Patents Represented by Attorney David Kelley, Esq.
  • Patent number: 7536918
    Abstract: Generally provided is a system and method that determines a force-travel profile of a shifter in a vehicle having a shifter having an associated shifter shaft for a transmission. The feel of the shifter to a user of the shifter may be improved by using present system. Additionally, accurate measurements for determining shifter forces applied to a shifter and corresponding position of the shifter are performed. In operation, the system correlates the forces applied to the shifter and associated movement of the shifter to determine an associated feel of the shifter. The system operates to equate the forces correlating to the shifter and movement of the shifter to calibrate a feel of the shifter for a user applying the force to the shifter to actuate the shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: James Rankin, II, Pietro Buttolo, Yifan Chen