JP2010105622A - Operation position detection apparatus and shift operation position detection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operation position detection apparatus and a shift operation position detection apparatus, capable of enhancing detection precision in detecting the operation position of operation means. <P>SOLUTION: At a connection part between a shift lever 2 and a sensor connection portion 54, a clearance is formed to absorb variations between components when a shift lever 2 is set in a neutral position. When the shift lever 2 is operated in each range position, energizing members 30, 36, 43 for pressing a magnet 15 from the opposite direction in response to lever operation are first deflected and subsequently energizing members 56-58 for absorbing an over-stroke with heavy load deflect to absorb the over-stroke of the shift lever 2. Thus, variations between components generated when the shift lever 2 is operated at an N, R or D position are absorbed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation position detection device and a shift operation position detection device that detect an operation position of an operation means based on a positional relationship between a detection unit and a detected unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in vehicles such as automobiles, automatic vehicles that travel by an automatic transmission that automatically switches the gear speed ratio of the vehicle according to the vehicle speed, the engine speed, and the like are widely used. This type of automatic vehicle is equipped with a shift lever (select lever) that is operated when switching the range of the automatic transmission at the driver's seat, and can be operated mainly in the parking range, neutral range, return range, drive range, etc. It has become. The shift lever is provided with a lever position detecting device for detecting the operation range position of the lever, and the gear position of the automatic transmission is switched by detecting the range position with this detecting device. In addition, this kind of detection apparatus is disclosed by patent document 1 etc., for example.

FIG. 16 shows a shift lever device 81 having, for example, a shift-by-wire structure. In the housing 82 of the shift lever device 81, the shift lever 83 rotates as a fulcrum around the center of the lever as an operation point of the device 81. It is assembled in a movable (swingable) state. The shift lever device 81 is provided with a lever position detection device 85 that detects the operation range position of the shift lever 83. When the lever position detection device 85 is magnetic, a magnet 87 is attached to the tip of the shift lever 83 via a ball joint 86. A plurality of magnetic sensors 88 for detecting a magnetic field generated from the magnet 87 are attached to a position facing the magnet 87 on the inner surface of the housing 82. When the shift lever 83 is turned, the position of the magnet 87 moving in the plane direction by the ball joint 86 is determined by the magnetic sensor 88, and the range position of the shift lever 83 is determined.
JP 2004-138235 A

  However, in some cases, various parts related to the shift lever device 81 may vary in manufacturing, or may not be assembled to the specified position when assembling the parts. It is assumed that variations occur. At this time, due to this type of variation, for example, even when the shift lever 83 is fully depressed during the shift operation, the shift amount of the shift lever 83 is insufficient and the magnet 87 does not reach the magnetic sensor 88. Or, the magnet 87 may overrun the magnetic sensor 88 and pass through the magnetic sensor 88. In such a case, since the magnet 87 does not take a normal position with respect to the magnetic sensor 88, this leads to a problem that the range position cannot be detected accurately.

  By the way, in this type of shift lever device 81, there is a limit to prevent the variation in manufacturing of various parts and the variation in assembling of the parts from occurring due to the manufacturing accuracy and the assembling accuracy. It is the present condition that it cannot be denied that it is a thing to do. Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of a technology that can ensure range position detection accuracy (sensing accuracy) even when this type of component variation occurs, that is, a technology that has high range position detection accuracy that allows this type of variation.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an operation position detection device and a shift operation position detection device that can increase the detection accuracy when detecting the operation position of the operation means.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the operation means is provided with a first detection body as one of the detection unit and the detected part, and the support means for movably supporting the operation means is provided with the above-described two methods. On the other hand, a second detection body is provided, and an operation position detection device that detects the operation position of the operation means based on the detection value of the detection section that changes according to the positional relationship between the two detection bodies when the operation means is operated. In the above, the operation means and the first detection body are indirectly connected by providing a moving member that is movable relative to the first detection body between the operation means and the first detection body. At the same time, a gap that absorbs the variation between components is formed in the connecting portion between the operating means and the moving member, and further, when the operating means is operated, the first detection body is pushed from the opposite direction of the operation. The return biasing member bends first Subsequently, the moving member is provided between the first detecting body and the moving member, and the variation absorbing urging member having a higher load than the returning urging member is bent to stop the first detecting body. The gist of the present invention is to provide a variation absorbing mechanism that absorbs variations between components by moving the.

  According to this configuration, when the operating means is positioned at the initial position before the operation, the gap provided between the operating means and the moving member is used as a dispersion absorbing mechanism, and the initial dispersion is absorbed. Further, when the operating means is operated, the first detection body that is constantly pressed by the return biasing member bends and follows the movement of the operating means, and then moves with the first detection body. A variation absorbing mechanism is used when the high load variation absorbing biasing member provided between the members is bent, and variations during operation are absorbed. For this reason, even if there is a variation between the operation means and its surrounding parts, the first detection body is positioned in a suitable position without being affected by this, so the operation position of the operation means is detected. In this case, the detection accuracy can be increased.

  In the present invention, the operation means can be operated along a plurality of operation directions, and the variation absorbing mechanism detects the operation position of the operation means operable in a plurality of operation directions. The gist is that a plurality is provided according to the number.

According to this configuration, it is possible to detect the operation position of the operation means that can be operated along a plurality of operation directions (operation axes).
In the present invention, when a plurality of the variation absorbing mechanisms are provided along each operation direction, an attachment state in which the case component of the variation absorbing mechanism located on the upper side is housed inside the case component of the variation absorbing mechanism located on the lower side is provided. The gist is to take.

  According to this configuration, the operation means has a structure that can be operated in the multi-axis direction, and even when each of these variation absorbing mechanisms is provided, various components are shared between the two. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced as much as possible.

The gist of the present invention is that the connecting portion also serves as conversion means for converting an operation direction of the operation means into an operation force for moving the first detection body in a plane direction.
According to this configuration, since the connecting portion also has the function of the converting means, it is not necessary to prepare a component for each of these functions, and the number of components can be further reduced.

  The gist of the present invention is that the operating means is a momentary type in which the operating means is located at a steady position when not being operated, and is automatically moved to the original steady position after being operated from the steady position to another position. And

According to this configuration, after the operation means is operated, the operation means automatically returns to the original steady position (neutral position), so that no separate operation is required when returning the operation means to the original position.
In the present invention, the shift operation unit that is operated when switching the gear position of the transmission of the vehicle is provided with a first detection body as one of the detection unit and the detected unit, and the support unit that movably supports the shift operation unit. The second operation body is provided as the other of the two persons described above, and the operation of the shift operation unit is performed according to the detection value of the detection unit that changes according to the positional relationship between the two detection bodies when the shift operation unit is operated. In the shift operation position detection device that detects a position, a shift member that is relatively movable with respect to the first detection body is provided between the shift operation unit and the first detection body. While indirectly connecting the first detection body, while forming a gap to absorb the variation between components in the connecting portion between the shift operation portion and the moving member, and further when the shift operation portion is operated, Of the operation A return biasing member that pushes the first detection body from the opposite direction is bent first, and is subsequently provided between the first detection body and the moving member and has a higher load than the return biasing member. The gist of the present invention is to provide a variation absorbing mechanism that absorbs variations between components by the movement of the moving member although the variation absorbing biasing member is bent and the first detection body stops.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the detection accuracy when detecting the operation position of the operation means.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an operation position detection device and a shift operation position detection device embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic vehicle is provided with a shifter device 1 as a device operated when switching the operation state of an automatic transmission (transmission). The shifter device 1 of this example has a shift-by-wire structure in which a lever-operated shift lever 2 that is an operation part at the time of range position switching is electrically connected to an automatic transmission instead of mechanically. The shifter device 1 is provided with a device case 3 that houses a group of components of the shifter device 1. The shifter device 1 is attached to the vehicle by assembling the device case 3 to the vehicle body with screws or the like. The shift lever 2 constitutes an operation means and a shift operation portion, and the device case 3 corresponds to a support means.

  A substantially rod-shaped shift lever 2 is attached to the main body 4 of the device case 3 so as to be rotatable with respect to the device case 3 along the vehicle longitudinal direction and the vehicle width direction. The upper panel 5 of the device case 3 is formed with a guide hole 6 having a shape in which the katakana “G” is reversed left and right, and the shift lever 2 is drawn out of the device case 3 from the guide hole 6. The guide hole 6 is connected to a select hole 7 extending in the left-right direction of the case 3 (hereinafter referred to as a select direction) and a right end of the select hole 7 and is shifted in the depth direction of the case 3 (hereinafter referred to as a shift direction). It consists of holes 8.

  The shift lever 2 takes four positions along the hole path of the guide hole 6, the hole end of the select hole 7 is set to the neutral position, and the position where the select hole 7 and the shift hole 8 intersect is the neutral position (N position). 1, one end (upper in FIG. 1) of the shift hole 8 is set to the reverse position (R position), and the other end (lower in FIG. 1) of the shift hole 8 is the drive position (D position). Is set to The shift lever 2 is always in the neutral position, and when the hand is released from the shift lever 2 after being operated to the R, N, and D positions, the shift lever 2 automatically returns to the neutral position. It takes a momentary expression. Note that the neutral position corresponds to the steady position.

  In addition, a connecting member 9 that supports the shift lever 2 so as to be operable in both the shift direction and the select direction is provided inside the case 3. The connecting member 9 is pivotally supported on the side wall of the apparatus case 3 so as to be rotatable around the first axis L1 extending in the shift direction (in the direction of the arrow Ra in FIG. 1). Further, the connecting member 9 is passed through a lever connecting portion 10 having, for example, an enlarged quadrangular annular shape formed at the base end of the shift lever 2, and is integrated with the shift lever 2 along the axis of the first axis L1. It can be turned. For this reason, the lever operation in the select direction of the shift lever 2 is permitted by the operation that the connecting member 9 rotates around the first axis L1. Further, between the device case 3 and the connecting member 9, a select side biasing member that applies a biasing force to the shift lever 2 when the shift lever 2 operated in the select direction from the neutral position is returned to the original neutral position. 11 is provided. For example, a torsion spring (torsion coil spring) is used for the selection side urging member 11.

  Further, the shift lever 2 has a lever connecting portion 10 connected to a connecting member 9 via a locking pin 12 extending in the select direction, and a second axis L2 that is the axis of the locking pin 12 (see FIG. 1 (in the direction of arrow Rb). For this reason, the lever operation in the shift direction of the shift lever 2 is permitted by the action of the lever connecting portion 10 of the shift lever 2 rotating around the second axis L <b> 2 with respect to the connecting member 9. Further, a shift-side biasing member that applies a biasing force to the shift lever 2 when the shift lever 2 operated in the shift direction from the neutral position is returned to the original neutral position is provided between the shift lever 2 and the locking pin 12. 13 is provided. As the shift-side urging member 13, for example, a torsion spring (torsion coil spring) is used.

  Further, a sensor unit 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided inside the device case 3 as a position detection component of the shift lever 2 in the shifter device 1. The sensor unit 14 of this example detects the operation position of the shift lever 2 by detecting the position of the magnet 15 (see FIG. 2) that moves according to the operation of the shift lever 2 by the magnetic sensor 16 (see FIG. 2). The unit is unitized by housing various component groups of the sensor unit 14 in a box-shaped sensor case 17 which is a case portion of the unit 14. The sensor case 17 includes a lower case 18 having a box shape with an upper surface opened, and an upper case 19 that closes the opening of the lower case 18 from above. The upper case 19 is attached and fixed to the lower case 18 with a plurality of screws 20. The magnet 15 constitutes a detected part (first detection body), and the magnetic sensor 16 corresponds to a detection part (second detection body).

  A plate-like PC board (Printed Circuit Board) 21 is mounted and fixed to the lower case 18 by a plurality of screws (not shown) as a mounting destination of various electronic components of the sensor unit 14 on the back surface of the lower case 18. ing. On the upper surface of the PC board 21, a magnetic sensor 16 is mounted on the PC board 21 as a magnetic detection component of the sensor unit 14 and attached to the lower case 18 so as not to move. In addition, for example, an MRE (Magnetic Resistance Element) is used as the magnetic sensor 16, and a plurality of magnetic sensors 16 are arranged to detect a plurality of range positions. Further, a connector 22 is provided on the back surface of the PC board 21 as a connection destination of an external cable, and a detection signal of the magnetic sensor 16 is drawn out from the connector 22 to the outside.

  For example, assuming that the shifter device 1 of this example has a conventional structure, this structure is a structure in which the shift lever 2 and the magnet 15 are directly connected. When taking the initial position (in this example, the neutral position), the position of the magnet 15 at this time is naturally determined structurally. However, as described in the problem of the background art, since the component variation and the assembly variation are generated in the shifter device 1 at present, the position of the magnet 15 inevitably varies. Here, for example, when the stroke amount of the shift lever 2 is 15 mm and the straw amount of the magnet 15 is 6 mm, the accuracy of the variation is required to be about ± 0.5 mm depending on the accuracy of the magnetic sensor 16, but in actuality, There is the present condition that varies about ± 1mm. Thus, if the position of the magnet 15 varies when the shift lever 2 takes the initial position, there arises a problem that the initial position of the shift lever 2 cannot be detected accurately.

  Further, assuming that the shift lever 2 is shifted to each range position, the stroke amount that the shift lever 2 takes at this time is such that the lever 2 is brought to the edge of the guide hole 6 by pushing the shift lever 2 fully. It is regulated by a certain amount at the point of contact. For this reason, for example, if part variation or assembly variation occurs in the shifter device 1 described above, the stroke amount of the shift lever 2 changes due to this. Therefore, in the case where the shift lever 2 and the magnet 15 are directly connected to each other, the magnet 15 stops before the magnetic sensor 16 or the magnet 15 passes the magnetic sensor 16 according to this kind of variation. Leading to overrun problems. For example, if the variation of the stroke amount of the shift lever 2 is 15 mm ± 2 mm, the variation of the stroke amount of the magnet 15 is about 6 mm ± 1 mm, and if the position of the magnet 15 is shifted by ± 1 mm, the shift lever 2 will hinder accurate position detection.

  Therefore, in the sensor unit 14 of this example, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, a variation absorbing mechanism that absorbs various variations (component variations and assembly variations) that may occur in the shift lever 2 in the shifter device 1 after assembly. 23 is provided. The variation absorbing mechanism 23 has an initial position correction function that absorbs a positional deviation when the shift lever 2 takes an initial position (neutral position), and a stroke position correction that absorbs a positional deviation when the shift lever 2 is stroked a maximum amount. Features and are included. In addition, the variation absorbing mechanism 23 of this example is based on an indirect connection structure in which the shift lever 2 and the magnet 15 are not directly connected but are indirectly connected so that both can be integrated and separated. Yes.

  The configuration of these correction functions will be described below. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor case 17 is provided with a lower case 18 whose upper surface is opened as a lower case part of the sensor case 17. Inside the lower case 18, a lower slider 24 that allows the shift lever 2 to be operated between the N position and the D position is linear along the depth direction of the case 17 (X-axis direction in FIG. 2). It is stored in a movable (slidable) manner. An upper slider 25 that allows the shift lever 2 to be operated between the N position and the R position is linearly movable along the X-axis direction in FIG. It is stored in (movable). Further, the upper slider 25 is provided with a magnet holder 26 for attaching the magnet 15 and allowing the shift lever 2 to be operated between the neutral position and the N position. It is housed so as to be linearly movable (slidable) along the Y-axis direction). The lower slider 24 and the upper slider 25 constitute a case part, and the magnet holder 26 constitutes a first detector and a case part.

  2 and 3, the lower slider 24 has a shape in which the side walls on both sides in the Y-axis direction in FIG. 2 are omitted, and has a pair of side walls 27 and 28 on both sides in the X-axis direction in FIG. Yes. Between the side wall 27 of the lower slider 24 on the + X-axis side and the side wall 29 of the lower case 18 facing the side wall 27, the lower slider 24 is always urged to the −X side, so that the position D is shifted to the position N. A lower slider urging member 30 is provided for causing the lower slider to follow the movement of the shift lever 2 that returns to the position. In other words, the lower slider biasing member 30 of this example functions as a biasing member that returns the magnet 15 (magnet holder 26) to the original neutral position in conjunction with the return operation of the shift lever 2, for example, from a coil spring. Become. The lower slider biasing member 30 constitutes a return biasing member.

  In addition, a lower slider biasing member storage portion 31 for storing the lower slider biasing member 30 is provided at a position near the + X-axis side wall 27 in the lower slider 24. The lower slider urging member 30 is housed in the lower slider urging member housing 31 in a state of being pressed from behind by the lower slider pin 32, and the edge of the pin 32 has a + X side wall 29. It is inserted into the groove 33 and positioned. When the lower slider 24 is pressed against the −X side sidewall 34 of the lower case 18 by the lower slider urging member 30, the shift lever 2 takes the N position or the neutral position.

  The upper slider 25 has a box shape with an upper surface opened, and is in an attached state accommodated in the lower slider 24. Further, by biasing the upper slider 25 toward the + X-axis side between the −X-axis side wall 35 of the upper slider 25 and the side wall 28 of the lower slider 24 facing the side wall 35, An upper slider biasing member 36 for interposing the upper slider 25 following the movement of the shift lever 2 returning to the N position is interposed. That is, the upper slider biasing member 36 of this example functions as a biasing member that returns the magnet 15 (magnet holder 26) to the original neutral position in conjunction with the return operation of the shift lever 2, and is composed of, for example, a coil spring. . The upper slider biasing member 36 constitutes a return biasing member.

  Further, an upper slider biasing member storage portion 37 for storing the upper slider biasing member 36 is provided on the back surface of the upper slider 25 at a position near the side wall 35 on the −X axis side. The upper slider urging member 36 is housed in the upper slider urging member housing portion 37 in a state of being pressed from behind by the upper slider pin 38, and the edge of the pin 38 is on the −X side of the lower slider 24. It is positioned by being fitted into the groove 39 of the side wall 28 of the. When the upper slider 25 is pressed against the side wall 27 of the lower slider 24 by the upper slider urging member 36, the shift lever 2 takes the N position or the neutral position.

  The magnet holder 26 has a box shape with an open top surface and is in an attached state in which it is housed inside the upper slider 25. A cylindrical magnet mounting portion 40 protrudes from the bottom surface of the magnet holder 26, and a disk-shaped magnet 15 is fitted and attached to the magnet mounting portion 40. Further, between the side wall 41 of the magnet holder 26 on the + Y axis side and the side wall 42 of the upper slider 25 facing the side wall 41, the magnet holder 26 is biased toward the −Y axis side, so that it is neutral from the N position. A magnet holder urging member 43 is provided to follow the movement of the shift lever 2 returning to the position. That is, the biasing member 43 for the magnet holder of this example functions as a biasing member that returns the magnet 15 (magnet holder 26) to the original neutral position in conjunction with the return operation of the shift lever 2, and is composed of, for example, a coil spring. . The magnet holder biasing member 43 constitutes a return biasing member.

  Further, a magnet holder biasing member storage 44 for storing the magnet holder biasing member 43 is provided at a position near the side wall 41 on the + Y-axis side on the back surface of the magnet holder 26. The magnet holder urging member 43 is housed in the magnet holder urging member housing portion 44 so as to be compressed from behind by the magnet holder pin 45, and the edge of the pin 45 is positioned on the + Y-axis side of the upper slider 25. The groove 46 of the side wall 42 is fitted and positioned. Further, when the magnet holder 26 is pressed against the −Y-axis side wall 47 of the upper slider 25 by the magnet holder biasing member 43, the shift lever 2 takes the neutral position.

  On the bottom wall of the lower slider 24, there is formed a lower slider cutout portion 48 that houses a member group (component group) that protrudes downward in the upper slider 25 and the magnet holder 26. The lower slider notch 48 forms a step in the notch hole 49 formed by notching the bottom wall from near the center of the bottom wall of the lower slider 24 to the side wall 28 and the bottom wall of the lower slider 24. The step portion 50 is formed by the step. In this example, the lower slider notch 48 includes an upper slider biasing member storage portion 37 of the upper slider 25, a magnet mounting portion 40 of the magnet holder 26, and a magnet holder biasing member storage portion 44. Can be stored.

  Further, an upper slider notch 51 is formed on the bottom wall of the upper slider 25 as a relief portion of a member group (part group) that is restricted by the upper slider 25 in the lower slider 24 and the magnet holder 26. In the case of this example, the upper slider notch 51 includes a lower slider biasing member storage 31 of the lower slider 24, a magnet mounting portion 40 of the magnet holder 26, and a magnet holder biasing member storage 44. Is stored.

  Inside the magnet holder 26, a magnet slider 52 is housed as a connection point to the shift lever 2 in the sensor unit 14. The magnet slider 52 has three directions in which the lower slider 24, the upper slider 25, and the magnet holder 26 move, that is, the operation direction when the shift lever 2 is operated between the neutral position and the N position, and the shift lever 2 in the N position. And the operation direction when operating between the D position and the operation direction when operating the shift lever 2 between the N position and the R position. The magnet slider 52 corresponds to a moving member.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the magnet slider 52 has a shift lever 2 by a ball joint mechanism 53 that connects a protrusion provided on one of the two members into the hole and connects the two members. Indirectly linked to In the case of this example, the sensor connecting portion 54 having a cylindrical bar shape formed at the center of the upper surface of the magnet slider 52 is fitted into the fitting hole 55 formed at the base end of the shift lever 2, thereby shifting the shift lever 2. And the magnet slider 52 are connected to each other. The ball joint mechanism 53 converts the rotation direction operation of the shift lever 2 when the shift lever 2 is operated in the shift direction or the select direction into a plane direction operation (horizontal direction operation) to convert the position detection component (this example) Works to operate the magnet 15). The ball joint mechanism 53 corresponds to the conversion means.

  In addition, a part of the sensor connecting portion 54 is drawn out of the sensor case 17 from a guide hole 19 a provided in the upper case 19. Since the shifter device 1 of this example is a lever type, the guide hole 19a has a shape in which the left and right sides of the guide hole 6 are inverted, that is, the shape of the katakana “g” in this example. In the guide hole 6 and the guide hole 19a, the sensor connecting portion 54 takes an opposite position at the neutral position and the N position, and the sensor connecting portion 54 takes an opposite position at the D position and the R position.

  In order to satisfy the initial position correction function, the sensor connecting portion 53a between the shift lever 2 and the magnet slider 52, that is, the sensor connecting portion 54 of the magnet slider 52 and the fitting hole 55 of the shift lever 2 is not connected. Clearances (hereinafter referred to as connecting portion clearance Wx) are provided at regular intervals over the entire circumference of the portion 54. This connecting portion gap Wx (actually 2 × Wx in which both sides are totaled) is such that when the shift lever 2 takes the initial position (neutral position) before the lever operation, the shift lever 2 is rattled at this position as shown in FIG. In addition, the shift of the shift lever 2 at the initial position is absorbed by allowing the shift lever 2 to move by the amount of the connecting portion gap Wx. The connecting portion gap Wx corresponds to the gap.

  Furthermore, in order to satisfy the stroke position correction function, as shown in FIG. 6, the stroke amount of the shift lever 2 is set to be large in advance, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the magnet slider 52, the magnet holder 26, A plurality of (three in this example) overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 are attached to each of the magnet sliders 52 in each operation direction. The three overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 of this example are 56 which are useful when the shift lever 2 is operated to the D position, and those which are useful when the shift lever 2 is operated to the R position. 57, which is useful when operating the shift lever 2 to the N position. The overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 of this example are made of, for example, coil springs. The overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 enable the shift lever 2 that has been slid by bending of the urging members 30, 36, and 43 during operation of the shift lever 2 to be bent and pushed further into the back. The overstroke of the shift lever 2 is absorbed. The overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 correspond to the variation absorbing urging members.

  As shown in FIG. 3, overstroke absorbing urging member storage portions 59 to 61 for storing overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 are provided on the back surface of the magnet slider 52 for each of the urging members 56 to 58. Is provided. The overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 are accommodated in the corresponding overstroke absorbing urging member accommodating portions 59 to 61 in a state where they are pressed by the retaining pins 62 to 64 so as to be contracted from the rear. Further, the overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 are provided with spring loads of the urging members 30, 36, and 43 that are useful when the magnet 15 is returned to the neutral position. The spring load (strong spring load) is set to be larger than the excessive spring when the biasing members 30, 36, and 43 are in a bent state.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the shifter device 1 is provided with a shift ECU 65 as a range position detection control unit. The shift ECU 65 is connected to magnetic sensors 16, 16..., And the range position of the shift lever 2 is determined based on detection signals acquired from the magnetic sensors 16, 16. The shift ECU 65 controls the automatic transmission based on the determined range position so that the automatic transmission takes a gear position corresponding to the range position of the shift lever 2. Further, the shift ECU 65 can output the range position calculated from the magnetic sensors 16, 16 to other ECUs as necessary.

Next, the operation of the sensor unit 14 of this example will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, it is assumed that the shift lever 2 is operated from the neutral position shown in FIG. 8 to the N position shown in FIG. In this case, the shift lever 2 is operated from the neutral position in the select direction in the −Y axis direction shown in FIG. 1, and the range position is operated to the N position. At this time, in conjunction with the operation of the shift lever 2 in the -Y-axis direction, the magnet holder 26 slides to the + Y-axis against the biasing force of the magnet holder biasing member 43, and the magnet holder 26 also shifts to the shift lever. The N detection position for detecting the N position of 2 is reached. Thereby, the magnetic sensor 16 detects that the magnet 15 is located at the N detection position, and the shift ECU 65 determines that the shift lever 2 has been operated to the N position.

  By the way, as described above, when there is a component variation or assembly variation in the shifter device 1, the stroke in which the shift lever 2 has not reached the N position even though the magnet 15 has reached the N detection position. There may be shortages. However, in this example, since the stroke amount of the shift lever 2 is set to be large in advance as a stroke position correction function of the variation absorbing mechanism, the shift lever 2 stops midway even though the magnet has reached the N detection position. Even in such a situation, the shift lever 2 has a sufficient stroke amount (15 mm) that can satisfy the specified amount at this point, so that the shift lever 2 does not have a shortage of stroke.

  Further, when there is a variation in parts or assembly in the shifter device 1, this example uses a larger stroke of the shift lever 2, so that, for example, as shown in FIG. Even if the biasing member 43 is bent to the maximum and the magnet 15 reaches the N detection position, the shift lever 2 may take an excessive stroke such that the shift lever 2 moves further back. However, in this example, even if the shift lever 2 takes such an excessive stroke, at this time, the overstroke absorbing biasing member 58 on the select direction side works, and the magnet 15 is kept in the N detection position while Only the shift lever 2 is allowed to move backward. For this reason, even if the shift lever 2 takes an excessive stroke, the excessive stroke is absorbed by the overstroke absorbing biasing member 58 on the select direction side, and the magnet 15 can be positioned at the N detection position without any problem. It becomes.

  Then, after the shift lever 2 is operated to the N position, when the hand is released from the shift lever 2, the select side biasing member 11 and the shift side biasing member 13 work and the shift lever 2 automatically returns to the neutral position. However, the magnet 15 (magnet holder 26) is linked to the return operation of the shift lever 2 by the urging force of the magnet holder urging member 43 and the overstroke absorbing urging member 58, and the initial position (neutral position) before the operation. Move to return to the detection position. When the shift lever 2 is positioned at the neutral position, even if the shift lever 2 is misaligned due to various variations occurring in the shifter device 1, for example, the misalignment is absorbed by the connecting portion gap Wx. For this reason, it is possible to make it difficult for the magnet 15 to be displaced when the shift lever 2 is in the neutral position.

  Here, an example in which the shift lever 2 is operated from the neutral position to the N position and an example in which the shift lever 2 returns from the N position to the neutral position have been described. For example, the shift lever 2 is shown in FIG. 11 from the neutral position. The principle is the same when operating to the D position or the R position shown in FIG. Therefore, these descriptions will be omitted by describing an operation example of an example in which the shift lever 2 is operated from the neutral position to the N position and an example in which the shift lever 2 returns from the N position to the neutral position.

  In this example, the variation absorbing mechanism 23 includes the initial position correction function by providing the coupling portion gap Wx between the fitting hole 55 of the shift lever 2 and the sensor coupling portion 54 of the magnet slider 52. . For this reason, since it becomes possible to absorb the position shift when the shift lever 2 is positioned at the initial position (neutral position) before the operation is started, the position of the shift lever 2 can be determined by looking at the arrangement position of the magnet 15. It is possible to make the position detection of this example for detecting the position detection accuracy high.

  In the case of this example, the variation absorbing mechanism 23 is provided by preliminarily increasing the stroke amount of the shift lever 2 and providing the overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 between the magnet slider 52 and the magnet holder 26. Included a stroke position correction function. For this reason, when the shift lever 2 is operated for a full stroke, even if a stroke shortage or excessive stroke occurs, the magnet 15 does not need to be affected by this positional shift. Therefore, since the position of the magnet 15 is not affected by the stroke amount of the shift lever 2, the position accuracy of the magnet 15 can be increased, and high position detection accuracy can be ensured.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The shifter device 1 is provided with a variation absorbing mechanism 23 having an initial position correction function and a stroke position correction function. For this reason, when the shift lever 2 reaches each range position, the position of the magnet 15 is not affected by various variations that may occur between the shift lever 2 and its surrounding parts, and thus a suitable detection position is obtained. The detection accuracy of the range position of the shift lever 2 can be made higher.

  (2) The variation absorbing mechanism 23 of this example includes an urging member (urging members 30, 36, 43) for returning the magnet 15 to the neutral position side when the shift lever 2 is automatically returned to the position, and an overstroke of the magnet 15. The urging member (the urging members 56 to 58) that absorbs each of them is provided as a separate component. For this reason, since each urging member has only a dedicated role, both functions of magnet follow-up and overstroke absorption can be realized with high functionality.

  (3) Since the sensor unit 14 is adapted to detect a plurality of axes orthogonal to each other, the range position of the shift lever 2 that moves along the two axes in the select direction and the shift direction can be detected as in this example.

  (4) The lower slider 24 is housed in the lower case 18, the lower slider 24 is used as a storage portion, the upper slider 25 is stored therein, and the upper slider 25 is used as a storage portion to store the magnet holder 26 therein. These parts are arranged in the shape of a turtle, such that the magnet holder 26 is used as a storage portion and the magnet slider 52 is stored therein. For this reason, between these components, what is positioned on the lower side functions as a storage portion and can share the components, so that the number of components can be minimized.

  (5) The shift lever 2 that moves with the direction orthogonal to the lever shaft (operation shaft) as the rotation axis is connected to the sensor unit 14 by the ball joint mechanism 53, and the rotation motion applied from the shift lever 2 is the ball joint mechanism. By converting the motion into a planar motion by 53 and transmitting it to the magnet slider 52, the magnet 15 is linearly moved along the planar direction. For this reason, since the sensor unit 14 only needs to be provided with a mechanism for sliding the magnet 15 in the plane direction, this type of mechanism can have a simple structure as compared with, for example, a rotational movement type. .

  (6) A fitting hole 55 is formed at the base end of the shift lever 2, and the sensor connecting portion 54 is connected to the fitting hole 55 to indirectly connect the shift lever 2 and the magnet 15, thereby connecting the sensor. A connecting portion gap Wx was formed around the periphery (entire circumference) of the connecting portion between the portion 54 and the fitting hole 55. For this reason, the connecting portion that indirectly connects the shift lever 2 and the magnet 15 also has a function of converting the turning operation force of the shift lever 2 into a moving operation force in the plane direction of the magnet 15. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare components for each function, and the number of components can be reduced.

  (7) Since the shift lever 2 is a momentary type, after the shift lever 2 is operated from the neutral position to another range position, the shift lever 2 automatically returns to the original neutral position. For this reason, when the shift lever 2 operated from the neutral position to another range position is returned to the original neutral position, it is not necessary to impose a special operation on the operator, so that the convenience is high.

  (8) The urging members 30, 36, and 43 that urge the magnet 15 toward the neutral position are disposed at substantially the same position in the height direction of the sensor case 17. For this reason, it is possible to apply an urging force to the magnet 15 evenly from the periphery, so that the magnet 15 can smoothly follow the operation of the shift lever 2.

  (9) The overstroke absorbing urging members 56 to 58 that absorb the overstroke of the magnet 15 are disposed at substantially the same position in the height direction of the sensor case 17. For this reason, since it becomes possible to apply a biasing force to the magnet 15 evenly from the periphery, the magnet 15 can follow the movement of the shift lever 2 more smoothly.

Note that the embodiment is not limited to the configuration described so far, and may be modified as follows.
As shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15, a link mechanism 71 that works to ensure the operation amount of the shift lever 2 is provided at the tip of the connecting member 9, and the shift lever 2 is connected to the magnet 15 (sensor) via the link mechanism 71. You may connect with the connection part 54). In this case, the lever connecting portion 10 at the base end of the shift lever 2 is connected to the device case 3 by the select direction side pin 72, so that the shift operation of the shift lever 2 in the select direction side is permitted. Since the lever connecting portion 10 is connected to the device case 3 by the shift direction side pin 73, the swinging operation of the shift lever 2 in the shift direction side is allowed.

  In the link mechanism 71, a retainer 74 pivotally supported by the shift direction side pin 73 is attached to the base end position of the lever connecting portion 10 so as to be rotatable in the shift direction. A link 75 is pivotally supported by the retainer 74 as a mounting location of the sensor connecting portion 54 so as to be rotatable in the shift direction. The link 75 is formed with a connecting piece 76 as an attachment location to the connecting member 9, and this portion is pivotally supported by a pair of locking pieces 77, 77 of the connecting member 9 by a support pin 78. Further, a pair of positioning protrusions 79, 79 are provided on both sides of the link 75 in the select direction, and these protrusions 79, 79 are latched in a pair of positioning grooves 10x, 10x on both sides of the lever connecting portion 10 in the select direction. Take the attached state. In this case, even if only a small amount of movement of the magnet 15 can be taken, the shift lever 2 can be largely tilted by the link 75, so that a sufficient amount of operation of the shift lever 2 is ensured. Can do.

  The shifter device 1 is not necessarily limited to the floor type arranged at the center console in the vehicle, and may adopt any of a column type arranged at the steering column and an instrument panel type arranged at the center cluster, for example. .

  The sensor unit 14 is not necessarily limited to a turtle shape in which the lower slider 24, the upper slider 25, the magnet holder 26, and the magnet slider 52 are sequentially stacked, and each may have a separate storage portion. .

  The sensor unit 14 is not limited to the three-axis compatible movement of the magnet 15 corresponding to the + X-axis side, the -X-axis side, and the + Y-axis side. Member) may be provided to support four axes.

The detection system of the shift lever 2 is not necessarily limited to the magnetic type, and other detection formats such as an optical sensor may be adopted.
The shift lever 2 (sensor unit 14) is not necessarily limited to the momentary type that automatically returns to the original operating position, but may be a holding type that holds the operating position when operated to each range position. .

-It is not limited to the combination in which the magnet 15 is disposed on the shift lever 2 side and the magnetic sensor 16 is disposed on the case side, and this may be reversed.
-Another set of magnetic sensors may be provided on the PC board 21 to form a double system.

The urging member is not necessarily limited to the spring, and other parts such as a rubber material may be employed.
The sensor unit 14 is not necessarily limited to one that can detect multi-axis operation positions, but may be one that detects only one axis.

The first detection body is not necessarily limited to a component in which the magnet 15 is attached to the magnet holder 26, and may be composed only of the magnet 15.
The connecting structure of the shift lever 2 and the magnet slider 62 is not necessarily limited to the shape in which the protrusion on the magnet slider 52 side is inserted into the recess of the shift lever 2, and this may be reversed.

  The shifter device 1 does not necessarily take the path of “G” in which the operation direction of the shift lever 2 is reversed left and right in Katakana, for example, the operation path of the shift lever 2 is reversed left and right for the letter “h”. As a route, a brake position (B position) may be added to the four range positions described in the embodiment to detect five positions.

  The shifter device 1 is not necessarily limited to the lever type that tilts the lever member at the time of operation, and may be a dial type that includes a rotation operation in the operation format, for example. As this example, for example, when the range position is switched from the neutral position to the N position, the operation unit is slid, and the operation unit is rotated to operate from the N position to the R position or the D position.

The shifter device 1 is not necessarily applied to the shifter device 1, but can be applied to devices and devices having various operation systems such as levers and knobs.
Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.

  (1) In any one of Claims 1-5, the said urging | biasing member for a return is arrange | positioned at the substantially same height in the height direction of an apparatus. According to this configuration, it is possible to apply an urging force evenly from the periphery to the first detection body, so that the first detection body can smoothly follow the operation of the operation means.

  (2) In any one of claims 1 to 5 and the technical idea (1), the variation absorbing and urging members are disposed at substantially the same height in the height direction of the apparatus. According to this configuration, it is possible to apply an urging force evenly from the periphery to the first detection body, and thus it is possible to cause the first detection body to follow the movement of the operation means more smoothly.

The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the lever type shifter apparatus in one Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view which shows the internal structure of a sensor unit. The exploded perspective view shown in the state which looked at the components group in a sensor unit from the bottom. The schematic diagram which expanded and showed the connection location vicinity of a shift lever and a sensor connection part. The schematic diagram which shows the state which absorbed the variation by the clearance gap at the time of the lever operation initial stage. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which set the stroke amount of the shift lever large beforehand. The block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a shifter apparatus. The state of the sensor unit when a shift lever takes a neutral position is shown, (a) is the plan view, and (b) is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in (a). The state of the sensor unit when the shift lever is at the N position is shown, (a) is a plan view thereof, and (b) is a sectional view thereof. The state of the sensor unit when the shift lever is in the N position and the overstroke position is shown, (a) is a plan view thereof, and (b) is a sectional view thereof. The top view which showed the state of the sensor unit at the time of a shift lever taking D position. The top view which showed the state of the sensor unit at the time of a shift lever taking R position. The disassembled perspective view which shows the specific structure of the shifter apparatus in another example. Sectional drawing which showed the state of the shifter apparatus at the time of a shift lever taking N position. Sectional drawing which showed the state of the shifter apparatus at the time of operating a shift lever to R position. The schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the conventional shift lever apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Shift lever which comprises an operation means and a shift operation part, 3 ... Apparatus case as a support means, 15 ... Magnet 16 as a to-be-detected part (1st detection body) ... Magnetism as a detection part (2nd detection body) Sensor, 23 ... variation absorbing mechanism, 24 ... lower slider constituting case part, 25 ... upper slider constituting case part, 26 ... magnet holder constituting case part and first detection body, 30 ... return bias Urging member for lower slider constituting member, 36... Urging member for upper slider constituting urging member for returning, 43... Urging member for magnet holder constituting urging member for returning, 52. As a magnetic slider, 53... A ball joint mechanism as a converting means, 53 a... Connecting portion, 56 to 58. Expropriation biasing member, Wx ... connecting portion gap as a gap.

Claims (6)

The operation means is provided with a first detection body as one of the detection part and the detected part, the support means for movably supporting the operation means is provided with a second detection body as the other of the two parties, and the operation means In the operation position detection device for detecting the operation position of the operation means based on the detection value of the detection unit that changes according to the positional relationship between the two detection bodies during operation,
By providing a moving member that is movable relative to the first detection body between the operation means and the first detection body, the operation means and the first detection body are indirectly coupled, For forming a return for pushing the first detection body in the opposite direction of the operation when the operation means is operated while forming a gap for absorbing the variation between components in the connecting portion between the operation means and the moving member The biasing member bends first, and then the variation absorbing biasing member that is provided between the first detection body and the moving member and has a higher load than the return biasing member bends. An operation position detecting apparatus comprising a variation absorbing mechanism that absorbs variations between components by movement of the moving member, although the detection body stops.   The operation means can be operated along a plurality of operation directions, and the variation absorbing mechanism is adapted to the number of operation directions in order to detect an operation position of the operation means operable in a plurality of operation directions. The operation position detection device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of operation position detection devices are provided.   In the case where a plurality of the variation absorbing mechanisms are provided along each operation direction, a case is adopted in which the case component of the variation absorbing mechanism located on the upper side is accommodated inside the case component of the variation absorbing mechanism located on the lower side. The operation position detection device according to claim 2.   The said connection part also serves as the conversion means which converts the operation direction of the said operation means into the operation force which moves a said 1st detection body to a plane direction, The any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The operation position detection device described in 1.   2. The momentary system according to claim 1, wherein the operating means is in a stationary position when not operated, and is automatically moved back to the original stationary position after being operated from the stationary position to another position. The operation position detection apparatus as described in any one of 1-4. The shift operation unit that is operated when switching the gear position of the transmission of the vehicle is provided with a first detection body as one of the detection unit and the detected unit, and the support unit that movably supports the shift operation unit has the 2 described above. A second detection body is provided as the other person, and the operation position of the shift operation section is detected based on the detection value of the detection section that changes according to the positional relationship between the two detection bodies when the shift operation section is operated. In the shift operation position detection device,
By providing a moving member that can move relative to the first detection body between the shift operation unit and the first detection body, the shift operation unit and the first detection body are indirectly connected. In addition, when the shift operation unit is operated, the first detection body is formed from the opposite direction of the operation while forming a gap for absorbing the variation between the components in the connection part between the shift operation unit and the moving member. The return urging member that presses is bent first, and subsequently, the variation absorbing urging member that is provided between the first detection body and the moving member and that has a higher load than the return urging member is bent. A shift operation position detecting device comprising a variation absorbing mechanism that absorbs variations between components by movement of the moving member, although the first detection body stops.

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