Control system for manual transmissions

A control system (44) for use in modulating a clutch (18) of a manual transmission (16) in a vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle (10) has an engine (14) in selective rotational communication with the transmission (16);

• a clutch pedal (26) in communication with the clutch (18) and movable by a vehicle (10) operator for selectively modulating the engagement between the transmission (16) and the engine (14);
• and an actuator (48) in communication with the clutch (18) for modulating the engagement between the transmission (16) and the engine (14) independent of the clutch pedal (26), said control system (44) comprising:
• a controller (46) in communication with the actuator (48) for driving the same, said controller (46) being operable in one or more of:
• a first mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven such that the clutch pedal (26) alone modulates the clutch (18);
• a second mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven from engine (14) startup so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16);
• a third mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven during engine (14) idle with the vehicle (10) stopped so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16);
• a fourth mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven from engine (14) idle, with the vehicle (10) stopped, and with the transmission (16) in a forward gear so as modulate the clutch (18) at a predetermined rate to simultaneously couple the engine (14) to the transmission (16), prevent the engine (14) from stalling, and prevent the vehicle (10) from reversing;
• a fifth mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven from engine (14) idle, with the vehicle (10) stopped, with the transmission (16) in a forward gear, and during acceleration so as to modulate the clutch (18) at a predetermined rate to simultaneously couple the engine (14) to the transmission (16) and prevent the engine (14) from stalling;
• a sixth mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven during vehicle (10) movement with the transmission (16) in a forward gear so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16);
• or
• a seventh mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven during vehicle (10) deceleration with the transmission (16) in a forward gear so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16),
• said controller (46) being movable between said modes in response to predetermined changes in one or more of:
• engine speed, engine load, vehicle speed, transmission gear, or clutch pedal position.

A control system (44) for use in modulating a clutch (18) of a manual transmission (16) in a vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle (10) has an engine (14) in selective rotational communication with the transmission (16);

• a clutch pedal (26) in communication with the clutch (18) and movable by a vehicle (10) operator for selectively modulating the engagement between the transmission (16) and the engine (14);
• an actuator (48) in communication with the clutch (18) for modulating the engagement between the transmission (16) and the engine (14) independent of the clutch pedal (26);
• and an authority level control adapted to be triggered vehicle (10) operator, said control system (44) comprising:
• a controller (46) in communication with the actuator (48) for driving the same, said controller (46) being operable at:
• authority level zero, wherein said controller (46) operates in:
• a first mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven such that the clutch pedal (26) alone modulates the clutch (18),
• authority level one, wherein said controller (46) operates in one or more of:
• a second mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven from engine (14) startup so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16);
• a third mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven during engine (14) idle with the vehicle (10) stopped so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16);
• a fourth mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven from engine (14) idle, with the vehicle (10) stopped, and with the transmission (16) in a forward gear so as modulate the clutch (18) at a predetermined rate to simultaneously couple the engine (14) to the transmission (16), prevent the engine (14) from stalling, and prevent the vehicle (10) from reversing;
• or
• a fifth mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven from engine (14) idle, with the vehicle (10) stopped, with the transmission (16) in a forward gear, and during acceleration so as to modulate the clutch (18) at a predetermined rate to simultaneously couple the engine (14) to the transmission (16) and prevent the engine (14) from stalling,
• authority level two, wherein said controller (46) operates in one or more of:
• a sixth mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven during vehicle (10) movement with the transmission (16) in a forward gear so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16);
• or
• a seventh mode wherein the actuator (48) is driven during vehicle (10) deceleration with the transmission (16) in a forward gear so as to modulate the clutch (18) to decouple the engine (14) from the transmission (16), and
• authority level three, wherein said controller (46) operates in one or more of:
• said first mode;
• said sixth mode;
• or
• said seventh mode,
• said controller (46) being movable between said authority levels in response to one of:
• changes to the authority level control, and
• predetermined changes in one or more of:
• engine (14) speed, engine (14) load, vehicle (10) speed, transmission (16) gear, or clutch pedal (26) position.