Abstract: In an automatic transmission of this invention, a determination as to whether or not a failure has occurred in a friction element is made repeatedly while a vehicle is traveling, and control to specify the failed friction element is begun when a vehicle speed falls to or below a predetermined value for the first time following detection of the failure in the friction element (S1, S3). When the failed friction element has been specified (S4, S13, S15, S24, S26, S35, S37), usable gear positions are determined on the basis of the specified friction element, whereupon shift control is performed using only the usable gear positions (S5, S14, S16, S25, S27, S36, S38, S39).

Abstract: In an automatic transmission control system and method, an electronic control unit is programmed to output a command to establish another gear stage different from the gear stage at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement by combination of engagements of the friction elements other than the friction elements to be engaged at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement, and simultaneously output a plurality of commands to establish a plurality of gear stages corresponding to combination of engagements of the friction elements to be engaged and disengaged, respectively, at the gear stage at the time of occurrence of fault-induced disengagement, when the gear stage at the time of occurrence of the fault-induced disengagement is a predetermined gear stage and the friction element undergoing the fault-induced disengagement is not determined.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is disclosed. The vehicle control system includes a by-wire system with an actuator for changing vehicle conditions and a by-wire control circuit that electrically controls the actuator according to a command for changing the vehicle conditions by a vehicle passenger. The vehicle control system further includes a monitoring control device having a control circuit that is different from the by-wire control circuit and that monitors the by-wire system on the basis of monitoring information received from the by-wire system. The vehicle control system also includes an inhibiting device that inhibits the control of the actuator by the by-wire control circuit on receiving a control command from the monitoring control device when the monitoring control device confirms a fault of the by-wire system.

Abstract: The present invention is a control system and method for the determination of a simulated transmission fluid temperature value using multiple linear regression. The present invention also provides a control system and method to diagnose the health of the transmission fluid temperature sensor and provides a default transmission fluid temperature value should failure of the transmission fluid temperature sensor occur.

Abstract: A vehicle control system and method for facilitating operation of a vehicle by a driver with a potentially debilitating condition. At least one sensor provides sensor data corresponding to at least one of a vehicle condition or a driver condition. A database includes potentially debilitating condition data and symptoms data corresponding thereto. A central processing unit is in data communication with the database and the at least one sensor. The central processing monitors the operation of the vehicle by the driver based on the sensor data and the database.

Abstract: A vehicular angular velocity sensor system executes abnormality detection of angular velocity sensors based on comparison between output states of corresponding angular velocity signals. The sensor system includes first low-pass filters and second low-pass filters for the two angular velocity sensors, respectively. Each of the first low-pass filter has a first cut-off frequency to remove components of a high frequency band unnecessary for vehicular control, from angular velocity signals. In contrast, each of the second low-pass filters has a second cut-off frequency that is lower than the first cut-off frequency of the first low-pass filter. Low-frequency-side angular velocity signals that have passed through the second low-pass filters are used for executing the abnormality detection.

Abstract: When an engine is restarted after a predetermined period of being stopped oil is supplied to a clutch pack for a 2–3 and/or 3–4 shift while a transmission is engaged in the first speed for the first time since starting. The amount of oil drained during the predetermined period of being stopped is complemented in advance such that shift quality of a first 2–3 and/or 3–4 shift is enhanced.

Abstract: A default value of transmission input speed in a motor vehicle powertrain having an automatic-shift multi-gear ratio power transmission is continuously updated based on a measured value of the input speed and other reliable speed data including transmission output speed and engine speed. The default value is substituted for the measured input speed when a malfunction of the input speed sensor is detected, and transitions back to the measured input speed when the input speed sensor malfunction is no longer present.

Abstract: A default value of transmission output speed in a motor vehicle powertrain having an automatic-shift multi-gear ratio power transmission is continuously updated based on a measured value of the output speed and other reliable speed data including transmission input speed and vehicle speed. The default value is substituted for the measured output speed when a malfunction of the output speed sensor is detected, and transitions back to the measured output speed when the output speed sensor malfunction is no longer present.

Abstract: A vehicle speed sensor failure detection apparatus for an electronic control system having a vehicle speed sensor for generating a vehicle speed information signal indicating vehicle speed information includes a vehicle behavior detection portion, a brake sensor and a failure detection portion. If vehicle speed information generated from the vehicle speed sensor is less than or equal to a vehicle speed reference level stored in the failure detection portion, the vehicle behavior information signal generated during a predetermined period of time has a portion exceeding the behavior reference level stored in the failure detection portion and the brake is in the OFF state, the failure detection portion generates a failure signal.

Abstract: A shift control system for a vehicle automatic transmission includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a first control means normally performs a shift control of the transmission so that a target speed ratio of the transmission is achieved, which is determined based at least on a vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor. The shift control system further includes a second control means that properly performs shift control of the transmission when the vehicle speed sensor is in trouble, by generating a command for holding or changing a current speed ratio based on an input rotation speed of the transmission and/or driver's accelerating or decelerating operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining the gear selection utilizing a selection lever in an automatic transmission having at least two units (10, 12) for detecting the selection lever position (14, 16, 18, 20, 22). Each unit (10, 12) generates a signal corresponding to the detected selection lever position (14, 16, 18, 20, 22). The system also has a device for evaluating the signals. Based on the signals, the gear selection can be determined while considering plausibility rules. The invention relates further to a method for determining the gear selection utilizing a selection lever in an automatic transmission.

Abstract: A non-linear region controller 45 calculates a standard yaw rate from an actual steering angle &thgr;r of steerable wheels detected by a steering angle sensor 10, a deviation from the standard yaw rate, of a yaw rate &ggr;r detected by a yaw rate sensor 23, and a rate of change of the yaw rate deviation. Based upon calculated results, the non-linear region controller 45 determines whether tires of a traveling vehicle are in a non-linear region of tire characteristic, and if determining so, exercises a steering amount reduction control to reduce an actual steering angle &thgr;r of the steerable wheels. The determination of linearity of tire characteristic can be made with comparative ease utilizing a commonly available sensor, and the vehicle is controlled using the determination result.

Abstract: Specific shift positions of an electrically actuated vehicle transmission, such as first to fifth, neutral and reverse gears, are detected by monitoring one or more characteristic electrical variables, e.g., actuator currents, during a shift movement of the transmission and by correlating increased or decreased levels of current with the arrival at or passage through the specific shift positions.

Abstract: A transmission system including a shift mechanism for operating and controlling the transmission system. To automatically detect geometric characteristic values of the transmission system or of the shifting device a selector motor and a shift motor actuate a selector finger that is displaceably mounted in a selection-shift-passageway layout. Starting from an initial position whose coordinates within the selection-shift-passageway layout are unknown, the selector finger is displaced in the directions of shifting and in the directions of selection in order to detect paths of movement in the direction of selection or shifting. The selector finger is repeatedly displaced to establish the maximum paths of movement until the predetermined transmission geometric characteristic values are completely detected. Also disclosed are a control device for controlling a transmission system that includes a shift mechanism, and a method for controlling such a transmission system.

Abstract: A fault diagnosis method is provided in which it is possible to determine whether the input shaft speed sensor of the automatic transmission is faulty by using the signals of the output shaft speed sensor, the brake switch, the engine speed sensor and so on, without making use of the signal of the vehicle speed sensor. Moreover, even if there are faults in the output shaft speed sensor or if the shift lever is positioned in the parking P range or the neutral N range, or if the engine speed is lower than the stall speed, the fault diagnosis method for the input shaft speed sensor can be performed, and additionally, a possibility of a misjudgment caused by a bad N-D hydraulic pressure response at an extremely low temperature can be removed.

Abstract: A method of updating the transmissibility function of a clutch during the final stage of a gear change, in which the clutch is closed to cause the angular speed of the drive shaft to equal the angular speed of the primary shaft of the gear change, the engine is set to supply a constant torque, the clutch is disposed in a predetermined position in order to transmit a constant torque greater than the torque supplied by the engine and the actual value of the torque transmitted by the clutch is calculated by subtracting the product of the moment of inertia of the engine and the angular acceleration of the drive shaft from the torque generated by the engine, the actual value of the torque transmitted by the clutch then being used to update the transmissibility function of the clutch.

Abstract: The invention includes an adaptive control system used to control a plant. The adaptive control system includes a hedge unit that receives at least one control signal and a plant state signal. The hedge unit generates a hedge signal based on the control signal, the plant state signal, and a hedge model including a first model having one or more characteristics to which the adaptive control system is not to adapt, and a second model not having the characteristic(s) to which the adaptive control system is not to adapt. The hedge signal is used in the adaptive control system to remove the effect of the characteristic from a signal supplied to an adaptation law unit of the adaptive control system so that the adaptive control system does not adapt to the characteristic in controlling the plant.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a plurality of sensors detecting a process comprising the following steps: detecting time variations of the output signals of the sensors, comparing and testing the variations in view of their plausibility which is determined by the dependencies of the sensor output signals given by the process, and producing an error message (FM) in the absence of plausibility. A preferred application of the present method prevails in an ESP system for vehicles which is controlled by a microprocessor unit, wherein the process is the electronic driving stability program, and the sensors comprise a yaw rate sensor, a transverse acceleration sensor, and a steering angle sensor, and the method is implemented by a subprogram in the microprocessor unit.

Abstract: A method is described for control of a CVT automatic transmission (1) in which a sensed main pressure (p_hd_act) and a sensed contact pressure (p_s2_act) of a secondary pulley (7) are entered as signals in an electronic transmission control (8). For diagnosis of an error in the sensing of the main pressure (p_hd_act) and/or of the contact pressure (p_s2_act) of the secondary pulley (7) their actual values or comparison variable (|p_hd_act-p_hd_nom|, |p_s2_act-p_s2_nom|) formed therefrom are compared with applicable threshold values (p_hd_min, pd_phd_regdiff, p_s2_min, pd_ps2_regdiff) associated with a range of plausible pressure values.

Abstract: An interruption circuit capable of interrupting an electrical power fed from a power source unit to a driver circuit in response to an interruption signal from an electronic control unit is interposed between the driver circuit for activating power transmission means and the power source unit. By this arrangement, it is possible to interrupt the electrical power fed from the power source unit to the driver circuit forcibly and prevent unnecessary power consumption and unnecessary action (or a malfunction) of the power transmission means.

Abstract: An automatic transmission comprising a controlling unit 5 for driving and controlling an actuator 3 until a rotation position, which is detected by a potentiometer 13 in response to the receipt of an instruction signal from an operation switch portion 17, accords with the instructed shifting position. The transmission includes a self-diagnosis unit 9 for diagnosing a trouble after driving the actuator 3 to the position over the instructed shifting position for a predetermined amount on the basis of the first instruction signal by the operation switch portion 17 at a starting time of driving an automobile and after driving the actuator 3 in reverse to the instructed shifting position, as well as driving the actuator 3 by varying high or low the duty ratio in driving and controlling the actuator 3, in accordance with the judgment whether or not an output signal of the potentiometer 13 corresponds to such driving.

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus is configured to prevent degradation of acceleration performance and the occurrence of large torque shock when shifting from the non-execution to the execution of a driving force control operation. A first target driving force is selected when the driving force control operation is being executed and a second target driving force is selected when the driving force control operation is not being executed. When shifting from the execution to the non-execution, the shifting target driving force is calculated such that the driving force shifts slowly. When accelerating from rest or a slow speed, the speed at which the driving force control operation shifts into the execution mode is increased as the accelerator position becomes larger.

Abstract: One of the two accelerator sensors 165a and 165b is detected faulty by analyzing variation patterns outputted by the two sensors even when the outputs of two sensors remain within their respective normal output ranges. An accelerator control input is determined using the output of the fault-free sensor if a faulty sensor is detected. The fault detector detects the faulty sensor by analyzing variation patterns of outputs of the first and second accelerator sensors when the outputs of the first and second accelerator sensors remain within respective normal output ranges thereof.

Abstract: A regulator or engine regulator having two regulator channels (20, 20′) which each have at least two processor units (22, 24 or 22′, 24′, respectively) is developed in that in each case one processor unit (for example 22, 22′) operates as a calculation unit for each safety-critical function in both regulator channels (20, 20′), in order to determine calculation results from at least some of the input data (E, E′), and in each case one other processor unit (for example 24, 24′) operates as a monitoring unit in order to compare the calculation results from the calculation unit firstly with its own estimate of the correct results and secondly with corresponding results from the respective other regulator channel (20′, 20). An engine and method for regulating an actuating or propulsion system, or an engine, have corresponding features.

Abstract: The invention proceeds from a vehicle having a clutch and a transmission. The clutch is mounted in the drive train of the motor vehicle and the transmission is mounted in the drive train and is changeable with respect to its transmission ratio. Furthermore, means are provided which generate a clutch signal which represents the actuation of the clutch. The essence of the invention is that a change of the transmission ratio is detected. According to the invention, monitoring means are provided by means of which a fault signal is generated in dependence upon the recognized change and the generated clutch signal. The fault signal indicates whether the means, which generates the clutch signal, operates properly. A further variation of the invention evaluates the clutch actuation with the first start of movement of the vehicle after the engine start.

Abstract: The invention proceeds from a vehicle having a clutch and a transmission. The clutch is mounted in the drive train of the motor vehicle and the transmission is mounted in the drive train and is changeable with respect to its transmission ratio. Furthermore, means are provided which generate a clutch signal which represents the actuation of the clutch. The essence of the invention is that a change of the transmission ratio is detected. According to the invention, monitoring means are provided by means of which a fault signal is generated in dependence upon the recognized change and the generated clutch signal. The fault signal indicates whether the means, which generates the clutch signal, operates properly. A further variation of the invention evaluates the clutch actuation with the first start of movement of the vehicle after the engine start.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a pitch state estimator is provided. The pitch state estimator generates a pitch state signal for establishing the orientation used in the control of a ground-traversing vehicle. The vehicle has a support for supporting a load which is preferably a human passenger. In one embodiment, the pitch state estimator includes a pitch sensor connected to the vehicle producing a pitch signal representing an estimate of a pitch angle of the vehicle. The pitch angle is associated with a coordinate system referenced to gravity. The pitch state estimator also includes at least one inertial reference sensor connected to the vehicle producing an inertial orientation signal with respect to the vehicle. Further included is a state estimator module for receiving the pitch signal and the inertial orientation signal and calculating a pitch state signal from the inertial orientation signal and the pitch signal sensor.

Abstract: A motor vehicle having an electronically controlled automatic transmission, which comprises a parking position, and a power parking brake. The parking position and the power parking brake are operable independently of one another. A redundant system is provided in that a device checks the parking position as well as the power parking brake with respect to its optional functioning and, in the event of an operating failure of one system, operates the respective other system to take over the function of the failed system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling a work implement in order to enable an earth moving machine to move to a service area after a failure within an implement control system occurs. The method includes the steps of detecting the failure of the implement control system, enabling a limp home mode in response to the failure, and controlling the implement into a limp home position through operator interaction using a display and either an associated keypad or a touch screen.

Abstract: The present provides a shutdown shift schedule which allows a vehicle driver an increased number of gear states to increase driveability. This method monitors the gear state conditions indicative of the gear state which said automatic transmission is in. When the shift state conditions vary from predetermined standards, the controller uses the shutdown shift schedule in place of the shift schedule for changing gears of the automatic transmission. This shutdown shift schedule is adapted to allow a 3-1 shift when the shift solenoid is in a shift D position and the shift state is 3. The shutdown shift schedule is also adapted to allow a 3-2 shift when the shift state is 3 and the shift solenoid is in the shift 2 position.

Abstract: Described are apparatus and method for monitoring revolution speed values detected by corresponding revolution speed sensors too determine whether at least any one of an engine revolution speed sensor, a continuously variable transmission input axle revolution speed sensor, and a continuously variable transmission output axle revolution speed sensor has failed according to detected values of the engine revolution speed sensor, the input axle revolution speed sensor, and the output axle revolution speed sensor and a detected value of an instantaneous gear shift ratio when a lock-up mechanism is in a lock-up state. If all of three formulae on predetermined correlations are established, all of the sensors are determined to be normally operated. If any one or two of the three formulae are not established, the failure one of the three sensors is identified. The three correlation formulae are based as follows: 1) N.sub.E =N.sub.PRI ; 2) N.sub.PRI =N.sub.SEC .times.CN; and 3) N.sub.E =N.sub.PRI .times.C.sub.

Abstract: A display system for an automatic transmission including: a first range switching mechanism for switching a shift range by a mechanical operation; and a second range switching mechanism activated by electric enabling mechanism for switching the shift range by an electric operation. The display system comprises: a first display device for displaying the shift range which is selected by the first range switching mechanism; a second display device for displaying the active state of the enabling mechanism; and a third display device for displaying the shift range which is selected by the second range switching mechanism activated by the enabling mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic clutch between a motor vehicle engine and drive train with a manually shifted gearbox disposed on the clutch output side. Rotational speed differences between the clutch input and output detected by sensor technology are taken into consideration when the clutch is engaged. If the signals from the sensing elements for the rotational speed on the output side fail, replacement signals are calculated from other parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety system for a motor vehicle having an internal-combustion engine. Independent quantities are used for engine control and for monitoring the engine control. Control of the internal-combustion engine is performed, for example, by way of an operating parameter characterizing the engine load, while monitoring of the engine control is performed by means of the output torque. Preferably, monitoring of the engine control is integrated into a traction control system, in which case desired and actual values for a quantity characterizing the vehicle propulsion, such as the output torque, are transmitted by the engine control to the monitoring system and are compared there for recognizing a fault. If a fault is recognized in the traction control system, a signal is transmitted back to the engine control unit, to influence the engine control.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring at least one sensor which has at least two terminals comprises first switching means and switchable means. A voltage can be applied to the first terminal of the sensor by actuation of the first switching means and a current can be established through the sensor by actuation of the first switching means and the switchable means. The apparatus also includes an analysis circuit with which at least peak voltage values can be determined from the signals generated by the sensor and conveyed to a calculation unit. Also connected to the sensor is a voltage divider which generates a signal which is also conveyed to the calculation unit. As a function of the actuation of the first switching means and switchable means, it is possible in the calculation unit, based on the peak voltage values conveyed to it, to identify a first faulty behavior of the sensor and to determine the resistance of the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to determine a failure of an automatic transmission temperature sensor in an automobile. The apparatus detects a start-up of the vehicle. A sensor detects the transmission fluid temperature. The transmission fluid temperature at start-up is checked to see if the temperature is below a first predetermined temperature or above a second predetermined temperature. If the sensor does not detect a predetermined change in temperature during operation of the vehicle after it is determined the transmission fluid temperature at start-up is above the first predetermined or below the second predetermined temperature, the sensor has failed.

Abstract: For an automatic gearbox (2) a safety system is proposed in which erroneous releasing of the clutch or brake during cross-over is detected by the fact that the time variations of the transmission input speed and of the product of the transmission output speed multiplied by the first reduction ratio do not increase.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic information storage system includes a volatile storage device such as a backup RAM and a nonvolatile storage device such as EEPROM. If a fault occurs, a control section stores data on fault items, and input and output conditions of sensors of a vehicle control system, in the volatile storage device and updates the data in the volatile storage device during a vehicle operation. In response to a switching operation of a vehicle main switch such as a turn-on operation of an ignition switch, the control section transfers the most recent version of updated data from the volatile storage device to the nonvolatile storage device.

Abstract: An engine control system reduces thermal deterioration of a torque converter. Maximum torque down control is provided, using simple processing and a minimum number of required signals, to reduce thermal deterioration. A maximum fuel injection amount QFULL is reduced when vehicle speed is less than a predetermined value that is close to zero, thereby lowering maximum engine torque. Also, the presence or absence of an abnormal vehicle speed sensor is diagnosed and maximum engine torque is also lowered during occurrence of an abnormality.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control system is provided for selectively placing a vehicle transmission in a neutral condition after startup of the vehicle. The transmission is of the type including a plurality of intermeshing gears and associated clutches. The clutches are engageable and disengageable in predetermined combinations in response to energization and de-energization of actuator coils to establish predetermined gear ratios between input and output shafts of the transmission. The control system includes a neutral circuit and a control circuit. The neutral circuit causes a current carrying path through the coils to be interrupted under the control of the control circuit. The neutral circuit preferably also causes the transmission to be placed in a neutral condition upon startup of the vehicle engine.

Abstract: An electronic transmission shift control is provided wherein an input device such as a vehicle control lever is connected to a sensor. The sensor sends out a substantially continuous signal to an electronic control module. The electronic control module controls the current going through a solenoid that, in one application, is controlling the pressure of a valve to engage a clutch in a transmission.

Abstract: A sensor failure and detection apparatus and method for use in a redundant sensor system are disclosed. A control circuit disconnects reference power supplied to a sensor and then monitors the voltage decay output by the sensor. The monitored rate of voltage decay of the sensor is compared to the expected natural voltage decay of the sensor to detect failures caused by short or open circuits. An error counter keeps track of the number of failures. After a threshold number of times in which the monitored voltage decay does not compare to a predicted rate of decay, power to the sensor is removed and the sensor is isolated from the system.