Vehicle Shift Lever Click Feel via Magnetic Attraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular shifting apparatuses face durability issues and reduced click sensitivity due to the repeated swinging of shift levers, leading to abrasion and deterioration of components.
Innovation Solution
The use of a permanent magnet section with N and S poles arranged in series in the thickness direction, combined with a support system that includes first and second movable members and magnetic bodies, provides a click feeling by altering the attraction force between magnetic bodies and permanent magnets, eliminating the need for a conventional swinging mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a control spring and control groove mechanism is used to provide click feeling, then the click feeling is improved, but the durability deteriorates due to repeated sliding and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical control spring and control groove sliding mechanism with a magnetic field-based positioning system. The operation member includes a magnetic body that interacts with a permanent magnet to provide click feeling through magnetic attraction at specific positions, eliminating the need for repeated mechanical sliding and contact that causes wear and deterioration.
2Ease of operation
If a control spring mechanism is used to provide click feeling, then the click sensitivity is improved, but the durability deteriorates due to spring property deterioration and backlash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the control spring mechanism with a magnetic field-based system where a permanent magnet creates magnetic attraction forces on a magnetic body in the operation member. This provides click sensitivity through magnetic field interactions without the mechanical contact, spring property deterioration, and backlash issues inherent in spring-based systems.
3Ease of operation
If a sliding mechanism is used between control body and control groove, then the click feeling is achieved, but the durability deteriorates due to abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the sliding mechanism between control body and control groove by using magnetic field interactions. The operation member's magnetic body is attracted to the permanent magnet at specific positions to provide click feeling without any mechanical sliding contact, thereby preventing abrasion and extending durability.
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 configuration enhances the durability and click sensitivity of the operation device, reducing wear and tear on components while maintaining a positive operational feel.
Implementation Method 1
a click feeling is given by a force of moving the first magnetic body away from the permanent magnet section against the attraction force acting between the first magnetic body and the permanent magnet section
Data Source
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AI summary
A first movable member 4 for pivotally shifting to a predetermined position in conjunction with a pivotal operation of a shift lever 2, and a permanent magnet section 6 disposed so as to face the first movable member 4 are included whereby the shift lever 2 is provided with a click feeling given by an attraction force acting between the first movable member 4 and the permanent magnet section 6. The permanent magnet section 6 is magnetized such that in a thickness direction, an N pole and an S pole are created by magnetization in a series arrangement, and such that in a width direction, an S pole is created by magnetization alongside the N pole and an N pole is created by magnetization alongside the S pole created by magnetization in the thickness direction.