# US 8,739,647 B2 · Gear absolute position sensor for manual transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,647 B2 - Document ID: US8739647B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/284,233 - Filed: 2011-10-28 - Published: 2012-06-21 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-21 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Christopher G. Benson; William L. Cousins; Bradford W. Bur - Inventors: Christopher G. Benson; William L. Cousins; Bradford W. Bur - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739647B2 ## CPC - G01B 7/003: {for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination (coordinate measuring G01B7/004)} - F16H 59/044: {consisting of electrical switches or sensors} - F16H 59/70: dependent on the ratio established - F02D 41/123: {the fuel injection being cut-off} - Y10T 74/20018: Transmission control - Y10T 74/2003: Electrical actuator - Y10T 74/2014: Manually operated selector [e.g., remotely controlled device, lever, push button, rotary dial, etc.] - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - F16H: GEARING - F02D: CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES (vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed B60K31/00; conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, road vehicle drive control systems for purposes other than the control of a single sub-unit B60W) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gear absolute position sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said magnetic sensors are selected from the group consisting of Hall effect, anisotropic magneto resistance, giant magneto resistance, permanent magnet linear contactless displacement, linear variable displacement transformer, magneto elastic and magneto inductive sensors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gear absolute position sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said shift linkage further includes an “H” pattern shift gate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gear absolute position sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said magnet rings are arc magnets. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gear absolute position sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said magnet rings are most proximate said magnetic sensors when said shift lever is in neutral. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gear absolute position sensor assembly of claim 1 wherein said application specific integrated circuit provides a PWM output. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gear absolute position sensor assembly of claim 1 further including an engine control module having an input for receiving said signal from said application specific integrated circuit. ### Claim 8 A gear 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 magnets, 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 magnets in said neutral position of said shift member, only one of said pair of magnetic sensors disposed adjacent one of said pair of magnets in said first axially displaced position of said shift member and only another of said pair of magnetic sensors disposed adjacent another of said pair of magnets in said second axially displaced position of said shift member, and an application specific integrated circuit for receiving said outputs of said magnetic sensors and providing a signal indicating a currently engaged gear ratio. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The gear position sensor assembly for a manual transmission of claim 8 wherein said application specific integrated circuit provides a PWM output. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The gear position sensor assembly for a manual transmission of claim 8 further including an engine control module having an input for receiving said signal from said application specific integrated circuit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The gear position sensor assembly of claim 8 wherein said pair of magnetic sensors are selected from the group consisting of Hall effect, anisotropic magneto resistance, giant magneto resistance, permanent magnet linear contactless displacement, linear variable displacement transformer, magneto elastic and magneto inductive sensors.