Patent ID: 6612194
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B60K,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
A shifter comprising:a base; a driver interface module including a structural member attached to the base and operably held so that a handle on the structural member can be grasped and loaded by a vehicle operator; at least one load-measuring sensor attached to the structural member, the sensor outputting an analog signal in proportion to the load applied to the structural member by the vehicle operator; and a circuit connected to the load-measuring sensor for receiving the analog signal, the circuit being configured and programmed to output a transmission-shift control signal when the analog signal reaches a predetermined minimum load value, the circuit including a controller operably connected to the sensor and programmed to output the transmission-shift control signal; and wherein the controller is programmed to take a time derivative of the analog signal and generate the transmission-shift control signal based on the time derivative.