Shifter location system for a motor vehicle

A shifter location system in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

• a shifter housing;
• a shifter lever having a first end, a second end, and a flange, the shifter lever being disposed within the shifter housing and rotatably coupled to the shifter housing at the second end, wherein the shifter lever has a pivot axis at the second end and is translationally moveable in a direction generally parallel to the pivot axis, and wherein the flange is disposed between the first and second ends of the shifter lever;
• a circuit board disposed within the shifter housing, the circuit board being disposed adjacent to the shifter lever in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis of the shifter lever;
• a first two-dimensional (2D) magnetic sensor disposed on a first side of the circuit board and in electrical communication with the circuit board;
• a first magnet having a first magnetic field, wherein the first magnet is coupled to the shifter lever between the first end and the second end, and the first magnetic field is in radial alignment with the shifter lever, and wherein the first magnet is disposed adjacent to the first 2D magnetic sensor such that the first 2D magnetic sensor is in magnetic communication with the first magnet;
• a second 2D magnetic sensor disposed on a second side of the circuit board and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the second side of the circuit board is disposed proximate to the flange;
• a second magnet having a second magnetic field, wherein the second magnet is coupled to the flange of the shifter lever, and the second magnetic field is oriented perpendicular to the first magnetic field, wherein the second magnet is disposed adjacent to the second 2D magnetic sensor such that the second 2D magnetic sensor is in magnetic communication with the second 2D magnet, and wherein the first 2D magnetic sensor detects an angular displacement of the first magnetic field, and the second 2D magnetic sensor detects an axial displacement of the second magnetic field relative to the pivot axis.

A shifter location system in a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

• a shifter housing;
• a shifter lever having a first end and a second end, the shifter lever being disposed within the shifter housing and rotatably coupled to the shifter housing at the second end, wherein the shifter lever has a pivot axis at the second end and is translationally moveable in a direction generally perpendicular to the pivot axis;
• a circuit board disposed within the housing;
• a first anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensor disposed on and in electrical communication with the circuit board;
• a first magnet having a first magnetic field, wherein the first magnet is coupled to the shifter lever between the first end and the second end, the first magnetic field is oriented in radial alignment with the shifter lever, and the first magnet is disposed proximate the first AMR sensor;
• a second AMR sensor disposed on and in electrical communication with the circuit board;
• a second magnet having a second magnetic field,
• wherein the second magnet is coupled to the shifter lever between the first end and the second end, the second magnetic field is oriented perpendicular to the first magnetic field, and the second magnet is disposed proximate the second AMR sensor, and wherein the first AMR sensor detects an angular displacement of the first magnetic field, and the second AMR sensor detects an axial displacement of the second magnetic field.