×

Storable shifter with electronic gear shift reset

  • US 6,564,661 B2
  • Filed: 02/01/2001
  • Issued: 05/20/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A shifter apparatus for shifting a transmission having a plurality of gear positions, comprising:

  • a base;

    a driver interface module attached to the base and movable from a first position to a second position to indicate a desire to shift the transmission from a presently selected one of the gear positions to a new one of the gear positions;

    a display capable of generating indicia corresponding to the plurality of gear positions of the transmission, the indicia including first indicia showing the presently selected one gear position and a second indicia corresponding to the new one gear position;

    at least one sensor adapted to sense predetermined vehicle conditions; and

    a controller operably coupled to the driver interface module, the display, and the sensor and programmed to, when the driver interface module indicates a shift change and the at least one sensor indicates the predetermined vehicle conditions are met, generate a transmission-controlling output signal adapted to shift the transmission to the new one gear position and further to change the display from the first indicia to the second indicia;

    the controller being further programmed, when the driver interface module indicates a shift change but the at least one sensor does not indicate that the predetermined vehicle conditions are met, to not shift the transmission and instead to cause the display to show the first indicia until a new shift request signal is received from the driver interface module and further being programmed to reset after a predetermined period of time so that, within the controller, the second position of the driver interface module becomes a new primary position for use when generating future transmission-controlling output signals.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×