IP Library Granted Patent US 8,909,443
Granted Patent B2
US 8,909,443 · App. 14/100,587 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Shift device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,909,443
App. No.
14/100,587
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shift device includes: a shift lever which is installed in a vehicle, and which is configured to automatically return to a reference position from a neutral position; a position detecting unit which is configured to detect that the shift lever is placed at the neutral position; and a setting unit which is configured to: set the vehicle to a neutral state when the shift lever is held at the neutral position for a specified time or more; set the vehicle to the neutral state when the shift lever is placed at the neutral position a plurality of times within a predetermined time.

Claims (17)

1. A shift device comprising:

a shift lever which is installed in a vehicle, and which is configured to automatically return to a reference position from a neutral position;

a position detecting unit which is configured to detect that the shift lever is placed at the neutral position; and

a setting unit which is configured to:

set the vehicle to a neutral state when the shift lever is held at the neutral position for a specified time or more;

set the vehicle to the neutral state when the shift lever is placed at the neutral position a plurality of times within a predetermined time.

2. The shift device according to claim 1 , wherein

the reference position and the neutral position are arranged linearly, and

the setting unit is configured to set the vehicle to the neutral state when a number of times the shift lever is moved from the reference position to the neutral position is a plurality of times or more within the predetermined time.

3. The shift device according to claim 2 , wherein

the setting unit is configured to cancel the number of times the shift lever is moved from the reference position to the neutral position when the shift lever is moved from the reference position to a position different from the neutral position.

4. The shift device according to claim 1 , wherein

the specified time is measured by a hold timer.

5. The shift device according to claim 1 , wherein

the predetermined time is measured by a wait timer.

6. The shift device according to claim 2 , wherein

the setting unit counts the number of times the shift lever is moved from the reference position to the neutral position.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 1, 2021
From: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 055472/0944 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2013
From: HAYASHI, KUNISHIGE
To: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 031762/0903 →