Device and method for selecting an operating mode of a transmission of a vehicle and system for setting an operating mode of a transmission of a vehicle

• US 10,184,559 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lemforder Electronic GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Lemforder Electronic GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Pfeifer, Ralf, Peukert, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Fenstermacher, David M
• Application Number:
  US15/033,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20160252177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/12 comprising push button devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/54 dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0204 for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signal
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/18 Preventing unintentional or unsafe shift , e.g. preventing manual shift from highest gear to reverse gear
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/04 Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/005 for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism G05G5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for selecting an operating mode of a transmission of a vehicle is presented. The device has a control panel thereby, having at least one selector switch for selecting an operating mode, and one release switch for enabling a function of the at least one selector switch. The release switch has a touch sensitive button, serving as a first interface to a sensor circuit for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch. The sensor circuit has a second interface on an actuator for a driving function of the vehicle thereby. The sensor circuit can be closed by producing an electrically conductive connection between the first interface and the second interface via a driver region of an interior space of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device for selecting an operating mode of a transmission of a vehicle, the device comprising:

a control panel comprising at least one selector switch for selecting an operating mode; and

a release switch for enabling a function of the at least one selector switch;

wherein the release switch has a touch sensitive button as an interface to a sensor circuit for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch;

wherein the sensor circuit has a second interface on an actuator for a driving function of the vehicle; and

wherein the sensor circuit can be closed by producing an electrically conductive connection between the first interface and the second interface via a driver region of an interior space of the vehicle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first interface and the second interface are designed to close the sensor circuit via the driver of the vehicle when the driver of the vehicle touches the first interface and the second interface.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the device further comprises an electrical gearshift having a detection device for detecting an electrical current in the sensor circuit, wherein the electrical gearshift is designed to enable the function of the at least one selector switch, depending on the detected current in the sensor circuit.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the electrical gearshift is designed to enable the function of the at least one selector switch when an electrical current is detected in the sensor circuit by the detection device when the sensor circuit is closed.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the electrical gearshift is designed to enable the function of the at least one selector switch depending on a type of an operating mode that can be selected by the at least one selector switch.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the actuator is an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

7. The device of claim 2, the device further comprising a further sensor circuit for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch, wherein the release switch represents a first interface of the further sensor circuit, wherein the further sensor circuit has a second interface on an actuator for an engine output of the vehicle, wherein the further sensor circuit can be closed by producing an electrically conductive connection between the first interface and the second interface via a driver region of an interior space of the vehicle.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the device further comprises a movement sensor for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch on an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an electrical gearshift having a detection device for detecting an electrical current in the sensor circuit, wherein the electrical gearshift is designed to enable the function of the at least one selector switch, depending on the detected current in the sensor circuit.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device further comprises a movement sensor for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch on an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the actuator is an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the electrical gearshift is designed to enable the function of the at least one selector switch when an electrical current is detected in the sensor circuit by the detection device when the sensor circuit is closed.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the actuator is an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the electrical gearshift is designed to enable the function of the at least one selector switch, depending on a type of an operating mode that can be selected by the at least one selector switch.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the device further comprises a movement sensor for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch on an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

17. The device of claim 1, the device further comprising a further sensor circuit for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch, wherein the release switch represents a first interface of the further sensor circuit, wherein the further sensor circuit has a second interface on an actuator for an engine output of the vehicle, wherein the further sensor circuit can be closed by producing an electrically conductive connection between the first interface and the second interface via a driver region of an interior space of the vehicle.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a movement sensor for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch on an actuator for a driving brake of the vehicle.

19. A system for setting an operating mode of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a device for selecting an operating mode of the transmission; and

a device for controlling the transmission;

wherein the device for controlling is designed for setting the operating mode of the transmission, depending on an operating mode selected via the device for selecting; and

wherein the device for selecting comprises;

a control panel comprising at least one selector switch for selecting an operating mode; and

a release switch for enabling a function of the at least one selector switch;

wherein the release switch has a touch sensitive button as an interface to a sensor circuit for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch;

wherein the sensor circuit has a second interface on an actuator for a driving function of the vehicle; and

wherein the sensor circuit can be closed by producing an electrically conductive connection between the first interface and the second interface via a driver region of an interior space of the vehicle.

20. A method for selecting an operating mode of a transmission of a vehicle, wherein the method is executed in conjunction with a device for selecting an operating mode of the transmission, wherein the device has at least one selector switch for selecting an operating mode, and one release switch for enabling a function of the at least one selector switch, the method comprising:

reading in of a release signal from the release switch, wherein the release switch has a touch sensitive button as a first interface to a sensor circuit for enabling the function of the at least one selector switch, wherein the sensor circuit has a second interface on an actuator for a driving function of the vehicle, wherein the sensor circuit can be closed by producing an electrically conductive connection between the first interface and the second interface via a driver region of an interior space of the vehicle; and

generation of a selection signal, representing a selected operating mode of the transmission, depending on the release signal and an actuation signal from the at least one selector switch.