Manual shifting control system and method for multi-speed automatic transmission

A method for managing shift changes of a multi-speed automatic transmission of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request from a multi-speed transmission shift selector of an operator interface located in an operator space of the vehicle to shift the multi-speed automatic transmission from a first forward speed ratio to a second forward speed ratio of a plurality of forward speed ratios, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios;
• monitoring a first plurality of operational characteristics of the vehicle, the first plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic and a vehicle related speed characteristic;
• monitoring a second plurality of operational characteristics of an operator interface of the vehicle, the second plurality of operational characteristics including at least one of a throttle operator interface input characteristic, an engine braking operator interface input characteristic and a cruise control operator interface input;
• and
• in response to receiving the request, shifting the multi-speed automatic transmission to the second forward speed ratio when the first plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and the at least one of the second plurality of operational characteristics has a first value, and otherwise maintaining in the first forward speed ratio.

A system for managing shift changes of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a multi-speed automatic transmission including an input member and an output member operatively coupled to the input member, the multi-speed automatic transmission being configurable in a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios;
• a control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission to establish each of the plurality of forward speed ratios;
• an operator interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and including a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input;
• and
• a plurality of operational characteristic monitors which monitor a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic, a vehicle related speed characteristic, and a throttle operator interface input characteristic,
• wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in a first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and, in response to receiving from the operator interface a request to establish a second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio if the plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and otherwise maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio,
• the plurality of operational characteristic monitors provide an indication of the road grade characteristic, an indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic, an indication of an engine load characteristic, and an indication of the throttle control operator interface input characteristic,
• the shift criteria logic determines if the indication of the road grade characteristic is above a road grade threshold and, if so, the shift criteria logic is satisfied,
• wherein if the indication of the road grade characteristic is below the road grade threshold, the shift criteria logic determines if the indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic is below a vehicle related speed threshold, and, if so, the shift criteria logic is satisfied,
• wherein if the indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic is above the vehicle related speed threshold, the shift criteria logic determines if the indication of the throttle control operator interface input characteristic is above a throttle threshold and, if so, the shift criteria logic is failed,
• wherein a first operational characteristic of the plurality of operational characteristics is monitored and
• if the first operational characteristic has a first value the control circuit uses the shift criteria logic to determine whether to maintain the first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios or configure the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and
• if the first operational characteristic has a second value the control circuit uses an alternate shift criteria logic to determine whether to maintain the first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios or configure the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios.