Shift indicator system for vehicle

• US 4,853,673 A
• Filed: 07/29/1986
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Toshihiro, Kido, Yoshinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US06/890,289
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 R, 340/52 D, 340/62, 340/71, 340/74, 340/79, 340/80, 340/52 F, 200/61.88, 307/10 R, 364/442, 364/424.1, 74/856, 74/861, 74/DIG. 6, 74/DIG. 7, 434/71, 73/117.3, 123/481, 123/351
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/366 Engine or motor speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/24 dependent on the throttle opening
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/36 Inputs being a function of speed
• 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 63/42 Ratio indicator devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A shift indicator system for a vehicle comprises an engine speed sensor, an engine speed comparator for comparing the engine speed detected by the engine speed sensor with a preset value, an indicator which provides an indication for directing upshifting when the engine speed is not lower than the preset value, a delay circuit which inhibits the indicator from providing the indication for directing upshifting until the engine speed continues to be not lower than the preset value for a predetermined time interval, an engine speed increasing rate detector for detecting the rate of increase of the engine speed, an engine load increasing rate detector for detecting the rate of increase of the engine load, and a delay time setting circuit which receives the outputs of the engine speed increasing rate detector and the engine load increasing rate detector, and makes the predetermined time interval shorter as the engine speed increasing rate increases and longer as the engine load increasing rate increases.

Claims

1. A shift indicator system for a vehicle comprising an engine speed detecting means, an engine speed comparator means for comparing the engine speed detected by the engine speed detector with a preset value, an indicating means which provides an indication for directing upshifting when the engine speed is not lower than the preset value, a delay means for inhibiting the indicating means from providing the indication for directing upshifting for a predetermined time interval, an engine speed increasing rate detecting means for detecting the rate of increase of the engine speed, an engine load increasing rate detecting means for detecting the rate of increase of the engine load, and a delay time setting means which receives outputs of the engine speed increasing rate detecting mans and the engine load increasing rate detecting means, and comprises a first correction means for making the predetermined time interval shorter as the engine speed increasing rate increases and a second correction means for making the predetermined time interval longer as the engine load increasing rate increases.

2. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 1 in which said indicating means is permitted to provide the indication when the engine load is not heavier than a preset engine load.

3. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 2 in which said predetermined time interval is corrected by said second correction means depending on the maximum engine load increasing rate within a constant engine speed region near a predetermined engine speed.

4. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 2 in which said engine load increasing rate is detected through the rate of change in the throttle opening.

5. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 2 in which said predetermined time interval is corrected by said first correction means depending on the engine speed increasing rate at a predetermined engine speed.

6. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 5 in which said predetermined time interval is corrected by said second correction means depending on the maximum engine load increasing rate within a constant engine speed region near a predetermined engine speed.

7. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 6 in which said engine load increasing rate is detected through the rate of change in the throttle opening.

8. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 5 in which said engine load increasing rate is detected through the rate of change in the throttle opening.

9. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 1 in which said predetermined tie interval is corrected by said second correction means depending on the maximum engine load increasing rate within a constant engine speed region near a predetermined engine speed.

10. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 1 in which said engine load increasing rate is detected through the rate of change in the throttle opening.

11. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 1 in which said predetermined time interval is corrected by said first correction means depending on the engine speed increasing rate at a predetermined engine speed.

13. A shift indicator system as defined in claim 1, wherein said delay time setting means comprises circuit means for producing a delay time signal corresponding to the engine load increasing rate in accordance with a predetermined rate delay time function and which acts to make said predetermined time interval longer only when the engine load increasing rate increases.

12. A shift indicator system for a vehicle comprising an engine speed detecting means, an engine speed comparator means for comparing the engine speed detected by the engine speed detector with a preset value, an indicating means which provides an indication for directing upshifting when the engine speed is not lower than the preset value, a delay means which inhibits the indicating means from providing the indication for directing upshifting until the engine speed continues to be not lower than the preset value for a predetermined time interval, an engine speed increasing rate detecting means for detecting the rate of increase of the engine speed, an engine load increasing rate detecting means for detecting the rate of increase of the engine load, and a first correction means which receives an output of the engine speed increasing rate detecting means and outputs a first correction signal for making the predetermined time interval shorter as the engine speed increasing rate increases, a second correction means which receives the output of the engine load increasing rate detecting means, and outputs a second correction signal for making the predetermined time interval longer as the engine load increasing rate increases, and an adder means which receives the first and second corrections signals and determines said predetermined time interval on the basis of the signal obtained by adding the first and second correction signals.