Control unit for a motor vehicle

US6026342A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Friedrich Graf · Eggenfelden, DE
• Joachim Schäfer · Darmstadt, DE
• Kai Storjohann · Regensburg, DE
• Michael Ulm · Alteglofsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 10, 1996
• Grant date: Feb 15, 2000
• Expiry date: Dec 10, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16H2061/1208
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A control unit includes a transmission control unit and an engine control unit which are connected to one another through a communication channel. Functional units of the transmission control unit which are dependent on data from the engine and the chassis of the motor vehicle, so-called engine-specific and chassis-specific functional units, are integrated into the engine control unit. Functional units performing an operation that is dependent on data from the transmission, so-called transmission-specific components, are contained in a computer-controlled transmission ratio changing device. Data which are necessary for controlling the transmission, data for selecting or determining the transmission ratio of the transmission and configuration parameters for adapting the control unit to the respective motor vehicle, are exchanged between the engine control unit and the transmission ratio changing device through the communication channel. A shift-point selection control unit, which may be constructed as a fuzzy control unit, is contained in the engine control unit.