Transmission gear position sensor using printed circuit element
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorMario M Orrico
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gear position sensor employs a sliding electrical connection between arcuate conductors and flexible wiper arms held on opposite surfaces that rotate relative to each other with the movement of a gear selector shaft. The traces may have multiple segments joined by resistors to provide flexible change in resistance value and resistance range for different applications.
Claims16
A transmission gear position sensor for a transmission of a type having a rotatable transmission selector shaft, the gear position sensor comprising:
- a housing defining an enclosed volume and supporting a first and second conductive element extending from a first location accessible outside of the enclosed volume for electrical connection to a connector harness to a second location within the enclosed volume;
- a rotating carrier fitting within the enclosed volume receiving the rotatable transmission selector shaft to rotate therewith about an axis;
- an insulating substrate having a first face holding conductors arcuate about the axis and including resistors bridging adjacent coaxial ones of the arcuate conductors to provide different resistances between the arcuate conductors;
- a first and second flexing conductive wiper positioned within the housing to engage and electrically connect to the adjacent coaxial ones of the arcuate conductors throughout a range of rotation of the insulating substrate with respect to the first and second flexing conductive wipers;
- wherein one of the first and second flexing conductive wipers and the insulating substrate is attached to the rotating carrier so that the insulating substrate rotates with respect to the first and second flexing conductive wipers so that rotation of the rotating carrier changes an electrical resistance across the first and second conductive elements.
A method of assembly of a transmission gear position sensor for a transmission of a type having a rotatable transmission selector shaft, the gear position sensor having a housing defining an enclosed volume, supporting a first and second conductive element extending from a first location accessible outside of the enclosed volume for electrical connection to a connector harness to a second location within the enclosed volume;
- a rotating carrier fitting within the enclosed volume receiving the rotatable transmission selector shaft to rotate therewith about an axis;
- an insulating substrate having a first face holding conductors arcuate about the axis and including resistors bridging adjacent coaxial ones of the arcuate conductors to provide different resistances between the arcuate conductors;
- a first and second flexing conductive wiper positioned within the housing to engage and electrically connect to the adjacent coaxial ones of the arcuate conductors throughout a range of rotation of the insulating substrate with respect to the first and second flexing conductive wipers;
- wherein one of the first and second flexing conductive wipers and the insulating substrate is attached to the rotating carrier so that the insulating substrate rotates with respect to the first and second flexing conductive wipers so that rotation of the rotating carrier changes an electrical resistance across the first and second conductive elements, the method comprising the steps of:
- fitting a first and second conductive element through a wall of the housing to extend from a first location accessible outside of the enclosed volume for electrical connection to a connector harness to a second location within the enclosed volume;
- attaching the first and second conductive element to the housing;
- attaching a first and second flexing conductive wiper to the first and second conductive element within the housing;
- fabricating a printed circuit board providing an insulating substrate having a first face holding conductors arcuate about an axis;
- attaching resistors bridging adjacent coaxial ones of the arcuate conductors to provide different resistances between the arcuate conductors;
- attaching the printed circuit board to a rotating carrier affixed to the rotatable transmission selector shaft to rotate within the housing about an axis so that the printed circuit board rotates with respect to the first and second flexing conductive wipers so that rotation of the rotating carrier changes an electrical resistance across the first and second conductive elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.