Auto return to park rotary shifter

A rotary shifter, comprising:

• a housing;
• an auto return to park mechanism including a knob supported upon said housing, a rotary disk end stopper secured to said knob and seated within said housing, a spring rotationally biasing said end stopper relative to said housing;
• a bezel cover securing over said housing, an annular opening defined within said bezel cover for receiving said knob;
• an inner aperture defining rim incorporated into a main package defining portion of said housing, said rim further exhibiting a perimeter extending detent profile which is defined by a plurality of inter-connecting and inner rim configured surfaces;
• a solenoid supported within said housing and including a linearly extending portion engaging said end stopper in a first condition limiting said knob to manual rotary shifting between Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive gear shift positions;
• said auto return to park mechanism seating within a first cavity defined in said housing, said solenoid being supported in a second cavity such that said linearly extending portion of said solenoid extends into said first cavity and engages an outward toothed location of said end stopper;
• a PCB board integrated into said housing and communicable with at least one external sensor associated with a driver exit condition;
• and
• upon a triggering of said exit condition with said shifter in other than a Park position, said solenoid being energized to disengage said end stopper in a second release condition permitting said spring to reset said stopper and knob to the Park position.

A rotary shifter, comprising:

• a housing with a bezel cover;
• an auto return to park mechanism including a rotary knob supported upon said bezel cover, a rotary disk shaped end stopper secured to said knob and seated within the housing, a spring rotationally biasing said end stopper relative to said housing;
• a solenoid supported within said housing and engaging said end stopper in a first condition, limiting said knob to manual rotary shifting between Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive gear shift positions;
• a cylindrical shaped plunger housing secured to said rotary knob and including at least one radial projecting guiding portion contacting an inner rim of said housing defined by a plurality of detent locations;
• a PCB board integrated into said housing and communicable with at least one external sensor associated with a driver exit condition;
• a plurality of light pipes including each of a center Park position light pipe and a separate plurality of further shifter position light pipes, said light pipes being arranged within said housing so that bottom open ends are in communication with individual LED's integrated into said PCB board;
• a magnet and holder integrated into an underside of said plunger assembly in proximity to said PCB board such that relative motion between said knob and said end stopper causes said magnet to displace downwardly toward said PCB board;
• and
• upon a triggering of said exit condition with said shifter in other than a Park position, said solenoid being energized to disengage said end stopper in a second release condition permitting said spring to cause said radial projecting guiding portions to rotatably displace along said detent locations to reset said stopper and knob to the Park position.