Shift lever interlock system
First Claim
1. A shift lever interlock system for a vehicle having a transmission with a shift lever, comprising:
- (a) a shift lever means movable between a non-drive position and a drive position,(b) detent means for releasably retaining the shift lever means in a selected position,(c) an electrical actuator for moving a locking member to a locking position relative to the detent means when the shift lever is retained in the non-drive position by the detent means to prevent movement of the shift lever by the vehicle operator, said actuator including first limit switch means for providing to a control circuit a first input signal representative of said locking member being in the locking position and second limit switch means for providing to the control circuit a second input signal representative of said locking member being in an unlocking position relative to said detent means,(d) means for providing to the control circuit a shift lever position input signal representative of said shift lever being retained in the non-drive position by the detent means,(e) means for providing to the control circuit at least one vehicle system input signal representative of a vehicle system being in a predetermined condition, and(f) said control circuit controlling the actuator in response to the input signals to lock the shift lever as retained in the non-drive position except if the vehicle system is in the predetermined condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The shift lever interlock system combines a shift lever position signal, interlock actuator extend and retract signals and vehicle system input signals (e.g., representing the service brake, ignition key-in, ignition circuit and vehicle battery voltage level) in a logic control circuit to lock the shift lever in the "Park" position, except if the ignition key is not in the "Lock" position and the service brake is depressed (applied) or the voltage of the battery is too low. The interlock system is not actuated to lock the shift lever in position when the shift lever is in positions other than as retained in the "Park" position by the detent mechanism.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A shift lever interlock system for a vehicle having a transmission with a shift lever, comprising:
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(a) a shift lever means movable between a non-drive position and a drive position, (b) detent means for releasably retaining the shift lever means in a selected position, (c) an electrical actuator for moving a locking member to a locking position relative to the detent means when the shift lever is retained in the non-drive position by the detent means to prevent movement of the shift lever by the vehicle operator, said actuator including first limit switch means for providing to a control circuit a first input signal representative of said locking member being in the locking position and second limit switch means for providing to the control circuit a second input signal representative of said locking member being in an unlocking position relative to said detent means, (d) means for providing to the control circuit a shift lever position input signal representative of said shift lever being retained in the non-drive position by the detent means, (e) means for providing to the control circuit at least one vehicle system input signal representative of a vehicle system being in a predetermined condition, and (f) said control circuit controlling the actuator in response to the input signals to lock the shift lever as retained in the non-drive position except if the vehicle system is in the predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A shift lever interlock system for a vehicle having a transmission with a shift lever, comprising:
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(a) a shift lever means movable between a non-drive position and a drive position, (b) detent means for releasably retaining the shift lever means in a selected position, (c) an electrical actuator for moving a locking member to a locking position relative to the detent means when the shift lever is retained in the non-drive position by the detent means to prevent movement of the shift lever by the vehicle operator from the non-drive position, (d) first limit switch means of the actuator for providing to a control circuit a first extend input signal representative of said locking member being in the locking position and second limit switch means of the actuator for providing to the control circuit a second retract input signal representative of said locking member being in an unlocking position relative to said detent means, (e) means for providing to the control circuit a shift lever position input signal representative of said shift lever being retained in the non-drive position by the detent means, (f) means for providing to the control circuit an ignition switch input signal representative of the ignition switch being in a non-lock position, (g) means for providing to the control circuit a service brake system input signal representative of the service brake system being in a brake applied mode, (h) means for combining said shift lever input signal, said ignition switch input signal and said service brake system input signal to provide a third signal, and (i) said control circuit controlling the actuator in response to said first, second and third input signals to lock the shift lever as retained in the non-drive position except if the ignition switch is in the non-lock position and the service brake system is in the brake applied mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A shift lever interlock system for a vehicle having a transmission with a shift lever, comprising;
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(a) a shift lever means movable between a non-drive position and a drive position, (b) detent means for releasably retaining the shift lever means in a selected position, (c) an electrical actuator for moving a locking member to a locking position relative to the detent means when the shift lever is retained in the non-drive position by the detent means to prevent movement of the shift lever by the vehicle operator, (d) first limit switch means of the actuator for providing to a control circuit a first input signal representative of said locking member being in the locking position and second limit switch means of the actuator for providing to the control circuit a second input signal representative of said locking member being in an unlocking position relative to said detent means, (e) mans for providing to the control circuit a shift lever position input signal representative of said shift lever being retained in the non-drive position by the detent means, (f) means for providing to the control circuit at least one vehicle system input signal representative of a vehicle system being in a predetermined condition, (g) means for combining said shift lever position input signal and said at least one vehicle system input signal to provide a third signal, and (h) said control circuit controlling the actuator in response to the first, second and third input signals to lock the shift lever as retained in the non-drive position except if the vehicle system is in the predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A shift lever interlock system for a vehicle having a transmission with a shift lever comprising:
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(a) a shift lever means movable between a non-drive position and a drive position, (b) detent means for releasably retaining the shift lever means in a selected position, (c) an electrical actuator for moving a locking member to a locking position relative to the detent means when the shift lever is retained in the non-drive position by the detent means to prevent movement of the shift lever by the vehicle operator, (d) means for providing to a control circuit an input signal representative of the position of said locking member, (e) means for providing to the control circuit a shift lever position input signal representative of said shift lever being retained in the non-drive position by the detent means, (f) means for providing to the control circuit at least one vehicle system input signal representative of a vehicle system being in a predetermined condition, (g) means for providing to the control circuit a battery voltage level input signal representative of a low battery voltage condition, and (h) said control circuit controlling the actuator in response to the input signals to lock the shift lever as retained in the non-drive position except if the vehicle system is in the predetermined condition or the low battery voltage condition exists. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A shift lever interlock system for a vehicle having a transmission with a shift lever, comprising:
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(a) a shift lever means movable between a non-drive position and a drive position, (b) detent means for releasably retaining the shift lever means in a selected position, (c) an electrical actuator for moving a locking member to a locking position relative to the detent means when the shift lever is retained in the non-drive position by the detent means to prevent movement of the shift lever by the vehicle operator from the non-drive position, (d) means for providing to a control circuit an input signal representative of the position of said locking member, (e) means for providing to the control circuit a shift lever position input signal representative of said shift lever being retained in the non-drive position by the detent means, (f) means for providing to the control circuit an ignition switch input signal representative of the ignition switch being in a non-lock position, (g) means for providing to the control circuit a service brake system input signal representative of the service brake system being in a brake applied mode, (h) means for providing to the control circuit a battery voltage level input signal representative of a low battery voltage condition, and (i) said control circuit controlling the actuator in response to the input signals to lock the shift lever as retained in the non-drive position except if the ignition switch is in the non-lock position and the service brake system is in the brake applied mode or except if the low battery voltage condition exists. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A shift lever interlock system for a vehicle having a transmission with a shift lever, comprising:
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(a) a shift lever means movable between a non-drive position and a drive position, (b) detent means for releasably retaining the shift lever means in a selected position, (c) an electrical actuator for moving a locking member to a locking position relative to the detent means when the shift lever is retained in the non-drive position by the detent means to prevent movement of the shift lever by the vehicle operator from the non-drive position, (d) means for providing to a control circuit an input signal representative of the position of said locking member, (e) means for providing to the control circuit a shift lever position input signal representative of said shift lever being retained in the non-drive position by the detent means, (f) means for providing to the control circuit an ignition key-in input signal representative of an ignition being inserted in an ignition switch mechanism, (g) means for providing to the control circuit a service brake system input signal representative of the service brake system being in a brake applied mode, (h) means for providing to the control circuit a battery voltage level input signal representative of a low battery voltage condition, and (i) said control circuit controlling the actuator in response to the input signals to lock the shift lever as retained in the non-drive position except if the ignition key is in the key-in position and the service brake system is in the brake applied mode or except if the low battery voltage condition exists. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification