Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-09
2001-04-24
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C701S052000, C074S473180, C074S48400R, C477S125000, C477S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223112
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shift device for an automatic transmission, which is operable in a manual ratio change mode, of a vehicle. More particularly, it relates to a shift device, which enables the vehicle operator to manually control a shift in the automatic transmission.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,792 discloses a shift device for an automatic transmission operable in a manual ratio change mode. The shift device has a select lever, which may be manipulated for manually controlling a shift after conditioning the automatic transmission for operation in manual ratio change mode. An operator manipulates the select lever to indicate an operator up or downshift demand. The operator shift demand is applied to a transmission control unit. In response to the operator shift demand, the transmission control unit generates a shift demand. This shift demand is applied to a ratio control actuator. The ratio control actuator is activated in response to the shift demand and makes a ratio change.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,066 discloses a shift device in the form of a manually operable up-down select switch mounted to a steering wheel. An operator manipulates the up-down select switch to indicate an operator shift demand. The operator shift demand is applied to a transmission control unit. In response to the operator shift demand, the transmission control unit generates a shift demand. The shift demand is applied to a ratio control actuator. The ratio control actuator is activated in response to the shift demand and makes a ratio change.
The prior art devices are fairly well developed. However, a need remains for further development of such devices in light of current movement to a shift device that increases user satisfaction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As far as known to the inventor, a shift device meets this need, which can indicate an operator shift demand through a select lever of a range selector or a manual up-down select switch. In this shift device, no shift demand should be generated in response to a plurality of operator shift demands through concurrent manipulation of an up-down select switch and a select lever. In other words, a plurality of operator shift demands should be regarded invalid.
Accordingly, the present invention aims at providing one approach to accomplish this task.
According to the present invention, there is provided a shift device for an automatic transmission, which is operable in a manual ratio change mode, of a vehicle, comprising:
a range selector having a select lever manually operable for selection between the automatic ratio change mode and the manual ratio change mode and for selection between an upshift and a downshift in the manual ratio change mode;
an upshift switch and a downshift switch, which are mounted to said range selector,
said upshift switch being operative, in response to selection of the upshift by said select lever, to indicate an operator upshift demand,
said downshift switch being operative, in response to selection of the downshift by said select lever, to indicate an operator downshift demand;
an up-down select switch manually operable to select an upshift and a downshift,
said up-down select switch being operative, in response to selection of the upshift by manual operation of said up-down select switch, to indicate an operator upshift demand,
said up-down select switch being operative, in response to selection of the downshift by manual operation of said up-down select switch, to indicate an operator downshift demand,
a control unit having an operator upshift demand input terminal and an operator downshift demand input terminal,
said operator upshift demand input terminal being connected to said upshift switch and said up-down select switch, in parallel,
said operator downshift demand input terminal being connected to said downshift switch and said up-down select switch, in parallel,
said control unit being operative to generate a two-level up signal, said two-level up signal having a first level indicative of absence of an operator upshift demand on said operator upshift demand input terminal and a second level indicative of presence of an operator upshift demand on said operator upshift demand input terminal,
said control unit being operative to generate a two-level down signal, said two-level down signal having a first level in indicative of absence of an operator downshift demand on said operator downshift demand input terminal and a second level indicative of presence of an operator downshift demand on said operator downshift demand input terminal,
said control unit including a software to generate an upshift demand in response to a change in said two-level up signal from the first level thereof to the second level thereof when said two-level down signal is at the first level thereof and to generate a downshift demand in response to a change in said two-level down signal from the first level thereof to the second level thereof when said two-level up signal is at the first level thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4987792 (1991-01-01), Mueller et al.
patent: 5425686 (1995-06-01), Grange
patent: 5520066 (1996-05-01), Tueri
patent: 5680307 (1997-10-01), Issa et al.
patent: 5938711 (1999-04-01), Steeby et al.
patent: 6053066 (2000-04-01), Ishii et al.
patent: 6320975 (1994-11-01), None
Broadhead Brian J
Foley & Lardner
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Shift device for an automatic transmission does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shift device for an automatic transmission, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shift device for an automatic transmission will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2448879