Electronic Shift Lever Assembly Using Hall Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for sensing the position of a shift lever using hall sensors are complex, costly, and prone to errors, especially when the lever moves in non-linear paths, and can lead to incorrect gear selection due to cable aging or driver inexperience, with automatic transmissions also being bulky and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An electronic shift lever assembly using a combination of linear and switch hall sensors with magnets and a printed circuit board to accurately sense the movement of the shift lever in multiple directions, reducing the need for multiple sensor units and simplifying the structure, while allowing for both manual and automatic transmission modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate sensor units are installed at each shift position to sense each position, then the sensing accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate sensor units into a single integrated sensor unit that uses one or more hall sensors to detect the position of the shift lever across multiple directions and positions. This merging approach maintains sensing accuracy while significantly reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost by eliminating the need for separate sensor units at each shift position (P, R, N, D) and each select position (+, -).
Solution Approach 2:
The hall sensor-based sensor unit is designed to perform multiple sensing functions simultaneously - detecting both shift positions and select positions in a single integrated system. The sensor unit can identify gear positions (P, R, N, D) and manual selection positions (+, -) using the same hall sensor component, making it a universal sensing solution that replaces multiple specialized sensors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional automatic gear transmissions are designed with large size, then the transmission can handle various driving modes, but the vehicle space utilization decreases and fuel efficiency reduces due to heavy weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical cable-driven manual valve system with an electronic sensor-based system. Instead of using physical cables and mechanical linkages that require large components and significant space, the invention uses hall sensors to detect shift lever position and electronically control the transmission. This substitution dramatically reduces the size and weight of the transmission system while maintaining the ability to handle various driving modes (automatic and manual).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental operating parameters of the transmission control system from mechanical (cable tension, physical linkage) to electronic (magnetic field detection, electrical signals). This parameter change enables the transmission to maintain full functionality across multiple driving modes while reducing the physical dimensions and weight of the system components.
3Ease of manufacture
If linear hall sensors or switch hall sensors are used to sense shift lever position, then the sensing mechanism is simple, but the system becomes complicated and costly when the shift lever moves in complicated paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the limitation of linear hall sensors that can only detect movement in one direction by introducing multi-dimensional sensing capability. The sensor unit is configured to detect the shift lever's position in multiple directions (forward, backward, right, left) and at multiple positions simultaneously. This is achieved by strategically positioning hall sensors to detect magnetic field changes in different spatial dimensions, allowing the system to track complicated two-dimensional or three-dimensional shift lever paths using a single integrated sensor unit rather than multiple linear sensors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides accurate and reliable gear position selection, reduces manufacturing costs, enhances sensor reliability, and minimizes space usage, improving fuel efficiency and user experience by simplifying the sensor system and reducing the weight and size of the transmission system.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of linear hall sensors detect rotation of the magnets, which is induced by movement of the magnet holder, thereby sensing movement of the shift lever in a shift direction
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic shift lever assembly can select a gear position by sensing the movement of a shift lever in forward, backward, fight and left directions. The electronic shift lever assembly includes: a shift lever movable to select a gear position; a first sensor unit comprising a plurality of linear hall sensors for sensing vertical movement of the shift lever; and a second sensor unit comprising a plurality of switch hall sensors for sensing horizontal movement of the shift lever.