Vehicle Transmission Control Neutral Range Timer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing shift-by-wire transmission systems automatically switch to the parking range when the engine is turned off, causing issues during single-sided automobile transfer, such as when passing a vehicle washer, and require complex driver operations to prevent erroneous switching, which can be unintuitive and lead to safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a shift selecting unit and control unit that automatically switches the transmission to the neutral range when the engine is turned off or stopped, using a timer to maintain the neutral range until a predetermined period passes, allowing for intuitive and simple driver operation without additional switches, and alerts the driver when the neutral range is maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transmission is automatically switched to the parking range when the engine is turned off, then the vehicle safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the driver cannot easily maintain the neutral range for vehicle washer mode
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines in advance whether to maintain the neutral range by checking if a predetermined period has passed since the neutral position was selected. This preliminary timing check allows the system to automatically maintain neutral for vehicle washer mode without requiring complex driver operations, while still providing safety through automatic parking range switching when the neutral position is not actively selected
2Adaptability or versatility
If a predetermined pattern operation is required to maintain the neutral range, then the transmission can be kept in neutral for vehicle washer mode, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation deteriorates due to unintuitive multi-step operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timing determination function from complex pattern recognition. Instead of requiring drivers to perform specific sequences of button presses or hold operations, the system simply monitors whether a predetermined period has elapsed since the neutral position was selected. This extraction simplifies the operation to an intuitive single action while maintaining the ability to support vehicle washer mode
3Loss of energy
If the transmission is automatically switched to the parking range when the engine is turned off, then the electric power consumption is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the driver cannot maintain the neutral range without additional operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the transmission range based on the elapsed time since the neutral position was selected. When a predetermined period has passed, the neutral range is maintained even with the engine off, allowing vehicle washer mode operation. This dynamic timing-based control enables the system to adapt to different operational needs while maintaining energy efficiency through automatic switching to parking range when neutral is not actively selected
Data Source
AI summary
This control device for a vehicle switches a shift range of an automatic transmission through the use of an actuator, wherein the control device for a vehicle is characterized in being provided with a shift selection unit for receiving a shift position selection from a driver and a control unit for switching the shift range to a parking range through the use of an actuator when a vehicle power source turns off or when a drive power source stops, the control unit maintaining a neutral range, when the vehicle power source turns off or when the drive power source stops, until the elapse of a first prescribed time after the shift selection unit receives a neutral position selection while the vehicle power source is on or while the drive power source is driving.