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A system for selecting between automatic and manual control of a number of gear ratios of a semiautomatic transmission includes an internal combustion engine coupled to a semiautomatic transmission having a number of manually selectable gear ratios and a number of automatically selectable gear ratio

A system for selecting between automatic and manual control of a number of gear ratios of a semiautomatic transmission includes an internal combustion engine coupled to a semiautomatic transmission having a number of manually selectable gear ratios and a number of automatically selectable gear ratios wherein the engine and transmission are both subject to management and control thereof by a control computer. A memory unit includes a software algorithm for controlling shifting between the automatically selectable gear ratios and the control computer is operable to execute the software algorithm. A switch is provided, which is preferably a cruise control enable/disable switch, wherein the control computer is responsive to a cruise control disable position of the switch to inhibit execution of the software algorithm and thereby subject the automatically selectable gear ratios to manual control thereof. The control computer is also responsive to a cruise control enable position of the switch to allow execution of the software algorithm to thereby subject the automatically selectable gear ratios to automatic control thereof. In one embodiment, the software algorithm is only inhibited after it has been determined that the engine fueling rate is below a fueling rate threshold if one of the automatically selectable gear ratios is currently engaged. According to another aspect of the invention, a gear down protection algorithm is instituted whenever the software algorithm for controlling automatic gear selection is disabled.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for selecting between automatic and manual control of a number of gear ratios of a semiautomatic transmission includes an internal combustion engine coupled to a semiautomatic transmission having a number of manually selectable gear ratios and a number of automatically selectable gear ratio

A system for selecting between automatic and manual control of a number of gear ratios of a semiautomatic transmission includes an internal combustion engine coupled to a semiautomatic transmission having a number of manually selectable gear ratios and a number of automatically selectable gear ratios wherein the engine and transmission are both subject to management and control thereof by a control computer. A memory unit includes a software algorithm for controlling shifting between the automatically selectable gear ratios and the control computer is operable to execute the software algorithm. A switch is provided, which is preferably a cruise control enable/disable switch, wherein the control computer is responsive to a cruise control disable position of the switch to inhibit execution of the software algorithm and thereby subject the automatically selectable gear ratios to manual control thereof. The control computer is also responsive to a cruise control enable position of the switch to allow execution of the software algorithm to thereby subject the automatically selectable gear ratios to automatic control thereof. In one embodiment, the software algorithm is only inhibited after it has been determined that the engine fueling rate is below a fueling rate threshold if one of the automatically selectable gear ratios is currently engaged. According to another aspect of the invention, a gear down protection algorithm is instituted whenever the software algorithm for controlling automatic gear selection is disabled. ; US-6128482, 20001000, Nixon et al., 455/414; US-6173193, 20010100, Bright, 455/563; US-6339706, 20020100, Tillgren et al., 455/419; US-6374125, 20020400, Toba, 455/563