Compact Gearbox Selector with Finger-Actuation Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle gearbox selector devices are large and require significant space, making them less compact and more cumbersome, and often include an unlock button that complicates shifting between gear positions.

Innovation Solution

A compact, monostable selector device actuated by hand, integrated with a sensor to detect human body part activation, eliminating the need for an unlock button and allowing actuation with minimal force, featuring a contact sensor that recognizes finger or hand inputs and returns to a non-actuated position, with piezometric surfaces for smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional selector levers are designed to be gripped and actuated by the entire hand, then they provide stable operation, but they require a large amount of space and increase device size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable operationVSAvoidspace requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical selector lever actuated by the entire hand with a compact selector element that can be actuated by a finger tip. This substitution reduces the spatial requirements while maintaining operational stability through electronic detection of finger contact and actuation force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the actuation parameters from requiring full hand grip to accepting finger tip contact with minimal force. The sensor device detects contact force and duration to distinguish intentional actuation from accidental contact, enabling reliable operation with a compact design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If the selector device is made compact, then space is reduced, but it becomes more susceptible to unintentional actuation by objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace requirementVSAvoidunintentional actuation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a sensor device that provides feedback by detecting contact force and duration. The control unit processes this feedback to determine whether the contact represents intentional actuation or accidental impact, enabling the system to distinguish between valid user input and harmful unintentional actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor device performs preliminary detection of contact characteristics before triggering gear selection. By measuring contact force and duration in advance, the system can validate whether the contact meets the criteria for intentional actuation, preventing unintentional gear changes from accidental impacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If conventional selector levers include an unlock button, then reverse gear selection is controlled, but the device complexity and space requirement increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear selection controlVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the reverse gear selection function into the main selector element actuation process. The sensor device detects the actuation characteristics and the control unit determines gear selection based on the detected contact patterns, eliminating the need for a separate unlock button and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The selector element serves multiple functions: it selects forward gears, neutral, and reverse gear through different actuation patterns. The sensor device and control unit work together to interpret various contact scenarios, enabling a single component to perform what previously required multiple components including an unlock button.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 results in a smaller, lighter, and more efficient gearbox selector system with reduced operational force, enhanced safety against unintentional actuation, and cost savings, while offering faster and more comfortable gear shifting with versatile mounting options.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor device which can be used to detect whether, when the selector device is actuated, the selector device is being actuated by a human body part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The sensor device can be designed as a contact sensor, which recognizes whether the selector device has been touched and actuated by a human hand and/or a human finger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectContact sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS9470304B2Vehicle having a gearbox and a manually operated selector device

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A vehicle having a gearbox, a gear control unit and a manually operable selector device, which is electrically connected to the gear control unit and which is provided for selecting different states of the gearbox, includes a sensor device, by which it is possible on actuation of the selector device, to detect whether the selector device is being actuated by a human body part or in some other way.