Hybrid Shift Lever Assembly with Button and Lever Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic transmission vehicles have a large shift lever that occupies console space and protrudes, posing a risk of injury during accidents and limiting visibility, while also lacking a convenient and error-proof gear selection mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A shift lever assembly with a hybrid structure that integrates a single shift-by-wire system, allowing both lever and button shift modes, featuring a base, knob, rod, driving motor, and shifting PCB to enable gear changes through button operations or lever manipulation, with visual recognition of erroneous button presses and automatic correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional shift lever is used, then gear shifting function is provided, but the shift lever occupies large console space and protrudes causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential gear shifting function from the traditional protruding shift lever structure. By removing the external lever arm and retaining only the minimal necessary components (base, rod, and compact knob), the design eliminates the space-occupying and safety-hazardous protruding portion while preserving the core shifting capability through alternative operation modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical lever-based shifting system with a hybrid system incorporating electronic control elements. The shift-by-wire mechanism and button operation interface substitute for the purely mechanical lever operation, enabling compact integration while maintaining full gear shifting functionality and adding error prevention capabilities.
2Illumination intensity
If a conventional shift lever is used, then gear shifting is possible, but visibility is reduced due to protrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the protruding lever arm that obstructs the driver's field of view. By extracting this visual obstruction and replacing it with a compact integrated design, the design maintains full shifting functionality while eliminating the visibility blockage that occurs with traditional external levers.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional shift lever is used, then lever shift operation is provided, but error-proofing and convenience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional shifting system that accommodates multiple operation modes within a single integrated structure. The system supports both traditional lever-style manipulation and modern button-based selection, providing versatility in user interaction while maintaining a compact form factor that reduces overall structural complexity compared to separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates visual feedback mechanisms that display the current gear selection status and provide error warnings. This feedback system guides the operator in real-time, preventing erroneous gear selections and enabling intuitive operation without requiring complex mechanical interlocks or multiple separate control systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate lever and button shift systems are used, then both modes are available, but costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lever shift mechanism and button shift interface into a single integrated assembly. The base, rod, and knob structure serves as the common mechanical foundation for both operation modes, while electronic control elements coordinate both input methods. This unified design provides dual functionality without duplicating mechanical components, thereby reducing overall system complexity and cost.
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
This design reduces costs, enhances operational convenience and safety by allowing easy mode switching, automatic gear selection, and immediate correction of errors, improving driver safety and product value.
Implementation Method 1
a driving motor (300) including a rotation shaft (310) connected to the rod (500) and providing a driving force for rotating the knob (200)
Implementation Method 2
having a magnet (400) disposed on a bottom portion thereof; a shifting PCB (600) detecting a gear by recognizing the magnet (400)
Data Source
AI summary
A shift lever assembly for a vehicle may include a knob disposed above a base, has an accommodation space formed therein, and includes a button type shift device disposed in the accommodation space to perform shifting in response to button operations, wherein a cover opens or closes the accommodation space of the knob, a rod extends downward from the knob and through a hole of the base and having a magnet disposed on a bottom portion thereof, a driving motor includes a rotation shaft connected to the rod and providing a driving force for rotating the knob at the time of driving, a shifting PCB detects a gear by recognizing the magnet and controlling the gear, and shifting is performed by selectively using one of a lever shift mode and a button shift mode.