Vehicle Shifter Lock Plate Design for Misoperation Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle shifter devices require complex operations for switching between speed ranges, leading to potential misoperations and safety concerns, especially when selecting between reverse, neutral, and drive positions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle shifter device with a shift lever that has distinct movement paths for different speed ranges, requiring different operational depths and types of button depressions to prevent accidental switching, utilizing a cylindrical lever body with lock levers and a lock plate to securely hold positions, ensuring intentional operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the R-position and D-position are selected by operating the shift lever and the P-position and N-position are selected by operating a push button disposed away from the shift lever, then the device can be operated, but the driver is requested to perform a complicated operation which may lead to misoperation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of selecting different speed ranges (P, R, N, D) into a single shift lever operation. The shift lever integrates multiple selection functions that were previously separated between the shift lever and push button, allowing the driver to select all speed ranges through one unified interface rather than switching between multiple controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The shift lever is divided into distinct movement paths for different speed range selections. The path from the neutral position to reverse (R) is separated from the path to drive (D) positions, with each path requiring specific operational actions (push button depression depth, movement direction) that prevent accidental or erroneous selections.
2Reliability
If distinct movement paths and different operational depths are required for different speed ranges, then misoperation is suppressed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shift lever system incorporates dynamic operational requirements where the same lever must be manipulated in different ways (different push button depression depths, different movement paths) depending on the desired speed range. This dynamic operation approach achieves misoperation prevention through operational complexity rather than structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different segments of the shift lever's movement path have different operational characteristics. The path to reverse requires one type of operation (e.g., shallow push button depression), while the path to drive positions requires another type (e.g., deeper push button depression). Each local path is optimized for its specific function, reducing the need for complex overall system design.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Task] To provide a vehicle shifter device capable of ensuring high safety by suppressing a misoperation by a driver. [Solution] A vehicle shifter device 3 includes a shift lever and a lock plate 28. The shift lever has a cylindrical lever body 17, a rod 19 movable in an axial direction in a cylinder of the lever body 17, and a first lock lever 21 and a second lock lever 22 connected to the rod 19. The first lock lever 21 is substantially L-shaped in plan view. The lock plate 28 has a first extension portion 28j extending in an X-direction and a second extension portion 28k, integrally formed with the first extension portion 28j, that extends in a Y-direction. In addition, the lock plate 28 has a plurality of concave parts 28a to 28d. In the lock plate 28, the projection height of a convex part 28h between the concave part 28c and the concave part 28d is larger than the projection height of a convex part 28e between the concave part 28a and the concave part 28b.