DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A ROBOTISED GEARBOX OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20120041655A1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems
• Original Assignee: Dura Automotive Systems
• Inventors: Thooris, Arnaud
• Application Number:
  US13/255,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20120041655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/52
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/02 Selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/08 Range selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A device for controlling a robotised gearbox of a motor vehicle is connected to a computer/electronic control unit to switch, at will, from a manual mode to an automatic mode. The control member is a touch screen subjected to the following steps: standby; storing of first coordinates of a digital pressure; storing of second coordinates at which the pressure is released; calculating a vector between the first and second coordinates; comparing length of the vector to a predefined length, and if the vector is shorter than the predefined length, the control member returns to standby; and if equal to or longer than the predefined length, orientation of the vector is compared to a predefined angular range; if the orientation of the vector is outside the range, the control member returns to standby; if the orientation is within the range, a desired command is validated.

Claims

1. Device for controlling a robotised gearbox of a motor vehicle connected to an electronic computer and a control unit so that it is possible to switch, at will, from a manual mode, in which a control member is used to move up or down through the gears, to an automatic mode, in which the control member is used for Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), and Drive (D) commands, wherein the control member is a touch screen subjected to a control process comprising the following steps:

a standby step;

a step in which first coordinates of a digital pressure are stored;

a step in which second coordinates at which the digital pressure is released, are stored;

a step in which a vector between the first coordinates and the second coordinates is calculated;

a test step in which length of the vector is compared to a predefined length, and;

if the vector is shorter than the predefined length, the control member returns to the standby step; and

if the vector is equal to or longer than the predefined length, a test step is validated, whereby orientation of the vector is compared to a predefined angular range; and

if the orientation of the vector is outside the predefined angular range, the control member returns to the standby step; and

if the orientation of the vector is within the predefined angular range, a desired command is validated.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch screen has an ergonomic form positioning a hand, said form including at least one proximity sensor detecting presence of the hand on said form so that said screen is activated.

3. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

4. Device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ergonomic form is part of a stand upon which the screen is mounted.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one element for protecting the screen is placed over the screen and has at least one cut-out to give free digital access to said screen in at least one zone allowing a finger to exert pressure and/or move corresponding to activating a function.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cut-out corresponds to a robotised gearbox switch and selection grid for a motor vehicle.