Selector mechanism for a motor vehicle transmission
First Claim
1. A selector mechanism for a motor vehicle transmission having a number of operating modes, the selector mechanism having a housing, a rotary handle movable in the housing between a number of selector positions, each position being associated with a respective one of the operating modes of the transmission, a rotary selector which in normal use of the selector mechanism is connected to the rotary handle so as to rotate with the rotary handle, sensor means for sensing the position of the rotary selector and generating selector signals to a transmission control unit which in use supplies control signals to the transmission, an indexing means for maintaining the rotary handle in each of its positions, a drive correction means and clutch devices to engage the rotary selector to one of the rotary handle and the drive correction means, wherein the clutch devices and the drive correction means in use are controlled by the transmission control unit to move the rotary selector from a selector position selected by the driver by means of the rotary handle to another selector position representative of the operating mode of the transmission by means of the drive correction means without moving the rotary handle.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotatable selector mechanism for a motor vehicle transmission has a selector knob rotatable in a housing to select an operating mode of the transmission among a number of selector positions indicated by a label (P,R,N,D,M). The selector mechanism further includes a detent plate which cooperates with a detent pin for maintaining the selector knob in each of positions. The detent plate is connected to position sensors for generating selector signals to a transmission control unit which supplies control signals to an actuator for operate the transmission according to the operating mode selected. The detent plate is also associated to the selector knob and to a drive correction means by means of clutch devices respectively to engage the detent plate to one of the selector knob and the drive correction means. The clutch devices and the drive corrections means are controlled by the transmission control unit to move the detent plate from a selector position selected by the driver to another selector position representative of the operating mode of the transmission by means of the drive correction means without moving the selector knob. The selector knob further includes an illuminated pointer constituted by one of several LEDs controlled by the transmission control unit so as to change the LED illuminated in front of the label according to the position of the detent plate when the latter has been moved by the drive correction means in order to indicate the operating mode of the transmission.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A selector mechanism for a motor vehicle transmission having a number of operating modes, the selector mechanism having a housing, a rotary handle movable in the housing between a number of selector positions, each position being associated with a respective one of the operating modes of the transmission, a rotary selector which in normal use of the selector mechanism is connected to the rotary handle so as to rotate with the rotary handle, sensor means for sensing the position of the rotary selector and generating selector signals to a transmission control unit which in use supplies control signals to the transmission, an indexing means for maintaining the rotary handle in each of its positions, a drive correction means and clutch devices to engage the rotary selector to one of the rotary handle and the drive correction means, wherein the clutch devices and the drive correction means in use are controlled by the transmission control unit to move the rotary selector from a selector position selected by the driver by means of the rotary handle to another selector position representative of the operating mode of the transmission by means of the drive correction means without moving the rotary handle.
- 12. A selector mechanism for a vehicle transmission driven by an engine, the said selector mechanism having a housing, a selector movable in the housing between a number of selector positions each associated with a respective operating mode of the transmission, sensor means for sensing the position of the selector and generating selector signals to a transmission control unit which in use supplies control signals to the transmission, and a retractor actuator which in use is controlled by the transmission control unit to displace the selector between an active position where it can be manually moved between the selector position by the driver of the vehicle, and an inactive position in which it is retracted inside the housing where it cannot be readily moved by the driver.
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16. A method of controlling a selector mechanism of a motor vehicle having a transmission, a transmission control unit, at least one sensor for sensing a position of a rotary selector on the selector mechanism, an index mechanism for maintaining a rotary handle of the selector mechanism in one of a predetermined number of selector positions corresponding to one of a predetermined number of transmission operating modes, and drive correction means, and a clutch mechanism engaging the rotary selector to one of the rotary handle and drive correction means, wherein the clutch mechanism and the drive correction means are controlled by the transmission control unit to move the rotary selector from a selector position selected by the driver through the rotary handle to another selector position representative of the operating mode of the transmission by means of the drive correction means without moving the rotary handle, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining an operational state of the vehicle and providing data related to said operational state to the transmission control unit;
receiving a signal from the sensors indicating whether a selector mode is available or unavailable;
if the selector mode is unavailable the transmission control unit operates the clutch mechanism to engage the rotary selector to the drive correction means and disengage the rotary selector from the rotary handle; and
sending a command to the drive correction means to return the rotary selector to the previous gear position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification