Abstract: The shift quality of an automated mechanical transmission is improved and transmission wear is reduced by controlling the armature current of the motor driving the transmission shifting mechanism. The current is monitored by a microcontroller to determine if the shifting mechanism has encountered a snag or has stalled during a shift operation. The microcontroller is programmed to control the duty cycle of a pulse width modulated (PWM) voltage signal, applied to the motor, in accordance with an algorithm which provides both proportional and derivative control of the error between the measured current and a target current. The rapid reduction in current spikes through PWM control reduces the force applied to the shifting mechanism and thus the sliding clutch and transmission gearing.

Abstract: Calibration of an X-Y shifter is accomplished under the control of a microcomputer which is programmed to perform a calibration routine each time the vehicle is shutdown. The routine causes the shifter's shift finger to be moved into touching contact with the various inner wall surfaces of the shift blocks of the respective transmission shift rails from which a calibrated shift rail and neutral position are calculated.

Abstract: A position-feedback-control servomechanism for shifting the transmission of a vehicle has both an adaptive proportional-integral-differential controller to compensate for manufacturing variations, etc, and a voltage-compensation system that senses the battery voltage and prevents the gain of a servomechanism drive motor from varying significantly when the battery voltage changes. The motor is preferably a permanent-magnet type to whose terminals the battery voltage is switched on and off. The switching is done by electronic switches that are under the control of a pulse-width-modulated signal. The width of the pulses of the pulse-width-modulated signal is controlled by both a closed-loop position-error signal and a signal derived from an open-loop measurement of the battery voltage.