A control unit is provided for an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The vehicle has a gear selection operating element which allows a user of the vehicle to set different gear stages of the transmission by actuating the gear selection operating element, and the vehicle has at least one setting operating element which allows the user to change the value of a parameter of a function of the vehicle by actuating the setting operating element when the function of the vehicle is activated. The control unit is designed to detect an actuation of the gear selection operating element for a period of time which is equal to or longer than a minimum duration and to determine that the function of the vehicle is deactivated. In response thereto, the control unit is additionally designed to allow a manual change of the transmission gear by actuating the at least one setting operating element.

A rotary shifter assembly for changing gears in a vehicle transmission includes a shaft (16) that is rotatably supported in a housing (12) and movable between radial positions for indicating a gear change. A shift knob (10) is coupled to a first end of the shaft for actuation by a user. A plurality of flexible locking fingers (40) extend from the second end, and an overload wheel (18) is disposed about the fingers. The fingers engage the wheel to couple it with the shaft for concurrent rotation. A locking mechanism (64) engages the wheel to selectively prevent and allow concurrent rotation of the wheel and shaft during normal operation. The fingers move relative to the wheel to permit temporary rotation of the shaft relative to the wheel when a force applied to the shaft is beyond a maximum torque threshold, and automatically return to concurrent rotation with the wheel once the force is below the threshold.

A vehicle includes an powerplant, a manual transmission, and a clutch. A vehicle controller is programmed to automatically control operation of the clutch allowing the driver to shift gears by just operating the gear shifter. The vehicle also includes an input allowing the driver to override the controller and operate the clutch. The input is located on the gear shifter and is in electric communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to, inter alia, command the clutch to reduce clutch capacity responsive to receiving a signal from the sensor indicating grasping of the shifter.

A control device for a vehicle including (i) a power transmission device, (ii) a shift operation device that is to be operated by a driver of the vehicle to an operation position corresponding to a shift position of the power transmission device, and (iii) a switching device for switching the shift position of the power transmission device through actuation of an actuator. The control device is configured, upon occurrence of a momentary interruption of a control-device electric-power source that is supplied with an electric power from a vehicle electric-power source, to not perform an initial position learning process for setting a reference position of the actuator, until a shift switching operation for switching the shift position of the power transmission device is performed by a driver of the vehicle.

A transmission device for a vehicle includes a vehicle state detector for detecting a vehicle state, a transmission operation unit for enabling a transmission operation of selecting one of a plurality of transmission stages, and a position adjusting unit for adjusting a position of the transmission operation unit based on the detected vehicle state to allow the transmission operation unit to slidingly move between a first position where a transmission operation is disabled and a second position where a transmission operation is enabled.

A vehicle includes an engine, an electric generator, a power transmission device, a clutch, and a power generation controller. The electric generator is coupled to the engine. The power transmission device is configured to transmit driving power of the engine to a vehicle's driving wheel. The clutch is provided in the power transmission device and switchable between an engaged state in which the driving power of the engine is transmitted to the driving wheel and a disengaged state in which the driving power of the engine is not transmitted to the driving wheel. The power generation controller is configured to drive the engine and cause the electric generator to generate electric power by using the driving power of the engine. The clutch is switched to the disengaged state when a driver who drives the vehicle is determined to intend to stop the vehicle for a predetermined period or longer.

A control unit is provided for an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The vehicle has a gear selection operating element which allows a user of the vehicle to set different gear stages of the transmission by actuating the gear selection operating element, and the vehicle has at least one setting operating element which allows the user to change the value of a parameter of a function of the vehicle by actuating the setting operating element when the function of the vehicle is activated. The control unit is designed to detect an actuation of the gear selection operating element for a period of time which is equal to or longer than a minimum duration and to determine that the function of the vehicle is deactivated. In response thereto, the control unit is additionally designed to allow a manual change of the transmission gear by actuating the at least one setting operating element.

An integrated control apparatus for in-wheel system vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a shift button for a shift control and a dial for a steering control which are assembled integrally to each other to form one integrated component. The apparatus provides a driver with vehicle information through an operation of the dial when the steering control is not performed, and eliminates a risk of accidents occurring due to a control error by configuring a shift control manner and a steering control manner to be different from each other.

A vehicle shifter is provided for selecting gears of a vehicle transmission. The vehicle shifter including: a base configured for mounting to a center floor console of a vehicle; a first rotary knob positioned on the base and rotatable about an axis; and a second rotary knob positioned on the base and below the first rotary knob and rotatable about the same axis as the first rotary knob, wherein rotation of one of the first rotary knob and the second rotary knob causes selection of the gears of the vehicle transmission, and rotation of the other one of the first rotary knob and the second rotary knob provides input for a secondary function.

A recreational vehicle is provided including a power source, such as an engine or an electric motor, and a transmission having a variable gear ratio. A sub-transmission coupled to an output of the transmission includes a plurality of selectable gear configurations including park gear and at least one of a forward gear, a neutral gear and a reverse gear. An electronic controller is operative to electronically control the gear configuration of the sub-transmission in response to a set of conditions.