Offset Position Sensor Arrangement for Gear Shifter Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Position sensor multiplicity and redundancy in electronic gear shifters for vehicles increase system cost and complexity while failing to accurately detect and diagnose sensor malfunctions, leading to potential inaccuracies in determining the gear shifter's position.
Innovation Solution
A position sensor arrangement with two sensors per axis, offset with respect to the shifting pattern, allowing for improved redundancy and robustness by detecting sensor malfunctions and accurately determining the gear shifter's position through coordinated readings and diagnostic techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple position sensors are used for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single position sensor arrangement. By using one sensor to measure position along multiple axes simultaneously and applying coordinate transformation mathematics, the system achieves redundancy and reliability without requiring multiple separate sensor assemblies, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining high reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The position sensor arrangement is designed to perform multiple functions: it can sense position along different axes, detect sensor malfunctions, and provide redundant measurement capabilities. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensors for each axis, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability through inherent redundancy
2Reliability
If multiple position sensors are used for redundancy, then robustness is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing capabilities into a single sensor arrangement, using mathematical coordinate transformations to achieve robustness without requiring multiple expensive sensor assemblies. This approach maintains system robustness while significantly reducing the cost associated with purchasing and installing multiple redundant sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual redundant measurements through mathematical coordinate transformations rather than physical sensor copies. By transforming position measurements from one coordinate system to another, the system generates multiple independent measurement values from a single sensor, providing robustness without the cost of additional physical sensors
3Measurement precision
If sensors are aligned with the shifting pattern, then measurement precision is improved, but the ability to detect sensor malfunctions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately uses asymmetric, non-orthogonal coordinate axes for the position sensor arrangement. This asymmetric configuration provides two key benefits: it maintains measurement precision through mathematical transformation while simultaneously enabling malfunction detection, since sensor failures produce detectable anomalies in the transformed coordinate values that would not occur with symmetric alignments
Data Source
AI summary
A position sensor arrangement and method for determining the position of a movable device, such as an electronic gear shifter for vehicle. According to one embodiment, the position sensor arrangement is arranged in a skewed or offset fashion, with respect to the shifting pattern of the electronic gear shifter, such that movement of the gear shifter from one discrete position to an adjacent discrete position causes a change in both an x-axis coordinate and a y-axis coordinate.