Automatic Gearbox Lever Logic for Timed Manual Mode Selection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic gearbox control devices for motor vehicles require complex and costly solutions to allow drivers to switch between temporary and permanent manual modes, often involving additional buttons or paddles, which complicates the user interface and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A control device with a single stable position for the control lever that allows manual gear selection only when in normal automatic forward mode, returning to automatic mode if the lever is released quickly, and entering permanent manual mode if held for a predetermined threshold time, with distinct corridors for mode selection and a display to indicate current mode and selections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional buttons or paddles are provided for mode selection, then the ability to switch between temporary and permanent manual modes is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode selection capabilityVSAvoidcontrol device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control lever is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the gear selection mechanism and the mode selection mechanism. By integrating the mode selection function into the existing lever operation, the patent eliminates the need for separate buttons or paddles, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to switch between temporary and permanent manual modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the mode selection function with the gear selection function by using the same control lever for both purposes. The lever's movement in different directions from the stable position enables both gear ratio selection and mode switching, merging what would traditionally require separate controls into a single integrated mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional buttons or paddles are provided for mode selection, then the ability to switch between temporary and permanent manual modes is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode selection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The control lever is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the gear selection mechanism and the mode selection mechanism. By integrating the mode selection function into the existing lever operation, the patent eliminates the need for separate buttons or paddles, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to switch between temporary and permanent manual modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the mode selection function with the gear selection function by using the same control lever for both purposes. The lever's movement in different directions from the stable position enables both gear ratio selection and mode switching, merging what would traditionally require separate controls into a single integrated mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the control lever has multiple stable positions for different modes, then mode selection is achieved, but the ease of operation decreases due to complex user interface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode selection capabilityVSAvoiduser interface simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control lever is designed with a single stable position rather than multiple stable positions. The mode selection is achieved dynamically through the direction and duration of the lever's movement from the stable position, rather than through discrete positional states. This dynamic approach simplifies the user interface by eliminating the need for the driver to learn and remember multiple lever positions for different modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control lever is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the gear selection mechanism and the mode selection mechanism. By integrating the mode selection function into the existing lever operation, the patent eliminates the need for separate buttons or paddles, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to switch between temporary and permanent manual modes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3283794B1One-touch control device of an automatic gearbox

Publication Date: 2021.05.26 RENAULT SA

Figure 1~4C
Figure 5A~7B

AI summary

The invention proposes a control device comprising a control lever that has a single stable position (H), that can occupy unstable positions for selecting different automatic modes (N, D, R), and that can occupy positions (+, -) for manually selecting different forward gears, characterised in that the device only allows a forward gear (+, -) to be selected when said automatic normal forward mode (D) has been previously selected, when the control lever is held in a position for manually selecting a forward gear for a period shorter than a predefined threshold value (T0), after releasing the control lever (10), the gearbox is in said automatic normal forward mode (D), and when the control lever (10) is held for a period longer than the threshold value (T0), after releasing the lever, the gearbox is in the permanent manual forward gear selection mode (D).