Position sensing system for manually operated shift lever of a vehicle transmission
US6072390A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 6, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H59/105
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sensing system for detecting the position of a manually operated shift lever in an automatic transmission. The sensing system includes a plate member movable in response to movement of a shift lever. The plate member includes a generally flat contact surface having a predetermined pattern of electrically conductive and non-conductive areas. An electrical sensor unit is mounted in the transmission and positioned to communicate with the contact surface of the plate member. At least five electrical contact members engage the conductive and non-conductive areas on the contact surface generate binary codes having combinations that are indicative of the shift lever position in each of the predetermined operating modes. The engagement between the contact members and the contact surface further generates at least four unique binary codes indicative of the transitions between the predetermined operating modes. These four unique binary codes indicate to a controller the specific transition zone the shift lever is positioned within.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.