The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2018
GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);
Timothy P. Philippart, Orion, MI (US);
Robert J. Horner, Dexter, MI (US);
Michael R. Grimes, Saline, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for controlling a vehicle transmission includes electrically connecting a Transmission or Powertrain Control Unit (TCU or PCU) to the vehicle transmission, the TCU or PCU controlling operation of the transmission and having switchable power on a high side, and switchable ground on a low side of a plurality of solenoids in a shared functional grouping configuration, proportionally controlling an amount of current through a load such as a solenoid via controlling an amount of time current is being sunk through the solenoid to ground and controlling an amount of time current is provided via an adaptable recirculation path in the TCU or PCU, the recirculation path minimizing current decay when the solenoid is driven in an OFF state. The TCU or PCU having a single hardware layout, but being electronically adaptable to control a plurality of transmission types and solenoid architectures based on any desired functional solenoid grouping.