Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-05
2001-06-26
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C701S055000, C074S824000, C074S335000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253138
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a shifting apparatus especially suited for use on motor vehicles having an automatic transmission.
Since their inception, motor vehicles have required a power train to transmit the force of the vehicle's engine to its wheels. The power train's main component is typically referred to as the “transmission”. Engine speed and torque are converted in the transmission through the changing of gears to satisfy the requirements encountered during the typical duty cycle of a motor vehicle. Transmissions are generally referred to as manually actuated or automatic transmissions. Manual transmissions generally include mechanical mechanisms for coupling rotating gears to produce different ratio outputs to drive the wheels. Manual transmissions require an operator input from a shift lever or the like to effect each desired gear change ratio. More recently, automatic transmissions have become popular in which much of the shifting is done without operator input in response to a sensed speed and throttle opening parameters. Automatic transmissions typically include a shift position select lever on the transmission housing moveable between a plurality of selected positions corresponding to a respective plurality of shift positions within the transmission. The shift position select lever is moveable between its several shift positions by a cable or linkage mechanism extending from the shift position select lever to a suitable gear selector lever located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Typically, the gear selector is located adjacent the driver seat or, alternatively, on the steering column. Various proposals have been made in the past to eliminate the mechanical linkage between the driver operated gear select lever and the shift position select member and provide instead a shifting mechanism that responds to a driver actuated by sending an electrical signal to a power means arranged to move the shift position select member. While these proposals may overcome many of the disadvantages of the prior art, they nevertheless leave something to be desired from one or several standpoints. For example, under one of the proposals, U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,471, an electrical control system for control of an automatic transmission apparatus is set forth. The control system includes, among other things, a means for determining the present transmission shift position. The means includes an encoder wheel and a pick-up device. The encoder wheel is provided with a plurality of arcuate tracks and the pick-up device is provided with several flexible resilient contact fingers arranged for coaction with the arcuate tracks. Determination of the present transmission shift position is made through movement of the contact fingers and their rather complicated interaction with the arcuate tracks. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide a shifting apparatus that includes an improved means for determining the present transmission shift position.
Additionally, the shifting apparatus of the present invention may be operated in security mode. More particularly, under security mode, a user code must be provided that matches one or more previously stored identification codes to start and operate the motor vehicle. The security mode is provided with a feature wherein once a matching user code has been inputted, a security override key may depressed to eliminate entry of a matching user code each subsequent time the vehicle is started for operation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art;
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved automatic transmission shifting apparatus;
It is a further object of this invention to provide a automatic transmission shifting apparatus that provides precise shifting;
It is a further object of this invention to provide a automatic transmission shifting apparatus that replaces the conventional pivotally mounted mechanical shift lever or linkage often located between the driver and passenger seats of the vehicle or located on the steering column of the vehicle;
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus arranged for installation as an aftermarket add-on as well as during vehicle manufacture;
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus that may be easily installed by hobbyists and car enthusiasts,
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus that increases the available space within the interior of a motor vehicle;
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus that enables operation of motor vehicles by individuals unable to operate conventional shifting mechanisms; and,
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus that is arranged for easy connection to off-the-shelf gages and indicators that are preferred and often purchased by street rod hobbyists.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus that provides a security system for preventing unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic transmission shifting apparatus that includes a vehicle security system which is responsive to a user inputted vehicle security code.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing an automatic shift apparatus for use in a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission of the type that includes a shift position select lever. At this juncture, it is important to mention that although the embodiment of the invention described herein is intended for use on motor vehicles having an automatic transmission that go upon the land, e.g., automobiles, vans, trucks, etc., the present invention is not limited to such motor vehicles and may also be used on water craft having a transmission such as boats and the like. The shifting apparatus includes an operator input means including a plurality of push buttons, each push button corresponding to desired transmission shift position. A generator means, operative in response to actuation of a push button, generates a signal representative of a desired transmission shift position. An actuator module, drivingly connected to the transmission shift position select lever, includes a variable resistance circuit which maintains a resistance value representative of the present transmission shift position. By reading the resistance value of the circuit, a comparator means can determine the present transmission shift position of the motor vehicle. Upon receiving an operator signal representative of a desired transmission shift position that is different from the present transmission shift position, the comparator means energizes the actuator module to move the shift position select lever to a position corresponding to the desired transmission shift position. The shifting apparatus of the present invention also operates in a security mode wherein a user code must be provided that matches one or more previously stored identification codes to start and operate the motor vehicle. Additionally, once a matching user code has been inputted, a security override key may depressed for a predetermined time interval to dispense with the necessity of re-entering a matching user code each subsequent time the vehicle is started for operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34064 (1992-09-01), Tury et al.
patent: 2236746 (1941-04-01), Bush
patent: 2610518 (1952-09-01), Goedeke et al.
patent: 2658403 (1953-11-01), Marco
patent: 2788675 (1957-04-01), Hosea
patent: 2902881 (1959-09-01), Loofbourrow
patent: 3001618 (1961-09-01), McCordic et al.
patent: 3125893 (1964-03-01), Bensinger
patent: 3780597 (1973-12-01), White
patent: 4790204 (1988-12-01), Tury et al.
patent: 4817471
Bradley Kevin
Shober Joseph R.
Shober Michael J.
Caesar Rivise Bernstein Cohen & Pokotilow Ltd.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Donnelly Arthur D.
Shober's, Inc.
LandOfFree
Shifting apparatus for an automatic transmission including a... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shifting apparatus for an automatic transmission including a..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shifting apparatus for an automatic transmission including a... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2471240