Patent ID: 6676562
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B60W,B60Y,F16D,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
In a vehicle transmission system including a transmission having an input shaft driven by an engine, an output shaft, and a clutch for controlling the transfer of torque from said input shaft to said output shaft, a method of controlling said clutch, said method comprising:sensing the speed of said engine by using a sensor; controlling engagement of said clutch according to the sensed engine speed by using a controller responsive to the sensor, whereby the transmission of torque from said input shaft to said output shaft is determined by the speed of said engine, wherein the controller is also responsive to a brake pedal switch, and sensing means for indicating whether the transmission is in gear or in neutral; and invoking in auto-clutch mode for the controller to control engagement of the clutch according to engine speed when the brake switch is operated by a brake pedal, the transmission is in gear, and the sensed engine speed is less than a predetermined value.