Apparatus and method for calibration of transmission shifters
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsTodd W. Fritz, Edward F. Handley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an electronic control circuit and method for calibrating a transmission shifter and compensating for temperature variations. The electronic control circuit includes a power supply circuit comprising a bias voltage supply and a voltage surge protection circuit; at least one position sensor that receives a surge-protected output bias voltage from the power supply circuit; and a microprocessor that receives one or more position values from the position sensor relating to the physical position of the transmission shifter. The power supply circuit provides a calibration reference signal to said microprocessor. The voltage surge protection circuit protects the calibration reference signal against a surge voltage condition.
Claims21
An electronic circuit for calibrating the position of a transmission shifter, comprising:
- a power supply circuit comprising a bias voltage supply and a voltage surge protection circuit;
- at least one position sensor, said sensor receiving a surge-protected output bias voltage from said power supply circuit;
- a microprocessor that receives one or more position values from said position sensor relating to the physical position of the transmission shifter;
- said power supply circuit providing a calibration reference signal to said microprocessor;
- and
- said calibration reference signal being protected against a surge voltage condition by said voltage surge protection circuit.
An electronic circuit for calibrating the position of a transmission shifter, comprising:
- a power supply circuit comprising a bias voltage supply and a voltage surge protection circuit;
- at least one position sensor, said sensor receiving a surge-protected output bias voltage from said power supply circuit;
- a microprocessor that receives one or more position values from said position sensor relating to the physical position of the transmission shifter;
- said power supply circuit providing a calibration reference signal to said microprocessor;
- and
- said calibration reference signal being protected against a surge voltage condition by said voltage surge protection circuit, wherein said voltage surge protection circuit comprises:
- an output current control means connected between said bias voltage supply and said position sensor for controlling the level of output current supplied to said position sensor;
- a comparing means for comparing the voltage across said position sensor with a pre-determined reference voltage to provide a voltage stabilization control signal;
- a drive current control signal means responsive to said voltage stabilization control signal for providing a drive current control signal to said output current control means;
- and
- a switch network connected to said means for providing a drive current control signal to selectively activate and deactivate said power supply control circuit.
A method for calibrating a transmission shifter, comprising the steps of:
- providing an output bias voltage from a power supply circuit to one or more position sensors;
- said power supply circuit protecting said output bias voltage against voltage surge conditions;
- said position sensors measuring one or more position values relating to the physical position of the transmission shifter at a first point in time;
- establishing a calibration reference signal that is protected against voltage surge conditions by said power supply circuit;
- measuring a first calibration reference value corresponding to said first point in time;
- measuring a second calibration reference value corresponding to a second point in time;
- comparing said first calibration reference value to said second calibration reference value;
- and
- adjusting said position values based upon the difference between said first calibration reference value and said second calibration reference value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.