Abstract:
A method and system for the cancellation of transmission shift delay as a function of an optimum target temperature is disclosed. Once the pre-selected optimum target is achieved the shift delay is cancelled and the transmission is upshifted. Thus the disclosed inventive concept is based the cancellation of the shift delay on achieving climate control air conditioning comfort targets. Such comfort targets could include one or more of the measured HVAC evaporator temperature, the HVAC discharge temperature, or the in-vehicle cabin temperatures. When a temperature sensor measuring the selected temperature reaches the pre-selected target temperature the shift delay may be cancelled and the transmission may be upshifted, thus maximizing passenger comfort while minimizing fuel consumption. Having the shift delay based upon the achievement of specific measurable comfort targets in the form of target temperatures rather than a set time period allows optimization between cabin comfort and fuel efficiency.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosed invention relates generally to vehicle transmission shift delay methods and systems for automotive vehicles. More particularly, the disclosed invention relates to a smart transmission shift delay method and system that bases the cancellation of transmission shift delay on achieving climate control air conditioning comfort targets. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to transmission shift delay strategies and automotive heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Such systems developed from the passenger&#39;s needs for thermal comfort which has played an important role in automobile development since the very earliest days of vehicles. Early automobiles were fitted with interior heaters which depended on manifold heaters utilizing heated exhaust gases, gasoline-fired heaters, and heated engine coolant circulated through the engine, radiator and passenger compartment heater core. 
         [0003]    As consumers demanded more comfort throughout the driving year and in more extreme climates air conditioning systems were also introduced. Additional optional devices such as heated seats, cooled seats, heated steering wheels, or partitioned climate zones have become available for increasing comfort. 
         [0004]    However, all of the air conditioning systems utilize energy and reduce engine performance, particularly at vehicle start up and during low speed drive-away or at speeds of about 50 kph or 30 mph. During vehicle start up and at such low speed drive-away passenger air-conditioned comfort is sometimes compromised while engine power is directed to the vehicle powertrain. 
         [0005]    In response to this situation a transmission shift delay has been employed by some vehicle designers. The transmission shift delay is needed to keep engine RPMs high enough and, as a consequence, to maintain adequate revolutions of the clutched compressor to provide suitable air conditioning performance at high ambient temperatures. 
         [0006]    The shift delay is usually time-based, timing out after perhaps 15 minutes at 50 kph/30 mph, for example. In some cases, the timed shift delay is not optimized and can be inappropriate in different temperature and road load scenarios, resulting in excessive fuel consumption on the one hand or poor air conditioning performance on the other hand. A more appropriate criterion for delaying transmission upshift is needed for optimizing powertrain performance while meeting customer comfort expectations through the achievement of optimum interior climate conditions. 
         [0007]    As in so many areas of vehicle technology there is always room for improvement related to vehicle passenger comfort and fuel economy. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The disclosed invention overcomes the problems of known systems and methodologies by providing for the cancellation of transmission shift delay as a function of an optimum target temperature as opposed to time as is known in the art. Once the pre-selected optimum target is achieved the shift delay is cancelled and the transmission is upshifted. 
         [0009]    The solution of the disclosed inventive concept is to base the cancellation of the shift delay on achieving climate control air conditioning comfort targets. Such comfort targets could include one or more of the measured HVAC evaporator temperature, the HVAC discharge temperature, or the in-vehicle cabin temperatures as measured by appropriate sensors. 
         [0010]    When a temperature sensor measuring the selected temperature reaches the pre-selected target temperature the shift delay may be cancelled and the transmission may be upshifted, thus maximizing passenger comfort while minimizing fuel consumption. 
         [0011]    Having the shift delay based upon the achievement of specific measurable comfort targets in the form of target temperatures rather than a set time period allows optimization between cabin comfort and fuel efficiency, regardless of noise factors such as sunload, ambient temperature, wind, or vehicle road load. 
         [0012]    The above advantages and other advantages and features will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows some of the components of the system of the disclosed invention in schematic illustration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart illustrating operation of the system according to known technology; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating operation of a system according to the disclosed inventive concept. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    In the following figures, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for different constructed embodiments. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle, generally illustrated as  10 , is shown in schematic view. The vehicle  10  includes a passenger compartment  12 , an engine assembly  14 , and an evaporator  16 . The engine assembly  14  includes a transmission  18 , an air conditioner compressor  20 , and a cooling fan  21 . It is to be understood that the configuration and arrangement of the passenger compartment  12 , the engine assembly  14 , the evaporator  16 , the transmission  18  and the air conditioner compressor  20  of the vehicle  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are set forth as non-limiting examples which may be varied without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosed inventive concept set forth herein. 
         [0019]    The vehicle  10  further includes a smart shift delay control system, generally illustrated as  22 . The system  22  includes a plurality of temperature sensors, function sensors, a control module, and a main data bus. More particularly, the system  22  includes a cabin temperature sensor  24  for sensing cabin temperature and an ambient temperature sensor  26  for sensing ambient temperature. The illustrated placements of the cabin temperature sensor  24  and the ambient temperature sensor  26  are only suggested and are again not intended as being limiting. 
         [0020]    The system  22  further includes a vehicle status sensor  28  for sensing whether the engine assembly  14  is on or off. In addition, the system  22  includes an HVAC evaporator temperature sensor  30  for sensing evaporator temperature and an HVAC discharge temperature sensor  32  for sensing HVAC discharge temperature. 
         [0021]    Associated with both the system  22  and the engine assembly  14  is a compressor RPM sensor  34  that determines the revolutions of the air conditioner compressor  20 . Also associated with both the system  22  and the engine assembly  14  is a transmission shift controller  36  that both identifies the selected transmission gear and controls gear selection such that the transmission can be upshifted or a gear change is delayed based on various inputs of the system  22 . 
         [0022]    The system  22  includes a control module  38 . The control module  38  may comprise one or more control modules located throughout vehicle  10 . 
         [0023]    The control module  38 , the cabin temperature sensor  24 , the ambient temperature sensor  26 , the vehicle status sensor  28 , the HVAC evaporator temperature sensor  30 , the HVAC discharge temperature sensor  32 , the compressor RPM sensor  34 , and the transmission shift controller  36  may communicate via a data bus  40 . Preferably but not absolutely the data travels over data bus  40  using a Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol. They may alternatively communicate in any other suitable fashion, e.g., hardwire or wireless. 
         [0024]    The disclosed inventive concept is directed to the cancellation of the shift delay on achieving preselected climate control air conditioning comfort targets in any suitable manner. Such comfort targets can include, without limitation, the HVAC evaporator temperature, the HVAC discharge temperature, or the in-vehicle cabin temperature as measured by the cabin temperature sensor  24 , the HVAC evaporator temperature sensor  30 , and the HVAC discharge temperature sensor  32  respectively. The target temperatures may be determined via a look-up table and may be relied upon singularly or in one or more combinations. 
         [0025]    One or more of the temperatures sensed by the cabin temperature sensor  24 , the HVAC evaporator temperature sensor  30 , and the HVAC discharge temperature sensor  32 , acting alone or in combination, are received by the control module  38  via the data bus  40 . The control module  38  determines the target operating temperature based upon the look-up tables stored therein and, if the target is achieved, instructions are sent from the control module  38  to the transmission shift controller  36  to cancel the shift delay, thus saving fuel. 
         [0026]    According to the methodology of the disclosed inventive concept by tying the shift delay to achieving specific measurable comfort targets rather than a set time period allows for an optimal balance between cabin comfort and fuel efficiency. This level of optimal efficiency may be achieved regardless of noise factors such as sunload, ambient temperature, wind, vehicle road load and the like. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a methodology for regulating shift delay according to the known art is disclosed. At step  50 , an inquiry is made to the vehicle status sensor  28  to determine whether the engine assembly  14  is on or off based, for example, on a time of &lt;1500 seconds. If, upon inquiry, it is determined that the engine assembly  14  is off then the program is exited at step  52 . 
         [0028]    On the other hand, if, upon inquiry at step  50 , it is determined that the engine assembly  14  is on then the program proceeds to the next inquiry at step  54  as to whether or not the ambient temperature is ≧90° F. This determination is made using the ambient temperature sensor  26 . If it is found at step  54  that the ambient temperature is not ≧90° F. at step  54  then the program is exited at step  52 . 
         [0029]    Conversely, if it is found after signaling the ambient temperature sensor  26  that the ambient temperature is ≧90° F. then an inquiry is made of the compressor RPM sensor  34  at step  56  whether or not the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is &lt;a predetermined value of a look-up table. If it is found at step  56  that the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is not &lt;the predetermined value of a look-up table at step  56  then the program is exited at step  52 . 
         [0030]    If it is found at step  56  that the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is &lt;the predetermined value of the look-up table then the air conditioner compressor RPM lift is made active and the shift delay is cancelled at step  58 . The inquiry at step  56  is thereafter repeated until it is determined that the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is not &lt;the predetermined value of a look-up table at which time the program is exited at step  52 . 
         [0031]    The time-based shift delay of the prior art disclosed in the methodology of  FIG. 2  results in a failure to optimize the delay sequence. The result is inefficient shifting that causes either excessive fuel consumption or poor air conditioning performance. 
         [0032]    The methodology of the disclosed inventive concept overcomes the problems presented by the known methodology. Particularly, and with reference to  FIG. 3 , a methodology of the disclosed inventive concept is illustrated. 
         [0033]    Particularly, and referring to  FIG. 3 , the methodology for regulating shift delay according to the disclosed inventive concept is disclosed. At step  60 , an inquiry is made to the vehicle status sensor  28  to determine whether the engine assembly  14  is on or off based on a time of &lt;1500 seconds (other times may be employed). If, upon inquiry, it is determined that the engine assembly  14  is off then the program is exited at step  62 . 
         [0034]    If upon inquiry at step  60  it is determined that the engine assembly  14  is on then the program proceeds to the next inquiry at step  64  as to whether or not the ambient temperature is ≧90° F. As with the prior art discussed above, this determination is made using the ambient temperature sensor  26 . If it is found at step  64  that the ambient temperature is not ≦90° F. at step  64  then the program is exited at step  62 . 
         [0035]    On the other hand, if it is found after signaling the ambient temperature sensor  26  at step  64  that the ambient temperature is ≧90° F. then an inquiry is made of the compressor RPM sensor  34  at step  66  whether or not a temperature selected from one or more of the HVAC evaporator temperature (via the HVAC evaporator temperature sensor  30 ), the HVAC discharge temperature (via the HVAC discharge temperature sensor  32 ) or the cabin temperature (via the cabin temperature sensor  24 ) is &lt;than a predetermined temperature value 1. If it is found that the preferred temperature is not &lt;the predetermined temperature value  1 , then the program is exited at step  62 . 
         [0036]    If at step  66  it is found that the preferred temperature is &lt;the predetermined temperature value 1, then an inquiry is made at step  68  whether or not the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is &lt;a predetermined value of a look-up table. If at determination is made at step  68  that the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is not &lt;the predetermined value of a look-up table at step  68  then the program is exited at step  62 . 
         [0037]    Conversely, if it is found at step  68  that the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is &lt;the predetermined value of the look-up table then the air conditioner compressor RPM lift is made active and the shift delay is cancelled at step  70 . The inquiry at step  68  is thereafter repeated until it is determined that the air conditioner compressor RPM lift time is not &lt;the predetermined value of a look-up table at which time the program is exited at step  62 . 
         [0038]    The disclosed inventive concept as set forth above overcomes the challenges faced by systems for optimizing delays in gear shifting. The system and methodology disclosed above improve vehicle passenger comfort while increasing fuel economy. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.