With Manual Override Patents (Class 477/81)
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Patent number: 11519494Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary control device for a vehicle comprising a user interface surface, in particular a knob, that is embodied to rotate with respect to a housing of the device around a rotational axis of the device, further comprising a sensor unit for monitoring the orientation and/or rotational movement of the user interface surface with respect to the housing, a processing unit, and a communications interface for transmitting control signals according to an output from the processing unit, said output being generated by the processing unit on the basis of sensor data from the sensor unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Lenard Petrzik
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Patent number: 10859157Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A controller controls the shift actuator utilizing an actuating pulse and an opposing pulse.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: EATON CUMMINS AUTOMATED TRANSMISSION TECH., LLCInventors: Thomas Connolly, Joseph Paul Furner, Sipei Chen, Jeff Hawarden, Ian Daniel McKenzie, Christopher DeBoer
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Patent number: 10859158Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. A controller controls the shift actuator utilizing an actuating pulse and an opposing pulse.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: EATON CUMMINS AUTOMATED TRANSMISSION TECH., LLCInventors: Thomas Connolly, Joseph Paul Furner, Sipei Chen, Jeff Hawarden, Ian Daniel McKenzie, Christopher DeBoer
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Patent number: 9384835Abstract: Circuits and methods for performing search operations in a content addressable memory (CAM) array are provided. A system for searching a CAM includes a circuit that selectively activates a main-search of a two stage CAM search while a pre-search of the two stage CAM search is still active.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.Inventors: Igor Arsovski, Daniel A. Dobson, Travis R. Hebig, Reid A. Wistort
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Patent number: 9068649Abstract: A transmission of a vehicle has a first gear and a second gear that corresponds to a lower gear ratio than the first gear. A transmission management system for the transmission comprises an enabling module, a shift control module, and a disabling module. The enabling module enables a second gear start mode of the transmission when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed. The shift control module commands operation of the transmission in the second gear when the second gear start mode is enabled. The disabling module selectively disables the second gear start mode when a user commands a gear shift to the first gear while the second gear start mode is enabled and prevents the enabling module from re-enabling the second gear start mode after the second gear start mode is disabled.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Christopher J. Trush, Orson S. Wang
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Patent number: 8527164Abstract: A method of controlling and/or regulating an automated transmission of a vehicle in which a rolling function or a coasting function of the vehicle is activated in an automatic mode, under predetermined conditions, such that the drivetrain is disengaged and the drive motor is one of operated at idle or is switched off at times. The rolling function or the coasting function is automatically terminated if at least one of the predetermined conditions is no longer present. The rolling function or the coasting function can also be terminated manually by the driver, and a manually operable shifting strategy can be initiated.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Joachim Staudinger, Lutz Mueller
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Patent number: 8145399Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing an electronic gear shift selector associated with an automatic mechanical transmission for a heavy vehicle. The gear shift selector includes a toggle switch for asserting at least one gear shift request, a counter receiving the at least one gear shift request, and a time delay for preventing communication of the at least one gear shift request from the counter until a predefined time period has passed. A method for communicating a collective gear shift request to a gear box includes asserting one or more gear shift requests with a gear shift selector, communicating the gear shift requests to a counter, determining the collective gear shift requests occurring within a predefined time period, communicating the gear shift requests occurring within the predefined time period to a gearbox.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar ABInventors: Anders Lindgren, Anders Eriksson
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Patent number: 6932180Abstract: A mode establishing section of a differential limiting control apparatus for a four wheel drive vehicle commands an automatic mode control section or a manual mode control section to output calculated clutch torques according to a signal from a mode switch operated by a driver. In an initial condition of an ignition switch turned on, the execution command is issued to the automatic mode control section, until the driver newly selects the manual mode through the mode switch. Further, when the vehicle travels at a speed higher than a preestablished threshold value, the execution command is outputted to the automatic mode control section, irrespective of the signal from the mode switch.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Koji Matsuno, Hideharu Tatsumi, Atsushi Fukuda
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Patent number: 6658339Abstract: A system for controlling an automated mechanical change-gear transmission system including a processing unit for processing inputs according to predetermined logic rules to determine currently engaged and allowably engaged gear ratios and throttle positions, for changing between automatic and semi-automatic transmission modes, for issuing command output signals to non-manually controlled operators, and for temporarily selectively overriding a pre-selected transmission mode if either cruise control or power take off are activated.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Keith Wright, Anthony Stasik, Paul Martin Fowler
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Patent number: 6603214Abstract: A control device for a vehicle which has a function to reduce the change-speed shock when changing the speed by controlling the transmission of the vehicle. The control device performs the switching between a manual change-speed mode in which the vehicle speed can be changed based on a change-speed command generated by manual operation and an automatic change-speed mode in which a transmission gear ratio can be controlled based on the predetermined change-speed characteristic. Thereby the reduction amount of the change-speed shock can be changed between the manual change-speed mode and the automatic change-speed mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2000Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuo Kayano, Toshimichi Minowa, Hiroshi Sakamoto
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Patent number: 6383116Abstract: A vehicle transmission system has a main drive clutch (14) with a clutch-actuator (20, 22, 38), a transmission (12) with a gear-engaging mechanism (25), a driver-operable gear-selector lever (24), and an electronic control means (36) to control the clutch-actuator (20, 22, 38) and the gear-engaging mechanism (25). When the vehicle is started up from a standstill condition, the control means disengages the clutch and automatically shifts the transmission into a predetermined start-up gear. According to the invention, the electronic control means (36) is designed to allow the driver to operate the gear-selector lever (24) to select a higher start-up gear than the predetermined start-up gear that is selected automatically by the electronic control means.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbHInventors: Robin John Warren, Charles John Jones
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Patent number: 5928106Abstract: An electro-hydraulic clutch actuation system for a manual transmission comprises a slave cylinder engaged to a transmission clutch fork member, the cylinder being operated to cause clutch disengagement by actuation of a push-button on a gear shift lever of the transmission, such cylinder effectively producing a manual transmission which does not require clutch pedal actuation during shifting of the transmission. Further, the system eliminates the need for transmission synchronizers by using sensed speed of tailshaft rotation to determine the point of synchronization for such shifting, and, in an automatic mode of operation, the system indicates to an operator not only that the synchronization point has been achieved, but also prompts an upshift or downshift, as required, to minimize load. The cylinder is operated using oil under high pressure which is supplied thereto from a high pressure engine oil rail.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1997Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Navistar International Transportation CorpInventors: Thomas A. Biros, Jr., Robert A. Weber
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Patent number: 5636120Abstract: An electronic autoshift control is provided for a transmission and engine to help reduce demands on the operator. Part of the autoshift feature is an auto/manual switch which is a two-position rocker switch controlled by the operator. The switch determines whether the transmission is being operated in the manual or the automatic mode. In the manual mode, all shifting is performed by the operator by moving the shift lever. Once in the automatic mode, the transmission controller takes over with the autoshift feature. When switched to the automatic mode, an auto/manual lamp is lit indicating the transmission's automatic mode of operation. The rocker switch also functions as a hold switch. If traction conditions are poor and the operator wants to stay in the present gear, the rocker switch can be toggled to the manual mode. This locks the transmission in its present gear and causes the auto/manual lamp to flash if the shift lever selection and the present transmission selection do not coincide.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 1996Date of Patent: June 3, 1997Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Leon P. Yesel, John P. Kitzerow
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Patent number: 5527234Abstract: In a system for controlling the shifting of an automatic transmission, a selector device is controllable from a "D" selected position into one of two shift positions for a stepwise shift limitation, by one gear at a time, manually. The respective upshift or downshift limitation can automatically be eliminated by fulfillment of a presettable condition, for example the expiration of a delay period.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1994Date of Patent: June 18, 1996Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventor: Torsten Kroeger
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Patent number: 5515272Abstract: A diagnosing apparatus for diagnosing a vehicle automatic transmission system including an automatic transmission having frictional coupling devices, and solenoid-operated valves for controlling the frictional coupling devices to shift the automatic transmission according to shift commands generated by a control device, the apparatus including a speed detector for detecting an engine speed of the vehicle, a device for determining a reference range of the engine speed within which the engine speed is expected to fall when the transmission is placed in a position selected by a shift command, a device for determining whether a predetermined running condition of the vehicle is satisfied, and a defect detector for determining whether there exists a defect associated with the automatic transmission system, depending upon whether the detected engine speed is held within or outside the determined reference range when the predetermined vehicle running condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1994Date of Patent: May 7, 1996Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiro Sakai, Atsuo Okumura, Koichi Miyamoto
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Patent number: 5429559Abstract: A control system/method (104) for controlling execution of selected shifts of a mechanical transmission system (10) is provided. The control system includes a central processing unit (106) for receiving input signals indicative of engine or input shaft (11/98) speeds and of output shaft or vehicle speed (VS) speeds and from a driver control console (108) indicative of manual or automatic selection of upshifts or downshifts from a currently engaged gear ratio and processing the same in accordance with predetermined logic rule to issue command output signals to a transmission actuator (112, 70, 96) to implement the selected shifts upon a manually or automatically caused torque break of the transmission and manually or automatically caused substantial synchronization of the transmission thereafter. The predetermined logic rules include a strategy for sensing conditions indicative of a potentially dangerous downhill free-wheeling situation and for immediately causing the forced engagement of a gear ratio (GR.sub.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1993Date of Patent: July 4, 1995Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventor: Jon A. Steeby
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Patent number: 5419412Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a transmission (1) which can be optionally operated fully automatically or semi-automatically, and in which a gear-range selector (18) and a gear-shift control (21) are provided. The gear-range selector makes it possible to pre-select a travel speed in which the transmission is gradually shifted up or down by actuating the gear-shift control (21). The gear-shift control (21) is designed as a foot switch (22, 24) located in the foot area of a driver's cab of the motor vehicle, so that both of the driver's hands can stay on the steering wheel while these gear-shift operations are being carried out thereby permitting the driver to concentrate fully on the traffic.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1993Date of Patent: May 30, 1995Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Manfred Schwab, Klaus Schweiger
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Patent number: 5413541Abstract: A shift control device for a vehicle's automatic transmission that cannot normally be locked in second gear, but will automatically downshift from second to first gear under predetermined conditions. The shift control device includes a power translator connected to a S-2 shift solenoid of the vehicle, a manual control switch, a frequency-to-voltage converter for receiving a speed signal of the vehicle, and a voltage comparator for comparing a throttle signal of the vehicle and the output from the frequency-to-voltage converter. Without the shift control device, a downshift--in one particular type of transmission--is normally effected when the S-2 shift solenoid is deactivated by the transmission controller. The shift control device is connected to the S-2 shift solenoid in parallel with the transmission controller.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1993Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Inventor: James L. Nasset
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Patent number: 5393275Abstract: A shift control system for an automatic transmission, includes: a plurality of frictional engagement elements adapted to be hydraulically engaged for setting a plurality of gear stages; and a shift lever for switching between an automatic mode, in which a gear stage is set on the basis of the running state of a vehicle, and a manual mode in which a gear stage is selected by manipulating the shift lever. A shift detector detects that a gear stage should be selected for the shift in the manual mode state and a shift start timing adjuster, if the shift in the manual mode state is detected, the switching rate of the frictional engagement elements which are switched for executing the detected shift.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1993Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aishin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takayuki Okada, Yutaka Taga, Yasuo Hojo, Atsushi Tabata, Masato Kaigawa, Shuzo Moroto, Takeshi Inuzuka, Masashi Hattori, Yoshito Takeshita