Transmission range selector system

A system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, comprising:

• a driver interface module including a portion moveable to a plurality of desired gear positions;
• at least one sensor for providing an associated output signal in response to movement of said portion to at least one of said desired gear positions;
• and
• an actuator for positioning said transmission in said at least one of said desired gear positions in response to said output signal,
• wherein said driver interface module includes an axle that rotates with movement of said portion and a magnet disposed on an end of said axle, and wherein said sensor comprises a rotational position Hall effect sensor disposed adjacent said magnet, and
• wherein said output signal varies substantially linearly with movement of said portion between each of said plurality of positions.

A system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, comprising:

• a driver interface module including a portion moveable to a plurality of desired gear positions;
• at least one sensor for providing an associated output signal in response to movement of said portion to at least one of said desired gear positions;
• and
• an actuator for positioning said transmission in said at least one of said desired gear positions in response to said output signal,
• wherein said output signal has a distinct voltage level associated with each of said desired gear positions, and wherein said actuator is configured to move said transmission to a respective one of said desired gear positions associated with each said distinct voltage level.

A system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, comprising:

• a driver interface module including a shaft moveable to a plurality of desired gear positions;
• at least one sensor for providing an associated output signal in response to movement of said portion to at least one of said desired gear positions;
• and
• an actuator for positioning said transmission in said at least one of said desired gear positions in response to said output signal,
• wherein said driver interface module includes an axle that rotates with movement of said shaft, a first magnet disposed on an end of said axle, and a second magnet disposed on said shaft, and
• wherein said at least one sensor comprises a rotational position Hall effect sensor disposed adjacent said first magnet, and a plurality of discrete position Hall effect sensors, said second magnet being disposed adjacent a respective one of said discrete position Hall effect sensors when shaft is in each of said plurality of positions.

A system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, comprising:

• a driver interface module including a portion moveable to a plurality of desired gear positions;
• at least one sensor for providing an associated output signal in response to movement of said portion to at least one of said desired gear positions;
• and
• an actuator for positioning said transmission in said at least one of said desired gear positions in response to said output signal,
• wherein said actuator comprises:
• at least one electric motor for driving a gear train in response to said output signal, said gear train including an output gear having output shaft for moving said transmission to said at least one of said desired gear positions and a sensor gear, said sensor gear having a magnet disposed thereon;
• and
• at least one Hall effect sensor disposed adjacent said magnet for providing an actuator output signal representative of the rotational position of said output shaft.

A system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, comprising:

• a driver interface module including a portion moveable to a plurality of desired gear positions;
• at least one sensor for providing an associated output signal in response to movement of said portion to at least one of said desired gear positions;
• and
• an actuator for positioning said transmission in said at least one of said desired gear positions in response to said output signal, said actuator comprising:
• first and second electric motors for driving an input gear of a gear train in response to said output signal, said gear train including an output gear having an output shaft for moving said transmission to said at least one of said desired gear positions.

A system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, comprising:

• a driver interface module including a shaft moveable to a plurality of desired gear positions and an axle that rotates with movement of said shaft, said axle having a first magnet disposed on an end thereof, and said shaft having second magnet disposed thereon;
• a rotational position Hall effect sensor disposed adjacent said first magnet for providing a rotational position output signal having a distinct voltage level associated with each of said desired gear positions,
• and a plurality of discrete position Hall effect sensors, said second magnet being disposed adjacent a respective one of said discrete position Hall effect sensors when shaft is in each of said plurality of positions, each said discrete position Hall effect sensor providing an associated discrete position output signal in response to movement of said shaft to an associated one of said desired gear positions;
• and
• an actuator for positioning said transmission in at least one of said desired gear positions in response to said rotational position output signal and said discrete position output signals.

A driver interface module for a system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, comprising:

• a portion moveable to a plurality of desired gear positions and an axle that rotates with movement of said portion;
• and
• a magnet disposed on an end of said axle for location adjacent a Hall effect sensor for providing an output representative of a rotational position of said axle,
• wherein said portion comprises a shaft, and wherein a second magnet is disposed on said shaft for location adjacent a respective one of a plurality of discrete position Hall effect sensors when shaft is in each of said plurality of positions.

An actuator for a system for controlling the gear position of an automotive transmission, said actuator comprising:

• at least one electric motor;
• a gear train coupled said electric motor, said gear train including an output gear having output shaft for moving said transmission to a desired gear upon energization of said at least one electric motor and a sensor gear, said sensor gear having a magnet disposed thereon;
• and
• at least one Hall effect sensor disposed adjacent said magnet for providing an output signal representative of the rotational position of said output shaft.