Vehicle Shifter Signal Validation With Interlock Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle shift systems typically have only two communication channels for the vehicle lever shifter, limiting the ability to effectively communicate multiple operative states and requiring separate buttons or switches for functions like parking, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential failures.
Innovation Solution
A shift system with a first and second gear switch, an interlock switch, and a controller that uses a diagnostic counter to monitor and log discrepancies between these switches, incorporating a binary interlock switch on a resistor ladder circuit to confirm gear selections and prevent failures by tracking diagnostic thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two communication channels are used for lever shifter, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability and position confirmation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication task by using two separate communication channels: a first channel for transmitting gear position signals and a second channel for transmitting confirmation signals. This segmentation allows reliable position confirmation without requiring a third channel, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that receives gear position signals through a first communication channel and sends confirmation signals back through a second communication channel. This intermediary role enables bidirectional verification of gear position using existing two-channel infrastructure, improving reliability without adding communication hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate buttons or switches are added for parking function, then functional versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever shifter is designed to perform multiple functions including gear selection and parking operations through a single unified interface. The system can communicate multiple operative states (drive, reverse, neutral, parking) through the existing two communication channels, eliminating the need for separate buttons or switches while maintaining functional versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the parking function with the gear selection lever, allowing the same lever to select both gear positions and parking mode. This consolidation reduces the number of separate controls needed, decreasing device complexity while maintaining adaptability through the dual-channel communication system that can distinguish between different operative states.
3Reliability
If multiple signals are used to confirm gear selection, then communication reliability is improved, but information loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by sending confirmation signals from the controller back to the lever shifter through a second communication channel. This feedback mechanism allows the system to verify gear position selections without requiring excessive confirmation signals, maintaining reliability while minimizing information loss through efficient bidirectional communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a balanced approach with exactly two communication channels - sufficient to provide reliable confirmation through bidirectional signaling, but not excessive to cause information loss or system overload. This partial action approach achieves adequate confirmation reliability without the diminishing returns that would occur with additional channels.
Data Source
AI summary
A shift system includes a shifter including a first switch, a second switch, and an interlock switch and being operable between a plurality of gear states. A controller is communicatively coupled with the shifter to receive signals that correspond to each of the first switch, the second switch, and the interlock switch. The controller includes a diagnostic counter that includes a passing criteria and a predetermined diagnostic threshold and is configured to adjust the diagnostic counter based on at least one of the signals received from the shifter being inconsistent with the others of the signals received.