Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jeffrey James Tumavitch

Richard Reynolds Hathaway

Brian J Deurloo

Todd Curtis Spaulding

Bradley Dean Riedle

Mark Edward Zyskowski

Christopher Lee Danks

Shawn Adam Holland

Charles C Poon

Derek Kinch

William Goodwin

Bryant David Grytzelius

Joseph James Gallo

Matthew Luke Fyie

John Paul Gorys

Bruce Kinston Lyon

Stephanie Ann Skown

Paul Christian Stallman

Steve Craig Meisner

John Eric Rollinger

Hong Jiang

Matthew John Shelton

Ahmed Benmimoun

Dennis Allen Light

David Hancock

Markian Oleh Diakiw

Steve Michael Cicala

Ralph S Walker

Joseph Scott Slayton

Emad Al-Regib

Jeremy L Russell

David H Schmitt

Gabrielle Jost

Scott Thompson

Steven Craig Meisner

George Herr

Than Pham

Scott Christensen

William L Murray

Systems and methods for limiting functionality of a vehicle are described. In one example, vehicle feature modules may specify vehicle behaviors and vehicle operation is limited according to the specified behaviors. Vehicle actuators may be adjusted to limit vehicle operation according to the specified vehicle behaviors. The vehicle behaviors may apply to powertrain systems, navigation systems, climate control systems, lighting systems and other vehicle systems.

Methods and system for vehicle function limiting

The invention concerns a method for operating a brake back-up system () of a motor vehicle (), with the steps:

Method for operation of a brake back-up system of a motor vehicle

In a special operating mode, a controller is programmed to disengage a hydraulically actuated park mechanism without use of engine power. The starter motor is used to rotate the engine-driven pump at sufficient speed to command disengagement of Park. Once park is disengaged, a holding pin is used to maintain the out of park condition without hydraulic pressure or flow.

Method for disengaging hydraulic park without engine power

A transmission diagnostic system includes a pivotable member and an actuator. The actuator has a notch with a first side, a second side, and an opening between the two sides. The width of the opening is greater than a width of the pivotable member. The pivotable member is retained within the notch, and the actuator is configured to selectively pivot the pivotable member between an engaged position, corresponding to a PARK gear, and a disengaged position, corresponding to a gear other than PARK. The transmission diagnostic system also includes a biasing spring configured to exert a biasing torque on the pivotable member to bias the pivotable member toward the first side of the notch. The transmission diagnostic system further includes a controller configured to generate at least one diagnostic signal in response to the pivotable member not being in contact with the first side of the notch.

System for detecting park state of a transmission

A method of adapting transmission controls to locate synchronizer touch points in an automated layshaft transmission. This method may include actuating a motor to move a shift drum along a layshaft at an essentially constant speed; measuring a feedback current as the motor moves the shift drum; detecting a first spike in feedback current adjacent to a second spike in feedback current for a gear; determining a shift drum angle for the first spike; and adjusting a transmission controller to set a synchronizer touch point at a shift drum angle adjacent to the first feedback current spike for the gear.

Rapid synchronizer touch point adjustment

A vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a shift-by-wire transmission, a pressure source configured to selectively provide hydraulic pressure in the absence of engine power, an internal combustion engine, and a controller. The shift-by-wire transmission includes a hydraulic actuator, and the electric pump is in fluid communication with the actuator. The controller is configured to, in response to a driver input and the engine being off, control the pressure source to provide hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic actuator.

Method for shifting a shift-by-wire transmission without engine power

A voting strategy is used to determine the mode state of a transmission when a vehicle is restarted. The transmission includes a return to park feature and a controller including at least three memories. The controller is configured to write a remembered mode state into each memory. The remembered mode state is one of a Normal mode state that allows the transmission to automatically shift to Park, a hold mode state that causes the transmission to remain in Neutral and not automatically shift to Park upon detecting a triggering event or other mode states. The controller reads each memory and, when at least two of the remembered mode states are the same mode state, causes the transmission to enter a mode state corresponding to the same mode state.

Method and system for providing a voting strategy for determining a mode state in a shift-by-wire transmission

A vehicle includes both a transmission park mechanism and an electronic parking brake. As a failure management strategy, a controller monitors vehicle movement to verify that the park mechanism is successfully restraining the vehicle against movement. Specifically, when the driver releases the brake pedal with the transmission park mechanism commanded to restrain the vehicle, the controller waits for a predetermined amount of time. If the vehicle moves during this time, the controller commands application of the electronic parking brake. The controller may also command application of the electronic parking brake if the vehicle does not come to a stop after the transmission park mechanism is commanded to restrain the vehicle.

Shift-by-wire vehicle and method to verify securement

A method and system provides a Neutral Hold mode in a vehicle having a shift-by-wire transmission with a return to park feature. The Neutral Hold mode is entered upon detecting when the transmission control mechanism has been used a first time to select Neutral when a driver's door is open or has been used a second time to select Neutral. When in Neutral Hold mode, the transmission will stay in Neutral and not shift to Park upon detecting that a driver has exited the vehicle.

Method and system for providing a neutral hold mode in a shift-by-wire transmission

A method and system provides a Neutral Tow mode in a vehicle with a shift-by-wire transmission by displaying a Neutral Tow mode option when the transmission control mechanism has been used to select Park, an ignition switch is on, and an engine is off or an information button has been pushed and entering a Neutral Tow mode upon detecting a triggering event. The Neutral Tow mode is canceled upon detecting a certain sequence of events, such as turning on the ignition switch, depressing and holding a brake pedal, and selecting Park. When in Neutral Tow mode the transmission will stay in Neutral, without automatically shifting to Park or using battery power, thereby enabling the vehicle to be towed long distances without draining battery power.

Method and system for providing a neutral tow mode in a shift-by-wire transmission

A system includes a controller that executes a method for determining failure of the door latch sensor using both the door latch sensor and a door lock sensor. If the door latch sensor is faulty, the controller adjusts an automatic feature of the vehicle based on a door lock signal instead of a door state signal. The controller is also configured to mark the door latch signal as faulty if the door latch system is not functioning properly by using a fault counter that tracks the door lock sensor.

Method and system for detecting door state and door sensor failures

A method of detecting synchronizer misalignment in a vehicle transmission, includes: applying an engagement force to an input side of a synchronizer or output side of the synchronizer; monitoring a performance characteristic of a power source configured to apply the engagement force; and determining a misalignment based on the performance characteristic exceeding or not achieving a predetermined threshold.

Method of aligning a transmission synchronizer

A voting strategy is used to determine the mode state of a transmission when a vehicle is restarted. A Powertrain Control Module, a Transmission Range Control Module, and a Gear Shift Module communicate through a communication network during execution of the voting strategy. Each module stores a remembered mode state (Normal, Neutral Hold, Neutral Tow, etc.) of the transmission in non-volatile memory. Upon module initialization, the Powertrain Control Module will compare its own remembered mode state of the transmission with the remembered mode state reported by the other two modules. A basic voting strategy is that if two of the three modules report the same remembered mode state then the Powertrain Control Module changes the transmission to that same mode state.

The present disclosure relates to methods of detecting misalignment in a transmission synchronizer and methods of alignment. Detection of misalignment is accomplished via monitoring a performance characteristic of a power source configured to provide an engagement force to the synchronizer. Where misalignment is detected a predetermined torque is applied to the input or output side of the synchronizer to rotationally align synchronizer components.

A method for controlling a power-off downshift in a powershift transmission includes disengaging the current gear, synchronizing engine speed and a speed of the target gear layshaft by increasing a torque capacity of the target gear clutch, disengaging the clutch, engaging the target gear, and reengaging the clutch.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey James Tumavitch