Electronic drive selector assembly systems and methods

• US 20120001747A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fisker Automotive And Technology Group, LLC (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fisker Automotive, Inc. (Wanxiang Group Corporation)
• Inventors: Fisker, Henrik, George, Todd, Stefanov, Nikola, Klatt, Alexander, Groene, Michael, Krohn, Karl, Allmond, Dave
• Application Number:
  US13/067,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001747A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/456
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/248 with audible signals for providing selection or shift feed back
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/423 Range indicators for automatic transmissions, e.g. showing selected range or mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/12 comprising push button devices

Abstract

A drive selector assembly arranged on a console of a vehicle for selecting a transmission gear from a plurality of transmission gears includes a housing; a gear selector control arranged in the housing, the gear selector control having a plurality of switches for selecting a transmission gear of the plurality of gears of the vehicle; and at least one visual indicator provided on the console, the at least one visual indicator coupled to the gear selector control for providing a visual indication of the selected transmission gear.

Claims

1. A drive selector assembly arranged on a console of a vehicle for selecting a transmission gear from a plurality of transmission gears, the drive selector assembly comprising:

a housing;

a gear selector control supported by the housing, the gear selector control having a plurality of switches for selecting a transmission gear of the plurality of gears of the vehicle; and

at least one visual indicator provided on the console, the at least one visual indicator coupled to the gear selector control for providing a visual indication of the selected transmission gear.

2. The assembly of claim 1, the assembly further comprising:

an audible indicator coupled to the gear selector control for providing an audible indication of the selected transmission gear.

3. The assembly of claim 1, the at least one visual indicator comprising a first light indicator and a second light indicator, wherein the first light indicator is supported by the housing and the second light indicator is remote from the housing.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the second light indicator is on the console of the vehicle.

5. The assembly of claim 4, the at least one visual indicator further comprising a third light indicator, the third light indicator remote from the console of the vehicle.

6. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the first light indicator and the second light indicator are in alignment with each other.

7. The assembly of claim 6, the first light indicator having a longitudinal dimension aligned with a longitudinal dimension of the second light indicator.

8. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the first light indicator and the second light indicator are adjacent each other.

9. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the second indicator is substantially larger than the first light indicator.

10. The assembly of claim 1, the assembly further comprising:

a controller configured to change a state of the at least one visual indicator in response to the selection of the transmission gear.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the change in the state is a change in at least one of color, intensity, brightness, pattern, movement, and frequency.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual indicator is configured to provide a different visual indication for each of the plurality of gears.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual indicator is configured to provide a different visual indication for each of the plurality of switches.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the gear selector control is coupled to a transmission control for changing the transmission gear of the vehicle based on the selected transmission gear.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual indicator comprises at least one LED.

16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual indicator is operated in a predetermined manner corresponding to the selected transmission gear.

17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual indicator is operated in a predetermined manner corresponding to the selected switch.

18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one visual indicator provides a light signal that moves relative to the housing based on the selected transmission gear.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the light signal moves in a first direction when the selected transmission gear corresponds to drive.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the at least one visual indicator provides a light signal moving in a second direction, different from the first direction, when the selected transmission gear corresponds to reverse.

21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the light signal moves in a same direction as a direction of movement of the vehicle while in the selected transmission gear.

22. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the console is arranged to one of a left side or a right side of an operator of the vehicle.

23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, after providing the visual indication of the selected transmission gear, the at least one visual indicator is configured to change the visual indication based on a predetermined event other than a selection of a transmission gear.

24. A method of manufacturing a drive selector assembly arranged on a console of a vehicle for selecting a transmission gear from a plurality of transmission gears, the method comprising:

providing a housing;

supporting a gear selector control by the housing, the gear selector control having a plurality of switches for selecting a transmission gear of the plurality of gears of the vehicle; and

providing at least one visual indicator on the console, the at least one visual indicator coupled to the gear selector control for providing a visual indication of the selected transmission gear.