Transmission control with occupant detection
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMark A. Cuddihy, William M. Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer in a vehicle includes a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions. The processor is programmed to shift a transmission of the vehicle from a gear into park upon receiving a first signal from a first active sensor beyond a signal threshold and then, within a time threshold, receiving a second signal from a second active sensor beyond the signal threshold. The signals are correlated with distances from the respective active sensor to a detected object.
Claims19
A computer comprising a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions, the processor programmed to:
- shift a vehicle transmission from a gear into park upon receiving a first signal from a first active sensor beyond a signal threshold and then, within a time threshold, receiving a second signal from a second active sensor beyond the signal threshold, wherein the signals are correlated with distances from the respective active sensor to a detected object.
A method comprising:
- shifting a vehicle transmission from a gear into park upon receiving a first signal from a first active sensor beyond a signal threshold and then, within a time threshold, receiving a second signal from a second active sensor beyond the signal threshold, wherein the signals are correlated with distances from the respective active sensor to an object.
A vehicle comprising:
- a first active sensor;
- a second active sensor fixed relative to the first active sensor;
- a transmission;
- and
- a computer in communication with the first and second active sensors and the transmission, the computer programmed to shift the transmission from a gear into park upon receiving a first signal from the first active sensor beyond a signal threshold and then, within a time threshold, receiving a second signal from the second active sensor beyond the signal threshold, wherein the signals are correlated with distances from the respective active sensor to a detected object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.