Shift Apparatus Unified Control for Range Indication Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shift apparatuses can lead to disagreement between the selected range by the driver and the actual range of the vehicle, causing incorrect recognition by the driver due to separate control devices for display and transmission range switching.
Innovation Solution
A shift apparatus with dual control means, where the display unit and transmission range switching are controlled by the same means, ensuring that the indicated range on the display matches the actual vehicle range, and prohibiting indication changes until the vehicle is in the parking range to prevent misrecognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If separate control devices are used for display unit and transmission range switching, then device functionality is divided and specialized, but disagreement between indicated range and actual vehicle range occurs causing driver misrecognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of the display unit and transmission range switching into a single control device. This unified controller simultaneously manages both the visual indication on the display unit and the actual transmission range switching, ensuring that both operations are coordinated and cannot diverge. By consolidating these previously separate control functions, the system eliminates the possibility of disagreement between indicated and actual ranges while maintaining functional specialization.
2Ease of operation
If automatic range switching is implemented, then appropriate range selection is ensured, but disagreement between driver-selected range and actual vehicle range occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the unified control device continuously monitors the actual transmission range and automatically updates the display unit indication accordingly. When automatic range switching occurs, the control device receives feedback about the actual range state and ensures the display reflects this state in real-time. This feedback loop maintains information consistency between the driver's selection, the automatic switching action, and the visual indication, preventing any loss of range information consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If display unit indicates range independently of rotation operation, then display flexibility is improved, but disagreement between indicated range and actual vehicle range may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions of the display unit and transmission range switching into a single control device. This unified controller simultaneously manages both the visual indication on the display unit and the actual transmission range switching, ensuring that both operations are coordinated and cannot diverge. By consolidating these previously separate control functions, the system eliminates the possibility of disagreement between indicated and actual ranges while maintaining functional specialization.
Data Source
AI summary
A driver is enabled to, even if a range selected by the driver and an actual range of the vehicle are different from each other, correctly recognize the actual range of the vehicle without occurrence of disagreement between an indicated range and the actual range of the vehicle. A display means is capable of indicating a range irrespective of a rotation operation of a shift member, and a range of the vehicle is capable of being switched to the range irrespective of the rotation operation of the shift member; and an instruction to the display means and an instruction to switch the range of the vehicle are provided from either one of first control means for indication control or second control means for vehicle range switching control.