Shift device of transmission

• US 7,094,177 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobiki, Yasushi, Shimizu, Yasuo, Inoue, Yuji, Uchida, Takehiro, Asai, Toshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US10/857,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20040259685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 477/34, 744/731, 744/731.2, 743/35, 749/00, 701/64, 701/66, 701/52, 340/456
• US Class Current: 477/34
• 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 59/105 consisting of electrical switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19251 Control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1926 Speed responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2003 Electrical actuator

Abstract

A shift control ECU includes the steps of storing a position of a shift lever; starting a count-up timer when the shift lever comes to a neutral position; and recognizing a driver'"'"'s request for the neutral position when a count-up timer value attains TN(1) if the stored shift lever position is a home position and when a count-up timer value attains TN(2) if the stored shift lever position is not the home position. Here, TN(1) is set to be smaller than TN(2).

Claims

1. A shift device of a transmission, comprising:

a path for reaching a plurality of shift positions; and

a momentary-type movable portion manipulated so as to move along said path by a driver;

wherein

said movable portion is held at a predetermined home position when it is not manipulated by the driver,

said shift device further comprises

recognition means for recognizing a shift position requested by the driver from holding of said movable portion at said shift position for a predetermined recognition time, and

output means for outputting a control signal to said transmission so as to attain a power transmission state corresponding to said recognized shift position,

said path includes said home position, a first shift position representing one of the plurality of shift positions, and a second shift position representing one of the plurality of shift positions and provided between said home position and said first shift position,

when it is recognized that said movable portion is located at said first shift position, the power transmission state by said transmission is set to a first state, and when it is recognized that said movable portion is located at said second shift position, the power transmission state by said transmission is set to a second state different from said first state, and

said shift device further comprises setting means for setting said recognition time in accordance with a moving direction of said movable portion along said path.

2. The shift device of a transmission according to claim 1, wherein

said setting means includes means for setting a recognition time for recognizing said second shift position differently in a case of a first moving direction in which said movable portion moves from said home position toward said first shift position and in a case of a second moving direction in which said movable portion moves from said first shift position toward said home position.

3. The shift device of a transmission according to claim 2, wherein

said setting means includes means for setting a recognition time for recognizing said second shift position to be shorter in the case of said first moving direction than in the case of said second moving direction.

4. The shift device of a transmission according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

said first state is a forward drive state and said second state is a neutral state.

5. A shift device of a transmission, comprising:

a path for reaching a plurality of shift positions; and

a momentary-type movable portion manipulated so as to move along said path by a driver;

wherein

said movable portion is held at a predetermined home position when it is not manipulated by the driver,

said shift device further comprises

a recognition circuit to recognize a shift position requested by the driver from holding of said movable portion at said shift position for a predetermined recognition time, and

an output circuit to output a control signal to said transmission so as to attain a power transmission state corresponding to said recognized shift position,

said path includes said home position, a first shift position representing one of the plurality of shift positions, and a second shift position representing one of the plurality of shift positions and provided between said home position and said first shift position,

when it is recognized that said movable portion is located at said first shift position, the power transmission state by said transmission is set to a first state, and when it is recognized that said movable portion is located at said second shift position, the power transmission state by said transmission is set to a second state different from said first state, and

said shift device further comprises a setting circuit to set said recognition time in accordance with a moving direction of said movable portion along said path.

6. The shift device of a transmission according to claim 5, wherein

said setting circuit includes a circuit setting a recognition time for recognizing said second shift position differently in a case of a first moving direction in which said movable portion moves from said home position toward said first shift position and in a case of a second moving direction in which said movable portion moves from said first shift position toward said home position.

7. The shift device of a transmission according to claim 6, wherein

said setting circuit includes a circuit setting a recognition time for recognizing said second shift position to be shorter in the case of said first moving direction than in the case of said second moving direction.

8. The shift device of a transmission according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein

said first state is a forward drive state and said second state is a neutral state.