Steering Column Gear Scroll Wheel for Stateless Gear Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems require drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel to operate gear levers, compromising safety, especially with the integration of autonomous driving features that need seamless gear mode switching between forward, neutral, and reverse.
Innovation Solution
A control interface system featuring a gear mode scroll wheel on the steering column lever that allows state-less control between forward, neutral, and reverse gear modes with haptic feedback, enabling intuitive and safe operation without fixed control positions, and a drive mode switch for manual or automatic control switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the gear lever is positioned beside the driver's seat on top of the engine tunnel, then the driver can operate the gear lever, but the driver has to take a hand off the steering wheel which compromises driver safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gear selection function with the steering column, integrating the gear mode scroll wheel directly into the steering column lever. This merging allows the driver to operate gear modes while maintaining hand contact with the steering wheel, eliminating the safety compromise of the conventional separate gear lever position.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering column acts as an intermediary element that bridges the steering wheel and the gear box control. By placing the gear mode scroll wheel on the steering column lever, the system provides a mediating interface that enables gear selection without requiring the driver to move their hand from the steering wheel area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gear mode scroll wheel has a single spring-back position as the only rest position, then state-less control is achieved that does not correspond to a specific controlled state, but this requires electronic control to prevent misinterpretation of gear modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the electronic control unit receives signals from the gear mode scroll wheel and provides feedback to indicate the current gear mode through displays or other indicators. This feedback system prevents misinterpretation of gear modes by clearly communicating the current state to the driver, despite the scroll wheel having no fixed rest position corresponding to specific gear modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical lever system with fixed positions with an electronically-controlled scroll wheel system. The mechanical rotation of the scroll wheel is substituted with electronic signal processing, where the electronic control unit interprets scrolling directions and durations to determine gear mode changes, eliminating the need for mechanical position correspondence.
3Ease of operation
If the gear mode scroll wheel allows rotation in first scrolling direction for changing into forward drive gear mode and second scrolling direction for changing into reverse gear mode, then intuitive control is provided, but the control interface must handle multiple scrolling directions and neutral gear mode transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control logic that adapts to scrolling direction and context. The electronic control unit dynamically determines gear mode transitions based on the direction of scrolling (first direction for forward, second direction for reverse) and the current gear state, particularly handling neutral gear mode as a transition point. This dynamic response provides intuitive control while managing the complexity through adaptive decision-making algorithms.
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
Enhances driver safety by allowing gear mode switching without hand removal from the wheel, preventing misinterpretation of gear modes during automated driving, and enabling easy operation of additional vehicle functionalities with non-fixed control positions.
Implementation Method 1
A control interface system featuring a gear mode scroll wheel on the steering column lever that allows state-less control between forward, neutral, and reverse gear modes with haptic feedback
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprising a Erst steering column lever comprising a gear mode scroll wheel for controlling a gear box of the vehicle to switch between a plurality of gear modes comprising a forward drive gear mode a neutral gear mode and a reverse gear mode. The gear mode scroll wheel is arranged for rotating from a single spring-back position thereof in a first scrolling direction for changing from either the neutral gear mode into the forward drive gear mode, and the reverse gear mode into the forward drive gear mode, such as via the neutral gear mode, and a second scrolling direction, opposite the first scrolling direction for changing from either the neutral gear mode into the reverse gear mode, and the forward drive gear mode into the reverse gear mode, such as via the neutral gear mode. The single spring- back position is the only rest position of the gear mode scroll wheel.