Patents Examined by Thomas S. Auchterlorie
  • Patent number: 5233523
    Abstract: A control for producing ratio changes in an automatic transmission includes sensors producing signals from which vehicle speed, throttle position, vehicle acceleration, and the time rate of throttle position are determined. Electronic memory accessible to a microprocessor contains functions relating vehicle speed to throttle position, one function being related to each upshift and downshift. Shift solenoids are energized and deenergized according to the output of a control algorithm executed by the microprocessor. A hydraulic circuit contains shift valves, servos, brakes and clutches activated by the servos selectively to produce the various gear ratios of the transmission. Shift delays for each upshift and downshift are predetermined and stored as constants in memory. A shift schedule relating throttle position, vehicle speed and the current transmission gear ratio is stored in memory. Control variables compensating for shift delay on the basis of vehicle acceleration and throttle rate are calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: William C. Follmer