Abstract:
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.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0001]    The present application is a U.S. national stage application of PCT/SE2006//000601, filed May 22, 2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/596,213, filed Sep. 8, 2005. 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to automatic mechanical transmissions (AMT) of vehicles and more specifically, to an automatic manual transmission gear shift assembly including a timed shift delay for vehicles such as tractor trailers, heavy duty trucks, buses and the like. 
         [0003]    Automatic mechanical transmissions of the stage-geared gearbox type have become increasingly common in tractor trailers and heavy-duty vehicles as microcomputer technology has continued to advance and has made it possible, with a control computer and a number of control elements, e.g., servo motors, to precision-control the engine speed, the connection and disconnection of an automated clutch between engine and gearbox, and coupling members of the gearbox, relative to one another, so that smooth gearshifts are obtained at the correct speeds. The advantage of these types of automatic gearboxes, when compared with traditional automatic gearboxes constructed with planetary gear steps and with hydrodynamic torque converters on the input side, is that first, such devices are simpler, more robust, and can be produced at substantially lower costs than the traditional automatic gearboxes, and second, the gearboxes have greater efficiencies, meaning lower fuel consumption for the incorporating vehicle. Typically, control of these gearboxes is provided by means of a gear shifting selector electronically linked to the gearbox. 
         [0004]    A known solution uses a gear selector that is fixed to the seat. On the side of the selector facing the driver&#39;s seat is a +/− button, in a toggle-type switch configuration, with up and down spring back positions, as well as a neutral position in the middle. Besides the toggle-type switch configuration which is shown, it is also contemplated that among other designs, a configuration using two distinct +/− push buttons may be utilized. 
         [0005]    As shown, on top of the gear selector is a button that is used to tilt the gear selector to the horizontal position. On the front is a gear selector lock which must be pressed in order to change the gears from neutral to reverse, neutral to drive and manual to “limp home”. 
         [0006]    The gear selector may also be used to choose between a number of different driving programs including, but not limited to reverse, neutral, automatic, manual, economy, power, and the like. When in the automatic and manual programs, the operator of the vehicle may select a desired gear by pressing the +/− button of the selector and the +/− button may be used to change gears one step at a time during manual gear changing, manually change a gear one step when in automatic gear changing, manually change a gear one step when in neutral. 
         [0007]    While there are many other advantageous features of the known solution gear selector, one problem is that it does not allow an operator to skip between gears. That is, if an operator desires to shift between nonconsecutive gears, for example, from third gear to fifth gear, the operator must press the +/− button twice. After the +/− button is pressed the first time, the gear shift automatically begins to direct the gearbox to shift to fourth gear and after the +/− button is pressed the second time, the gearbox is then directed to shift to fifth gear. This is problematic because the first gear shift request must be interrupted by the second gear request and can cause gearshift delay and generally result in an undesirable gearshift transition. 
         [0008]    The present invention recognizes the need for an electronic gear shift selector that allows an operator to skip directly between non-consecutive gears without having to interrupt a first gear shift request. 
         [0009]    In at least one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of an electronic gear shift selector toggle switch, or button, that includes a counter and time delay circuit to allow an operator to shift directly between non-consecutive gears. The shift is implemented once the time delay circuit determines that the appropriate period of time has passed since the last activation of the toggle switch. The system detects, and a counter registers (counts) the number of times the toggle switch is asserted and the time delay circuit is configured to delay the communication of the number of assertions until a predetermined period of time has lapsed. The counter is preferably software based, but it is also contemplated that the counter may be a hardware based counter of known design. In one embodiment, the time delay circuit delays communication of the number of assertions between 0.3 and 1 second after the toggle switch is first asserted. In another embodiment, if a second assertion is detected within a predetermined time period, the time delay circuit is reset and communication of the number of assertions is delayed a further period of between 0.1 and 0.5 second thereafter. 
         [0010]    In still yet another embodiment, assertion of the toggle switch a predetermined number of times, holding the toggle switch in the asserted position, or combinations thereof can be used to cancel a gear shift request. Similarly, assertion of the toggle switch a predetermined number of times, holding the toggle switch in the asserted position, or combinations thereof can be used to automatically cycle through the gears without having to continually individually assert the toggle switch to cycle through gears. This feature, in a preferred embodiment, displays the selected gear on a driver display and allows the driver to select the desired gear directly. Additionally, the selection of a particular gear is relayed to the driver through an audible signal. In a preferred embodiment, the selection of a particular gear is limited so as to prevent engine overspeed or lugging. Another embodiment is when the + side of the toggle switch is depressed in such a fashion that it causes the transmission to shift to the highest gear, and when the − side of the toggle switch is depressed in such a fashion that it causes the transmission to shift to the lowest gear. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    The present invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a flow diagram of one method communicating between a gear shift selector and a gear box; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a gear shift selector configured according to the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flow diagram of another embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a flow diagram of yet another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    The present invention will now be described and disclosed in greater detail, and with reference to the figures. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention and that the invention may be embodied in various and alternative forms. It should also be understood that the accompanying figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated, or minimized, to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the claims, but are merely provided as an example to teach one having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. It should also be appreciated that in the detailed description that follows, like reference numerals on different drawing views are intended to identify like structural elements. It should be further appreciated that with respect to the present detailed description and claims, the gear shift selector is described as employing typical software for control and diagnosis on the vehicle, but it should also be understood that one or more electronic circuits may be likewise employed for the purpose. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , gear shift selector  10  is electronically linked with a gearbox of a vehicle and preferably including an AMT type transmission (not shown). Gear shift selector  10  is seen as broadly comprising gear shift button  12  (also referred to as toggle switch), and selector lock button  16 . Gear shift button  12  is provided for manually changing the gears of the vehicle. Selector lock button  16  is provided for preventing inadvertent engagement of a gear. 
         [0018]    As previously discussed above, in order to shift between non-consecutive gears utilizing a gear shift selector electronically linked to a gearbox, a gear shift button (+/− button) was required to be pressed a number of times corresponding to the number of gear shifts. Upon asserting the gear shift button a first time, known gearboxes begin to shift to the next consecutive gear until being interrupted by the assertion of the gear shift button a subsequent time. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  , according to the present invention, when the gear shift button  12  is asserted (block  18 ) and such is detected by the system, the request is not immediately communicated to the gearbox; instead, a time delay (block  24 ) and a counter (block  22 ) are used to track the time from the first or last depression of the toggle switch and the number of depressions during the given period of time, respectively. Then the transmission controller will cause the gearbox to engage in a number of shifts (block  26 ). 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, the transmission will just engage the highest/lowest gear requested. Thus if an upshift of three gears is requested, the transmission will only issue a command at the end when a signal is received from the time delay and counter to engage the gear that is three gears higher than the currently engaged gear. As mentioned previously, the time delay (block  24 ) and counter (block  22 ) are implemented in the software controller of the AMT, but the time delay (block  24 ) and counter (block  22 ) can be hardware based. Several illustrative embodiments are described below, but other combinations are considered within the scope of the disclosure as well. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment that is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , upon the first depression +( 30 ) or −( 31 ) of the toggle switch  12  a time delay is started. If another depression of the toggle switch  12  occurs, two counters (blocks  32 ,  33 ) track the number of times the + and − side of the toggle switch are depressed. The counter Dp (block  32 ) is used for tracking the depressions of the + side (Dp) of the toggle switch. Likewise, the counter Di (block  33 ) is used for tracking the depressions of the − side (Di) of the toggle switch. When the time delay (block  24 ) expires, a comparison of the values stored by the counters (blocks  32 ,  33 ) is performed. Then a signal is sent to the transmission controller to shift an appropriate number of gears. If there are more depressions of the + side of the toggle switch (block  37 ), the signal (block  38 ) that is sent is representative of the total number of times the + side was depressed minus the total number of times the − side was depressed. Likewise, if the number of depressions of − side outnumber that of the + side a representative signal (block  39 ) of the total number of times the − side was depressed minus the total number of times the + side was depressed is sent to the transmission controller. Alternatively, a single counter that is capable of tracking the total number of depressions can be used. The number of depressions of the + side that are sent to the gearbox indicate the number of shifts in the upward direction (upshifts) desired by the driver. Likewise, the number of − side depressions indicates the number of shifts requested in a downward direction (downshifts). 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the time delay (block  24 ) starts at the first depression of the toggle switch (block  20 ) and is reset upon the next depression of the toggle switch (block  20 ). The counters (blocks  32 ,  33 ) track the number of depressions of the + and − side of the toggle switch and relays the sum of the + and − depressions. As described above, this may take place through passing the information along to another piece of software or hardware to determine which direction is indicated by the number of depressions  37 . Thus with a time delay of 0.4 seconds, if a depression is made 0.3 seconds after the first depression, it is recorded by the counter and the time delay is restarted for another 0.4 seconds. If a further depression is detected, for instance within 0.2 seconds, the delay is reset. If all the depressions are of the + side of the toggle switch, the gearbox is requested to perform an upshift of three gears. If the first depression was a depression of the − side and the second two depressions were of the + side, the gearbox is controlled to perform an upshift of one gear. 
         [0022]    The above described time delay, in a preferred embodiment, is one that can be programmed by the vehicle operator. This can be through a variety of different programming techniques known in the art. A few illustrative examples are provided. With the key in the on position, but with the engine not running, a display is provided to indicate the number of tenths of a second that will be used for the time delay. In another embodiment, the center portion of the toggle switch can be depressed and the time selected via an audible signal with the further depression of the + and − used to adjust the time delay. Once the delay is selected a further depression of the middle portion of the toggle switch acts to confirm the time delay. These are merely provided as examples and other known methods of setting time are within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0023]    In yet another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 4 , the repeated depression of the toggle switch either + or − side, will enable a scrolling feature. This feature enables the driver to select the desired gear through the use of a visual display or audible signal. When the driver depresses and holds the + side of the toggle switch (block  20 ), a display shows the current gear selection (block  40 ) and while the + side is held depressed the gear display increases an additional gear every 0.1 seconds (block  20 ). When the driver sees the desired gear indicated on the display (block  42 ), the driver releases the toggle switch and gear shown in the display is engaged by the transmission control unit (block  44 ) after a preset time expires (block  24 ). The transmission unit in one embodiment imposes engine speed or engine bogging limitations. Likewise, the − side of the toggle switch can be used to select a desired gear. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the desired gear can be selected by using both the + and − sides of the toggle switch. 
         [0024]    The current gear is displayed in the display unit and upon depression of either the + or − side of the toggle switch the displayed gear begins to move in the desired direction. If the driver passes the desired gear by holding the switch down too long, then the other side of the toggle switch is depressed until the proper gear is shown. This depression of the other side must occur within a predetermined period of time, preferably the delay time before engagement of the gear. If the other side is pressed during the delay period before transmitting the signal to the transmission control unit, then no signal is sent until after the subsequent depression(s) stop and the preset time delay expires. This time delay is the same time delay as described above. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the indication of the currently selected gear is performed audibly. This audible indication of the gear may be affected using any one of a number of known methods in the art. For example, the current gear selection may be indicated through a series of beeps. In another example, each gear selection in the positive direction (depression of the + side of the toggle switch) is indicated by a high pitch sound and each gear selection in the negative direction (depression of the − side of the toggle switch) is indicated by a lower pitch sound. 
         [0026]    In a still further embodiment, holding down the toggle switch causes the current selection to be cancelled. The method of indicating a desired gear cancellation in one embodiment involves the driver depressing the toggle switch in either direction prior to the expiration of the time delay for period of time longer than the time delay.