Rotary Shifter Knob With Integrated Display and Inductive Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle shifter assemblies require costly light pipes and additional part content for illumination, and existing designs often necessitate painting or laser etching for display designation, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A rotary shifter knob with a cylindrical design featuring a detent profile and outwardly biased pawls, supported by a stationary inner housing with a rotating spur gear and magnet, which uses inductive sensing and a microprocessor to select drive modes or shifter positions, and incorporates a thin film transistor (TFT), OLED, or segmented display for menu options, eliminating the need for light pipes and allowing 360° rotation or multi-position functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light pipes and painted/etched display surfaces are used for illumination and display designation, then illumination quality is improved, but part content and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes light pipes and separate illumination components from the system. Instead, the display surface itself emits light through integrated LEDs or OLED technology, eliminating the need for light pipes while maintaining illumination quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination function and display function are merged into a single integrated component. The display surface serves both as the visual output medium and as the light source, eliminating separate illumination systems and reducing part content.
2Illumination intensity
If light pipes and supporting light pipe frames are used for communicating illumination, then illumination distribution is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates light pipes and supporting frames from the assembly. The display surface directly emits light without requiring separate light transmission components, simplifying manufacturing and reducing material costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical light pipe system is replaced with an electronic/optical solution where the display surface itself generates and distributes light through integrated LED or OLED technology, eliminating the need for physical light transmission pathways.
3Adaptability or versatility
If painting or laser etching is used for display designation, then display customization is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display transitions from a static painted or etched surface to a dynamic electronic display. The TFT, OLED, or LCD segments can be electronically controlled to show different patterns, colors, and information without requiring physical reconfiguration or additional manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The display characteristics (patterns, colors, information displayed) are changed through electrical parameter control rather than physical modification. This allows infinite customization possibilities without adding manufacturing complexity, as all changes are achieved through software control of the electronic display segments.
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 solution reduces part content and costs, provides high-quality graphics without light pipes, and allows for intuitive drive mode and shifter position selection with sub-menu options, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
providing a switching component in the form of an inductive sensor in which relative motion of the overhead magnet results in a change of voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary shifter having a cylindrical shaped knob with an inner circumferential surface defining an open interior and exhibiting a detent profile. A stationary inner housing is positioned within an open interior of the knob and supports outwardly biased pawls establishing an interface with the detent profile in a selected rotational position. The inner housing supports a rotating spur gear having an end secured magnet positioned above a sensor incorporated into a printed circuit board (PCB), rotation of the knob resulting in the sensor to communicate to a processor component of the PCB a given rotational position designating a given shift or mode selection. The knob includes an illuminating surface for presenting menu options of the shift or mode selection.