Shift-by-Wire Controller Integration for Wire Damage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shift by wire systems face issues with wire damage due to external environmental conditions and communication blockages between controllers, leading to reduced responsiveness.

Innovation Solution

Integration of the shifter controller and actuator controller into a single assembly within the upper and middle housings, connected through a connector assembly, eliminating the need for hard wires and reducing the number of components and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If assemblies are connected through hard wires, then communication between controllers is established, but wire damage occurs due to external environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidwire damage from environmental conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shifter controller and actuator controller are integrated into a single assembly, eliminating the need for hard wire connections between separate controllers. This merging of controllers into one unified unit removes the vulnerable wire connections that were previously exposed to environmental damage, while maintaining reliable communication through internal circuit board traces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If assemblies are connected through hard wires, then communication between controllers is established, but communication blockage and reduced responsiveness occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating both controllers into a single assembly with direct circuit board connections, the communication path is shortened and simplified. This eliminates the delays and potential blockages associated with hard wire connections between separate assemblies, enabling faster and more responsive communication between the shifter controller and actuator controller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If controllers are integrated into a single assembly, then wire breakage risk is reduced, but component integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire breakage resistanceVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shifter controller and actuator controller are merged into a single integrated assembly housed in one housing structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for external wire connections between separate controller assemblies, significantly reducing wire breakage risk. The integration is achieved through standardized circuit board connectors and mounting brackets, which manage the complexity of combining multiple controllers while providing a unified, reliable structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11739832B2Shift by wire system

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A shift by wire system may include a shifter assembly that is configured to generate an electrical manipulation signal by a driver's shifting operation, a shifter controller provided in the shifter assembly and configured of transmitting shift information according to the electrical manipulation signal, and an actuator controller which is mounted on a housing coupled with the shifter assembly, connected to the shifter controller, and applies a driving signal according to the shift information to an actuator.