Motor vehicle control system

• US 5,014,038 A
• Filed: 03/15/1989
• Issued: 05/07/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luk Leamington Limited (INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Products (USA), Inc. (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Mabee, Brian, Leigh-Monstevens, Keith V., Peterson, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/323,825
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 340/430, 340/456, 180/287, 180/337, 180/315, 180/271, 180/272, 180/337
• US Class Current: 340/430
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/003 locking of control actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02142 comprising externally controlled safety devices for preventing locking during vehicle running condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02144 interlocked with gear box or gear lever
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1001 Alarm systems associated with another car fitting or mechanism, e.g. door lock or knob, pedals features related to the general power supply B60R25/1018
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0243 with push buttons, e.g. shift buttons arranged on steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/223 Electrical gear shift lock, e.g. locking of lever in park or neutral position by electric means if brake is not applied; Key interlock, i.e. locking the key if lever is not in park position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/326 Actuators for range selection, i.e. actuators for controlling the range selector or the manual range valve in the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/08 Range selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/16 Inhibiting or initiating shift during unfavourable conditions, e.g. preventing forward reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine over speed unintentional control input F16H61/18
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/22 Locking of the control input devices constructional features of locking or disabling mechanisms F16H63/34

Abstract

An electronic control system for a motor vehicle of the type including an automatic transmission, a steering system having a steering column, an ignition switch having an on position and a key-in/lock position, means operative in response to movement of the ignition switch to the key-in/lock position to lock the steering column, a starter circuit, a push button shift control assembly in the vehicle passenger compartment, and a closure system requiring one or more operator steps to enter the vehicle passenger compartment. The invention control system includes means to preclude movement of the ignition switch to the key-in/lock position when the vehicle speed is in excess of a predetermined speed; means for generating a coded anti-theft signal comprising a predetermined combination of shift assembly push buttons depressed in a predetermined sequence to allow starting of the motor vehicle and to allow shifting of the motor vehicle; and means operative to display the instantaneous position of the vehicle transmission during the normal operation of the vehicle, for a predetermined period of time following removal of the ignition key from the ignition switch, and for a predetermined time following operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A control system for a motor vehicle of the type including a steering system having a steering column, an ignition switch having an "on" position and a "key in/lock" position, and means operative in response to movement of said ignition switch to the "key in/lock" position to lock the steering column, said control system comprising:

(A) sensor means operative to sense the vehicle speed and generate a speed signal; and

(B) control means receiving said speed signal and operative in response to a sensed vehicle speed in excess of a predetermined speed to preclude movement of said ignition switch to the "key in/lock " position.

2. The control system according to claim 1 wherein:

(C) said control means includes blocking means movable into and out of the path of movement of said ignition switch in response to the received speed signal.

3. A control system according to claim 2 wherein:

(D) said blocking means comprises an electrical actuator which is actuated and deactuated in response to the received speed signal.

4. A control system according to claim 3 wherein said actuator comprises a solenoid energized and deenergized in response to said speed signal and having its plunger arranged to move into and out of said path of movement.

5. A control system according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle includes an automatic transmission of the type including a transmission of state of "Park" and the ignition switch includes an "off" position between the "key in/lock" position and the "on" position and wherein;

(D) said control means comprises a control logic receiving said speed signal;

(E) said control logic is operative in response to movement of the ignition switch to the "off" position to shift the transmission to "Park" if the received speed signal indicates a vehicle speed no greater than said predetermined speed; and

(F) said blocking means is moved out of the path of movement of said ignition switch in response to shifting of the transmission to the transmission state of "Park", whereby to allow movement of said ignition switch to the key in/lock position to lock the steering column.

6. A control system according to claim 5 wherein:

(G) said blocking means comprises a solenoid mounted in proximity to said ignition switch and having its plunger moved into and out of said path.

7. A control system for a motor vehicle of the type including a transmission having a plurality of shift positions, said control system including:

(A) a transmission shift assembly including a plurality of operator-selected positions corresponding respectively to said transmission shift positions;

(B) generator means operative in response to operator selection of a shift assembly position to generate an operator signal representative of the selected shift assembly position;

(C) operator-actuated means for generating an anti-theft code signal; and

(D) control means, including a control logic receiving said operator shift signals and said anti-theft code signal, operative upon receipt of an operator-selected position signal and said anti-theft code signal to shift said transmission to the shift position corresponding to the operator-selected position and inoperative to shift the transmission in the absence of recept of said anti-theft code signal.

8. A control system according to claim 7 wherein said motor vehicle further includes a starter circuit, including an ignition switch, to enable starting of the engine of the motor vehicle upon closing of the ignition switch and wherein:

(E) said control system is further operative to disable said starter circuit in the absence of said anti-theft code signal.

9. A control system according to claim 8 wherein:

(F) said shift assembly includes a push-button module including a push-button corresponding to each transmission shift position; and

(G) said operator-actuated means for generating an anti-theft code signal includes said push-button module in combination with a sequential logic circuit connected to said push-button module and operative in response to operator depression of selected push-buttons in a predetermined sequence to generate said anti-theft code signal.

10. A control system according to claim 7 wherein said motor vehicle includes a passenger compartment closure system requiring one or more operator steps to enter the vehicle passenger compartment and wherein:

(H) said control system further includes alarm means activated upon failure of the operator to generate said anti-theft code signal within a predetermined time after operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle.

11. A control system according to claim 10 wherein:

(I) said alarm means comprises an audible alarm.

12. A control system according to claim 10 wherein the control system includes a timer started in response to operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle and operative to measure said predetermined time.

13. A control system for a motor vehicle of the type having an automatic transmission, a gear selector assembly operative to select a desired transmission position, an ignition switch having an "on" position and a "key removal" position, and a passenger compartment closure system requiring one or more operator steps to enter the vehicle passenger compartment, said control system comprising:

(A) indicator means operative when activated to display the instantaneous position of the transmission as selected by the gear selector assembly;

(B) means connected to said ignition switch and said indicator means operative to activate said indicator means when the ignition switch is in the "on" position or the "key removal" position;

(C) time delay means connected to said ignition switch and said indicator means operative to activate said indicator means for a predetermined period of time after movement of the ignition switch to the "key removal" position and removal of the key; and

(D) means operative in response to operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle to activate said indicator means.

14. A control system according to claim 13 wherein the transmission has a transmission state of "Park" and said ignition switch has an "off" position and wherein;

(D) said control system further includes means operative to shift the transmission to the transmission state of "Park" in response to movement of the ignition switch to the "off" position;

(E) said indicator means is operative with the vehicle ignition in the "off" position so that the transmission stat of "Park" is displayed when the ignition switch is moved to the "off" position, continues to be displayed as said ignition switch is moved to the "key removal" position, is displayed for said predetermined period of time after removal of the key, and is again displayed in response to operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle.

15. A control system according to claim 14 wherein:

(F) said time delay means are further operative to maintain said indicator means in an activated state for a predetermined entry time following operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle, whereby the transmission state of "Park" is displayed for said predetermined entry time and will remain displayed provided the key is inserted in the ignition within the predetermined entry time.

16. A control system according to claim 15 wherein:

(G) said indicator means is operative when activated to display the instantaneous position of the transmission in a window in the instrument panel of the vehicle.

17. A control system according to claim 15 wherein:

(G) said indicator means is operative when activated to display the instantaneous position of the transmission by a visual signal adjacent the selected position of the gear selector assembly.

18. A control system according to claim 15 wherein:

(G) said indicator means is operative when activated to display the instantaneous position of the transmission in a window in the instrument panel of the vehicle as well as to further display the instantaneous position of the transmission by a visual signal adjacent the selected position of the gear selector assembly.

19. A control system according to claim 18 wherein:

(H) said gear selector assembly is a pushbutton assembly with a push-button corresponding to each position of the transmission; and

(I) said visual signal comprises a separate light in association with each push-button.

20. A control system for a motor vehicle of the type having an automatic transmission having a plurality of shift positions including the transmission state of "Park" and a ignition switch having an "on " position, an "off" position, and a "key " removal position, said control system comprising:

(A) means operative to shift the transmission to the transmission state of "Park" in response to movement of the ignition switch from the "on" to the "off" position; and

(B) indicator means operative with the vehicle ignition in the "on", "off", or "key removal " position to display the instantaneous position of the transmission so that the transmission state of "Park" is displayed as the ignition switch is moved from the "on" to "off" position, continues to be displayed as the ignition switch is moved to the "key removal" position, and ceases to be displayed at some time after removal of the key from the ignition switch.

21. The control system according to claim 20 wherein:

(C) said control system further includes time delay means operative to maintain said indicator means in an activated state for a predetermined time following removal of the key from the ignition switch so that the transmission state of "Park " continues to be displayed for said predetermined time following removal of the key.

22. A control system according to claim 21 wherein said vehicle includes a passenger compartment closure system requiring one or more operator steps to enter the vehicle passenger compartment and wherein:

(D) said time delay means is further operative in response to operator performance of one or more of the steps required to enter the vehicle to activate said indicator means for a predetermined entry time so that said transmission state of "Park" is displayed for said predetermined entry time.

23. A control system for a motor vehicle of the type having a transmission including a plurality of shift positions, said control system including:

a gear selector assembly adapted to be positioned in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and including gar selector means having respective select positions corresponding to each position of the transmission;

selectively activatable indicator means respectively associated with the select positions of said gear selector means; and

control means sensing the instantaneous position of the transmission and operative to selectively activate the indicator means associated with the select position corresponding to the instantaneous transmission position and to provide a further display of the instantaneous transmission position at a location remote from said gear selector assembly.

24. A control system according to claim 23 wherein:

said indicator means comprises a plurality of indicator lamps respectively associated with the select positions of said gear selector means;

said control means is operative to illuminate the indicator lamp associated with the select position corresponding to the instantaneous transmission position; and

said further display comprises a letter legend display.

25. A control system according to claim 24 wherein:

said gear selector means comprises a plurality of push buttons corresponding respectively to the transmission shift position;

said indicator lamps are respectively associated with said push buttons; and

said further display comprises a letter legend display in the vehicle instrument panel forwardly of the vehicle operator.

26. A control system according to claim 24 wherein:

said letter legend display is at a location substantially directly in the line of sight of the vehicle operator.

27. A control system for a motor vehicle of the type including a transmission having a plurality of states including the state of "Park", a steering system having a steering column, an ignition switch having an "on" position and a "key-in/lock" position, and means operative in response to movement of the ignition switch to the "key-in/lock" position to lock the steering column, said control system comprising:

means sensing the transmission state and operative to generate transmission state signals corresponding respectively to the various transmission states; and

control means receiving said transmission state signals and operative to preclude movement of said ignition switch to the "key-in/lock" position in the absence of a transmission state signal corresponding to the transmission state of "Park".

28. A control system according to claim 27 wherein:

said control means includes blocking means movable into and out of the path of movement of said ignition switch in response to the received transmission state signals.

29. A control system according to claim 28 wherein:

said blocking means comprises an electrical actuator which s actuated and deactuated in response to the received transmission state signals.

30. A control system according to claim 29 wherein said actuator comprises a solenoid energized and deenergized in response to said transmission state signals and having its plunger arranged to move into and out of said path of movement.

31. A control system according to claim 30 wherein:

the plunger of said solenoid is moved into said path of movement in the absence of a "Park" transmission state signal and moved out of said path upon receipt of a "Park" transmission state signal.

32. A control system according to claim 27 wherein:

said control means further receives vehicle speed signals and is operative in response to receipt of a predetermined threshold speed signal to shift the transmission to the transmission state of "Park" upon movement of the ignition switch from the "on" position toward the "key-in/lock" position, whereby to allow movement of the ignition switch to the "key-in/lock" position.