Automated manual transmission mode selection controller

Claim 2

A hybrid transmission system for a vehicle having an engine, a drive wheel, a drive shaft connected to the drive wheel for rotating the drive wheel, comprising: a manual transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft being driven and driving the output shaft, the output shaft being adapted to cause motion of the drive wheel through the drive shaft, the input and output shafts having a plurality of gears which selectively mesh for engagement to vary a relative speed of rotation between the input shaft and the output shaft; a plurality of shift motors to effect engagement and disengagement of the gears; a clutch for selectively coupling the engine to the transmission; a clutch motor for engaging and disengaging the clutch; an electric machine connected to the input shaft for selectively increasing and decreasing the speed of the input shaft; and a transmission controller which receives a plurality of input signals and generates a plurality of output signals, the output signals controlling the motors in order to effect changing gears of the transmission; wherein the transmission operates in one of a plurality of modes, and the transmission controller selects between one of the plurality of modes in accordance with a hierarchy established to prioritize selection of the modes and wherein each of the plurality of modes is assigned a value that defines the mode, and the values define the hierarchy for prioritizing the modes, wherein either higher values take priority over lower values or lower values take priority over higher values.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission operates in one of eight modes comprising a coast mode, a downshift mode, an upshift mode, a kickdown mode, a drive mode, a regenerative braking mode, an idle drive mode, a reverse mode, and a park neutral mode.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the modes are assigned values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, corresponding to the coast mode, the downshift mode, the upshift mode, the kickdown mode, the drive mode, the regenerative braking mode, the idle drive mode, the reverse mode, and the park neutral mode, respectively.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the modes having higher values have priority over modes having lower values.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission controller defines a default mode of operation.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electric machine varies the speed of the input shaft so that the relative speeds of the input shaft and output shaft enables synchronization of the gears.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission controller further comprises a logic controller for determining the output signals, wherein the logic controller includes a mode select controller which tests for each respective mode and outputs a mode in accordance with the hierarchy.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission controller includes a plurality of sections for controlling particular aspects of the transmission, comprising: gear logic for determining a desired gear for operating the transmission; torque reduction logic to vary a torque output by the engine; shifter position logic for controlling the shift motors; motor control logic to control the direction and output of the electric machine; mode selection logic for testing for each respective mode and selecting a mode for output in accordance with the hierarchy; shift state logic for controlling a sequence of events for operating the transmission; and clutch command logic for positioning the clutch to effect smooth operation of the transmission.

Claim 10

A hybrid transmission system for a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, a drive wheel, a drive shaft connected to the drive wheel for rotating the drive wheel, comprising: a manual transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft being driven and driving the output shaft, the output shaft being adapted to cause of the drive wheel through the drive shaft, the input and output shafts having a plurality of gears which selectively mesh for engagement to vary a relative speed of rotation between the input shaft and the output shaft; a plurality of shift motors to effect engagement and disengagement of the gears; a clutch for selectively coupling the engine to the transmission; a clutch motor for engaging and disengaging the clutch; an electric machine connected to the input shaft for selectively increasing and decreasing the speed of the input shaft, the electric machine varying the speed of the input shaft so that the relative speed between the input shaft and output shaft enables synchronization of the gears; and a transmission controller which receives a plurality of input signals and generates a plurality of output signals, the output signals controlling the motors in order to effect changing gears of the transmission; wherein the transmission operates in one of a plurality of modes, and the transmission controller includes mode select logic for selecting between one of the plurality of modes in accordance with a hierarchy established to prioritize selection of the modes and each of the plurality of modes is assigned a value, and the values define the hierarchy for prioritizing the modes, wherein either higher values take priority over lower values or lower values take priority over higher values.

Claim 11

A hybrid transmission system for a vehicle, the vehicle having an engine, a drive wheel, a drive shaft connected to the drive wheel for rotating the drive wheel, comprising: a manual transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft being driven and driving the output shaft, the output shaft being adapted to cause of the drive wheel through the drive shaft, the input and output shafts having a plurality of gears which selectively mesh for engagement to vary a relative speed of rotation between the input shaft and the output shaft; a plurality of shift motors to effect engagement and disengagement of the gears; a clutch for selectively coupling the engine to the transmission; a clutch motor for engaging and disengaging the clutch; an electric machine connected to the input shaft for selectively increasing and decreasing the speed of the input shaft, the electric machine varying the speed of the input shaft so that the relative speed between the input shaft and output shaft enables synchronization of the gears; and a transmission controller which receives a plurality of input signals and generates a plurality of output signals, the output signals controlling the motors in order to effect changing gears of the transmission; wherein the transmission operates in one of a plurality of modes, and the transmission controller includes mode select logic for selecting between one of the plurality of modes in accordance with a hierarchy established to prioritize selection of the modes and each of the plurality of modes is assigned a value, and the values define the hierarchy for prioritizing the modes, wherein either higher values take priority over lower values or lower values take priority over higher values.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transmission operates in one of eight modes comprising a coast mode, a downshift mode, an upshift mode, a kickdown mode, a drive mode, a regenerative braking mode, an idle drive mode, a reverse mode, and a park neutral mode.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the modes are assigned values 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, corresponding to the coast mode, the downshift mode, the upshift mode, the kickdown mode, the drive mode, the regenerative braking mode, the idle drive mode, the reverse mode, and the park neutral mode, respectively.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the modes having higher values have priority over modes having lower values.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the logic controller defines a default mode of operation.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the logic controller tests for each respective mode and outputs a mode in accordance with the hierarchy.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the transmission controller includes a plurality of sections for controlling particular aspects of the transmission, comprising: gear logic for determining a desired gear for operating the transmission; torque reduction logic to vary a torque output by the engine; shifter position logic for controlling the shift motors; motor control logic to control the direction and output of the electric machine; mode selection logic for testing for each respective mode and selecting a mode for output in accordance with the hierarchy; shift state logic for controlling sequence of events for operating the transmission; and clutch command logic for positioning the clutch to effect smooth operation of the transmission.