Touch Shifter Preselection State Prevents Inadvertent Gear Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shift by wire assembly operating devices for automobiles lack a mechanism to prevent inadvertent selection of transmission modes, which can compromise safety and security during operation.

Innovation Solution

A touch-sensitive display with a preselection operating state that requires a specific touch gesture for initialization, incorporating haptic and tactile feedback to ensure accurate mode selection, and a preselection area to prevent accidental mode changes, utilizing technologies like electrostatic layers and piezo actuators for enhanced user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a touch sensitive display is made responsive to any touch gesture, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inadvertent mode selection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of mode selectionVSAvoidsafety against inadvertent selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system requires a preliminary touch action (pressing the touch-sensitive display) before any mode selection can be made. This preliminary action initializes a selection operating state, ensuring that accidental touches during normal operation cannot inadvertently change transmission modes. The preliminary action serves as a safety gate that must be crossed before the system becomes vulnerable to unintended mode changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a preselection operating state is introduced, then reliability is improved by preventing inadvertent selection, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against inadvertent selectionVSAvoidoperating state management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch-sensitive display dynamically changes its responsiveness based on the current operating state. In normal operation, the display is less responsive to prevent accidental selections. When in selection operating state (initialized by a deliberate touch), the display becomes fully responsive to mode selection gestures. This dynamic behavior allows the same hardware to provide both safety during normal operation and ease of use during intentional mode changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to the operator about the current operating state, enabling the operator to understand when the system is in preselection mode versus selection mode. This feedback mechanism helps operators understand the system's state and adjust their interaction accordingly, reducing confusion despite the added operational states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If touch gesture requirements are made stricter, then reliability is improved by reducing inadvertent operation, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of mode selectionVSAvoidsimplicity of touch gesture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a simple preliminary touch action (pressing the display) to initialize the selection state, followed by a separate mode selection gesture. This two-stage approach maintains simplicity while improving reliability: the preliminary action is easy to perform deliberately, and the subsequent mode selection can only occur after this initialization, preventing accidental selections without requiring complex single gestures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The solution significantly reduces the likelihood of inadvertent transmission mode selection, enhancing safety and security by requiring a deliberate initialization of the selection state, thereby minimizing visual distraction and ensuring accurate operation mode selection.

Implementation Method 1

a touch sensitive display with a preselection operating state that requires a specific touch gesture for initialization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic sensing: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 2

the touch sensitive display is configured to detect a touch gesture of an operator corresponding to the selection of the operation mode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 3

the touch sensitive display comprises a haptic feedback element that serves to provide a haptic feedback to the operator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 4

technologies such as those being developed by companies specializing in haptic feedback technologies... can be incorporated into the touch sensitive display

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic force: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentEP3400397B1touchshifter
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP3400397B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3400397B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an operating device (1) for a shift by wire assembly in an automobile comprising a touch sensitive display (3) for selecting an Operation mode (R, N, D, B) of an automatic and/or automatized transmission of the automobile, wherein the touch sensitive display is configured to detect a touch gesture of an Operator (V) corresponding to the selection of the Operation mode (R, N, D, B) in a selection operating State (OP2) of the touch sensitive display, wherein in a preselection operating State (OP1) of the touch sensitive display, the touch sensitive display (3) is configured to detect a touch gesture of an Operator (V) for initializing the selection operating State.