Patent Application
20170191561
The invention relates generally to a shift detection system for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a shift detection system having a 2D sensor for detecting a plurality of positions of a shifter lever.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.
In a motor vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, a shifter mechanism typically includes a shifter or control lever mounted within the motor vehicle's passenger compartment. The shifter lever is used by an operator of the motor vehicle to select one of a plurality of transmission operating modes. For example, these transmission operating modes may include park (P), reverse (R), neutral (N), drive (D), a low gear or manual mode (M), manual shift up (M+), and manual shift down (M−). To select these modes, the shifter lever may be moved about two axes of rotation—one for the P, R, N, D positions and another for the M, M+, M− positions, also known as an H-shift pattern.
In order to properly command the operating mode of the transmission, it is important to precisely detect the position of the shifter lever. One solution is to detect the position of the shifter lever using a 3D type Hall-effect sensor which detects the movement of the shifter lever in the X, Y, and Z axes of the sensors. While these systems are useful for their intended purpose, there is a need in the art to reduce the costs associated with the relatively expensive 3D type Hall-effect sensor technology while maintaining the ability to accurately and precisely detect the position of the shifter lever.
A device for detecting the position of a shifter lever in a motor vehicle is provided. The shifter lever is rotatably movable around a pivot axis and translationally moveable in a direction generally perpendicular to the pivot axis. The device includes a 2D magnetic sensor and a dual magnet coupled to the shifter lever at the pivot point and disposed proximate the 2D magnetic sensor. The dual magnet has a first magnet and a second magnet. The first magnet has a first pole pair and the second magnet has a second pole pair. The first pole pair is offset from the second pole pair.
In one aspect, the dual magnet is generally cylindrically shaped and the first pole pair is circumferentially offset from the second pole pair.
In another aspect, the first pole pair is offset from the second pole pair by approximately 180 degrees so that the magnetic field of the first pole pair is substantially reversed relative to the magnetic field of the second pole pair.
In another aspect, the first magnet includes a first N-pole and a first S-pole, the second magnet includes a second N-pole and a second S-pole, and the first N-pole is directly axially adjacent the second S-pole and the first S-pole is directly axially adjacent the second N-pole.
In another aspect, the 2D magnetic sensor is a Hall effect sensor or a giant magneto-resistive sensor.
In another aspect, the first pole pair is circumferentially offset from the second pole pair by approximately 25 degrees to approximately 45 degrees.
In another aspect, the 2D magnetic sensor is an anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor.
In another aspect, the first magnet is disposed axially adjacent the second magnet.
In another aspect, the first and second magnets are disposed on a first cylindrical half of the dual magnet.
In another aspect, the 2D sensor is configured to sense a movement of the dual magnet in both a rotational and a translational direction.
In another aspect, the dual magnet is coaxial with the pivot axis of the shifter lever.
A shifter assembly for a motor vehicle is also provided. The shifter assembly includes a housing, a shifter lever having a pivot point that defines an axis, wherein the shifter lever is configured to pivot about the axis and to translate along the axis, a dual magnet connected to the shifter lever at the pivot point, the dual magnet having a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet having a first pole pair and the second magnet having a second pole pair, wherein the first pole pair is offset from the second pole pair, and a 2D sensor connected to the housing and disposed proximate the dual magnet, wherein the 2D sensor is configured to sense a change of position of the dual magnet as the shifter lever pivots or translates.
In one aspect, the 2D sensor detects a change in a magnetic field as the dual magnet is pivoted or translated by the shifter lever.
In another aspect, the translation and pivoting of the shifter lever corresponds to one of a P, R, N, D, M+, M, and M− positions.
In another aspect, the dual magnet is generally cylindrically shaped and the first pole pair is offset from the second pole pair by approximately 180 degrees such that the magnetic field of the first pole pair is substantially reversed relative to the magnetic field of the second pole pair.
In another aspect, the first magnet includes a first N-pole and a first S-pole, the second magnet includes a second N-pole and a second S-pole, and the first N-pole is directly axially adjacent the second S-pole and the first S-pole is directly axially adjacent the second N-pole.
In another aspect, the 2D magnetic sensor is a Hall effect sensor or a giant magneto-resistive sensor.
In another aspect, the first pole pair is circumferentially offset from the second pole pair by approximately 25 degrees to approximately 45 degrees and the 2D magnetic sensor is an anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor.
In another aspect, the 2D sensor is in communication with an electronic controller.
Another shifter assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The shifter assembly includes a housing, a shifter lever having a pivot point that defines an axis, wherein the shifter lever is configured to pivot about the axis and to translate along the axis to one of a P, R, N, D, M+, M, and M− positions, a cylindrical dual magnet connected to the shifter lever at the pivot point, the cylindrical dual magnet having a first magnet and a second magnet each disposed on a first half of the cylindrical dual magnet, the first magnet having a first pole pair and the second magnet having a second pole pair, wherein the first pole pair is offset from the second pole pair, and a 2D sensor connected to the housing and disposed proximate the dual magnet, wherein the 2D sensor is configured to sense a change of position of the dual magnet as the shifter lever pivots or translates.
Further aspects, examples, and advantages will become apparent by reference to the following description and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component, element or feature.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
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The shifter assembly 12 generally includes a shifter lever 16 mounted to a support collar 18. The shifter lever 16 is capable of translating along a pivot axis 20 and is capable of pivoting about the pivot axis 20. Various ways of mounting the shifter lever 16 within the shifter assembly 12 in order to allow the shifter lever 16 to pivot and translate may be used without departing from the scope of the present example. The shifter lever 16 includes a detent arm 22 that engages a plurality of detents 24, only one of which is shown, formed in a base 26. The detents 24 are positioned in the base 26 to provide a mechanical detent to each of the plurality of shift positions in the H-gate shift pattern 14. The selection of the P, R, N, D positions are achieved by pivoting the shifter lever 16 when the shifter lever 16 is translated cross-car to the left. The selection of the M, M+, M− positions are achieved by pivoting the shifter lever 16 when the shifter lever 16 is translated cross-car to the right.
The shift detection system 10 is operable to detect the shift position of the shifter lever 16 as it is translated and pivoted in the H-gate shift pattern 14. The shift detection system 10 includes a dual magnet 30 and a 2D magnetic sensor 32. The dual magnet 30 is connected to the shifter lever 16 at a pivot point 34 of the shifter lever 16. Thus, the dual magnet 30 is concentric to the pivot axis 20. Translation of the shifter lever 16 results in translation of the dual magnet 30 along the axis 20 while pivoting of the shifter lever 16 results in rotation of the dual magnet 30 about the axis 20. The 2D magnetic sensor 32 is mounted on a fixed member or housing 36 proximate the shift lever 16. The 2D magnetic sensor 32 may be positioned in close proximity to the dual magnet 30.
The 2D sensor 32 is configured to only measure the rotations of the magnetic field produced by the dual magnet 30. In one example, the 2D magnetic sensor 32 is preferably a 2D Hall-effect sensor or a giant magneto-resistive sensor. In another example, the 2D magnetic sensor 32 is preferably an anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor. The type of 2D magnetic sensor employed is dependent on the configuration of the dual magnet 30, as will be described below. The 2D magnetic sensor 32 may be in electronic communication with a controller 38. The controller 38 is a non-generalized, electronic control device having a preprogrammed digital computer or processor, memory or non-transitory computer readable medium used to store data such as control logic or instructions, and at least one I/O peripheral. The processor is configured to execute the control logic or instructions. In one example, the controller 38 is a transmission control module operable configured to control the associated transmission based on data signals sent from the 2D magnetic sensor 32 indicative of the position of the shift lever 16. Thus, if the 2D magnetic sensor 32 communicates data to the controller 38 that the shift lever 16 is in the park position, then the controller 38 commands the transmission into a park mode of operation. Alternatively, the controller 38 may be a separate unit from the transmission control module or be integrated with another motor vehicle control module, such as an engine control module, body control module, etc.
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The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
