JP3208137B2 - Electric control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electric control device, and more particularly to an electric control device for controlling various functions of a vehicle.

Modern vehicles typically have an automatic transmission that shifts in response to detected speed and throttle opening parameters. Typical vehicles also include a back light that is automatically activated in response to the reverse mode of the transmission, and a starter motor that can be activated only when the transmission is in neutral and park modes. Various controls are provided for selectively shifting the transmission at the command of the operator, providing a neutral or park signal to enable starting of the vehicle engine;
A reverse signal for energizing the reverse light is provided. Typically, the device that controls the shift of the transmission, the device that enables the starter motor circuit, and the device that activates the reverse light circuit are configured as separate devices,
The synthesis of this is relatively expensive and tends to require maintenance.

In an electric shift system, it is also important that some means of continuously displaying the current shift position of the transmission to the driver is important, and that this means of displaying the current shift position of the transmission is operating properly. Is even more important.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to providing an improved electronic control for a vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a control device for selectively shifting the transmission of a vehicle and simultaneously supplying a starter enable signal for the vehicle and also a back light signal for the vehicle.

Further, the present invention is directed to an electric transmission control of a vehicle including means for continuously displaying a current shift position of a transmission, and means for easily confirming that the display means for the transmission shift position is working properly. are doing.

The electric control device of the present invention includes a starter motor circuit,
And transmissions having a plurality of states including a neutral state. The control device of the present invention includes a transmission state detecting means for instructing various states of the transmission and generating a plurality of current transmission state signals corresponding thereto, and the starter motor circuit in response to the reception of the neutral transmission state signal. Means for performing an enabling operation. This configuration,
The use of transmission state detection means, which typically forms part of an electric shift device, is further permitted to be used to provide a neutral start signal that enables the starter motor circuit of the vehicle.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a vehicle has a reverse light circuit, a transmission having a reverse state, and the electronic control unit further includes a reverse light circuit in response to receiving the reverse transmission state signal. Means for performing the operation of urging the. This configuration also allows the available transmission state signal to be used to activate the rear light circuit in response to the transmission being moved backward.

According to still another feature of the invention, the means for performing an operation receives the current transmission status signal from the detecting means and enables the starter motor circuit in response to receiving the neutral transmission status signal from the detecting means. And a logic control unit that performs an operation of energizing the reverse light circuit in response to receiving a reverse transmission state signal from the detection means. This configuration allows the use of a common logic unit for controlling the transmission and also for supplying the neutral state signal and the reverse light signal.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a transmission has a mode select shaft operable to selectively position the transmission in various states in response to rotation thereof, and wherein the transmission state detection means comprises:
Encoder means for following the angular position of the mode select shaft and performing an operation to generate a plurality of transmission state signals corresponding to each angular position of the mode select shaft associated with each state of the transmission to the logic control unit; Have.
This arrangement is used to provide a neutral start signal and a reverse light signal, and also provides a convenient means for determining the current state of the transmission for use in shifting the transmission.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the control system is in the form of a gear selector assembly, and operator input means for allowing a vehicle operator to select a desired transmission condition; respective gear selector assembly selection locations. Declaration means associated with the gear selector assembly and operating separately to act when differentiating the associated selected position from the other selected positions; and a declaration associated with the gear selector assembly selected position corresponding to the current shift position of the transmission. Means for actuating the means for actuating the means; actuating all of the declaration means in response to movement of the ignition switch of the vehicle to a starting position, and thereafter selecting a gear selector assembly corresponding to the current shift position of the transmission. Means for performing an operation for stopping all operations of the declaration means except for the declaration means related to the position; A. This arrangement provides the operator with a clear indication of the current state or position of the transmission at all times, and also provides a system check at each initial operation when the ignition switch is moved to the starting position.

In the present disclosure, the control device is means for generating a desired transmission status signal corresponding to an operator input to the gear selector assembly; interconnected between the operator input means and the transmission status detection means; If the desired transmission state is different from the current transmission state determined by the detecting means, performing an operation of shifting the transmission to the desired transmission state instructed by the operator input, and further receiving the neutral transmission state signal. A logic control unit for responsively performing an operation for enabling the starter motor circuit, and further for performing an operation for activating the reverse light circuit in response to receiving the reverse transmission state signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a front wheel drive vehicle employing the electric control device of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a front wheel drive assembly of the vehicle of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the configuration within the circle 4 of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a control module used in the electric control device of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the electric control device of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of FIG. FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of the electric control device of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of a vehicle using the control device of FIG. 9; 11 is a block diagram of the control device of FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is a partial schematic diagram of another display device configuration of the control device of FIG. 9;

An electric control device according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 1 for a front-wheel drive vehicle. It has an instrument panel assembly 10 located in the interior of the vehicle; a handle 12 attached to the instrument panel, an accelerator pedal assembly 14 and a front wheel drive assembly 16.

The front wheel drive assembly 16 includes an internal combustion engine 18 mounted laterally in the engine compartment of the vehicle, a torque converter 20 driven by the engine 18, a gear drive assembly 22, an automatic transmission 24, and a U-short 28. And a drive shaft 26 drivably connected to both opposed ends of the transmission 24. The transmission 24 includes a mode select shaft 30 located on a housing 32 of the transmission 24 and having a free upper end.
And operating the transmission's internal equipment in a known manner in response to the rotation of the shaft to position the transmission in a plurality of transmission modes such as park, neutral, drive, and the like.

The electric control device of the present invention broadly includes a power module 34 and a control module 36.

The power module 34 is bolted to the transmission housing 32 near the mode select shaft 30 and the control module 36 is mounted to be located on the car instrument panel assembly 10 for convenience of operator access. ing.

The power module 34 is in the form of a motor assembly and has a DC electric motor 38 and a reduction unit 40.

The motor 38 is, for example, a 200 inch pound (about 230 kgm).
A DC motor having a class of output torque, including a housing and an output shaft.

The reduction gear unit 40 includes a housing 46 which is firmly attached to the motor housing 42 and protects an internal cavity 46a,
A worm gear 48 formed on an extension of the motor output shaft 44 and extending into the cavity 46a; a worm wheel 50 located within the cavity 46a and driven by the worm gear 48;
Housing wall driven by worm wheel 50
An output shaft 52 having a free lower end 52a journaled to 46b and 46 and located below and external to housing wall 46c. The free lower end 52a has a D-shaped opening 52b that is driven by joining a receiver of the D-shaped upper end 30a of the mode select shaft 30.

The motor assembly 34 passes through the hole 46d of the protrusion 46e of the reduction unit housing 46 downward, passes downward through the spacer 56, and is fixed to the tapped hole 32a of the transmission housing 32. Thus, it is placed on the upper surface of the transmission housing 32. In relation to the assembly, the reduction unit output shaft is controlled so that the driving force of the motor 38 performs the operation of driving the mode select shaft 30 via the worm shaft 48, the worm wheel 50, and the reduction unit output shaft 52.
52 is arranged coaxially with the mode select shaft 30, and a D opening 52 b at the lower end 52 a of the reduction shaft is fitted in the upper free end 30 a of the mode select shaft 30.

Power module 34 further includes an encoder assembly 72 that operates to detect the current shift state or position of the transmission and generate an encoded signal indicative of the detected shift position.

The encoder assembly 72 has an encoder wheel 74 and a pickup device 76. The encoder wheel 74 is
For example, it is made of a suitable plastic material and can be attached to the surface of the reduction unit housing chamber 46a on the worm wheel 50 side. The encoder wheel 74 has a central hole 74a through which the reduction unit output shift 52 passes, and is provided on the open outer surface of the wheel and has four arcuate tracks 80a, 80 at the center on the center line of the encoder wheel.
code indicia (cod
e indicia) 80.

The pickup device 76 has a plastic body member 82 on which a plurality of flexible elastic contact fingers 84 each cooperating with the indicia trucks 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d. A fifth finger is provided to provide ground to the system, in addition to the four fingers 84 that each couple to four indicia tracks.

A lead 86 from the motor 42 and a lead 88 from the pickup device 76 are connected by a pin-type plug 90.

The control module 36 is intended to be easily placed in the opening 10a of the instrument panel 10 by inserting the module from the back side of the instrument panel 10 and by using several fasteners shown at 96. It is fixed in the opening 10a. Module 36 includes a generally box-shaped housing structure 98 that encloses operator access or pushbutton submodule 36a and logic submodule 36b.
Having.

The pushbutton sub-module 36a has a plurality of pushbuttons 100 that are placed in a vertical orientation to the front face 98a of the module housing and correspond to available transmission shift modes. In particular, button 100 comprises buttons corresponding to transmission park, reverse, neutral, overdrive, drive, 2nd and 1st shift positions. The button 100 is mounted on the printed circuit board 102 in a known manner.
In response to each pressed button 100 to generate an appropriate electrical signal.

The logic sub-module 36b is suitably electrically connected to the printed circuit 102 and includes a first plurality of connector terminals 106
And an electronic printed circuit board 104 appropriately mounted on the second plurality of connector terminals 108. The connector terminal 106 cooperates with the pin type plug 110 at the end of the cable 112. The cable 112 includes a plug 114 on the far side for inserting the plug 90, whereby the plug 110 is connected to the lead 86.
Integrate information from 88. The connector terminal 108 cooperates with the pin type plug 118. Plug 118 has leads 120, 121, 122,
Combine information from 123,124 and 125.

The lead 120 is associated with a switch 130 for detecting the open / close position of a door on the driver's seat side of the car, the lead 121 is associated with a switch 132 for detecting whether a driver is present in the driver's seat of the car, and the lead 122 is associated with the car Detects that the ignition switch 134 is open or closed, leads 123 and 124 are connected to the negative and positive electrodes of the car battery 135 by appropriate fuses 136 of the lead 123, and the lead 125 is the instantaneous speed at which the car is transitioning. Connected to a speed sensor 137 that provides information about the

The electric shift assembly of the present invention is provided to the vehicle manufacturer in the form of a power module 34 and a control module 36.
In the vehicle assembly, the power module 34 is mounted on the transmission housing 32 in a state coupled to the mode select shaft 30, the control module 36 is mounted on the instrument panel 10, and then the plug 90 is connected to the plug 114.
And the plugs 110 and 118 are plugged into the control module 36, thereby completing the assembly of the electric shaft assembly.

Power module on transmission housing
The assembly of 34 simply positions the lower end 52a of the reduction shaft 52 at the upper end 30a of the mode select shaft 30, and taps the bolt 54 downward through the hole 46d and the spacer 56 in the transmission housing 32. Hole 32
Complete the threading so as to penetrate a.

Attachment of the control module 36 to the instrument panel 10 can be accomplished simply by moving the control module from the back of the panel to the opening 10a and securing it in position using fasteners 96 or the like. Insert plug 90 into plug 114,
Following insertion of plugs 110 and 118 into connector terminals 106 and 108, the system is in an operating state to shift the transmission.

In use, the input signals described above and shown in FIG. 7 are supplied to a logic chip 141 which is a programmable logic array or gate array. The logic chip 141
Upon receiving these input signals, it generates the necessary drive signals to the motor via buffer 142 to select the desired gear. The various input signals are configured as a set of logic signals.

The logic chip 141 plays a role of comparing the input indicating the pushed push button with the input indicating the current gear. If this is different, the logic chip 14
1 then generates an output signal to the motor 38 to rotate the motor until the current gear matches the selected gear. The process includes an indication of a shift that is an upshift and a downshift based on the pool equation.

As soon as the current encoder signal transmitted by the pick-up device 76 matches the signal generated based on the designated pressed button, the comparison logic of the control module 36 determines whether the mode select shaft 30, and thereby the transmission, is accurate. Actuate to de-energize and brake the motor to stop at the selected shaft position.

The various input signals are configured as a set of logic signals, the manner in which a particular Boolean equation is used, and the control system receives the input or request signal, compares it with the current transmission status signal, and adjusts the motor No. 4,841,793, 4,790,204, assigned to all current assignees,
4,817,471 and U.S. Application No. 311,982, filed February 16, 1989, are described in further detail.

The circuit diagram shown in FIG. 7 further includes a starter motor circuit 150 and a backward lighting circuit 152.

The starter motor circuit 150 has a starter enable output 154, a lead 156 connecting the starter enable output 154 to the logic submodule 36b, and a lead 158 connecting the starter enable output 154 to the vehicle starter motor 160.

The backward light drive circuit 152 includes a backward light drive 162 and a lead connecting the backward light drive 162 and the logic submodule 36b.
164 and a lead 166 for connecting the back light drive 162 and the back light 168 of the vehicle.

Referring to FIG. 8, the lead 156 is connected to the logic module 3
It is connected to the open collector output 170 located in 6b and to the logic chip 141. The starter enable output 154 has a first relay 172 and a second relay 174. The coil 174 of the first relay 172 is connected to the lead 156 and the positive terminal of the battery.
The 72 contacts 176 are connected to one end of a lead 178 extending from the ignition switch 134 of the vehicle.

The coil 180 of the second relay 174 is connected to the contact 1 of the first relay 172.
The other end of 76 is connected to ground and the contact 182 of the second relay 174 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery and the lead 158 to the starter motor 160.

The logic chip 141 receives the neutral or park signal from the encoder assembly 72 via the open collector output 170 and the coil 174 of the relay 172.
Performs the operation of closing the contact 176, thereby performing the operation of enabling the starter motor circuit. In particular, when the ignition switch 134 is switched to the start position,
Complete the circuit that passes through the coil 180 of the relay 174 to complete the relay 174
Of the battery is supplied to the starter motor 160 via the lead 158 to allow the vehicle to start. The described circuit configuration is
Performs the operation of keeping the starter motor circuit startable as long as the controller receives the neutral or park signal from the encoder assembly 72. As soon as the encoder assembly indicates a state of the transmission other than neutral or park, the logic sub-module de-energizes the relay 174 and disables the vehicle starter motor circuit.

The back light drive 162 has a relay 190. Relay 190
The coil 192 is connected to the open collector output 194 in the logic sub-module 36b via the lead 164, and is connected to the logic chip 141. The other end of coil 192 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery. Relay 190
Contact 194 is connected between the positive terminal of the battery and the lead 166.

When the logic chip 141 receives the retreat signal from the encoder assembly 72, the chip urges the coil 192 of the relay 190 via the lead 164 via the open collector output 194, thereby closing the contact 194 and connecting to the battery. Lead 166
The circuit between the reversing light 168 through is closed. The logic chip continues to energize relay 190 as long as a retract signal from encoder assembly 72 is received, and maintains contact 194 in the closed position. And conversely, logic chip 141
When the encoder input to indicates that the transmission is in a state other than reverse, de-energize relay 190 and open contact 194, thereby opening the circuit to reverse light.

The control device shown in FIGS. 9-12 is generally similar to the device of the embodiment of FIGS.
Used to identify identical or compared elements of two embodiments. The logic sub-module 36b of the control module 36 of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12 includes a logic control unit or chip 141, a desired gear encoder 200, and a speed sensor.
137 and an analog-to-digital speed decoder 204. The designated output from the push button module 36a determined by the designated button 100 pressed by the vehicle operator is electrically transmitted to the desired gear encoder 200. The gear encoder has a function of generating an electric signal that transmits an encoding language corresponding to the selected gear selected by pressing the specified push button 100 of the push button module to the logic chip 141 as a specified transmission signal by a known method. Do.

The speed sensor 137 performs the function of providing analog information on the instantaneous speed of the vehicle in a known manner, and the analog-to-digital speed decoder 204 receives an analog input from the speed sensor 137 and
A plurality of desired speed signals, such as MPH3, MPH7,
Generates MPH20 and MPH30. When the analog information from the speed sensor 137 indicates that the vehicle speed is lower than the corresponding predetermined vehicle speed, the analog-digital speed decoder 204 outputs the speed signals MPH3 and MPH as the first type of digital signals, respectively.
H7, MPH20, MPH30 are generated and have the opposite type of digital signal when the analog information from speed sensor 137 indicates that the vehicle speed is higher than the corresponding predetermined vehicle speed. The plurality of speed signals generated by the speed decoder 204 provide a plurality of threshold vehicle speed signals for use by the logic control unit to determine whether the required shift in terms of the instantaneous speed of the vehicle is acceptable. The threshold speed signal selected will of course depend on the particular vehicle applied.

In the general operation of the electrical control system of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12, the operator presses pushbutton module 36a.
The signal produced by pressing the appropriate push button 100 is relayed to the desired gear encoder 200 and then to the logic chip 141, where it is fed from the encoder assembly 72 via the desired shift signal and lines 88 and 112. Then the current gear encoder signal is compared and
If the desired signal is different from the current signal, and the threshold speed signals MPH3, MPH supplied from speed decoder 137
7.If MPH20, MPH30 indicate that the desired shift is allowed, send a signal to motor 38 via lines 112 and 86 to rotate the motor clockwise or counterclockwise, thereby coupling The transmission shifts to a desired position by rotating the mode select shaft of the transmission. Pushbutton module 34, power module 36, logic chip 141, speed sensor 137, speed decoder 204, desired gear encoder to accomplish transmission shift according to request signals supplied by operator input to the pushbutton module
A more detailed method of 200 coordination is disclosed in previously referenced US Pat. No. 4,817,471.

The vehicle has a standard ignition switch 134 and the logic chip 141 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,471.
As described further in, when the ignition switch is moved from the on position to the off position, the threshold speed signal provided by the speed decoder 137 is then allowed to shift. The transmission is automatically shifted to the park in response to an indication that there is, i.e., an indication that the vehicle speed is less than 3 mph (5,556 km).

The controller of the embodiment of FIGS. 9-12 further includes means for continuously displaying the current state or position of the transmission at appropriate times in a manner that clearly communicates the state or position of the transmission to the operator. The gist of the transmission display of the present invention is
206, current gear display drive module 208,
It is provided by an instrument panel display 210, preferably of the vacuum floresent type. The current gear display drive module 208 is connected to the logic chip 141 via a lead 212 and then to the current gear display module 206 via a lead 214. Lead 2
16 connects the instrument panel VF display 210 to the current gear display module 206, and the lead 218 is an ignition switch
134 is connected to the logic chip 141. Lead 218 provides an ignition on signal and, in particular, provides a position signal whenever a key is inserted into the ignition switch and the ignition switch is moved to an on or activated position.

The current gear display module 206 is located physically adjacent to the push button module 36a and has an assertion lamp 220 corresponding to the number of push buttons 100 of the push button module 36a, the lamp being a push button module Are located immediately adjacent to each push button 100. The push button 100 is preferably made of a translucent material. Then, when the ignition is moved to the energized position, the lighting device forming a part of the normal instrument panel lighting circuit is located behind the push button so that the push button shines at the level determined by the normal instrument panel illuminance adjuster. To be placed.

In an alternative configuration of FIG. 12, the lamps 220 are placed behind the respective responsive push buttons 100, and the push buttons are made of a translucent material to illuminate the corresponding push button when the lamp is energized, And lamp 22
0 is ordered in the normal instrument panel lighting circuit. In this alternative configuration, all of the lamps shine at a relatively low level as part of the timepiece panel lighting while the ignition switch is in the startable position, and the lamp corresponding to the current position of the transmission is high. Shine with strength,
The push button, which corresponds to the current position of the transmission, shines brightly, clearly declaring the current position of the transmission.

During normal operation of the vehicle, the current gear display drive module 208 receives an appropriate encoded signal from the logic chip 141 via the lead 212 representing the current transmission position provided by the encoder assembly 72,
And the current gear display module 2 via the lead 214
An appropriate drive signal is sent to 06 to illuminate the appropriate lamp 220 corresponding to the current position of the transmission, or to increase the intensity of the appropriate push button light of the alternative configuration of FIG. At the same time, the current gear display drive module 208 sends a drive signal to the instrument panel display 210 via leads 214 and 216, the instrument panel display being located on the instrument panel of the vehicle in the line of sight of the car operator. An operation of displaying the character symbol of the current position of the transmission in 222 is performed. That is, when the vehicle's transmission is currently parked, the lamp 220 next to the park push button illuminates and the word "park" is displayed in the window 222.

When the operator enters the vehicle through door 224 and turns ignition switch 134 to the on or energized position, a signal is sent to logic chip 141 via lead 218 and to the current gear display drive module 208 via lead 212. The appropriate drive signal is sent to the current gear display module 206 via the lead 214 to generate the appropriate write signal.
Turn on 20 and generate a drive signal for lead 216 to display the appropriate character signal in window 222, thereby indicating the current position of the transmission. As pointed out earlier, the logic chip 141 automatically shifts the transmission to the park position in response to the ignition key moving to the off position, so that the transmission is brought to the park position by the operator returning to the vehicle, thereby causing the transmission to enter the park position. The lamp 220 corresponding to the push button of the park lights up, and the instrument panel display 210 displays the word "park".

Further, in response to the operator moving the ignition switch to the on or energized position, a signal is sent via lead 226 to the current gear display 206 to turn on all lamps 220. As a result, a system check that all lamps can be operated is performed. Lamp 220 is line 2
Lighting is continued for the time determined by the timer 228 of 26.
Then, due to the timeout of the timer, the signal through the lead 226 ends, but the lamp 220 corresponding to the current gear position, for example, the park, continues to shine with the lead 214,
Then, the VF display of the window 222, for example, the park is continuously displayed via the leads 214 and 216. Tire 228
Timeout, for example, 1/2 second after the ignition is moved to the on position, thereby providing the operator with a 1/2 second system check to make sure that all lamps are working. After that, the system will switch to the appropriate lamp 220
The current position of the transmission is displayed by the glow of, and the mode automatically returns to the mode in which the current position of the transmission is continuously displayed by the character symbol of the window 222.

In the alternative configuration of FIG. 12, in response to movement of the ignition switch to the operable position, all push buttons are illuminated brightly and then, following a timeout of tire 228, a push button corresponding to the current position of the transmission. It will be appreciated that only the bright shine is maintained and the other pushbuttons return to a low level shine determined by the settings of the instrument panel lighting circuit.

The electronic control unit of the present invention shifts the transmission in response to operator input, provides a neutral start signal to enable the starter motor circuit, and provides a reverse signal to energize the reverse light circuit. It will be seen that it provides an efficient and inexpensive machine. In addition, the transmission display system of the present invention can be used with the appropriate lamp 2 of the current gear display module 206.
Both the illuminated 20 and the specific characters displayed on the instrument panel indicator 210 provide a clear and positive indication of the current position of the transmission to the vehicle operator at all times, and furthermore, the vehicle is started It will be appreciated that each time an action is taken to provide an operator with a system check to ensure that the display system is operating properly.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-61-41044 (JP, A) JP-A-59-193733 (JP, U) JP-A-61-18944 (JP, U) JP-A-45 1317 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60K 28/10 B60Q 1/00 B60Q 1/50 G08B 21/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electric control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: an engine, an engine starter, an ignition switch, and a transmission having a plurality of states including a neutral state, wherein the electronic control unit includes the ignition switch and the engine starter. A starter motor circuit; driver input means for generating required input signals corresponding to various states of the transmission; detecting a state of the transmission; and outputting a plurality of encoder signals corresponding to various states of the transmission. An encoder means operable to generate; a logic control device operable to receive the encoder signal and the driver input signal as input signals and to generate a logic output signal corresponding to various states of the transmission. The logic control device And when the required transmission state indicated by the driver input signal is different from the current transmission state determined by the encoder means, the signal is transmitted until the required transmission state is reached. Power means operable to shift the transmission; provided in the starter motor circuit, arranged to receive a neutral output signal from the logic control device, and for receiving a neutral signal from the logic control device. An enable device responsive to enabling the starter motor circuit to permit completion of the starter motor circuit and to operate to close the ignition switch and allow starting of the engine. 2. The electric control device according to claim 1, wherein
The electric control device wherein the transmission has a park condition and the enable device is operative to enable the starter motor circuit in response to receiving a park signal from the logic control device. 3. The electric control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a reverse light circuit, and the transmission includes a reverse state.
Furthermore, another enable device is provided in the backward light circuit and operates to drive the backward light circuit in response to receiving a backward state signal of the transmission from the logic control device. The electric control circuit. 4. The electric control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission has a mode selection shaft, and selectively changes the transmission in response to rotation of the shaft. Wherein the encoder means tracks the angular position of the mode select shaft and the logic control corresponds to each angular position of the mode select shaft associated with a particular state of the transmission. The electrical control device operable to generate a plurality of transmission status signals for transmission to the device.