Vehicle Shifter Lever Sensing for Contactless Shift and Select Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shifter assemblies for vehicle transmissions experience efficiency and accuracy issues due to direct contact between magnets and levers, leading to friction and wear, especially when detecting different modes of operation that require varied lever movements.
Innovation Solution
A shifter assembly utilizing a single magnetic sensor to independently detect both axial displacement and rotational movements of a magnet, eliminating the need for additional magnets and reducing friction by centralizing detection through a single sensor and magnet configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct contact between magnet and shifter lever is used for position detection, then the detection mechanism is simple, but friction and wear occur leading to reduced efficiency and accuracy over time
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic field is introduced as an intermediary between the shifter lever and the magnetic sensor. The magnet mounted on the shifter lever generates a magnetic field that interacts with the sensor without requiring direct physical contact, thereby eliminating friction and wear while maintaining detection functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical contact-based detection system is replaced with a magnetic field-based detection system. Instead of using mechanical switches or contacts that require physical interaction, the patent employs a magnetic sensor to detect the position of the magnet through the magnetic field, substituting mechanical principles with electromagnetic principles
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple magnets are used to detect different movement directions, then detection coverage is improved, but device complexity and friction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic sensor is designed with multi-functionality to detect both axial displacement and rotational movements. Instead of requiring separate magnets or sensors for different movement directions, the single magnetic sensor can process magnetic field changes from various orientations, allowing one magnet to serve multiple detection purposes
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple detection functions are merged into a single magnetic sensor. The sensor combines the capability to detect axial position and rotational angle in one device, and the single magnet serves both detection needs, consolidating what would traditionally require multiple separate components
3Device complexity
If a single magnetic sensor detects both axial displacement and rotational movements, then device complexity is reduced, but detection precision for each movement type may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic sensor detects different movement parameters by analyzing changes in the magnetic field characteristics. By monitoring variations in magnetic field strength and direction, the sensor can distinguish between axial displacement and rotational movements, maintaining precision for each parameter type despite using a single sensor
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 solution enables reliable and efficient detection of shifter lever movements across a wide range, reducing wear and improving accuracy by using a single sensor and magnet to detect axial displacement and rotational movements, thus enhancing the shifter assembly's performance and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
A shifter assembly utilizing a single magnetic sensor to independently detect both axial displacement and rotational movements of a magnet
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The shifter assembly comprises a shifter lever (110) that can be moved according to a first movement to perform shift operations involving changing gearshift positions for controlling a vehicle transmission in at least one mode of operation, and according to a second movement to perform select operations to change between at least two different modes of operation, and a sensing unit (120) comprising a magnetic sensor (121) to detect both rotational and displacement movements of at least one magnet (122) to identify whether shift or select operations are being performed by the shifter lever (110). The magnet (122) is arranged to perform a rotational movement relative to the magnetic sensor (121) according to one of the first or second movements of the shifter lever (110), and to perform a displacement movement relative to the magnetic sensor (121) according to the other of the movements of the shifter lever (110).