake torque determination module that determines a desired brake torque and a vane position determination module that determines a vane position based on an engine speed and the desired brake torque, and that adjusts the vane position to a position between an open position and a closed position. A method comprising determining a desired brake torque, determining a vane position based on an engine speed and the desired brake torque, and adjusting the vane position to a position between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A system for braking a vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of gear sets for establishing a plurality of forward and reverse gear ratios and an actuator for changing the gear ratios. The system also includes a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of vehicle operating parameters and an auxiliary brake for reducing a speed of the vehicle. A controller having a processor configured to receive a plurality of output signals from the plurality of sensors has control logic for activating one of the actuator and the auxiliary brake based on the received output signals. A method for operating the system for braking is also provided. The method includes determining road grade, determining an acceleration of the vehicle, determining an activation status of the primary brake, determining a position of the throttle, determining whether extra braking is and activating the auxiliary brake based on the extra braking determination.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining variance of actual engine torque from reported engine torque, including configuring a controller with an algorithm to calculate the ratios of current and maximum engine torque to reported torque upon the initiation of high-throttle 1-2 shift, high-throttle 2-3 shift, high-throttle torque converter lockup, and at maximum Engine Rating Torque Function for each high-throttle torque converter drive cycle. An apparatus is also provided for detecting engine torque variance in a vehicle having an engine, a throttle, and a torque converter, the apparatus comprising a controller with memory and an algorithm for calculating the maximum and current engine torque variance upon the occurrence a predetermined throttle condition, and storing the values in accessible memory, wherein the controller is configured to initiate the algorithm upon the occurrence of one of the throttle conditions, and wherein the throttle and torque converter each communicate speed signals to the controller.

Abstract: A transmission control module including a shift control module that generates an enable signal when an up-shift is requested and the engine torque is below a threshold torque value. A turbine speed profile determination module that selectively generates a desired turbine speed profile. The shift control module controls a clutch pressure of an off-going clutch based on a measured turbine speed and the desired turbine speed profile when the enable signal is generated.

Abstract: An improved method for predicting the health of a power transmission and an apparatus for practicing the same are provided. The method includes: monitoring a total number of converged shifts after a first shift has converged; determining if the total number of converged shifts is greater then a calibrated number of completed converged shifts; if yes, determining an initial clutch volume, an initial free running clearance, a free running clearance, and a free running clearance per face and monitoring a change in free running clearance per face; determining if either the free running clearance per face is greater than a calibrated free running clearance per friction surface for failure or if the change in free running clearance per face is greater than a calibrated change in free running clearance per friction surface for failure; if yes, activating a service indicator configured to warn vehicle occupants that transmission service is required.

Abstract: An improved method for predicting the remaining useful life of transmission oil and an apparatus for practicing the same are provided. The method includes: detecting if the transmission has completed a new shift; if yes, determining a total shift count; determining accumulated distance and accumulated time parameters; determining a transmission temperature degradation factor; detecting if the lockup clutch is open and if the transmission is in range; if yes, determining a converter degradation factor; determining a total degradation factor based at least in part upon the transmission temperature degradation factor and converter degradation factor; determining an oil life time limit and oil life distance limit; determining if either the accumulated time parameter is greater than the oil life time limit or the accumulated distance parameter is greater than the oil life distance limit; if yes, activating a service indicator to notify vehicle occupants that transmission oil service is required.

Abstract: A vehicle has a transmission, a transmission filter, and a controller having an algorithm or method for predicting the remaining useful life of the filter. The algorithm or method uses a sensor to detect an operating event of the transmission, such as a completed shift event or zero transmission output speed event, and increases a stored value of an accumulated distance and time variable. A shift sensor is operable for comparing a detected speed ratio of the transmission to a stored threshold speed ratio for determining the completed shift event. The remaining useful filter life is predicted using one or more look up tables using the values of the accumulated distance and time variables. The accumulated distance is calculated in part by dividing a prior recorded accumulated distance value by a ratio of an output speed of the transmission to an actual vehicle speed.

Abstract: A system for braking a vehicle includes a transmission having a plurality of gear sets for establishing a plurality of forward and reverse gear ratios and an actuator for changing the gear ratios. The system also includes a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of vehicle operating parameters and an auxiliary brake for reducing a speed of the vehicle. A controller having a processor configured to receive a plurality of output signals from the plurality of sensors has control logic for activating one of the actuator and the auxiliary brake based on the received output signals. A method for operating the system for braking is also provided. The method includes determining road grade, determining an acceleration of the vehicle, determining an activation status of the primary brake, determining a position of the throttle, determining whether extra braking is and activating the auxiliary brake based on the extra braking determination.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining variance of actual engine torque from reported engine torque, including configuring a controller with an algorithm to calculate the ratios of current and maximum engine torque to reported torque upon the initiation of high-throttle 1-2 shift, high-throttle 2-3 shift, high-throttle torque converter lockup, and at maximum Engine Rating Torque Function for each high-throttle torque converter drive cycle. An apparatus is also provided for detecting engine torque variance in a vehicle having an engine, a throttle, and a torque converter, the apparatus comprising a controller with memory and an algorithm for calculating the maximum and current engine torque variance upon the occurrence a predetermined throttle condition, and storing the values in accessible memory, wherein the controller is configured to initiate the algorithm upon the occurrence of one of the throttle conditions, and wherein the throttle and torque converter each communicate speed signals to the controller.