Gear shift indication method and apparatus

• US 7,447,584 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Speedhut Inc.
• Original Assignee: Speedhut Inc.
• Inventors: McMullen, John William
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/342,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,011 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/64
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/426 with means for advising the driver for proper shift action, e.g. prompting the driver with allowable selection range of ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2302/06 Determining timing parameters of shifting, e.g. start of shifting for smoothing gear shift F16H61/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communicating an optimal gear shift time is disclosed. The apparatus includes an input circuit that obtains a plurality RPM readings over a selected interval of time, a processing module that determines an RPM acceleration based upon the plurality of RPM readings, the processing module also determines an appropriate shift time based upon the RPM acceleration and estimated shift reaction time, and a shift indicator that communicates the appropriate shift time. In certain embodiments, the appropriate shift time includes shifting within a range of maximum engine power. In some embodiments, the shift indicator comprises a shift indicator light or an audible signal generator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating an optimal gearshift time, the apparatus comprising:

an input circuit configured to obtain a plurality RPM readings;

an acceleration estimation module configured to determine an RPM acceleration based upon the plurality of RPM readings;

a shift time estimation module configured to receive an estimated shift reaction time and determine an appropriate shift time based upon the RPM acceleration and the estimated shift reaction time; and

a shift indicator configured to communicate the appropriate shift time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reaction time estimator configured to provide the estimated shift reaction time.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shift point monitor configured to monitor whether an actual shift occurs in accordance with the appropriate shift time.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the shift point monitor is further configured to determine a time difference comprising the time between the appropriate shift time and the actual shift time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the appropriate shift time includes shifting within a range of maximum engine power.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shift indicator does not communicate the appropriate shift time if the RPM acceleration is greater than a selected RPM acceleration.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shift indicator comprises a light.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shift indicator comprises an audible speaker.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reaction time input device.

10. A method for communicating an optimal gearshift time, the method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of RPM readings over a selected interval of time;

receiving an estimated shift reaction time;

determining an RPM acceleration based upon the plurality of RPM readings;

determining an appropriate shift time based upon the RPM acceleration and shift reaction time; and

communicating the appropriate shift time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving an estimated shift reaction time comprises obtaining an estimated shift reaction time from a reaction time estimation module.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising monitoring whether an actual shift occurs in accordance with the appropriate shift time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a time difference comprising the time between the appropriate shift time and the actual shift time.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the appropriate shift time includes shifting within a range of maximum engine power.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the shift communication module does not communicate the appropriate shift time if the RPM acceleration is greater than a selected RPM acceleration.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating the appropriate shift time comprises turning on a shift indicator light.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating the appropriate shift time comprises communicating an audible signal.