METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, CONTROL UNIT, MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for operating a motor vehicle, which includes a drive system, including an electric drive machine, a friction braking system and an actuating element. The actuating element is continuously movable between a first end state and a second end state, a position of the actuating element in the first end state corresponding to a percentage value of 0%, and the position of the actuating element in the second end state corresponding to a percentage value of 100%. An acceleration torque for the motor vehicle is predefined if the positon has a percentage value that is greater than a predefined threshold value, and a deceleration torque for the motor vehicle being predefined if the position has a percentage value that is less than the threshold value. The friction braking system is activated in such a way that the friction braking system generates at least partially the predefined deceleration torque.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method for operating a motor vehicle, which includes a drive system including an electric drive machine, a friction braking system, and an actuating element, the actuating element being continuously movable between a first end state and a second end state, a position of the actuating element in the first end state corresponding to a percentage value of 0%, and the position of the actuating element in the second end state corresponding to a percentage value of 100%, the method comprising the following steps: predefining an acceleration torque for the motor vehicle when the position of the actuating element has a percentage value that is greater than a predefined threshold value; predefining a deceleration torque for the motor vehicle when the position of the actuating element has a percentage value that is less than the threshold value; and activating the friction braking system in such a way that the friction braking system generates, at least partially, the predefined deceleration torque.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the friction braking system is a hydraulic friction braking system, and wherein, in the activating step, the friction braking system generates completely the predefined deceleration torque.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the electric drive machine of the drive system is operated as a generator for generating the predefined deceleration torque in such a way that the drive machine generates at least partially the predefined deceleration torque.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein a relative speed of the motor vehicle to ground is detected, and the predefined deceleration torque is changed as a function of the detected relative speed.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the predefined deceleration torque is reduced with a reduction of the relative speed.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein a first threshold speed is predefined, the predefined deceleration torque being reduced only when the detected relative speed is less than the first threshold speed.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein a second threshold speed is predefined, which is greater than the first threshold speed, the predefined deceleration torque being increased with the reduction of the relative speed when a relative speed is detected, which is greater than the first threshold speed and less than the second threshold speed.

21. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the deceleration torque is predefined as a function of a previously stored characteristic curve.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the characteristic curve exhibits a slope, which becomes greater and/or smaller with decreasing relative speed.

23. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the motor vehicle is decelerated to a standstill by the predefined deceleration torque.

24. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein a minimum value is predefined for the deceleration torque.

25. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein a base deceleration torque is generated by the friction braking system, a difference between the base deceleration torque and the predefined deceleration torque being compensated for by operating the electric drive machine as a motor or as a generator.

26. A control unit for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle including a drive system including an electric drive machine, a friction braking system, and an actuating element, the actuating element being continuously movable between a first end state and a second end state, a position of the actuating element in the first end state corresponding to a percentage value of 0%, and the position of the actuating element in the second end state corresponding to a percentage value of 100%, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the motor vehicle, the control unit being configured to: predefine an acceleration torque for the motor vehicle when the position of the actuating element has a percentage value that is greater than a predefined threshold value; predefine a deceleration torque for the motor vehicle when the position of the actuating element has a percentage value that is less than the threshold value; and activate the friction braking system in such a way that the friction braking system generates, at least partially, the predefined deceleration torque.

27. A motor vehicle, comprising: a drive system which includes an electric drive machine, a friction braking system, and an actuating element, the actuating element being continuously movable between a first end state and a second end state, a position of the actuating element in the first end state corresponding to a percentage value of 0%, and the position of the actuating element in the second end state corresponding to a percentage value of 100%; and a control unit configured to operate the motor vehicle, the control unit being configured to: predefine an acceleration torque for the motor vehicle when the position of the actuating element has a percentage value that is greater than a predefined threshold value, predefine a deceleration torque for the motor vehicle when the position of the actuating element has a percentage value that is less than the threshold value, and activate the friction braking system in such a way that the friction braking system generates, at least partially, the predefined deceleration torque.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the figures.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of a motor vehicle in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows an overview of characteristic curves of various advantageous stopping strategies for the motor vehicle, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows one advantageous method for operating the motor vehicle, in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a simplified representation of a motor vehicle 1. Motor vehicle 1 in the present case includes four wheels 2 and 3, wheels 2 being assigned to a front wheel axle 4 and wheels 3 being assigned to a rear wheel axle 5. Motor vehicle 1 also includes a drive system 6 including an electric drive machine 7 operable as a generator. Drive machine 7 is connected to wheels 2 of front wheel axle 4 by a differential gear 8 and shafts 9, 10 and 11 in such a way that wheels 2 are driveable by drive machine 7. Motor vehicle 1 also includes a friction braking system 12 which, in the present case, includes friction braking units 13 assigned to front wheel axle 4 for generating a deceleration torque MV. Friction braking units 13 in the present case are hydraulically actuatable. Alternatively, friction braking system 12 includes electromotively or pneumatically actuable friction braking units 13.

[0024] Motor vehicle 1 depicted in FIG. 1 includes an actuating element 14, which is designed as an accelerator pedal, and which is continuously movable between a first end state and a second end state, the position of actuating element 14 in the first end state corresponding to a percentage value of 0% and the position of actuating element 14 in the second end state corresponding to a percentage value of 100%. With the aid of actuating element 14, it is possible to selectively predefine either an acceleration torque or a deceleration torque MV for motor vehicle 1. In the process, an acceleration torque is predefined if the position of the actuating element 14 has a percentage value that is greater than a predefined threshold value, and a deceleration torque MV if the position of control element 14 has a percentage value that is less than the predefined threshold value.

[0025] To predefine the acceleration torque or deceleration torque MV, motor vehicle 1 includes a control unit 15, which is connected on the one hand to actuating element 14 and on the other hand to drive machine 7 and to friction braking units 13. If an acceleration torque is predefined based on the position of the actuating element 14, control unit 15 activates drive machine 7 to generate the acceleration torque. If a deceleration torque MV is predefined, control unit 14 activates at least friction braking units 13 to generate deceleration torque MV. Control unit 15 optionally also activates drive machine 7 to generate a generator-induced deceleration torque MV.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows characteristic curves S1, S2, S3, and S4, of various advantageous deceleration processes for motor vehicle 1. For this purpose, deceleration torque MV, which is predefined by control unit 15 for motor vehicle 1 if the position of actuating element 14 has a percentage value that is less than the threshold value, is represented as a function of a relative speed v of motor vehicle 1. As is apparent from FIG. 2, deceleration torque MV is changed as a function of relative speed v.

[0027] According to characteristic curves S1, S2 and S3, predefined deceleration torque MV is held constant at a value MV0 with a reduction of relative speed v of motor vehicle 1 if relative speed v is greater than a predefined threshold speed v1. If detected relative speed v is less than threshold speed v1, deceleration torque MV is reduced with relative speed v. By reducing deceleration torque MV, a particularly comfortable deceleration of motor vehicle 1, in particular, to a standstill of motor vehicle 1, is achieved. A deceleration jerk as motor vehicle 1 is being stopped is, in particular, avoided. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the deceleration torque is not reduced below a predefined minimum value MV1. This ensures that motor vehicle 1, after being decelerated to a standstill, is held at a standstill. Characteristic curves S1, S2 and S3 differ from one another insofar as they each exhibit different slopes or slope changes in a relative speed range Δv1 with decreasing relative speed. According to characteristic curve S2, deceleration torque MV is reduced linearly at relative speed v. By contrast, the slope of characteristic curve S1 becomes greater with decreasing speed v and the slope of characteristic curve S3 becomes smaller with decreasing relative speed v.

[0028] Characteristic curve S4 depicted in FIG. 2 differs from characteristic curves S1, S2 and S3 insofar as in addition to a first threshold speed v2, by which deceleration torque MV is reduced with a reduction of relative speed v if relative speed v is less than first threshold speed v2, a second threshold speed v3 is also predefined, which is greater than first threshold speed v2, and deceleration torque MV being increased with the reduction of relative speed v if a relative speed v is detected, which is greater than first threshold speed v2 and less than second threshold speed v3. By predefining deceleration torque MV in such a way, a particularly rapid but still comfortable deceleration or stopping of motor vehicle 1 is achieved. A minimum value MV2 for deceleration torque MV is also predefined according to characteristic curve S4, below which deceleration torque MV is not reduced.

[0029] According to FIG. 2, first threshold speed v1 of characteristic curves S1, S2 and S3 corresponds to second threshold speed v3 of characteristic curve S4. The position of threshold speeds v1, v2 and v3 is, however, represented merely as an example in FIG. 2. According to further exemplary embodiments of characteristic curves S1, S2, S3, and S4, first threshold speed v1 of characteristic curves S1, S2 and S3 differs from second threshold speed v3 of characteristic curve S4.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows one advantageous method for operating motor vehicle 1. In a first step S1, the percentage value of the position of actuating element 14 is detected. In a subsequent step S2, an acceleration torque for motor vehicle 1 is predefined if it is detected in first step S1 that the percentage value of the position of actuating element 14 is greater than the predefined threshold value.

[0031] If, however, it is detected in first step S1 that the position of actuating element 14 has a percentage value that is less than the threshold value, a deceleration torque MV for motor vehicle 1 is then predefined in a step S3 instead of an acceleration torque in step S2. Predefined deceleration torque MV in this case is generated at least by friction braking units 13 of motor vehicle 1. In addition, drive machine 7 is optionally also operated as a generator for generating deceleration torque MV.

[0032] In a subsequent step S4, a relative speed v of motor vehicle 1 to ground is detected. In the present case, the relative speed of the vehicle body of motor vehicle 1 to ground is detected as relative speed v.

[0033] In a subsequent step S5, deceleration torque MV predefined for motor vehicle 1 based on the percentage value of the position of actuating element 14, which is less than the threshold value, is changed as a function of detected relative speed v. For example, predefined deceleration torque MV is changed according to one of characteristic curves S1, S2, S3, and S4 depicted in FIG. 2. This results in each case in a particularly comfortable deceleration process with motor vehicle 1. In order to ensure the change of deceleration torque MV, deceleration torque MV generated by friction braking units 13, generator-induced deceleration torque MV generated by drive machine 7 or deceleration torque MV generated both by friction braking units 13 and by drive machine 7 are changed.

[0034] Because friction braking units 13 are activated for generating deceleration torque MV, motor vehicle 1 is able to be decelerated to a standstill. Motor vehicle 1 may also be held at a standstill by activating friction braking units 13.