US3726159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission shift pattern generator
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1971-03-15
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Granted: 1973-04-10
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Expires: 1991-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An electronic control system for shifting an automotive automatic transmission between two adjacent speed ranges. An electronic circuit or shift pattern generator of the control system includes a trigger circuit having two transistors cascaded and a feedback circuit between the input and output of the trigger circuit. Upon reception of voltage signals representative respectively of engine torque, vehicle speed and, if any, a forced downshift of the transmission, the electronic circuit produces a variety of transmission speed changes or shift patterns, the slope and hysteresis of which can be changed by selecting the resistances of the input resistors and/or of the feedback circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 M Mizote
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0204; F16H61/0206; F16H59/00; F16H59/14; F16H59/18; F16H59/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
For use in a vehicle, in combination, a source of motive power and an automatic transmission for coupling the source of motive power to a drive mechanism of a vehicle, and an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: torque-signal producing means detecting the torque of the source of motive power and producing a torque signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the torque of the source of motive power; speed-signal producing means detecting a physical variable varying proportionately as the speed of the vehicle on which said combination is mounted and producing a speed signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; forced shiftdown signal procuding means producing a forced shiftdown signal comprising a voltage signal representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; actuating means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in parallel for energizing said actuating means when the sum of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said forced shiftdown signal to said circuit means in parallel with said torque and speed signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input connected to said torque signal producing means, speed-signal producing means and forced shiftdown signal producing means and an output applying a trigger signal to said actuating means, and a feedback circuit interconnecting said input and output, said feedback circuit including resistance means, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough a portion of voltage signal appearing at said output upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of said forced shiftdown signal for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
For use in a vehicle, in combination, a source of motive power and an automatic transmission for coupling the source of motive power to a drive mechanism of a vehicle, and an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: torque-signal producing means detecting the torque of the source of motive power and producing a torque signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the torque of the source of motive power; speed-signal producing means detecting a physical variable varying proportionately as the speed of the vehicle on which said combination is mounted and producing a speed signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; forced shiftdown signal procuding means producing a forced shiftdown signal comprising a voltage signal representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; actuating means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in parallel for energizing said actuating means when the sum of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said forced shiftdown signal to said circuit means in parallel with said torque and speed signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input connected to said torque signal producing means, speed-signal producing means and forced shiftdown signal producing means and an output applying a trigger signal to said actuating means, and a feedback circuit interconnecting said input and output, said feedback circuit including resistance means, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough a portion of voltage signal appearing at said output upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of said forced shiftdown signal for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
255 words
For use in an automotive vehicle, in combination, a throttle-controlled engine, an automative transmission for coupling the engine to drive mechanism of a vehicle, and an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: first detection means producing a first voltage signal which is a function of throttle valve position; second detection means producing a second voltage signal which is a function of transmission output speed; third detection means producing a third voltage signal which is representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; electro-hydraulic means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said first, second and third voltage signals in parallel for energizing said electro-hydraulic means when the sum of said first, second and third voltage signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said third voltage signal to said circuit means in parallel with said first and second voltage signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input connected to said first, second and third deTection means and an output applying a trigger signal to said electro-hydraulic means, and a feedback circuit interconnecting said input and output, said feedback circuit including resistance means, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough a portion of a voltage signal appearing at said output upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of said third voltage signal for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
255 words
For use in an automotive vehicle, in combination, a throttle-controlled engine, an automative transmission for coupling the engine to drive mechanism of a vehicle, and an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: first detection means producing a first voltage signal which is a function of throttle valve position; second detection means producing a second voltage signal which is a function of transmission output speed; third detection means producing a third voltage signal which is representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; electro-hydraulic means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said first, second and third voltage signals in parallel for energizing said electro-hydraulic means when the sum of said first, second and third voltage signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said third voltage signal to said circuit means in parallel with said first and second voltage signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input connected to said first, second and third deTection means and an output applying a trigger signal to said electro-hydraulic means, and a feedback circuit interconnecting said input and output, said feedback circuit including resistance means, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough a portion of a voltage signal appearing at said output upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of said third voltage signal for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
266 words
For use in a vehicle, in combination, a source of motive power and an automatic transmission for coupling the source of motive power to a drive mechanism of a vehicle, an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: torque-signal producing means detecting the torque of the source of motive power and producing a torque signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the torque of the source of motive power; speed-signal producing means detecting a physical variable varying proportionately as the speed of the vehicle on which said combination is mounted and producing a speed signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; forced shiftdown signal producing means producing a forced shiftdown signal comprising a voltage signal representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; actuating means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in parallel for energizing said actuating means when the sum of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said forced shiftdown signal to said circuit means in parallel with said torque and speed signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said actuating means, resistance means connected in series with said torque-signal producing means and said input, and a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said torque signal upon reception of a voltage signal appearing at said output.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
266 words
For use in a vehicle, in combination, a source of motive power and an automatic transmission for coupling the source of motive power to a drive mechanism of a vehicle, an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: torque-signal producing means detecting the torque of the source of motive power and producing a torque signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the torque of the source of motive power; speed-signal producing means detecting a physical variable varying proportionately as the speed of the vehicle on which said combination is mounted and producing a speed signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; forced shiftdown signal producing means producing a forced shiftdown signal comprising a voltage signal representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; actuating means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in parallel for energizing said actuating means when the sum of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said forced shiftdown signal to said circuit means in parallel with said torque and speed signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said actuating means, resistance means connected in series with said torque-signal producing means and said input, and a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said torque signal upon reception of a voltage signal appearing at said output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
224 words
For use in an automotive vehicle, in combination, a throttle-controlled engine and an automatic transmission for coupling the engine to drive mechanism of a vehicle, an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: first detection means producing a first voltage signal which is a function of throttle valve position; second detection means producing a second voltage signal which is a function of transmission output speed; third detection means producing a third voltage signal which is representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; electro-hydraulic means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said first, second and third voltage signals in parallel for energizing said electro-hydraulic means when the sum of said first, second and third voltage signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said third voltage signal to said circuit means in parallel with said first and second voltage signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said electro-hydraulic means, resistance means connected in series with said first detection means and said input, and a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said first voltage signal upon reception of a voltage signal appearing at said output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
224 words
For use in an automotive vehicle, in combination, a throttle-controlled engine and an automatic transmission for coupling the engine to drive mechanism of a vehicle, an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: first detection means producing a first voltage signal which is a function of throttle valve position; second detection means producing a second voltage signal which is a function of transmission output speed; third detection means producing a third voltage signal which is representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; electro-hydraulic means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said first, second and third voltage signals in parallel for energizing said electro-hydraulic means when the sum of said first, second and third voltage signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said third voltage signal to said circuit means in parallel with said first and second voltage signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said electro-hydraulic means, resistance means connected in series with said first detection means and said input, and a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said first voltage signal upon reception of a voltage signal appearing at said output.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
285 words
For use in a vehicle, in combination, a source of motive power and an automatic transmission for coupling the source of motive power to a drive mechanism of a vehicle, an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: torque-signal producing means detecting the torque of the source of motive power and producing a torque signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the torque of the source of motive power; speed-signal producing means detecting a physical variable varying proportionately as the speed of the vehicle on which said combination is mounted and producing a speed signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; forced shiftdown signal producing means producing a forced shiftdown signal comprising a voltage signal representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; actuating means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in parallel for energizing said actuating means when the sum of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said forced shiftdown signal to said circuit means in parallel with said torque and speed signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said actuating means, resistance means connected in series with said speed signal producing means and said input, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said speed signal upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of a voltage signal appearing at said output for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
285 words
For use in a vehicle, in combination, a source of motive power and an automatic transmission for coupling the source of motive power to a drive mechanism of a vehicle, an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: torque-signal producing means detecting the torque of the source of motive power and producing a torque signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the torque of the source of motive power; speed-signal producing means detecting a physical variable varying proportionately as the speed of the vehicle on which said combination is mounted and producing a speed signal comprising a voltage signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; forced shiftdown signal producing means producing a forced shiftdown signal comprising a voltage signal representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; actuating means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals in parallel for energizing said actuating means when the sum of said torque, speed and forced shiftdown signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said forced shiftdown signal to said circuit means in parallel with said torque and speed signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said actuating means, resistance means connected in series with said speed signal producing means and said input, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said speed signal upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of a voltage signal appearing at said output for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
241 words
For use in an automotive vehicle, in combination, a throttle-controlled engine, an automatic transmission for coupling the engine to drive mechanism of a vehicle, and an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: first detection means producing a first voltage signal which is a function of throttle valve position; second detection means producing a second voltage signal which is a function of transmission output speed; third detection means producing a third voltage signal which is representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; electro-hydraulic means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said first, second and third voltage signals in parallel for energizing said electro-hydraulic means when the sum of said first, second and third voltage signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said third voltage signal to said circuit means in parallel with said first and second voltage signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said electro-hydraulic means, resistance means connected in series with said second detection means and said input, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said second voltage signal upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of a voltage signal appearing at said output for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
241 words
For use in an automotive vehicle, in combination, a throttle-controlled engine, an automatic transmission for coupling the engine to drive mechanism of a vehicle, and an electronic control system for shifting the transmission between two adjacent speed ranges, said control system comprising: first detection means producing a first voltage signal which is a function of throttle valve position; second detection means producing a second voltage signal which is a function of transmission output speed; third detection means producing a third voltage signal which is representative of a forced shiftdown operation of the transmission; electro-hydraulic means for selectively actuating speed change elements of the transmission when energized; circuit means receptive of said first, second and third voltage signals in parallel for energizing said electro-hydraulic means when the sum of said first, second and third voltage signals is above a predetermined triggering level; and means applying said third voltage signal to said circuit means in parallel with said first and second voltage signals when a forced shiftdown occurs, said circuit means comprising a trigger circuit having two cascaded transistors, an input and an output applying a trigger signal to said electro-hydraulic means, resistance means connected in series with said second detection means and said input, a bypass transistor for bypassing therethrough said second voltage signal upon reception of a predetermined level of voltage, and a transistor receptive of a voltage signal appearing at said output for controlling the reception of said bypass transistor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |