Method for supporting car wash mode of vehicles with internal electronic transmission range selection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10407044-B2
Application number	US-201715678192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2017
Priority date	Aug 16, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A method for supporting car wash mode of a vehicle with internal electronic transmission range selection includes entering the vehicle into car wash mode with the engine off and the transmission in the Neutral position. Next, the method continues with monitoring the vehicle for misuse of car wash mode, and transitioning the vehicle transmission to Park from Neutral when misuse of car wash mode is detected.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A method for supporting car wash mode of a vehicle with internal electronic transmission range selection comprising:
entering car wash mode for the vehicle;
monitoring the vehicle for misuse of car wash mode; and
transitioning the vehicle transmission to park when misuse of car wash mode is detected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein entering car wash mode further comprises turning engine off and placing transmission in neutral.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording when the vehicle enters car wash mode.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording estimated distance traveled by the vehicle when it enters car wash mode.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising starting a car wash mode timer when entering car wash mode.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein monitoring further comprises determining if the car wash mode timer is greater than a predetermined maximum car wash mode time threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising incrementing an overtime counter when the car wash mode timer is greater than a predetermined maximum car wash mode time threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring vehicle speed when in car wash mode.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein monitoring further comprises determining if the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising incrementing an excessive speed counter when the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined speed threshold.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording estimated distance traveled at the most recent misuse event.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising recording at least one other vehicle condition during the most recent misuse event.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein transitioning further comprises transitioning to park when the vehicle speed is less than a predetermined low speed threshold after misuse is detected.

14. A method for supporting car wash mode of a vehicle with internal electronic transmission range selection comprising:
entering car wash mode for the vehicle, wherein car wash mode includes engine off and transmission in neutral;
recording when the vehicle enters car wash mode;
monitoring the vehicle for misuse of car wash mode; and
transitioning the vehicle transmission to park when misuse of car wash mode is detected.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising recording estimated distance traveled by the vehicle when it enters wash mode.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising starting a car wash mode timer when entering car wash mode.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising monitoring vehicle speed when in car wash mode.

18. A method for supporting car wash mode of a vehicle with internal electronic transmission range selection comprising:
entering car wash mode for the vehicle, wherein car wash mode includes engine off and transmission in neutral;
recording when the vehicle enters car wash mode;
recording estimated distance traveled by the vehicle when it enters wash mode;
starting a car wash mode timer when in car wash mode;
monitoring the vehicle for misuse of car wash mode; and
transitioning the vehicle transmission to park when misuse of car wash mode is detected.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising monitoring vehicle speed when in car wash mode.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein monitoring further comprises determining if the car wash mode timer is greater than a predetermined maximum car wash mode time threshold.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Harris Shawn M
• Stockdale Timothy R
• Reinhart Mark S
• Giardini Leanne F

Classifications

• F16H63/483

  Circuits for controlling engagement of parking locks or brakes · CPC title

• F16H63/3483 Primary

  with hydraulic actuating means · CPC title

• F16H61/22

  Locking {of the control input devices} (constructional features of locking or disabling mechanisms F16H63/34) · CPC title

• F16H63/3491

  Emergency release or engagement of parking locks or brakes · CPC title

• B60W10/18

  including control of braking systems · CPC title