Multifunctional electronic shift lever for simultaneous operation

Abstract

Multifunctional electronic gearshift lever for simultaneous operation, comprising: a cylindrical lever (20) rotatably inserted into a support element (30) arranged on a dashboard center surface or console surface (10) of a vehicle, and with an inlet opening (24) penetrating the cylindrical lever (20) longitudinally, and a plurality of through-holes (28) along a circumference of the cylindrical lever (20); a start button (40) arranged at a lower side of the inlet opening (24), connected via a spring (42) to a control (50), and moving in a vertical direction; a display (12) arranged on the dashboard center surface or console surface (10) indicating a gear position of the vehicle and a vehicle status; a solenoid (60) with a rod (62) that can be inserted into each of the through-holes (28);and a locking button (64) which is attached to another surface of the inlet opening (24) for moving the rod (62) of the solenoid (60) backwards, wherein the rod (62) moves backwards when the driver presses the locking button (64) with a finger and is pulled out of one of the through holes (28) so that the driver can turn the cylindrical lever (20), wherein the rod (62) moves forward again when the driver removes his hand from the locking button (64) and is inserted into one of the through holes (28) so that the cylindrical lever (20) returns to the shift-lock state in which the cylindrical lever (20) cannot turn, wherein the gear shift stage can be changed by turning the cylindrical lever (20), and wherein simultaneously an engine of the vehicle can be started by pressing the start button.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to an electronic shift lever, and more particularly, to a multifunctional simultaneous operation electronic shift lever that allows identification of a driver, engine start, and gear shift stage change to be performed simultaneously.BACKGROUNDA vehicle includes a transmission for transmitting power generated by a motor to drive the vehicle while changing a rotational force and speed depending on a running state. The transmission is classified as a manual transmission or an automatic transmission.A driver in the vehicle operates a gear shift lever attached to a console surface at the periphery of a driver's seat or attached to a steering wheel to change a gear shift stage of the manual transmission or the automatic transmission to a desired gear shift stage.The manual transmission is operated in a manner in which, when the driver operates the gear shift lever to select an appropriate gear for driving, the appropriate gear desired by the driver is transmitted to the manual transmission through a cable or rod ("rod"). The automatic transmission is operated in a manner in which the driver rotates a lock switch through a cable by moving the gear shift lever to transmit a driver's desired motion to the automatic transmission.Recently, the use of an electronic gear shift lever replacing a mechanical connection structure between the transmission and the gear shift lever has increased, using a mechanical gear shift lever having an electrical connection structure including an actuator and an electronic control unit (ECU).The electronic gear shift lever does not require a mechanical cable connection structure unlike the mechanical gear shift lever, but requires a position sensor for converting the intention of a driver to shift gears into an electronic signal, thus allowing efficient and convenient operation of the gear shift lever.The electronic gear shift lever is classified as a lever type electronic gear shift lever including an electronic gear shift lever protruding on a console surface of a vehicle to be operated forward and backward, a selection type electronic gear shift lever including a cylindrical electronic gear shift lever mounted on a console surface of the vehicle and rotating leftward and rightward, a column type electronic gear shift lever including an electronic gear shift lever mounted on a side of a steering wheel of a vehicle to be operated upward and downward, and a button type electronic gear shift lever including a button on which gear shift stages of a vehicle are indicated by pressing.In the related art lever-type electronic gear shift lever, a trajectory of rectilinear movement thereof is significantly long because the driver needs to move the entire arm in a forward and rearward direction or in a left and right direction when operating the lever-type electronic gear shift lever. Therefore, at the time of a vehicle collision, injury to the driver's head may occur by collision with the gear shift lever because the gear shift lever protrudes above the console surface.When the selection-type electronic gear shift lever of the related art is employed, a trajectory of rectilinear motion is hardly generated, but a load is transmitted to a wrist of the driver, and the operation of the selection-type electronic gear shift lever is inconvenient because the driver needs to operate the selection-type electronic gear shift lever while rotating the wrist.The pillar-type electronic gear shift lever of the related art has an advantage that a distance to the steering wheel is short, but a dynamic trajectory thereof is significantly long because the driver needs to turn the driver arm to operate the pillar-type electronic gear shift lever.The related art knob-type electronic gear shift lever can be operated intuitively in a convenient manner, but all of a P-stage knob, an R-stage knob, an N-stage knob, and a D-stage knob must be displayed within a limited space of the gear shift lever, and therefore intervals between the knobs become short.According to the related art electronic gear shift lever, after an engine starts, a driver needs to operate the gear shift lever by a movement of the entire arm because a start button of a vehicle and the gear shift lever are separated from each other regardless of a type of vehicle.From GB 2 362 932 A a gear shift lever is known having a knob rotatably arranged on a console surface of a vehicle, a start knob moving in a vertical direction, a display arranged on the console surface and a gear shift stage of the vehicle and a solenoid 60 having a rod 62.Further gearshift levers are described in DE 10 2015 110 633 A1, US 2009 / 0000413 A1 and KR 10 1 357 106 B1.SUMMARYIt is an object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous operation in which a driver for starting an engine by pressing a start button grips an input port of a cylindrical lever with his / her hands simultaneously with identifying the identity of the driver, and rotates the hand, changing a gear shift stage of a vehicle so that a gear shift operation can be performed quickly and conveniently.It is also an object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous operation in which a separate layout for a start button is not necessary at an outer portion and a protrusion portion is eliminated so that a layout of the interior of a vehicle is improved and there is no possibility of collision at the time of a vehicle accident.The present invention provides a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous actuation having the features in claim 1. according to the invention, the gear shift stage is variable by rotating the cylindrical lever, wherein simultaneously a motor is variable by operating the start button and during simultaneous starting of a motor by operating the start button, respectively.The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever may further include a driver detection sensor attached to a surface of the input port, detects information of a driver, and transmits the information to the controller.The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever may further include a plurality of lever magnets fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical lever and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of support magnets are fixed to an inner surface of the support member and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. The lever magnets and the support magnets have different polarities.Two or more lever magnets of the plurality of lever magnets may extend upward to a lower surface of the cylindrical lever.According to the present invention, the start button, the driver detection sensor, the lock button and the like are integrally configured in the input port of the cylindrical lever, thereby simplifying a structure of the gear shift lever and reducing manufacturing cost.According to the present invention, a gear shift operation of the vehicle is performed by placing the driver's hand in the input port and simply rotating the hand, thereby reducing an operation trajectory of the gear shift lever and improving operation characteristics.According to the present invention, a separate layout of the start button at an outer position is not required, thereby improving the utilization of the layout of the vehicle interior, and a protrusion portion of the conventional mechanical gear switch is eliminated in the vehicle, thereby reducing a risk that the driver is injured in a vehicle collision.According to the present invention, it is possible to change the gear shift stage of the vehicle to the gear shift stage displayed on the display by turning the driver's hand, so that operation of the gear shift lever is intuitive and aesthetic appearance is improved, thereby improving the marketability of the vehicle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle interior in which a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an inner appearance of a cylindrical lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6A to 6D are exemplary views showing states of a cylindrical lever in response to an operation of a solenoid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a plan view of a lever magnet attached to the cylindrical lever according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a side view of the cylindrical lever shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a support magnet fixed to a support member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a method of controlling a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSThe present invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.The same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle interior in which a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view of the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be attached to an instrument panel center surface or a console surface 10 disposed between a driver seat and a front passenger seat in a vehicle, but may also be attached at other locations, in accordance with a layout and the like of the vehicle.In the instrument panel center surface or the console surface 10, a support member 30 formed with a cavity at a center thereof is fixedly connected to other components (not shown) in the instrument panel center, and a cylindrical lever 20 is rotatably inserted into the support member 30.An input hole 24 penetrates a center of the cylindrical lever 20 in a longitudinal direction, and the input hole 24 may be large enough to allow a hand of a driver to enter or exit the input hole 24.A start button 40 is connected via a spring 42 to a controller 50 fixedly connected to other components (not shown) in the instrument panel center, and is disposed at a lower side of the input port 24. The start button 40 is vertically moved by an elastic restoring force of the spring 42.That is, the start button 40 is operated in such a manner that when the driver places the hand in the input hole 24 and then presses the start button 40, the start button 40 moves downward while overcoming the elastic force of the spring 42. When the driver releases the start button 40, the start button 40 is returned upward by the elastic force of the spring 42.In this case, the controller 50 contacts the start button 40 to recognize the operation of the start button 40, and controls the vehicle. In other words, when the driver does not step on a brake pedal and presses the start button 40, the controller 50 operates an accessory mode (ACC) in which some electronic devices such as an audio system may be used. When the driver steps on the brake pedal and then presses the start button 40, the controller 50 starts an engine.As shown in FIG. 4, a display 12 indicating a state of a gear shift stage of the vehicle and a state of the vehicle is installed on the instrument panel center surface or the console surface 10, respectively. The driver changes the gear shift stage of the vehicle by rotating the cylindrical lever 20 to the gear shift stage indicated on the display 12.FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an inner appearance of a cylindrical lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing a state of the cylindrical lever in response to an operation of a solenoid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 5, a driver detection sensor 26 that detects information about the driver and transmits the information to the controller 50 is mounted on a surface (left surface in the illustrated exemplary embodiment) of the input port 24.As the driver detection sensor 26, a blood vessel pattern detection sensor may be used. The blood vessel pattern recognition sensor analyzes information on blood vessel patterns distributed under the skin of the back of a hand by using an infrared optical system, and identifies an individual identity.That is, when the driver places the hand in the input opening 24, the infrared optical system recognizes the blood vessel pattern of the driver and compares the blood vessel pattern with information stored in a database, and when the driver identity is identified, the vehicle is properly operated.In addition to the blood vessel pattern recognition sensor, various recognition sensors such as a fingerprint recognition sensor, a hand print recognition sensor, and the like may be used as the driver recognition sensor 26, in consideration of the vehicle type, the preference of a driver, or the like.Therefore, the operations of identifying the driver's identity, starting the engine of the vehicle by pushing the start button 40, and changing the gear shift stage of the vehicle by rotating the cylindrical lever 20 only through the input hole 24 formed in the cylindrical lever 20 can be performed almost simultaneously.As shown in Figs. 6A to 6D, a plurality of through holes 28 are formed around the cylindrical lever 20. A solenoid 60 having a rod 62 and moving forward and backward is inserted into / pulled out from the through hole 28 in the vicinity of the through holes 28.A lock knob 64 is installed on another surface (right surface in the illustrated exemplary embodiment) of the input hole 24, and the lock knob 64 moves the rod 62 of the solenoid 60 backward.In an initial state (P-stage state), as shown in FIG. 6A, the rod 62 of the solenoid 60 is inserted into the through hole 28, for example, and as a result, the cylindrical lever 20 cannot rotate.That is, the solenoid 60 performs a shift lock function that prevents the driver from accidentally operating during the gear shift, and therefore the driver cannot change the gear shift stage of the vehicle in a state in which the rod 62 of the solenoid 60 is inserted into the through hole 28.As shown in FIG. 6B, when the driver presses the lock button 64 by a finger, the rod 62 moves backward, and is then pulled out of the through hole 28, so that the driver can rotate the cylindrical lever 20 as shown in FIG. 6C.As shown in FIG. 6D, when the driver releases the hand from the lock knob 64, the rod 62 finally moves forward again and is then inserted into the through hole 28, and the cylindrical lever 20 returns to the shift lock state in which the cylindrical lever 20 cannot rotate.FIG. 7A is a plan view of a lever magnet attached to the cylindrical lever according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7B is a side view of the cylindrical lever shown in FIG. 7A, and FIG. 8 is a plan view of a support magnet attached to a support member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 7A, a plurality of lever magnets 22 are fixed to an outer surface of the cylindrical lever 20 spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction.As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of support magnets 32 are fixed to an inner surface of the support member 30 in the longitudinal direction, and, similarly to the lever magnets 22, the support magnets 32 are spaced apart from each other.The lever magnets 22 and the support magnets 32 are permanent magnets having different polarity and allow a driver to feel shifting so that when the driver rotates the cylindrical lever 20, the driver can certainly recognize the change of the gear shift stage.As shown in FIG. 7B, two or more lever magnets 22 aof the plurality of lever magnets 22 extend toward a lower surface of the cylindrical lever 20, and the remaining lever magnets 22 do not extend toward the lower surface of the cylindrical lever 20.The two or more lever magnets 22 aare disposed closer to the controller 50 disposed at the lower side of the cylindrical lever 20 than the other lever magnets 22, and transmit information on a degree of rotation of the cylindrical lever 20 to the controller 50.A method of controlling the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous operation according to the present invention described above will be described below.FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method of controlling the multifunctional electronic gear shift lever.As shown in FIG. 9, a method of controlling the multifunctional gear shift lever includes operating the start button 20 disposed at a lower side of the input port 24 penetrating the cylindrical lever 20 rotatably inserted in the instrument panel center surface or the console surface of a vehicle (S 200), and detecting rotation of the cylindrical lever 20 using the controller 50, and changing the gear shift stage of the vehicle (S 400).The method may further include, before the step of operating the start button 40, transmitting, to the controller 50, driver information detected by the driver detection sensor 26 attached to a surface of the input port 24 (S 100). The method may further include moving the rod 62 of the solenoid 60 backward by an operation of the lock button 64 attached to the other surface of the input port 24, and pulling out the rod 62 from the plurality of through holes 28 formed in the cylindrical lever 20 (S 300) before the step of changing the gear shift stage.According to the present invention, when the vehicle is turned off and the driver places the hand in the input port 24 of the cylindrical lever 20, the driver detection sensor 26 detects the driver information, identifies the driver identity, and then transmits the result to the controller 50 (S 100).In this case, as described above, a blood vessel pattern recognition sensor, a fingerprint recognition sensor, a hand print recognition sensor, or the like may be used as the driver recognition sensor 26, and the present disclosure will be described based on the blood vessel pattern recognition sensor.If the driver recognition sensor does not identify the driver identity, an alarm sound such as a "beep" sound is generated, and various types of buttons in the vehicle including the start button are not operated (S 110). When the driver identity is identified, a recognition confirmation sound such as a "doingdongdang" sound is generated, and the buttons in the vehicle including the start button may be operated (S 120).Next, when the driver presses the start button 40, the controller 50 confirms whether the driver presses the start button 40 while stepping on a brake pedal (S 200). When the driver presses the start button 40 without stepping on the brake pedal, an ACC mode of the vehicle starts (S 210), and when the driver presses the start button 40 while stepping on the brake pedal, a vehicle engine starts (S 220).When the driver rotates the cylindrical lever 20 by rotating the hand in a state in which the motor starts, it is confirmed whether the lock button 64 is operated (S 300). When the lock knob 64 is not operated, the start 62 of the solenoid 60 does not move forward, so that the cylindrical lever 20 cannot rotate (S 310). When the lock knob 64 is operated, the rod of the solenoid 60 moves backward so that the cylindrical lever 20 can rotate (S320).When the gear shift stage of the vehicle is in a P-shift state, the cylindrical lever 20 may rotate only when the driver steps on the brake pedal, along with the operation of the lock button 64. the controller 50 recognizes the rotation of the cylindrical lever 20 and transmits a gear shift signal to a transmission control unit (TCU), thereby changing the gear shift stage of the vehicle (S 400).

Claims

A multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous operation, comprising: a cylindrical lever (20) rotatably inserted into a support member (30) disposed on a dash center surface or a console surface (10) of a vehicle, and having an input port (24) penetrating the cylindrical lever (20) in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of through holes (28) along a periphery of the cylindrical lever (20); a start button (40) disposed at a lower side of the input port (24), connected to a controller (50) via a spring (42), and moving in a vertical direction; a display (12) disposed on the instrument panel center surface or the console surface (10) and indicating a gear shift stage of the vehicle and a state of the vehicle, a solenoid (60) having a rod (62) insertable into each of the through holes (28); A lock knob (64) attached to another surface of the input port (24) for moving the rod (62) of the solenoid (60) backward, wherein the rod (62) moves backward when the driver presses the lock knob (64) by a finger and is pulled out of one of the through holes (28) so that the driver can rotate the cylindrical lever (20), wherein the rod (62) moves forward again when the driver takes the hand away from the lock knob (64) and is inserted into one of the through holes (28) so that the cylindrical lever (20) returns to the shift lock state in which the cylindrical lever (20) cannot rotate, wherein the shift stage is changeable by rotating the cylindrical lever (20), and wherein simultaneously an engine of the vehicle is startable by operating the start knob.The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to claim 1, further comprising: a driver detection sensor (26) attached to a surface of the input port (24), detecting information of a driver, and transmitting the information to the controller (50).The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a plurality of lever magnets (22) fixed to an outer surface of the cylindrical lever (20) in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other; and a plurality of support magnets (32) fixed to an inner surface of the support portion (30) in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other; wherein the lever magnets (22) and the support magnets (32) have different polarity.The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of lever magnets (22) include two or more lever magnets (22) extending to a lower surface of the cylindrical lever (20).

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