Apparatus and method for assisting gear engagement in controlling the automatic shifting of a manual-automatic transmission
First Claim
1. A method of assisting automatic gear engagement after gear disengagement in a vehicle having an engine with a throttle capable of operator control and of being inhibited from operator control, and a manual/automatic transmission including manually selectable gear ratios and a plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios, the method comprising the steps of:
- inhibiting operator control of the throttle;
fueling the engine to achieve a synchronous engine speed;
commanding the transmission to engage one of the plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios;
increasing the engine speed to a first speed level above said synchronous engine speed;
decreasing the engine speed to a second speed level below said synchronous engine speed; and
returning throttle control to the operator if the transmission engages said one of the plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios during execution of any of said commanding, increasing and decreasing steps.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic engine control monitors engine speed, vehicle speed and determines various engine RPM values and RPM ranges used in fueling a molar vehicle engine to achieve desired engine speeds prior to and during an automatic gear shift sequence. The engine is coupled to a manual/automatic transmission that includes manually selectable gear operation modes and automatically selectable gear operation modes. In order to assist gear engagement of the automatically selectable gears, the engine is fueled to a series of predetermined RPM levels to rock the transmission gears into engagement. In so doing, throttle control by the operator is first inhibited and the engine is first governed to a synchronous RPM value. Throttle control is returned to the operator if gear engagement is verified within a first predetermined delay period. If gear engagement is not verified, the engine RPM is periodically increased or decreased, depending on whether an upshift or downshift is attempted, and throttle control is returned to the operator if gear engagement is verified within a second or third predetermined delay period. If gear engagement is still not verified, the engine RPM is returned to the synchronous RPM value for a fourth predetermined delay period. If gear engagement does not occur within the fourth delay period, an error recovery routine is executed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of assisting automatic gear engagement after gear disengagement in a vehicle having an engine with a throttle capable of operator control and of being inhibited from operator control, and a manual/automatic transmission including manually selectable gear ratios and a plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios, the method comprising the steps of:
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inhibiting operator control of the throttle; fueling the engine to achieve a synchronous engine speed; commanding the transmission to engage one of the plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios; increasing the engine speed to a first speed level above said synchronous engine speed; decreasing the engine speed to a second speed level below said synchronous engine speed; and returning throttle control to the operator if the transmission engages said one of the plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios during execution of any of said commanding, increasing and decreasing steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A control apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having an engine with a throttle capable of operator control and of being inhibited from operator control, and a manual/automatic transmission including manually selectable gear ratios, a plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios and a gear selection input responsive to a gear selection signal to select one of the plurality of automatically selectable gear ratios, the apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting gear disengagement and producing a gear disengagement signal when the engine is disengaged from the transmission; means for detecting gear engagement and producing a gear engagement signal when the engine is engaged to the transmission; and processor means for assisting engagement of the engine with one of the automatically selectable transmission gear ratios, said processor means responsive to said gear disengagement signal to inhibit operator control of the throttle, govern engine speed to a synchronous engine speed and command one of the automatically selectable gear ratios of the transmission, said processor means thereafter monitoring said means for detecting gear engagement and, in the absence of said gear engagement signal, increasing engine speed to a first speed level above said synchronous engine speed value and decreasing engine speed to a second speed level below said synchronous engine speed value, and returning throttle control to the operator upon detection of said gear engagement signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification