Patent ID: 6589134
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60T,B60W,F16H,Y02T,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for controlling a park-interlock device in a land-based vehicle with a driver-selectable shifter for selecting a respective one of a plurality of propulsion modes of the vehicle, one of the propulsion modes comprising a park mode, the method comprising:configuring a controller to determine at least one operational mode for stopping and starting the vehicle; sensing at least one vehicle parameter for determining whether or not the park interlock device is to be actuated to a respective interlock state corresponding to the driver-selected mode and/or the controller-determined operational mode; providing memory for storing nominal values for each vehicle parameter; comparing the sensed vehicle parameters relative to the values stored in memory; based on the results of the comparison, generating a control signal for commanding the interlock device to the respective interlock state; sensing a present state of the interlock device, wherein the signal for commanding the interlock device is further based on the present state of the interlock device; and generating a fault indication when the present state of the interlock device is incongruous with the state corresponding to the last control signal for the interlock device.