FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970 (as amended)
[39 OF 1970]
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10 and Rule 13]
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
SYSTEM FOR SENSING GEAR SHIFT COMMENCEMENT AND DETECTING ENGAGED GEAR FOR VEHICLES
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, INDIA.
INVENTORS
ADWAIT SANJAY KALE AND PRASAD BHAUSAHEB WARULE
Both of TATA MOTORS LIMITED',
Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street,
Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001,
Maharashtra, India
Both are Indian Nationals.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure generally relates to clutches. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to vehicles having automatic clutch.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a driving shaft to a driven shaft. Generally, the driving shaft or the drive shaft is connected to an engine or any other power unit and the driven shaft provides output power for work. In vehicular application, the clutch is used for facilitating transmission of power from the engine to the gears. Vehicles are either provided with manual transmission or with auto-clutching.
In manual transmission, the clutch needs to be engaged and dis-engaged frequently that adds to the dis-comfort of the driver. So, for providing more comfort to the diver, vehicles with automatic clutch has been developed. The vehicles having automatic clutch improves driving comfort, clutch operational efficiency and the life of the clutch. The currently existing vehicles with automatic clutch utilizes a button disposed on gear shift lever for activating the automatic clutch function.
Although, the currently existing vehicles with automatic clutch provides improved driving comfort. The currently existing automatic clutch system requires manual intervention for activating the automatic clutch function. Accordingly, there is need of a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles for an automatic clutch system that does not require any manual intervention for clutch shifting.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles that is independent of intermediate gear shift linkages - ensures usability on all manual transmission vehicles.
Also, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles that can be easily retrofitted on a gear shift lever housing.
Further, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles that is economical and has robust sensing configuration.
Furthermore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles that can eliminate a reverse gear sensor and a neutral position sensor.
Additionally, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles that can also be utilized by engine auto start-stop mechanism and speed synchronizing mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of system as claimed in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles. The system includes a mounting frame, a bracket, a pair of proximity sensors and at least one angle position sensor. The mounting frame is disposed on a gear shift lever housing of a vehicle. The bracket is pivotably connected to the mounting frame. The bracket has a cutout portion configured thereon. The pair of proximity sensors is mounted on the bracket adjacent to the cut-out portion to sense movement of a gear shifter lever along a rail direction. The at least one angle position sensor functionally coupled to the bracket and the mounting frame for sensing movement of the gear shifter lever along a gear direction.
In one embodiment, the bracket is a L-shaped bracket.
The pair of proximity sensors may be mounted on the bracket adjacent to the cut-out portion along the rail direction.
In one embodiment, the pair of proximity sensors is mounted on the bracket by means of adhesive.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the pair of proximity sensors is mounted on the bracket by means of screw.
The pair of proximity sensors and the at least one angle position sensor may be communicably coupled to at least one of an Engine Control Unit (ECU), a Body Control Unit (BCU) and a Body Control Module (BCM).
•
In one embodiment, the angle position sensor is mounted at the hinge point or pivoting point of the bracket with respect to the mounting frame.

The cut-out portion of the bracket is configured to facilitate movement of the gear shift lever in a rail direction.
In one embodiment, the angle position sensor (106) is a potentiometer.
In another embodiment, the angle position sensor (106) is a hall effect sensor.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates an assembled view of the system of FIG. 1 on a gear shift lever housing of a vehicle;
FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the circled portion shown in FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 illustrates schematic representation of generic gear shift H Pattern.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the system illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the.limits of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure provides a system for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles. The system of the present disclosure may be used for vehicles having an automatic clutch system that does not require any manual intervention for clutch shifting. The system of the present disclosure can also be easily retrofitted on a gear shift lever housing of a vehicle for facilitating the existing vehicle having manual transmission to be upgraded to the automatic clutching.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a system 100 for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear for vehicles in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The system (100) includes a bracket (102), a mounting frame (104), an angle position sensor (106) and a pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b).
The bracket (102) has a cut-out portion (110) configured thereon. The cut portion (110) has sufficient space to facilitate movement of a gear shift lever (112) (illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) in a rail direction (R) (as illustrated in Figure 4), however, for facilitating movement of the gear shift lever (112) in a gear direction (G) (as illustrated in Figure 4), the bracket (102) moves in the gear direction (G) along with the gear shift lever (112). The rail direction (R) is a direction of the gear shift lever (112) movement used to select pair of gears to be engaged while transmission is in neutral. The gear direction (G) is a direction in which gear shift lever moves to engage the desired gear. It is perpendicular to rail direction. In one embodiment, the bracket (102) has a L-shape. However, the present disclosure is not related to any particular shape of the bracket (102).
The pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) are mounted on the bracket (102) for sensing movement of the gear shift lever (112) of a vehicle. The pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) may be mounted on the bracket (102) by means screws or may be glued by using adhesives. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular mounting means used for mounting the pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) on the bracket (102). The pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) is adapted to sense the movement of the gear shifter lever 112 along the rail direction (R).
The mounting frame (104) is coupled to the bracket 102 and disposed on a gear shift lever housing 114 (illustrated in Figure 3) of a vehicle. The gear shift lever housing (114) holds the gear shift lever 112, ball joint and shifter linkages and support their functionalities. The bracket 102 is adapted to make a relative motion (pivoting movement) with respect to the mounting frame (104) for facilitating movement of the gear shift lever (112) in a gear direction (G). As depicted in Figures 2 and 3, the mounting frame (104) is mounted on the gear shift lever housing (114) by means of

various fastening means such as but not limited to nut and bolts, screws, rivets and the like. Further, the mounting frame (104) is mounted on the gear shift lever housing (114) in a way such that the gear shift lever (112) is passed through the cut-out portion 110 of the bracket 102. The mounting frame (104) is mounted in such a way that at neutral gear position, the bracket (102) remains vertical i.e. perpendicular to mounting plate and at the center of the cutout portion (110) i.e. equidistant from proximity sensors
The angle position sensor (106) is functionally coupled to the bracket 102 and the mounting frame 104. In one embodiment, the angle position sensor (106) is mounted at the hinge point or pivoting point of the bracket (102) with respect to the mounting frame (104). The angle position sensor (106) senses the movement of the gear shifter lever 112 in the gear direction (G). The angle position sensor (106) measures angular travel of the gear shift lever (112) in the gear direction (G). In one embodiment, the angle position sensor (106) is a potentiometer. In another embodiment, the angle position sensor (106) is a hall effect type sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to any particular example of the angle position sensor (106) mentioned herein. In another embodiment, the angle position sensor may be any other systems and methods known in the art that may senses the movement of the gear shifter lever 112 in the gear direction (G). More specifically, while changing the gear, the gear shifter lever (112) changes its position in a Gear Direction (G) or in a Rail Direction (R) to configure gear change. This change in position of the gear shifter lever (112) is sensed by the angle position sensor (106) and the pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) to sense gear shift commencement and detect engaged gear for vehicles. The angle position sensor (106) and the pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) are communicably coupled to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) or the Body Control Unit (BCU) or Body Control Module (BCM) for facilitating automatic actuation of the clutch. The communication between the angle position sensor (106) and the pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) and the Engine Control Unit (ECU) or the Body Control Unit (BCU) or the Body Control Module (BCM) may be wired, wireless or any other communication means known in the art.

The system 100 of the present disclosure captures driver's intention of gear shifting which provides the basis for the clutch control. More specifically, the pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) and the angle position sensor 106 detects the movement of the gear shift lever 112 in the rail direction (R) and the gear direction (G) and sends the signals related to the same to the ECU/ BCU/ BCM for providing basis for actuation of the clutch. Accordingly, the signals from the pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) and the angle position sensor (106) facilitates clutch disengagement and engagement.
Further, the information provided by the system 100 to the ECU/BCU/BCM regarding the gear being engaged is needed for engine speed synchronizing. For very smooth gear shift and clutch engagement, it is necessary to match engine speed to desired input shaft speed. The proposed system 100 predicts gear being engaged by monitoring input signals from the pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) and the angle position sensor (106). So during gear engagement process, engine can achieve a speed close to desired input shaft speed and helps in speed synchronization required for clutch engagement during gear shift. Further, the information related to driver's intention of gear shifting and/or the gear being engaged is useful for parameterizing clutch control strategy, typically clutch actuation slew rates and the like. The system 100 of the present invention may also be used in an auto-start stop mechanism. The auto-start stop mechanism detects if the transmission is in neutral. Detecting transmission in neutral is one of the very important condition to activate engine stop action in start stop system.
Advantages of the Present Disclosure:
• The system 100 of the present disclosure senses gear shift commencement and detects engaged gear for vehicles;
• The system 100 of the present disclosure facilitates an automatic clutch system that does not require any manual intervention for clutch shifting;
• The system 100 of the present disclosure is independent of intermediate gear shift linkages - ensures usability on all manual transmission vehicles;

• The system 100 of the present disclosure can be easily retrofitted on a gear shift lever housing;
• The system 100 of the present disclosure is economical and has robust sensing configuration;
• The system 100 of the present disclosure can eliminate a reverse gear sensor and a neutral position sensor;
• The system 100 of the present disclosure can also be utilized by engine auto start-stop mechanism and speed synchronizing mechanism
Equivalents
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite

articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
Referral Numerals:

Reference Number Description
100 System for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged

gear for vehicles
102 Bracket
104 Mounting Frame
106 Angle Position Sensor
108a and 108b Pair of Proximity Sensors
110 Cut-out portion of the bracket 102
112 Gear Shift Lever
114 Gear Shift Lever housing

We claim:
1. A system (100) for sensing gear shift commencement and detecting engaged gear
for vehicles, said system comprising:
• a mounting frame (104) disposed on a gear shift lever housing (114) of a vehicle;
• a bracket (102) pivotably coupled to said mounting frame (104), said bracket (102) having a cut-out portion (110) configured thereon;
• a pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) mounted on said bracket (102) adjacent to said cut-out portion (110) to sense movement of a gear shifter lever (112) along a rail direction (R); and
• at least one angle position sensor (106) functionally coupled to said bracket (102) and said mounting frame (104) for sensing movement of said gear shifter lever (112) along a gear direction (G).

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bracket (102) is a L-shaped bracket.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) is mounted on said bracket (102) adjacent to said cut-out portion (110) along said rail direction (R).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) is mounted on said bracket (102) by means of adhesive.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) is mounted on said bracket (102) by means of screw.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pair of proximity sensors (108a and 108b) and said at least one angle position sensor (106) are communicably

coupled to at least one of an Engine Control Unit (ECU), a Body Control Unit (BCU) and a Body Control Module (BCM).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angle position sensor (106) is mounted at the hinge point or pivoting point of the bracket (102) with respect to said mounting frame (104).
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cut-out portion (110) of said bracket (102) is configured to facilitate movement of said gear shift lever (112) in a rail direction (R).
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angle position sensor (106) is a potentiometer.
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angle position sensor (106) is a hall effect sensor.