Abstract: In a shift device, a shift position of a knob is altered as a result of a knob being rotated. Furthermore, a Hall IC on a wiring substrate detects a rotation position of a magnet in the knob, thereby enabling the shift position of the knob to be detected. Here, the Hall IC is placed on an outer side in a rotation radial direction of the magnet. Because of this, it is possible to enlarge the change in the relative position between the magnet and the Hall IC that is generated by the rotation of the magnet, thereby enabling the detection accuracy when detecting the shift position of the knob to be improved.

Abstract: A plunger lock mechanism including a housing containing a rotationally supported lever shaped component, the component including at least one notch or recess configured within an arcuate surface. An electric motor is configured to rotate a cam extending within the housing, the cam actuating at least one plunger having an extending portion aligning with a selected notch. Upon rotation of the cam by the motor, the plunger is caused to displace between either of engaged and disengaged positions with the component such that, when disengaged, permitting rotation of the component.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism for actuating a gearbox emergency release of a gearbox of a motor vehicle having a parking lock and being mechanically locked by means of the parking lock when the parking lock is activated, having at least one actuating element fixed to the vehicle, by means of which the parking lock can be manually and mechanically deactivated, and having a tool formed separate from the actuating element, by which the actuating element can be manually and mechanically activated for the manual deactivating of the parking lock, wherein the tool comprises a threaded spindle and at least one corresponding movement element, which can be moved by a relative rotation between the threaded spindle and the movement element in translation along the threaded spindle and relative to it, in order to thereby actuate the actuating element.

Abstract: A shift device includes a shift main body, an operation body, a resilient engaging member and a restricting portion. The shift main body structures a shift body, which is moved to change a shift position. A first engaging portion is provided at the shift main body. The operation body structures the shift body, and is operated to move the shift body. A second engaging portion is provided at the operation body. The engaging member engages with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion and restricts detachment of the operation body from the shift main body. When the engaging member is pushed, the engaging member deforms and releases the engagement with the first engaging portion or the second engaging portion. The restricting portion restricts pushing of the engaging member after the engagement of the engaging member with the first engaging portion or second engaging portion has been released.

Abstract: A shifter detent plate configured to be installed within the shifter assembly of an automatic transmission has a shifter arm attached to a shifter handle to operably control gear shifting of an automatic transmission. The shifter detent plate has an upper stop surface positioned to enable slap shifting from first gear to second gear, and from second gear to third gear.

Abstract: An operating device according to one embodiment includes a tiltable operating lever, a holding member that holds the operating lever, a locking member that restricts a tilt of the operating lever, a driving source, a hold driving mechanism driven by the driving source and configured to move the holding member between a hold position where the operating lever is held at a tilted position, and a return position where the operating lever returns to a predetermined position from the tilted position, and a lock driving mechanism driven by the driving source and configured to move the locking member between a lock position where the tilt of the operating lever is restricted, and a release position where restricting the tilt of the operating lever is released. The hold driving mechanism and the lock driving mechanism are respectively driven by the driving source at different timings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting the position of a gearshift lever for selecting a gear/driving stage or a gear setting of a motor vehicle. The device has a signal transmitter installed on the gearshift lever and a signal receiver installed at a distance from the signal transmitter, wherein it is possible to detect the different positions of the signal transmitter relative to the signal receiver in different gears or gear settings. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having such a device.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, there is provided an input device including a handle configured to receive a force exerted by a user; a shaft coupled to the handle such that the force exerted on the handle is at least partially received on the shaft; wherein the handle is displaceable along a height of the shaft; wherein the handle includes a fastening member releasably biased to exert a force on a upper portion of the shaft in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the height of the shaft.

Abstract: At a shift lever device, a shift lever is supported at a retainer due to the shift lever being inserted into the retainer from an upper side portion, and select shafts of the shift lever being inserted into select frames of the retainer. Here, at the select shafts, amounts of projection of circular shafts and intermediate shafts are small as compared with amounts of projection of plate shafts. At a time when the select shafts are inserted into the select frames, the circular shafts and intermediate shafts can pass supporting pillars of the select frames, and an angle of tilting of the shift lever with respect to the retainer in a left-right direction can be made to be small. Therefore, a left-right direction dimension of the retainer can be made to be small, and the shift lever device can be made to be compact in the left-right direction.

Abstract: A shift device including: a shift body that is moved to change a shift position; a grip section that is provided to the shift body, and that is grippable by an occupant; a body member that is provided to the grip section; a first covering member that is provided to the grip section, that covers the body member, and that is provided with an engagement portion engaging with the body member; and a second covering member that is provided to the grip section, that covers the body member, and that is provided with an anchoring portion, the anchoring portion engaging with the engagement portion, being anchored to at least one out of the body member or the first covering member, and restraining release of engagement of the engagement portion with the body member.

Abstract: A shift device, including: a shift body that is operated to change a shift position thereof; a biasing section that causes biasing force to act on the shift body; a retention track that, by placement of the biasing section thereon, causes the shift body to be retained at a shift position; a release track that, by movement of the biasing section thereon from the retention track, causes retention of the shift body at a shift position to be released; and a changer section that, after the biasing section has been moved from the retention track to the release track and moved along the release track, causes the biasing section to be moved from the release track onto the retention track and a shift position of the shift body to be changed by moving the biasing section at a specific occasion.

Abstract: A transmission device may be provided for transmitting an angle of activation of a selector lever for a vehicle transmission, where the selector lever can assume a plurality of angles of activation. The transmission device may include a transmission lever, where the transmission lever may be rotatable about a first axis and may be configured to receive the angle of activation of the selector lever. The transmission device may further include a signal lever, where the signal lever may be rotatable about a second axis and may be configured to provide a transducer angle to a transmitter element of a sensor. A drive device may be included. The drive device may couple the transmission lever with the signal lever and may be configured to transmit the angle of activation received by the transmission lever to the transducer angle provided by the signal lever.

Abstract: A pattern of a rotational operation force is changed by a state of a device of an input object. An input device includes a knob, a rotation shaft body that rotates together with the knob, a rotation controller that is capable of changing a rotational operation force, a detector that detects a rotational position, a controller, and a storage that stores a plurality of patterns. The controller reads a pattern from the storage according to a pattern signal input from an outside and controls the rotation controller when the knob is operated to be rotated according to a rotational position detected by the detector and the read pattern.

Abstract: When electric power supply is started, an initial driving operation is performed to switch over a power supply phase of a motor in open-loop control. Initial learning processing is performed to learn a phase deviation correction value for the power supply phase relative to a count value of a pulse signal of an encoder. As a restraint caused by a shape of a detent mechanism, the motor need be rotationally driven so that a detent lever does not move in a negative direction beyond a bottom position of a P-range in the initial driving operation. In a case of performing the initial learning processing in the P-range in consideration of this restraint, the initial learning processing is performed by setting a rotation direction of the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shift lever for a vehicle transmission, which includes a rod provided in a mounting space to move linearly and having an upper part having an upper inclined surface and successive engaging grooves. An engaging protrusion is provided on an inner wall of a support section such that, when the rod moves, the engaging protrusion is engaged with one of the engaging grooves to afford a brisk, clear operation action when changing gears. A button is provided such that one end thereof extends to the inclined surface of the upper part of the rod, and another end thereof is exposed to the outside to enable that end to be pressed down to push the rod down.

Abstract: Provided is a button structure of a shift knob for use with a shift lever in which a rod is provided. The shift knob comprises: a button capable of being pushed to allow the rod to be moved downwardly from a lock position to a lock release position; a pinion gear provided in coaxial relation to a pivot shaft of the button; and a rack meshed with the pinion gear. The button structure moves the rod to a shift-lock release position, interlockingly with a downward movement of the rack caused by a swinging movement of the pinion gear in a forward direction, according to a pushing operation of the button, and moves the rod to a shift-lock position, interlockingly with an upward movement of the rack caused by a swinging movement of the pinion gear in a reverse direction, according to a push-mode releasing operation of the button.

Abstract: In a shift lever device, operation of a shift lever to a “P” shift position is allowed when electric-power is not supplied to a solenoid in a state where the shift lever has been operated to a shift position other than the “P” shift position. Moreover, operation of the shift lever from the “P” shift position is regulated when electric-power is not supplied to a lock solenoid in a state where the shift lever has been operated to the “P” shift position. Therefore, in a case where the shift position of the shift lever is other than the “P” shift position when electric-power is not supplied to the solenoid and the lock solenoid, operation of the shift lever from the “P” shift position can be regulated by operating the shift lever to the “P” shift position, and the shift lever can be placed in the “P” shift position.

Abstract: The automatic transmission system includes a shift lever for changing stages by a user, a shift-lock device for fixing or releasing the shift lever, and a control unit including a shift control logic changing the stages of the transmission in accordance with the stage changed by the shift lever and a shift-lock control logic controlling the shift-lock device by stages for an initial time and a maintenance time after the initial time from when the stages may be changed such that the shift lever may be fixed, in order to shift-lock the shifted shift lever when the stages may be changed by the shift control logic.

Abstract: A transmission emergency release for an automatic transmission which is mechanically blocked when a parking mode is engaged, includes a manually operable actuating element for the mechanical deactivation of the parking mode, wherein the actuating element has a vehicle-fixed mount (1, 29) with a force transmitting element and an actuating lever (9, 25) which is insertable in the vehicle-fixed mount (1, 29) to disable the parking mode in order to disable the parking mode by means of the force-transmitting element.

Abstract: The mechanism for emergency release of a parking lock of an automatic transmission. The mechanism comprises and is connected, in a rotationally fixed manner, with the selector shaft (1) of the shifting device of the transmission. A lever (2), which is positioned facing the transmission housing (3), at the side of the shifting device, can be activated by an unlocking tool (5) that is inserted from the outside through an opening (4) in the transmission housing (3) to release the parking lock.

Abstract: Provided is a button structure of a shift knob for use with a shift lever in which a rod is provided. The shift knob comprises: a button capable of being pushed to allow the rod to be moved downwardly from a lock position to a lock release position; a pinion gear provided in coaxial relation to a pivot shaft of the button; and a rack meshed with the pinion gear. The button structure moves the rod to a shift-lock release position, interlockingly with a downward movement of the rack caused by a swinging movement of the pinion gear in a forward direction, according to a pushing operation of the button, and moves the rod to a shift-lock position, interlockingly with an upward movement of the rack caused by a swinging movement of the pinion gear in a reverse direction, according to a push-mode releasing operation of the button.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shift lever for a vehicle transmission, which includes a rod provided in a mounting space to move linearly and having an upper part having an upper inclined surface and successive engaging grooves. An engaging protrusion is provided on an inner wall of a support section such that, when the rod moves, the engaging protrusion is engaged with one of the engaging grooves to afford a brisk, clear operation action when changing gears. A button is provided such that one end thereof extends to the inclined surface of the upper part of the rod, and another end thereof is exposed to the outside to enable that end to be pressed down to push the rod down.

Abstract: A cover structure of an actuator is provided in which a case of the actuator, which houses a conversion mechanism that converts input energy to mechanical motion, has a metal cover fastening portion and a cover member to which a metal fastening part that is fastened to the cover fastening portion is integrally attached. The cover member is formed by a metal cover portion and a resin cover portion. The metal cover portion has a center portion that covers part of the conversion mechanism, and an extended portion that extends from the center portion to the area near the metal fastening part so as to oppose the cover fastening portion. In this way, a vehicular power transmitting apparatus that discourages theft is provided by realizing an actuator with a strong cover fastening structure by making the fastening portion of the actuator be able to withstand intentionally inflicted damage without its weight being increased much.

Abstract: A gearshift assembly for a motor vehicle includes a gearshift lever configured to engage a detent unit to select one of a plurality of gearshift positions in an operative position. The gearshift lever can be folded into a non-operative position by disengaging a locking mechanism from the detent unit, when the gearshift lever is in the neutral position. The non-operative position is selected by pressing a fold button, which causes a fold rod to engage the detent unit, and prevents accidental shifting of gears in the folded non-operative position.

Abstract: An operating device for selecting shift stages in a shift-by-wire gearbox. The device comprises a selector lever which is movable between a drive gear position and a park position, and a locking device with a spring-loaded detent pin and a lock-in gate. An actuator device, that moves the selector lever, comprises a disengagement device. A detent pin and a lock-in gate can be brought, via a disengagement device, from a first relative position, in which the detent pin engages a shifting track of the lock-in gate, into another relative position, in which the detent pin disengages the shifting track. The operating device facilitates simple and safe actuator-induced return of the selector lever, into the park position, and offers the driver reliable optic and tactile feedback about the actual shift condition of the transmission.

Abstract: An improved shifter detent plate to replace the stock shifter detent plate used in certain automatic transmissions equipped with horseshoe shifters to provide positive stops between gears during forward shifts, thereby allowing the user to manually shift through the gears of the automatic transmission without accidentally skipping a gear.

Abstract: A shifting device is provided for a vehicle transmission with a selector lever pivotable within a shifting device housing about at least one axis of rotation for selecting gears defined within the vehicle transmission. A shift position of the selector lever is assigned to at least one gear. A locking device for the individual shift positions of the selector lever can be released as a function of given general data of the state of motor vehicle components such as the pedal mechanism and the engine. The locking device has a locking element displaceable by the selector lever analogously to the individual shift positions of the selector lever. The locking element has a plurality of locking devices, which correspond to the individual shift positions and which can be brought into a locking position and an unlocking position by at least one actuating device.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a parking state of a shift-by-wire shifting device may include a housing fixed to a vehicle body, a driving screw rotatably coupled to the housing and threaded, a slider engaged to the driving screw and slidable along the driving screw, and a cable connected to the slider and transmitting a sliding motion of the slider to a transmission.

Abstract: An HV-ECU performs a program including the steps of: determining whether or not the HV-ECU is in an auto-P execution state; determining whether or not a predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since an auto-P was requested; and permitting determination of the shifting operation if the HV-ECU is in the auto-P execution state and if it is determined that the predetermined time period Tb has elapsed since the auto-P was requested.

Abstract: An actuating device for selecting shift positions of a shift-by-wire gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that is movable between stable lever positions from at least one drive mode position to a parking lock position, a detent device with a spring-loaded detent element, a detent guide-plate and a separating device with an actuator-operated thrust wedge. The detent element and the detent guide-plate can be moved by the thrust wedge from a first position, in which the detent element engages in a shift track of the detent guide-plate, to another second position in which the detent element is disengaged from the shift track of the guide-plate. The actuating device enables automatic return of the selector lever to the parking lock position and thus provides the driver with correct visual and tactile feedback about the actual shift status of the transmission.

Abstract: An actuating device for selecting shift positions of a shift-by-wire gear shifting transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that may be moved between at least a drive position and a parking lock position, the lever having stable selector lever settings, and a locking device for locking the selector lever in the parking lock position. The locking device comprises an actuator device such that the selector lever may be moved from the drive position into the park position by way of the locking and actuator devices. The actuating device makes it possible that the position of the selector lever of the actuating device matches the actual shifting state of the transmission at all times, and thereby offers reliable optical and tactile feedback for the driver of the actual shifting state of the transmission and may also serve as a mechanical emergency actuator for the parking lock.

Abstract: A shift-lock mechanism includes a lock member to lock or unlock a transmission range-switching member, a solenoid to be operated in response to operation of a brake on a vehicle, and an engagement arm to be engaged releasably with the solenoid. A plunger of the solenoid is movable between a retracted position outside a movement path of the engagement arm, and an engagement position is stretched across the movement path of the engagement arm. When a selector lever is manually moved into a parking range zone, the plunger is moved forwardly from the retracted position to the engagement position to allow a peripheral wall of the plunger to stop movement of the engagement arm. In response to a braking operation, the plunger is moved backwardly from the engagement position to the retracted position to allow stopping of the movement of the engagement arm to be released.

Abstract: A differential assembly includes an axle, a differential, a differential lock assembly, a selector, and a coupler. The differential is coupled with the axle and is configured to facilitate operation of the axle at an axle speed. The differential lock assembly is associated with the differential and is movable between locked and unlocked positions. The selector is movable between lock-initiate and unlock-initiate positions. The coupler is configured to selectively couple the differential lock assembly and the selector. The coupler is configured for operation in deactivated and activated modes. When the coupler is in the deactivated mode, the differential lock assembly and the selector are decoupled from each other. When the coupler is in the activated mode, the differential lock assembly and the selector are coupled together.

Abstract: A single lever control for manually manipulating a hydraulic valve spool of a directional control valve, which comprises an elongate shaft encased within an outer casing and having first and second ends each being fixedly attached to an end cap and a pivot block, respectively. The outer casing comprising a cylindrical cup for housing a biasing element whereupon an applied upward force on the cylindrical cup causes the outer casing to move upwardly to the extent of lifting a latching member pivotally connected to the pivot block and releasing a locking mechanism. The mounting assembly comprising an adapter plate integrally connected to a vertical support member and having a large aperture for receiving a moveable stem associated with the hydraulic valve spool, an arrangement of which allows a valve-actuating stem associated with the pivot block to movably interact with the moveable stem as the single lever control is selectively manipulated.

Abstract: A shift selector apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first operational zone and a second operational zone. The apparatus provides separation between the two operational zones to prevent accidental shifting between ranges.

Abstract: A shifting device for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle with a gear-shift lever, which can be moved in an automatic shift track to select gear-shift positions; with a locking mechanism for blocking the adjusting movements of the gear-shift lever into at least one gear-shift position and/or out of at least one gear-shift position; and with a release button arranged on the gear-shift lever to release the blocking action of the locking mechanism. An increased level of functional reliability can be achieved by establishing a drive connection between the release button and two blocking elements, which are arranged redundantly on the gear-shift lever with the freedom to move up and down, that an actuation of the release button produces a synchronous stroke of the two blocking elements, where each of the blocking elements cooperates with an arresting gate comprising gate sections assigned to the gear-shift positions.

Abstract: A manipulation lever connection structure for a vehicle eliminates a striking sound without losing an adjusting function of an adjustment nut. The manipulation lever connection structure for a vehicle includes an arm for operating a driving changeover device and for connecting a wire which extends from a manipulation lever to the arm. An adjustment bolt is mounted on a distal end of the wire with a joint slidably mounted on the adjustment bolt on an axis thereof. An adjustment nut for supporting the joint is fastened to the adjustment bolt. A pair of side plate portions, respectively, forming elongated holes which allow the joint to pass therethrough is mounted on the arm. The adjustment nut is inserted between the pair of side plate portions with a buffer cover being mounted on the adjustment nut with a clearance formed between the adjustment nut and the respective side plate portions.

Abstract: A shifter incorporates a shape memory alloy wire (SMA actuator) to control movement of a blocker to selectively prevent moving a shift lever (or pawl) out of its park position until predetermined vehicle conditions are met. A mechanical fuse (i.e., flexible overload spring) prevents damage to the SMA actuator where the shift lever (or pawl) can be frictionally stopped from movement despite the contraction of the SMA actuator. The control circuit for the SMA actuator includes a photo-electric switch for stopping electrical power to the SMA actuator when the shift lever is moved from its park position, and the shift lever includes structure for mechanically continuing to hold the switch open while out of park. Further, the control circuit is operably connected to an ignition key retaining mechanism so that the ignition key cannot be removed when the lever is not in its park position.

Abstract: A hand-operated control lever release apparatus for a transmission of a vehicle includes a housing, a manual release lever rotatably mounted in the housing, a brake cam which is rotatably coupled to the housing through the cam shaft and the rotation of which is restrained by the manual release lever, a first cable connecting the manual release lever to a control lever for the transmission and unlocking the control lever in response to rotation of the manual release lever, and a second cable connecting the brake cam with a brake pedal. According to the apparatus, the control lever for the electronic transmission can be manually unlocked in response to rotation of the manual release lever, thereby actuating the movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A gearshift lever for switching a gear range of a vehicle transmission includes a lever body, which accommodates a detent rod, and an operation unit, which is arranged on the lever body. The operation unit is pushed to disengage the detent rod from a detent receptacle formed in a base plate and cancel pivoting restriction of the lever body. The operation unit includes an inclined surface on which the detent rod slides. The inclined surface moves the detent rod in a direction in which the detent rod disengages from the detent receptacle when the operation unit is pushed. The operation unit also includes a coil spring, which biases the operation unit in a direction that is the same as a direction in which the operation unit is pushed to hold the detent rod in contact with the inclined surface, and a mount, which positions the coil spring.

Abstract: To provide a dual-system switch device for a transmission, using conventional components, without newly preparing a new dual-system switch device, a switch device 1 for a transmission comprises: a main inhibitor switch 11 which is connected to a shift cable 32 moving in accordance with the select position of a shift lever 3 operated by a driver, and which detects the select position of the shift lever in accordance with the movement of the shift cable 32; and a sub-inhibitor switch 13 which is connected to the shift cable 32 via a connecting member, and which detects the select position of the shift lever in accordance with the movement of the shift cable.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a shift-position changing mechanism that changes the shift positions of an automatic transmission mounted in a vehicle using a rotational force of an actuator based on a signal corresponding to the state of an operation member, including: a mechanism that generates a rotational force for moving the actuator toward a rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on a rotation stop position of the actuator; a detection unit that detects a rotation amount of the actuator; a control unit that controls the actuator based on the signal and the detected rotation amount; and a learning unit that learns the rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on an amount by which the actuator has been rotated since a control over the actuator executed by the control unit is stopped.

Abstract: An actuating device (1) for a technical system, especially for selecting gears of a shift-by-wire speed-change gear includes an actuating element (2) with at least two shift positions and a locking device (8). The locking device (8) has at least one actuator (7) driven with auxiliary energy and is used to reduce the shifting path of the actuating element (2) or to lock the actuating element (2). The actuator (7) has at least three different shifting states to make it possible to embody the necessary locking functions of the actuating lever with a reduced number of actuators and hence with a comparatively low design effort. Space, weight and costs can thus be saved.

Abstract: A transmission gear selector including a pivotal shift lever with a grip portion and an attachment structure that is operably coupled to an automatic transmission for shifting the transmission. A locking member pivots with the shift lever and is moveably engageable with an engagement surface that defines a park position detent. When the locking member is engaged with the park position detent, the shift lever cannot be moved out of the park position. The mechanical linkage includes a driver-operated member which, when actuated, causes the mechanical linkage assembly to bias the locking member out of engagement with the park position detent. A solenoid disposed within the grip portion is coupled with the mechanical linkage assembly and includes a plunger that can prevent the mechanical linkage from biasing the locking member out of the park position detent. An installation method for a gear selector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes permanent magnet annuli arranged about an armature core for axial movement in a tubular stator upon energization of coils arranged in concentric association with the armature. The stator has portions extending radially inwards of the coils and towards one another beneath each coil, which define a spacing between the coil and the armature. The annuli have a substantially radially magnetized structure and the coils are configured for single phase power input. In one embodiment (FIG. 6), two pairs of spaced annuli are arranged on the core, wherein the axial length of the outermost annuli is half the axial length of the inner annuli.

Abstract: The mechanism for emergency release of a parking lock of an automatic transmission. The mechanism comprises and is connected, in a rotationally fixed manner, with the selector shaft (1) of the shifting device of the transmission. A lever (2), which is positioned facing the transmission housing (3), at the side of the shifting device, can be activated by an unlocking tool (5) that is inserted from the outside through an opening (4) in the transmission housing (3) to release the parking lock.

Abstract: A shift-by-wire shifter system includes a spring biased DTP lever engageable with a shifter lever assembly to move the shifter lever assembly to a park position. A DTP lock assembly secures the DTP lever so that the shifter lever assembly is selectively movable along the shift path during normal operation and releases the DTP lever so that the DTP lever moves the shifter lever assembly to the park position upon the loss of system power. A DTP actuator unlocks the shifter lever assembly and the DPT lock assembly upon the loss of system power so that the DTP lever automatically moves the shifter lever assembly to the park position upon the loss of system power. A power storage device is provided to release power to the DPT actuator upon the loss of system power.

Abstract: A shifter includes an actuator incorporating a shape memory alloy wire to control movement of lever-position-controlling components of a vehicle transmission shift lever. In one arrangement, the actuator controls movement of a cam to prevent moving a pawl out of park position until predetermined vehicle conditions are met. Alternatively, the actuator can be directly attached to the pawl itself for controlling movement of the pawl, or connected to a toggle linkage arrangement for controlling movement of the pawl. In still another arrangement, a magnet arrangement is used to motivate a pawl-blocking member. When necessary, a mechanical fuse is operably connected to the system to prevent damage to the shape memory alloy wire where there is risk of the pawl being frictionally stopped from movement despite the contraction of the shape memory alloy wire actuator.

Abstract: An electrical shifting device for a vehicle includes a shift lever, a slider, and an actuator. The lever is rotatable about perpendicular axes to be able to deflect from a neutral position in anyone of different deflection directions. The lever includes a projection which extends along a first deflection direction. The slider is displaceable along a slider direction perpendicular to the first deflection direction. The slider has stages each engageable with the lever projection to limit the lever deflection in the first deflection direction. Each stage is different to limit the deflection of the lever in the first deflection direction to a different extent as a function of which stage engages the lever projection. The actuator positions the slider along the slider direction such that a selected slider stage engages the lever projection thereby allowing the lever deflection in the first deflection direction to be limited to different extent.

Abstract: A shifter includes an actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, to control movement of a set of strategically placed magnets on lever-position-controlling components of a vehicle transmission shift lever. In one arrangement, the actuator controls movement of a carrier carrying one or more of the magnets, the magnets controlling a position of a blocking member to prevent moving a pawl out of park position until predetermined vehicle conditions are met. Alternatively, the magnets can be carried by a cam, or slide, or wheel.