| 摘要 |
The gear change controller (3) receives input from operational sensors (1) associated with functions such as vehicle and engine speeds, accelerator and brake pedal depression, ignition switch-on, and interacts with engine management unit (4) and associated memory (5). Bidirectional communication is provided with gearbox operating unit (6) and, through gear selection lever (2), with driver. Lever movement is not restricted by the usual H-type gate or (for automatic transmissions) linear slot. Instead, the lever is freely pivoted; gate or slot type restraints are imposed by two motor-driven linkages, orthogonally managed by the preprogrammed controller (3). Programs determine not only in what direction the lever may be moved, under any particular driving conditions, but the resistive force the driver must overcome during selection - sometimes amounting to absolute blocking. Typically, the controller will give access only to first or reverse gear when at rest and at low engine speed. In any gear the effort needed to engage an adjacent ratio will be minimal, more distant ratios requiring greater effort. Changing down at high speeds will be strongly resisted, to confirm the driver's real intentions; change to a totally unsuitable ratio will be blocked. Slowing to a halt in a high gear will move the vehicle out of gear to prevent stalling, the lever taking a direct path to neutral as the restricting gate is only notional. Application to automatic transmissions is very similar, but for the linear lever slot only one motorized linkage is needed. |
