Control device for automatic transmission in automobiles

Claim 2

A control device for an automatic transmission in an automotive vehicle of the kind in which the running conditions of the vehicle are detected for controlling the combination of transmission gears, comprising a slope signal generator generating an output signal when the inclination of the vehicle body exceeds a predetermined setting, a vehicle speed signal generator generating an output signal when the running speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined setting, a full-closed throttle position sensor generating an output signal when the throttle valve is in the full-closed position, a foot brake actuation sensor generating an output signal in response to the actuation of the foot brake, an OR gate connected to said foot brake actuation sensor to receive a first input therefrom, an AND gate connected to said slope signal generator, said vehicle speed signal generator, said full-closed throttle position sensor and said OR gate to receive a plurality of inputs therefrom, circuit means for applying the output signal of said AND gate to said OR gate as a second input to the latter, and a gear change signal generator connected to said AND gate for controlling the transmission gears so as to establish a gear combination most suitable for braking of the engine depending on the output signal of said AND gate.

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gear change signal generator delivers an output signal for establishing a specific transmission gear combination in response to the application of the output signal of said AND gate.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means for sensing the opening of the throttle valve and generating an output signal representative of the opening of the throttle valve and means for generating an output signal representative of the speed of the vehicle are provided to apply their output signals to said gear change signal generator so that said gear change signal generator generates a signal for establishing a suitable transmission gear combination in response to the application of these signals, and said gear change signal generator generates a gear change signal for changing the gears at a higher vehicle speed in response to the application of the output signal of said AND gate.

Claim 5

An electric transmission gear control device for an automatic transmission in an automotive vehicle comprising: a. a gear change signal generator controlled by combinations of the signals from a throttle valve opening sensor for sensing the opening of a throttle valve and a vehicle speed signal generator for generating an output signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; b. a downhill sensor generating a first output signal when the inclination of the vehicle body exceeds a predetermined setting; c. an exceeding speed sensor generating a second output signal when the running speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined setting; d. a full-closed throttle position sensor generating a third output signal when the throttle valve is in the full-closed position; e. a foot brake actuation sensor generating a fourth output signal in response to the actuation of a foot brake; f. an OR gate receiving the fourth output signal from said foot brake actuation sensor as its first input signal and generating a fifth output signal; and g. an AND gate receiving the first, second third and fifth output signals from said downhill sensor, said exceeding speEd sensor, said full-closed throttle position, sensor, and said OR gate, respectively and generating a resultant output signal, said resultant output signal being transmitted to said OR gate as its second input signal and to said gear change signal generator, so as to change its output signal to a predetermined lower gear signal irrespective of the combination of the signals from said throttle valve opening sensor and said vehicle speed signal generator.

Claim 6

An electric transmission gear control device for an automatic transmission in an automotive vehicle comprising: a. a gear change signal generator controlled by combinations of the signals from a throttle valve opening sensor for sensing the opening of a throttle valve and a vehicle speed signal generator for generating an output signal representative of the speed of the vehicle; b. a downhill sensor generating a first output signal when the inclination of the vehicle body exceeds a predetermined setting; c. an exceeding speed sensor generating a second output signal when the running speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined setting; d. a full-closed throttle position sensor generating a third output signal when the throttle valve is in the full-closed position; e. a foot brake actuation sensor generating a fourth output signal in response to the actuation of a foot brake; f. an OR gate receiving the fourth output signal from said foot brake actuation sensor as its first input signal and generating a fifth output signal; and g. an AND gate receiving the first, second third and fifth output signals from said downhill sensor, said exceeding speEd sensor, said full-closed throttle position, sensor, and said OR gate, respectively and generating a resultant output signal, said resultant output signal being transmitted to said OR gate as its second input signal and to said gear change signal generator, so as to change its output signal to a predetermined lower gear signal irrespective of the combination of the signals from said throttle valve opening sensor and said vehicle speed signal generator.

Claim 7

An electric transmission gear control device for an automatic transmission in an automotive vehicle comprising: a. a gear change signal generator controlled by combinations of signals from a throttle valve opening sensor for sending the opening of a throttle valve and a vehicle speed signal generator having a tacho-generator generating a signal in response to the vehicle speed and rectifier means for rectifying the signal from the tachogenerator; b. a downhill sensor having a Colpitts oscillator, a first coil for receiving an oscillation signal from the Colpitts oscillator, a second coil magnetically coupled with the first coil, a shield plate disposed between the first and second coils for varying the oscillation signal to be transmitted therebetween in response to the inclination of the vehicle, and a first comparator comparing the modified signal from the second coil with a predetermined first reference signal and generating a first output signal when the magnitude of the modified signal exceeds that of the predetermined first reference signal; c. an exceeding speed sensor having a second comparator comparing the signal from the rectifier means with a predetermined second reference signal and generating a second output signal when the magnitude of the rectified signal exceeds that of the predetermined second reference signal; d. a full-closed throttle position sensor for generating a third output signal when a throttle valve is in a full-closed position; e. a foot brake actuation sensor generating a fourth output signal through a NOT gate in response to the actuation of a foot brake; f. an OR gate receiving the fourth signal from said foot brake actuation sensor as its first input signal and generating a fifth output signal; and g. an AND gate receiving the first, second third and fifth output signals from said downhill sensor, said exceeding speed sensor, a full-closed throttle position sensor, said OR gate respectively, and generating a resultant output signal, said resultant output signal being transmitted to said OR gate as its second input signal and to said gear change signal generator to change its output signal to a predetermined lower gear signal irrespective of the combinations of the signals from said throttle valve opening sensor and said vehicle speed signal generator.

Claim 8

An electric transmission gear control device for an automatic transmission in an automotive vehicle comprising: a. a gear change signal generator controlled by combinations of signals from a throttle valve opening sensor for sending the opening of a throttle valve and a vehicle speed signal generator having a tacho-generator generating a signal in response to the vehicle speed and rectifier means for rectifying the signal from the tachogenerator; b. a downhill sensor having a Colpitts oscillator, a first coil for receiving an oscillation signal from the Colpitts oscillator, a second coil magnetically coupled with the first coil, a shield plate disposed between the first and second coils for varying the oscillation signal to be transmitted therebetween in response to the inclination of the vehicle, and a first comparator comparing the modified signal from the second coil with a predetermined first reference signal and generating a first output signal when the magnitude of the modified signal exceeds that of the predetermined first reference signal; c. an exceeding speed sensor having a second comparator comparing the signal from the rectifier means with a predetermined second reference signal and generating a second output signal when the magnitude of the rectified signal exceeds that of the predetermined second reference signal; d. a full-closed throttle position sensor for generating a third output signal when a throttle valve is in a full-closed position; e. a foot brake actuation sensor generating a fourth output signal through a NOT gate in response to the actuation of a foot brake; f. an OR gate receiving the fourth signal from said foot brake actuation sensor as its first input signal and generating a fifth output signal; and g. an AND gate receiving the first, second third and fifth output signals from said downhill sensor, said exceeding speed sensor, a full-closed throttle position sensor, said OR gate respectively, and generating a resultant output signal, said resultant output signal being transmitted to said OR gate as its second input signal and to said gear change signal generator to change its output signal to a predetermined lower gear signal irrespective of the combinations of the signals from said throttle valve opening sensor and said vehicle speed signal generator.

Claim 9

A control device for an automatic transmission in an automotive vehicle comprising: first means, responsive to the inclination of the vehicle, for generating a first output signal upon the downhill inclination of the vehicle exceeding a predetermined slope; second means, responsive to the running speed of the vehicle, for generating a second output signal upon the speed of the vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed; third means, responsive to the position of throttle valve, for generating a third output signal upon the throttle valve being in its fully-closed position; fourth means, responsive to the actuation of the foot brake, for generating a fourth output signal upon the actuation of said foot brake; fifth means, responsive to the position of said throttle valve, for generating a fifth output signal representative of the degree of opening of said throttle valve; sixth means, responsive to the running speed of the vehicle, for generating a sixth output signal representative of the running speed of the vehicle; seventh means, coupled to said first, second, third and fourth means, for generating a seventh output signal In response to the simultaneous existence of said first, second, third and fourth output signals; and eighth means, coupled to said fifth, sixth and seventh means, for normally selecting the gears of said transmission in accordance with said fifth and sixth output signals and for selecting a prescribed gear of said transmission in response to said seventh output signal irrespective of said fifth and sixth output signals.

Claim 10

A control device for an automatic transmission in an automotive vehicle comprising: first means, responsive to the inclination of the vehicle, for generating a first output signal upon the downhill inclination of the vehicle exceeding a predetermined slope; second means, responsive to the running speed of the vehicle, for generating a second output signal upon the speed of the vehicle exceeding a predetermined speed; third means, responsive to the position of throttle valve, for generating a third output signal upon the throttle valve being in its fully-closed position; fourth means, responsive to the actuation of the foot brake, for generating a fourth output signal upon the actuation of said foot brake; fifth means, responsive to the position of said throttle valve, for generating a fifth output signal representative of the degree of opening of said throttle valve; sixth means, responsive to the running speed of the vehicle, for generating a sixth output signal representative of the running speed of the vehicle; seventh means, coupled to said first, second, third and fourth means, for generating a seventh output signal In response to the simultaneous existence of said first, second, third and fourth output signals; and eighth means, coupled to said fifth, sixth and seventh means, for normally selecting the gears of said transmission in accordance with said fifth and sixth output signals and for selecting a prescribed gear of said transmission in response to said seventh output signal irrespective of said fifth and sixth output signals.

Claim 11

A control device according to claim 6, wherein said fourth means includes means, coupled to the output of said seventh means, for additionally generating said fourth output signal in response to said seventh output signal.

Claim 12

A control device according to claim 6, further including ninth means, coupled to said fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth means, for causing said eighth means to select said prescribed gear at a higher vehicle speed even though said throttle valve is closed.

Claim 13

A control device according to claim 8, wherein said ninth means comprises switching means, responsive to the generation of said seventh output signal, for shifting the level of the output of said fifth means.

Claim 14

A control device according to claim 9, wherein said third means includes means, coupled to the output of said seventh means, for additionally generating said third output signal in response to said seventh output signal.

Claim 15

A control device according to claim 10, further including tenth means, responsive to the output of said fifth means, for preventing said seventh means for generating said seventh output signal upon an increase in the level of said fifth output signal above a prescribed level.

Claim 16

A control device according to claim 11, wherein said fourth means includes means, coupled to the output of said seventh means, for additionally generating said fourth output signal in response to said seventh output signal.

Claim 17

A control device according to claim 12, wherein said seventh means comprises an AND gate and each of said third and fourth means includes an OR gate coupled between the output of said AND gate and a respective input thereof.