Vehicle transmission control system
First Claim
1. A vehicle transmission system comprising, in combination, a vehicle transmission and an electronic control system for said transmission for converting input signals thereto related to operating conditions of the transmission into output control signals for said transmission in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria, said electronic control system comprising means for sensing a plurality of operating conditions of said transmission and for producing digital input signals in accordance therewith, microprocessor means for directly monitoring the state of said digital input signals, programmable read-only memory means connected to said microprocessor means, timing means for directly delivering clock pulses to the microprocessor means, output means, connected to said microprocessor means and including latch means, for producing output control signals for said transmission, addressing means for coordinating the operation of said programmable read-only memory means and said latch means under the control of said microprocessor means, random access memory means for storing the states of signals under processing and enabling arithmetical operations to be performed with said stored signal states and electro-mechanical means for controlling the operation of said transmission in accordance with said output signals, said programmable read-only memory means storing a series of coded instructions for repetitively controlling the operation of the said microprocessor means such that, on the basis of said input signals, said output signals are produced and transmitted to said electro-mechanical means.
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Abstract
A vehicle transmission system is provided which comprises, in combination, a vehicle transmission and an electronic control system for converting input signals thereto related to operating conditions of the transmission to output control signals for the transmission in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria. The electronic control system senses a plurality of operating conditions of the transmission and produces digital input signals in accordance therewith, and includes a microprocessor for directly monitoring the state of the digital input signals, a programmable read-only memory connected to the microprocessor, a timing set-up for directly delivering clock pulses to the microprocessor, an output arrangement, connected to the microprocessor and including a latch, for producing output control signals, an addressing unit for coordinating the operation of the programmable read-only memory and the latch under the control of the microprocessor, and a random access memory for storing the states of signals being processed and enabling arithmetical operations to be performed with the stored signal states. A movement sensor senses shaft speeds so as to produce at least one of the digital input signals. The programmable read-only memory stores a series of coded instructions for repetitively controlling the operation of the microprocessor such that, on the basis of the input signals, output signals are produced which are transmitted to electromechanical operators, e.g., solenoid valves or relays, which control the operation of the transmission.
64 Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A vehicle transmission system comprising, in combination, a vehicle transmission and an electronic control system for said transmission for converting input signals thereto related to operating conditions of the transmission into output control signals for said transmission in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria, said electronic control system comprising means for sensing a plurality of operating conditions of said transmission and for producing digital input signals in accordance therewith, microprocessor means for directly monitoring the state of said digital input signals, programmable read-only memory means connected to said microprocessor means, timing means for directly delivering clock pulses to the microprocessor means, output means, connected to said microprocessor means and including latch means, for producing output control signals for said transmission, addressing means for coordinating the operation of said programmable read-only memory means and said latch means under the control of said microprocessor means, random access memory means for storing the states of signals under processing and enabling arithmetical operations to be performed with said stored signal states and electro-mechanical means for controlling the operation of said transmission in accordance with said output signals, said programmable read-only memory means storing a series of coded instructions for repetitively controlling the operation of the said microprocessor means such that, on the basis of said input signals, said output signals are produced and transmitted to said electro-mechanical means.
- 2. A vehicle transmission system comprising, in combination, a vehicle transmission and an electronic control system for said transmission for converting input signals thereto related to operating conditions of the transmission into output control signals for said transmission in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria, said electronic control system comprising means for sensing a plurality of operating conditions of said transmission and for producing digital input signals in accordance therewith, microprocessor means for directly monitoring the state of said digital input signals, programmable read-only memory means connected to said microprocessor means, timing means for directly delivering clock pulses to the microprocessor means, output means, connected to said microprocessor means and including latch means, for producing output control signals for said transmission, addressing means for coordinating the operation of said programmable read-only memory means and said latch means under the control of said microprocessor means, and random access memory means for storing the states of signals under processing and enabling arithmetical operations to be performed with said stored signal states, said sensing means including movement sensing means for sensing the movement of at least one part of said transmission and for producing at least one of said digital input signals in accordance therewith.
- 14. A prime mover system comprising a prime mover, a vehicle transmission system and an electronic control system for controlling said transmission system by converting input signals thereto related to operating conditions of the prime mover system into output control signals for said transmission system in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria, said electronic control system comprising input means for sensing a plurality of prime mover system operating conditions and for producing signals comprising at least one series of pulses in accordance therewith, and programmable electronic signal processing means including a microprocessor for directly monitoring the state of said at least one series of pulses, said programmable electronic signal processing means further comprising means for storing coded programmable information representing at least part of said predetermined set of criteria, and for controlling the further operation of said microprocessor to produce output control signals in accordance with the state of said at least one series of pulses and said predetermined set of criteria, and said vehicle transmission system comprising electromechanical means responsive to said output control signals produced by programmable electronic signal processing means for controlling at least the setting of said vehicle transmission system.
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15. A prime mover system comprising a prime mover, a vehicle transmission system and an electronic control system for controlling said vehicle transmission system by converting input signals thereto related to operating conditions of the prime mover system into output control signals for said transmission in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria, said electronic control system comprising input means for sensing a plurality of prime mover system operating conditions and for producing output signals comprising at least one series of pulses in accordance therewith;
- microprocessor means for monitoring the state of said at least one series of pulses;
programmable read-only memory means, connected to said microprocessor means, for storing coded information representing at least part of said predetermined set of criteria, for transferring said coded information to said microprocessor means and for controlling the further operation of said microprocessor means;
timing means for directly delivering clock pulses to said microprocessor means;
output means, connected to said microprocessor means and including latch means, for producing output control signals under the control of said microprocessor means; and
addressing means for coordinating the operation of at least said programmable read-only memory means and said latch means under the control of said microprocessor means, said vehicle transmission system comprising electromechanical means responsive to said output control signals for controlling at least the setting of said vehicle transmission. - View Dependent Claims (23, 27, 28, 31)
- microprocessor means for monitoring the state of said at least one series of pulses;
- 16. A vehicle transmission system comprising, in combination, a vehicle transmission and an electronic control system for controlling said transmission by converting input signals thereto related to operating conditions of the transmission into output control signals for said transmission in accordance with a predetermined set of criteria, said electronic control system comprising input means for sensing a plurality of transmission operating conditions and producing input signals comprising pulses in accordance therewith, microprocessor means for monitoring the states of said input signals, programmable read-only memory means connected to said microprocessor means, timing means connected to said microprocessor means for directly delivering clock pulses to the microprocessor means, output means, connected to said microprocessor and including latch means, for producing output control signals under the control of said microprocessor means, and addressing means for synchronizing the operation of said programmable read-only memory means and said latch means under the control of said microprocessor means, said electronic control system further comprising electro-mechanical means responsive to said output signals for controlling the operation of said vehicle transmission.
Specification