Interrelated power delivery controls – including engine control – Transmission control – Control by sensed ambient condition – pattern indicia,...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-10
2001-04-10
Marmor, Charles A (Department: 3681)
Interrelated power delivery controls, including engine control
Transmission control
Control by sensed ambient condition, pattern indicia,...
C477S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213911
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to motor vehicles in general, and more particularly to improvements in motor vehicles having power trains embodying automated torque transmitting systems (such as friction clutches) and/or automated variable speed transmission systems. Still more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in power trains wherein the automated system or systems is or are actuated in response to commands from a control unit (such as a microprocessor) which receives signals from monitoring means including one or more sensors.
It is already known to render the control unit operative in response to activation of the ignition system for the engine in the power train of a motor vehicle. Signal or signals from the sensor means which monitors the ignition system causes or cause the control unit to change the condition of the clutch (e.g., by way of a hydraulic, mechanical or other suitable actor) and/or to change the ratio of the transmission (e.g., by way of another actor). The arrangement can be such that the control unit becomes operative in automatic response to actuation of the ignition system in a sense to start the engine.
Motor vehicles of the above outlined character are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,014 granted Jan. 9, 1990 to Morell et al. for “ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION”. The disclosure of this patent is incorporated herein by reference. Morell et al. disclose one or more microprocessors serving to control an automatic transmission and being designed to change its or their condition from inoperative (idle) to operative (ready for use) in response to completion of the ignition circuit by an ignition key or a switch. A drawback of the patented apparatus is that, if the operator of the motor vehicle desires to carry out one or more particular (specific) operations or steps which can be carried out only while the microprocessor(s) is or are operative, it is invariably necessary to change the condition of the mcroprocessor(s) from inoperative to operative before the operator of the motor vehicle can proceed with the carrying out of the particular (specific) operations or steps. Thus, an operation which can be carried out only while the microprocessor(s) of Morell et al. is or are operative must be preceded by a manipulation of the ignition key or of a switch if the operator of the motor vehicle desires to carry out such operation while the microprocessor(s) is or are inoperative. This is often inconvenient to the operator, especially when it is necessary to carry out the particular (specific) operation or operations on short notice, i.e., either immediately or with a minimum of delay.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle with a novel and improved arrangement for actuating one or more automated systems (such as a friction clutch and/or a change-speed transmission) in the power train of the motor vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement which renders it possible to perform, without the need for a preceding compulsory change of the condition of one or more microprocessors and/or other suitable control units for the automated system or systems, one or more operations which, in accordance with heretofore known proposals including the teaching of Morell et al., are possible only when the microprocessor(s) is or are operative.
A further object of the invention is to provide a power train whose manipulation is less cumbersome to the operator of the motor vehicle embodying the power train and less time consuming than the manipulation of power trains in accordance with heretofore known proposals.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a power train whose manipulation is at least as safe and reliable as the manipulations in accordance with heretofore known teachings.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of actuating or manipulating a microprocessor-controlled power train in a passenger car or in another motor vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved control unit for an automated torque transmitting system and/or an automated gear ratio changing transmission system in the power train of a motor vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle which embodies the above outlined power train and the control unit(s) for one or more automated systems of the power train.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of one or more electronic control units, one or more sensors, and one or more actuating means for regulating the operation of one or more automated systems in the power train of a motor vehicle.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle wherein the condition of one or more control units for the friction clutch and/or automated transmission of the power train can be altered without necessitating any attention from the operator of the motor vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple, compact and inexpensive control arrangement for one or more automated constituents or systems in the power train of a motor vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of the above outlined character which can employ readily available standard constituents, such as ignition systems, sensors, switches, actuating means and/or others, so that it can be assembled at a relatively (or even surprisingly) low cost to simplify the task of the operator without, however, endangering the occupant or occupants of the motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One feature of the invention resides in the provision of a motor vehicle which comprises a power train including a prime mover, an automatically actuatable transmission and a torque transmitting system. The vehicle further comprises at least one control unit switchable between an operative condition where the at least one control unit is in an on state and an inoperative condition where the at least one control unit is in an off state, actuating means operating between the at least one control unit and the transmission to actuate the transmission in the operative condition of the at least one control unit, a starting device for the prime mover (such starting device has activated and idle conditions and is operative to change the condition of the at least one control unit in response to a change between its actuated and idle conditions), and means for monitoring the activities of the operator of the motor vehicle and for transmitting to the at least one control unit signals which effect a change from inoperative to operative condition in response to detection of at least one particular activity of the operator.
The torque transmitting system can include a friction clutch which can be installed in the power train in such a way that it connects an output element of the prime mover with an input element of the automated transmission.
The aforementioned particular activity can involve the actuation of a brake, such as a foot-operated brake or a parking brake.
The monitoring means can include at least one first sensor which serves to transmit the aforementioned signals, and at least one additional sensor.
If the prime mover of the motor vehicle includes a combustion engine, the aforementioned starting device can comprise an ignition system for the engine.
If the torque transmitting system of the power train is an automatically actuatable system, the vehicle can further comprise an additional control unit and second actuating means interposed between the additional control unit and the automated torque transmitting system. The additional control unit serves to actuate the automated torque transmitting system by way of the second actuating means in response to signals from the at least one control unit.
The actuating means for the automated transmission is or can be arranged to actuate the transmission in response to a change from inoperative condition to operative condition of the at least one control unit.
Salecker Michael
Stinus Jochen
Zimmermann Martin
Darby & Darby
Ho Ha
LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
Marmor Charles A
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