Vehicle Control Device

Field of the Invention:

The present invention provides controlled shut down or partially shut down mode for automated manual transmission during unexpected battery or controller failure in the vehicle.

Background of the Invention:

Generally in an automated manual transmission (AMT) vehicle gear and clutch actuation is controlled by an electric control unit (ECU). The gear and clutch is actuation is performed by two independent electric actuators. The position of the clutch and gear is sensed by two independent position sensors. These sensors are mechanically connected to the gear lever and clutch actuation system respectively. The desired position of the clutch and gear is calculated by the ECU based on information available from different input sensors. The system works with the vehicle power pack as an energy source. The power pack consists of vehicle battery, alternator, the regulator rectifier unit and any auxiliary power unit. The energy flow from the power pack to the AMT control unit with actuators is switched on by the ignition key. The AMT control unit is non-functional in case of battery or controller failure. Some of the conditions are mentioned below, but there may exist more of such battery and controller failure conditions such as in one case battery may stop charging and loose out the voltage required, in second case battery may stop functioning and in third case controller may fail due to unexpected reasons.

In all the above three cases, the vehicle is immovable in case of any failure of battery or controller or any other similar failure. So, it is very essential to provide a means to make the vehicle movable in case of any of these above mentioned failures.

Summary of the Invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide auxiliary power source signal in the AMT control unit to have a controlled shut down mode or partially shut down mode. This configuration provides power to the AMT unit on need basis in case of unexpected battery failure. The auxiliary power source is used to do desired required function for controller to run the vehicle in the normal mode.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary hardware unit in the condition of controller failure. This auxiliary hardware control unit is used for the desired functional requirement of disengaging the clutch and running the vehicle into either neutral mode or 1st gear mode using a mode control switch provided for the user during controller failure and ensuring safe shutdown. It also provides the basic spark control for the vehicle to run in normal mode in 1st gear.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein

Figure 1 shows a conventional scooter type vehicle.

Figure 2 shows the first embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 3 shows second embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 4 shows third embodiment according to the present invention.

Detail Description of the Drawings:

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with different_embodiments. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather those embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

With reference to Figure 1,1 denotes a front wheel, 2 denotes a front fork, 3 denotes a front fender, 4 denotes a front cover, 5 denotes a leg shield made of resin or metal, 6 denotes a handle bar cover, 7 denotes a headlight, 8 denotes a handle bar ,17 denotes a rear fender and 18 denotes tail lamp.

The centre of the body forms a low floor board 9 for functioning as a part for putting feet and a under cowl 10 which is located below the rider's seat and covers at least a part of the engine, The under cowl is made up of metal or resin. The under cowl is hinged to the seat 11. A utility box 12 opens from the rear end to hinged portion. The utility box 12 is provided under the seat extending longitudinally of a vehicle body and the inside of the utility box has a large capacity so that a large article can be housed. A main frame 14 extended along the center of the body before and behind and made of a metallic pipe and is provided under the floor board 9. A swing type power unit 13 is coupled to the rear end of the main frame 14. A rear wheel 15 is supported on one side of the rear end of the swing type power unit 13. The swing type power unit 13 is suspended in the rear of a body frame.

The side covers 16 both on left and right sides, covers the utility box 12 and other parts of the vehicle, thereby providing a good appearance to the vehicle.

According to the present invention, when the battery stop charging and loose out the voltage required and when battery stops functioning, it is necessary to function the AMT unit in spite of power source (Battery) failure. In these conditions the AMT controller has to be connected to an auxiliary power source so that AMT controller realizes the failure of the battery and takes necessary action to make the vehicle run or normal mode. The controller will run the gear and clutch control and taking the respective feedback signals into considerations the cluteh would disengaged and the vehicle will be made to run in either neutral mode or 1st gear mode. The auxiliary control unit also takes over the spark control. Accordingly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention and referring to Figure 2, the AMT controller 201 runs on regular power source battery 202 when the ignition switch is "ON" and controls the gear and clutch motors through the respective actuators. The auxiliary power source 203 is continuously connected to an auxiliary source controller 204 and it takes the feedback signal of battery source 202 signal going to the controller 204 in default condition. When the battery signal goes low then the feedback to the auxiliary source controller 204 recognizes the battery failure condition and switches on the control switch for the auxiliary power 203 to be connected to the controller. And it also informs through a limp home mode signal that the auxiliary power is taken over and a safe shutdown of the vehicle is required. In which case the micro controller 201 runs the vehicle in normal mode and shuts down the vehicle in safe mode after taking necessary actions. After the safe condition is reached the controller internally goes to standby mode.

Referring to Figure 3, when the controller 201 fails due to unexpected reasons, a simple auxiliary hardware control unit 301 is connected in parallel. The said auxiliary controller 301 would be controlled using the user interface switch 302. In emergency condition of controller 201 failure the user can use the interface switch 302 and can get the auxiliary hardware control unit into function. The said auxiliary controller 301 will take the gear position feedback and control the gear and clutch. The said auxiliary controller 301 makes sure that the vehicle is made to run in normal mode and made to shut down the vehicle in safe mode. Accordingly in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the AMT controller 201 runs on battery source 202 when the ignition is "ON" and controls the gear and clutch motors through the respective actuators. Buring the controller 201 failure, the user is given «an interface switch 302 in the dash board which could be used for safe shutdown of the vehicle. In this case when the user interface switch 302 is closed the battery power source 202 is connected to the auxiliary hardware control unit 301 which takes over the gear and clutch control and ensures a safe shutdown of the vehicle. In this case the auxiliary controller 301 disengages the clutch and pushes the vehicle to either 1st gear or runs the vehicle in neutral mode using mode control switch provided to the user. After the safe condition is reached the controller internally goes to standby mode. The said auxiliary controller 301 will also control the spark control with fixed ignition angle during the controller 201 failure mode using the engine speed signal as reference.

In another embodiment according to the present invention and referring to Figure 4, the AMT controller 201 runs on battery source 202 when the ignition is "ON" and controls the gear and clutch motors through the respective actuators. There is continuous power supply given to the auxiliary hardware unit 301 and there is a continuous signal coming from the controller 201 to the auxiliary hardware unit. During the controller 201 failure, the auxiliary hardware unit 301 would know the failure of the AMT controller 201 unit using the feedback signal. In this case, the auxiliary hardware control unit 301 which takes over the gear and clutch control ensures a safe shutdown of the vehicle. In this case the auxiliary controller 301 disengages the clutch and pushes the vehicle to the either 1st gear or runs the vehicle in neutral mode using mode control switch 401 given to the user. After the safe condition is reached, the controller internally goes to standby mode. The said auxiliary controller 301 will also control the spark control with fixed ignition angle during the controller failure mode using the engine speed signal as reference.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

We Claim:

1. A vehicle control device for an automated manual transmission (AMT) equipped engine comprising:

a battery source;

an AMT controller controlling the gear and clutch motors through respective actuators; and

an auxiliary power source connected to an auxiliary source control unit and takes feedback signal of battery source signal going to the AMT controller;

wherein, the auxiliary source is connected to the AMT controller when battery failure condition is detected.

2. A vehicle control device for an automated manual transmission (AMT) equipped engine comprising:

a battery source;

an AMT controller controlling the gear and clutch motors through respective actuators; and

an auxiliary control unit connected in parallel to AMT controller and

takes the gear position feedback and control the gear and clutch ;

wherein, in case of the controller failure the user can use an interface switch and can get the auxiliary control unit into function.

3. A vehicle control device for an automated manual transmission (AMT) equipped engine comprising:

a battery source;

an AMT controller controlling the gear and clutch motors through respective actuators; and

an auxiliary control unit connected in parallel to AMT controller and

takes the gear position feedback and control the gear and clutch ;

wherein, during the AMT controller failure, the auxiliary control unit would know the failure of the AMT controller unit using a feedback signal; and

wherein the auxiliary controller disengages the clutch and pushes the vehicle to the either first gear or runs the vehicle in neutral mode using a mode control switch given to the user.