Mechanical automatic transmission

• US 4,361,060 A
• Filed: 09/25/1980
• Issued: 11/30/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert R. Smyth
• Original Assignee: Robert R. Smyth
• Inventors: Smyth, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krizmanich, George H.
• Application Number:
  US06/190,512
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 74/855, 74/860, 74/866, 74/867, 74/872, 74/878, 74/752 A, 74/752 C, 74/752 D, 74/DIG. 7, 192/0.032, 192/0.033, 192/0.076, 192/0.08, 192/0.092, 192/0.073, 192/0.09, 192/3.58, 192/103 R
• US Class Current: 477/78
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0042 Transfer function lag; delays
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1015 Input shaft speed, e.g. turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/106 Rate of change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/186 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/12 with means for synchronisation not incorporated in the clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/141 of rate of change of torque or torque demand
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/20 Kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/22 Idle position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/48 Inputs being a function of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0403 Synchronisation before shifting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/10 Controlling shift hysteresis
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 : for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 477/905 : Acceleration of throttle signal

Abstract

An electro-mechanical automatic transmission system for use in motor vehicles. The automatic transmission comprises a mechanical transmission, gear synchronizer and clutch which have been automated by the addition of electro-mechanical and pneumatic operators and an analog and digital electronic control system. The electronic control system receives operator commands regarding the mode of transmission operation (either automatic or manual) and monitors throttle position, engine speed, transmission countershaft speed, drive shaft (vehicle) speed, and rates of change of these speeds. It also receives information of the present gear ratio and stores data indicating the direction of the last shift. By utilizing this information, the electronic control system selects the optimum transmission gear ratio, effects synchronization of the selected transmission gear elements and controls clutch engagement according to a logic program.

Claims

1. An electro-mechanical automatic transmission system for vehicles having a throttle-controlled engine, a drive shaft operably connected to ground engaging drive wheels, a mechanical transmission having a plurality of forward and reverse gear ratio combinations selectively engageable between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft, said transmission output shaft connected to said drive shaft, a clutch operably connected between said engine and said transmission input shaft, and a transmission synchronizer assembly effective to synchronize the speed of transmission elements rotating with said input shaft to transmission elements rotating with said output shaft prior to engagement therewith, said automatic transmission system comprising an electronic information processing unit having means for receiving and generating a plurality of input and output signals from a plurality of input and output signals generating and receiving means, respectively, said input signal means including (1) means interconnected with the engine throttling control effective to supply an electric input signal indicating the position of said throttling control, (2) means interconnected with said engine effective to supply an electric input signal indicating the speed of said engine, (3) means interconnected with said transmission input shaft effective to supply an electric input signal indicating the speed of said input shaft, (4) means effective to supply an electric signal indicating the speed of said vehicle and (5) means interconnected with said transmission effective to indicate when said transmission is in neutral;

said output signal receiving means including means for receiving (a) an electric signal effective to engage and disengage said clutch, (b) an electric signal effective to actuate said synchronizer and (c) an electric signal effective to actuate said mechanical transmission to effect engagement of one of said gear combinations, said processing unit including a memory means for storage of data indicating the direction of the previous shift, means for processing said stored data and said input signals in accordance with a program to provide a predetermined gear ratio for a given combination of current and stored input signals and for generating the output signals to cause said output signal receiving means to operate said mechanical transmission in accordance with said program.

2. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 1, wherein said means interconnected with the engine throttling control includes means for providing a signal which varies in proportion to the position of said throttling control, means for providing a signal indicating the presence of an operator'"'"'s foot on a throttle pedal and means for providing a signal indicating that the throttle pedal is fully depressed.

3. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 2, wherein said processing unit includes means for receiving said signal which varies in proportion to the throttling control position and for differentiating said signal, and wherein said processing unit includes means responsive to such differentiated signal for modifying the point at which said mechanical transmission is shifted from one predetermined gear ratio to another predetermined gear ratio.

4. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 2, wherein said processing unit includes means for raising the engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded when said means for providing a signal indicating that the throttle pedal is fully depressed is activated.

5. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 1, wherein said memory means processing unit includes means clearing said data indicating the direction of the previous shift.

6. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 1, wherein said processing unit includes means for lowering the engine speed at which a downshift will occur in proportion to the acceleration of the vehicle, means for raising the engine speed at which a downshift will occur in proportion to deceleration of the vehicle, and means for raising the engine speed at which an upshift will occur in proportion to the deceleration of the vehicle.

7. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 1, wherein said processing unit includes means for electrically modifying said program by raising and lowering the engine speed at which a shift will be commanded in proportion to the rate of change of vehicle speed.

8. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 1, wherein said electronic information processing unit includes means for comparing said electric input signal indicating the speed of said transmission input shaft with said electric input signal indicating the speed of said transmission output shaft and means responsive to such comparison for determining the one of said plurality of forward and reverse gear ratio combinations engaged in said transmission.

9. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 1, wherein said electronic information processing unit includes means for generating distinct logic codes representing each of said plurality of forward and reverse gear ratio combinations in said transmission.

11. A transmission control system for controlling a transmission of a motor vehicle having an engine, throttle means for controlling the speed of said engine and a clutch operably connected between said engine and said transmission;

said transmission including an input shaft, an output shaft, a plurality of elements which are selectively engageable to provide different gear ratio combinations between said input shaft and said output shaft, a synchronizer brake assembly operably connected to some of said transmission elements, and a synchronizer accelerator assembly operably connected to some of said transmission elements;

said transmission control system including a plurality of means for providing input signals, memory means for storage of data indicating the direction of the previous shift, means for processing said stored data and said input signals in accordance with a program to select a predetermined gear ratio and to generate a plurality of output signals for a given combination of current and stored input signals, and means responsive to said output signals for shifting said transmission to such predetermined gear ratio;

said input signal providing means including (1) means connected to said throttle controlling means for providing an input signal indicating the position of said throttle controlling means, (2) means for providing an input signal indicating the speed of said engine, (3) means for providing an input signal indicating the speed of said transmission input shaft, (4) means for providing an input signal indicating the speed of said motor vehicle;

said output signal responsive means including (a) means for cutting off fuel to said engine regardless of the position of said throttle controlling means, (b) means for engaging and disengaging said clutch, (c) means for actuating said synchronizer brake assembly, (d) means for actuating said synchronizer accelerator assembly and (e) means for actuating said transmission to effect engagement of one of said gear combinations.

10. The electro-mechanical automatic transmission system of claim 17, further including operator means responsive to said electric signal effective to actuate said transmission for effecting the engagement of one of said gear combinations, wherein said counting means includes clock means for producing timing pulses which activate said counting means, said clock means having a clock frequency sufficiently high to cycle said counting means through said distinct binary logic codes representing each transmission gear prior to movement of said operator means.

12. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said processing means includes means for temporarily modifying said program only during a time interval following the selection of a new gear ratio to increase the engine speed at which said processing means generates an output signal to cause said means for actuating said transmission to effect an upshift and to decrease the engine speed at which said processing means generates an output signal to cause said means for actuating said transmission to effect a downshift.

13. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said means for processing said stored data and said input signals includes means for differentiating the signal from said means for providing a signal which varies in proportion to the position of said throttle controlling means.

14. The transmission control system of claim 13, wherein said processing means includes means responsive to the differentiated throttle position signal for modifying said program.

15. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said memory means includes means for clearing data indicative of the direction of the last shift.

16. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said processing means includes means for lowering the engine speed at which a downshift will occur in proportion to the acceleration of the vehicle, means for raising the engine speed at which a downshift will occur in proportion to deceleration of the vehicle, and means for raising the engine speed at which an upshift will occur in proportion to the deceleration of the vehicle.

17. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said processing means includes means for modifying said program by increasing and decreasing the engine speed at which said processing means generates an output signal to said means for actuating said transmission in proportion to the rate of change of vehicle speed.

18. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said means for engaging and disengaging said clutch comprise a pneumatic operator and a plurality of solenoid valve means for filling and exhausting said pneumatic operator with a fluid.

19. The transmission control system of claim 18, wherein said plurality of solenoid valve means include orifice means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid into and out of said pneumatic operator and wherein said processing means includes means for sequentially energizing said plurality of solenoide valve means.

20. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said processing means includes means for modifying said program by inhibiting said output signal for controlling said means for actuating said transmission when said means for providing a signal indicating the presence of the operator'"'"'s foot on the throttle is not activated.

21. The transmission control system of claim 20, wherein said means for modifying said program by inhibiting said output signal for controlling said means for actuating said transmission is operable only to inhibit downshifts.

22. The transmission control system of claim 21, wherein said means for modifying said program by inhibiting said output signal controlling said means for actuating said transmission is operable only to inhibit downshifts below third gear.

23. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said processing means includes counting means for generating distinct codes representing each of said plurality of forward and reverse gear ratio combinations in said transmission.

24. The transmission control system of claim 11, wherein said processing means includes means for modifying said program in response to a signal from said means for providing an input signal indicating that the brakes of said motor vehicle are activated.

25. A transmission system for vehicles having a throttle-controlled engine, a drive shaft operably connected to ground engaging drive wheels, a transmission having an input shaft, an output shaft operably connected to said drive shaft and a plurality of gear ratio combinations selectively engageable between said input and output shafts, and means operably connecting said input shaft to said engine, said transmission system comprising means for generating a plurality of input signals indicative of at least (1) the speed of said input shaft, (2) the speed of said vehicle and (3) the position of said engine throttling control, an electronic signal processor including memory means for storing data indicating the direction of the previous shift and means for processing said stored data and said input signals in accordance with a program to select an optimum one of said gear ratio combinations, means responsive to a change in said selected gear ratio for shifting said transmission to the newly selected gear ratio, and means responsive to a predetermined change in the position of said engine throttling control for modifying the point at which said transmission is shifted from one selected gear ratio to another selected gear ratio.

26. The transmission system of claim 25, wherein said modifying means includes means for raising the engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts to another gear ratio are commanded when said input signal indicative of the position of said engine throttling control indicates that the vehicle throttle pedal is fully depressed.

27. The transmission of claim 25, wherein said modifying means is responsive to rate of change of the input signal indicative of the position of said engine throttling control for modifying the point at which said transmission is shifted from one selected gear ratio to another gear ratio.

28. A transmission system for vehicles having a throttle controlled engine, a drive shaft operably connected to ground engaging drive wheels, a transmission having an input shaft, an output shaft operably coupled to said drive shaft and a plurality of gear ratio combinations selectively engageable between said input and output shafts, and means operably connecting said input shaft to said engine, said transmission system comprising means for generating a plurality of input signals indicative of at least (1) the speed of said input shaft, (2) the speed of said vehicle and (3) the rate of acceleration and deceleration of said vehicle, an electronic signal processor including memory means for storing data indicating the direction of the previous shift and means for processing said stored data and said input signals in accordance with a program to select an optimum one of said gear ratio combinations, means responsive to a change in said selected gear ratio for shifting said transmission to the newly selected gear ratio, and means responsive to said input signal indicative of said rate of acceleration and deceleration for modifying the point at which said transmission is shifted from one selected gear ratio to another gear ratio.

29. The transmission system of claim 28, wherein said modifying means includes means for lowering the engine speed at which a downshift to another gear ratio will occur in proportion to the accleleration of the vehicle, means for raising the engine speed which a downshift to another gear ratio will occur in proportion to deceleration of the vehicle, and means for raising the engine speed at which an upshift to another gear ratio will occur in proportion to deceleration of the vehicle.

30. The transmission system of claim 29, wherein said means for generating a plurality of input signals further generates a signal indicative of (4) the position of said engine throttling control, and further including means responsive to a predetermined change in said engine throttling control position signal for modifying the point at which said transmission is shifted from one selected gear ratio to another gear ratio.

31. The transmission system of claim 30, and wherein said modifying means responsive to a predetermined change in said engine throttling control position signal includes means for differentiating said engine throttling control position signal, and means responsive to such differentiated signal for modifying the point at which said transmission is shifted from one selected gear ratio to another gear ratio.

32. The transmission system of claim 28, wherein said means for generating a plurality of input signals further generates a signal indicative that (4) the vehicle brakes are actuated, and further including means responsive to said vehicle brake actuation signal for modifying the point at which said transmission is shifted from one selected gear ratio to another gear ratio.

33. An automatic transmission control system for controlling a transmission of a motor vehicle having a throttle controlled engine, and a clutch operably connected between said engine and said transmission;

said transmission including an input shaft, an output shaft, a plurality of elements which are selectively engageable to provide different gear ratio combinations between said input shaft and said output shaft, said transmission control system including a plurality of means for providing input signals, means for processing said signals in accordance with a program to select a predetermined gear ratio and to generate a plurality of output signals for a given combination of input and processed signals, and means responsive to said output signals for shifting said transmission to a predetermined gear ratio;

said input signal providing means including (1) means connected to said throttle controlling means for providing an input signal indicating the position of said throttle controlling means, (2) means for providing an input signal indicating the selected gear ratio, (3) means for providing an input signal indicating the speed of said motor vehicle, (4) means for generating an input signal indicating the speed of said engine;

said output signal responsive means including (a) means for actuating said transmission to effect engagement of one of said gear combinations and (b) means for engaging and disengaging said clutch at a predetermined rate controlled by output signals from said processor.

34. An automatic transmission system for devices having a throttle-controlled engine, throttling control means and a transmission having a plurality of gear ratio combinations selectively engageable between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft, said transmission input shaft being operatively connected to said engine, said transmission system comprising,

an information processing unit having means for receiving a plurality of input signals and means for generating output signals, said input signals including (1) an input signal indicative of the position of said throttle controlling means and (2) an input signal indicative of the rotational speed of said engine, means associated with said transmission effective to actuate said transmission to effect engagement of one of said gear ratio combinations in response to said output signals from said processing unit, said processing unit including a memory means for storing information indicating the direction of the previous shift and means for processing said stored information and current input signals in accordance with a program to provide a predetermined gear ratio for a given combination of stored information and current input signals and for generating output signals whereby said transmission system is operated in accordance with said program.

35. The automatic transmission system of claim 34 wherein said memory means includes means to clear said stored information.

36. The automatic transmission system of claim 35 wherein said means to clear said stored information is effective to clear said stored information when said engine speed equals a specified reference value.

37. The automatic transmission system according to claim 34, wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said predetermined program including changing the engine speed at which a shift will be commanded in a direction determined by the direction of the previous shift.

38. The automatic transmission system of claim 37, wherein said input signals additionally include (3) an input signal indicating the current engaged gear ratio and the engine speeds at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded are additionally a function of sensed current engaged gear ratio.

39. The automatic transmission system of claim 38, wherein said input signal indicating engine speed comprises an input signal indicating output shaft speed and said processing unit includes means to multiply said input signal indicating output shaft speed by a factor related to the current engaged gear ratio to determine a calculated sensed engine speed.

40. The automatic transmission system according to claim 37, wherein said memory means includes means to clear said stored information.

41. The automatic transmission system according to claim 40, wherein said means to clear stored information is effective to clear said stored information when said engine speed reaches a specified reset reference value, and wherein said processing unit comprises means to modify said program by increasing the predetermined reset reference speed if the previous shift was a downshift and by decreasing the predetermined reset reference speed if the previous shift was an upshift.

42. The automatic transmission system of claim 40, wherein said input signals additionally include (3) an input signal indicating the current engaged gear ratio and the sensed engine speeds at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded are additionally a function of sensed current engaged gear ratio.

43. The automatic transmission system of claim 42, wherein said input signal indicating engine speed comprises an input signal indicating output shaft speed and said processing unit comprises means to multiply said input signal indicating output shaft speed by a factor related to the current engaged gear ratio to determine a calculated sensed engine speed.

44. The automatic transmission system of claims 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40, wherein said processing unit comprises means for modifying said program for a predetermined time interval following the selection of a new gear ratio including lowering the sensed engine speed at which a downshift will be commanded if the previous shift was an upshift and raising the sensed engine speed at which an upshift will be commanded if the previous shift was a downshift.

45. The automatic transmission system of claim 42, wherein said processing unit comprises means for modifying said program for a predetermined time interval following the selection of a new gear ratio including lowering the sensed engine speed at which a downshift will be commanded if the previous shift was an upshift and raising the sensed engine speed at which an upshift will be commanded if the previous shift was a downshift.

46. The automatic transmission system of claim 43, wherein said processing unit comprises means for modifying said program for a predetermined time interval following the selection of a new gear ratio including lowering the sensed engine speed at which a downshift will be commanded if the previous shift was an upshift and raising the sensed engine speed at which an upshift will be commanded if the previous shift was a downshift.

54. The automatic transmission system of claims 34, 37, 47 or 53 wherein said input signal indicating the position of said throttling control means includes an input signal which varies in proportion to the position of said throttling control and an input signal indicating when said throttling control is at its maximum setting and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said predetermined program including raising the engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded when said input signal indicating said throttling control is at its maximum setting is activated.

55. The automatic transmission system of claims 34 or 37, wherein said input signals include an input signal indicating the presence of the operator'"'"'s foot on the throttling control and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said predetermined program by raising the engine speeds at which downshifts are commanded if said means for providing a signal indicating the presence of the operator foot on the throttling control is not activated.

57. The automatic transmission system of any of claims 34, 37 or 38, wherein said input signal indicating position of said throttling control means varies in proportion to the position of the throttling control and said processing unit comprises means to differentiate said input signal indicating position of throttling control with respect to time and means responsive to such differentiated throttling central position input signal for modifying the sensed engine speed at which said transmission is shifted from one predetermined gear ratio to another predetermined gear ratio.

58. The automatic transmission system of claim 57, wherein said input signal indicating the position of said throttling control means includes an input signal indicating when said throttling control is at its maximum setting and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said predetermined program including raising the sensed engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded when said input signal indicating said throttling control is at its maximum setting is activated.

60. The automatic transmission system of claims 36, 37, 38, 39, or 40, wherein said processing unit comprises means for modifying said program for a predetermined time interval following the selection of a new gear ratio.

47. An automatic transmission system for vehicles having a throttle-controlled engine, a throttling control means and a transmission having a plurality of gear ratio combinations selectively engageable between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft, said transmission input shaft being operatively connected to said engine, said transmission system comprising an information processing unit having means for receiving a plurality of input signals and means for generating output signals, said input signals including (1) a signal indicating the position of said throttling control means and (2) a signal indicating the rotational speed of said engine, (3) a signal indicative of output shaft speed, said transmission including means responsive to said output signals effective to actuate said transmission to effect engagement of one of said gear ratio combinations, said processing unit including means differentiating with respect to time said input signal indicating output shaft speed to generate a signal representative of vehicle acceleration and deceleration, said processing unit including means for processing said input signals in accordance with a program to provide a predetermined gear ratio for a given combination of input signals and for generating output signals whereby said vehicle transmission system is operated in accordance with said program, said program setting forth a predetermined engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded for each sensed throttling control position, and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said program including means for modifying the engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded by lowering the engine speed at which a downshift will be commanded in proportion to the acceleration of the vehicle, raising the engine speed at which a downshift will be commanded in proportion to the deceleration of the vehicle and raising the engine speed at which an upshift will be commanded in proportion to the deceleration of the vehicle.

48. The automatic transmission system of claim 47, wherein said input signals additionally include (3) an input signal indicating the current engaged gear ratio and wherein the engine speeds set forth in said program at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded are additionally a function of sensed current engaged gear ratio.

49. The automatic transmission system of claim 48, wherein said input signal indicating engine speed comprises an input signal indicating output shaft speed and said processing unit comprises means to multiply said input signal indicating output shaft speed by a factor related to the current engaged gear ratio to determine a calculated sensed engine speed.

50. The automatic transmission system according to claims 47, 48 or 49, wherein said processing means inludes means for modifying said program during a predetermined time interval following the selection of a new gear ratio to increase the engine speed at which the processing unit generates a signal to said means for actuating said transmission to effect an upshift and to decrease the engine speed at which said output signal generating means signals said means for activating said transmission to effect a downshift.

51. The automatic transmission system of claims 47, 48 or 49, wherein said processing unit includes a memory means for storing and clearing the direction of the previous shift and said means for processing said input signals processes said input signals and said stored information and inlcudes means for modifying said predetermined program including changing the engine speed at which a shift will be commanded according to the direction of the previous shift.

52. The automatic transmission system of claim 50, wherein said processing unit includes a memory means for storing and clearing the direction of the previous shift and said means for processing said input signals processes said input signals and said stored information and includes means for modifying said predetermined program including changing the engine speed at which a shift will be commanded according to the direction of the previous shift.

62. An automatic transmission system in accordance with claim 47 wherein said input signals include an input signal indicating the presence of the operator'"'"'s foot on the throttling control and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said predetermined program by raising the engine speeds at which downshifts are commanded if said means for providing a signal indicating the presence of the operator foot on the throttling control is not activated.

64. An automatic transmission system in accordance with claim 47 wherein said input signal indicating position of said throttling control means varies in proportion to the position of the throttling control and said processing unit comprises means to differentiate said input signal indicating position of throttling control with respect to time and means responsive to such differentiated throttling control position input signal for modifying the sensed engine speed at which said transmission is shifted from one predetermined ratio to another predetermined gear ratio.

53. An automatic transmission system for vehicles having a throttle-controlled engine, a throttling control means and a transmission having a plurality of gear ratio combinations selectively engageable between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft, said transmission input shaft operatively connected to said engine, said transmission system comprising an information processing unit having means for receiving a plurality of input signals and means for generating output signals, said input signals including (1) a signal indicating the position of said throttling control means and (2) a signal indicating the rotational speed of said engine, (3) a signal indicative output shaft speed, said transmission including means responsive to said output signals effective to actuate said transmission to effect engagement of one of said gear ratio combinations, said processing unit including means for processing said input signals in accordance with a program to provide a predetermined gear ratio for a given combination of input signals and for generating the output signals whereby said vehicle transmission system is operated in accordance with said program, said program setting forth a predetermined engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded for each sensed throttling control position, and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said program including means for modifying the engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded by modifying said program for a predetermined time interval following the selection of a new gear ratio.

61. An automatic transmission system in accordance with claim 53 wherein the means for modifying the engine speed includes lowering the sensed engine speed at which a downshift will be commanded if the previous shift was an upshift and raising the sensed engine speed at which an upshift will be commanded if the previous shift was a downshift.

63. An automatic transmission system in accordance with claim 53 wherein said input signals include an input signal indicating the presence of the operator'"'"'s foot on the throttling control and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said predetermined program by raising the engine speeds at which downshifts are commanded if said means for providing a signal indicating the presence of the operator foot on the throttling control is not activated.

65. An automatic transmission system in accordance with claim 53 wherein said input signal indicating position of said throttling control means varies in proportion to the position of the throttling control and said processing unit comprises means to differentiate said input signal indicating position of throttling control with respect to time and means responsive to such differentiated throttling control position input signal for modifying the sensed engine speed at which said transmission is shifted from one predetermined ratio to another predetermined gear ratio.

56. An automatic transmission system for vehicles having a throttle-controlled engine, a throttling control means and a transmission having a plurality of gear ratio combinations selectively engageable between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft, said transmission input shaft operatively connected to said engine, said transmission system comprising an information processing unit having means for receiving a plurality of input signals and means for generating output signals, said input signals including (1) a signal indicating the position of said throttling control means and (2) a signal indicating the rotational speed of said engine, (3) a signal indicative of output shaft speed, said transmission including means responsive to said output signals effective to actuate said transmission to effect engagment of one of said gear ratio combinations, said processing unit including means for processing said input signals in accordance with a program to provide a predetermined gear ratio for a given combination of input signals and for generating the output signals whereby said vehicle transmission system is operated in accordance with said program, said program setting forth a predetermined engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded for each sensed throttling control position, and wherein said processing unit includes means for modifying said program including means for modifying the engine speed at which upshifts and downshifts are commanded, and wherein said input signal indicating position of said throttling control means varies in proportion to the position of the throttling control and said processing unit comprises means to differentiate said input signal indicating position of throttling control with respect to time and means responsive to all of said input signals including said differentiated throttle control position signal, for modifying the engine speed at which said transmission is shifted from one predetermined gear ratio to another predetermined gear ratio.

59. The automatic transmission system of claim 56 wherein said processing unit includes a memory means for storing and clearing the direction of the previous shift and wherein said means for modifying said program includes means changing the engine speed at which a shift will be commanded according to the direction of the previous shift.