Patent ID: 6450921
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: B60K,Y10T

Abstract:
A system for controlling a clutch assembly, said clutch assembly being operatively disposed within a four-wheel drive vehicle and being effective to transfer torque between a front driveshaft and a rear driveshaft, said system comprising:a first sensor which measures a first speed of said front driveshaft and which generates a first signal based upon said first speed; a second sensor which measures a second speed of said rear driveshaft and which generates a second signal based upon said second speed; and a controller which is communicatively coupled to said clutch assembly and which receives said first and second signals and which generates a first output signal based upon said first and second signals, said controller being further effective to determine whether a slip condition is likely to occur within said clutch assembly based upon said value of said first output signal, to selectively transmit said first output signal to said clutch assembly only if a slip condition is not likely to occur within said clutch assembly, and to generate and selectively transmit a second output signal to said clutch assembly effective to smoothly release said clutch assembly if a slip condition is likely to occur within said clutch assembly.