Patent ID: 6140916
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: G01D,H03M,Y10T

Abstract:
A position-encoding system comprising:a device adapted to shift gears of a motor vehicle; andan encoder coupled to said device to indicate the current gear, said encoder further comprising:a substrate; andconductive material disposed on said substrate, such that said conductive material forms patterns composed of a series of states, each state having a value composed of either a presence or an absence of conductive material, wherein said encoder has a plurality of regions characterized by said patterns, some of said patterns indicating gears and some of said patterns indicating intermediate positions between gears, wherein upon movement from any and all first said gears to any and all second said gears, one said state remains constant from said first gear and changes only upon arrival at said second gear;wherein all said conductive material which forms said patterns is electrically connected.