Shift-by-wire module illumination strategy for vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorRahat H. Khan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a shift by wire (SBW) module that allows for electronic shifting between various gears, such as park, neutral, drive, etc. The SBW module includes one or more buttons that enable the shifting between the various gears. When the park gear is selected, a light source illuminates a symbol or a portion of the button associated with placing the vehicle into park. A controller is programmed to darken or dim the light source in response to an operator pressing one of the buttons while the vehicle is in the park gear. For example, when the vehicle is already in park, another depression of the park button can darken or dim the light source associated with the park button.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a shift by wire (SBW) module including one or more buttons and enabling an operator to shift a transmission into various gears including a park gear;
- a light source for illuminating a symbol indicating the park gear has been selected;
- and
- a controller programmed to darken the light source while the vehicle remains on in response to an operator pressing one of the buttons and the vehicle remaining in the park gear and on.
A vehicle comprising:
- a shift by wire (SBW) module having a button configured to, when selected, shift a transmission into a park mode;
- a light source for illuminating at least a portion of the button;
- and
- a controller programmed to darken the light source while the vehicle remains on in response to the button being selected while the vehicle is in park and on.
A method of controlling illumination on a shift by wire (SBW) module in a vehicle, comprising:
- in response to a first request from an operator via the SBW module to shift gears, shifting a transmission of the vehicle into a park mode and illuminating a park indicator light on the SBW module;
- and
- in response to a second request from the operator via the SBW module to shift gears and the vehicle remaining in park and on, darkening the park indicator light while the vehicle is on.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.