Electric Drive Direction Confirmation System for Gear Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles lack tactile feedback during gear shifting, as they rely on electronic selectors rather than mechanical automatic gear shifters, which can lead to uncertainty for drivers about the gear engagement.
Innovation Solution
An electric drive direction confirmation system that includes a processor-based system receiving gear selector input signals and sending drive commands to temporarily urge the vehicle in the selected direction, providing confirmation through slight movements when the driver selects forward or reverse gears.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electronic gear selector is used in electric vehicles, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but tactile feedback is lost leading to driver uncertainty about gear engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides tactile feedback by temporarily urging the vehicle in the direction corresponding to the selected gear. When the driver selects reverse gear, the vehicle temporarily moves backward; when drive gear is selected, the vehicle temporarily moves forward. This feedback mechanism confirms gear engagement to the driver, resolving the information loss caused by electronic selectors lacking mechanical feedback.
2Loss of information
If a mechanical automatic gear shifter is used, then tactile feedback is provided through mechanical connection, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases due to sequential movement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gear shifter system with an electronic control system that uses temporary vehicle movement to provide tactile feedback. Instead of relying on mechanical connection and sequential movement through gear positions, the system uses electronic signals to control temporary motor activation, substituting mechanical feedback with dynamic movement feedback.
3Device complexity
If push buttons are used for gear selection, then the device complexity is reduced, but driver confidence is reduced due to lack of confirmation about gear engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains the simplicity of push button selectors while adding a feedback mechanism that temporarily urges the vehicle in the selected direction. This confirmation through movement reassures the driver that the gear has been properly engaged, thereby maintaining driver confidence without increasing the complexity of the gear selector structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric drive direction confirmation system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system and method include receiving a gear selector input signal corresponding to a gear selection from an electronic gear selector on the vehicle, and sending a drive command to temporarily urge the vehicle in a direction corresponding to the gear selection.