Shift control device for an automatic transmission

A shift control device for an automatic transmission, comprising:

• a shift control bracket mounted to a vehicle;
• a shift control member configured for manipulation by an operator so as to effect control over a shift mechanism of a vehicle transmission;
• a piezoelectric element mechanically coupled to the shift control member;
• a sensor being configured and arranged for detecting a position of the shift mechanism of the vehicle transmission and sending a signal that is indicative of the position of the shift mechanism;
• and
• a controller being configured for receiving the signal, determining, based on the signal, a control voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element, and providing the control voltage to the piezoelectric element;
• the piezoelectric element being configured and arranged so as to receive the control voltage and to apply a mechanical force that depends upon the control voltage and that is configured and applied so as to mechanically resist movement of the shift control member relative to the shift control bracket;
• a cam lever that mechanically couples the shift control member to the shift mechanism of the vehicle transmission, the cam lever being configured to rotate about a spindle as the vehicle transmission is shifted from a first gear position to a second gear position;
• and
• wherein the piezoelectric element is fixed to the spindle and configured and arranged to provide a mechanical resistance to rotation of the cam lever about the spindle.

A shift control device for an automatic transmission, comprising:

• a shift control bracket mounted to a vehicle;
• a shift control member configured for manipulation by an operator so as to effect control over a shift mechanism of a vehicle transmission;
• a piezoelectric element mechanically coupled to the shift control member;
• a sensor being configured and arranged for detecting a position of the shift mechanism of the vehicle transmission and sending a signal that is indicative of the position of the shift mechanism;
• a controller being configured for receiving the signal, determining, based on the signal, a control voltage to be applied to the piezoelectric element, and providing the control voltage to the piezoelectric element;
• the piezoelectric element being configured and arranged so as to receive the control voltage and to apply a mechanical force that depends upon the control voltage and that is configured and applied so as to mechanically resist movement of the shift control member relative to the shift control bracket;
• wherein the shift control member is mechanically coupled to the shift mechanism of the vehicle transmission by a shift shaft that is configured to rotate about a shift shaft axis as the vehicle transmission is shifted from a first gear position to a second gear position and the piezoelectric element is fixed to the shift control bracket and configured and arranged to provide a mechanical resistance to rotation of the shift shaft about the shift shaft axis relative to the shift control bracket;
• wherein the shift control member is mechanically coupled to the shift mechanism of the vehicle transmission by a cam lever that is configured to rotate about a spindle as the vehicle transmission is shifted from the first gear position to the second gear position and a second piezoelectric element is fixed to the spindle and configured and arranged to provide the mechanical resistance to rotation of the cam lever about the spindle;
• and
• wherein the shift control member is mechanically coupled to the shift mechanism of the vehicle transmission by a cylindrical link comprising a control rod disposed within a co-axial cylinder, the cylindrical link being configured such that the control rod moves along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical link as the vehicle transmission is shifted from the first gear position to the second gear position, and a third piezoelectric element is disposed between the co-axial cylinder and the control rod and configured and arranged to provide the mechanical resistance to movement of the control rod relative to the co-axial cylinder.