Motor Vehicle with Simulator of Performance of a Mechanical Gearbox

Abstract

A vehicle having a motor with a transmission, provided with a fixed gear ratio, to a propelling unit includes a virtual gearbox including a microprocessor, operatively interfaced with the motor and programmed to manage and check the generation of motor driving torque, limiting, at the motor output, a maximum angular velocity and a maximum torque which are variable with a predetermined law.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a speed of a vehicle from a speed gauge of the vehicle;   receiving an acceleration level from an acceleration pedal of the vehicle;   setting limits of a maximum angular velocity and a maximum torque of an electrical motor according to a predetermined rule, wherein the predetermined rule is set according to the speed of the vehicle; and   providing, by the electric motor, an angular velocity and a torque to a transmission with a fixed gear ratio according to the acceleration level, the maximum angular velocity, the maximum torque, and the speed of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the limits of the maximum angular velocity and the maximum torque simulate a plurality of gear ratios of a gearbox. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the angular velocity and the torque generate a counter-driving power according to the acceleration level being a negative acceleration. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the counter-driving power has a variable intensity that varies according to the speed and acceleration level. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the counter-driving power:
 is used for vehicle braking;   simulates downshifting; or   simulates engine braking caused by intrinsic friction of an internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving a clutch slip level; and   simulating, using the angular velocity and the torque, an engagement and a disengagement of a mechanical clutch according to the clutch slip level.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising reproducing a sound according to the angular velocity and the torque, wherein the sound corresponds to a real internal combustion engine in a same condition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the torque and the angular velocity are variable according to a continuously variable transmission. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving a gear selection, wherein the torque and the angular velocity are determined according to the gear selection. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selecting is activated automatically. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle comprising:
 a speed gauge;   an acceleration pedal;   an electrical motor;   a transmission comprising a fixed gear ratio; and   and a microprocessor configured to:
 receive a speed of the vehicle from the speed gauge; 
 receive an acceleration level from the acceleration pedal; 
 receive a predetermined rule; 
 set limits of a maximum angular velocity and a maximum torque of the electrical motor according to the predetermined rule, wherein the predetermined rule is set according to the speed of the vehicle; and 
 provide, by the electric motor, an angular velocity and a torque to the transmission according to the acceleration level, the maximum angular velocity, the maximum torque, and the speed. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the limits of the maximum angular velocity and the maximum torque simulate a plurality of gear ratios of a gearbox. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the angular velocity and the torque generate a counter-driving power according to the acceleration level being a negative acceleration. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the counter-driving power has a variable intensity that varies according to the speed and acceleration level. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the counter-driving power:
 is used for vehicle braking;   simulates downshifting; or   simulates engine braking caused by intrinsic friction of an internal combustion engine.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
 receive a clutch slip level; and   simulate, using the angular velocity and the torque, an engagement and a disengagement of a mechanical clutch according to the clutch slip level.   
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
 reproduce a sound according to the angular velocity and the torque, wherein the sound corresponds to a real internal combustion engine in a same condition.   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the torque and the angular velocity are variable according to a continuously variable transmission. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
 receive a gear selection, wherein the torque and the angular velocity are determined according to the gear selection.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein the selecting is activated automatically.