Split Electronic Transmission Range Selection with Redundant Button Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic transmission range selection systems in vehicles face challenges when a fault occurs in the park button or its associated sensing circuit, as this can prevent the driver from selecting alternative gear ranges, making it difficult to operate the vehicle safely.
Innovation Solution
The system employs individual buttons for selecting transmission gear ranges, with redundant sensing circuits and a button state module to generate reliable range requests, ensuring the transmission can default to park if a fault is detected, allowing operation in other modes despite park button faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single park button and its sensing circuit are used for transmission range selection, then the system structure is simple, but the system fails completely when a fault occurs in the park button or sensing circuit, preventing selection of alternative gear ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission range selection system into multiple independent button inputs (park button, neutral button, drive button, reverse button) with separate sensing circuits. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality in alternative gear ranges even when one button or its sensing circuit fails, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely redundant system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by providing alternative selection pathways (neutral button, drive button, reverse button) that can compensate for potential failures in the park button or its sensing circuit. The control module is designed to detect faults in advance and switch to alternative buttons, cushioning against complete system failure before it occurs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If redundant sensing circuits and multiple buttons are implemented, then the system can operate in alternative modes despite faults, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing multiple buttons (park, neutral, drive, reverse) that can each serve as alternative selection inputs for transmission range control. Each button and its sensing circuit can universally select different gear ranges, allowing the system to adapt to various operational modes even when some components fail, thereby enhancing operational versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the control module to dynamically switch between different button inputs based on fault detection. When a fault is detected in one button or sensing circuit, the system dynamically reconfigures to use alternative buttons, making the system adaptable and versatile without requiring a fixed, overly complex redundant architecture.
3Ease of operation
If the transmission defaults to park when a fault is detected, then safety is maintained, but the driver cannot operate the vehicle in other modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple operational pathways (multiple buttons for different gear ranges) before a fault occurs. When a fault is detected in one button or sensing circuit, the system has already prepared alternative selection methods, allowing the driver to immediately switch to operating in other modes without being forced into park, thereby maintaining both safety and vehicle operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the control module continuously monitor the status of each button and its sensing circuit. When a fault is detected, the system provides feedback to the driver through the available alternative buttons, enabling the driver to understand the system state and operate the vehicle in safe alternative modes rather than being passively restricted to park.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for selecting a transmission range in a vehicle includes a plurality of range selection buttons configured to individually select corresponding ones of a plurality of ranges. A plurality of sensing circuits are configured to generate sense signals based on positions of corresponding ones of the plurality of range selection buttons. A park range selection button is configured to select a park range. A park sensing circuit is configured to generate sense signals based on a position of the park range selection button. A button state module is configured to output state signals corresponding to the plurality of range selection buttons based on the sense signals from the plurality of sensing circuits. A control module is configured to select a range based on the sense signals from the park sensing circuit and the state signals from the button state module.