US 8,739,647 B2Granted

Gear absolute position sensor for manual transmission

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsChristopher G. Benson, William L. Cousins, Bradford W. Bur

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Abstract

The present invention provides a gear absolute position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module (ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises two Hall effect or other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A gear absolute position sensor assembly for a manual transmission comprising, in combination,

a shift linkage having an operator engageable shift lever coupled to a shift member moveable rotationally and longitudinally from a neutral position to a first axially displaced position to select and engage one of a first plurality of gear ratios and to a second axially displaced position to select and engage one of a second plurality of gear ratios, said shift member including a pair of axially spaced apart magnet rings,
a pair of magnetic sensors each having an output, one of said pair of magnetic sensors disposed adjacent a respective one of said pair of magnet rings in said neutral position of said shift member, one of said pair of magnetic sensors disposed adjacent one of said pair of magnet rings in said first axially displaced position of said shift member and another of said pair of magnetic sensors disposed adjacent another of said pair of magnet rings in said second axially displaced position of said shift member, and
an integrated circuit for receiving said outputs of said magnetic sensors and providing a signal indicating a current shift linkage position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/284,233Filed 28 Oct 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 21 Dec 2010
Published: US 2012/0152049 A121 Jun 2012
Granted: 3 Jun 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G01B 7/003
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques: for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination
F16H 59/044
Ratio selector apparatus: consisting of electrical switches or sensors
F16H 59/70
Inputs being a function of gearing status: dependent on the ratio established
F02D 41/123
For deceleration: the fuel injection being cut-off

Family

Application61/425,626Us provisional application · filed 21 Dec 2010
US 2012/0152049 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Jun 2012
US 8,739,647 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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