IP Library Granted Patent US 9,856,977
Granted Patent B2
US 9,856,977 · App. 14/907,813 · Granted Jan 2, 2018

Shift control device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,856,977
App. No.
14/907,813
Granted
Jan 2, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

[Object] To provide a shift control device that, in a shift control device of a vehicle equipped with an idling-stop mechanism and a shift-by-wire mechanism, is capable of preventing setting off at a timing that the driver does not expect when returning from an idling-stop state. [Solution] The SBW-CU ( 40 ) that constitutes the shift control device ( 1 ), in the case of selection information for selecting the R range being output during an idling stop, switches the shift range of the automatic transmission ( 10 ) to the R range when the vehicle is braked, and switches the shift range to the N range or the P range when the vehicle is not braked and the shift range of the automatic transmission ( 10 ) is the D range. Also, the SBW-CU ( 40 ), in the case of selection information for selecting the R range being output during an idling stop, maintains the shift range without switching it when the vehicle is braked and the shift range of the automatic transmission ( 10 ) is other than the D range.

Claims (25)

1. A shift control device of a vehicle equipped with an idling-stop mechanism and a shift-by-wire mechanism, the shift control device comprising:

a selector that receives an operation to select a shift range of an automatic transmission and outputs a selection information corresponding to the operation;

a switch controller that switches the shift range of the automatic transmission in accordance with the selection information output by the selector; and

a brake actuator that brakes the vehicle,

wherein the switch controller, in a case of a selection information for selecting a reverse travel range being output by the selector during an idling stop,

switches the shift range of the automatic transmission to the reverse travel range when the vehicle is braked by the brake actuator, and

switches the shift range of the automatic transmission to a neutral range or a parking range when the vehicle is not braked and the shift range of the automatic transmission is a forward travel range.

2. The shift control device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch controller, in a case of the selection information for selecting the reverse travel range being output by the selector during the idling stop,

maintains the shift range of the automatic transmission without switching the shift range of the automatic transmission when the vehicle is not braked and the shift range of the automatic transmission is other than the forward travel range.

3. The shift control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a gradient sensor that detects a gradient of a road surface,

wherein the switch controller, in a case of the selection information for selecting the reverse travel range being output during the idling stop,

switches the shift range of the automatic transmission to the parking range when the vehicle is not braked and the gradient of the road surface detected by the gradient sensor is greater than a predetermined threshold.

4. The shift control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a warning unit that, in a case of the selection information for selecting the reverse travel range being output during the idling stop, issues a warning to a driver when the shift range of the automatic transmission is switched by the switch controller to a shift range other than the reverse travel range, and the shift range of the automatic transmission is maintained by the switch controller.

5. The shift control device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a gradient sensor that detects a gradient of a road surface,

wherein the switch controller, in a case of the selection information for selecting the reverse travel range being output during the idling stop,

switches the shift range of the automatic transmission to the parking range when the vehicle is not braked and the gradient of the road surface detected by the gradient sensor is greater than a predetermined threshold.

6. The shift control device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a warning unit that, in a case of the selection information for selecting the reverse travel range being output during the idling stop, issues a warning to a driver when the shift range of the automatic transmission is switched by the switch controller to a shift range other than the reverse travel range, and the shift range of the automatic transmission is maintained by the switch controller.

7. The shift control device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a warning unit that, in a case of the selection information for selecting the reverse travel range being output during the idling stop, issues a warning to a driver when the shift range of the automatic transmission is switched by the switch controller to a shift range other than the reverse travel range, and the shift range of the automatic transmission is maintained by the switch controller.

8. The shift control device according to claim 5 , further comprising:

a warning unit that, in a case of the selection information for selecting the reverse travel range being output during the idling stop, issues a warning to a driver when the shift range of the automatic transmission is switched by the switch controller to a shift range other than the reverse travel range, and the shift range of the automatic transmission is maintained by the switch controller.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 12, 2017
From: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: SUBARU CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042624/0886 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2016
From: KINOSHITA, TAKAHIRO; IGARASHI, MASATO; TERAI, KOICHIRO; INOUE, KOICHI
To: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 037614/0601 →