Gear shifter to transmission interface and control sub-system

• US 20020007979A1
• Filed: 07/12/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck and Engine Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Erik C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,738,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/292
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0045 using databus protocols
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/044 consisting of electrical switches or sensors range selectors with electric switches or sensors F16H59/105
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/00 Control functions within control units of change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion ; Control of exclusively fluid gearing, friction gearing, gearings with endless flexible members or other particular types of gearing

Abstract

A transmission 16 and gearshift communication sub-system that includes a gearshift 90, a transmission and transmission controller 16, and a common data bus 18. The gearshift 90 communicates with the transmission controller 16 to change gears or mode of operation of the transmission for automatic transmissions over the common data bus. Such communication is by a standard communication protocol that may be the SAE J1939 protocol. Vehicle control system 10 comprises an electrical system controller (ESC) 30, which is the primary component of a vehicle electronic control system. ESC 30 manages a number of vocational controllers disposed on a vehicle 13 and executes a load management program which oversees the total load imposed on the vehicle electrical system and power train by various accessories installed on the vehicle. Most active vehicle components are directly controlled by one of a group of autonomous, vocational controllers, which include a gauge cluster 14, an engine controller 20, a transmission controller 16, an auxiliary instrument and switch bank 12, an antilock brake system (ABS) controller 22, and the gearshift 90 all of which are connected to ESC 30 over the common data bus which may be a serial data bus or link 18.

Claims

1. A gear shifter to transmission interface and control sub-system for a mobile vehicle, the vehicle having a chassis and an operators cab, the vehicle having a transmission engaged to a chassis of the vehicle for driving an axle, the transmission engaged to an engine of the vehicle, and the engine also engaged to the chassis of the vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle electrical system with a common data bus;

an electrical system controller electrically engaged to communicate on said common data bus;

an engine controller engaged to the engine to control engine operation;

said engine controller electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate along said common data bus;

a transmission controller engaged to the transmission to control transmission operation;

said transmission controller electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate along said common data bus;

a gear shift, located within the cab; and

said gear shift electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate changes of gears or mode to said transmission controller along said common data bus.

2. The gear shifter to transmission interface and control sub-system of claim 1, wherein:

said gear shift to transmission controller communications along sad common data bus is through an standard communications protocol.

3. The gear shifter to transmission interface and control sub-system of claim 2, wherein:

said standard communications protocol is SAE J1939.

4. A mobile vehicle in combination with a gear shifter to transmission interface and control sub-system, comprising:

a chassis;

an operators cab engaged to said chassis;

a transmission engaged to said chassis for driving an axle;

said transmission engaged to an engine;

said engine engaged to said chassis;

a vehicle electrical system with a common data bus;

an electrical system controller electrically engaged to communicate on said common data bus;

an engine controller engaged to the engine to control engine operation;

said engine controller electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate along said common data bus;

a transmission controller engaged to the transmission to control transmission operation;

said transmission controller electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate along said common data bus;

a gear shift, located within the cab;

said gear shift electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate changes of gears or mode to said transmission controller along said common data bus through an standard communications protocol.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein:

said standard communications protocol is SAE J1939.

6. A mobile vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;

a transmission engaged to said chassis for driving an axle;

said transmission engaged to an engine;

said engine engaged to said chassis;

a vehicle electrical system with a common data bus;

said common data bus a twisted pair cable constructed in accordance with SAE J1939;

an electrical system controller electrically engaged to communicate on said common data bus;

said electrical system controller managing vocational controllers electrically engaged to said common data bus;

said vocational controllers including a gauge cluster, an engine controller, a transmission controller, an auxiliary instrument and switch bank, an anti-lock brake system controller and a gearshift; and

said gear shift electrically engaged to said common data bus to communicate changes of gears or mode to said transmission controller along said common data bus.