# US 6,718,842 B1 · Shift lever unit

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- Number: US 6,718,842 B1
- Document ID: US6718842B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/743,865
- Filed: 2001-03-26
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 1998-07-16
- Assignees: Fico Triad, S.A.
- Inventors: Josep Bofias
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6718842B1

## CPC

- F16H 59/044: {consisting of electrical switches or sensors}
- F16H 61/24: Providing feel, e.g. to enable selection
- Y10T 74/2003: Electrical actuator
- Y10T 74/20085: Restriction of shift, gear selection, or gear engagement
- Y10T 74/20098: Separate actuator to disengage restrictor
- Y10T 74/20128: Resiliently biased restrictor
- Y10T 74/20159: Control lever movable through plural planes
- F16H: GEARING
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Shift lever unit for transforming the tilting movements of a shift lever (1) in electrical control signals, in particular for controlling a gearbox, with a shift lever, a rotating element (30, 3′) which is rotated by the tilting movements of the shift lever (1) and a sensor (32, 41) detecting the angular position of the rotating element (30, 3′) and transforming it into electrical signals.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shift lever unit for transforming the tilting movements of a shift lever into electrical control signals, in particular for controlling a gearbox, comprising:
a) a shift lever mounted by a bearing in a housing for tilting movements;
b) a rotating element arranged above the bearing and interacting with the shift lever such that the tilting movements of the shift lever effect rotation of the rotating element, the rotating element being a rotatably arranged disk and the shift lever extending through a slit in the disk so that a tilting of the shift lever causes a rotation of the disk; and
c) a sensor detecting the angular position of the rotating element and transforming it into electrical signals.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A shift lever unit according to claim 1 where the shift lever comprises a rounded thickening in the area where it extends through the disk to avoid a jamming of the shift lever.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A shift lever unit according to claim 1 where the sensor comprises a contact element arranged on the rotating element and corresponding contact areas electrically contacted by the contact element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A shift lever unit according to claim 1 where the sensor comprises a magnetic contact arranged on the rotating element and causing an electrical signal in at least one corresponding magnetic field sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A shift lever unit according to claim 4 where the magnetic field sensor is a Hall generator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A shift lever unit according to claim 1 where the sensor comprises a light source arranged on the rotating element causing an electrical signal in at least one corresponding photo cell.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A shift lever unit according to claim 1 where the rotating element comprises on a circumference at least one notch which a spring engages to lock the rotating element in a predetermined angular position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A shift lever unit according to claim 7 where the angular position corresponds to one of a contact between a contact element and a contact area, the generation of an electrical signal by a magnetic contact, and generation of an electrical signal by a light source.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A shift lever unit according to claim 7 where the spring comprises at its upper end a roll rolling along the circumference of the rotating element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A shift lever unit according to claim 1 further comprising a blocking device to limit the rotation of the rotating element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A shift lever unit according to claim 10 where the blocking device comprises a projection of the rotating element and a moveable pin interacting with the projection to block the rotation of the rotating element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A shift lever unit according to claim 10 where the blocking device comprises an opening in the rotating element and a moveable pin which can extend into the opening to block the rotation of the rotating element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

A shift lever unit according to claim 11 where the pin is moved by a solenoid or an electric motor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

A shift lever unit according to claim 10 where the blocking device is combined with a anti-theft system of a vehicle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

A shift lever unit according to claim 12 where the pin is moved by a solenoid or an electric motor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A gear shift for changing the gears in a motor vehicle comprising:
a) an electro-mechanical gearbox;
b) electrical control lines; and
c) the shift lever unit according to claim 1.

### Claim 17

A shift lever unit for transforming the tilting movements of a shift lever into electrical control signals, in particular for controlling a gearbox, comprising:
a) a shift lever mounted by a bearing in a housing for tilting movements;
b) a rotating element arranged above the bearing and interacting with the shift lever such that the tilting movements of the shift lever effect rotation of the rotating element, the rotating element being a rotatably arranged hemisphere and the shift lever extending through a slit in the hemisphere so that a tilting of the shift lever causes a rotation of the hemisphere; and
c) a sensor detecting the angular position of the rotating element and transforming it into electrical signals.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A shift lever unit according to claim 17 where the shift lever comprises a rounded thickening in the area where it extends through the hemisphere to avoid a jamming of the shift lever.