Vehicle Selector Knob Optical Position Sensing in Compact Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing selector knobs for motor vehicle steering wheels are bulky and lack refined tactile feedback, making them inefficient in terms of axial dimension and driver experience.
Innovation Solution
A compact selector knob design featuring a support with a rotatable lever and a sensor assembly that includes multiple sensors distributed around the axis to detect the lever's angular position, generating a control signal for vehicle control settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cam-and-spring mechanism is used for selector knob, then tactile feedback and sound cues are provided, but axial dimension becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical cam-and-spring mechanism with an optical sensing system. Multiple optical sensors detect the angular position of a coded disk attached to the lever, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical return springs while maintaining detection accuracy. This substitution reduces axial dimension while preserving functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from mechanical force-based positioning (axial dimension) to optical field-based detection (angular dimension). By encoding position information on a disk with radial patterns and detecting it optically, the system eliminates the need for axial mechanical return mechanisms, effectively moving the solution from one dimensional space to another.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are distributed around the axis to detect lever position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single optical sensor that rotates with the lever to sequentially activate different sensors in the array. This approach allows one sensor to perform the work of multiple fixed sensors, reducing component count while maintaining the ability to detect multiple angular positions with high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a coded copy of angular position information on a disk with radial patterns. The optical sensor reads this coded information, transforming mechanical angular position into optical signal patterns. This copying mechanism allows precise multi-position detection without requiring complex mechanical linkages or multiple independent sensing elements.
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 reduces the axial dimension of the knob while maintaining functionality, providing improved tactile feedback and sensations for the driver through refined mechanical interactions and sound cues.
Implementation Method 1
each of the sensors is configured to detect the presence of a device fixed to the lever when the lever reaches a corresponding one of said distinct angular positions
Data Source
AI summary
A selector knob for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The selector knob comprises a support adapted to be attached to a component of the motor vehicle, a lever carried by the support in a rotatable manner about a straight axis among a plurality of distinct angular positions, transduction means configured to detect information about an actual angular position of the lever and to generate a control signal corresponding to the detected information, wherein the transduction means comprises a number of sensors equal to the number of said distinct angular positions, the sensors being angularly distributed about said axis and facing the lever according to respective radial directions with respect to said axis, wherein each of the sensors is configured to detect the presence of a device fixed to the lever when the lever reaches a said distinct angular position, thereby detecting the actual angular position of the lever.