Shift-by-Wire Actuator Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shift-by-wire actuators for motor vehicle transmissions lack reliable prevention of unintentional selection of drive positions, particularly from the park locking position, and often require complex mechanical designs that are not space-efficient.
Innovation Solution
A shift-by-wire actuator with a scrolling surface and release button, coupled via a locking and releasing mechanism, where the selection of drive positions is blocked until a release signal is received, ensuring intentional actuation and eliminating the need for a traditional gearshift lever rod, utilizing a sensor device for precise signal transmission and a locking mechanism to prevent unintentional shifts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional mechanical actuator with sliding element and thumb wheel is used, then manual shifting operation is achieved, but unintentional selection of drive positions cannot be reliably prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical sliding element and thumb wheel with an electronic scrolling surface that detects rotational movement. This electronic substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical locking mechanisms while achieving more reliable prevention of unintentional drive position selection through electronic control and software-based validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary between the scrolling surface and the transmission system. This control unit processes signals from the scrolling surface, determines the selected drive position, and validates the selection before actuating the transmission, thereby providing a layer of intelligence that prevents unintentional selections without requiring complex mechanical safeguards.
2Reliability
If a park locking mechanism with additional actuating element is used, then park position security is improved, but the actuator requires more space and complex construction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the park locking function with the main scrolling surface by implementing software-based position validation. The control unit monitors the scrolling surface rotations and only allows transitions to valid drive positions, eliminating the need for separate mechanical park locking mechanisms and reducing overall actuator volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the mechanical locking mechanism from the actuator design and replaces it with electronic control logic. By removing the physical park locking hardware and its associated actuating elements, the actuator volume is significantly reduced while maintaining or improving security through intelligent software-based position validation.
3Reliability
If a scrolling surface with locking and releasing mechanism is used, then unintentional shifts are prevented, but the actuator design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical locking and releasing mechanisms with electronic control logic that monitors scrolling surface actuation. The control unit analyzes the sequence and validity of scrolling operations, allowing intentional shifts while blocking unintentional ones through software-based validation rather than physical locking components.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrolling surface system performs its own validation function through the control unit, which automatically determines whether a scrolling operation represents an intentional user action. The system self-regulates by comparing the current state with expected transition patterns, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms that would add complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A shift-by-wire actuator and a method for selecting drive positions of a motor vehicle transmission is provided. The actuator comprises an actuating field, in which a scrolling surface for selecting one of the drive positions, and a release button, which transmits a release signal based on an actuation, are disposed. The actuator is characterized in that the scrolling surface and the release button are coupled via a locking and releasing mechanism, such that a shift-effecting selection of at least one of the drive positions can be executed by manipulation of the scrolling surface after release by the locking and releasing mechanism, based on the release signal.