Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure relates a controller and method to assist quick shift in a two-wheeler vehicle.

Background of the invention:
[0002] An Engine management system (EMS) assists in gear shift upon recognition of the shift intent from rider without pressing of clutch lever or change of throttle and also known as quick shift. The gear shift is recognized by gear position sensor, or a separate shift assist sensor also known as quick shift sensor. Based on the shift direction and current engine torque, either an increase or decrease in torque is to be realized and accordingly controlled by the EMS. The increase in torque for quick shift is realized through change in ignition, air or fuel or any combination of them. In an intake system with Mechanical Throttle Body (MTB) in particular as compared to an intake system with Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) / drive-by-wire, the EMS has very less control over air thereby fuel which in turn would have very less effect on torque change which is to be effected.

[0003] A patent US2006068975 discloses a transmission control device of motorcycle. A transmission control device for a vehicle for smoothly performing a transmission manipulation without a clutch manipulation. The transmission control device includes a control unit which determines a shift operation starting time based on a detection signal of a shift operation detector, and controls an intake air amount to an engine corresponding to a gear shift position which is detected by a gear shift position detection means whereby an output of the engine is changed smoothly. For example, the control unit obtains a target initial throttle opening corresponding to the gear shift position from a target initial throttle opening table, obtains data on throttle opening, time and an attenuation ratio corresponding to the gear shift position from a throttle opening, time and attenuation ratio table, and determines the opening time and the target throttle opening. Next, the control unit determines an injection amount and executes a control to increase the intake air amount and the injection quantity.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a controller to assist quick shift in a two-wheeler vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for assisting quick shift in the two-wheeler vehicle, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a controller to assist quick shift in a two-wheeler vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The quick shift corresponds to gearshift without clutch or throttle modulation/operation. The vehicle comprises a canister connected to an intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle through a Canister Purge Value (CPV) 114. The controller 110 configured to, while a request of the quick shift is detected, characterized in that, determine and compare a current engine torque with a current wheel torque, and actuate the CPV 114 to an open position if the current engine torque is lesser than the current wheel torque. The request for quick shift is detected through shift intention sensor 106 (contact or non-contact type) as already known in the art. The current engine torque and current wheel torque are computed by the controller 110 by using signals from engine speed sensor 102 and wheel speed sensor 104 respectively or through respective direct or indirect sensors (e.g. over-run conditions).

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the intake manifold is in fluid communication with any one of a Mechanical Throttle Body (MTB) and an Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) unit. The MTB comprises a throttle valve which manually controllable through a throttle grip mounted on a handlebar of the vehicle. The controller 110 is preferably suitable for MTB, however, if required the controller 110 is implementable for ETC unit as well.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ignition of the engine is ON while the CPV 114 is actuated to the open position during the quick shift and the canister is purged. Under other operating conditions there are no changes in operation of the ignition and CPV 114 as compared to existing methodology.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the CPV 114 is actuated to the open position only after fulfillment of a first condition comprising the canister is purged during at least one of a previous drive cycle and a present/current/ongoing drive cycle. In addition, the CPV 114 is actuated to the open position after fulfillment of a second condition comprising when quantity of fuel during the actuation is below a particular threshold.

[0011] The reason for the ignition is ON along with first condition and second conditions are explained below. In general, during over-run conditions, a lambda control is turned OFF due to which there is no feedback if air or fuel vapor is purged from CPV 114 as this depends to what extent the CPV 114 is loaded with fuel vapors. Also in general CPV 114 is not actuated under over-run conditions. Since ignition is also cut during over-run condition, the fuel vapor which is purged during gearshift operation would pass out of engine as exhaust without burning, leading to possible emission increase and faster catalyst deterioration. To overcome this limitation, when clutch less gearshift quick shift is performed and CPV 114 is opened, the ignition is kept ON so that fuel particles, if any, are burnt. Additionally, the use of CPV 114 for quick shift may be enabled only after CPV 114 is purged during at least one of the previous drive cycle and present drive cycle, and when quantity of fuel during that actuation is below a particular threshold. This is because, when CPV 114 is operated under normal drive conditions, lambda control is ON and there would be a feedback on what is purged from the canister.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a working of the controller 110 is described. During the quick shift, i.e., the gearshift without modulation of clutch or throttle, such as directly pressing the gear lever in an intended direction without pressing the clutch lever, there would be scenario where engine is being driven by the wheel i.e. engine/driven toque is lower than wheel/driver torque, e.g. the case of clutch less gearshift with zero throttle/long fuel cut/over-run condition i.e. coast down condition. In order to meet the additional torque request during quick shift mostly during over run conditions, the CPV 114 is opened which supplies/provides air or fuel vapor or both. The supply from canister aids in increasing engine torque thereby giving seamless gearshift or quick shift. The operation of CPV 114 is not restricted for over-run / fuel cut conditions or for MTB applications, but is suitable in scenarios when there is clutch less gearshift and engine torque is lower than wheel (driver) torque.

[0013] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the controller 110 is provided with necessary signal detection, acquisition, and processing circuits. The controller 110 is the control unit which comprises input/output interfaces having pins or ports, the memory element 108 such as Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or Read Only Memory (ROM), Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and a Digital-to-Analog Convertor (DAC), clocks, timers, counters and at least one processor (capable of implementing machine learning) connected with each other and to other components through communication bus channels. The memory element 108 is pre-stored with logics or instructions 112 or programs or applications or modules/models and/or threshold values/ranges, system threshold, predefined/predetermined criteria/conditions, engine maps/table which is/are accessed by at least one processor as per the defined routines. The internal components of the controller 110 are not explained for being state of the art, and the same must not be understood in a limiting manner. The controller 110 may also comprise communication units to or may be connected to other control units to communicate through wireless or wired means such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, serial networks, and the like. The controller 110 is implementable in the form of System-in-Package (SiP) or System-on-Chip (SOC) or any other known types. Examples of controller 110 comprises but not limited to, microcontroller, microprocessor, microcomputer, etc.

[0014] According to the present invention, the vehicle 130 comprises but not limited to two-wheeler, three wheeler vehicles, four wheeler vehicles, Off-Highway (OHW) vehicle, multi-wheel vehicles and the like including the stationary application like gensets and construction equipment vehicles (CEV).

[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for assisting quick shift in the two-wheeler vehicle, according to the present invention. The quick shift corresponds to shifting gears without clutch or throttle modulations. The vehicle comprises the canister connected to the intake manifold of the engine of the vehicle through the Canister Purge Value (CPV) 114, characterized by, the method comprises plurality of steps, of which a step 202 comprises detecting a request for the quick shift. n. A step 204 comprises determining and comparing the current engine torque with the current wheel torque through respective sensors 102, 104 or derived through other indirect methods (e.g. over-run conditions). A step 206 comprises actuating the CPV 114 to the open position if the engine torque is lesser than the current wheel torque during quick shift. The method as described above is executed or implemented by the controller 110 through instructions 112 stored in the memory element 108.

[0016] According to the method, the intake manifold is in fluid communication with any one of the Mechanical Throttle Body (MTB) and the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) unit. According to the present invention, the method comprises keeping the ignition of the engine ON while the CPV 114 is actuated to the open position during the quick shift and the canister is purged.

[0017] According to the present invention, the method comprises actuating the CPV 114 to the open position only after fulfillment of the first condition comprising the canister is purged during the at least one previous drive cycle and present drive cycle. The method also comprises actuating the CPV 114 to the open position after fulfillment of the second condition comprising when quantity of fuel during the actuation is below the particular threshold.

[0018] According to the present invention, a methodology for aiding clutch less gearshift (also known as quick shift) in an Engine Management System (EMS) or the controller 110 of a two-wheeler application is disclosed. Thus, in the vehicle with MTB where there is no throttle control, the CPV 114 is operatively controlled for controlling the air intake in scenarios comprising wheel torque greater than the engine torque. The present invention is also implementable for vehicles with ETC unit.

[0019] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A controller (110) to assist quick shift in a two-wheeler vehicle, said quick shift corresponds to gearshift without clutch or throttle modulation, said vehicle comprises a canister connected to an intake manifold of an engine of said vehicle through a Canister Purge Value (CPV) (114), said controller (110) configured to:
while a request of said quick shift is detected, characterized in that,
determine and compare engine torque with a current wheel torque, and
actuate said CPV (114) to an open position if said engine torque is lesser than said current wheel torque.

2. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intake manifold is in fluid communication with any one of a Mechanical Throttle Body (MTB) and an Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) unit.

3. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ignition is ON while said CPV (114) is actuated to said open position during said gearshift and said canister is purged.

4. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said CPV (114) is actuated to said open position only after fulfillment of a first condition comprising said canister is purged during at least one of previous drive cycle and a present drive cycle.

5. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said CPV (114) is actuated to said open position after fulfillment of a second condition comprising when quantity of fuel during the actuation is below a particular threshold.

6. A method for assisting quick shift in a two-wheeler vehicle, said quick shift corresponds to shifting gears without clutch or throttle modulations, said vehicle comprises a canister connected to an intake manifold of an engine of said vehicle through a Canister Purge Value (CPV) (114), characterized by, said method comprising the steps of:
detecting a request for said gearshift,
determining and comparing engine torque with a current wheel torque, and
actuating said CPV (114) to an open position if said engine torque is lesser than said current wheel torque.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said intake manifold is in fluid communication with any one of a Mechanical Throttle Body (MTB) and an Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) unit.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 comprises keeping an ignition of said engine ON while said CPV (114) is actuated to said open position during said gearshift and said canister is purged.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 comprises actuating said CPV (114) to said open position only after fulfillment of a first condition comprising said canister is purged during at least one of a previous drive cycle or a present drive cycle.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 comprises actuating said CPV (114) to said open position after fulfillment of a second condition comprising when quantity of fuel during the actuation is below a particular threshold.