Page 393 - Understanding Automotive Electronics

2735 | CH 11 Page 380 Tuesday, March 10, 1998 1:30 PM

11 FUTURE AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

entire drivetrain could be obtained by coordinating the engine controls and
transmission gear ratio.
Continuously Variable Transmission

One concept having great potential for integrated engine/power train
control involves the use of a continuously variable transmission. Instead of
being limited to three, four, or five gear ratios, this transmission configuration
has a continuous range of gear ratios from a minimum value to a maximum
value as determined by the design parameters for the transmission.
The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is an alternative to the
present automatic transmission. It is being developed presently and will likely
see considerable commercial use in production cars. The principle of the CVT
is shown in Figure 11.10.

Figure 11.10
Continuously
Variable
Transmission

FPO

380 UNDERSTANDING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS