Abstract: A method controls a transmission of a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine for driving wheels, a transmission coupled between the engine and the wheels. The transmission automatically selects driving gear positions enabling the vehicle to move in a forward or reverse direction. The method provides gear shift structure associated with the transmission. While the transmission is in a presently selected gear position to move the vehicle in the forward or reverse direction, the gear shift structure is permitted to be initially manually engaged and moved to a first position to cause one gear change from the presently selected gear position. While the gear shift structure is in the first position, the gear shift structure is permitted to be manually engaged again to cause a gear change from the one gear change position. The gear change will provide optimum up-shift for performance or, when down-shifting, will provide maximum gear braking.

Abstract: A 3-D LADAR imaging system incorporating stacked microelectronic layers is provided. A light source is imaged upon a target through beam shaping optics. Photons reflected from the target are collected and imaged upon a detector array though collection optics. The detector array signals are fed into a multilayer processing module wherein each layer includes detector signal processing circuitry. The detector array signals are amplified, compared to a user-defined threshold, digitized and fed into a high speed FIFO range bin. Dependant on the value of the digit contained in the bins in the register, and the digit's bin location, the time of a photon reflection from a target surface can be determined. A To trigger signal defines the reflection time represented by each bin location by resetting appropriate circuitry to begin processing.

Abstract: A 3-D LADAR imaging system incorporating stacked microelectronic layers is provided. A light source is imaged upon a target through beam shaping optics. Photons reflected from the target are collected and imaged upon a detector array though collection optics. The detector array signals are fed into a multilayer processing module wherein each layer includes detector signal processing circuitry. The detector array signals are amplified, compared to a user-defined threshold, digitized and fed into a high speed FIFO range bin. Dependant on the value of the digit contained in the bins in the register, and the digit's bin location, the time of a photon reflection from a target surface can be determined. A T0 trigger signal defines the reflection time represented by each bin location by resetting appropriate circuitry to begin processing.