Steering column mounted power transmission shifter

A method comprising the steps of:

• controlling a transmission of a vehicle to define a plurality of different shift positions with a controller disposed in communication with a switch and a motor, wherein the motor is associated with the transmission and the shift positions include park, neutral, reverse, and drive;
• mounting the motor on a steering column of the vehicle;
• providing the motor with a rotatable member operably associated with a linkage, wherein the linkage comprises a drive portion defined on the rotatable member and a securing member selectively operable to move in response to rotation of the rotatable member;
• and
• providing the linkage with a link member having a first and second ends and a pivot point defined between the first and second ends, the at least a portion of the securing member being moveably positioned between the first end and the pivot point, the link member rotating in response to movement of the securing member between the first end and the pivot point.

An apparatus for shifting an automatic transmission having a shift position select lever to selectively shift the transmission to one of a plurality of different transmission shift positions, said apparatus comprising:

• a steering column positionable in a passenger compartment of a vehicle;
• a switch mountable in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and operable to emit a first signal representative of a desired change with respect to a transmission shift position;
• a motor to generate a moving force;
• a linkage associated with said motor to transmit said moving force from said motor to a shift lever of a transmission of the vehicle;
• a sensor responsive to a current transmission shift position for emitting a second signal;
• a controller responsive to said switch and said sensor for selectively controlling said motor to engage in response to said first and second signals;
• and characterized by
• said motor being mounted on said steering column of the vehicle;
• wherein said motor includes a rotatable shaft and said linkage further comprises a screw drive defined on said shaft and a nut moved in translation in response to rotation of said shaft;
• wherein said linkage further comprises a link bar having a first and second ends and a pivot point defined between said first and second ends and a slot defined between said first end and said pivot point, wherein at least a portion of said nut is moveably positioned in said slot and said link bar rotates in response to translation of said nut.