# US 10,309,533 B2 · Shift controller for vehicle

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- Number: US 10,309,533 B2
- Document ID: US10309533B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/669,337
- Filed: 2017-08-04
- Published: 2018-02-15
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-09
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Denso Corporation
- Inventors: Atsushi Kamada; Hideki Kubonoya; Koji Sakaguchi; Yusaku Kawaguchi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309533B2

## CPC

- F16H 63/3466: {using electric motors}
- F16H 61/0213: {characterised by the method for generating shift signals}
- F16H 61/12: Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe (in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192) {; Circumventing or fixing failures}
- F16H 61/28: with at least one movement of the final actuating mechanism being caused by a non-mechanical force, e.g. power-assisted
- F16H 63/3043: {comprising friction clutches or brakes}
- F16H 63/3475: {using solenoids}
- B60K 17/346: the transfer gear being a differential gear
- B60W 10/101: Infinitely variable gearings
- B60W 10/184: with wheel brakes
- F16H 59/12: comprising push button devices
- F16H 63/3425: {characterised by pawls or wheels}
- F16H 63/42: Ratio indicator devices
- F16H 2059/0282: {Lever handles with lock mechanisms, e.g. for allowing selection of reverse gear or releasing lever from park position}
- F16H 2059/443: {Detecting travel direction, e.g. the forward or reverse movement of the vehicle}
- F16H 2061/1292: {the failing part is the power supply, e.g. the electric power supply}
- F16H 2061/283: {Adjustment or calibration of actuator positions, e.g. neutral position}
- F16H 2061/326: {Actuators for range selection, i.e. actuators for controlling the range selector or the manual range valve in the transmission}
- F16H: GEARING
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT

## Abstract

A shift controller for a vehicle includes a shift switching unit, a rotation restricting element, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to: acquire a count value corresponding to a degree of rotation of an actuator; set a rotational position of the actuator when the count value does not change by restricting rotation of the actuator using the rotation restricting element as a reference position of the actuator corresponding to the predetermined shift position; and interrupt setting the reference position of the actuator and restart setting the reference position of the actuator when the rotation of the actuator is restricted and a supply voltage to the actuator is equal to or lower than a predetermined first voltage determination value or a variation in the count value while the rotation of the actuator is restricted is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shift controller for a vehicle, comprising:
a shift switching unit configured to switch a shift position of the vehicle to one of a plurality of shift positions by driving an actuator which is supplied with power from a power supply;
a rotation restricting element configured to restrict rotation of the actuator in a predetermined direction at a predetermined shift position among the plurality of shift positions; and
an electronic control unit configured to
acquire a count value corresponding to a degree of rotation of the actuator,
set a rotational position of the actuator when the count value does not change by restricting rotation of the actuator using the rotation restricting element as a reference position of the actuator corresponding to the predetermined shift position, and
interrupt setting the reference position of the actuator and restart setting the reference position of the actuator when the following conditions (1) and (2) are met: (1) the rotation of the actuator is restricted by the rotation restricting element and (2) either (a) a supply voltage to the actuator is equal to or lower than a predetermined first voltage determination value or (b) a variation in the count value while the rotation of the actuator is restricted by the rotation restricting element is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shift controller for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to count the number of interruptions in setting the reference position of the actuator, and
the electronic control unit is configured not to restart setting the reference position of the actuator but to end setting the reference position of the actuator when the number of interruptions is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, even when the conditions (1) and (2) are met.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The shift controller for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to interrupt setting the reference position of the actuator and to restart setting the reference position of the actuator when rotation of the actuator is restricted by the rotation restricting element and a difference between the count value at the time of starting rotation of the actuator and the count value in a state in which the count value does not vary is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The shift controller for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to restart setting the reference position of the actuator when a duration of a state in which the supply voltage to the actuator is lower than a second voltage determination value which is set to be higher than the first voltage determination value is less than a predetermined time after the setting of the reference position is interrupted.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shift controller for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to restart setting the reference position of the actuator when a duration of a state in which an internal combustion engine is cranked by driving of a starter motor which is supplied with power from the power supply is less than a predetermined time after the setting of the reference position of the actuator is interrupted.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The shift controller for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to restart setting the reference position of the actuator when a duration of a state in which the supply voltage to the actuator is lower than a second voltage determination value from a time point at which the count value of the actuator is returned to the count value at the time of starting rotation of the actuator is less than a predetermined time after the setting of the reference position is interrupted.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The shift controller for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to restart setting the reference position of the actuator when a duration of a state in which an internal combustion engine is cranked from a time point at which the count value of the actuator is returned to the count value at the time of starting rotation of the actuator is less than a predetermined time after the setting of the reference position is interrupted.