Illuminated Gear Selection Indicator

• US 20100013621A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomas V. Kazyaka
• Original Assignee: Thomas V. Kazyaka
• Inventors: Kazyaka, Thomas V.
• Application Number:
  US12/173,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20100013621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/456
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/0278 Constructional features of the selector lever, e.g. grip parts, mounting or manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices

Abstract

An improved gear selection indicator principally for use in a motor vehicle having a manually operated shift lever connected to a motor vehicle manual or automatic transmission, and including a shift knob sleeve placed over the vehicle gear shift lever, and an illuminated display disposed in the opening of the sleeve. The display includes a gear shift pattern plate with LEDs disposed around a shift pattern. The lights are controlled by a display circuit board having a microcontroller. A plurality of electro-magnetic position sensors positioned proximate the transmission case are activated by one or more magnets disposed on the gear shift lever. A sensor circuit board in electrical communication with the position sensors and the display board microcontroller detects any activation of the position sensors and sends a signal to the display board microcontroller which maps the data onto the LED display for an illuminated gear selection output.

Claims

1. An improved illuminated gear selection indicator for installation on a gear shift lever connected to transmission linkage housed in an automatic transmission case, comprising:

a shift knob mounting element for placement over the gear shift lever and having an opening at an upper end;

an illuminated display disposed in the opening of said upper end of said shift knob mounting element, said illuminated display including a gear shift pattern indicia plate having a shift pattern displayed thereon, said shift pattern including terminal points indicating a gear selection;

a plurality of light emitting elements, each located proximate a terminal point in said shift pattern for providing an illuminated indication of a gear selection;

a display circuit board having a microcontroller for controlling the output to said light emitting elements;

a plurality of electro-magnetic position sensors;

a magnet operatively connected to the shift lever, such that as the gear shift lever is moved to change gears, said magnet activates one of said electro-magnetic position sensors;

a sensor circuit board in electrical communication with said electro-magnetic position sensors and having a microcontroller for detecting the activation of said electro-magnetic position sensors; and

signal transmission means for sending data from said sensor circuit board to said display circuit board.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shift knob mounting element is a deformable sleeve.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said deformable sleeve is a rubber sock.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said light emitting elements are light emitting diodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electro-magnetic position sensors comprise magnetostrictive position sensors.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electro-magnetic position sensors comprise anisotropic magneto-resistive sensors.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said signal transmission means comprises a data transmission cable connecting said at least one sensor circuit board and said display circuit board.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said signal transmission means comprises a wireless receiver/antenna coupled to said display circuit board, and a transmitter coupled to said sensor circuit board for sending a RF signal to said wireless receiver/antenna when said sensor ring circuit board detects a signal from said position sensors.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a vibrating motor connected to said display circuit board microcontroller, wherein said vibrating motor provides a perceivable vibration when the vehicle gear shift lever is put into the reverse gear position.