Apparatus for controlling vehicle transmission

• US 6,674,360 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Hayashi, Masaki, Nakamura, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/080,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 340/904, 701/96, 180/167, 180/169
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a vehicle transmission includes a camera that generates an image signal indicating the situation in front and behind the vehicle, a shift operation body that generates an operation signal indicating a shift operation position of the shift operation body that is operated by a driver, and a control unit that controls the transmission in accordance with the operation signal. The control unit determines whether movement of the vehicle is obstructed on the basis of the image signal and invalidates the operation signal to prohibit the operation of the transmission.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a vehicle transmission comprising:

a detection unit for detecting a situation of at least one of a front side and a rear side of the vehicle and generating a detection signal;

a shift operation body operated by a driver for generating an operation signal indicating a shift operation position; and

a control unit connected to the detection unit and the shift operation body for controlling the transmission in accordance with the operation signal, wherein the control unit determines whether movement of the vehicle is obstructed on the basis of the detection signal and invalidates the operation signal to prohibit the operation of the transmission when the movement of the vehicle is obstructed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit connected to the control unit for warning the driver that the movement of the vehicle is obstructed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is a camera for generating an image signal as the detection signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the camera generates an image signal of an area including blind spots produced when the driver is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat.

5. An apparatus for controlling a vehicle transmission comprising:

a detection unit for detecting a situation of at least one of a front side and a rear side of the vehicle and generating a detection signal;

a shift operation body operated by a driver for generating an operation signal indicating a shift operation position;

a control unit connected to the detection unit and the shift operation body for controlling the transmission in accordance with the operation signal, wherein the control unit determines whether movement of the vehicle is obstructed on the basis of the detection signal and generates a driving signal when the movement of the vehicle is obstructed; and

a prohibiting means connected to the control unit for prohibiting the operation of the shift operation body by the driver in response to the driving signal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a warning unit connected to the control unit for warning the driver that the movement of the vehicle is obstructed.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detection unit is a camera for generating an image signal as the detection signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the camera generates an image signal of an area including blind spots produced when the driver is seated in a driver'"'"'s seat.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the prohibiting means is a solenoid.

10. A method for controlling a vehicle transmission comprising the steps of:

detecting a situation of at least one of a front side and a rear side of the vehicle and generating a detection signal;

generating an operation signal indicating a shift operation position of a shift operation body operated by a driver;

controlling the transmission in accordance with the operation signal;

determining whether movement of the vehicle is obstructed on the basis of the detection signal; and

invalidating the operation signal when the movement of the vehicle is obstructed to prohibit operation of the transmission.

11. A method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

detecting a situation of at least one of a front side and a rear side of the vehicle and generating a detection signal;

generating an operation signal indicating a shift operation position of a shift operation body operated by a driver;

controlling the transmission in accordance with the operation signal;

determining whether movement of the vehicle is obstructed on the basis of the detection signal; and

prohibiting the operation of the shift operation body by the driver when the movement of the vehicle is obstructed.