Appeal No. 2002-1668 Page 4
Application No. 09/531,666
continuously repeating the above sequence of steps at uniform intervals
of time to effect changes in the target input shaft speed value in response to
changes in the vehicle acceleration.
14. A method of controlling a continuously variable transmission for use with
an automotive vehicle including an accelerator pedal, the transmission having an
input and output shaft, the transmission being operable at a variable speed ratio
for transmitting a drive from the input shaft to the output shaft, the method
comprising the steps of:
sensing vehicle operating conditions including vehicle deceleration;
producing a released accelerator pedal indicative signal when the
accelerator pedal is released;
calculating a target value for the speed of rotation of the input shaft based
on the sensed vehicle operating conditions;
calculating a correction factor based on the sensed vehicle deceleration
when the sensed vehicle acceleration exceeds a first threshold value in the
presence of the released accelerator pedal indicative signal;
subtracting the correction factor to the target input shaft speed value to
decrease the target input shaft speed value;
controlling the speed ratio to bring the input shaft speed into coincidence
with the decreased target value; and
continuously repeating the above sequence of steps at uniform intervals
of time to effect changes in the target input shaft speed value in response to
changes in the vehicle deceleration.
A review of the file of the original application shows that claims 1 to 18 were
allowed in the first Office action from the examiner (Paper No. 6, mailed September 25,
1997). Thus, in the prosecution of the original patent, the claims were never rejected
on the basis of prior art (i.e., 35 U.S.C. § 102 or 35 U.S.C. § 103). Paragraph 1 of the
Office action of September 25, 1997 reads as follows:
The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance:
[t]he reasons for allowance of the claims are that the provision of
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