Abstract: When a vehicle driver operates a momentary-type gear shift lever and the lever continuously stays for not less than a predetermined length of time at a target gear position, in R, D, and N positions, corresponding to a target shift range of the automatic transmission of a vehicle, a shift range switching apparatus judges that the lever is operated to the target gear position and instructs a DC motor to switch to the target shift range of the automatic transmission. The apparatus detects a “busy shift” (or incomplete) operation of the lever based on voltage signals transferred from vertical/horizontal direction sensors corresponding to the current position of the lever. The apparatus detects the occurrence of the “bush shift” (or incomplete) operation when the gear shift lever is returned to the original position after being operated from the original position toward the target gear shift position, but, does not reach it.

Abstract: The vehicle-use start control system includes a control section which initializes a control signal outputted from the control section when a power supply voltage supplied is lower than or equal to a predetermined initialization voltage, and sets a voltage level of the control signal depending on the detected shift range of the automatic transmission, and a latch section which outputs a start permission/inhibition signal a voltage level of which is indicative of starting of an engine of the vehicle being permitted or inhibited. The latch section latches the voltage level of the start permission/inhibition signal when the power supply voltage is predicted to be lower than or equal to the initialization voltage during the start processing period.

Abstract: A SBW control system is disclosed which is powered by an electric power source on a vehicle to electrically control mode shifting of an automatic transmission of the vehicle. The SBW control system includes: 1) means for inputting a shift command to shift a current operating mode of the automatic transmission to a desired operating mode; 2) means for shifting the current operating mode to the desired operating mode according to the shift command; 3) means for locking an output shaft of the automatic transmission when the desired operating mode is P (park) mode and unlocking the same otherwise; 4) means for detecting an abnormal condition of the vehicle; and 5) means for controlling the locking/unlocking means in such a manner that when the abnormal condition is detected, the output shaft of the automatic transmission is unlocked regardless of whether or not the desired operating mode is P mode.

Abstract: When a vehicle driver operates a momentary-type gear shift lever and the lever continuously stays for not less than a predetermined length of time at a target gear position, in R, D, and N positions, corresponding to a target shift range of the automatic transmission of a vehicle, a shift range switching apparatus judges that the lever is operated to the target gear position and instructs a DC motor to switch to the target shift range of the automatic transmission. The apparatus detects a “busy shift” (or incomplete) operation of the lever based on voltage signals transferred from vertical/horizontal direction sensors corresponding to the current position of the lever. The apparatus detects the occurrence of the “bush shift” (or incomplete) operation when the gear shift lever is returned to the original position after being operated from the original position toward the target gear shift position, but, does not reach it.

Abstract: In a shift-by-wire type shift range switching control system for an automatic transmission of a vehicle, an alcohol reaction indicated by alcohol concentration in sweat of a driver is checked when an engine of a vehicle is started. If alcohol reaction is detected, a switching inhibit/permit flag is set to “inhibit” so that the shift range switching in the automatic transmission from the parking range to any other ranges and from the neutral range to any travel ranges is inhibited. If the alcohol reaction is detected when the vehicle is in travel, the vehicle is automatically braked to stop and the shift range is to automatically switched from the travel range to the parking range.