Gear Shift Lever Patents (Class 200/61.88)
  • Patent number: 11850939
    Abstract: A steering column assembly module having an operating device for setting an operating parameter of a motor vehicle comprises a static central element that annularly surrounds a steering axis, and a recess, and has an elongated rotary element with a longitudinal axis, and comprises a grip section, and a bearing section that is fixedly connected to the grip section. In this context, the bearing section of the rotary element is disposed in the recess of the central element at least sectionally, and is mounted in the central element rotatably about the longitudinal axis, wherein a rotation sensor is configured to detect a rotational position of the rotary element, and in dependence upon the detected rotational position, to generate a control signal for setting the operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Arne Viohl
  • Patent number: 11554834
    Abstract: An operating system for a human-powered vehicle comprises a first operating device, a second operating device, a first user interface, and a second user interface. The first operating device comprises a first base member and a first operating member. The second operating device comprises a second base member and a second operating member. The first user interface is configured to receive a first user input and mounted to the first operating device. The second user interface is configured to receive a second user input and mounted to the second operating device. At least one of the first user interface and the second user interface is configured to be operated to control an assist driving unit configured to assist a human power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toshio Tetsuka, Taihei Nishihara, Eiji Mishima, Takuma Sakai, Takafumi Nishino, Takehiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11284529
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic component housing comprising: a first housing; a second housing; a sealing member positioned between the first housing and the second housing; and a fixing member for fixing the first housing to the second housing, wherein the sealing member penetrates the first housing so as to be insert-injected therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hoo Jung, Woo Sang Chung
  • Patent number: 11235536
    Abstract: A protrusion on a first member made of synthetic resin wherein a laser beam is applied to a side surface of the protrusion in a state in which a top surface of the protrusion of the first member is abutted against a second member made of synthetic resin, so as to melt at least the entire top surface of the protrusion and melt a portion of the second member in contact with the protrusion by heat of the melted top surface of the protrusion, followed by solidification of the melted portions, whereby the first member and the second member are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION NAGOYA UNIVERSITY, ISHIKAWA PREFECTURE, TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC., MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION, TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventors: Takayuki Mori, Kenichi Hirosaki, Wataru Okumura, Daisuke Mori, Yoshihiro Iwano, Kazuaki Amaoka
  • Patent number: 11162467
    Abstract: A remote startup system includes: a terminal; a center server configured to receive a startup request; and a vehicle having a driving device, the vehicle configured to receive a startup request, and start up the driving device, wherein at least one of the center server and the vehicle includes an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on transmission availability state of a power transmission device that transmits power of the driving device in the vehicle to driving wheels, or information on an operation state of a rotation prevention device that prevents rotation of the driving wheels when a function of transmitting the startup request is activated or when the startup request is transmitted, and a permission determination unit configured to determine whether to permit the startup of the driving device based on the startup request, based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tamane, Masato Endo
  • Patent number: 11092127
    Abstract: A remote startup system includes: a terminal; a center server configured to receive a startup request; and a vehicle having a driving device, the vehicle configured to receive a startup request, and start up the driving device, wherein at least one of the center server and the vehicle includes an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information on transmission availability state of a power transmission device that transmits power of the driving device in the vehicle to driving wheels, or information on an operation state of a rotation prevention device that prevents rotation of the driving wheels when a function of transmitting the startup request is activated or when the startup request is transmitted, and a permission determination unit configured to determine whether to permit the startup of the driving device based on the startup request, based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tamane, Masato Endo
  • Patent number: 11073205
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a vehicle shift lever assembly includes a shift lever movable about a first pivot axis within a first shift path having multiple shift positions, and movable about a second pivot axis to a second shift path having at least one shift position, and the second pivot axis is not parallel to the first pivot axis, and a sensor element coupled to the shift lever for movement with the shift lever. The sensor element is oriented in a different position when the shift lever is in each of the shift positions in the first shift path and each of the shift positions of the second shift path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: DUS OPERATING INC.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Jiran, Dale A. Beattie, Alberto Polonio
  • Patent number: 11002357
    Abstract: There is provided a shift device including: a shift body whose shift position is altered when the shift body is moved; a moving body that is movably provided at the shift body; an abutting portion that is provided at one of the shift body or the moving body; and a protruding portion that is provided at the other of the shift body or the moving body, and in which groove portions are provided between plural protrusions, and that causes movement of the moving body to be stopped when the plural protrusions and the abutting portion abut against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Yu Kageyama
  • Patent number: 11001141
    Abstract: A control system includes a joystick and a computer. The joystick includes a joystick body, a cover hingedly coupled to the joystick body and movable between an open position and a closed position, and an input located on the joystick body. The input is exposed by the cover when the cover is in the open position and concealed by the cover when the cover is in the closed position. The computer is programmed to enter a first mode in response to the cover moving from the open position to the closed position, to enter a second mode in response to both the cover moving from the closed position to the open position and the input being activated, and to remain in a same of the first and second modes in response to the cover moving from the closed position to the open position without the input being activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vishal Vinayak Nageshkar, Sangram Tamhankar, Jonathan Paul Weiler, Christian J. Hosbach, Patrick Maloney
  • Patent number: 10944202
    Abstract: A container for immersion cooling system includes a plural of container sidewalls, a circuit board, an inner connector, and an outer connector. The plural of container sidewalls form an accommodating space. One of the plural of container sidewalls has an opening. The circuit board is fixed to the one of the plural of container sidewalls and seals the opening. The circuit board has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface is exposed to the accommodating space. The inner connector is fixed on the first surface and is located in the accommodating space. The outer connector is fixed on the second surface and is electrically connected to the inner connector through the circuit board. The outer connector is exposed out of the container. Therein, the circuit board, the inner connector, and the outer connector form an adapter module for the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corp., Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Kai-Yang Tung, Hung-Ju Chen
  • Patent number: 10930447
    Abstract: An inhibitor switch is attached to a manual shaft with a jig. The jig includes a fitting part and an engagement pin. The fitting part is spline-fitted to an outer periphery of the manual shaft. The engagement pin engages in a positioning hole of the inhibitor switch. The outer periphery of the manual shaft includes a tooth-omitted part formed by omitting at least one of spline teeth. The fitting part includes an insertion hole. The insertion hole includes an inner periphery including internal teeth and an engaging part, wherein the internal teeth meshes with the spline teeth, and wherein the engaging part engages with the tooth-omitted part. The jig is attached to the manual shaft with the engaging part engaged with the tooth-omitted part. The inhibitor switch is rotated about the rotation axis to a position allowing engagement of the positioning hole with the engagement pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: JATCO LTD
    Inventor: Syunsuke Hinuma
  • Patent number: 10927951
    Abstract: The shift by wire shifter device comprises a selector that is movable relative to a fixed part according to a first shifting movement defined by a first shifting path and according to a second shifting movement defined by a second shifting path for selecting gearshift positions. One or both shifting paths extends from different gearshift positions. The selector and the fixed part are directly joined by a joint member such that the first shifting movement is a translational movement and the second shifting movement is a rotational movement, with the first and second shifting paths lying on the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: FICO TRIAD, S.A.
    Inventor: Javier Moreno Colom
  • Patent number: 10906546
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies
    Inventors: Paul Peterson, Graeme Andrew Jackson, Paul Wilson, Christian Chimner, David L. Wadas, Thomas Connolly
  • Patent number: 10858063
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a brake operating member, an additional operating member, an electrical switch, and a wireless communication unit. The brake operating member is movably coupled to the base member. The additional operating member is movably coupled to the brake operating member. The electrical switch is to provide an electric signal in response to a movement of the additional operating member. The electrical switch is disposed at the brake operating member. The wireless communication unit is connected to the electrical switch to transmit a wireless signal based on the electric signal. The wireless communication unit is disposed at the additional operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Komatsu, Takehiko Nakajima, Takafumi Nishino
  • Patent number: 10696351
    Abstract: A bicycle controller is configured to communicate with a first bicycle component that transmits a first wireless signal and a second bicycle component that transmits a second wireless signal. The bicycle controller includes an interface configured to receive the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal. The first wireless signal has a center frequency that is a first frequency. The second wireless signal has a center frequency that is a second frequency. The second frequency differs from the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Suzuki, Takaya Masuda, Yoshiyuki Kasai
  • Patent number: 10676150
    Abstract: An integrated drive for bicycle handlebars comprising a grip body having a shape and size suitable for being gripped by the cyclist in a holding condition while riding, a brake lever carried by the grip body, a hydraulic system mounted inside the grip body and mechanically actuated by the brake lever to send pressurised fluid into a braking system, and a set of gearshift drives, on said grip body. Such a drive, which encloses in the same grip body not only all that is needed to drive the hydraulic brake, but also drives for the gearshift and allows the overall bulk to be significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: CAMPAGNOLO S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Dal Prà
  • Patent number: 10443725
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a shift by wire (SBW) module that allows for electronic shifting between various gears, such as park, neutral, drive, etc. The SBW module includes one or more buttons that enable the shifting between the various gears. When the park gear is selected, a light source illuminates a symbol or a portion of the button associated with placing the vehicle into park. A controller is programmed to darken or dim the light source in response to an operator pressing one of the buttons while the vehicle is in the park gear. For example, when the vehicle is already in park, another depression of the park button can darken or dim the light source associated with the park button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Rahat H. Khan
  • Patent number: 10358145
    Abstract: An actuating device for shifting stages of a transmission, wherein a displaceable actuator for the manual selection of a shift stage (or driving mode) is provided, which can be adjusted into a plurality of positions. At least some or each of the positions can be assigned necessary conditions for the engagement of a shift stage assigned to the position. If the actuator is displaced into a position for which the conditions necessary for the same are not fulfilled, the associated shift stage is not engaged in the transmission and corresponding first signaling is carried out. Fulfillment of the necessary conditions of the associated shift stage following the displacement of the actuator into the position assigned to the shift stage or following the displacement in the direction of the associated position for the associated shift stage leads to the shift stage in the transmission being engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Sickart, Arne Krüger, Gerd Bofinger
  • Patent number: 10300892
    Abstract: A method to signal that a parking brake of an automatic or automated transmission of a motor vehicle is not engaged, during the detection that the driver or passenger door has been opened after the engine has been turned off, characterized in that a vehicle computing unit other than the transmission computer records the last signal related to the engaged state of the parking brake and triggers an alert signal conveyed to the passengers of the vehicle if the driver or passenger door is open and the parking device of the transmission is not engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventor: Olivier Delannoye
  • Patent number: 10281028
    Abstract: A shifter assembly in a motor vehicle includes a shifter housing. A shifter lever having first and second ends is coupled to the shifter housing at the second end. The shifter lever is rotatable about a pivot axis and is translatable parallel to the pivot axis. The shifter assembly has first and second 2-Dimensional (2D) magnetic sensors, and first and second magnets. The first magnet is coupled to the shifter lever between the first and second ends, proximate the first sensor, and has a first magnetic field in radial alignment with the shifter lever. The second magnet is coupled to the shifter lever between the first and second ends, proximate the second sensor, and has a second magnetic field perpendicular to the first magnetic field. The first sensor detects an angular displacement of the first magnetic field, and the second sensor detects an axial displacement of the second magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: DURA OPERATING, LLC
    Inventors: Mario Arturo Recio, Alberto Polonio Morales, Daniel William Raikes, II
  • Patent number: 10253879
    Abstract: Provided is a transmission control system that enables more precise control of the transmission ratio. This transmission control system is provided with a motor, an actuator, a transmission, a position sensor, a current sensor, and a control unit. The control unit includes: a drive unit that drives the motor while the vehicle is stopped; and a first estimation unit that estimates the initial transmission ratio, which indicates the transmission ratio when the ignition switch is turned on, on the basis of a rotation position detected by the position sensor, a load current detected by the current sensor, and a characteristic curve over a period during which the drive unit is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Hideki Sekiguchi, Fumihiro Ohsawa, Yuta Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10201108
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electronic control apparatus for a vehicle, and the electronic control apparatus of the present disclosure includes: an electronic control element which includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and electronic components installed on a surface of the PCB; a cover and a base which accommodate the electronic control element; and a connector which is coupled to the electronic control element, wherein a front end portion having a protrusion is formed at an edge of the cover so that the PCB is inserted and mounted between the protrusion of the cover and an edge of the base, a projection portion is formed at a rear end portion of the edge of the base where the cover and the base come into contact with each other, and the cover and the projection portion of the base come into contact with each other so as to form a predetermined space between the front end portion and the rear end portion so that a sealing member is inserted into the predetermined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Ho Lee, Hyung Joon Moon, Seung Mok Song, Ju Hyung Lee, Sun Jae Yang
  • Patent number: 10190675
    Abstract: A shifter assembly selects a first mode and a second mode of a transmission for a vehicle. The shifter assembly includes a housing and a shift lever movably coupled to the housing and pivotable relative to the housing. The shift lever includes a body and a cap defining an aperture and being coupled to the body. The cap is rotatable relative to the body between a first and a second orientations. The shift lever further includes a toggle device partially received by the cap in the aperture with at least a portion of the toggle device being moveably coupled to the body between a rest and a depressed positions. The shift lever further includes an element mounted to the toggle device and rotatable with the cap between the first and the second orientations. The shift lever further includes a sensor system configured to interact with the element to detect rotation of the cap between the first and the second orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Kongsberg Power Products Systems I, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Glenn Turney, Carlos Jose Pena, Timothy Clayton Smith, Kenichi Miyagi
  • Patent number: 10168249
    Abstract: A transmission range selection sensor includes a housing defining a bore extending along a central axis. A piston is slideably disposed within the bore. A magnet carrier is attached to and moveable with the piston. A magnet is supported by and moveable with the magnet carrier. A first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor are supported by the housing and are spaced from each other along the central axis. A position of the magnet carrier along the central axis is determinable from a sensed magnetic flux from the first and second magnetic sensors. The sensor includes at least one magnetic flux concentrator attached to one of the magnet carrier or the housing. The flux concentrator is operable to concentrate the magnetic flux toward at least one of the first magnetic sensor or the second magnetic sensor depending upon a position of the magnet along the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sean R. Wagner, Thomas A. Perry, Scott W. Piper, Cheol W. Kim
  • Patent number: 10100919
    Abstract: A shifter assembly selects a first mode and a second mode of a transmission for a vehicle. The shifter assembly includes a housing and a shift lever movably coupled to the housing and pivotable relative to the housing. The shift lever includes a body and a cap defining an aperture and being coupled to the body. The cap is rotatable relative to the body between a first and a second orientations. The shift lever further includes a toggle device partially received by the cap in the aperture with at least a portion of the toggle device being moveably coupled to the body between a rest and a depressed positions. The shift lever further includes an element mounted to the toggle device and rotatable with the cap between the first and the second orientations. The shift lever further includes a sensor system configured to interact with the element to detect rotation of the cap between the first and the second orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: KONGSBERG POWER PRODUCTS SYSTEMS I, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Glenn Turney, Carlos Jose Pena, Timothy Clayton Smith, Kenichi Miyagi
  • Patent number: 10093383
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device comprises a base member, a user interface member, an electrical switch, and a transmitting structure. The user interface member is movably mounted to the base member to move relative to the base member in a first direction. The electrical switch is mounted to the base member. The transmitting structure is provided between the user interface member and the electrical switch to transmit a first movement of the user interface member in the first direction to the electrical switch in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Noriko Masuta, Tsutomu Nanase
  • Patent number: 10012307
    Abstract: A shifter assembly includes a shift lever, a base, a coupling member having a toothed member and pivotably coupling the shift lever to the base, and a speed sensitive damping arrangement housed in the base. The damping arrangement includes a housing associated with the base and defining an internal cavity, a shaft disposed in the cavity and having an end extending from the housing, and a gear coupled to the shaft end extending from the housing and configured for rotation therewith, where the gear is meshingly engaged with the toothed member of the coupling member such that pivotable movement of the coupling member rotates the gear and the shaft. The gear is configured to rotate faster than the shift lever such that damping to movement of the shift lever provided by the damping arrangement is proportional to a square of a speed of movement of the shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jay T TenBrink, Michael Perecki
  • Patent number: 9958058
    Abstract: The bar-end electric actuation device of a bicycle gearshift, comprising a body suitable for being mounted at an end of handlebars facing forwards in the direction of travel (X) of the bicycle and a first and a second electric actuation member acting on respective electrical contacts which are mounted in the body and are suitable for controlling gearshifting, upwards and downwards respectively. The first and the second electric actuation member are faced by said body according to a respective facing direction, angularly spaced apart by an angle (?) that is between 60° and 130°. Moreover, the body is suitable for being positioned externally around the end of the handlebars, leaving free access to the inside of the end itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventors: Luca Burato, Maurizio Valle
  • Patent number: 9941079
    Abstract: A handle switch for use on a vehicle includes a plurality of switches for operating electric devices on a vehicle. The handle switch is mounted on a switch case fixed to a handlebar of the motorcycle, wherein the plurality of switches include a composite switch having a plurality of operating directions and other switches having less operating directions than the composite switch. The composite switch is disposed on the switch in a position closer to a center of a vehicle body, and the other switches are disposed in a position between a handle grip fixed to an end of the handlebar and the composite switch. The composite switch has an operating portion is directed rearwardly of the vehicle body. The operating portion of the composite switch includes a four-way switch as a plural-direction operator projects rearwardly of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Osanai, Yutaka Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9844140
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device capable of preventing stress from being generated in each of joining portions of electronic circuit components joined to a printed circuit board, thereby preventing breakage in each of the joining portions. The electronic device includes a printed circuit board (1), and a housing having the printed circuit board (1) received therein. A rubber packing (4), which is interposed between a case main body (2) and a cover (3), is elastically compressed due to a fastening force of case-and-cover fastening screws (31) so that a packing main body (4a) hermetically seals an inside of the housing. Packing projecting portions (45) of the rubber packing (4) press circuit-board protruding portions (15), to thereby hold the printed circuit board (1) inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Oba
  • Patent number: 9711304
    Abstract: A control device for a bicycle on-board electronic device that includes: a switch for inputting a command of the on-board electronic device. There is a control member with a constraint region, a driving region configured to be pushed by a cyclist's finger, and a driven region configured to actuate the switch when the driving region is actuated. The control member resembles a control lever where the constraint region, driving region, and the driven region are arranged on an oblong body that is elastically yielding about the constraint region, whereby the driven region is displaced with respect to the driving region and/or to the constraint region by virtue of the elastic yielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Stefano Rosati
  • Patent number: 9659725
    Abstract: An inhibiter switch is configured to include a fixed contact point that is connected to and disconnected from a movable contact point. The movable contact point is configured to make pressure contact with the fixed contact point by the movement of a movable board by a shaft member, wherein a press-fit amount of the shaft member to a projecting portion is made smaller toward a connecting portion between the projecting portion and an inner periphery of an insert hole of the movable board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Inotsuka
  • Patent number: 9586568
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an automatic transmission with a P driving stage, a N driving stage and one or more forward and reverse driving stages. The motor vehicle also has an electrical parking brake device, and an assistance system for outputting a warning information and actuating the parking brake device during the opening of the driver's door when the P driving stage is not engaged on the gear side. According to the proposals, the warning information is output only when the parking brake device is not actuated or not actuated in an error-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Martin Geissenhoener
  • Patent number: 9574658
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire control apparatus includes: a first detector that detects a first vehicle state; a second detector that detects a second vehicle state; an auto parking controller that executes an auto parking control irrespective of a state of a shift range, on conditions that detection results derived from the first and second detectors satisfy respective predetermined conditions; and a malfunction determining unit that determines that the first detector is malfunctioning, on a condition that the first detector fails to detect a change in the first vehicle state. The auto parking controller executes, based on the detection result derived from the second detector, the auto parking control irrespective of the detection result derived from the first detector, on a condition that the first detector is determined by the malfunction determining unit as malfunctioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Terai, Taichi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9556951
    Abstract: A gear-shift lever module with various sensors integrated on one circuit board may include a module housing, the integrated circuit board disposed in the module housing, a position sensor, a manual mode switch and a connector. The position sensor senses a shift position of a gear-shift lever and is disposed on the integrated circuit board at a position corresponding to a hinge portion at a lower end of the gear-shift lever. The manual mode switch is disposed on the integrated circuit board at a position corresponding to a manual mode of the gear-shift lever and senses the manual mode by being pressed by the gear-shift lever when the gear-shift lever is positioned for the manual mode. The connector is electrically connected with the position sensor and the manual mode switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp., Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Jin Jeong, Yang Rae Cho, Deok Ki Kim, Ji Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9240298
    Abstract: The concave streak portion 26, in which the welding inclination surface 27 is formed, is provided on the side wall 12; the projecting portion 40, which is fitted into the concave streak portion 26 when the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 overlap to form the switch case 3, is provided on the lid body 36; when the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 are overlapped, the switch case 3 is sealed by contacting the seal ring 31 with the flange portion 38 and the welding shoulder portion 41 interferes with the welding inclination surface 27; the substrate 10 and the lid body 35 are jointed by melting the interference portion by high-frequency welding; the release region K, which keep the communicating state of the inside of the switch case 3 with the outside is designed by notching the projecting portion 40 from the root thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignees: Valeo Jap Co., Ltd., Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Inotsuka, Takeshi Okuhara, Naoto Ogasawara, Hiroshi Yamada, Munetaka Torii, Teruo Kato
  • Publication number: 20150027865
    Abstract: An inhibiter switch is configured to include a fixed contact point that is connected to and disconnected from a movable contact point. The movable contact point is configured to make pressure contact with the fixed contact point by the movement of a movable board by a shaft member, wherein a press-fit amount of the shaft member to a projecting portion is made smaller toward a connecting portion between the projecting portion and an inner periphery of an insert hole of the movable board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Tetsuya Inotsuka
  • Patent number: 8886417
    Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 8602194
    Abstract: A sub-assembly for a brake transmission shift interlock system. The sub-assembly includes an inhibitor for preventing shifting of a vehicle transmission from a park position in the absence of application of a brake by a vehicle occupant, and a solenoid having a movable armature. A linkage couples the inhibitor to the armature such that movement of the armature produces a movement of the inhibitor. The linkage also couples the inhibitor to the armature so as to permit movement of at least a portion of the inhibitor independent of the armature. A brake transmission shift interlock assembly and a switch assembly incorporating the sub-assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C. Vermeersch
  • Publication number: 20130313086
    Abstract: An electronic selector switch assembly and method for a vehicle includes a housing and selector knob supported by a shaft. A knob position gear is connected to the selector knob and knob measurement gear is connected to the knob position gear. A first sensor senses an angular position of the selector knob. A rack is rotatable about the shaft and selector knob and a rack measurement gear is connected to the rack. A second sensor senses a position of the rack measurement gear. A drive assembly is connected to the rack, and if the knob position, rack position and transmission gear position do not compare, the drive assembly realigns the rack to match the transmission gear position. The methodology periodically senses selector knob and transmission gear positions to determine if there is a mismatch, and locks the selector knob position and adjusts the rack position if there is a mismatch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Kostal of America
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Redwood, Steven R. Hoskins, Michael F. Tefend
  • Publication number: 20130306448
    Abstract: A movable board with movable contact points is arranged inside a switch case formed by overlap of a substrate with fixed contact points and a lid body. A top end surface of the substrate has a concave streak portion and a ring groove for accommodating a seal ring, wherein a projecting streak portion provided on a lower surface of a flange portion in the lid body is fitted in the concave streak portion for welding. A seal bearing mounted to shaft holes provided on an opposing portion between the substrate and the lid body comprises a cylindrical body portion fitted in at least one of the shaft holes, and a lip-shaped seal portion extending to a side of a rotary surface of a shaft portion from an inner peripheral surface of the body portion to make flexible contact with the rotary surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: NILES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Inotsuka
  • Patent number: 8546710
    Abstract: An automatic transmission switch includes a fixed member provided with a fixed-side contact, and a movable member provided with a movable-side contact. The movable-side contact includes an intermittent contact portion with respect to the fixed-side contact. The contact portion extends along a moving direction of the movable member. The movable member is connected to an automatic transmission, and if the movable member is turned according to a switching operation of a shift lever, the movable member brings the fixed-side contact and the movable-side contact into contact with each other and separates them from each other. The movable-side contact is fixed to the movable member. The fixed member is provided with a coil spring which biases the fixed-side contact toward the movable-side contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Masafumi Itonaga
  • Patent number: 8452498
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a tactile feedback system. The system comprises a transmission indicator having a position, the position adapted to be adjusted by a user, a feedback device coupled to the transmission indicator, the feedback device adapted to produce a vibration in response to a feedback signal, and a control system adapted to detect the position of the transmission indicator and to transmit a feedback signal to the feedback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: William T. Flanagan
  • Patent number: 8402664
    Abstract: An electric control device is provided with a fixed member, a user operating member and a position sensing unit. The fixed member has a bicycle mounting part. The user operating member is movably mounted to the fixed member. The user operating member includes a first magnetic element. The position sensing unit has a rotating member and a position sensor. The position sensor senses a position of the rotating member. The rotating member includes a second magnetic element that rotates the rotating member as the user operating member is moved. At least one of the first and second magnetic elements is configured to generate a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Shintaro Mori
  • Patent number: 8357864
    Abstract: A handlebar switch assembly for enhancing operability of a shift-up switch and a shift-down switch separately provided on a switch case. Viewing a switch case from an axis line direction of a handlebar, four zones are defined with the axis line, a rear upper zone and a rear lower zone, both located opposite to an occupant, and a front upper zone and a front lower zone, both located on the vehicle front side. A first shift switch and a second shift switch are swing-type switches in which operating elements swing when a pushing force is applied. The shift-up switch is located in the front lower zone so as to orient one end of its operating element outward in the vehicle transverse direction and the shift-down switch is located in the rear lower zone so as to orient one end of its operating element outward in the vehicle transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Murasawa, Kota Nakahira, Manabu Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8297143
    Abstract: An electrical bicycle shift control device is provided with a base member, a first shift operating member and a second shift operating member. The handlebar mounting portion is configured to be fixedly mounted to a free end of a bicycle handlebar. The base member includes a handlebar mounting portion that is configured to be fixedly mounted a handlebar. The first shift operating member is pivotally coupled the base member from a rest position to a shift position in a first shift operating direction. The second shift operating member is mounted on the first shift operating member to move with the first shift operating member with respect to the base member. The second shift operating member is independently movable relative the first shift operating member from a rest position to a shift position in a second shift operating direction that is different to the first shift operating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Akinobu Uno
  • Patent number: 8173917
    Abstract: An actuating device contains two shifting buttons which are arranged on the upper side and lower side of the steering wheel. The shifting buttons are guided together rectilinearly on guide pins during a shifting operation, which guide pins are held in sleeves of a supporting plate and are fastened to a steering wheel cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bojan Rosman, Hans-Uwe Baumann, Norbert Schote
  • Patent number: 8158897
    Abstract: An actuating device on a vehicle steering wheel includes two shifting buttons which are disposed on an upper side and a lower side of the steering wheel. The shifting buttons are guided together rectilinearly on guide pins during a shifting operation. The guide pins are held in sleeves of a supporting plate and are fastened to a steering wheel cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bojan Rosman, Norbert Schote
  • Patent number: 8080749
    Abstract: A switch comprises a switch housing including a cover, a terminal block welded to the cover and a fixed contact point therein, a moving block provided with a boss for fitting a manual shaft of an automatic transmission and a movable contact point corresponding to the fixed contact point and movable to the switch housing and elastic seal rings interposed between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of each of the terminal block and the cover, and the operation portion. One of the cover or the terminal block is formed of a colored, laser transmissive material and the other is formed of a laser non-transmissive material. The terminal block and the cover are automatically aligned with the moving block by an elastic force of the seal ring and a thermal welding part is circularly formed by means of a laser beam on the side of the outer periphery in each of the terminal block and the cover to be aligned for coupling the terminal block with the cover to fix the alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Niles America Wintech, Inc., Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Matsuhashi, Atsuko Hildebrand, Anthony C. Bormes, Kenji Amimoto
  • Patent number: 8035046
    Abstract: A control device (1) for a bicycle for providing at least one electrical-electronic command to at least one bicycle component is provided, comprising a support body (2), at least one switch (47, 48), and a respective manual actuation member (34, 35, 70), the switch (47, 48) and the respective manual actuation member (34, 35, 70) are included in a switch unit (30) so as to be integrally removable from the support body (2). By so including said components (47, 48, 34, 35, 70) in a self-standing switch unit (30), in the case of a failure or malfunction of the switch (47, 48), the switch unit (30) can be easily inspected and possibly replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Bruno De Perini