Method and apparatus to shift-by-speech for semi-manual transmissions with intelligent shifting algorithm

A method to provide a manual gear selection for a semi-manual transmission system by speech, the method comprising:

• selecting a manual gear selection mode for the semi-manual transmission system;
• activating a shift-by-speech mode by pressing a shift-by-speech on/off button and/or depressing a gear selection voice command-activating pedal
• capturing a driver's voice command to select a particular gear by a microphone operatively connected to the semi-manual transmission system;
• comparing the driver's voice command to a plurality of known voice command profiles in a voice recognition program for a manual voice gear selection;
• and
• if the driver's voice command matches one of the plurality of known voice command profiles in the voice recognition program for the manual voice gear selection:
• checking whether the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command will not result in a potential transmission or engine damage if engaged;
• if the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command will not result in the potential transmission or engine damage if engaged:
• shifting to the particular gear in the semi-manual transmission system;
• if the particular gear indicated by the driver's voice command will result in the potential transmission or engine damage if engaged:
• shifting to a mechanically-safer gear which will not cause the potential transmission or engine damage but is closest to the particular gear indicated by the driver's command.

A shift-by-speech transmission system configured to select a gear indicated by a driver's voice command for a vehicle, the shift-by-speech transmission system comprising:

• a microphone configured to pick up the driver's voice command;
• an on/off switch configured to enable or disable a shift-by-speech manual-shifting mode;
• a voice recognition program configured to analyze the driver's voice command for a driver's particular gear selection if the shift-by-speech manual-shifting mode is enabled, wherein the voice recognition program generates an output signal indicating the driver's particular gear selection if the driver's voice command is successfully understood;
• a shift-by-speech transmission control system containing a manual-shifting mode control logic block operatively connected to a transmission gearbox, wherein the output signal of the voice recognition program to the shift-by-speech transmission control system enables choosing the driver's particular gear selection or a mechanically-safer gear for the transmission gearbox;
• a transmission and/or engine protection logic operatively connected to the shift-by-speech transmission control system, wherein the transmission and/or engine protection logic is configured to determine whether the driver's particular gear selection causes a mechanically-detrimental condition to the shift-by-speech transmission system, to an engine, or to other parts of the vehicle;
• and
• an intelligent shifting algorithm logic configured to choose the mechanically-safer gear instead of the driver's particular gear selection if the transmission and engine protection logic determines that the driver's particular gear selection causes the mechanically-detrimental condition.