At least some implementations of a transmission gear shifter include a shifter for a vehicle transmission that includes a first shift member, a retainer, an actuator and a second shift member. The first shift member has a body rotatable about an axis among multiple positions, and the retainer is movable relative to the body between a first position in which the retainer prevents movement of the body and a second position in which the retainer permits movement of the body. The actuator is coupled to the retainer to drive the retainer between the first position and second position. The second shift member is coupled to the retainer for movement with the retainer relative to the body, and arranged to selectively engage and rotate the body.

A shift lever assembly for an automatic transmission vehicle is provided. A moderate feeling experienced by a driver is provided by using magnetic forces of a bullet magnet and a groove magnet when moving a shift lever in a shift direction and in a select direction. Since the bullet magnet and the groove magnet are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to avoid coming into contact with each other within a range affected by magnetic forces thereof, damage due to wear is prevented and operating noise is reduced significantly.

The damping mechanism comprising a damping element suitable for absorbing impacts from a movable part of the shift selector assembly. The damping mechanism comprising a and a support member to which the damping element is rotatably mounted. A shift selector assembly is also provided. The assembly includes a fixed part, a moveable part, a damping element, and a support member. The movable part can be moved relative to the fixed part and biased onto a contoured surface. The damping element absorbs impacts from the moveable part of the shift selector. The support member is rotatably mounted to the damping element.

A shifter assembly includes a housing, a shifter member, a movement restrictor, sensors and a positioning device. The housing has a chamber with magnetorheological fluid and an electromagnetic coil to selectively generate a plurality of levels of magnetic field densities through the magnetorheological fluid. The shifter member moves between at least a park position, a reverse position and a drive position. The movement restrictor is disposed within the chamber of the housing for movement between a first section of the chamber and a second section of the chamber. The magnetorheological fluid provides levels of movement resistance to the movement restrictor. The sensors are positioned to detect changes in position of the shifter member. The positioning device is configured to selectively position the shifter member to any of the park position, the reverse position and the drive position in response to electronic signals received by the positioning device.

A shifter assembly includes a housing, a shaft, a shifter member, a movement restrictor, sensors and a positioning device. The housing a chamber with magnetorheological fluid disposed therein and an electromagnetic coil that selectively generates a magnetic field through the magnetorheological fluid. The shaft is supported within the housing. The shifter member is coupled to the shaft and pivots with the shaft between at least a park position, a reverse position and a drive position. The movement restrictor is within the chamber of the and restrict movement of the shifter member in response to changes in viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid. The sensors are fixed within the housing and detect changes in position of the shifter member. The positioning device is connected to the shaft and/or the shifter member and positions the shifter member to any of the above positions in response to electronic signals received by a controller.

The present invention is directed to a shift actuator assembly for a vehicle transmission including a shift actuator (2) moveable between a number of predetermined shift positions, a sensor (24) for sensing the shift actuator position, a mechanical detent mechanism (30, 32, 34) such that at the predetermined shift positions a detent engagement feeling is generated, an adaptive braking mechanism (10, 12) acting on the actuator (2) to selectively increase the resistance against shift actuator movements, and a controller (20) receiving the input from the position sensor (24), wherein the controller (20) is arranged to control the adaptive brake mechanism (10, 12), characterized in that the controller is arranged to control the adaptive brake mechanism so that, if the shift actuator (2) reaches any of the predetermined shift positions, the braking force of the adaptive braking mechanism is increased such that the actuator movement is completely stopped for a predetermined period of time, whereafter the adaptive braking mechanism is released.

An electronic shift control apparatus includes a shift dial that is operated by a driver to select an R-range, an N-range, and a D-range, a P-range motor that is operated to select a P-range, and a haptic motor that generates a haptic signal. When a driver shifts into a specific shift range of a vehicle by operating the shift dial or the P-range button, the haptic signal is configured to be transmitted to the driver.

A vehicle includes a gear shifter operable to shift a manual transmission. An actuator is connected to the shifter and actuatable to bias the shifter to at least a first or second neutral position. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to bias the shifter, via the actuator, to one of the neutral positions based on a speed of the vehicle.

A transmission external bump stimulation system includes a transmission of an automobile vehicle selectively operating in a mode allowing direct vehicle operator transmission gear shifts. At least one vehicle seat is positioned in the automobile vehicle supporting a vehicle operator during operation of the automobile vehicle. A shaker device is positioned in direct contact with the seat. The shaker device produces a shock wave defining an individual pulse of mechanical energy during a gear shift of the transmission initiated by the operator during operation in the mode. The shock wave is directed toward the operator.

A shifter assembly includes a shift lever, a base, a coupling member having a toothed member and pivotably coupling the shift lever to the base, and a speed sensitive damping arrangement housed in the base. The damping arrangement includes a housing associated with the base and defining an internal cavity, a shaft disposed in the cavity and having an end extending from the housing, and a gear coupled to the shaft end extending from the housing and configured for rotation therewith, where the gear is meshingly engaged with the toothed member of the coupling member such that pivotable movement of the coupling member rotates the gear and the shaft. The gear is configured to rotate faster than the shift lever such that damping to movement of the shift lever provided by the damping arrangement is proportional to a square of a speed of movement of the shift lever.