Electronic Shift Lever Collision Signal Interruption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic shift levers in vehicles with automatic transmissions can inadvertently change gear during collisions, leading to secondary collisions due to external forces causing unintended shifts.

Innovation Solution

A shift control method that detects collisions and interrupts gear-changing signals to the transmission for a predetermined time, or shifts into a parking range, to prevent secondary collisions, using collision sensors, airbag sensors, and lever sensors to manage the shift lever's state and control the transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an electronic shift lever is used to enable easy shifting operations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because the shift lever may move by inertia during collision and generate unintended shift signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshifting operationVSAvoidshift signal accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A collision detection device is introduced as an intermediary between the shift lever and transmission control system. When collision is detected, this intermediary blocks unintended shift signals from reaching the transmission, preventing secondary collisions while maintaining normal shift operation during non-collision conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of collision conditions before unintended shift signals can cause harm. By detecting collision in advance and preemptively blocking shift signals, the system prevents the harmful effect of secondary collisions before they can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If the transmission shifts automatically based on shift lever signals, then the productivity is improved through automatic gear changes, but the safety deteriorates due to risk of secondary collision during impact events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic transmission shiftingVSAvoidsecondary collision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collision detection device serves as a safety intermediary that monitors transmission operations during collision events. When collision is detected, it blocks automatic shift signals that would otherwise be processed by the transmission control unit, preventing harmful secondary collisions while allowing normal automatic shifting during non-collision conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of inertia-induced shift lever movement during collision into a beneficial safety feature. By detecting the collision condition and using it to trigger signal blocking, the system transforms a potentially harmful automatic shifting action into a protective measure that prevents secondary collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS9869386B2Shift control method of electronic shift lever

Publication Date: 2018.01.16 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A shift control method of an electronic shift lever may include detecting a collision of a vehicle when the vehicle is in an ignition-on state, detecting a shift range of the electronic shift lever, and preventing shifting by interrupting delivery of a signal for changing the shift range to a transmission, when the signal for changing the shift range is detected within a predetermined time after the detection of the collision.