System and method for automatic neutral and automatic return-to-range for use with an automatic transmission
First Claim
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1. A method executable by an electronic control system mounted to a transmission of a powered vehicle while the vehicle is in operation, wherein the transmission has a number of forward ranges and a neutral gear selectable by a transmission gear selector, the method comprising:
- a) receiving a service brake signal from a service brake sensor coupled to a service brake of the vehicle;
b) receiving a parking brake signal from a parking brake sensor coupled to a parking brake of the vehicle;
c) receiving a transmission gear selector signal from a selector sensor coupled to the transmission gear selector;
d) determining a currently selected one of the forward ranges using the transmission gear selector signal;
e) determining that the transmission is in the neutral gear; and
f) issuing a transmission return-to-range command to the transmission to cause the transmission to transition from the neutral gear to the currently selected one of the forward ranges when it is determined that;
f.1) the service brake signal indicates that the service brake has been transitioned between applied and not applied a predetermined number of times after the electronic control system has been initialized;
f.2) the service brake signal indicates that the service brake is currently applied; and
f.3) while the service brake signal indicates that the service brake remains applied, the parking brake signal indicates that the parking brake is released.
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Abstract
A powertrain incorporating an automatic transmission and an electrical control unit for control thereof, the electrical control unit implementing a return-to-range feature that will return to the automatic transmission to a previously selected forward (and, in some embodiments, reverse) gear when the service brake is applied first and then the parking brake is released while the service brake remains applied. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method executable by an electronic control system mounted to a transmission of a powered vehicle while the vehicle is in operation, wherein the transmission has a number of forward ranges and a neutral gear selectable by a transmission gear selector, the method comprising:
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a) receiving a service brake signal from a service brake sensor coupled to a service brake of the vehicle; b) receiving a parking brake signal from a parking brake sensor coupled to a parking brake of the vehicle; c) receiving a transmission gear selector signal from a selector sensor coupled to the transmission gear selector; d) determining a currently selected one of the forward ranges using the transmission gear selector signal; e) determining that the transmission is in the neutral gear; and f) issuing a transmission return-to-range command to the transmission to cause the transmission to transition from the neutral gear to the currently selected one of the forward ranges when it is determined that; f.1) the service brake signal indicates that the service brake has been transitioned between applied and not applied a predetermined number of times after the electronic control system has been initialized; f.2) the service brake signal indicates that the service brake is currently applied; and f.3) while the service brake signal indicates that the service brake remains applied, the parking brake signal indicates that the parking brake is released. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method executable by an electronic control system mounted to a transmission of a powered vehicle while the vehicle is in operation, wherein the transmission has a number of forward ranges, at least one reverse range and a neutral gear selectable by a transmission gear selector, the method comprising:
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a) receiving a service brake signal from a service brake sensor coupled to a service brake of the vehicle; b) receiving a parking brake signal from a parking brake sensor coupled to a parking brake of the vehicle; c) receiving a transmission gear selector signal from a selector sensor coupled to the transmission gear selector; d) determining that one of the at least one reverse range is selected using the transmission gear selector signal; e) determining that the transmission is in the neutral gear; and f) issuing a transmission return-to-range command to the transmission to cause the transmission to transition from the neutral gear to said one of the at least one reverse range when it is determined that; f.1) the service brake signal indicates that the service brake has been transitioned between applied and not applied a predetermined number of times after the electronic control system has been initialized; f.2) the service brake signal indicates that the service brake is currently applied; and f.3) while the service brake signal indicates that the service brake remains applied, the parking brake signal indicates that the parking brake is released. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A transmission assembly for a powered vehicle, comprising:
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a transmission gear selector; a selector sensor coupled to the transmission gear selector and operative to produce a transmission gear selector signal indicative of a gear selected by the transmission gear selector; a transmission including a number of forward ranges and a neutral gear selectable by the transmission gear selector; a service brake sensor coupled to a service brake of the vehicle and operative to produce a service brake signal indicative of a state of application of the service brake; a parking brake sensor coupled to a parking brake of the vehicle and operative to produce a parking brake signal indicative of a state of application of the parking brake; a control unit coupled to the transmission, the control unit having memory, processor circuitry, and executable routines stored in memory to receive electronic signals from the selector sensor, service brake sensor, and parking brake sensor, determine a currently selected one of the forward ranges using the transmission gear selector signal, and issue a transmission return-to-range command to the transmission to cause the transmission to transition from the neutral gear to the currently selected one of the forward ranges when it is determined that the service brake signal indicates that the service brake has been transitioned between applied and not applied a predetermined number of times after the control unit has been initialized;
the service brake signal indicates that the service brake is currently applied; and
while the service brake signal indicates that the service brake remains applied, the parking brake signal indicates that the parking brake is released. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A transmission assembly for a powered vehicle, comprising:
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a transmission gear selector; a selector sensor coupled to the transmission gear selector and operative to produce a transmission gear selector signal indicative of a gear selected by the transmission gear selector; a transmission including a number of forward ranges, at least one reverse range and a neutral gear selectable by the transmission gear selector; a service brake sensor coupled to a service brake of the vehicle and operative to produce a service brake signal indicative of a state of application of the service brake; a parking brake sensor coupled to a parking brake of the vehicle and operative to produce a parking brake signal indicative of a state of application of the parking brake; a control unit coupled to the transmission, the control unit having memory, processor circuitry, and executable routines stored in memory to receive electronic signals from the selector sensor, service brake sensor, and parking brake sensor, determine that one of the at least one reverse range is selected using the transmission gear selector signal, and issue a transmission return-to-range command to the transmission to cause the transmission to transition from the neutral gear to said one of the at least one reverse range when it is determined that the service brake signal indicates that the service brake has been transitioned between applied and not applied a predetermined number of times after the control unit has been initialized;
the service brake signal indicates that the service brake is currently applied; and
while the service brake signal indicates that the service brake remains applied, the parking brake signal indicates that the parking brake is released. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification