Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Transmission control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-07
2001-06-12
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Transmission control
C701S070000, C477S046000, C477S048000, C474S018000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246940
ABSTRACT:
The contents of Tokugan Hei 9-186614, with a filing date of Jul. 11, 1997 in Japan, Tokugan Hei 9-196931 and 9-196932, with a filing date of Jul. 23, 1997 in Japan, are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a speed change controller for use with an automatic transmission of a vehicle in which a manual operation mode is provided.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In an automatic transmission for a vehicle, the speed change ratio is varied automatically according to vehicle speed or throttle opening, etc. Apart from the automatic operation mode, a speed change control device which permits manual operation by a driver is disclosed in Tokkai Hei 5-322022 published by the Japanese Patent Office in 1993.
This device comprises an operating lever for the driver to input a shift-up command or shift-down command into the speed change control device. In manual mode speed change, the automatic transmission performs shift-up or shift-down operations according to the operating direction and operating frequency of the operating lever. That is to say when, for example, the operating lever is moved twice in the shift-down direction from fourth speed, a shift-down to second speed from fourth speed is performed.
However, when operations of the operating lever are successively performed in the same direction, the speed changes abruptly from fourth speed to first speed in a short time, and as a result the driver experiences an excessive engine braking sensation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to limit manual speed change operations in an automatic transmission comprising a manual mode speed change, such that a driver would not experience an excessive engine braking sensation.
In order to achieve the above object, this invention provides a speed change controller for outputting a speed change ratio command signal to a transmission of a vehicle for selectively applying plural speed change ratios from a largest speed change ratio to a smallest speed change ratio according to a command input by a driver. The vehicle comprises an engine being capable of exerting an engine brake on the vehicle according to a reduction operation input by the driver.
The controller comprises an engine brake sensor for detecting whether or not the vehicle is under the action of the engine brake, a real speed change ratio detection sensor for detecting a real speed change ratio of the transmission, and a microprocessor programmed to determine whether or not the transmission is performing a shift-down operation based on the real speed change ratio and the speed change ratio command signal, determine a shift-down limit speed change ratio based on the speed change ratio before the shift-down operation is performed, and refrain from outputting a speed change ratio command signal corresponding to a speed change ratio larger than the shift-down limit speed change ratio when the vehicle is under the action of the engine brake.
The details as well as other features and advantages of this invention are set forth in the remainder of the specification and are shown in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4823267 (1989-04-01), Kumura
patent: 5695428 (1997-12-01), Yuasa et al.
patent: 5820514 (1998-10-01), Adachi
patent: 5857937 (1999-01-01), Ashizawa et al.
patent: 5931884 (1999-08-01), Ochiai
patent: 05248523 (1993-09-01), None
Ochiai Tatsuo
Okahara Hirofumi
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Foley & Lardner
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
To Tuan C.
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