IP Library Granted Patent US 7,983,822
Granted Patent B2
US 7,983,822 · App. 11/516,015 · Granted Jul 19, 2011

Dual wire internal mode switch assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,983,822
App. No.
11/516,015
Granted
Jul 19, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A range selection system for a vehicle including an automatic transmission and an internal mode switch (IMS) assembly. The range selection system includes a housing that is rotatable around a core, a first set of switches that induce a first current based on a rotational position of the housing and a second set of switches that induce a second current based on a rotational position of the housing. A control module determines first and second voltages based on the first and second currents, respectively and determines a range of the automatic transmission based on the first and second voltages.

Claims (20)

1. A range selection system for a vehicle including an automatic transmission having an internal mode switch (IMS) assembly, comprising:

a housing that is rotatable around a core;

a first set of switches that induce a first current based on a rotational position of said housing;

a second set of switches that induce a second current based on said rotational position of said housing; and

a control module that determines first and second voltages based on said first and second currents, respectively, and that identifies a range of said automatic transmission based on said first and second voltages.

2. The range selection system of claim 1 wherein said first and second sets of switches are connected in parallel.

3. The range selection system of claim 1 wherein said first and second sets of switches comprise Hall-effect switches.

4. The range selection system of claim 1 wherein each of said switches of said first and second sets of switches induces one of a high current and a low current based on said rotational position of said housing.

5. The range selection system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of ferrous tracks embedded in said housing.

6. The range selection system of claim 5 wherein each of a plurality of rotational positions of said housing includes a unique alignment of at least a portion of said plurality of ferrous tracks with at least a portion of said switches of said first and second plurality of switches.

7. The range selection system of claim 6 wherein a particular switch of said first and second sets of switches induces a high current when aligned with one of said plurality of ferrous tracks and induces a low current when not aligned with one of said plurality of ferrous tracks.

8. The range selection system of claim 4 wherein said high and low currents corresponding to said first set of switches are different than said high and low currents corresponding to said second set of switches.

9. The range selection system of claim 1 further comprising:

a voltage source;

a first resistor; and

a second resistor,

wherein said first resistor is in electrical communication with said voltage source and said first set of switches and said second resistor is in electrical communication with said voltage source and said second set of switches.

10. The range selection system of claim 9 wherein said first voltage is determined as a first voltage drop across said first resistor and said second voltage is determine as a second voltage drop across said second resistor.

11. The range selection system of claim 1 wherein said control module identifies a fault when at least one of said first and second voltages is equal to zero.

12. The range selection system of claim 1 wherein said control module identifies a fault when at least one of said first and second voltages is equal to a voltage of a voltage source that is in electrical communication with each of said first and second sets of switches.

Assignments (11)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0041 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0901 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0656 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0093 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0142 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0563 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0540 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0405 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2006
From: KOSKI, JACK P.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC
Reel/Frame 018493/0957 →