Patent ID: 8090513

Claim:
A method of controlling an automated friction clutch utilized as a starting and gearshift clutch in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle with the friction clutch being located between a drive motor and a change-speed transmission such that, during a clutch actuation, at least one operating parameter of the friction clutch is monitored by sensor means and, from variation of the at least one operating parameter, at least one adaptation parameter is derived for correcting a control parameter of an associated clutch control element, the method comprising the steps of: fully disengaging the friction clutch by constant control of the clutch control element; determining a release travel path (x K ) as a function of a release time (t), during disengagement of the friction clutch; determining at least one characteristic value from a time variation of the release travel path (x K (t)); determining at least one adaptation parameter from the at least one characteristic value for correcting a control parameter of the clutch control element; determining, as a characteristic value from the variation of the release travel path (x K (t)), a release path point (x S , x T ) which is characteristic of a non-linear transition from a linear increase range, at a beginning of the release travel path (x K (t)), to a substantially linear increase range, at an end of the release travel path (x K (t)); deriving, from the release path point (x S , x T ), an end point (x LE — neu ) of the linear increase range at the beginning of the release travel path (x K (t)) or an end-point difference (Δx LE =x LE — alt −x LE — neu ) of the end point (x LE — neu ) from a previously valid end point (x LE — alt ); and correcting the previously valid end point (x LE — alt ) using a new end point (x LE — neu ) or the end-point difference (Δx LE ).