Pushbutton vehicle shifter interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336186-B2
Application number	US-201715441710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2017
Priority date	Mar 23, 2016
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A pushbutton shifter interface is provided on a vehicle and includes a plurality of pushbutton keys arranged horizontally on a dashboard. The pushbutton shifter interface may be fixedly coupled with the dashboard generally forward of a driver seat. The pushbutton shifter interface is accessible by a driver to select a vehicle operating mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle pushbutton shifter interface comprising:
a support assembly located proximate a panel in a vehicle generally forward of a driver seat; and
a plurality of pushbutton keys arranged horizontally on the support assembly and mechanically actuatable downward by force applied by a user to input vehicle operating modes including vehicle transmission positions, wherein the plurality of pushbutton keys pivot about a horizontal pivot rod to actuate a switch.

2. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pushbutton keys are arranged side-by-side in a lateral array.

3. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 1 , wherein the pushbutton shifter interface is fixedly coupled with the panel.

4. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 3 , wherein the panel comprises a dashboard panel of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pushbutton keys are located generally forward and below a display device.

6. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 1 further comprising one or more surface features located between adjacent pushbutton keys.

7. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 6 , wherein the surface features comprise fixed dividers positioned between adjacent keys.

8. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 1 further comprising an indicia on a surface of each key and a light source for illuminating the indicia.

9. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 1 further comprising a light source and a light pipe for illuminating the keys.

10. A vehicle comprising:
a panel located generally forward of a driver seat within a passenger compartment of the vehicle;
a support assembly provided in a panel generally forward of the driver seat; and
a plurality of pushbutton keys arranged horizontally on the support assembly and mechanically actuatable downward by force applied by a user to input vehicle operating modes including vehicle transmission positions, wherein the plurality of pushbutton keys pivot about a horizontal pivot rod to actuate a switch.

11. The vehicle pushbutton shifter interface of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pushbutton keys are arranged side-by-side in a lateral array.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the pushbutton shifter interface is fixedly coupled with the panel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the panel comprises a dashboard panel of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of pushbutton keys are located generally forward and below a display device.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising one or more surface features located between adjacent pushbutton keys.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the surface features comprise fixed dividers positioned between adjacent keys.

17. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising an indicia on a surface of each key and a light source for illuminating the indicia.

18. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprises a light source and a light pipe for illuminating the keys.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Woodhouse David
• Kang-Morales Soo Young
• Niemiec Ryan G
• Blodi Ryan

Classifications

• B60K2350/2039

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• H01H2233/002

  joined to form button rows · CPC title

• B60K37/06

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K20/08 Primary

  Dashboard means · CPC title

• F16H2059/026

  Details or special features of the selector casing or lever support · CPC title