Vehicle transmission control device

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle transmission operation device. It provides a vehicle transmission operation device that is easy to identify gear positions and has excellent compatibility. It is configured to select a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode, and includes a limiting mechanism that, when the first transmission mode is selected, restricts the operating lever from entering any of the multiple shift paths and the corresponding gear position of that shift path, and releases the restriction when the second transmission mode is selected. It also includes a display (10) that selectively displays a first display and a second display according to the selected first and second transmission modes. The first display uses graphics (32) to show the movable position or path of the operating lever when restricted by the limiting mechanism, and the second display uses graphics (34) to show the movable position or path of the operating lever when the restriction mechanism is released.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a transmission operating device that can be used in a vehicle in multiple transmission modes. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a transmission control device configured to perform a range selection operation in an automatic transmission mode that automatically sets the gear ratio based on the vehicle's driving state, and a gear shifting operation in a manual transmission mode that switches the gear ratio manually. In this transmission control device, automatic transmission shift paths and manual transmission shift paths are arranged parallel to each other and adjacent to each other as the operation path for moving the gear lever to select a gear or gear level, and a connecting shift path is also provided to connect these shift paths. Therefore, by moving the gear lever within the automatic transmission shift path to select driving (D) gear, reverse (R) gear, etc., a gear shift can be automatically generated according to the vehicle's driving state. Furthermore, by moving the gear lever within the manual transmission shift path, moving the gear lever towards the upshift or downshift side within this shift path, the gear ratio can be switched to the gear ratio of a preset gear level. That is, it can manually change gears to obtain driving force corresponding to the driver's intention.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes a gearshift mechanism configured to be usable in both right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles. In this gearshift mechanism, the direction in which the gearshift lever is tilted relative to the shifting direction (vehicle width direction) is opposite in both right-hand and left-hand drive vehicles. Therefore, it is configured to be reversible left and right, and in both cases, a manual switch and a locking mechanism that contacts and operates with the manual switch are installed in the same frame. Thus, in the gearshift mechanism described in Patent Document 2, without the need for special parts replacement, it can be mounted in either right-hand or left-hand drive vehicles simply by changing its mounting position or posture, achieving parts commonality.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 describes a gearshift device configured to switch between automatic and manual modes by tilting the gearshift lever to the right or left. This gearshift device is configured to switch gears or shift levels by operating it in the forward and backward directions in both the upright and tilted-to-the-right / left states. Therefore, the device described in Patent Document 3, like the device described in Patent Document 1, has two shift paths arranged parallel to each other and adjacent to each other.

[0005] On the other hand, conventionally, vehicles without a transmission or clutch mechanism are known, but equipped with a shifting device to simulate manual transmission. Specifically, Patent Document 4 describes an electric vehicle that uses a motor as its drive source and therefore lacks a clutch mechanism, configured to simulate the action or torque changes during manual transmission. This electric vehicle possesses a shifting device similar to that of a vehicle with a manual transmission (so-called MT vehicle), allowing selection of gear ratios via a gear lever. Therefore, this shifting device has the function of selecting a driving gear during the normal driving of an electric vehicle, i.e., so-called EV driving, and the function of selecting multiple gear ratios in so-called manual transmission mode.

[0006] Existing technical documents

[0007] Patent documents

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-67249

[0009] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-6957

[0010] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-6958

[0011] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent No. 6787507 Summary of the Invention

[0012] The device described in Patent Document 1 is configured with two shift paths, allowing the gear lever to move between these paths to select the driving gear and transmission level. Therefore, the selected or set driving gear and transmission level can be identified by visually observing the position of the gear lever. However, the shift paths for automatic transmissions are limited to two positions: an upshift position indicating upshift and a downshift position indicating downshift. Therefore, it is not possible to arbitrarily switch to transmission levels that are two or more different from the specified gear levels.

[0013] Furthermore, the structure described in Patent Document 1 requires two shifting paths: one for automatic transmission and one for manual transmission. There is room for improvement in terms of simplification, miniaturization, and space saving. For example, as described in Patent Document 4, in an electric vehicle without a clutch mechanism, where the torque changes or movements during gear shifting in a manual transmission vehicle are reproduced by controlling the torque of the motor, multiple (e.g., 6-speed) gears are required in the shifting device to simulate manual transmission. In such a vehicle, the shifting device also needs a gear for selecting the previous gear. Therefore, if gears and shifting paths for these manual transmissions and gear selection are provided, the structure becomes more complex and larger, corresponding to the amount of additional shifting paths for manual transmission.

[0014] On the other hand, the gearshift mechanism described in Patent Document 2 can share parts when configured for a right-hand drive vehicle and when configured for a left-hand drive vehicle. However, for the gearshift mechanism described in Patent Document 2 to achieve the sharing of parts when the direction of gearshift tilting differs depending on the position of the steering wheel, a prerequisite is that the shifting direction for selecting the driving gear or gear level must be the same. In other words, the structure of the gearshift mechanism described in Patent Document 2 cannot be applied to devices with multiple types of shifting paths as described in Patent Document 1.

[0015] Furthermore, the device described in Patent Document 3 is similar to the device described in Patent Document 1 in that it has two shift paths arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other, so it has the same problem as Patent Document 1.

[0016] As described above, conventional shifting devices, designed to function in both automatic and manual transmission modes, have a structure that allows for the coexistence of shift paths and gears for both automatic and manual transmissions. Therefore, by visually observing the position of the gear lever, one can identify whether the current transmission mode is automatic or manual, and the selected gear or gear group. However, the need for two shift paths leaves room for improvement in terms of simplification or miniaturization. In other words, conventional devices have not adequately addressed both the ease of driver identification of gears and the improvement of structural simplification or miniaturization.

[0017] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned technical issues, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle transmission operation device that is easy to identify gear positions and has excellent compatibility.

[0018] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a vehicle transmission operating device comprising: an initial gear position; multiple gear positions; an operating lever capable of moving to the initial gear position and the gear positions; shift paths corresponding to the multiple gear positions and guiding the operating lever to the gear positions; and at least one selection path from the initial gear position to each of the shift paths and guiding the operating lever to the shift path. The vehicle transmission operating device is characterized in that the vehicle is configured to select a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode with different methods of controlling the driving force for driving. The vehicle transmission operating device includes a limiting mechanism that, when the first transmission mode is selected, restricts the operating lever from entering any of the multiple shift paths from the selection path. The gear corresponding to the arbitrary shift path, and when the second shift mode is selected, the limiting mechanism releases the restriction, and the vehicle's shift operation device also includes a display, which selectively displays a first display and a second display according to the selected first shift mode and the second shift mode. The first display graphically displays the initial gear, the shift gear, the selected path, and the shift path of the operating lever when the first shift mode is selected and the restriction is imposed by the limiting mechanism. The second display graphically displays the initial gear, the shift gear, the selected path, and the shift path of the operating lever when the second shift mode is selected and the restriction is lifted by the limiting mechanism.

[0019] In this invention, the selection path, the shift path, the initial gear, and the gear position that enable the lever to move in the first transmission mode are a portion of the selection path, the shift path, the initial gear, and the gear position that enable the lever to move in the second transmission mode.

[0020] In this invention, the display may have a mode display function that displays the selected first speed mode or the second speed mode.

[0021] In this invention, the mode display function can be any one of the following: displaying the selected speed mode with text, making the background color of the graphic the color corresponding to the selected speed mode, or making the background pattern of the graphic the pattern corresponding to the selected speed mode.

[0022] In this invention, the display may have the function of highlighting the gear selected by moving the joystick on the graphic.

[0023] In this invention, the display may have text indicating the gear position, and the function of the emphasis display is to make the text indicating the gear position selected by moving the lever different from the other text.

[0024] In this invention, the second transmission mode can be configured to select multiple transmission gears for forward driving, and the display has a shift reminder function. When the second transmission mode is selected, the shift reminder function reminds the user to switch the transmission gear according to the change in the driving state of the vehicle.

[0025] In this invention, the shift reminder function can be any of the following: lighting up a predetermined reminder display, the background color or pattern of the graphic, or the flickering of the display indicating the gear to be selected.

[0026] In this invention, the vehicle may be configured such that, when the second transmission mode is selected, it can select a first driving mode that determines a predetermined upshift based on a predetermined vehicle speed, and a second driving mode that determines the upshift based on a vehicle speed higher than the predetermined vehicle speed. The transmission operation device of the vehicle is configured such that the timing of the display flashing on and off is different when the first driving mode is selected and when the second driving mode is selected.

[0027] According to the present invention, a lever for manually selecting a gear is guided from an initial gear to each gear via a selection path and a connected shift path. When the first gear mode is selected, a limiting mechanism restricts the lever from entering any shift path, allowing the lever to move to any gear. Conversely, when the second gear mode is selected, the limiting mechanism is released, allowing the lever to move to each gear. That is, the selection path, shift path, and gears in the first gear mode are part of the selection path, shift path, and gears used when shifting the lever in the second gear mode, becoming a shared structure in both the first and second gear modes. Therefore, according to the present invention, at least two gear modes can be selected, and the overall structure of the gear shifting device, which performs shifting by moving a lever in each gear mode, can be simplified or miniaturized, improving vehicle versatility.

[0028] Therefore, in the gear shifting device of the present invention, the gear shifting control performed by the range of movement of the operating lever and the position selected by the movement (i.e., gear) is different in the first gear shifting mode and the second gear shifting mode. However, since the shifting path or selection path and each gear in the first gear shifting mode are displayed on the display in the form of line graphs or other graphics, and similarly the shifting path or selection path and each gear in the second gear shifting mode are displayed on the display in the form of line graphs or other graphics, the position of the operating lever and the selected gear can be easily confirmed or identified by visual inspection.

[0029] Furthermore, in this invention, when the display has a mode display function, the selected speed change mode or the currently executed speed change mode can be easily identified by visual inspection.

[0030] In addition, the lever can also be configured to remain in the selected gear or return to the initial gear for standby. Regardless of the configuration, by having the function of graphically emphasizing the gear position, the driver can easily identify the selected gear.

[0031] Furthermore, in order to set a suitable gear ratio or gear level for driving, the gear selection in the second driving mode is performed. Therefore, when the driving state changes, in order to set other gear ratios or gear levels, it is preferable to switch gears. By having a shift reminder function that reminds the driver to switch gears, the driver can be assisted in shifting gears to achieve energy-efficient driving or driving with sufficient driving force. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a block diagram schematically illustrating an example of a vehicle in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing an example of its shifting mechanism broken down and with a portion omitted.

[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing a partial cross-section of an example of its support portion.

[0035] Figure 4 This is a partial diagram showing an example of a structure used to generate a stop function.

[0036] Figure 5 These are display screen diagrams showing an example of the content displayed on the monitor. (A) shows an example of the display content in automatic transmission mode, and (B) shows an example of the display content in manual transmission mode.

[0037] (Symbol Explanation)

[0038] 1: Vehicle; 2: Drive source; 3: Transmission unit; 4: Final reducer; 5: Drive wheel; 6: Controller; 7: Mode switch; 8: Parking switch; 9: Gear shifting device; 10: Display; 11: Gear lever; 12: Support unit; 13: Support body; 14: Bracket; 15: Through hole; 16: Balancing mechanism; 17: Decorative panel; 18: Handle; 19: Rubber sleeve; 20: Guide plate; 21, 24: Selection path; 22, 25: Gear shifting path; 23: Guide plate; 26: Support plate; 27: Guide hole; 28: Pin; 29: Actuator; 30: Gear position detector; 31: Protrusion; 32, 34: Graphics; 33, 35: Background. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The present invention will now be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples of how to embody the present invention and do not limit the present invention.

[0040] First, let's describe the vehicle 1, which is the subject of this invention, in the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The vehicle 1 is schematically shown, configured such that a transmission unit 3 is connected to the output side of the drive power source 2, and the driving force output from the transmission unit 3 is transmitted to the left and right drive wheels 5 via a final reduction gear 4. In short, the drive power source 2 can be any power machine capable of outputting driving force for the vehicle 1, and may be an internal combustion engine, a motor, or a power unit combining both. The transmission unit 3 is a mechanism that increases or decreases the torque input from the drive power source 2 to output, or cuts off the transmission of torque to reverse the direction of torque (rotation direction) to output. Figure 1 In the example shown, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) function is provided, which continuously changes the gear ratio according to the driving conditions such as the vehicle speed, acceleration, and required driving force of vehicle 1. This allows it to function as a virtual stepped transmission capable of switching its gear ratio in stages (steps). Examples include belt-type CVTs and hybrid drive systems equipped with a planetary gear mechanism that connects the engine and motor.

[0041] The transmission unit 3 is configured to be capable of setting an automatic transmission mode that automatically performs gear changes based on the driving conditions of the vehicle 1, and a manual transmission mode that progressively switches the gear ratio (gear shift) to a predetermined gear ratio (gear shift stage) based on manual shifting operations performed by the driver (not shown). The switching between these transmission modes and the gear changes are electrically controlled. If it is a belt-type continuously variable transmission (CVT), the winding radius of the belt relative to the pulleys changes according to the driving conditions of the vehicle 1 to shift to a gear ratio that optimizes fuel efficiency or energy efficiency. Furthermore, if it is a hybrid vehicle, the engine speed is controlled by a motor to ensure that the engine speed is within the optimal fuel efficiency range.

[0042] A controller 6 is provided for performing such control. The controller 6 is a so-called electronic control unit (ECU) for transmission, which is mainly composed of a microcomputer. It performs calculations using signals (data) input from various sensors, switches, etc., as well as pre-stored data, and outputs the results of its calculations as control command signals to the transmission unit 3, setting it to an appropriate gear ratio or setting it to a neutral state where no torque is transmitted.

[0043] Therefore, the controller 6 receives data representing the driving status of the vehicle 1, such as vehicle speed and acceleration opening. In addition, it receives signals from the mode switch 7 that switches between automatic and manual transmission modes, signals from the parking switch 8 that stops the vehicle 1 in a parking state, and signals from the shift mechanism 9. Furthermore, the controller 6 is configured to output control command signals to the transmission unit 3 and also output display signals to the display 10 that shows the selected shift range and shift position.

[0044] Figure 2 An example of the shifting device 9 described above in an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically. Figure 2 This is a schematic exploded perspective view of the gear shifting device 9, which includes a driver-operated gear lever or shift lever (hereinafter referred to as gear lever) 11. The gear lever 11 is supported by a support portion 12 that allows its lower end to rotate about two mutually orthogonal axes. One of these axes, axis X, is a rotational axis pointing in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, and the other axis, axis Y, is a rotational axis pointing in the width direction (lateral direction) of the vehicle. The support portion 12 can also employ examples of suitable conventional structures; if one example is shown in principle, then the portion below the gear lever 11, as in... Figure 3 As schematically shown, a hemispherical support 13 that convexes downwards is installed, which can slidably contact a spherical bracket 14 provided on a predetermined fixed part. Therefore, the gear shift lever 11 is supported in the vertical direction by these supports 13 and brackets 14, and can be tilted in any direction of 360° in a planar shape.

[0045] Furthermore, a through hole 15 is formed at the center of the support 14 at the lower end of the shift lever 11, allowing the lower part of the shift lever 11 to slowly pass through. The shift lever 11 extends downward through the through hole 15 and connects to the balancing mechanism 16. The balancing mechanism 16 is a structure for holding the shift lever 11 in a neutral position by elastic force and for moving it back to the neutral position. Examples of suitable structures known in the past can be used. For example, elastic members such as springs are arranged in the directions of two orthogonal axes with the lower end of the shift lever 11 as the center, and the shift lever 11 is held in the neutral position by balancing the elastic forces of these elastic members.

[0046] The gearshift lever 11 protrudes into the vehicle interior through a decorative panel 17 that conceals the internal mechanisms and is part of the interior trim of the cabin (not shown). At its upper end, a handle 18 for the driver is provided. In addition, the portion of the gearshift lever 11 that passes through the decorative panel 17 is hidden by a corrugated rubber sleeve 19 embedded in the middle of the gearshift lever 11.

[0047] Directly below the decorative panel 17, a guide plate 20 is provided through which the gear lever 11 passes. This guide plate 20 is a component that enables gear shifting operations simulating those of a manual transmission, and it has a selection path 21 for guiding the gear lever 11, and multiple shift paths 22 intersecting the selection path 21. These selection paths 21 and shift paths 22 are elongated through portions or openings of the gear lever 11, varying in width and thickness. Figure 2 The example of selection path 21 and shift path 22 shown is called "H-type". The shift path 22, which bends at a right angle at one end of the selection path 21, is a shift path for selecting reverse gear, and its end is assigned to the gear position (R gear) for reverse gear.

[0048] The other three shift paths 22 are formed orthogonally to and parallel to the selection path 21, and each end of these three shift paths 22 is assigned to a forward gear from the first (1st) to the sixth (6th) gear. Specifically, the first (1st), third (3rd), and fifth (5th) gears are arranged sequentially from the R gear position, adjacent to the R gear position. On the opposite side of these gears, sandwiching the selection path 21, the second (2nd), fourth (4th), and sixth (6th) gears are arranged sequentially from the R gear position. Moreover, the intersection of the shift paths 22 assigned to the third and fourth gears with the selection path 21 is assigned to the neutral (N) gear, which corresponds to the initial gear in the embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, the guide plate 20 is fixed in such a way that the selection path 21 is oriented along the width direction of the vehicle, so that the gear lever 11 can be moved to each gear position along the same path as the gear lever in a vehicle equipped with a conventional manual transmission.

[0049] On the lower side of the aforementioned guide plate 20, a second guide plate 23 constituting the limiting mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention is provided. This guide plate 23 is a component used to limit the movement range of the gear lever 11 when an automatic transmission mode equivalent to the first transmission mode in an embodiment of the present invention is selected, and it is formed with one selection path 24 and two shift paths 25 intersecting the selection path 24.

[0050] These selection paths 24 and shift paths 25 are shaped to guide the movement range of the gear lever 11 when a manual shift mode corresponding to the second shift mode in the embodiment of the present invention is selected, and are consistent with a portion of the selection paths 21 and shift paths 22 of the first guide plate 20. Specifically, the selection path 24 in the second guide plate 23 has the same shape as the portion of the selection path 21 in the first guide plate 20 from the N position to the intersection with the shift paths 22 whose ends are assigned to the 5th and 6th speeds. Moreover, the shift path 25, which has the same shape as the shift path 22 in the first guide plate 20, is formed to intersect with the end of the selection path 24 in the second guide plate 23. Furthermore, one end of the shift path 25 is assigned to the reverse (R) gear for reverse driving, and the other end is assigned to the drive (D) gear for forward driving. In addition, the middle position of these R and D gears, namely the intersection of selection path 24 and shift path 25, is assigned to neutral (N) gear.

[0051] On the other hand, the shift path 25, which intersects the other end of the selection path 24 (the end on the central side of the second guide plate 23), has the same shape as the shift path 22 in the first guide plate 20, which extends from the N gear to the end assigned to the fourth speed. The end of the shift path 25 is assigned to the brake (B) gear. Furthermore, the intersection of the shift path 25 and the selection path 24, i.e., the portion where the shift path 25 and the selection path 24 bend at a right angle, is assigned to the initial (Ba) gear in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] The second guide plate 23 is configured such that the Ba gear position is located directly below the N gear position in the first guide plate 20, and the R and D gear positions are assigned to the end shift path 25, which is located directly below the 5th and 6th speed gear positions in the first guide plate 20, which is assigned to the end shift path 22, and the B gear position is located directly below the 4th speed gear position in the first guide plate 20. The position that is close to or in contact with the first guide plate 20 is set as the upper limit position, and the position that is close to the support part 12 is set as the lower limit position, and it moves up and down.

[0053] The mechanism for moving the second guide plate 23 up and down can be a suitable structure as needed. For example, it can be configured as a conductive bow mechanism consisting of four links connected to the second guide plate 23. This conductive bow mechanism can be extended or retracted by a suitable actuator or rack and pinion, thus moving the second guide plate 23 up and down. Alternatively, as... Figure 2 As shown, a mechanism that can convert horizontal movement into lifting motion can be used.

[0054] Specifically, the mechanism comprises a pair of support plates 26 parallel to the aforementioned shift path 25, arranged vertically on both sides sandwiching the second guide plate 23. Guide holes 27, inclined relative to the lifting direction (vertical direction), are formed in these support plates 26. The guide holes 27 are elongated holes, and multiple such holes are formed parallel to each other on the left and right support plates 26. Figure 2 (2 in the middle). Regarding its tilt direction, when explaining based on the shift path 25 between the Ba and B gears, it is a direction in which the B gear side is higher and the Ba gear side is lower. Pins 28 that can be slidably inserted into these guide holes 27 are provided on the left and right sides of the second guide plate 23.

[0055] Furthermore, the second guide plate 23 is held in a manner that allows movement only in the vertical direction, while the left and right support plates 26 are held in a manner that allows movement only in the horizontal direction (the extension direction of the shift path 25) via appropriate actuators 29. Therefore, when the support plates 26 are moved horizontally by the actuators 29, the pin 28 slides inside the guide hole 27, so the pin 28, i.e., the second guide plate 23, rises and falls according to the inclination of the guide hole 27.

[0056] Furthermore, with the second guide plate 23 lowered to its lower limit position, the gear shift lever 11 moves along the selection path 21 and shift path 22 in the first guide plate 20. Therefore, the tilt angle of the gear shift lever 11 becomes larger. To make such an operation possible, it is preferable that the second guide plate 23 is as close as possible to the aforementioned support portion 12, and that the selection path 24 and shift path 25 are formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the gear shift lever 11.

[0057] A gear position detector 30 is provided to detect the gear selected by moving the gear lever 11. This gear position detector 30 can be a component with a structure used in conventional hybrid vehicles. For example, it is configured to detect the movement of the gear lever 11 in the direction (lateral) along the selection paths 21 and 24 using a selection sensor such as an MR-IC, and to detect the movement of the gear lever 11 in the direction (longitudinal) along the shift paths 22 and 25 using a shift sensor such as a Hall element. The gear position is detected by combining these lateral and longitudinal detection signals. Furthermore, gear position detection is performed for each of the automatic and manual transmission modes. Therefore, even if the positions in the guide plates 20 and 23 are the same, the gear position is determined according to each transmission mode. For example, in manual transmission mode, it is determined to be the 5th gear, and in automatic transmission mode, it is determined to be the R gear. Similarly, in manual transmission mode, it is determined to be the 6th gear, and in automatic transmission mode, it is determined to be the D gear.

[0058] When selecting a gear by operating the shift lever 11 along the first guide plate 20, a so-called stop function can be set to sense the shift lever 11 moving to each gear position and hold the shift lever 11 in that gear position. Conventionally, shifting devices for automatic transmissions include a stop mechanism, but these devices are configured to allow the shift lever to move back and forth in one direction; therefore, the stop mechanism also only acts on movement in one direction. If such a stop mechanism is provided in two orthogonal axial directions, a stop function for the shift lever 11 can be generated. Alternatively, for example... Figure 4 As shown, a protrusion 31 is provided near the end of the shift path 25 to narrow the width of the shift path 25. An elastic force acts on this protrusion 31, causing it to protrude into the shift path 25. When the shift lever 11 passes over this protrusion 31, a temporary reaction force is generated against the operating force of the shift lever 11, so a shift operation can be sensed by the change in operating force. Furthermore, the protrusion 31 stops the shift lever 11 at a predetermined gear position at the end of the shift path 25, thus maintaining that gear position.

[0059] In the aforementioned shifting device 9, selection paths 21 and 24, and shift paths 22 and 25 are hidden under the decorative panel 17 and cannot be seen, so the shifting status, such as the gear position, cannot be observed. Furthermore, even if the position of the gear lever 11 in selection paths 21 and 24, and shift paths 22 and 25 were visible, the meaning of the gear position differs between automatic and manual shifting modes, making it difficult to immediately identify the gear based on the position of the gear lever 11 in shift paths 22 and 25. The display 10 attached to the aforementioned shifting device 9 is a device to eliminate this inconvenience, configured to display selection paths 21 and 24, shift paths 22 and 25, and each gear position or gear shift according to each shifting mode.

[0060] The display 10 is controlled by the controller 6. Specifically, the controller 6 receives the detection signal from the gear position detector 30, determines the selected gear based on the input signal, and displays the selected gear on the display 10. Therefore, the display 10 is a color display using liquid crystal, capable of displaying any graphics, patterns, text, etc., in any color, and adjusting its brightness or light level to appropriately turn it on, off, or flicker on / off. The display 10 is integrated with the gear shift lever 11 as part of the gear shifting device 9. Specifically, the display 10 is located on the top surface of the handle 18, which is the upper end of the gear shift lever 11, or near the gear shift lever 11 (e.g., at a predetermined location on the surface of the decorative panel 17).

[0061] exist Figure 5 In (A) and (B), an example of the displayed content is shown. Figure 5(A) shows the content of the first display when the automatic transmission mode is selected. The display is circular in shape as a whole, with a dot (hereinafter temporarily added symbol Ba) indicating the Ba gear position at its center. Arrows extending from this point along the selection path 24 and each shift path 25 in the second guide plate 23 are displayed as graphic 32. Moreover, at the tip of each arrow, the letters indicating the respective gear positions D, R, N, and B are displayed. The area outside these graphics 32 and letters is the background 33, which can be a single color or have an appropriate background pattern added.

[0062] Figure 5 (B) shows the content of the second display when manual transmission mode is selected. This display is circular in shape, and inside the circle, a schematic diagram (line drawing) of the selection path 21 and shift path 22 in the first guide plate 20 is displayed as graphic 34. At the top of the lines corresponding to each shift path 22, symbols representing the corresponding gear positions "R" and "1" to "6" are displayed. Furthermore, the position of gear N is indicated by a prominent dot (hereinafter temporarily added as N). The area outside these graphics 34 and symbols is a background 35, which, like the background 33 in the automatic transmission mode display, can be either a single color or have an added appropriate background pattern. Furthermore, Figure 5 The shapes and colors shown in (A) and (B) are pre-stored as image data in the controller 6.

[0063] Through operation Figure 1 The mode switch 7, schematically shown, can switch between automatic and manual transmission modes. When automatic transmission mode is selected... Figure 5 The display shown in (A) is displayed on the display 10. Simultaneously, the second guide plate 23 rises, limiting the range of motion of the gear lever 11 to the range determined by the selection path 24 and shift path 25 formed on the guide plate 23. Furthermore, when manual shifting mode is selected, Figure 5The display shown in (B) is displayed on the display 10. Simultaneously, the second guide plate 23 descends to the vicinity of the support portion 12 that supports the gear lever 11 at an angle (or rotation), thus releasing the restriction on the movement (movement) of the gear lever 11 by the second guide plate 23. Therefore, by observing the graphics 32 and 34 displayed on the display 10, it is possible to identify whether the selected and set gear mode at that time is automatic or manual. Furthermore, the colors and patterns of the backgrounds 33 and 35 are different in automatic and manual modes. This can be achieved using the image processing of the controller 6, thereby facilitating visual identification of the gear mode. Moreover, text such as "A" or "Auto" indicating automatic mode and "M" or "Manu" indicating manual mode can be displayed in a portion of the backgrounds 33 and 35. These units or functions for visually identifying the gear mode are equivalent to the mode display function or mode display unit in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0064] As described above, the position of the gear shift lever 11 can be detected by a combination of a detection signal detected by a selection sensor and a detection signal detected by a shift sensor, and can be displayed on the display 10. Therefore, in embodiments of the present invention, the position can be adjusted in conjunction with moving the gear shift lever 11 to... Figure 5 The circular markers shown in (A) and (B) move on the respective graphics 32 and 35. Furthermore, the letter or number indicating the gear position reached by the circular marker—that is, the gear selected manually—is highlighted. This highlighting can be a bold text display, such as... Figure 5 In (B) regarding “1”, the text is displayed by surrounding it with a colored frame (circle, rectangle, etc.) and then highlighting it in white; the text is displayed by blurring other text or adding a halftone screen to make it relatively clear; the text is displayed by making its size or font different from other text.

[0065] Furthermore, the aforementioned display 10 can be configured to provide a unique display in manual transmission mode. That is, in manual transmission mode, the selection of the gear ratio (or gear level, hereinafter referred to as gear level) is basically based on the driver's intention, but a gear level suitable for the actual driving conditions of the vehicle 1 exists independently of the driver's intention. In other words, in the design of the vehicle, the preferred gear level is preset as a driving condition that can obtain predetermined acceleration characteristics and excellent energy characteristics such as fuel efficiency. Moreover, this gear level can be prepared in advance as, for example, a two-dimensional mapping with acceleration opening and vehicle speed as variables. A shift prompt unit or shift prompt function can be provided to prompt a shift to the gear level obtained from the mapping when the gear level obtained from the mapping is different from the gear level selected and set by the shift device 9. Specifically, the display 10 may show text indicating the preferred gear level determined from the mapping, or it may highlight the gear position of that gear level by flashing on and off. Furthermore, since gears typically shift up as the vehicle speed increases during acceleration and down as it decelerates, a shift warning unit or function may replace simply highlighting the gear level to be set, instead serving as a prompt to shift up or down. For example, the background color or pattern of the background 35 may change according to the shift indication, or the flashing speed may correspond to the shift indication.

[0066] In this case where manual transmission mode is recommended for gear shifting, the determination is made by comparing the gear level obtained from the mapping with the current gear level. Therefore, in this situation, the driving characteristics of vehicle 1 are determined by the mapping. As such, multiple mappings with different upshift timings or data equivalent to the mapping are prepared in advance, and the mapping used in the gear level determination is switched, thereby changing the driving characteristics of vehicle 1. An example of this driving characteristic is Sport mode and Eco mode. Sport mode is a mode that uses high driving force by setting the upshift line to the high vehicle speed side, delaying the increase in upshift relative to vehicle speed. In contrast, Eco mode sets the upshift line to the low vehicle speed side, causing upshifts to occur earlier and suppressing engine speed, thereby improving fuel efficiency or energy efficiency.

[0067] Therefore, in these driving modes, the timing of gear shifts differs depending on changes in vehicle speed, acceleration, etc. Thus, when a gear shift warning is issued, it is preferable to inform the driver which driving mode the warning is based on. That is, the display 10 can be configured such that, in embodiments of the present invention, the timing of the flashing display differs between the Eco mode (corresponding to the first driving mode) and the Sport mode (corresponding to the second driving mode) when a gear shift warning is issued via a flashing display.

[0068] The above describes one example of an embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention can be configured with a structure different from the above embodiment. For example, in addition to the structure in which the second guide plate covers a portion of the predetermined shift path and selection path in the first guide plate, the limiting mechanism in the present invention can also be configured to provide a component similar to a gate that restricts the shift lever from entering the predetermined shift path and moving the shift lever to a predetermined part of the selection path in the shift path and selection path.

Claims

1. A vehicle transmission control device, comprising: An initial gear position; multiple gear positions; a lever capable of moving to the initial gear position and the gear positions; a shift path configured corresponding to the multiple gear positions and guiding the lever to the gear positions; The vehicle's transmission operating device is characterized by having at least one selection path from the initial gear position to each of the shift paths and guiding the operating lever to the shift path. The vehicle is configured to have a first transmission mode and a second transmission mode that allow selection of different control methods for the driving force used for travel. The vehicle's transmission control device includes a limiting mechanism. When the first transmission mode is selected, this limiting mechanism restricts the operating lever from entering any of the multiple shift paths and the corresponding gear position from the selected path. When the second transmission mode is selected, the limiting mechanism releases the restriction. The vehicle's transmission control device also includes a display that selectively displays a first display and a second display based on the selected first transmission mode and the second transmission mode. The first display graphically shows the movable initial gear, the transmission gear, the selected path, and the shift path of the control lever when the first transmission mode is selected and the restriction mechanism is applied. The second display graphically shows the movable initial gear, the transmission gear, the selected path, and the shift path of the control lever when the second transmission mode is selected and the restriction mechanism is removed. The limiting mechanism has: The first guide plate has the operating lever through it, and the lower end of the operating lever is supported so that it can rotate in both the front-rear direction and the width direction of the vehicle. The second guide plate is configured to move up and down on the lower side of the first guide plate; as well as An actuator causes the second guide plate to move up and down relative to the first guide plate. On the first guide plate, a first selection path is formed to guide the operating lever in the width direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of first shift paths are formed to guide the operating lever, which is orthogonal to the first selection path, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. On the second guide plate, a second selection path is formed that overlaps with a portion of the first selection path in the vertical direction, and a plurality of second shift paths are formed that are orthogonal to the second selection path, fewer than the plurality of first shift paths, and overlap with a portion of the first shift path in the vertical direction. The control lever is configured such that, when the second guide plate is lowered, it moves along the first selection path and the first shift path of the first guide plate, and when the second guide plate is raised, the movement of the control lever is restricted to movement along the second selection path and the second shift path of the second guide plate.

2. The vehicle transmission operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display has a mode display function that shows the selected first speed mode or the second speed mode.

3. The vehicle transmission operating device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mode display function is any one of the following: displaying the selected speed mode with text, changing the background color of the graphic to the color corresponding to the selected speed mode, or changing the background pattern of the graphic to the pattern corresponding to the selected speed mode.

4. The vehicle transmission operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The display has the function of highlighting the gear selected by moving the joystick on the graphic.

5. The vehicle transmission operating device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The display has text indicating the gear position. The function of the emphasis display is to make the text indicating the selected gear position by moving the lever different from the other text.

6. The vehicle transmission operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second transmission mode is configured to allow selection of multiple transmission gears for forward driving. The display has a gear shift reminder function. When the second gear mode is selected, the gear shift reminder function reminds the user to switch gears according to the changes in the vehicle's driving status.

7. The vehicle transmission operating device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The shift reminder function is any one of the following: lighting up the preset reminder display, changing the background color or pattern of the graphic, or flickering the display indicating the gear to be selected.

8. The vehicle transmission operating device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The vehicle is configured such that, when the second transmission mode is selected, it can select either a first driving mode that upshifts at a predetermined vehicle speed or a second driving mode that upshifts at a speed higher than the predetermined vehicle speed. The vehicle's transmission control device is configured such that the timing of the display flashing on and off differs depending on whether the first driving mode or the second driving mode is selected.

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