External electronic transmission shift system

• US 6,196,078 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products Company (JSJ Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products Company (JSJ Corporation)
• Inventors: DeJonge, Robert A., Wexall, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Footland, Lenard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, COLBY M
• Application Number:
  US09/391,786
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 743/36, 743/35, 744/731.2, 744/311, 743/48
• US Class Current: 74/473.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 20/08 Dashboard means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/126 Rotatable input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/081 using knops or discs for rotary range selection
• 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 59/0204 for automatic transmissions with means for range selection and manual shifting, e.g. range selector with tiptronic
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/08 Range selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/105 consisting of electrical switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/12 comprising push button devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/22 Locking of the control input devices constructional features of locking or disabling mechanisms F16H63/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/32 Electric motors actuators or related electrical control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2003 Electrical actuator

Abstract

An external electronic shift system is provided that is adapted to electronically shift an existing automatic transmission for a vehicle. The automatic transmission includes gearing movable to a plurality of different gear positions, and further includes an actuator rod connected to the gearing that is rotatable to selectively shift the gearing between the gear positions. A control unit is programmed to receive electrical signals from a shifter and generate signals to control shifting of the transmission. A stepper motor unit is mechanically attached to the actuator rod and electrically connected to the control unit. The stepper motor unit is configured to selectively rotate the actuator rod to shift the transmission in response to the signals received from the control unit. Specifically, the stepper motor unit includes a housing, a first rod rotatably supported on the housing and having an end configured to matingly engage the male end of the actuator rod, a second rod rotatably supported on the housing, intermeshing gears on the first and second rods for providing a first set of angular positions to the first rod based on a second set of angular positions of the second rod, and a stepper motor connected to the second rod for moving the second rod selectively to each one of the second set of angular positions.

Claims

1. A shifting system comprising:

an automatic transmission for a vehicle including gearing movable to a plurality of different gear positions and including an actuator rod operably coupled to the gearing and rotatable to selectively shift the gearing between the gear positions;

a driver interface module adapted to receive inputs from a vehicle driver for controlling the automotive transmission and to generate shifter position signals;

a control unit operably connected to the driver interface module and programmed to generate control signals in response to the shifter position signals to control shifting of the transmission; and

a stepper motor unit mechanically attached to the actuator rod and electrically operably connected to the control unit, the stepper motor unit being configured to selectively rotate the actuator rod to shift the transmission in response to the control signals received from the control unit;

the driver interface module includes a shifter having a shift lever movable in a first manner to release the shift lever and movable in a second manner to various angular positions corresponding to the gear positions and further having a sensor arrangement for sensing the angular positions of the shift lever, the sensor arrangement being operably connected to the control unit and being configured to output the shifter position signals to the control unit.

2. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement includes a potentiometer.

3. The shifting system defined in claim 2, wherein the shift lever is elongated and configured to be operated while positioned between vehicle seats, and wherein the shift lever includes a base adapted for mounting to a floor pan of a vehicle.

4. The shifting system defined in claim 2, wherein the shifter comprises a miniaturized shifter and the shift lever comprises a knob shaped to be grasped and manipulated by a user'"'"'s fingers.

5. The shifting system defined in claim 4, wherein the miniaturized shifter has a base shaped and adapted to be mounted in a confined space in an instrument panel of a vehicle.

6. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the transmission includes a transmission casing adapted for shifting with a mechanical linkage, and that includes a mount for a transmission switch, and wherein the stepper motor unit includes flanges configured to mateably engage the mount for secure attachment.

7. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the stepper motor unit includes a female connector adapted to matingly engage a male connector on the actuator rod in a direction in-line with a length of the actuator rod.

8. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the stepper motor unit includes a housing bolted to a transmission casing of the transmission.

9. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the stepper motor unit includes a stepper motor, and further includes a potentiometer sensing a rotation of a rotor on the stepper motor.

10. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a programmable processor.

11. The shifting system defined in claim 1, including a vehicle condition sensor adapted to sense a predetermined vehicle condition and that is constructed to generate an output signal indicative of the predetermined vehicle condition, the vehicle condition sensor being operably connected to the control unit, the control unit being programmed to control shifting based on inputs from the vehicle condition sensor.

12. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the stepper motor unit includes a stepper motor having components that generate a magnetic detent.

13. The shifting system defined in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted for connection to additional vehicle sensors and further is programmed to sense predetermined vehicle conditions, wherein the gear positions of the transmission include park, reverse, neutral, and drive gear positions, and wherein the driver interface module includes an interlock device that prevents movement of the shift lever from a region corresponding to the neutral and drive gear positions into a region corresponding to the reverse and park positions unless the predetermined vehicle conditions are met.

14. An electronic transmission shifting system adapted for shifting an existing automatic transmission for a vehicle, the existing automatic transmission including gearing movable to a plurality of different gear positions and including an actuator rod connected to the gearing and rotatable to selectively shift the gearing between the gear positions, where the actuator rod is adapted to engage a mechanical linkage, the shift system comprising:

a control unit programmed to generate signals to control shifting of the transmission;

a stepper motor unit with a connector configured for mechanical attachment to the actuator rod and electrically connected to the control unit, the stepper motor unit being configured to selectively rotate the actuator rod to shift the transmission in response to the signals received from the control unit; and

a driver interface module including a shift lever movable in a first manner to release the shift lever and movable to different angular positions at which the driver interface module is constructed to generate outputs corresponding to the gear positions, the driver interface module being operably connected to the control unit.

15. The electronic transmission shifting system defined in claim 14, wherein the driver interface module includes a potentiometer.