Gearbox System With an Automated Manual Gearbox

Abstract

The invention relates to a gearbox system for a vehicle having: an automated manual gearbox; a gearbox control device designed to control the automated manual gearbox; a monostable toggle switch which can be operated by a user, in particular a driver, and is movable in at least, in particular exactly, two deflection directions and by means of which a plurality of driving ranges of the gearbox control device can be selected by the user; and a visual device which displays or can display graphically a gearshift diagram with driving ranges selectable by the toggle switch. The gearbox control device has a further driving range which cannot be selected by means of the toggle switch but can be exited by moving the toggle switch in at least one of the two deflection directions. The visual device has at least one display designed to display a symbol which indicates the at least one deflection direction of the toggle switch by means of which the further driving range can be exited. The gearbox control device is also designed to control the at least one display such that the symbol is only displayed when the further driving range is selected.

Claims

1. A method for operating a gearbox system, the gearbox system including an automated manual gearbox, a gearbox control device configured to control the automated manual gearbox, a user-actuable monostable toggle switch which is movable in exactly two deflection directions for selection of at least one of a plurality of driving levels of the gearbox control device, and a visual device configured to graphically display a gearshift diagram having driving levels selectable by the toggle switch, the gearbox control device having a further driving level which is not selectable using the toggle switch, comprising the acts of: while operating with the further driving level selected, displaying using at least one display of the visual device a symbol indicating the at least one deflection direction of the toggle switch which will cause the further driving level to be exited; and while operating with the further driving level selected, exiting the further driving level by moving the toggle switch in at least one of the two deflection directions, wherein the gearbox control device configured to control the at least one display such that the symbol is only displayed when the further driving level is selected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visual device graphically displays the gearshift diagram with driving levels selectable by the toggle switch when the gearbox system is activated.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gearbox system further includes a first switch configured to be actuated to select the further driving level which is not selectable by the toggle switch, the first switch is spatially separated from the toggle switch, and either the first switch is arranged on a steering wheel or a steering column, or the toggle switch is arranged on a center console, or the first switch is arranged on the steering wheel or the steering column and the toggle switch is arranged on the center console, the method further comprising the act of: selecting the further driving level by actuating the first switch.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the gearbox system further includes a first switch configured to be actuated to select the further driving level which is not selectable by the toggle switch, the first switch is spatially separated from the toggle switch, and either the first switch is arranged on a steering wheel or a steering column, or the toggle switch is arranged on a center console, or the first switch is arranged on the steering wheel or the steering column and the toggle switch is arranged on the center console, the method further comprising the act of: selecting the further driving level by actuating the first switch.

5. A gearbox control device configured to control an automated manual gearbox of a vehicle, wherein the gearbox control device is configured to receive gearbox control signals from a monostable toggle switch actuatable by a user in exactly two deflection directions to select among a plurality of driving levels of the gearbox control device, the gearbox control device has a further driving level which is not selectable by the toggle switch, the gearbox control device is configured to output signals to graphically display a gearshift diagram having driving levels selectable by the toggle switch to a visual device having at least one display configured to display a symbol which indicates the one of the two deflection directions of the toggle switch which will result in the further driving level being exited, and the gearbox control device is configured to control the at least one display to only display the symbol when the further driving level is selected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an examplary embodiment of a gearbox system of a vehicle; and

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle having a gearbox system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the gearbox system 1, which is arranged in a vehicle between a motor 23 and the output. The output comprises a differential 24 and two wheels 25a and 25b here.

[0039] The gearbox system 1 has an automated manual gearbox 2, as is known in the prior art. In particular, gearboxes having torque converter or also dual clutch gearboxes can be used as automated manual gearboxes.

[0040] The automated manual gearbox 2 is controlled by a gearbox control device 3. In particular, the shifting time and the gear to be engaged, i.e., the desired transmission ratio, are defined by means of the gearbox control device 3. This is preferably carried out on the basis of characteristic maps which determine the transmission ratio to be implemented depending on the operating point and depending on the requirement.

[0041] Characteristic maps are preferably used for this purpose which are stored in the gearbox control device 3 or a database of the gearbox control device 3.

[0042] The operating mode of the gearbox control device 3 can be selected by means of a monostable toggle switch 4.

[0043] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the monostable toggle switch 4 has two deflection directions I, II in opposite directions, which are each indicated by means of a dashed arrow. The actual gearshift element to be actuated by hand by a user or driver is a bar 11a, which is preferably provided with a ribbing 11b. This bar 11a is moved in the first deflection direction I or in the second deflection direction II by the user.

[0044] The monostable toggle switch has a stable center position of the gearshift element or the bar 11a.

[0045] The continuous operating modes of the automated manual gearbox 2 can preferably be selected by means of the monostable toggle switch 4. For this purpose, these continuous operating modes are set by means of the monostable toggle switch 4 in the gearbox control device 3 by means of so-called driving levels.

[0046] A gearbox system 1 according to the invention preferably has four continuous operating modes, which are indicated by the driving levels reverse gear R, idle or neutral N, and the driving level drive D and also the driving level sport S. These four driving levels correspond to the typical driving levels of an automated manual gearbox. In general, a further operating mode of the automated manual gearbox is added for parking P.

[0047] The driving levels R, N, D, S, which indicate the continuous operating modes of the automated manual gearbox 2, form a gearshift diagram 6. The driving levels R, N, D, S or the gearshift diagram 6 is/are preferably arranged as a fixed graphic representation of a visual device in the spatial region of the monostable toggle switch 4. The driving levels R, N, D, S preferably form a so-called gearshift gate 10 here.

[0048] The deflection directions I, II of the toggle switch 4 are preferably oriented in parallel to the gearshift gate 10 here. In this way, it is intuitively clear to the user or driver in which direction he has to move the gearshift element 11a of the monostable toggle switch 4 to move from a presently selected driving level to another driving level in the gearshift gate 10.

[0049] The representation of the driving levels R, N, D, S is preferably a part of a visual device 5. Further preferably, this visual device 5 has a display 7. This display can be embodied as a digital display, in particular as a so-called LCD display, or also as a display having panels that can be backlit.

[0050] The visual device 5 and the monostable toggle switch 4 are preferably arranged in the region of the center console of a vehicle.

[0051] One symbol M or multiple symbols can preferably be displayed in this display 7, which identifies or identify the presence of a further operating mode of the automated manual gearbox 2. In the present case, the further operating mode is not a continuous operating mode, but rather a manual operation of the automated manual gearbox 2. In this operation, the actual shifting process is also controlled by the gearbox control device 3, but the time or the operating point at which the shifting between individual gears or transmission ratios of the automated manual gearbox 2 is changed or modified is determined by the user or driver by a manual actuation. If the driving level M for this manual operating mode is selected by the user or driver, the symbol M therefore preferably appears in the display 7.

[0052] To reach or select the further driving level M, the gearbox system 1 shown in the exemplary embodiment has a further first switch, which is formed by two so-called paddles 9a, 9b, which are arranged on a steering column of the steering wheel of the vehicle having the low system 1.

[0053] If one of the paddles 9a, 9b, as indicated by the arrows, is pulled, the gearbox controller 3 changes into the driving level M of the manual operating mode of the automated manual gearbox 2.

[0054] In this driving level M, depending on whether the right paddle 9a or the left paddle 9b is actuated, a gear change to a higher transmission ratio, i.e., a higher gear, or to a lower transmission ratio, i.e., a lower gear, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, can then take place. The manually selected transmission ratio or the manually selected gear is preferably displayed in a further, second display 12. This second display 12 is preferably arranged for the driver in the field of view of the driver, for example, in the dashboard. For example, the selected gear, as shown in FIG. 1, can be enclosed by a border.

[0055] As results from the preceding explanation of the driving level M, this further driving level M is exclusively selectable via the paddles 9a, 9b of the further first switch. Selecting by means of the monostable toggle switch 4, in contrast, is not possible. To exit the driving level M, in contrast, an actuation of the monostable toggle switch 4 is in turn necessary.

[0056] In order that the user or the driver knows into which driving levels R, N, D, S of the gearshift gate 10 he can return by means of the monostable toggle switch, preferably further symbols 8a, 8b, in particular, as shown in the exemplary embodiment, arrow tips or triangles, are displayed in the display 7, which indicate in which direction the monostable toggle switch 4 can be actuated to leave the driving level M. It is also displayed to the user or driver by the arrangement of the display 7 shown in the exemplary embodiment which driving level R, N, D, S of the gearshift gate he can reach by a movement in the first deflection direction I, namely the driving level N, or by a movement in the second deflection direction II, namely the driving level D, R.

[0057] Preferably, a further second switch 13 actuatable by the user is present for selecting the operating mode P.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle 20 in which a gearbox system 1 according to FIG. 1 is installed.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 2, the first switch 9a, 9b is preferably arranged in the region of the steering wheel 21 of the vehicle 20. In this way, the user or driver F can actuate the paddles 9a, 9b without taking the hand from the steering wheel 21.

[0060] The monostable toggle switch 4, which is used to select the driving levels R, N, D, S, thus the continuous operating modes, of the automated manual gearbox 2, has to be actuated significantly more rarely in the driving level M, in contrast to the paddles 9a, 9b. It is therefore preferably arranged at another point in the vehicle, for example, in the region of the center console 22.

[0061] The exemplary embodiments indicated above merely represent exemplary implementations which do not restrict the scope of protection, which is defined by the claims and statements equivalent thereto.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0062] 1 gearbox system

[0063] 2 manual gearbox

[0064] 3 gearbox control device

[0065] 4 monostable toggle switch

[0066] 5 visual device

[0067] 6 gearshift diagram

[0068] 7 di splay

[0069] 8a, 8b symbol

[0070] again 9a, 9b first switch

[0071] 10 gearshift gate

[0072] 11a bar

[0073] 11b ribbing

[0074] 12 further display

[0075] 13 second switch

[0076] 20 vehicle

[0077] 21 steering wheel

[0078] 22 center console

[0079] 23 motor

[0080] 24 differential

[0081] 25a, 25b wheels

[0082] R driving level reverse gear

[0083] N driving level neutral

[0084] D driving level drive

[0085] S driving level sport

[0086] M driving level manual

[0087] F driver/user