Split electronic transmission range selection systems and methods with electronic button shifter

• US 9,334,948 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• 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., Worpell, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Application Number:
  US14/088,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/08 Range selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/105 consisting of electrical switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0204 for gearshift control, e.g. control functions for performing shifting or generation of shift signal
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/12 Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192; Circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2003 Electrical actuator

Abstract

A system for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle includes a plurality of range selection buttons configured to individually select corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges. A plurality of sensing circuits are configured to generate sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons. A park range selection button is configured to select a park range. A park sensing circuit is configured to generate sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button. A button state module is configured to output state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons based on the sense signals from the plurality of sensing circuits. A control module is configured to select a range based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and the state signals from the button state module.

Claims

1. A system for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of range selection buttons configured to individually select corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges;

a plurality of sensing circuits configured to generate sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons;

a park range selection button configured to select a park range;

a park sensing circuit configured to generate sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button;

a button state module configured to output state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons based on the sense signals from the plurality of sensing circuits; and

a control module configured to select a range based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and the state signals from the button state module,

wherein the control module selectively identifies a park button fault based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and sets the transmission range to a park range when the park button fault occurs and none of the plurality of range selection buttons are activated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module corresponds to an engine control module for an engine of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module corresponds to a transmission control module for a transmission of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sensing circuits senses the position of the corresponding one of the plurality of range selection buttons multiple times and generates multiple sense signals for each of the plurality of range selection buttons.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of range selection buttons include a drive range selection button, a neutral range selection button, a reverse range selection button and manual range selection button.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module selectively sets the transmission range to a selected one of the plurality of ranges when the park button fault occurs and the selected one of the plurality of range selection buttons is activated.

7. A method for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle, comprising:

individually selecting corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges using a plurality of range selection buttons;

generating sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons;

selecting a park range using a park range selection button;

generating park sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button;

generating state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons based on the sense signals;

selecting a transmission range based on the park sense signals and the state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons;

selectively identifying a park button fault based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit; and

setting the transmission range to a park range when the park button fault occurs and none of the plurality of range selection buttons are activated.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting the transmission range is performed in an engine control module for an engine of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting the transmission range is performed in a transmission control module for a transmission of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising sensing the position of the corresponding one of the plurality of range selection buttons multiple times and generates multiple sense signals for each of the plurality of range selection buttons.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of range selection buttons include a drive range selection button, a neutral range selection button, and manual range selection button.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

setting the transmission range to a selected one of the plurality of ranges when the park button fault occurs and the selected one of the plurality of range selection buttons is activated.

13. A system for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of range selection buttons configured to individually select corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges;

a plurality of sensing circuits configured to generate sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons;

a park range selection button configured to select a park range;

a park sensing circuit configured to generate sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button; and

a control module configured to select a range based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and the plurality of sensing circuits,

wherein the control module selectively identifies a park button fault based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and sets the transmission range to a park range when the park button fault occurs and none of the plurality of range selection buttons are activated.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module corresponds to one of:

an engine control module for an engine of the vehicle;

or

a transmission control module for a transmission of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of sensing circuits senses the position of the corresponding one of the plurality of range selection buttons multiple times and generates multiple sense signals for each of the plurality of range selection buttons.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of range selection buttons include a drive range selection button, a neutral range selection button, a reverse range selection button and manual range selection button.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the control module selectively sets the transmission range to a selected one of the plurality of ranges when the park button fault occurs and the selected one of the plurality of range selection buttons is activated.

18. A system for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of range selection buttons configured to individually select corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges;

a plurality of sensing circuits configured to generate sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons;

a park range selection button configured to select a park range;

a park sensing circuit configured to generate sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button;

a button state module configured to output state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons based on the sense signals from the plurality of sensing circuits; and

a control module configured to select a range based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and the state signals from the button state module,

wherein the control module selectively identifies a park button fault based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and sets the transmission range to a selected one of the plurality of ranges when the park button fault occurs and the selected one of the plurality of range selection buttons is activated.

19. A method for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle, comprising:

individually selecting corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges using a plurality of range selection buttons;

generating sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons;

selecting a park range using a park range selection button;

generating park sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button;

generating state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons based on the sense signals;

selecting a transmission range based on the park sense signals and the state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons;

selectively identifying a park button fault based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit; and

setting the transmission range to a selected one of the plurality of ranges when the park button fault occurs and the selected one of the plurality of range selection buttons is activated.