# US 2021/0265121 A1 · Vehicle shifter with one position toggle switch with monostable/return to center functionality > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0265121 A1 - Document ID: US20210265121A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/180,920 - Filed: 2021-02-22 - Published: 2021-08-26 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-21 - Assignees: Kuster North America, Inc. - Applicants: Kuster North America, Inc. - Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville; Calogero Alu; Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio; Thorsten Dirk Connemann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210265121A1 ## CPC - G05G 5/05: Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops (G05G5/28 takes precedence) - B62D 1/046: {Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches} - F16H 59/105: {consisting of electrical switches or sensors} - F16H 61/24: Providing feel, e.g. to enable selection - G05G 1/04: Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers - H01H 21/04: Cases; Covers - H01H 21/22: Operating parts, e.g. handle - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 2360/131: Pivotable input devices for instruments - B60K 2360/1438: Touch screens - F16H 2059/0239: {Up- and down-shift or range or mode selection by repeated movement} - F16H 2059/0295: {with mechanisms to return lever to neutral or datum position, e.g. by return springs} - G05G 5/03: Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) - G05G 5/04: Stops for limiting movement of members, e.g. adjustable stop (G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence) - G05G 2505/00: Means for preventing, limiting or returning the movements of parts of a control mechanism, e.g. locking controlling member - H03K 2217/960755: Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - F16H: GEARING - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A vehicle shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a monostable toggle knob accessible to a vehicle operator. A processor enabled printed circuit board is incorporated into the housing and, upon actuation of the knob, instructs a gear shift condition to a display component. The housing can be incorporated into any of a variety of locations accessible to the vehicle operator, including being integrated into the steering wheel so that, and upon rotation of the wheel, the housing or display is continuously reoriented so as to maintain an upright position as viewed by the operator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shifter assembly, comprising: a housing supporting a toggle knob having a projecting protuberance accessible to a vehicle operator; at least one detent profile configured upon said toggle knob; a magnet positioned in proximity to a sensor mounted to a printed circuit board (PCBA) within said housing, said magnet displacing relative to said sensor in response to actuating said toggle knob in either of opposite mono-stable directions; a display component in communication with said PCBA and visible through said housing; and at least one biasing element supported within said housing in contact with said detent profile such that, and upon an operator actuating said toggle knob, said biasing element is caused to displace relative to said detent profile, said magnet rotating relative to said PCBA sensor to electronically instruct a shift change by a processor associated with said PCBA. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, said housing further comprising assembleable portions adapted for incorporation into any of a steering wheel, steering column, dash board, console or other location within a vehicle instrument panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a pair of first and second plates or spaced apart bearings secured within said housing for rotatably supporting said toggle knob therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, said biasing element further comprising a pair of pawls biased by a pair of compression springs supported within said housing, said detent profile further including first and second detent profiles configured upon opposite sides of said toggle knob and against which said pawls bias. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, said biasing element further comprising a pair of wave springs supported within said housing, said detent profile further including first and second detent profiles configured upon opposite sides of said toggle knob and against which said contact portions of said wave springs bias. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, said biasing element further comprising a torsion spring incorporated into a shaft portion of said toggle knob, with rotation of said knob in either direction being counter-biased by said torsion spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, said display component further comprising any of a thin film transistor, organic light emitting diode or segmented display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pair of windows defined in an upper face of said housing for seating each of said toggle wheel and said display component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a return to park function in which said printed circuit board resets the shifter to Park in response to a determined external input. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising each of a Park Lock and Neutral Lock function for preventing rotation of said toggle knob to effectuate a gear change unless said PCBA determines a necessary condition for providing electronic shifting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising said housing being supported within a steering wheel, rotation of which causing simultaneous rotation of the housing in order to maintain said display in a continuously upright orientation regardless of the rotational position of the wheel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, further comprising said housing having a circular configuration with any of a toothed or frictionally engaging outer circumference. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a drive belt extending around said outer circumference of said housing and a center axis support within the steering wheel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, further comprising a series of interconnected gearwheels for cooperatively rotating said housing in response to rotation of the steering wheel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising said housing being supported within a steering wheel, a sensor measuring a steering wheel angle for continuously reorienting to an upright viewed position said display. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The assembly of claim 11, said display further comprising a capacitive touchscreen, a sensor determining an angular rotation of the steering wheel in order to reposition the display to maintain the upright orientation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, said assembly further comprising application to any of a gear shifter, windshield wiper control, volume control, or dimmer control. ### Claim 18 A toggle shifter assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a housing having upper and lower assembleable housings defining a package containing interior; a printed circuit board (PCBA) supported within said lower housing; a keypad located above said PCBA and incorporating a plurality of keypad buttons in selective communication with an arrangement of sensors and switches within said PCBA; a toggle knob supported upon said keypad in proximity to said keypad buttons and so that mono-stable rotation of said toggle knob in either of first or second opposite directions is counter biased to return said knob to a center position; a display component in communication with said PCBA and visible through said upper housing; and upon an operator actuating said toggle knob in either of said counterbiasing directions, at least one of said sensor/switches of said PCBA closing a circuit to electronically instruct a shift change by a processor associated with said PCBA. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The shifter assembly of claim 18, said toggle knob further comprising a paddle pivotally supported in selective contact with an outer subset plurality of said keypad buttons. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The shifter assembly of claim 19, further comprising a shoebox shaped inner knob housing seating said toggle knob, said inner housing positioned above an inner subset plurality of said keypad buttons and, in response to downwardly depressing said toggle knob, instructing the PCBA to shift the vehicle from any of a Reverse, Neutral or Drive position to return to Park position.