Patent ID: 8909444

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling a motor vehicle transmission with a number of operating modes including at least one non-drive mode and at least one drive mode, the apparatus comprising: a multi-stable selector for operation by a driver to select a respective one of the operating modes of the transmission; at least one sensor for sensing the position of the selector in a range of possible positions and configured to generate a signal concerning the position; an electronic controller configured to receive the signal from the at least one sensor and select one of the number of operating modes based upon the signal; wherein the multi-stable selector includes a mechanism configured to provide a number of stable positions corresponding to the number of operating modes with each stable position representing a specific operating mode, the mechanism further configured to provide a peak and trough force feedback so as to enable the perception of a transition from one stable position to another stable position; and wherein the electronic controller is further operable to divide the output range of the at least one sensor into a number of bands having upper and lower limits, the bands corresponding respectively to the number of operating modes, and to arrange the bands such that, when the selector is located at any one of the stable positions, a magnitude of the signal output from the at least one sensor falls within a respective one of the bands, the upper and lower limits of each band being different depending on the direction of movement of the selector.