Device for producing an optical or acoustic shift instruction

• US 4,438,423 A
• Filed: 02/22/1982
• Issued: 03/20/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG (Vodafone Group PLC)
• Inventors: Stier, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US06/350,973
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 R, 340/52 D, 340/52 F, 340/669, 340/60, 340/62, 307/10 R, 307/116, 307/10 AT, 74/844, 74/856, 74/861, 74/DIG. 7, 74/862, 434/66, 434/71, 200/61.88, 200/61.9, 200/61.91, 116/28.1
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/023 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 74/07 Indicators-sensors and meters

Abstract

A device for producing a shift instruction has three threshold switches (6, 7, 12) which are dependent on the rpm (speed of rotation). The first threshold shift (6) is connected via an AND gate (5) to an upshift signal indicator (9). This AND gate is conductive only when the gas pedal (1) is depressed less than 20% and the speed threshold of the first threshold transmitter (6) is reached. If the gas pedal (1) is depressed further, the upshift signal indicator (9) only lights up when the speed threshold of the third threshold switch, namely the maximum permissible speed of rotation is reached. The downshift signal indicator (11) lights up when the speed of rotation of the engine drops below the threshold of the second threshold switch (7). By this development shift instructions are given which sufficiently take into account the engine power of the vehicle without the necessity of measuring this engine power.

Claims

1. In a device for producing an optical or acoustic shift instruction in which a speed-of-rotation signal is fed to a first threshold switch for connecting an upshift signal indicator and to a second threshold switch for connecting a downshift signal indicator, the device being adapted to cooperate with a gas pedal of a vehicle, the improvement comprising

an AND gate arranged behind the first threshold switch,

a gas-pedal position switch being connected to said AND gate at an input side of the latter such that when the gas pedal is depressed only slightly it is connected to the upshift signal indicator, and

means comprising a third threshold switch in parallel to the two other said threshold switches, being connected directly with said upshift signal indicator and for becoming conductive when the maximum permissible speed of rotation is reached.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

said gas pedal position switch blocks said AND gate when the gas pedal is depressed 20%.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising

a first switch means for opening upon shifting to the highest gear is provided in front of the upshift signal indicator, and

a second switch means for opening upon engagement of first gear is provided in front of the downshift signal indicator.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

said second threshold switch is connected for turning on of the downshift signal indicator only upon a dropping below the speed threshold.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising

two break switches are arranged in front of the upshift and downshift signal indicators and open in the idling position of the gas pedal, and

a limit switch, which responds in idle position, is provided at the gas pedal and is connected with said two break switches.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the third threshold switch is set at a speed of rotation which is slightly above the maximum permissible speed of travel in the highest gear.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the first and second threshold switches are adjustable as a function of the load of the vehicle.