Patent ID: 8087317
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: F02N,F16H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An interface system for a vehicle having a starter motor and a transmission control lever movable in a slot in a housing from a park position to a plurality of non-park positions, the interface system comprising a bracket fixed to the housing; a magnet array of magnet members mounted on the bracket, the magnet members have magnetic poles arranged to form a two-dimensional grey code; an arm projecting from the lever; a plurality of magnetic switches mounted to the lever so that movement of the lever causes the magnetic switches to move through the magnetic fields; and an interface circuit connected to the starter motor and to the magnetic switches, the interface circuit and the switches cooperating to generate lever position signals, the lever position signals including a park position signal which is different from any position signal generated when the lever is in a non-park position, the interface circuit and the switches cooperating to prevent activation of the starter motor unless the lever is in its park position.