Granted Patent B2

US 7,243,016 · App. 10/836,658 · Granted Jul 10, 2007

Abstract

Claims (40)

1. A control system for communicating with a transmission comprising: a transmission input speed sensor that generates an input speed signal;

a transmission output speed sensor that generates an output speed signal;

a power supply that supplies a total current to said transmission input and output speed sensors via a first conductor;

a sensor that senses said total current supplied to said transmission input and output speed sensors on said first conductor; and

a calculating module that calculates a transmission input speed and a transmission output speed based on said total current.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein said transmission input speed sensor senses rotation of an input gear in said transmission, said input gear having a tooth pattern defining a plurality of input gear peaks and valleys.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein said transmission input speed sensor generates a first signal for detecting said peaks and generates a second signal, distinct from said first signal, for detecting said valleys.

4. The control system of claim 3 wherein said transmission output speed sensor senses rotation of an output gear in said transmission, said output gear having a tooth pattern defining a plurality of output gear peaks and valleys.

5. The control system of claim 4 wherein said transmission output speed sensor generates a third signal for detecting said output gear peaks and generates a fourth signal, distinct from said third signal, for detecting said output gear valleys.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein said first and third signals are equivalent and said second and fourth signals are equivalent.

7. The control system of claim 1 wherein said input and output speed sensors comprise hall effect sensors.

8. The control system of claim 1 wherein said controller supplies power to said transmission input and output speed sensors through said first conductor.

9. A method of determining a transmission input speed and a transmission output speed comprising:

providing a total current to a transmission input speed sensor and a transmission output speed sensor through a first conductor;

sensing said total current supplied to said transmission input speed sensor and said transmission output speed sensor on said first conductor; and

calculating a transmission input speed and a transmission output speed based on said total current.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein calculating a transmission input speed signal comprises:

detecting a tooth pattern defining a plurality of input gear peaks and valleys;

generating a first signal for detecting said input gear peaks; and

generating a second signal, distinct from said first signal, for detecting said input gear valleys.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein sensing said total current supplied comprises determining an input gear current used by a hall effect sensor sensing a transmission input gear.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein sensing said total current supplied comprises determining an output gear current used by a hall effect sensor with a transmission output gear.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein calculating a transmission output speed signal comprises:

detecting a tooth pattern defining a plurality of output gear peaks and valleys;

generating a third signal for detecting said output gear peaks; and

generating a fourth signal, distinct from said third signal, for detecting said output gear valleys.

14. A method of determining a transmission input speed and a transmission output speed comprising:

providing a total current to a transmission input speed sensor and a transmission output speed sensor through a first conductor;

generating a transmission input speed signal from said transmission input speed sensor;

generating a transmission output speed signal from said transmission output speed sensor;

sensing said transmission input and output speed signal on said first conductor; and

calculating a transmission input speed and a transmission output speed based on said transmission input and output speed signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein generating a transmission input speed signal comprises:

detecting a tooth pattern defining a plurality of input gear peaks and valleys;

generating a first signal for detecting said input gear peaks; and

generating a second signal, distinct from said first signal, for detecting said input gear valleys.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein generating a transmission output speed signal comprises:

detecting a tooth pattern defining a plurality of output gear peaks and valleys;

generating a third signal for detecting said output gear peaks; and

generating a fourth signal, distinct from said third signal, for detecting said output gear valleys.

Assignments (12)