Abstract: A vehicle shifter interface including a protruding contoured member including an outer surface having a first contour with a round shape and a second contour; a first set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on an inner surface of the protruding contoured member in an area underlying the first contour, the first set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged to provide output signals in response to a rotary movement of a driver's fingers about the round shape of the first contour thereby indicating a change in gear selection; and a second set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on the inner surface in an area underlying the second contour, the second set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged and configured to provide output signals in response to at least one of a position of a driver's finger on the second contour and a change of position of a driver's finger.

Abstract: A vehicle shifter interface including a protruding contoured member including an outer surface having a first contour with a round shape and a second contour; a first set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on an inner surface of the protruding contoured member in an area underlying the first contour, the first set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged to provide output signals in response to a rotary movement of a driver's fingers about the round shape of the first contour thereby indicating a change in gear selection; and a second set of capacitive touch sensor pads disposed on the inner surface in an area underlying the second contour, the second set of capacitive touch sensor pads arranged and configured to provide output signals in response to at least one of a position of a driver's finger on the second contour and a change of position of a driver's finger.

Abstract: A shifter includes a powered pawl mechanism that selectively engages a shift gate. The powered pawl mechanism may include an electrically operated solenoid or the like, and may be mounted to the base of the shifter or to the shift lever. The pawl engages a shift gate that is mounted on the other of the shift lever and the base. A mechanical override may be utilized to disengage the pawl. The shifter includes an electrically operated push button or the like on the shift knob, and may utilize sensors that determine the shift lever position for controlling a transmission.

Abstract: A shifter system for shifting a transmission on a vehicle includes a shifter having a manually-operated shift lever movable between various gear positions, an electrical sensing device on the shifter for sensing positions of the shift lever, and a controller electrically connected to the sensing device and constructed to control shifting of a transmission based on signals from the sensing device indicative of the position of the shift lever. The controller and the sensing device as a system are capable of sensing speed of movement of the shift lever and the controller is programmed to change control of the shifting of the transmission in accordance therewith. In one form, the sensing device includes one of a continuous output potentiometer, a discrete output potentiometer, a membrane potentiometer, and a deformable variable-resistance potentiometer.

Abstract: A shifter system for shifting a transmission on a vehicle includes a shifter having a manually-operated shift lever movable between various gear positions, an electrical sensing device on the shifter for sensing positions of the shift lever, and a controller electrically connected to the sensing device and constructed to control shifting of a transmission based on signals from the sensing device indicative of the position of the shift lever. The controller and the sensing device as a system are capable of sensing speed of movement of the shift lever and the controller is programmed to change control of the shifting of the transmission in accordance therewith. In one form, the sensing device includes one of a continuous output potentiometer, a discrete output potentiometer, a membrane potentiometer, and a deformable variable-resistance potentiometer.