Keyless Ignition Control for Non-Park Shifter Battery Drain

Solution Overview

Problem

Poly-stable shifters in vehicles do not have an auto position correction to Park, leading to battery drainage when drivers inadvertently fail to place the vehicle in Park, as existing systems require manual positioning to shut down electrical power.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising a poly-shifter, RF Hub, and transmission control module (TCM) that determines the lock state of the parking pawl and powers down the vehicle when the driver exits with the shifter in a Non-Park position, using signals from brake pedal release, door opening, or seat belt removal, and communicates messages to the human machine interface (HMI) to inform the driver of the incorrect position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the vehicle requires manual positioning to shut down electrical power, then the driver has control over power management, but battery drainage occurs when drivers inadvertently fail to place the vehicle in Park

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery drainageVSAvoidmanual positioning requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when the driver has exited the vehicle and the transmission is in Park, then autonomously shuts down electrical power without requiring manual intervention. The controller monitors driver exit status through sensors (door openings, seat belt removal) and automatically transitions the ignition to OFF state, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous driver attention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the controller continuously monitors transmission position, driver exit status, and ignition state. When the feedback indicates the driver has exited and the transmission is in Park, the controller automatically responds by shutting down power. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures power management adapts to actual vehicle usage conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If the poly-stable shifter retains manipulated position without auto correction to Park, then the driver requested transmission gear state is maintained, but the vehicle may not successfully power down causing battery drainage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshifter position retentionVSAvoidbattery drainage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when the driver has exited the vehicle and the transmission is in Park, then autonomously shuts down electrical power without requiring manual intervention. The controller monitors driver exit status through sensors (door openings, seat belt removal) and automatically transitions the ignition to OFF state, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous driver attention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the controller continuously monitors transmission position, driver exit status, and ignition state. When the feedback indicates the driver has exited and the transmission is in Park, the controller automatically responds by shutting down power. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures power management adapts to actual vehicle usage conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If the vehicle powers down automatically when driver exits with shifter in Non-Park position, then battery drainage is prevented, but the vehicle may not power down when driver intends to keep it running

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery drainage preventionVSAvoidpower down accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system checks the transmission position before executing the power down action. The controller verifies that the transmission is in Park as a preliminary condition before allowing ignition shutdown when the driver exits. This preliminary check ensures that power down only occurs when appropriate, preventing unintended shutdowns while still capturing cases where the driver forgot to shift to Park.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11976721B2Method for efficiently managing ignition states for keyless ignition systems for vehicles with electronic shifter and electronic securement systems

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 FCA US LLC

AI summary

A control system and method for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a poly-shifter, an RF Hub, a transmission control module (TCM) and a controller. The poly-shifter is configured to be moved between operating states including “Park” and “Non-Park” positions. The RF Hub supports operational features of the vehicle. The TCM determines a lock state of a parking pawl in a transmission of the vehicle and communicates the lock state to the RF Hub. The controller is configured to determine whether a driver has exited the vehicle with the poly-shifter in a “Non-Park” position. The controller is further configured to power down the vehicle based on the lock state of the parking pawl being in a “Park” position and the driver exiting the vehicle with the poly-shifter in the “Non-Park” position.