Split electronic transmission range selection systems and methods

• US 8,818,655 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wang, Orson S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US13/788,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 428/423.7, 428/480, 428/910, 428/913, 428/483, 428/336, 428/900, 428/928, 424/443, 424/448, 434/11, 434/14, 703/8, 455/39.73, 340/988, 252/301.16, 250/205, 192/21.5, 303/137
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/08 Range selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/105 consisting of electrical switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31565 Next to polyester [polyethylene terephthalate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31797 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

An electronic transmission range selection system of a vehicle includes first and second input devices and first and second modules. The first input device is user actuatable to request operation of a transmission in reverse, neutral, and drive. The first module generates first signals based on a first position of the first input device. The second input device is different than the first input device and is user actuatable to request operation of the transmission in park. The second module generates second signals based on a second position of the second input device.

Claims

1. An electronic transmission range selection system of a vehicle, comprising:

a first input device that is user actuatable to request operation of a transmission in reverse, neutral, and drive;

a first module that generates first signals based on a first position of the first input device;

a second input device that is different than the first input device and that is user actuatable to request operation of the transmission in park; and

a second module that generates second signals based on a second position of the second input device,

wherein the first module includes at least two sensors that generate third signals based on the first position of the first input device, and

wherein the first module generates the first signals based on the third signals.

2. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 1 further comprising:

a range request module that selectively sets a range request to one of reverse, neutral, drive, and park based on at least one of the first and second signals; and

a transmission control module that controls the transmission based on the range request.

3. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 2 further comprising a driver module that illuminates one of a reverse indicator, a neutral indicator, a drive indicator, and a park indicator based on the range request.

4. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 1 wherein the first module further includes:

an analog to digital converter (ADC) module that selectively samples the third signals and that generates digital values based on the samples, respectively; and

an encoding module that generates the first signals based on the digital values.

5. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 4 wherein the encoding module generates the first signals further based on actuation of a shift interlock input device.

6. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 1 wherein the first module further includes:

an analog to digital converter (ADC) module that selectively samples the third signals and that generates digital values based on the samples, respectively;

a position module that determines a position of the first input device based on the digital values; and

an encoding module that generates the first signals based on the position of the first input device.

7. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 6 wherein the position module determines the position of the first input device further based on actuation of a shift interlock input device.

8. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 1 wherein the second module includes at least two sensors that generate the second signals based on the second position of the second input device.

9. The electronic transmission range selection system of claim 1 further comprising:

an engine control module that selectively sets a range request to one of reverse, neutral, drive, and park based on at least one of the first and second signals and that selectively adjusts one or more operating parameters of an engine based on the range request; and

a transmission control module that controls the transmission based on the range request.

10. An electronic transmission range selection method for a vehicle, comprising:

request operation of a transmission in reverse, neutral, and drive using a first input device that is user actuatable;

generating first signals based on a first position of the first input device;

requesting operation of the transmission in park using a second input device that is different than the first input device and that is user actuatable;

generating second signals based on a second position of the second input device; and

generating third signals, using at least two sensors, based on the first position of the first input device,

wherein generating the first signals includes generating the first signals based on the third signals.

11. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 10 further comprising:

selectively setting a range request to one of reverse, neutral, drive, and park based on at least one of the first and second signals; and

controlling the transmission based on the range request.

12. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 11 further comprising illuminating one of a reverse indicator, a neutral indicator, a drive indicator, and a park indicator based on the range request.

13. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 10 further comprising:

selectively sampling the third signals;

generating digital values based on the samples, respectively;

determining a position of the first input device based on the digital values; and

generating the first signals based on the position of the first input device.

14. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 13 further comprising determining the position of the first input device further based on actuation of a shift interlock input device.

15. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 10 further comprising:

selectively sampling the third signals;

generating digital values based on the samples, respectively; and

generating the first signals based on the digital values.

16. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 15 further comprising generating the first signals further based on actuation of a shift interlock input device.

17. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 10 further comprising generating, using at least two sensors, the second signals based on the second position of the second input device.

18. The electronic transmission range selection method of claim 10 further comprising:

selectively setting a range request to one of reverse, neutral, drive, and park based on at least one of the first and second signals;

selectively adjusting one or more operating parameters of an engine based on the range request; and

controlling the transmission based on the range request.