Manual shifting control system and method for multi-speed automatic transmission
First Claim
1. A system for managing shift changes of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a multi-speed automatic transmission including an input member and an output member operatively coupled to the input member, the multi-speed automatic transmission being configurable in a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios;
a control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission to establish each of the plurality of forward speed ratios;
an operator interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and including a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input;
a plurality of operational characteristic monitors which monitor a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic, a vehicle related speed characteristic, and a throttle operator interface input characteristic, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in a first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and, in response to receiving from the operator interface a request to establish a second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio if the plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and otherwise maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio; and
a first operational characteristic monitor of the plurality of operational characteristic monitors which provides an indication of a first movement characteristic of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio when the first movement characteristic has a first value and the control circuit maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio when the first movement characteristic has a second value, and the first movement characteristic is the road grade characteristic, the first value is above a road grade threshold, and the second value is below a road grade threshold.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for managing shift changes of a multi-speed automatic transmission of a vehicle are provided. The multi-speed automatic transmission being capable of establishing a plurality of forward speed ratios. The vehicle may include a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input to request a shift change of the multi-speed automatic transmission. A control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission is provided which shifts the multi-speed automatic transmission from a first forward speed ratio to a second forward speed ratio in response to shift criteria. The shift criteria may be based on a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for managing shift changes of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a multi-speed automatic transmission including an input member and an output member operatively coupled to the input member, the multi-speed automatic transmission being configurable in a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios; a control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission to establish each of the plurality of forward speed ratios; an operator interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and including a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input; a plurality of operational characteristic monitors which monitor a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic, a vehicle related speed characteristic, and a throttle operator interface input characteristic, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in a first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and, in response to receiving from the operator interface a request to establish a second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio if the plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and otherwise maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio; and a first operational characteristic monitor of the plurality of operational characteristic monitors which provides an indication of a first movement characteristic of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio when the first movement characteristic has a first value and the control circuit maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio when the first movement characteristic has a second value, and the first movement characteristic is the road grade characteristic, the first value is above a road grade threshold, and the second value is below a road grade threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for managing shift changes of a multi-speed automatic transmission of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request from a multi-speed transmission shift selector of an operator interface located in an operator space of the vehicle to shift the multi-speed automatic transmission from a first forward speed ratio to a second forward speed ratio, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios; monitoring a plurality of operational characteristics of the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including an indication of a road grade characteristic, an indication of a vehicle related speed characteristic, an indication of an engine load characteristic, and an indication of a throttle operator interface input characteristic; in response to receiving the request, shifting the multi-speed automatic transmission to the second forward speed ratio when the plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and otherwise maintaining in the first forward speed ratio; determining if the indication of the road grade characteristic is above a road grade threshold and, if so, the shift criteria logic is satisfied; if the indication of the road grade characteristic is below the road grade threshold, determining if the indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic is below a vehicle related speed threshold, and, if so, the shift criteria logic is satisfied; if the indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic is above the vehicle related speed threshold, determining based on the indication of the throttle control operator interface input characteristic if an operator actuated the throttle control input and, if so, the shift criteria logic is failed; if the throttle control operator interface input characteristic indicates that the operator has not actuated the throttle control input of the vehicle, determining if the indication of the engine load characteristic is above an engine load threshold, and, if so, the shift criteria logic is failed; and if the engine load characteristic is below the engine load threshold, determining if an indication of a service brake characteristic is greater than a service brake threshold, and, if so, the shift criteria logic is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A system for managing shift changes of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a multi-speed automatic transmission including an input member and an output member operatively coupled to the input member, the multi-speed automatic transmission being configurable in a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios; a control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission to establish each of the plurality of forward speed ratios; an operator interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and including a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input; a plurality of operational characteristic monitors which monitor a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic, a vehicle related speed characteristic, and a throttle operator interface input characteristic, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in a first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and, in response to receiving from the operator interface a request to establish a second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio if the plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and otherwise maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio; and a first operational characteristic monitor of the plurality of operational characteristic monitors which provides an indication of a movement characteristic of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio when the movement characteristic has a first value and the control circuit maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio when the movement characteristic has a second value, and the movement characteristic is an engine load characteristic, the first value is above an engine load threshold, and the second value is below the engine load threshold.
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26. A system for managing shift changes of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a multi-speed automatic transmission including an input member and an output member operatively coupled to the input member, the multi-speed automatic transmission being configurable in a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios; a control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission to establish each of the plurality of forward speed ratios; an operator interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and including a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input; a plurality of operational characteristic monitors which monitor a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic, a vehicle related speed characteristic, and a throttle operator interface input characteristic, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in a first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and, in response to receiving from the operator interface a request to establish a second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio if the plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and otherwise maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio; and a first operational characteristic monitor of the plurality of operational characteristic monitors provides an indication of an operator interface input characteristic of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio when the operator interface input characteristic has a first value and the control circuit maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio when the operator interface input characteristic has a second value, and the operator interface input characteristic is a service brake operator interface input characteristic based on a service brake input of the operator interface.
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27. A system for managing shift changes of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a multi-speed automatic transmission including an input member and an output member operatively coupled to the input member, the multi-speed automatic transmission being configurable in a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios; a control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission to establish each of the plurality of forward speed ratios; an operator interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and including a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input; and a plurality of operational characteristic monitors which monitor a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic, a vehicle related speed characteristic, and a throttle operator interface input characteristic, wherein the plurality of operational characteristic monitors provide an indication of the road grade characteristic, an indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic, an indication of an engine load characteristic, an indication of the throttle control operator interface input characteristic, and an indication of a service brake operator interface input characteristic, and the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in a first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and, in response to receiving from the operator interface a request to establish a second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio when the indication of the road grade characteristic, the indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic, the indication of an engine load characteristic, the indication of the throttle control operator interface input characteristic, and the indication of a service brake operator interface input characteristic have a first set of values that satisfy the shift criteria logic and the control circuit maintains multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio when the indication of the road grade characteristic, the indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic, the indication of an engine load characteristic, the indication of the throttle control input state characteristic, and the indication of a service brake input state characteristic have a second set of values that fail the shift criteria logic.
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28. A system for managing shift changes of a transmission of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a multi-speed automatic transmission including an input member and an output member operatively coupled to the input member, the multi-speed automatic transmission being configurable in a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member, the plurality of forward speed ratios includes at least three forward speed ratios; a control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission to establish each of the plurality of forward speed ratios; an operator interface operatively coupled to the control circuit and including a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input; and a plurality of operational characteristic monitors which monitor a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle, the plurality of operational characteristics including a road grade characteristic, a vehicle related speed characteristic, and a throttle operator interface input characteristic, wherein the plurality of operational characteristic monitors provide an indication of the road grade characteristic, an indication of the vehicle related speed characteristic, an indication of an engine load characteristic, and an indication of the throttle control operator interface input characteristic, and the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in a first forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios and, in response to receiving from the operator interface a request to establish a second forward speed ratio of the plurality of forward speed ratios, the control circuit configures the multi-speed automatic transmission in the second forward speed ratio if the plurality of operational characteristics satisfy a shift criteria logic and otherwise maintains the multi-speed automatic transmission in the first forward speed ratio, wherein the shift criteria logic determines if the indication of the road grade characteristic is above a road grade threshold and, if so, the shift criteria logic is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification