MECHANICAL ELEMENT FOR RETURNING TO PARKING FOR CABLE-POINT SHIFT TRANSMISSION

Abstract

A selection mechanism includes a selection interface with a retaining member. An artificial touch positioner defines a plurality of artificial touch positions that correspond to selectable positions of the selection interface. The plurality of artificial touch positions are connected via a screw channel that extends helically along the artificial touch positioner. A motor rotates the artificial touch positioner to automatically actuate the retaining member via the screw channel, moving the retaining member and the selection interface to the desired position.

Description

The present invention relates in general to the gear shift lever of vehicles and, more specifically, to a mechanical return-to-park mechanism having a rotationally operable artificial touch positioner. Background of the invention In conventional vehicles, a shift-by-wire mechanism digitally operates a vehicle's transmission between multiple gears. A mechanical shift lever is incorporated as part of this mechanism, allowing the user to operate the shift-by-wire system. In some cases, similar to the return-to-park function, the shift-by-wire system automatically places the transmission in park. A visual indication that this operation has taken place is typically displayed on an electronic screen. Brief description of the invention According to one aspect of the present invention, a selection mechanism includes a selection interface having a retaining member. An artificial touch positioner defines a plurality of artificial touch positions corresponding to selectable positions of the selection interface. The plurality of artificial touch positions are connected via a screw channel extending helically along the artificial touch positioner. A motor rotationally drives the artificial touch positioner to automatically actuate the retaining member via the screw channel, moving the retaining member and the selection interface to the desired position. According to another aspect of the present invention, a selection mechanism for a vehicle includes a selection interface having a positioning member. An artificial touch positioner includes a continuous screw channel that defines a plurality of selectable positions of the selection interface. The continuous screw channel, in its stationary state, defines a locking relationship between the positioning member and the continuous screw channel. A corresponding rotational position, with respect to a rotation axis of the selection interface, is defined for each selectable position of the plurality of selectable positions. An actuator operates to define a translational state that rotates the artificial touch positioner about a rotation axis of the positioner. The actuator's operation guides the positioning member through the continuous screw channel and around the rotation axis of the selection interface.According to another aspect of the present invention, a selection mechanism includes a selection interface having a retaining member. An artificial touch positioner includes a continuous screw ridge. The continuous screw ridge, in a stationary state, defines a plurality of artificial touch positions. The artificial touch positions correspond to the selectable positions of the selection interface. The plurality of artificial touch positions are connected via the continuous screw ridge, which extends helically along the artificial touch positioner to define a screw channel. A positioner actuator rotationally drives the artificial touch positioner to define a translational state.The operation of a motor moves the retaining element along the continuous screw ridge and through the screw channel to move the retaining element and the selection interface around a rotation axis of the selection interface to a desired rotation position relative to the rotation axis. Skilled practitioners will understand and appreciate these and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention after analyzing the descriptive memorandum, claims, and accompanying figures shown below. RQRQnn / ZZnZ / E / YIAI Brief description of the drawings In the figures: FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one aspect of a selection mechanism; FIG. 2 is another top perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 1, where a part of the outer casing has been removed; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 1 taken along line lll-lll; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of one aspect of a selector mechanism and shows the selector in a forward position; FIG. 6 is another side elevation view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 5, showing the selection interface in a parked position; FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is another top perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 5; FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 5; FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 5; FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 6; FIG. 12 is another top perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 6; FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 6; FIG. 14 is another bottom perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 6; FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of one aspect of the mechanism RQRQnn / ZZnZ / E / YIAI selection; FIG. 16 is another side elevation view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 15; FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of the selection mechanism of FIG. 15 and shows the operation of the selection mechanism between the park and drive positions; and RQRonn / zznz / E / YiAi FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the selection mechanism in FIG. 17 showing the operation of the selection interface between the park and drive positions. Detailed description of the invention For the purposes of describing this invention, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall refer to the invention as oriented in Figure 1. However, it shall be understood that the invention may adopt various alternative orientations, unless expressly specified otherwise. It shall also be understood that the specific processes and devices illustrated in the accompanying figures and described in the specification below are merely examples of embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Therefore, the specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments described herein shall not be considered limiting unless explicitly stated otherwise in the claims. As exemplified in FIG. 1-14, reference number 10 generally refers to a mechanical return-to-park element incorporated within a mechanical shift apparatus 12 for a cable-shift mechanism 14. The mechanical return-to-park element 10 includes a retaining member 16 extending from a mechanical selector interface 18. The retaining member 16 activates an artificial touch positioner 20 to define, in a visual and tactile response, the selected position 22 of the transmission. These selected positions 22 typically include park, reverse, neutral, forward, and various manual shift positions that correspond to the positions of the cable-shift mechanism 14.The mechanical selection interface 18 actuates one or more retaining members 16, typically a retainer, via the artificial touch positioner 20 to provide a visual indication of the selected position 22 for the transmission. In this way, the mechanical selection interface 18 can reflect the selected position 22. Furthermore, the mechanical selection interface 18 can provide an electronic instruction to the shift-by-wire mechanism 14 to manipulate the transmission to define the various gear positions 70 of the transmission. The shift-by-wire mechanism 14 also cooperates with the mechanical shifting apparatus 12 to define a parking lock that can be activated when the shift-by-wire mechanism 14 defines a parking position 30. With reference again to FIG. 1-14, the selection mechanism includes a selection interface 18 having the retaining member 16. The artificial touch positioner 20 defines a plurality of artificial touch positions 40 that correspond to various selectable positions 42 of the selection interface 18. The plurality of artificial touch positions 40 are connected via a screw channel 36 that extends helically along the artificial touch positioner 20. In this way, the screw channel 36 is a continuous channel and the corresponding screw ridge 130 extends helically along the surface of the artificial touch positioner 20.The positioner actuator 90, typically a motor, rotationally drives the artificial touch positioner 20 to automatically actuate the retaining member 16 via the screw channel 36 to move or otherwise translate the retaining member 16 and the selection interface 18 to the desired selectable position 42 of the retaining member 16 and the selection interface 18. The selection interface 18 is a rotationally operable member that rotates about the rotation axis of the selector 50. The desired selectable position 42. RQRQnn / ZZnZ / E / YIAI of the plurality of artificial touch positions 40 is a default rotation position 114 of the selection interface 18 with respect to the rotation axis of the selector 50. With reference again to FIG. 1-14, to accommodate this translation of the retaining member 16 and the selection interface 18 by rotation of the artificial touch positioner 20, the screw channel 36 of the artificial touch positioner 20 includes an external curved profile 60 that is concentric with the rotation axis of the selector 50 of the selection interface 18. Consequently, as the artificial touch positioner 20 rotates about the rotation axis of the positioner 34, the retaining member 16 is translated over the rotation axis of the selector 50 and held within the screw channel 36. Through this concentric orientation of the curved profile 60, the retaining member 16 is continuously engaged with the screw channel 36 as the selection interface 18 rotates about the rotation axis of the selector 50.The positioner actuator 90 can be coupled to the artificial touch positioner 20 via a first gear train 92. The first gear train 92 can be used to redirect the rotary motion of the positioner actuator 90 within the housing 94 for the shifting apparatus 12. The first gear train 92 can also be used as a gear reduction mechanism to modify the speed and / or mechanical advantage provided by the positioner actuator 90. When a vehicle stops, in some cases it may be necessary to automatically return the vehicle's transmission to the park position 30. Within the shift-by-wire mechanism 14, this occurs electronically and normally without the engagement of the selection interface 18 of the mechanical shift apparatus 12. To provide visual and tactile feedback of this automatic operation of the shift-by-wire mechanism 14, a mechanical return-to-park element 10 uses the artificial touch positioner 20 to return the mechanical selection interface 18 to the park position 30. For this purpose, the artificial touch positioner 20 includes a helical screw 32 that engages with the retaining member 16. The artificial touch positioner 20 operates rotationally around the rotation axis of the positioner 34.As the artificial touch positioner 20 rotates, the retaining member 16 is actuated or slid within the screw channel 36, like an Archimedes screw, and manipulated along the screw channel 36 of the artificial touch positioner 20. As the retaining member 16 moves along the screw channel 36, it also deflects the mechanical selection interface 18 about the rotation axis of the selector 50 and back to the parking position 30. As exemplified in FIG. 1-14, because the retaining member 16 operates about a selector 50 rotation axis that is typically perpendicular to the positioner 34 rotation axis, the artificial touch positioner 20 includes an external curved profile 60 that is concentric with the selector 50 rotation axis. Accordingly, the screw channel 36 of the artificial touch positioner 20 operates through this curved profile 60 to allow the retaining member 16 to rotate about the selector 50 rotation axis and simultaneously translate along the screw channel 36 of the artificial touch positioner 20. Again, the artificial touch positioner 20 rotates about the positioner 34 rotation axis, and the screw channel 36 operates to translate the retaining member 16 along the curved profile 60, which is concentric with the selector 50 rotation axis. It is envisaged that the artificial touch positioner 20, which has the screw channel 36, can be used with a linear operating selection interface 18, where the artificial touch positioner 20 is positioned along a linear axis along which the linear operating selector has operated. It is also envisaged that the artificial touch positioner 20, which has the screw channel 36, can operate with respect to a rotary selector. In such a configuration, the artificial touch positioner 20 is typically oriented in a generally horizontal position. In various aspects of the device, the curved profile 60 of the screw channel 36 is concentric with the rotation axis of the selector of the selection interface 18. When the artificial touch positioner 20 is in stationary state 110, a profile of the artificial touch positioner 20 facing the retaining member 16 defines the various travel positions 70 of the selection interface 18. Since the artificial touch positioner 20 can rotate, the exact rotation location of the travel positions 70 with respect to the selection interface 18 and the rotation axis of the selector 50 may change slightly over time, as the artificial touch positioner 20 rotates to return the retaining member 16 to the parking position 30, or another of the travel positions 70. Consequently, several calibrations may occur periodically. These calibrations serve to define or redefine the relative rotation positions 114 and the locations of the various travel positions 70 with respect to the mechanical selection interface 18.While these gear positions 70 maintain a constant separation 112 or a relative separation 112 from each other, the rotational position 114 of the retaining member 16 with respect to the axis of rotation and each gear position 70 can change over time. Calibration of the selection interface 18 can be used to account for these small variations in the position of the various gear positions 70. In several aspects of the device, the gear positions 70 can include a constant separation 112 by using an artificial touch positioner 20 with a screw channel 36 and a screw ridge 130 of uniform width. It is also contemplated that the artificial touch positioner 20 may have a variable or irregular thread. This can produce a screw channel 36 and a screw ridge 130 with a variable distance between the gear positions 70. In this embodiment, the operation of the artificial touch positioner 20 can modify the rotational position 114 of the gear positions 70 about the selector 50 rotation axis without significantly altering the relative separation 112 of the gear positions 70 with respect to each other. RQRQnn / ZZnZ / E / YIAI It is also contemplated that after the artificial touch positioner 20 rotates to return the retaining element 16 to the parking position 30, the artificial touch positioner 20 can return to a uniform initial position 120 so that the driving positions 70 can maintain the constant separation 112 and the constant rotation position 114 with respect to the rotation axis of the selector 50 of the selection interface 18. The initial position 120 can also serve to reset a relative rotation angle or the placement of the plurality of artificial touch positions 40 of the artificial touch positioner 20 with respect to the rotation axis of the selector 50 of the selection interface 18. Additionally, when the artificial touch positioner 20 returns the retaining member 16 and the selection interface 18 is in the parking position 30, a parking locking mechanism 102 can be engaged to hold the selection interface 18 in the parking position 30. The artificial touch positioner 20 can be actuated by a dedicated positioner actuator 90, which rotates the artificial touch positioner 20 around the rotation axis of the positioner 34. As the artificial touch positioner 20 rotates, the screw channel 36 guides and moves the retaining member 16 around the rotation axis of the selector 50. In this way, the screw channel 36 of the artificial touch positioner 20 automatically returns the retaining member 16 to the parking position 30, the initial position 120, or another desired rotational position 114 relative to the rotation axis of the selector 50. This positioner actuator 90 and the artificial touch positioner 20 can also include several positioning sensors that monitor when the retaining member 16 has reached the parking position 30, the initial position 120, or another desired rotational position 114.Therefore, if the retaining member 16 slides over a continuous screw ridge 130 defining the screw channel 36, the positioner actuator 90 will continue to operate until the retaining member 16 reaches the parking position 30. RQRonn / zznz / E / YiAi initial position 120 or another desired rotation position 114. If the parking position 30 cannot be reached due to an obstruction in the path of the mechanical selection interface 18, for example, a signal or other alert may be activated. It should be understood that the shift-by-wire mechanism 14 will return the transmission to park regardless of whether the mechanical selection interface 18 is operating in the parking position 30 or not. The return-to-park function 10 described herein is normally used to provide a visual indication that the transmission has automatically returned to park.In some aspects of the device, the cable-switching mechanism 14 may include a locking actuator 100 that drives a parking locking mechanism 102 to maintain the cable-switching mechanism 14 and the mechanical selection interface 18 in the parking position 30 or another rotational position 114. This locking actuator 100 may be in the form of a solenoid, a motor, or another actuator capable of driving the parking locking mechanism 102. The parking locking mechanism 102 may also be a separate assembly cooperating with the artificial touch positioner 20. Alternatively, the parking locking mechanism 102 may be incorporated with the locking actuator 100. In such an embodiment, the actuator of the positioner 90 and the locking actuator 100 may be a single actuator.In this case, the locking actuator 100, while actuating the parking locking mechanism 102, can also be used to manipulate the artificial touch positioner 20 around the rotation axis of the positioner 34. In this mode, where the automatic return-to-parking element 10 is used, the locking actuator 100 can be used to tilt a parking lock lever 104 to the parking lock position 106. At the same time, this locking actuator 100 can be used to manipulate the artificial touch positioner 20 around the rotation axis of the positioner 34 to manipulate the retaining member 16 through the screw channel 36 and around the rotation axis of the selector 50 to return the locking element 16 and the mechanical selection interface 18 to the parking position 30.In this aspect of the device, the parking lock mechanism 102 and the artificial touch positioner 20 can be actuated by a motor, solenoid, or other similar common actuator to operate each of the parking lock mechanism 102 and the artificial touch positioner 20. The parking lock mechanism 102 can also include a second gear train 118 that transfers the rotational or axial motion of the locking actuator 100 within the housing 94. The second gear train 118 can also be used to modify the speed and / or mechanical advantage of the locking actuator 100. With reference to FIG. 15-18, the parking lock mechanism 102 can be actuated by a solenoid operating in a generally linear configuration. In this configuration, the parking lock lever 104 is actuated by the solenoid to engage and disengage a portion of the selection interface 18. With reference to FIG. 1-18, depending on the various aspects of the device, the artificial touch positioner 20 can be oriented in several configurations with respect to the selection interface 18 and the retaining element 16 incorporated in the selection interface 18. These various configurations can be based on the size and dimension constraints of the particular selection mechanism and its components. Therefore, the artificial touch positioner 20 can be oriented in a horizontal, vertical, or other angular configuration that allows coupling between the retaining member 16 of the selection interface 18 and the screw channel 36 of the artificial touch positioner 20. In some aspects of the device, it is envisaged that the rotational operation of the artificial touch positioner 20 can be used in a cable-operated shifting mechanism. In such a In the RQRonn / zznz / E / YiAi mode, the rotation of a touch positioner can be used to manipulate the retaining member 16 to the parking position 30. This manipulation of the retaining member 16 not only moves the mechanical selection interface 18, but also actuates the shift mechanism coupled to the transmission to return the transmission to the parking position 30 or another gear position 70. In such a mode, several locking or clamping mechanisms are included within the retaining member 16 to prevent the retaining member 16 from sliding through the gear positions 70 of the screw channel 36 as the retaining member 16 is moved through the screw channel 36 of the artificial touch positioner 20.Furthermore, since the selection interface 18 is connected by a cable to mechanically actuate the transmission, the positioner actuator 90 for actuating the touch positioner is normally a higher power motor to not only actuate the retaining element 16 in the parking position 30, but also to mechanically actuate the transmission cable to manipulate the transmission to the parking position 30. Typically, the artificial touch positioner 20, which has a screw channel 36, will be used in a cable-operated shift mechanism 14. Therefore, the screw channel 36 will be coupled to the retaining member 16 to actuate the retaining member 16 in the parking position 30. Consequently, the screw channel 36 will only be required to overcome a gravitational force and any damping or tactile elements of the selection interface 18 to return the retaining member 16 to the parking position 30. Therefore, a lower-power motor can be used to actuate the artificial touch positioner 20 and the screw channel 36. As described herein, the lower-power motor can also be used to manipulate the artificial touch positioner 20 in any of the travel positions 70.This function can be implemented in an automatic parallel parking function for a vehicle. In the illustrative case of an automatic parallel parking function, the cable-shift mechanism 14 can be automatically manipulated between forward and reverse gear positions 70. During these automatic manipulations of the cable-shift mechanism 14, the touch positioner 20 can be actuated to reflect these manipulations via the position of the selection interface 18. Ultimately, once the automatic parallel parking function is completed, the cable-shift mechanism 14 engages the parking position 30, and the selection interface 18 reflects this operation. As discussed herein, the operation of the touch positioner 20 actuates the selection interface 18 between the various gear positions 70.In some cases, manipulation of the selection interface 18 by the automatic touch positioner 20 can be used to select certain gear positions 70, such as forward, neutral, and reverse 70. The park position 30 is normally activated by the shift-by-wire mechanism 14, and the operation of the selection interface 18 reflects this shift. With reference again to FIG. 1-18, the selection mechanism can be placed inside a vehicle (not shown). Typically, the selection mechanism is associated with a gear selector or shifter to select multiple gears or to reflect the multiple gear selection associated with a transmission. The selection interface 18 includes the positioning member, which typically has the form of a retaining member 16. The artificial touch positioner 20 includes a continuous screw channel 36 that defines the plurality of selectable positions 42 of the selection interface 18. The continuous screw channel 36, in a stationary state 110, defines a retaining relationship between the retaining member 16 and the continuous screw channel 36.In the stationary state 110, the continuous screw channel 36 defines a corresponding rotational position 114, with respect to the rotational axis of the selector 50 of the selection interface 18, for each selectable position 42 of the plurality of selectable positions 42. As discussed above, depending on the rotational position 114 of the artificial touch positioner 20, the relative positions of the plurality of selectable positions 42 may vary with respect to the rotational axis of the selector 50. The positioner actuator 90 operates to define a translational state 140, where the artificial touch positioner 20 rotates about the rotational axis of the positioner 34. The operation of the positioner actuator 90 guides the retaining element 16 through the continuous screw channel 36 and around the rotational axis of the selector 50.As discussed previously, the actuator of positioner 90 is normally a motor, such as a stepper motor, that rotationally drives the artificial touch positioner 20 around the rotation axis of positioner 34. This motor may be a bidirectional motor capable of driving the artificial touch positioner 20 clockwise and counterclockwise. In some aspects of the device, the actuator of positioner 90 is considered to be a unidirectional motor configured to drive only the artificial touch positioner 20 and, in turn, the holding element 16, to the parking position 30.Rotating the retaining member 16 and the selection interface 18 away from the parking position 30 can be accomplished by operating the retaining member 16 of the selection interface 18 through the selectable positions 42 of the artificial touch positioner 20 in the stationary state 110. With reference again to FIG. 1-18, the artificial touch positioner 20 includes a continuous ridge that defines the continuous screw channel 36. The continuous ridge, in the steady state 110, separates the plurality of selectable positions 42 to define a constant separation 112 of the plurality of selectable positions 42. As the retaining member 16 operates between the plurality of selectable positions 42, the retaining member 16 is deflected by engaging with the continuous screw ridge 130 and operates between the plurality of selectable positions 42 in the steady state 110. When the artificial touch positioner 20 is in the translating state 140, the continuous screw ridge 130 guides the positioning member, typically in the form of the retaining member 16, through the continuous screw channel 36 to a desired position from the plurality of selectable positions 42. With reference again to FIG. 1-18, the selection mechanism includes the selection interface 18 having the retaining member 16. The artificial touch positioner 20 includes a continuous screw ridge 130. The continuous screw ridge 130, in the stationary state 110, defines a plurality of artificial touch positions 40 and the constant separation 112 between them. The artificial touch positions 40 of the continuous screw ridge 130 correspond to the selectable positions 42 of the selection interface 18. The plurality of artificial touch positions 40 are connected via the continuous screw ridge 130, which extends helically along the artificial touch positioner 20 to define the screw channel 36. The positioner actuator 90 rotationally drives the artificial touch positioner 20 to define a translational state 140.The operation of a positioner motor 90 moves the retaining element 16 along the continuous screw ridge 130 and through the screw channel 36 to move the retaining element 16 and the selection interface 18 around the selector rotation axis 50 from the selection interface 18 to a desired rotation position 114 relative to the selector rotation axis 50. According to various aspects of the device, as exemplified in FIG. 1-18, the selection mechanism may optionally include a locking mechanism coupled to the selection interface 18. The locking mechanism includes a locking actuator 100 that selectively secures the selection interface 18 in a predetermined rotational position 114 with respect to the selector's rotation axis 50. The locking mechanism is typically in the form of a parking lock mechanism 102 with a parking lock lever 104. The parking lock lever 104 functions to engage a portion of the selection interface 18 to hold the selection interface 18 in the predetermined rotational position 114. Typically, this predetermined rotational position 114 will be the parking position 30 of the selection interface 18. It shall be understood that various variations and modifications to the aforementioned structure may be made without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and it shall also be understood that said concepts are intended to be covered by the claims that follow, unless these claims expressly state otherwise in their wording.

Claims

1. A selection mechanism comprising: a selection interface having a retaining member; an artificial touch positioner defining a plurality of artificial touch positions corresponding to selectable positions of the selection interface, wherein the plurality of artificial touch positions are connected via a screw channel extending helically along the artificial touch positioner; a motor rotationally driving the artificial touch positioner to automatically actuate the retaining member via the screw channel to move the retaining member and the selection interface to the desired position of the retaining member and the selection interface.

2. The selection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the selection interface is a rotationally operating member that rotates about a rotation axis, and wherein the desired position is a predetermined rotational position of the selection interface with respect to the rotation axis.

3. The selection mechanism of claim 2, wherein the screw channel of the artificial touch positioner includes a profile that is concentric with the rotation axis of the selection interface.

4. The selection mechanism of any of claims 2-3, wherein the retaining member is continuously engaged with the screw channel as the selection interface rotates about the axis of rotation.

5. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1-4, wherein the selection interface is part of a vehicle gear selector.

6. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1-5, wherein the selection interface is coupled with a cable-operated switching mechanism.

7. The selection mechanism of claim 6, wherein the cable-operated change mechanism includes a return-to-park element, wherein the engagement of the return-to-park element drives the motor to rotate the artificial touch positioner about a positioner rotation axis.

8. The selection mechanism of any of claims 5-7, wherein rotation of the artificial touch positioner guides the retaining member through the screw channel to rotate the retaining member and the selection interface to a parking position.

9. The selection mechanism of any of claims 2-8, wherein the screw channel is an Archimedes screw that is concentric with the rotation axis of the selection interface positioner.

10. The selection mechanism of any of claims 2-9, wherein a touch position of the plurality of artificial touch positions defines an initial position, wherein the initial position functions to re-establish a rotation angle of the plurality of artificial touch positions with respect to the rotation axis of the selection interface.

11. The selection mechanism of any of claims 2-10, wherein the selection interface includes a locking mechanism that selectively holds the selection interface in a predetermined rotational position relative to the axis of rotation.

12. A selection mechanism for a vehicle, wherein the selection mechanism comprises: a selection interface having a positioning member; an artificial touch positioner having a continuous screw channel defining a plurality of selectable positions of the selection interface, wherein the continuous screw channel in a stationary state defines a holding relationship between the positioning member and the continuous screw channel defining a corresponding rotational position, with respect to a rotation axis of the selection interface, of each selectable position of the plurality of selectable positions;and an actuator functioning to define a translation state that rotates the artificial touch positioner around a positioner rotation axis, wherein the operation of the actuator guides the RQRQnn / ZZnZ / E / YIAI positioning member through the continuous screw channel and around the selection interface rotation axis.; 13. The selection mechanism of claim 12, wherein the continuous screw channel includes a profile that is concentrically oriented around the rotation axis of the selection interface.

14. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1213, wherein the actuator is a motor.

15. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1214, wherein the artificial touch positioner includes a continuous ridge defining the continuous screw channel, wherein the stationary continuous ridge separates the plurality of selectable positions to define a constant separation of the plurality of selectable positions.

16. The selection mechanism of claim 15, wherein the positioning member is a deflecting retainer that engages the continuous ridge as the selection interface engages and operates between the plurality of selectable positions when the artificial touch positioner is in a stationary state.

17. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1516, wherein the continuous ridge in the translational state guides the positioning member through the continuous screw channel to a desired position from the plurality of selectable positions.

18. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1217, wherein the continuous screw channel is an Archimedes screw that is concentric with the rotation axis of the selection interface.

19. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1218, wherein a touch position of the plurality of selectable positions defines an initial position, wherein the initial position functions to re-establish the corresponding rotation position of the plurality of selectable positions with respect to the rotation axis of the selection interface.

20. The selection mechanism of any of claims 1219, wherein the positioning member continuously engages with the continuous screw channel as the selection interface rotates; furthermore, a locking mechanism engaging with the selection interface, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking actuator that selectively holds the selection interface in a predetermined rotational position with respect to the axis of rotation.

27. The selection mechanism of claim 26, wherein the predetermined rotational position and the desired rotational position define an initial position of the selection interface.

28. The selection mechanism of any of claims 2527, wherein the continuous screw ridge and the screw channel define a profile that is concentrically oriented about the axis of rotation of the selection interface. 29.The selection mechanism of any of claim 2528, wherein the positioner actuator is a motor.

30. The selection mechanism of any of claim 2629, wherein the locking actuator is a motor and a solenoid.

31. The selection mechanism of any of claim 2530, wherein the screw ridge, continuous in the stationary state, separates the selectable positions.

32. The selection mechanism of any of claim 2530, wherein the retaining member is deflected as the selection interface moves between the selectable positions when the artificial touch positioner is in the stationary state. 33.The selection mechanism of any of claim 2532, wherein a touch position of the plurality of artificial touch positions defines an initial position, wherein the initial position functions to reset the corresponding rotation angles of the plurality of artificial touch positions, respectively, relative to the rotation axis of the selection interface.

34. The selection mechanism of any of claim 2533, wherein the retaining member is continuously engaged with the screw channel as the selection interface rotates about the rotation axis.

35. The selection mechanism of any of claim 2534, wherein the selection interface is part of a vehicle gear selector.

36. The selection mechanism of any of claim 2535, wherein the selection interface is engaged with a shift-by-wire mechanism. 37.The selection mechanism of claim 36, wherein the cable-operated shifting mechanism includes a parking lock, wherein engagement of the parking lock activates the motor to rotate the artificial touch positioner about a positioner rotation axis.

38. The selection mechanism of any of claims 35-37, wherein rotation of the artificial touch positioner guides the retaining member through the screw channel to rotate the retaining member and the selection interface to a parking position.

39. The selection mechanism of any of claims 25-38, wherein the screw channel is an Archimedes screw that is concentric with the rotation axis of the selection interface.

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