US 4,922,769 AGranted

Electrical control system for control of an automatic transmission apparatus

AssigneeAutomotive Products (USA), Inc.

InventorEdward L. Tury

Life of this patent

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Abstract

This invention is an electrical control apparatus for control of a transmission apparatus in a motor vehicle which provides safety features and improper operation indications. The transmission apparatus has a plurality of transmission states and at least one motor adapted for shifting between transmission states. According to a first aspect of the invention the input device is a plurality of momentary contact push buttons, and the logic control unit provides a priority of transmission state selection in accordance to a predetermined hierarchy of priority if more than one push button is depressed. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the electrical control apparatus provides a fault indication, such as via a lamp, if said desired transmission state differs from said present transmission state for longer than a predetermined period of time. In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the electronic control apparatus includes a vehicle speed sensor, and the logic control unit inhibits shifting the transmission and provides an error indication, such as by a lamp, if the speed of the vehicle is too fast for the desired gear.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An electrical control apparatus for control of a transmission apparatus in a motor vehicle having a plurality of transmission states including at least one electrical actuator adapted to shift the transmission apparatus between transmission states, said electrical control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of momentary contact push buttons, each corresponding to a predetermined transmission state of said plurality of transmission states;
a transmission state sensing means for generating a present transmission state signal indicative of the current state of the transmission;
and
a logic control unit connected to the at least one electrical actuator, said plurality of momentary contact push buttons, and said transmission state sensing means
for generating a desired transmission state signal corresponding to one of said plurality of momentary contact push button switches depressed if one or more of said momentary contact push buttons are depressed, said desired transmission state signal corresponding (1) to the single momentary contact push button depressed if only a single momentary contact push button switch is depressed and (2) to one of said plurality of momentary contact push buttons switches depressed in accordance to a predetermined hierarchy of priority from among the momentary contact push buttons switches depressed if more than one momentary contact push button switch is depressed,
for determining if said desired transmission state signal differs from said present transmission state signal, and
for controlling the at least one electrical actuator to shift the transmission from the present state of the transmission to the state of the transmission corresponding to said desired transmission state signal if said desired transmission state signal differs from said present transmission state signal.

4 more elements

an operator input means for generating a desired transmission state signal corresponding to manual operator input;
a transmission state sensing means for generating a present transmission state signal indicative of the current state of the transmission;
a vehicle speed sensing means adapted for generation of at least one vehicle speed signal indicative of the vehicle speed;
a logic control unit connected to the at least one electrical actuator, said operator input means, said transmission state sensing means and said vehicle speed sensing means
for determining if said desired transmission state signal differs from said present transmission state signal,
for generating an error signal if said at least one speed signal indicates a vehicle speed greater than a predetermined vehicle speed corresponding to said desired transmission state signal,
for controlling the at least one electrical actuator to shift the transmission from the present state of the transmission to the state of the transmission corresponding to said desired transmission state signal if said desired transmission state signal differs from said present transmission state signal, and
for inhibiting control of the at least one electrical actuator upon generation of said error signal;
and
an error indicator connected to said logic control means for producing an operator perceivable error indication upon generation of said error signal.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/311,982Filed 16 Feb 1989 · continuation in part
Priority: 16 Jun 1987
Granted: 8 May 1990
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F16H 59/12
Range selector apparatus: comprising push button devices
F16H 61/32
With at least one movement of the final actuating mechanism being caused by a non-mechanical force, e.g. power-assisted: electric motors ,…
B60R 25/1003
Actuating a signalling device: alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
F16H 61/0251
The signals being electric: elements specially adapted for electric control units, e.g. valves for converting electrical signals to fluid signals

Family

Serial62,775Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Jun 1987
Serial108,812Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Oct 1987
US 4,817,471 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,790,204 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 4,922,769 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.