Patent ID: 7949450

Claim:
A control system for a transmission, the transmission having a first mode of operation, a second mode of operation, and a third mode of operation, the control system comprising: a controller for providing a first control signal and a second control signal; a first solenoid in communication with the controller and having a first port for receiving a first fluid flow and a second port in communication with the first port for selectively receiving the first fluid flow; a second solenoid in communication with the controller and having a first port for receiving a second fluid flow and a second port in communication with the first port for selectively receiving the second fluid flow; and a valve assembly having a valve movably disposed within a valve body, the valve body having a first inlet port in communication with the second port of the first solenoid, a second inlet port in communication with second port of the second solenoid, a third inlet port for receiving a third fluid flow, an outlet port in communication with the third inlet port for selectively receiving the third fluid flow, and the valve having a first signal area in communication with the first inlet port and a second signal area in communication with the second inlet port; wherein the first control signal activates the first solenoid to allow the second port of the first solenoid to receive the first fluid flow and communicate the first fluid flow to the first inlet port of the valve assembly wherein the first fluid flow contacts the first signal area and moves the valve to a first position to allow the third fluid flow to communicate with the outlet port at a first pressure, wherein the second control signal activates the second solenoid to allow the second port of the second solenoid to receive the second fluid flow and communicate the second fluid flow to the second inlet port of the valve assembly wherein the second fluid flow contacts the second signal area and moves the valve to a second position to allow the third fluid flow to communicate with the outlet port at a second pressure, and wherein both the first control signal and the second control signal activate the first and second solenoids to allow the first fluid flow to contact the first signal area and the second fluid flow to contact the second signal area to move the valve to a third position to allow the third fluid flow to communicate with the outlet port at a third pressure; and wherein the first pressure of the third fluid flow initiates the first mode of transmission operation, the second pressure of the third fluid flow initiates the second mode of transmission operation, and the third pressure of the third fluid flow initiates the third mode of transmission operation.