Voice recognition shift control

An electronic control system for a transmission includes a transmission controller selectively actuating the transmission between a plurality of gear positions including a reverse position and at least two forward positions, a manually-operable gear shifter selectively providing first command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between at least a portion of the plurality of gear positions, and a voice recognition system selectively providing second command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between only a portion of the plurality of gear positions. Preferably, the voice commands actuate the transmission only between the forward gear positions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an electronically controlled transmission system for motor vehicles, and more particularly, an electronically controlled transmission system having voice recognition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An electronically controlled transmission system is commonly referred to as a “shift-by-wire” transmission system. In some shift-by-wire automatic transmission systems, the transmission input shaft is rotated by an electric actuator. The electric actuator selectively rotates the transmission input shaft in response to an input signal from a manually operated gear shifter. The vehicle operator manually operates the gear shifter to select a desired gear for the transmission. The gear shifter typically includes a lever but can alternatively be in other forms such as push buttons or the like.

“Shift-by-wire” transmission systems are desirably because they enable the gear shifter to be located virtually anywhere that can be reached by the operator because they do not have the limitations of routing mechanical cables between the gear shifter and the transmission. However, there is a never ending desire in the motor vehicle industry to simplify and modernize driver controls. There also is a never ending desire to reduce component cost and/or size. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved electronically controlled transmission systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electronic control system for a transmission which addresses at least one of the above-noted problems of the related art. According to the present invention, an electronic control system for a transmission comprises a transmission controller selectively actuating the transmission between a plurality of gear positions including a reverse position and at least two forward positions, a manually-operable gear shifter selectively providing first command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between at least a portion of the plurality of gear positions, and a voice recognition system selectively providing second command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between only a portion of the plurality of gear positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic control system for a transmission comprises a transmission controller selectively actuating the transmission between a plurality of gear positions including a reverse position and at least two forward positions, a manually-operable gear shifter selectively providing first command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between only a portion of the plurality of gear positions, and a voice recognition system selectively providing second command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between at least a portion of the plurality of gear positions.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of shifting a transmission comprises the steps of providing a transmission controller selectively actuating the transmission between a plurality of gear positions including a reverse position and at least two forward positions, manually-operating a gear shifter to selectively provide first command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between at least a portion of the plurality of gear positions, and issuing voice commands to a voice recognition system to selectively provide second command signals to the transmission controller to actuate the transmission between only a portion of the plurality of gear positions.

From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology of electronically controlled automatic transmissions. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, reliable, easy to use, relatively small, and low cost system. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the electronically controlled transmission system as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, and shapes will be determined by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the electric actuator illustrated in the drawings. In general, up or upward refers to an upward direction generally within the plane of the paper inFIG. 1and down or downward refers to a downward direction generally within the plane of the paper inFIG. 1. Also in general, forward or front refers to a direction toward the front of the motor vehicle and rearward or rear refers to a direction toward the back or rear of the motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the improved electronically controlled transmission disclosed herein. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with reference to an electronically controlled automatic transmission for a motor vehicle. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring now to the drawings,FIGS. 1 to 3schematically show an electronic control system10for a motor vehicle automatic transmission12according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. While the illustrated embodiments of the present invention are particularly adapted for use with an automobile, it is noted that the present invention can be utilized with any suitable motor vehicle including trucks, sport utility vehicles, cross over, buses, vans, recreational vehicles, earth moving equipment and the like, off road vehicles such as dune buggies and the like, air borne vehicles, and water borne vehicles.

The illustrated electronic control system10includes an electric transmission controller or actuator14which selectively actuates the transmission12, a manually-operable gear shifter16selectively providing first command signals to the transmission actuator14to actuate the transmission12, a voice recognition system18selectively providing second command signals to the transmission actuator14to actuate the transmission12, an electronic control unit or module (ECM) or controller20in communication with the various components for controlling the transmission actuator14to selectively shift the transmission12in response to the first and second electric command signals from the gear shifter16and the voice recognition system18respectively.

The transmission12has a plurality of gears or gear positions and an input shaft or lever that pivots or rotates a detent of the transmission12to shift between the plurality of gears of the transmission12. The input lever typically projects laterally outward from a housing22of the transmission while the detent typically is located within the transmission housing22. The illustrated transmission actuator14is secured to the transmission housing22and is operably coupled to the transmission input lever for rotating the detent in a desired manner to select a desired one of the gears in the transmission12.

The illustrated transmission actuator14includes an actuator housing24that is secured to the housing22of the transmission12. The illustrated actuator housing24is secured to the transmission housing22by a plurality of threaded fasteners but it is noted that any other suitable means for securing the actuator housing24can be alternatively be utilized. It is noted that the transmission actuator14can be of any suitable type such as, for example, the actuator disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/985,809, the enclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety actuator housing44can have any suitable shape and can be formed of any suitable material.

The illustrated gear shifter16is includes a lever26movable over a shift path28having gear positions indicating the gear positions of the transmission12. The vehicle operator manually moves the lever26to a position corresponding with the desired gear of the transmission12. The illustrated gear shifter16includes a suitable sensor operably connected to the ECM20which sends a first electric command signal indicating the current gear position of the lever26so that transmission actuator14actuates the transmission12to the desired gear position. It is noted that the gear shifter16can alternatively have any other suitable configuration such as, for example, the gear shifter16can be a plurality of push buttons or the like.

As best shown inFIG. 3, the illustrated shift path28includes the gear positions of park (P), reverse (R), neutral (N), drive (3 or D), and two low gears (2 and 1) which correspond to the gears of the transmission. Thus, as the operator manually moves the illustrated lever26over the shift path28, the lever26consecutively moves from park position (P), to the reverse position (R), to the neutral position (N), to the drive position (3 or D), to the second low gear (2), and then to the first low gear (1). While the illustrated transmission12and shift path28includes three forward gears, that is gears that positively drive the vehicle in the forward direction, it is noted that they can alternatively include a fewer or greater number of forward gears. Also, while the illustrated transmission12and shift path28includes two lower gears, it is noted that they can alternatively include a fewer or greater number of low gears. It is further noted that the transmission12and/or shift path28can alternatively include any other suitable combination or quantities of gear positions.

The illustrated voice recognition system18is operably connected to the ECM20and includes a microphone30or other suitable voice command input device for receiving audible voice commands from the vehicle operator. The voice recognition system18preferably includes a converter device for converting the voice commands to the second electric command signals. The illustrated voice recognition system18includes memory32for electronically storing reference voice commands to which the second electric command signals from the vehicle operator can be compared. It is noted, however, that the voice recognition system18can alternatively be of any other suitable type. When appropriately confirmed and certain predetermined conditions are met, the voice recognition system18sends the second electric command signal indicating the gear position desired by the vehicle operator to the transmission actuator14so that the first electric command signal from the gear shifter16is overridden and the transmission actuator14actuates the transmission12to the gear position audibly commanded by the vehicle operator. The preferred predetermined conditions for overriding the gear shifter position are that the gear shifter is in one of predetermined positions, that is, the voice recognition system18can cause the transmission actuator14to actuate the transmission12between only a portion of the plurality of gear positions. Preferably, the voice recognition system18can only cause the transmission actuator14to actuate the transmission12between forward gear positions such as the illustrated drive position (D) and second and first lower gear positions (2, 1). Thus, the voice recognition system18can preferably override the gear shifter16only when the gear shifter16is positioned in one of the forward gear positions (D, 2, 1). It is noted that any other suitable predetermined conditions can alternatively be utilized if desired. The voice recognition system18can be configured to remain active at all times the vehicle is operating or alternatively a operator input device such as a push button switch or the like can be provided so that the voice recognition system18is active only when initiated by the operator by activating the operator input device.

The illustrated control system10also includes a visual display34in communication with the ECM20and located in a position visible to the vehicle operator such as the vehicle instrument display or at the gear shifter16. The visual display34provides a real time visual indication of the current or actual gear position of the transmission12. It is noted that the location of the gear shifter16will not provide the actual gear position of the transmission12when the voice recognition system18has overridden the gear shifter16. The visual display34can be of any suitable type.

The ECM20is preferably a computer unit or module having processing means and memory means. The ECM20is preferably the central processing unit for the motor vehicle but alternatively can be a separate stand-alone unit. The ECM20is electrically connected to the transmission actuator14in a suitable manner such as, for example, wires or cables. The ECM20is also electrically connected to a source of electric power in the motor vehicle such as, for example, a battery36, in a suitable manner such as, for example, wires or cables. The ECM20is additionally electrically connected to the manual gear shifter16and the voice recognition system18, each in a suitable manner such as, for example, wires or cables. The illustrated ECM20is also electrically connected to an ignition switch38in a suitable manner such as wires or cables. The ignition switch38provides a control signal to the ECM20which indicates when the ignition switch38is engaged so that the ECM20can prevent/permit certain transmission gear changes under selected conditions as ignition on or ignition off. The ECM20can also be connected to a brake interlock switch which is used by the ECM20to ensure that the operator is depressing a brake pedal of the motor vehicle before the ECM20permits the transmission gears to be shifted out of the park gear (P). As best shown inFIG. 2, the various components are preferably electrically connected via a Powertrain CAN Bus40of the vehicle. It is noted that any of the components can be combined as desired such as, for example, the voice recognition system18can be part of the ECM20. The ECM20receives signals from the various components sends command signals to the transmission actuator14as described in more detail hereinafter.

During operation of the illustrated embodiment, the operator manually moves or pivots the manual gear shifter16to a position indicating a desired transmission gear such as, for example, P, R, N, D, 2, or 1, when the operator wants to change gears of the transmission12. The ECM20receives the command signal from the manual gear shifter16indicating the desired transmission gear selected by the operator. The ECM20compares the desired transmission gear, indicated by the current position of the manual gear shifter16, with the current transmission gear, indicated by the current position of the transmission actuator14. If the desired transmission gear and the current transmission gear are not the same, the ECM20sends a first electric command signal to the transmission actuator14to actuate the transmission12to the desired gear position. If at any time the vehicle operator issues a voice command to change gears, the voice recognition system18compares the voice command to the stored reference commands. If the current gear is a forward gear (D, 2, 1) and it is an appropriate command to switch gears to one of the other forward gears (D, 2, 1), the ECM20sends a second electric command signal that overrides the gear shifter position to the transmission actuator14to actuate the transmission12to the desired gear position. The visual display34indicates the actual gear position of the transmission12. If the current gear is not a forward gear (D, 2, 1) or the voice command is not an appropriate command to switch gears to one of the other forward gears (D, 2, 1), the ECM20does not override the gear shifter position.

FIG. 4illustrates a second embodiment wherein the system10is identical to the first embodiment described above except that the lower gear positions (2, 1) of the gear shifter16have been eliminated. Thus, in this embodiment, the gear shifter16provides the first command signals to the transmission actuator14to actuate the transmission12between only a portion of the plurality of gear positions, that is, all of the gear positions except the lower gear positions. The change the transmission12to the lower gear positions (2, 1), the voice recognition system18must be utilized. It is noted that this embodiment permits the size of the gear shifter16to be reduced by reducing the length of the shift path28.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing detailed description of the present invention that the control system10according to the present invention reduces gear shifter16component cost, simplifies driver control, and modernizes the gear selection method. Additionally, the second embodiment greatly reduces the size of the gear shifter18by reducing the required travel to achieve the lower gear positions (2, 1) or remove the range selection features of the gear shifter16.

From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.