FR3101162A1 - Motor vehicle control system - Google Patents

Abstract

Control system for a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising a clutch pedal provided with a clutch pedal sensor and an accelerator pedal provided with an accelerator pedal sensor, the clutch pedal sensor being configured to output a clutch logic signal having a first logic value if the clutch pedal is actuated, the accelerator pedal sensor being configured to output an accelerator signal dependent on the stroke of the pedal, characterized by the that said control system comprises: - a comparator connected by its input to the accelerator pedal sensor, configured to emit an accelerator logic signal having a first logic value if the received accelerator signal is greater than a threshold of accelerator pedal, - a logic gate connected by its inputs to the clutch pedal sensor and the comparator, configured to output a gate logic signal based on the logic value received on its inputs, - a timed logic means connected by its input to the logic gate, configured to send a timed logic signal having a logic value which corresponds to the logic value of the logic gate signal received on its input if the logic value received remains the same for a predetermined period of time, and - a driver alert system connected to the output of the timed logic means, configured to alert the driver of the need to release the clutch pedal, after receiving a timed logic signal having a predetermined logical value. Reference for the abstract: No figure

Description

Motor vehicle control system

The present invention relates to vehicle control systems, and more specifically to vehicle clutch system control systems.

In the increasing development of automotive space, the car has become the second home for all customers, in which technical functions and human driving patterns must be linked to achieve better efficiency.

The clutch is one important system among others, which transfers kinetic energy from the powertrain to the transmission system by means of friction surfaces which allow some degree of slippage between the flywheel and the shaft. transmission input.

When the clutch pedal is operated correctly, a clutch pedal sensor informs the electronic control unit (ECU) that the engine is going to be relieved, i.e. a lower amount of fuel is going to be injected and that its speed will be reduced, all to ensure a smooth gear change.

It has been determined that while driving a manual transmission vehicle equipped with a clutch pedal, some drivers hold their foot on the clutch pedal outside of heavy traffic, leading to a the foot on the clutch, also called driving with the foot permanently on the clutch.

When the foot is on the clutch pedal, the clutch pedal moves above the cut-off stroke due to the weight of the foot, resulting in the pedal actuation detection switch or sensor being tripped. 'clutch. In this state, the functions intended for the clutch pedal position switch are tricked, which causes side effects in the systems concerned.

Driving with the foot permanently on the clutch leads to a reduction in frictional forces which causes significant slippage, which generates heat. This results in a high temperature increase on the surfaces of the clutch plates and eventually causes clutch failures and thermal cracks.

There is a problem in the control system of current cars, with the absence of detection of a phenomenon of driving by the driver with the foot on the clutch, and the lack of corrective action to limit the wear of the ensuing clutch.

One aspect of the invention is a control system for a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising a clutch pedal provided with a clutch pedal sensor and an accelerator pedal provided with an accelerator pedal sensor, the clutch pedal sensor being configured to emit a clutch logic signal having a first logic value if the clutch pedal is actuated and a second logic value if the clutch pedal is not actuated, the accelerator pedal being configured to emit an accelerator signal depending on the stroke of the pedal.

Said control system includes:

a comparator connected by its input to the accelerator pedal sensor, configured to emit an accelerator logic signal having a first logic value if the received accelerator signal is greater than an accelerator pedal threshold, and a second value logic if the accelerator signal received is less than or equal to the accelerator pedal threshold,

a logic gate connected by its inputs to the clutch pedal sensor and to the comparator, configured to emit a logic gate signal based on the logic value received at its inputs,

delayed logic means connected at its input to the logic gate, configured to output a delayed logic signal having a logic value which corresponds to the logic value of the gate logic signal received at its input if the received logic value remains the same for a pre-established duration, and

a driver alert system connected to the output of the timed logic means, configured to alert the driver of the need to release the clutch pedal, after receiving a timed logic signal having a pre-established logic value.

The preset duration can be equal to 10 seconds.

The logic gate may be configured such that a first logic signal having a first logic value is emitted if a logic signal having a first logic value is received at both of its inputs, the driver alert system then being configured to alert the driver of the need to release the clutch pedal, after receiving a delayed logic signal having a first logic value.

The logic gate can be of the AND type, so that a first logic signal having a first logic value is emitted if a logic signal having a first logic value is received on its two inputs, the driver alert system then being configured to alert the driver of the need to release the clutch pedal, after receiving a delayed logic signal having a first logic value.

The accelerator pedal threshold can be equal to 50% of the maximum accelerator pedal stroke.

The driver alert system may include at least one of a light emitting diode and an audible alert device.

The control system is beneficial because it extends clutch life, increases fuel efficiency, reduces maintenance costs due to clutch system failures, and overall improves customer satisfaction.

Another aspect of the invention is a vehicle comprising a control system as described above.

The present invention will be better understood on studying the detailed description of a number of embodiments considered by way of entirely non-limiting examples, and illustrated by the attached drawing, in which:

is a schematic view of a control system according to the present invention.

The control system is intended to detect driving behavior with the foot on the clutch by establishing a relationship between the functions of the clutch and accelerator pedals. The system monitors clutch pedal travel and accelerator pedal entry and exit, and assesses system response for timing.

In addition, upon detecting the driving condition response with the foot permanently on the clutch, the control system creates an alert for the driver based on time-delayed cut-off logic.

The control system is illustrated in figure 1 under the reference 1, and comprises a power supply 2 connected in parallel to a clutch pedal sensor 3 and to an accelerator pedal sensor 4.

The clutch pedal sensor 3 and the accelerator pedal sensor 4 are connected to a logic gate 5 respectively through a first resistor R1 and a second resistor R2 in series with a comparator 4b.

The logic gate 5 is connected by its output to the input of a timed logic means 6. The output of the timed logic means 6, a third resistor R3, a driver warning system 7 and the power supply 2 are connected in series. Resistors R1, R2, R3 are resistors provided to regulate the voltage input from current sources to dependent components.

Logic gate 6 is configured such that a logic gate signal is output when both pedals are operated. Logic gate 6 can be an AND gate or a combination of different logic gates i.e. NAND and NOT gates.

The clutch pedal sensor 3 produces a clutch logic signal having a first logic value when the pedal is actuated and a clutch logic signal having a second logic value when the pedal is not actuated.

The accelerator pedal sensor 4 produces an accelerator signal having a value which depends on the stroke of the accelerator pedal.

The comparator 4b compares the value of the throttle signal to a preset throttle pedal threshold and generates a throttle logic signal having a first logic value if the received throttle signal is greater than the throttle pedal threshold preset, and generates a throttle logic signal having a second logic value if the received throttle signal is less than or equal to the throttle pedal threshold.

Logic gate 5 receives logic signals from clutch pedal sensor 3 and comparator 4b. It produces a logic gate signal based on the logic value of each logic signal received on its own logic. When the accelerator pedal and the clutch pedal are operated at the same time, the logic gate outputs a gate logic signal having a value which indicates that a driving situation with the foot on the clutch may be in progress. .

The control system is able to determine whether driving with the foot on the clutch occurs due to the traffic the vehicle is in, based on the intensity of the stroke of the accelerator pedal. The comparator 4b allows, with the preset accelerator pedal threshold, a fine adjustment of this determination.

In the event that driving with the foot on the clutch occurs out of heavy traffic, the control system is able to signal this behavior to the driver via a driver alert system 7. The Driver alert system 7 may be either a light emitting diode or an audible alert emitting device, or a combination of both.

The timed logic means 6 makes it possible to limit the signaling of driving with the foot on the clutch to cases of long duration, by limiting the transmission of logic gate signals to signals emitted longer than a pre-established duration, in particular a duration of 10 seconds.

Claims (7)

Control system for a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising a clutch pedal provided with a clutch pedal sensor (3) and an accelerator pedal provided with an accelerator pedal sensor (4), the sensor clutch pedal (3) being configured to output a clutch logic signal having a first logic value if the clutch pedal is depressed and a second logic value if the clutch pedal is not depressed, the sensor accelerator pedal (4) being configured to emit an accelerator signal depending on the stroke of the pedal,
characterized in that said control system comprises:
- a comparator (4b) connected by its input to the accelerator pedal sensor (4), configured to emit an accelerator logic signal having a first logic value if the received accelerator signal is greater than a pedal threshold d accelerator, and a second logic value if the accelerator signal received is less than or equal to the accelerator pedal threshold,
- a logic gate (5) connected by its inputs to the clutch pedal sensor (3) and to the comparator (4b), configured to emit a gate logic signal based on the logic value received at its inputs,
- a timed logic means (6) connected by its input to the logic gate (5), configured to emit a timed logic signal having a logic value which corresponds to the logic value of the gate logic signal received on its input if the value logic received remains the same for a pre-established duration, and
- a driver warning system (7) connected to the output of the timed logic means (6), configured to alert the driver of the need to release the clutch pedal, after receiving a timed logic signal having a preset logic value. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the preset time is 10 seconds. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the logic gate is configured such that a first logic signal having a first logic value is emitted if a logic signal having a first logic value is received at both of its inputs , the driver alert system (7) then being configured to alert the driver of the need to release the clutch pedal, after receiving a delayed logic signal having a first logic value. Control system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the logic gate is of the AND type, so that a first logic signal having a first logic value is emitted if a logic signal having a first logic value is received on its two inputs , the driver alert system (7) then being configured to alert the driver of the need to release the clutch pedal, after receiving a delayed logic signal having a first logic value. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the accelerator pedal threshold is equal to 50% of the maximum accelerator pedal travel. A control system according to any preceding claim, wherein the driver alert system (7) comprises at least one of a light emitting diode and an audible alert device. A vehicle comprising a control system according to any preceding claim.