US4622637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optimum shift timing indicating device for a vehicle
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1983-09-22
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Granted: 1986-11-11
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Expires: 2003-09-22
Abstract
Abstract An optimum shift timing indicating device for a vehicle includes: a speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of an engine or a running speed of the vehicle; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; a data processing device having a data map or maps fewer in number than gear positions of the vehicle transmission, said data map or maps having a set shift-up region and/or shift-down region selected in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine or the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load, for emitting a shift-up instruction signal and/or a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine or the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load; and a shift instructing device for giving a driver a shift-up instruction and/or a shift-down instruction in response to an output from said data processing device; so that instruction about the optimum shift timing can be given to the driver with the use of only a small memory capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuo Tomita
- 👤 Kouhei Igarashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:29
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H61/00; F16H61/02; F16H61/0202; F16H61/0204; F16H61/0213; F16H63/00; F16H63/40; F16H63/42; F16H2061/0075; F16H2061/0096; F16H2063/426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: an engine speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of a vehicle engine; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one map having a set shift-up region and a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine and the engine load, for emitting one of a shift-up instruction signal and a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected rotational speed of the engine and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver one of a shift-up instruction and a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: an engine speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of a vehicle engine; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one map having a set shift-up region and a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine and the engine load, for emitting one of a shift-up instruction signal and a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected rotational speed of the engine and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver one of a shift-up instruction and a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said engine load is obtained from an intake air flowrate per rotation of the engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one data map includes a single data map.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further including a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a speed of said vehicle and wherein said at least one data map includes two data maps respectively set in accordance with a gear position on a higher speeds' side and a gear position on a lower speeds' side of said transmission.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device according to claim 4 wherein a set shift-down region for a gear position on a higher speeds' side and a set shift-down region for a gear position on a lower speeds' side of said transmission are the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said data processing means is prevented from emitting said one of a shift-up instruction signal and a shift-down instruction signal when a throttle valve is closed, a clutch is in operation or the vehicle is stopped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, further including a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a speed of said vehicle, and wherein said data processing means is prevented from emitting said shift-up instruction signal during vehicle operation at a highest speed gear position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said shift instructing means gives aural instructions and visual instructions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device according to claim 1, further including vehicle speed sensor means for detecting the speed of the vehicle, and wherein said data processing means includes means for determining a gear position by calculating a ratio between the rotational speed of the engine and the detected vehicle speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating-device for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running speed of the vehicle; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; a data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than a number of gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said data map having a set shift-up region and a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load, for emitting one of a shift-up instruction signal and a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected running speed of the vehicle and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver one of a shift-up instruction and a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signals output from said data processing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating-device for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running speed of the vehicle; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; a data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than a number of gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said data map having a set shift-up region and a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load, for emitting one of a shift-up instruction signal and a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected running speed of the vehicle and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver one of a shift-up instruction and a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signals output from said data processing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said engine load is obtained from an intake air flowrate per rotation of the engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said at least one data map includes a single data map.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said at least one data map includes two data maps respectively set in accordance with a gear position on a higher speeds' side and a gear position on a lower speeds' side of said transmission.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said data processing means is prevented from emitting said one of a shift-up instruction signal and a shift-down instruction signal when a throttle valve is closed, a clutch is in operation or the vehicle is stopped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said data processing means is prevented from emitting said shift-up instruction signal during vehicle operation at a highest speed gear position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein said shift instructing means gives aural instructions and visual instructions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running speed of the vehicle; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than a number of gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-up region varying in accordance with the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load, for emitting a shift-up instruction signal in accordance with the detected running speed of the vehicle and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-up instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data process means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running speed of the vehicle; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than a number of gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-up region varying in accordance with the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load, for emitting a shift-up instruction signal in accordance with the detected running speed of the vehicle and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-up instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data process means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
130 words
An optimun shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running speed of the vehicle; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; a data process means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than a number of gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load, for emitting a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected running speed of the vehicle and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
An optimun shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a running speed of the vehicle; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; a data process means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than a number of gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the running speed of the vehicle and the engine load, for emitting a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected running speed of the vehicle and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: an engine speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of an engine; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-up region varying in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine and the engine load, for emitting a shift-up instruction signal in accordance with the detected rotational speed of the engine and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-up instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
126 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: an engine speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of an engine; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-up region varying in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine and the engine load, for emitting a shift-up instruction signal in accordance with the detected rotational speed of the engine and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-up instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
127 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: an engine speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of an engine; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; a data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine and the engine load, for emitting a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected rotational speed of the engine and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
127 words
An optimum shift-timing-indicating device for a vehicle comprising: an engine speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of an engine; a load sensor for detecting an engine load; a data processing means having at least one data map so that a number of data maps is fewer in number than gear positions of a transmission of said vehicle, said at least one data map having a set shift-down region varying in accordance with the rotational speed of the engine and the engine load, for emitting a shift-down instruction signal in accordance with the detected rotational speed of the engine and the detected engine load; and shift instructing means for giving a driver a shift-down instruction in response to the instruction signal output from said data processing means.
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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) | 1989-11-10 | 1990-05-12 | 1990-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-11-10 | 1994-05-12 | 1994-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-11-10 | 1998-05-12 | 1998-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |