Abstract: A clutch control system for a standard transmission includes a gearshift lever sensor that is mechanically coupled to the gearshift lever to sense the position thereof and produce a gear state signal. A monitor device is also provided to produce a signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed. A selectively actuable latch mechanism has an unlock state to permit the clutch to move from its transmission disabling state to an enabling state but may move to a lock state to prevent the clutch from moving to the enable state. A controller responds to the gear state signal and the speed signal to place the latch mechanism in the lock state when the speed of the vehicle is above a pre-selected maximum speed for the selected gear state. A method implemented by this system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A clutch control system for a standard transmission includes a gearshift lever sensor that is mechanically coupled to the gearshift lever to sense the position thereof and produce a gear state signal. A monitor device is also provided to produce a signal corresponding to the vehicle's speed. A selectively actuable latch mechanism has an unlock state to permit the clutch to move from its transmission disabling state to an enabling state but may move to a lock state to prevent the clutch from moving to the enable state. A controller responds to the gear state signal and the speed signal to place the latch mechanism in the lock state when the speed of the vehicle is above a pre-selected maximum speed for the selected gear state. A method implemented by this system is also disclosed.