Multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous manipulation and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016138705-A1
Application number	US-201514940106-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 12, 2015
Priority date	Nov 14, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous manipulation includes a cylindrical lever rotatably inserted into a support which is disposed in a center fascia surface or a console surface of a vehicle and having an entrance opening that penetrates the cylindrical lever in a longitudinal direction. A start button is disposed at a lower side of the entrance opening, connected with a controller via a spring, and moving in a vertical direction. A display is disposed on the center fascia surface or the console surface, and displays a gear shift stage of the vehicle and a state of the vehicle. The gear shift stage is changeable by rotating the cylindrical lever while simultaneously starting an engine of the vehicle by operating the start button.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous manipulation comprising:
a cylindrical lever rotatably inserted into a support, which is disposed in a center fascia surface or a console surface of a vehicle, and having an entrance opening which penetrates the cylindrical lever in a longitudinal direction; a start button disposed at a lower side of the entrance opening, connected with a controller via a spring, and moving in a vertical direction; and a display mounted on the center fascia surface or the console surface and displaying a gear shift stage of the vehicle and a state of the vehicle, wherein the gear shift stage is changeable by rotating the cylindrical lever while simultaneously starting an engine of the vehicle by operating the start button.

2 . The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever of claim 1 , further comprising:
a driver recognition sensor mounted on one surface of the entrance opening, recognizes information of a driver, and transfers the information to the controller.

3 . The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever of claim 1 , further comprising:
a solenoid having a rod inserted into a plurality of through holes which are formed along a circumference of the cylindrical lever; and a locking button mounted on another surface of the entrance opening and moving the rod of the solenoid rearward.

4 . The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of lever magnets attached onto an outer surface of the cylindrical lever in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other; and a plurality of support magnets attached onto an inner surface of the support portion in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other, wherein the lever magnets and the support magnets have different polarity.

5 . The multifunctional electronic gear shift lever of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of the lever magnets have two or more lever magnets extending up to a lower surface of the cylindrical lever.

6 . A method of controlling a multifunctional electronic gear shift lever for simultaneous manipulation, the method comprising:
operating a start button disposed at a lower side of an entrance opening which penetrates a cylindrical lever that is rotatably inserted into a center fascia surface or a console surface of a vehicle to start an engine; and recognizing, by a controller, rotation of the cylindrical lever and changing a gear shift stage of the vehicle.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
transferring driver information, which is recognized by a driver recognition sensor mounted on one surface of the entrance opening, to the controller, prior to the step of operating the start button.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
moving a rod of a solenoid rearward by an operation of a locking button mounted on another surface of the entrance opening and pulling the rod out of a plurality of through holes formed in the cylindrical lever, prior to the step of changing the gear shift stage.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein when the driver recognition sensor does not recognize the driver information while a driver's hand is in the entrance opening, an alarm sound is generated and the start button does not operate.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein when the driver recognition sensor recognizes the driver information while a driver's hand is in the entrance opening, a recognition confirmation sound is generated and the start button is operated.

11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of operating the start button includes:
confirming, by the controller, whether a driver presses the start button while stepping on a brake pedal when the driver presses the start button.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein when the driver presses the start button without stepping on the brake pedal, an accessory (ACC) mode starts.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein when the driver presses the start button while stepping on the brake pedal, the engine starts.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of moving the rod includes confirming whether the locking button is operated.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein when the locking button does not operate, the rod does not move rearward, such that the cylindrical lever does not rotate.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein when the locking button operates, the rod moves rearward, such that the cylindrical lever rotates.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Eun-Sik

Classifications

• F16H59/08 Primary

  Range selector apparatus · CPC title

• F16H2059/081

  using knops or discs for rotary range selection · CPC title

• F02D2200/60

  said parameters being related to the driver demands or status · CPC title

• F16H2063/423

  Range indicators for automatic transmissions, e.g. showing selected range or mode · CPC title

• F16H2059/0282

  Lever handles with lock mechanisms, e.g. for allowing selection of reverse gear or releasing lever from park position · CPC title