A shift lever apparatus is normally hidden, and provides traveling sensitivity according to a driver's preference when deployed for a specific mode. The shift lever apparatus includes a shift lever that is deployed or undeployed in a housing according to a rotating location; an operating mechanism installed on the shift lever to be rotated together with the shift lever, and provided with a stopper drawn out or drawn into the operating mechanism depending on whether an operation is performed; a guide installed in the housing to guide movement of the stopper and having a first fixing hole and a second fixing hole spaced apart from each other within a rotating radius of the stopper; and a sensing sensor sensing the rotating location of the shift lever when the stopper is located in the second fixing hole to transfer a shift signal according to the rotating location.

A manual shift lever system may be provided that includes: a shift lever which includes a rod and a stopper formed on the rod; a shift lock unit which limits a movement of the rod; and a control unit which, when a speed of a vehicle is greater than a critical speed of a predetermined gear limits the movement of the rod in a shift direction of the predetermined gear. The shift lock unit includes: at least one shift lock cam part including a main cam, a sub-cam, a shaft which functions as a rotating shaft of the main cam and the sub-cam, and a spring which connects the main cam and the sub-cam; a permanent magnet which is connected to the shift lock cam part; and an electromagnet arranged to have a polarity arrangement opposite to that of the permanent magnet.

A manual shift lever system may be provided that includes: a shift lever which includes a rod and a stopper formed on the rod; a shift lock unit which limits a movement of the rod; and a control unit which, when a speed of a vehicle is greater than a critical speed of a predetermined gear limits the movement of the rod in a shift direction of the predetermined gear. The shift lock unit includes: at least one shift lock cam part including a main cam, a sub-cam, a shaft which functions as a rotating shaft of the main cam and the sub-cam, and a spring which connects the main cam and the sub-cam; a permanent magnet which is connected to the shift lock cam part; and an electromagnet arranged to have a polarity arrangement opposite to that of the permanent magnet.

A shift operation determination apparatus includes: an operation member rotatably attached to the vehicle; an operation detection section configured to detect a position of the operation member; a lock mechanism configured to regulate a rotation of the operation member; a braking operation detection section configured to detect a braking operation of the vehicle; a shift determination section configured to determine any one of a plurality of shift ranges including a first range for parking and a second range different from the first range, based on the position of the operation member; and a lock control section configured to cause the lock mechanism to regulate the rotation of the operation member from a first position corresponding to the first range to a second position corresponding to the second range when the braking operation is not detected.

A shift operation determination apparatus includes: an operation member rotatably attached to the vehicle; an operation detection section configured to detect a position of the operation member; a lock mechanism configured to regulate a rotation of the operation member; a braking operation detection section configured to detect a braking operation of the vehicle; a shift determination section configured to determine any one of a plurality of shift ranges including a first range for parking and a second range different from the first range, based on the position of the operation member; and a lock control section configured to cause the lock mechanism to regulate the rotation of the operation member from a first position corresponding to the first range to a second position corresponding to the second range when the braking operation is not detected.

Presented are Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) systems for vehicle powertrains, methods for making/operating such BTSI systems, and vehicles equipped with a BTSI system. A BTSI system for a motor vehicle includes a shifter solenoid with a solenoid body that mounts to the vehicle body, and a solenoid armature that is movably attached to the solenoid body to transition back-and-forth between locked and unlocked positions. The shifter solenoid is selectively operable via a brake control module to move the solenoid armature between the locked and unlocked positions to thereby block and unblock movement of a gear shifter from the park position, respectively. A position switch mounts to the vehicle body adjacent the shifter solenoid and detects the vehicle transmission being in a park mode. The position switch selectively mechanically engages with the shifter solenoid such that the solenoid armature, upon moving to the locked position, pushes closed the position switch.

Presented are Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) systems for vehicle powertrains, methods for making/operating such BTSI systems, and vehicles equipped with a BTSI system. A BTSI system for a motor vehicle includes a shifter solenoid with a solenoid body that mounts to the vehicle body, and a solenoid armature that is movably attached to the solenoid body to transition back-and-forth between locked and unlocked positions. The shifter solenoid is selectively operable via a brake control module to move the solenoid armature between the locked and unlocked positions to thereby block and unblock movement of a gear shifter from the park position, respectively. A position switch mounts to the vehicle body adjacent the shifter solenoid and detects the vehicle transmission being in a park mode. The position switch selectively mechanically engages with the shifter solenoid such that the solenoid armature, upon moving to the locked position, pushes closed the position switch.

A selector device for a user input for shifting a vehicle transmission may be connected to the vehicle transmission for signal transfer. The selector device may include a slider unit coupled to a selector knob for the user input, and a housing unit for receiving the slider unit. The slider unit may be moveable in relation to the housing unit in a translatory manner. The selector device may have a ball bearing unit, where the ball bearing unit is designed to guide the slider unit linearly in the housing unit.

A selector device for a user input for shifting a vehicle transmission may be connected to the vehicle transmission for signal transfer. The selector device may include a slider unit coupled to a selector knob for the user input, and a housing unit for receiving the slider unit. The slider unit may be moveable in relation to the housing unit in a translatory manner. The selector device may have a ball bearing unit, where the ball bearing unit is designed to guide the slider unit linearly in the housing unit.

An example embodiment of a system and methods for detecting and reporting whether passengers are seated and secured in their seats within a vehicle may include a passenger sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a presence of a passenger in a seat in a vehicle, a restraint sensor configured to provide an output indicative of a status of a passenger safety restraint associated with the seat, a transmitter configured to be in electronic communication with the passenger sensor and the restraint sensor and to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the presence of a passenger in the seat and the status of the restrain, and a reporting module configured to be disposed proximate a driver of the vehicle. The reporting module may be configured to receive the data from the transmitter, and output a respective status for each of a plurality of seats.