Kick-down control system for use in automatic transmission system of automobiles

Claim 2

A kick-down control system for use in automatic transmission systems of automobiles, which comprises a gear position detector circuit generating a gear position signal corresponding to a position of the gear-shift mechanism; a vehicle speed detector circuit generating two vehicle speed signals proportional to the vehicle speed; a kick-down switch acting and detecting the position of the accelerator pedal pushed down on to generate a kick-down signal; a first NAND circuit receiving said gear position signal, the first of said two vehicle speed signals, and an output signal from a second NAND circuit; said second NAND circuit receiving an output signal from said first NAND circuit, the second of said two vehicle speed signals and said kick-down signal; wherein the output signal from said second NAND circuit determines the position of the gear-shift mechanism.

Claim 3

A kick-down control system for use in automatic transmission systems of automobiles according to claim 1, wherein said gear-shift mechanism is adapted to be shifted down to the next gear when a first predetermined automobile speed is reached and is subsequently shifted up to the next gear when a second predetermined automobile speed, which is higher than said first automobile speed, is reached.

Claim 4

A kick-down control system for use in automatic transmission systems of automobiles according to claim 1, wherein said gear position signal is produced in response to energization or de-energization of an electromagnetic solenoid of a solenoid valve until for opening and closing a hydraulic pressure circuit to shift said gear mechanism.

Claim 5

A kick-down switch for use in a kick-down control system according to claim 1, which comprises a magnetic shield movable in correspondence to the throttle valve opening, a magnet fixed in position with respect to the carburetor body, and relay contacts disposed on the side of said magnetic shield opposite said magnet and operated by leakage magnetic flux produced by said magnet, said magnetic shield being movable between said magnet and said relay contacts.

Claim 6

A kick-down switch for use in a kick-down control system according to claim 1, which comprises a magnetic shelter movable in correspondence to the throttle valve opening, a magnet fixed in position with respect to the carburetor body, and relay contacts disposed on the side of said magnetic shelter opposite said magnet and operated by leakage magnetic flux produced by said magnet, wherein the leakage magnetic flux set up by said magnet is variable with change in at least one of the engine output and engine speed to cause corresponding movement of said shelter between said magnet and said relay contacts so as to operate said relay contacts.

Claim 7

A kick-down control system for use with an electrically actuated automatic transmission system for an accelerator operated vehicle wherein the transmission has means for generating electric signals of shifting gear-position corresponding to the vehicle condition and means for driving a gear shift mechanism in response to the signal of said means, said system comprising: means for generating a signal corresponding to a gear position, means for generating two different speed signals respectively corresponding to two predetermined vehicle speeds, means for generating a kick-down signal when the accelerator is pushed down, a first NAND circuit, and a second NAND circuit, said first NAND circuit receiving the signal corresponding to the gear position, one of said speed signals, and an output signal of said second NAND circuit, said second NAND circuit receiving an output signal of said first NAND circuit, the other of said two speed signals, and said kick-down signal, wherein the output signal of said second NAND circuit affects said means for driving to attain the kick-down.

Claim 8

A kick-down control system for use with an electrically actuated automatic transmission system for an accelerator operated vehicle wherein the transmission has means for generating electric signals of shifting gear-position corresponding to the vehicle condition and means for driving a gear shift mechanism in response to the signal of said means, said system comprising: means for generating a signal corresponding to a gear position, means for generating two different speed signals respectively corresponding to two predetermined vehicle speeds, means for generating a kick-down signal when the accelerator is pushed down, a first NAND circuit, and a second NAND circuit, said first NAND circuit receiving the signal corresponding to the gear position, one of said speed signals, and an output signal of said second NAND circuit, said second NAND circuit receiving an output signal of said first NAND circuit, the other of said two speed signals, and said kick-down signal, wherein the output signal of said second NAND circuit affects said means for driving to attain the kick-down.

Claim 9

A kick-down control system for use with an electrically actuated automatic transmission system of automobile according to claim 6, wherein the kick-down is attained when the first of said two signals is reached and is subsequently canceled when the second of said two signals is reached which is higher than the first.

Claim 10

A kick-down control system for use with electrically actuated automatic transmission system of automobile including means for generating electric signals of shifting gear position corresponding to the vehicle condition and means for driving a gear shift mechanism having electro magnetic solenoid values in response to the signal of said means, which comprises means for generating a signal in response to energization and de-energization of one of said electro-magnetic solenoid values, means for generating an electric voltage proportional to the vehicle speed, means for generating a first predetermined speed signal when the voltage attains a first predetermined value, means for generating a second predetermined signal when the voltage attains a second predetermined value which is higher than the first, means for generating a kick-down signal when the accelerator is pushed down, a first NAND circuit, and a second NAND circuit, said first NAND circuit receiving the signal corresponding to the gear position, the first of two signals corresponding to the vehicle speeds, and an output signal of said second NAND circuit, said second NAND circuit receiving an output signal of said first NAND circuit, the second of said two signals corresponding to the vehicle speeds, and said kick-down signal, wherein the output signal of said second AND circuit affects said means for driving to energize and de-energize the one of said electro-magentic solenoid value.

Claim 11

A kick-down control system for use with electrically actuated automatic transmission system of automobile including means for generating electric signals of shifting gear position corresponding to the vehicle condition and means for driving a gear shift mechanism having electro magnetic solenoid values in response to the signal of said means, which comprises means for generating a signal in response to energization and de-energization of one of said electro-magnetic solenoid values, means for generating an electric voltage proportional to the vehicle speed, means for generating a first predetermined speed signal when the voltage attains a first predetermined value, means for generating a second predetermined signal when the voltage attains a second predetermined value which is higher than the first, means for generating a kick-down signal when the accelerator is pushed down, a first NAND circuit, and a second NAND circuit, said first NAND circuit receiving the signal corresponding to the gear position, the first of two signals corresponding to the vehicle speeds, and an output signal of said second NAND circuit, said second NAND circuit receiving an output signal of said first NAND circuit, the second of said two signals corresponding to the vehicle speeds, and said kick-down signal, wherein the output signal of said second AND circuit affects said means for driving to energize and de-energize the one of said electro-magentic solenoid value.