JP2005067228A - Shift lever device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shift lever device which can prevent the light of a light source for making a knob emit light from leaking from a housing or the like by a shift operation or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A field-effect transistor 164 is inserted in an electricity carrying circuit for a lamp 144. A Hall IC element 64 which outputs a detection signal to an ECU 70 is connected with the gate terminal of the field-effect transistor 164, and the detection signal is input in the gate terminal of the field-effect transistor 164. When a lever body tilts, the signal which is output from the Hall IC element 64 reaches a low level, and therefore, the field-effect transistor 164 is intercepted between the source and the drain, and the lamp 144 is turned off. Thus, when the lever body tilts, light is prevented from leaking from a shift hole on a housing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&amp;NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shift lever device for operating an automatic transmission of a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An operating device for operating the automatic transmission of the vehicle from the vehicle interior side to change the shift range set in the automatic transmission is provided with a rod-shaped shift lever, which is automatically operated by turning the shift lever. A shift lever device for operating a transmission is generally used.
[0003]
In this type of shift lever device, for example, in addition to a so-called straight-type shift lever device that performs a turning operation (linearly in a plan view) only around the axis with the vehicle lateral direction as an axial direction, There is a so-called gate-type shift lever device in which the shift lever is turned in a zigzag manner around the respective axes in the vehicle left-right direction and the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0004]
In these shift lever devices, a shift pattern that is a pattern of a rotation operation of the shift lever is set in advance. In addition, when a plurality of shift positions are set within the range of this shift pattern and the shift lever is operated to shift to the shift position corresponding to the desired shift range, the shift range of the automatic transmission changes to the shift range corresponding to the shift position. The configuration is changed to
[0005]
On the other hand, a structure has been devised in which the above shift pattern and shift position are displayed on, for example, a knob of a shift lever, thereby making it easy to check the shift pattern and shift position. Further, in Patent Documents 1 and 2 listed below, a light source such as a lamp or LED is provided on the knob to cause the knob to emit light, or the light from the light source provided on the housing is guided to the inside of the knob to emit the knob. This makes it easier to confirm the shift pattern and shift position displayed on the knob.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-50835
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-257236 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of a structure in which a light source is arranged on the back side of the housing and the light from this light source is guided to the inside of the knob, light leaks from the shift hole of the housing through which the shift lever penetrates depending on the inclination angle of the shift lever. For example, there is a possibility that the light leaked in this way illuminates the hand of the passenger who inadvertently grabs the knob, and the passenger feels uncomfortable.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to obtain a shift lever device that can prevent light from a light source for causing a knob to emit light from a housing or the like due to a shift operation or the like in consideration of the above facts.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the shift lever device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a lever body whose proximal end is directly or indirectly connected to the automatic transmission of the vehicle and whose distal end protrudes toward the vehicle interior is provided in a predetermined direction. A shift lever device for changing the shift range of the automatic transmission to a shift range corresponding to the shift position by shifting to reach a predetermined shift position, wherein the lever body can be gripped by a vehicle occupant And a light source that is provided inside or outside the knob and emits light when energized to directly or indirectly emit light inside the knob. Switching means provided in an energization circuit for the light source and configured to energize the light source by inputting a signal of a predetermined level, and the shift operation range. It is detected whether or not the lever body is located at least at a predetermined position in the inside, and a signal of a level corresponding to the detection result is directly or indirectly sent to both the control means and the switch means of the automatic transmission. And a position detecting means for outputting to the position.
[0010]
According to the shift lever device of the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the vehicle occupant grips the knob attached to the tip of the lever main body and moves the lever main body in a predetermined shift operation direction. When the lever main body reaches the shift position, the automatic transmission is changed to a shift range corresponding to the shift position.
[0011]
In the shift lever device according to the present invention, a light source is provided inside or outside the knob, and when the light source emits light, the inside of the knob emits light. Since the knob can transmit light, the light transmitted through the knob can be visually recognized from the outside. Therefore, if an operation pattern for shift operation is formed on the knob, light is transmitted through the knob and the tip of the shift lever emits light, so that even if the vehicle interior is dark, the operation pattern formed on the transmission part It can be clearly recognized.
[0012]
On the other hand, in the shift lever device according to the present invention, when the lever main body reaches at least a predetermined position within the shift operation range, the lever main body is detected by the position detecting means. The position detection means outputs a signal of a predetermined level when the lever body reaches at least a predetermined position. This signal is input to the control means for controlling the automatic transmission, and is used for determining the change of the shift range.
[0013]
Further, the signal output from the position detection means is input to the switch means. When the level of the input signal is a predetermined level, the switch means causes the light source to emit light in an energized state. On the other hand, if the level of the signal input to the switch means is not a predetermined level, the light source is turned off, and the light emission of the light source is stopped.
[0014]
Therefore, for example, when a light source is provided in the housing of the shift lever device and the light from this light source is guided into the knob, the lever main body is at a position where light leaks from a shift hole through which the lever main body passes. By setting the signal output from the position detection means to be less than a predetermined level when the position detection means detects that it has been positioned, light emission from the light source can be stopped in a state where light leakage may occur. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems due to leakage.
[0015]
Moreover, in the shift lever device according to the present invention, the signal input to the light source switch means and the signal input to the control means of the automatic transmission are output from the same position detection means. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately detect the position of the shift lever in order to operate the switch means, the structure can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<Configuration of First Embodiment>
FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the structure of the shift lever device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the structure of the main part of the shift lever device 10. It is shown by the figure. As shown in FIG. 3, the shift lever device 10 includes a lower housing 14 constituting a housing 12. The lower housing 14 is provided, for example, at a predetermined position on the front side between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat of the vehicle, for example, below the front side of the console box or on the back side of the instrument panel. Yes.
[0017]
The lower housing 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a substantially rectangular cross section including a pair of side walls 16 facing each other substantially along the vehicle left-right direction and a pair of side walls 18 facing each other substantially along the vehicle front-rear direction. . The upper open end of the lower housing 14 in FIG. 3 is closed by the upper housing 20. The upper surface of the upper housing 20 is exposed to the vehicle interior side, and the upper housing 20 closes the opening end of the lower housing 14 to conceal various members inside the lower housing 14 and Intrusion is prevented or suppressed.
[0018]
A lever main body 24 that constitutes the shift lever 22 is provided inside the lower housing 14. The lever body 24 includes a retainer 26. The retainer 26 is formed in an inverted triangular shape with the lower end being the top in a front view. The upper end portion is formed with a substantially cylindrical tube portion 28 penetrating along the opposing direction of the side wall 16.
[0019]
The cylindrical portion 28 is connected substantially integrally with a shaft 30 extending in the axial direction along the opposing direction of the side wall 16. The shaft 30 penetrates the side walls 16 at both axial ends, and is supported by the side walls 16. Thereby, the retainer 26 and the shaft 30 are pivotally supported around the axis of the shaft 30 so as to be rotatable.
[0020]
A sensor arm 32 is integrally fixed to one axial end of the shaft 30 with a screw or the like. The sensor arm 32 is formed with a pair of pressing pieces 34 having a thickness direction along the rotational circumferential direction of the shaft 30. These pressing pieces 34 enter the inside of a sensor case 35 that is integrally attached to the side wall 16 that supports the end of the shaft 30 on the side where the sensor arm 32 is provided.
[0021]
Inside the sensor case 35, one to a plurality of Hall IC elements as magnetic sensors constituting position detection means (shift direction position detection means) and one to one constituting position detection means together with the Hall IC elements as magnetic sensors. A plurality of magnets (all not shown are not shown) are accommodated. The magnet accommodated in the sensor case 35 is directly or indirectly engaged with the pressing piece 34, and when the pressing piece 34 presses the magnet as the shaft 30 rotates about its axis, The magnet is moved by the pressing force from the pressing piece 34.
[0022]
When the Hall IC element housed in the sensor case 35 detects the magnetic fluctuation caused by the movement of the magnet, a signal from the Hall IC element is input to the ECU 68 on the PC board 62 described later, and the ECU 68 uses the shaft 30, As a result, it is configured to detect that the retainer 26 has rotated around the axis of the shaft 30.
[0023]
The lever body 24 includes a body 36. The body 36 includes a block-like base 38. A pair of leg plates 40 extend from the lower end of the base 38. Both leg plates 40 are formed so as to be in the thickness direction along the facing direction of the side wall 18 and to face each other along the facing direction of the side wall 18.
[0024]
The distance between the leg plates 40 is slightly larger than the thickness dimension of the retainer 26 described above, and the retainer 26 is disposed between the leg plates 40. At the lower end portions of these leg plates 40, through holes 42 penetrating along the thickness direction of the respective leg plates 40 are formed. Corresponding to these through holes 42, through holes 44 are formed in the lower end portion of the retainer 26. A shaft 46 is formed in the through hole 42, 44 in the axial direction along the opposing direction of the side wall 18, and the body 36 can rotate relative to the retainer 26 around the axis of the shaft 46. Is pivotally supported.
[0025]
Further, a sensor case 48 is disposed inside the lower housing 14 and on the side opposite to the other of the one leg plate 40. A shaft 50 is formed at the upper end of the sensor case 48 so as to protrude toward the body 36, and a sensor link 52 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable about an axis whose axial direction is the opposite direction of the side wall 18.
[0026]
An engaging projection 54 is formed on one side wall corresponding to the sensor link 52 so as to protrude toward the sensor case 48. The engaging protrusion 54 is mechanically connected to the sensor link 52, and when the body 36 rotates around the shaft 46, the engaging protrusion 54 presses the sensor link 52 and rotates around the shaft 50. ing.
[0027]
A slider 56 is disposed on the side opposite to the sensor case 48 via the sensor link 52. The slider 56 is held in the sensor case 48 so as to be slidable along the opposing direction of the side wall 16, and an engagement pin (not shown) protruding from the slider 56 passes through the sensor case 48 and rotates the sensor link 52. It engages in the state which entered the long hole 58 formed in the radial direction front end side.
[0028]
The slider 56 has a structure that slides in the opposite direction of the side wall 16 when the engagement pin is pressed against the inner wall of the long hole 58 when the sensor link 52 rotates around the axis of the shaft 50. Further, a magnet (permanent magnet) 60 constituting a position detecting means (select direction position detecting means) is fixed to the slider 56. The magnet 60 is, for example, an Sr ferrite magnet, and forms a predetermined magnetic field around it. Further, since the magnet 60 is fixed to the slider 56, the magnet 60 slides integrally with the slider 56. Therefore, when the magnet 60 slides in this way, the magnetic field formed around the magnet 60 also slides.
[0029]
Further, a PC board 62 is attached to the sensor case 48 on the opposite side of the sensor case 48 via the slider 56. On the PC board 62, a pair of Hall IC elements 64 and 66 (not shown in FIG. 3, refer to FIG. 4) connected to an ECU 68 (not shown) are arranged side by side in the facing direction of the side wall 16. These Hall IC elements 64 and 66 detect fluctuations in the magnetic field formed by the magnet 60 (more specifically, changes in the strength of magnetism passing through the Hall elements constituting the Hall IC elements 64 and 66), An electric signal corresponding to the fluctuation of the magnetic field is output.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 6, the Hall IC elements 64 and 66 are connected to an ECU 70 as a control unit of the automatic transmission via an ECU 68 of the PC board 62. The ECU 68 determines which of the Hall IC elements 64 and 66 is opposed to the magnet 60 based on the level of the signal output from each of the Hall IC elements 64 and 66, that is, the lever member 80 described later is in the S position in FIG. It is determined which of the side and the N position side penetrates the shift hole 82. The ECU 70 changes the shift range of the automatic transmission based on the determination result in the ECU 68.
[0031]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a bottomed circular hole 78 is formed on the upper surface of the base portion 38 of the body 36, and the base end portion of the rod-shaped lever member 80 constituting the shift lever 22 is inserted. It is fixed integrally. The lever member 80 extends to the outside of the upper housing 20 through a substantially “reverse h” -shaped shift hole 82 formed in the upper housing 20 at a middle portion in the longitudinal direction thereof. Further, a knob 90 is attached to the lever member 80 extending to the outside of the upper housing 20.
[0032]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the knob 90 includes a knob body 92 as light guiding means. The knob main body 92 includes a base portion 94 formed of a synthetic resin material that is substantially transparent or colored to the extent that light can be transmitted. A through hole 96 is formed in the base portion 94, and the distal end side of the lever member 80 is inserted. A light guide 98 made of a synthetic resin material that is substantially transparent or colored to the extent that light can be transmitted is formed on the upper surface of the base 94.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 3, the light guide 98 is basically formed in a cylindrical shape substantially coaxial with the through hole 96. The light guide 98 has three slits 100 formed around the axial center of the through hole 96 at predetermined angles. These slits 100 are opened at the inner peripheral portion, the outer peripheral portion, and the upper end portion of the light guide 98. By forming these slits 100, the light guide 98 substantially becomes the axis of the through hole 96. It is divided into three around.
[0034]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the knob 90 includes a knob body 102 as a covering portion. The knob body 102 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by a synthetic resin material that is colored so as not to transmit light. The inner peripheral shape of the knob body 102 corresponds to the outer peripheral shape of the light guide 98, and the knob body 102 is attached to the light guide 98 so that the light guide 98 is inserted into the knob body 102 from above the knob body 92. The outer periphery of the light guide 98 is covered with the knob body 102.
[0035]
Furthermore, an internal thread portion 104 formed of a metal in a substantially cylindrical shape is provided inside the knob body 102. A plurality of connecting plates 106 are provided around the axial center of the female screw portion 104 at predetermined angles between the outer peripheral portion of the female screw portion 104 and the inner peripheral portion of the knob body 102, and the knob body 102 and the female screw are connected by the connecting plate 106. The part 104 is integrally connected. The connecting plate 106 has a thickness direction along the direction around the axis of the female screw portion 104, and the thickness dimension is slightly smaller than the inner width dimension of the slit 100.
[0036]
These connecting plates 106 are formed so as to correspond to the slits 100, and when the light guide 98 is inserted inside the knob body 102, the female screw portion 104 is coaxially inserted inside the light guide 98. The connection plate 106 corresponding to each slit 100 enters. As a result, the relative displacement of the knob body 102 relative to the knob body 92 along the direction around the axis of the light guide 98 and the female thread portion 104 is restricted.
[0037]
With the knob body 102 mounted on the knob body 92 as described above, the lever member 80 is inserted from below the base portion 94 of the knob body 92, and the male screw formed at the tip of the lever member 80 becomes the female screw of the female screw portion 104. The knob 90 is connected to the lever member 80 by screwing.
[0038]
On the other hand, on the upper side of the female screw portion 104, a guide lens 108 as a transmission portion is disposed inside the knob body 102. The guide lens 108 is formed of a synthetic resin material that is substantially transparent or colored to the extent that light can be transmitted, like the light guide 98 described above. The outer peripheral shape of the guide lens 108 corresponds to the outer peripheral shape of the knob body 102, and the guide lens 108 is integrally fixed to the inner peripheral portion of the knob body 102 by an adhesive applied to the outer peripheral portion of the guide lens 108. ing.
[0039]
Further, an indicator plate 110 as a transmission part is provided on the guide lens 108. The indicator plate 110 is basically formed of a substantially transparent plate material, and a shift range corresponding to the shape of the shift hole 82 formed in the upper housing 20 and a shift range on the side of the shift pattern portion. Except for the mark part which means, it is colored with a color that does not transmit light. Therefore, even when light is uniformly irradiated from the lower side of the indicator plate 110, the light is transmitted only through the shift pattern portion and the mark portion.
[0040]
Further, an indicator lens 112 as a transmission part is provided on the indicator plate 110. Like the guide lens 108, the indicator lens 112 is formed of a synthetic resin material that is substantially transparent or colored to the extent that light can be transmitted. Although the outer peripheral shape of the indicator lens 112 is substantially similar to the indicator plate 110, it is slightly larger than the indicator plate 110, and the outer peripheral shape of the indicator lens 112 is substantially the same as the outer peripheral shape at the upper end of the knob body 102. It has become.
[0041]
The indicator lens 112, the indicator plate 110, and the guide lens 108 are integrally formed by in-mold molding, and the lower surface (the surface on the indicator plate 110 side) of the indicator lens 112 positioned outside the outer peripheral portion of the indicator plate 110. The knob body 102 is integrally fixed to the upper end portion by an adhesive applied to the knob body 102.
[0042]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, on the side of the lever member 80, a cylindrical pin accommodating portion 120 is formed on the base portion 38 of the body 36. The pin accommodating portion 120 is open at the upper end of FIG. 3, and the compression coil spring 122 and the pin 124 are accommodated therein. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a gate member 126 is disposed inside the lower housing 14 and on the back side of the upper housing 20. A return groove (not shown) is formed on the back surface of the gate member 126.
[0043]
The return groove is a bottomed groove having an upper bottom, and has substantially the same “reverse h” shape as the shift hole 82 in plan view (back view). The upper end of the pin 124 enters the return groove with the compression coil spring 122 compressed from above, and is pressed against the upper bottom of the return groove by the urging force of the compression coil spring 122. Further, the upper bottom of the return groove is appropriately inclined, and the same position as the return position in the return groove returns most when the lever body 24 is positioned at the return position S in the shift hole 82 shown in FIG. The groove is deep.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 1, the gate member 126 has a shift hole 128 having substantially the same shape as the shift hole 82, and the lever member 80 passes therethrough. Further, the gate member 126 is provided with a pair of gate plates 130. The gate plates 130 are respectively provided on both ends of the gate member 126 along the opposing direction of the side wall 18, and are formed on the upper surface of the gate member 126 so that a predetermined gap is formed between the gate plate 130 and the upper surface of the gate member 126. The gate member 126 is integrally formed in a state of being separated from the gate member 126.
[0045]
A cover plate 132 is disposed on the upper surface of the gate member 126. The cover plate 132 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and both end sides of the cover plate 132 along the facing direction of the side wall 18 enter between the upper surface of the gate member 126 and the gate plate 130. As a result, the cover plate 132 is basically restricted in displacement other than sliding in the direction along the opposing direction of the side wall 16.
[0046]
Further, a long hole 134 is formed in the cover plate 132 corresponding to the shift hole 128 of the gate member 126 described above, and the lever member 80 passes therethrough. When the retainer 26 and the body 36 rotate around the axis of the shaft 30, the lever member 80 moves inside the long hole 134 along the longitudinal direction of the long hole 134.
[0047]
On the other hand, when the body 36 rotates around the axis of the shaft 46, the lever member 80 presses the inner peripheral portion of the elongated hole 134 to press the cover plate 132, and the cover plate 132 is moved along the direction in which the side wall 16 faces. It is structured to slide.
[0048]
Further, a substantially triangular or substantially fan-shaped cover plate 136 is disposed on the back surface of the cover plate 132 (between the cover plate 132 and the upper surface of the gate member 126). In the cover plate 136, a pin (not shown) protruding from the back surface of the cover plate 132 is fitted into a through hole 138 formed in the corner portion thereof. A cover plate 136 is rotatably supported around an axis whose thickness direction is an axial direction.
[0049]
A circular hole 140 is formed in the cover plate 136. The circular hole 140 is formed to correspond to the long hole 134 and the shift hole 128 described above, and the lever member 80 passes therethrough.
[0050]
Further, a lamp house 142 is formed in the upper housing 20 described above, and a lamp (bulb) 144 that is turned on when energized is housed inside the lamp house 142.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 6, one end of the lamp 144 is directly or indirectly connected to a battery 162 mounted on the vehicle, and the other end is grounded. Further, a field effect transistor 164 serving as a switching unit is disposed between the lamp 144 and the battery 162. The field effect transistor 164 has a source terminal connected to the battery 162 and a drain terminal connected to the lamp 144.
[0052]
The gate terminal of the field effect transistor 164 is connected to the ECU 68 and ECU 70 described above. If the signal (voltage) output from the Hall IC element 64 is at a high level, the ECU 68 or the ECU 70 is connected to the source of the field effect transistor 164. When the drain-to-drain is energized and the signal (voltage) output from the Hall IC element 64 is at a low level, the ECU 68 or the ECU 70 interrupts the source-drain energization of the field effect transistor 164.
[0053]
Further, a square bar-shaped light guide 146 that is appropriately bent is accommodated inside the lamp house 142. A part of the light guide 146 is opposed to the lamp 144, and one end face of the light guide 146 extends in the longitudinal direction along the direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lever member 80. Turn to the bottom.
[0054]
<Operation and Effect of First Embodiment>
Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.
[0055]
In the present shift lever device 10, from the state where the lever main body 24 penetrates the shift hole 82 at the position S in FIG. 4, the knob 90 is gripped and the shift lever 22 is moved to the right in FIG. 4 (arrow R in FIG. 4). The body 36 rotates relative to the retainer 26 around the shaft 46. As a result, the lever member 80 passes through the shift hole 82 at the position N in FIG. Thus, when the body 36 rotates around the shaft 46 with respect to the retainer 26, the engaging protrusion 54 presses the sensor link 52 and rotates the sensor link 52 around the shaft 50.
[0056]
When the sensor link 52 is rotated, the slider 56 and thus the magnet 60 slide. As the magnet 60 slides, the position of the magnet 60 with respect to the PC board 62 changes, and thereby, the opposing state between the Hall IC element 64 and the magnet that has been opposed to the magnet 60 is released, and until then. The Hall IC element 66 that has not faced the magnet 60 faces the magnet 60. As a result, the signal output from the Hall IC element 64 is at the Low level, and the signal output from the Hall IC element 66 is at the High level.
[0057]
Next, when the knob 90 is pressed upward in FIG. 4 (in the direction of arrow U in FIG. 4) from this state, the body 36 and the retainer 26 are rotated around the shaft 30. Accordingly, when the lever member 80 passes through the shift hole 82 at the D position in FIG. 4 (that is, when the lever member 80 reaches a predetermined D position among a plurality of shift positions), the lever member 80 is accommodated in the sensor case 35. The magnet is moved by being pressed by the pressing piece 34, the Hall IC element housed inside the sensor case 35 detects the change in the magnetic field that changes in accordance with the movement of the magnet, and a signal corresponding to the change in the magnetic field is generated. Input to the ECU 68 of the PC board 62.
[0058]
On the other hand, as described above, after the shift lever 22 is rotated from the S position to the N position, when the knob 90 is pressed downward in the direction of FIG. 4 (in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 4), the body 36 and the retainer 26 are moved to the shaft 30. Rotate around. Accordingly, when the lever member 80 passes through the shift hole 82 at the R position in FIG. 4 (that is, when the lever member 80 reaches a predetermined R position among the plurality of shift positions), the lever member 80 is accommodated in the sensor case 35. The magnet is moved by being pressed by the pressing piece 34, the Hall IC element housed inside the sensor case 35 detects the change in the magnetic field that changes in accordance with the movement of the magnet, and a signal corresponding to the change in the magnetic field is generated. Input to the ECU 68 of the PC board 62.
[0059]
On the other hand, when the lever 90 is pushed upward in FIG. 4 (in the direction of arrow U in FIG. 4) from the state in which the lever main body 24 penetrates the shift hole 82 at the position S in FIG. 4, the body 36 and the retainer 26 are moved. It rotates around the shaft 30. Accordingly, when the lever member 80 passes through the shift hole 82 at the position B in FIG. 4 (that is, when the lever member 80 reaches a predetermined position B among the plurality of shift positions), the lever member 80 is accommodated in the sensor case 35. The magnet is moved by being pressed by the pressing piece 34, the Hall IC element housed inside the sensor case 35 detects the change in the magnetic field that changes in accordance with the movement of the magnet, and a signal corresponding to the change in the magnetic field is generated. Input to the ECU 68 of the PC board 62.
[0060]
As described above, depending on whether the lever main body 24 passes through the shift hole 82 at the S position, the D position, the R position, or the B position, the Hall IC elements 64 and 66 and the Hall IC elements in the sensor case 35 are determined. The level of at least one of the signals from is different. Based on the change in the level of these signals, the ECU 68 of the PC board 62 determines whether the lever member 80 (that is, the shift lever 22) is located at the S position, the D position, the R position, or the B position. The
[0061]
Further, the ECU 68 outputs a signal based on the determination result of the position of the lever member 80. The signal output by the ECU 68, that is, the determination result of the position of the lever member 80 is input to the ECU 70 as a signal.
[0062]
In the ECU 70, if the lever member 80 is in the D position based on a signal from the ECU 68, the shift range is changed to the drive range (D range) so that the vehicle can move forward. If the lever member 80 is in the R position, the shift range is changed to the reverse range (R range) so that the vehicle can move backward. Furthermore, if the position of the lever member 80 is the B position, the shift range is changed to the engine brake (B range), and the shift range is changed to a shift range that frequently uses gears having a relatively low gear ratio. If the gear range with a relatively high gear ratio is used for traveling and the gear range with such a low gear ratio is changed to a shift range that uses a large number of gears, a so-called engine brake can be achieved.
[0063]
Further, as described above, after the lever member 80 (shift lever 22) is moved from the S position to the D position, the R position, or the B position, when the pressing force applied to the knob 90 is released, the back surface of the gate member 126 The pin 124 pressed against the upper bottom of the gate groove formed by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 122 causes the gate groove to be the most due to the reaction force received from the top bottom of the gate groove according to the biasing force of the compression coil spring 122. It is moved to the S position which is a deep part. As a result, the lever member 80 (shift lever 22) returns to the S position.
[0064]
As described above, the shift lever device 10 is basically maintained with the lever member 80 (shift lever 22) penetrating the shift hole 82 at the S position so that the shift range is changed to a desired shift range. The lever member 80 (shift lever 22) is rotated to the corresponding shift position (D position, R position, or B position). After the shift range is changed, the lever member 80 (shift lever 22) returns to the S position, and the previous shift range is maintained until the lever member 80 (shift lever 22) is rotated to another shift position. .
[0065]
On the other hand, when a switch operation is performed in the vehicle interior to turn on the vehicle headlights or vehicle width lights at night or the like, the lamp 144 is turned on in conjunction with this. In a state where the lever main body 24 passes through the shift hole 82 at the N position, the lower surface of the base portion 94 and one end in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 146 are opposed to each other through the notch 154. Therefore, in this state, the light from the lamp 144 is guided by the light guide 146 and emitted from one end in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 146.
[0066]
Light emitted from one end in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 146 passes through the notch 154 and enters the lower end of the base 94. The light incident on the lower end of the base 94 passes through the light guide 98 from the base 94 and is emitted from the upper surface of the light guide 98. Light emitted from the upper surface of the light guide 98 enters the guide lens 108, passes through the indicator plate 110 and the indicator lens 112, and exits the knob 90.
[0067]
As described above, the indicator plate 110 has a structure that allows light to pass through only the shift pattern portion corresponding to the shape of the shift hole 82 and the mark portion indicating the shift range at the side of the shift pattern portion. The upper end (tip) of the knob 90 emits light corresponding to the shapes of the shift pattern portion and the mark portion. Therefore, by visually recognizing the upper surface of the knob 90, the shift pattern can be confirmed even when the vehicle interior is dark, such as at night.
[0068]
On the other hand, as described above, when the lever member 80 (shift lever 22) is rotated from the S position to the N position, the opposing state of the magnet 60 and the Hall IC element 64 is released, and instead, the magnet 60 and the Hall IC. The element 66 is in a facing state. As described above, in this state, the signal output from the Hall IC element 64 is at a low level. As shown in FIG. 6, the Hall IC element 64 is connected to the ECU 68 and further connected to the ECU 70 via the ECU 68. The ECU 68 and the ECU 70 are connected to the gate of the field effect transistor 164.
[0069]
For this reason, the signal which has become the Low level is input to the gate of the field effect transistor 164. Thus, when the signal input to the gate of the field effect transistor 164 changes from the High level to the Low level, the source-drain of the field effect transistor 164 is cut off, and the energization to the lamp 144 is stopped.
As a result, the lamp 144 is turned off and light emission on the upper surface of the knob 90 is stopped.
[0070]
In this way, light emission from the upper surface of the knob 90 is intentionally stopped, so that no light leaks from the shift hole 82, and the light of the passenger leaking from the shift hole 82 grips the knob 90. Will not illuminate.
[0071]
Further, in the present shift lever device 10, since the lamp 144, which is a light source, is not disposed inside the knob 90, and the light guides 98 and 146 guide light to the indicator lens 112, the structure of the knob 90 can be simplified. The knob 90 can be downsized. Moreover, since the light guide 98 is a part of the structure of the knob 90, the structure of the knob 90 can be simplified in this sense.
[0072]
Further, as described above, the Hall IC element 64 for outputting a signal to the gate of the field effect transistor 164 originally outputs a signal to the ECU 70 which is a control means of the automatic transmission via the ECU 68. Used. Accordingly, the position detecting means of the lever member 80 only for controlling the energization of the lamp 144 is substantially unnecessary, so that the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the shift lever device according to the present invention, light is guided from the light source provided outside the knob to the inside of the knob, so that it is not necessary to provide illumination means such as a light bulb or LED inside the knob. Light can be emitted from the inside of the knob. Thereby, the shift pattern and the shift position can be easily confirmed without complicating the structure of the knob or increasing the size.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a shift lever device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the knob of the shift lever device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall configuration of the shift lever device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a shift pattern and a shift position of the shift lever device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the knob of the shift lever device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a composite diagram of a schematic block diagram and a circuit diagram showing the relationship between energization control for the light source and position detection means according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Shift lever device
12 Housing
24 Lever body
64 Hall IC elements (position detection means)
90 knobs
144 Lamp (light source)
164 Field effect transistor (switch means)

Claims (1)

The base end side is connected directly or indirectly to the automatic transmission of the vehicle, and the lever body whose front end side protrudes toward the vehicle interior side is shifted in a predetermined direction to reach a predetermined shift position. A shift lever device for changing a shift range of an automatic transmission to a shift range corresponding to the shift position,
A knob that can be gripped by a vehicle occupant and is attached to the tip of the lever body, and can transmit light from the inside to the outside,
A light source that is provided inside or outside the knob, and emits light when energized to directly or indirectly emit light inside the knob;
A switch means provided in an energization circuit for the light source, and which makes the light source energized by inputting a signal of a predetermined level;
It is detected whether or not the lever main body is positioned at least at a predetermined position within the shift operation range, and a level signal corresponding to the detection result is sent to both the control means and the switch means of the automatic transmission. And a position detecting means for directly or indirectly outputting the shift lever device.

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