Capacitive Shift Panel Logic for Mid-Position Gear Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shift devices fail to determine the shift range of an automatic transmission when a mid-position between shift positions is selected, leading to potential operational ambiguity.
Innovation Solution
A shift device equipped with a detection unit that includes a shift detector and a mid-position detector to identify the selection of shift positions and mid-positions, allowing for precise determination of the transmission shift range, with priority settings and capacitance thresholds to ensure accurate and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a detection unit detects selection of shift positions only, then the shift range can be changed when shift positions are selected, but the shift range cannot be determined when mid-position between shift positions is selected
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit is segmented into two independent detectors: a shift position detector for detecting selected shift positions and a mid-position detector for detecting selection of mid-positions between shift positions. This segmentation allows the system to precisely distinguish between different types of user input (shift position vs. mid-position) and respond appropriately, resolving the contradiction between detection precision and adaptability to different selection scenarios.
2Device complexity
If only shift position detector is provided, then the structure remains simple, but the system cannot determine shift range when mid-position is selected
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit is divided into specialized sub-components (shift position detector and mid-position detector), each responsible for a specific detection task. This segmentation improves reliability by ensuring that mid-position selection is explicitly detected and processed, eliminating the ambiguity that would otherwise exist in the shift range determination.
3Measurement precision
If mid-position detector is added independently, then mid-position selection can be detected accurately, but the detection unit becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit is segmented into functionally independent detectors that can be implemented using the same underlying technology (capacitive sensing). This approach maintains detection precision for mid-position selection while managing complexity through modular design, where each detector handles a specific aspect of user input.
Solution Approach 2:
Both the shift position detector and mid-position detector utilize the same capacitive sensing mechanism, allowing a single type of sensor technology to serve multiple detection functions. This universality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high detection accuracy for different input types.
Data Source
AI summary
In the shift device (10), in a case where a finger F of an occupant touches a PR position (20PR) between a P position (20P) and an R position (20R) in a panel (16) and the PR position (20PR) is determined to be selected, a transmission is changed to a P range with a higher priority to an R range.