Systems and methods for control of transmission and/or prime mover

Abstract

Methods of controlling a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) are described. The CVT has a group of spherical power adjusters. Each power adjuster has a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission. The CVT has a plurality of spherical power adjusters, each power adjuster having a tiltable axis of rotation. The methods may include optimizing a drive system having a prime mover and a continuously variable transmission.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a drive system in a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the method comprising:
 receiving information associated with the drive motor and the CVT;   adjusting the drive motor to operate at a desired setting; and   adjusting the CVT to achieve a desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the desired setting is based on a throttle input. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the drive motor to operate at the desired setting comprises operating the drive motor at an initial power until the drive motor is at a base speed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises operating the drive motor at a peak current. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises operating the drive motor at the initial power for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein operating the drive motor at an initial power comprises:
 receiving a user input for a current level to be delivered to the drive motor;   determining if the user input exceeds a maximum current limit of the drive motor; and   delivering the current level to the drive motor up to a level that does not exceed the maximum current limit of the drive motor.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the user input is a throttle input. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the CVT to achieve the desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting comprises:
 selecting a desired range of current of the drive motor based on an efficiency of the drive motor;   monitoring a current draw;   comparing the current draw to the desired range of current; and   adjusting a ratio of the CVT based at least in part on the comparison.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the current draw is a current provided to the drive motor or a current drawn from a battery. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the CVT comprises selecting a speed ratio for the CVT based on a lookup table selected from a group of lookup tables. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lookup table is selected from a group of lookup tables including a fast acceleration mode, an economy mode, a fixed ratio simulation mode, and a performance mode. 
     
     
         12 . A control system for controlling a drive system in a vehicle having a drive motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the control system configured to communicate with a sensor and further configured to:
 receive information associated with the drive motor and the CVT;   adjust the drive motor to operate at a desired setting; and   adjust the CVT to achieve a desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting.   
     
     
         13 . The control system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is coupled to a throttle, and wherein the desired setting is based on a throttle input. 
     
     
         14 . The control system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at an initial power until the drive motor is at a base speed. 
     
     
         15 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at a peak current. 
     
     
         16 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor at the initial power for a predetermined length of time. 
     
     
         17 . The control system of  claim 14 , wherein the control system is configured to:
 receive a user input for a current level to be delivered to the drive motor;   determine if the user input exceeds a maximum current limit of the drive motor; and   deliver the current level to the drive motor up to a level that does not exceed the maximum current limit of the drive motor.   
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to adjust the CVT to achieve the desired vehicle speed for the drive motor operating at the desired setting by:
 selecting a desired range of current of the drive motor based on an efficiency of the drive motor;   monitoring a current draw;   comparing the current draw to the desired range of current; and   adjusting a ratio of the CVT based at least in part on the comparison.   
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 18 , wherein the current draw is a current provided to the drive motor or a current drawn from a battery. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 12 , wherein the control system is configured to adjust the CVT by selecting a speed ratio for the CVT based on a lookup table selected from a group of lookup tables including a fast acceleration mode, an economy mode, a fixed ratio simulation mode, and a performance mode.