Abstract: A drive unit includes a first electric machine including a first machine shaft, a second electric machine including a second machine shaft, and a differential interconnecting the first electric machine and the second electric machine. The differential includes a park gear. The drive unit further includes a single park system configured to engage the park gear of the differential to simultaneously stop rotation of both the first electric machine and the second electric machine. The park system includes a single pawl movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The pawl is spaced apart from the park gear of the differential in the disengaged position to allow the park gear to rotate. The single pawl is in contact with the park gear of the differential in the engaged position to preclude rotation of the park gear.

Abstract: A drive control system of a vehicle includes a vehicle speed module configured to determine whether the vehicle is moving and set a state of a signal based on the determination. A shift control module is configured to shift a transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a range selector. Independently of the signal from the range selector, the shift control module is configured to selectively shift the transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module. An ignition control module is configured to selectively shut down an engine of the vehicle based on the signal from the combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module.

Abstract: A method for determining a transmission gear selection includes providing a vehicle sensor configured to measure a vehicle characteristic, providing at least one controller in communication with the vehicle sensor, receiving, by the controller, sensor data indicative of the vehicle characteristic, determining, by the controller, an intended transmission gear selection, and generating, by the controller, a control signal including an instruction for selection of the intended transmission gear selection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a shift in gear is appropriate based on a gaze of an operator. The method includes detecting a shift from a first gear to engage a second gear, receiving gaze information associated with the gaze of the user, based on the gaze information, determining whether the second gear is inappropriate, and performing a corrective action corresponding to the inappropriate second gear in response to determining that the second gear is inappropriate.

Abstract: A drive control system of a vehicle includes a vehicle speed module configured to determine whether the vehicle is moving and set a state of a signal based on the determination. A shift control module is configured to shift a transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a range selector. Independently of the signal from the range selector, the shift control module is configured to selectively shift the transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module. An ignition control module is configured to selectively shut down an engine of the vehicle based on the signal from the combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a shift in gear is appropriate based on a gaze of an operator are provided. The method includes detecting a shift from a first gear to engage a second gear, receiving gaze information associated with the gaze of the user, based on the gaze information, determining whether the second gear is inappropriate, and performing a corrective action corresponding to the inappropriate second gear in response to determining that the second gear is inappropriate.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes initiating a temporary neutral mode of the transmission, in which at least one clutch of the transmission is disengaged to prevent power flow through the transmission, when an upshift paddle selector and a downshift paddle selector are both engaged within a pre-defined engagement time window. At least one of the upshift paddle selector and the downshift paddle selector is held in their respective engaged positions to maintain the temporary neutral mode of the transmission. The temporary neutral mode of the transmission is ended when both of the upshift paddle selector and the downshift paddle selector are disengaged, by re-engaging the at least one transmission clutch that was disengaged to initiate the temporary neutral mode.

Abstract: A vehicle or other system includes an actuator assembly operable to achieve a selected operating state of the system in response to an electronic state selection signal, a push-button shifter assembly, and a controller. The shift assembly includes push-buttons, each including at least three redundant switches. A binary open/closed state of each switch defines the electronic state selection signal. The controller is in by-wire communication with the actuator and push-button shifter assemblies, and receives the electronic state selection signal. The controller determines a pressed, released, or unknown button state of each push-button by determining, in response to the electronic state selection signal, if all of the redundant switches have closed. If all of the redundant switches have not closed, the controller determines whether fewer than all of the switches have closed and opened within a calibrated time interval of each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for a gear shifter for use with a transmission is provided. The gear shifter includes a housing that defines a gate and a gear shift lever having a first end and a second end. The gear shift lever is at least partially received within the housing so that the first end is guided by the gate. The gear shifter includes a shifter block received within the housing and including a plurality of detents. One of the plurality of detents includes at least one pocket defined adjacent to the one of the plurality of detents so as to be in communication with the one of the plurality of detents. The at least one pocket and the plurality of detents are each sized to receive a portion of the second end of the gear shift lever.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission with a shift valve, an alternator, an auxiliary battery, a voltage sensor operable to measure an auxiliary voltage, and an electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) system. The ETRS system includes a controller, and also an electronic range selector device that transmits an electronic range request signal to the controller to request the shift of the transmission to a requested operating range. The controller executes a method to predict a loss of auxiliary power aboard the vehicle, and to control an action of the vehicle in response to the predicted loss of auxiliary power. The electronic range request signal is received from the range selector device and auxiliary voltage. The controller calculates a slope of a decrease in the measured auxiliary voltage. A control action is executed with the alternator is in the charging state and the calculated slope exceeds a calibrated slope threshold.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission of a vehicle equipped with an electronic transmission range select system includes receiving an electronic request to actuate a transmission park system. A speed of the vehicle is sensed with each of a plurality of different speed sensors to define a plurality of different sensed vehicle speeds. Each of the plurality of different speed sensors provides a sensed vehicle speed that is independent and separate from the sensed vehicle speed from all of the other speed sensors. All of the different sensed vehicle speeds from the plurality of speed sensors is compared to each other to determine the lowest sensed vehicle speed. When the lowest sensed vehicle speed is equal to or less than a maximum allowable actuation speed, an electronic signal is sent from the transmission control unit to the transmission park system to actuate the transmission park system.

Abstract: A system for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle includes a plurality of range selection buttons configured to individually select corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges. A plurality of sensing circuits are configured to generate sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons. A park range selection button is configured to select a park range. A park sensing circuit is configured to generate sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button. A button state module is configured to output state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons based on the sense signals from the plurality of sensing circuits. A control module is configured to select a range based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and the state signals from the button state module.

Abstract: Music-based electronic transmission range selection for a vehicle is provided. A first signal from a first electronic control unit (ECU) is received that is indicative of an initiation of an electronic park function. The first ECU generates a signal when an operator presses an electronic park button on an electronic shift device. A corresponding first audio function is determined from the first signal and is implemented. It is determined whether a second signal from a second ECU is received, which second signal indicates successful engagement of the park function. If it is not received, a second audio function is implemented and, if it has been received, a third audio function is implemented. The second audio function produces sound that is dissonant with respect to the sound produced by the first audio function, and the third audio function produces sound that is consonant with respect to the first audio function.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission with a shift valve, an alternator, an auxiliary battery, a voltage sensor operable to measure an auxiliary voltage, and an electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) system. The ETRS system includes a controller, and also an electronic range selector device that transmits an electronic range request signal to the controller to request the shift of the transmission to a requested operating range. The controller executes a method to predict a loss of auxiliary power aboard the vehicle, and to control an action of the vehicle in response to the predicted loss of auxiliary power. The electronic range request signal is received from the range selector device and auxiliary voltage. The controller calculates a slope of a decrease in the measured auxiliary voltage. A control action is executed with the alternator is in the charging state and the calculated slope exceeds a calibrated slope threshold.

Abstract: A position diagnostic test for a shift-by-wire system is provided. The shift-by-wire system includes a shift lever configured to move along a shift path, a first and a second position sensor configured to generate a first and a second position signal, respectively, of the shift lever along the shift path, and a controller configured to receive the first and second position signals. The first position sensor includes a first x-coordinate value and a first y-coordinate value, and the second position sensor includes a second x-coordinate value and a second y-coordinate value. The position diagnostic test includes performing a rationality test on each of the coordinate values. If at least one predetermined condition exists for a particular coordinate value, then it fails the rationality test, and the position signal containing the coordinate value may be disregarded.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission of a vehicle equipped with an electronic transmission range select system includes receiving an electronic request to actuate a transmission park system. A speed of the vehicle is sensed with each of a plurality of different speed sensors to define a plurality of different sensed vehicle speeds. Each of the plurality of different speed sensors provides a sensed vehicle speed that is independent and separate from the sensed vehicle speed from all of the other speed sensors. All of the different sensed vehicle speeds from the plurality of speed sensors is compared to each other to determine the lowest sensed vehicle speed. When the lowest sensed vehicle speed is equal to or less than a maximum allowable actuation speed, an electronic signal is sent from the transmission control unit to the transmission park system to actuate the transmission park system.

Abstract: A method applying an electric park brake system of a vehicle includes detecting a park request with a first vehicle control module, and sending a park command, from the first vehicle control module, to both an electric brake control module and a second vehicle control module. Upon the electric brake control module receiving the park command, an actuation signal is sent from the electric brake control module to a motor winding of the electric park brake system. A status actuated signal is sent from the electric brake control module to the second vehicle control module. The status actuated signal indicates that the actuation signal has been sent from the electric brake control module. A position of the motor winding is sensed to determine if the motor winding is actuated. When the motor winding is actuated, a message is displayed to indicate that the electric park brake system is applied.

Abstract: A vehicle or other system includes an actuator assembly operable to achieve a selected operating state of the system in response to an electronic state selection signal, a push-button shifter assembly, and a controller. The shift assembly includes push-buttons, each including at least three redundant switches. A binary open/closed state of each switch defines the electronic state selection signal. The controller is in by-wire communication with the actuator and push-button shifter assemblies, and receives the electronic state selection signal. The controller determines a pressed, released, or unknown button state of each push-button by determining, in response to the electronic state selection signal, if all of the redundant switches have closed. If all of the redundant switches have not closed, the controller determines whether fewer than all of the switches have closed and opened within a calibrated time interval of each other.

Abstract: A method applying an electric park brake system of a vehicle includes detecting a park request with a first vehicle control module, and sending a park command, from the first vehicle control module, to both an electric brake control module and a second vehicle control module. Upon the electric brake control module receiving the park command, an actuation signal is sent from the electric brake control module to a motor winding of the electric park brake system. A status actuated signal is sent from the electric brake control module to the second vehicle control module. The status actuated signal indicates that the actuation signal has been sent from the electric brake control module. A position of the motor winding is sensed to determine if the motor winding is actuated. When the motor winding is actuated, a message is displayed to indicate that the electric park brake system is applied.

Abstract: A mode selection system for switching between different operating modes of a transmission includes a rotary transmission selector for switching between a neutral mode, a forward drive mode, and a reverse drive mode. A park selector for selecting a park mode of the transmission is separate and remotely located from the rotary transmission selector. The rotary transmission selector is axially moveable along a central axis between a reference position and an axially depressed position. The rotary transmission selector is rotatable about the central axis. However, the rotary transmission selector is only rotatable about the central axis when depressed into the axially depressed position. The rotary transmission selector is mono-stable, and automatically returns to a reference position when released.