Patent ID: 7075022
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: F16H,H01H

Abstract:
1. Vehicular transmission sensor apparatus for providing an electrical output corresponding to gear selection comprising: an electrically conductive detent plate having opposed upper and lower generally parallel extending face surfaces and a hub formed with a shaft receiving bore having a longitudinal axis extending generally perpendicular to the face surfaces, the hub having an extension extending a selected distance beyond the lower face surface, the detent plate having an outer periphery formed with a plurality of detents corresponding to the gear selections, an electrically insulating ramp plate having upper and lower surfaces and formed with arcuately extending spaced apart slots extending through the ramp plate between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, the slots formed along a plurality of radially spaced apart tracks, the ramp plate fixedly mounted on a face surface of the detent plate, an actuator comprising an electrically conductive lead frame insert molded in electrically insulating material, the actuator having a hub formed with a bore having a longitudinal axis, a connector portion and a plurality of cut-out portions formed in a surface of the actuator, the lead frames having a plurality of tracks extending from the connector portion with respective tracks extending into the cut-out portions to form cantilever arms each having a free contact end disposed in a respective one of the cut-out portions, the extension of the hub of the detent plate received through the bore in the hub of the actuator with a respective one of the cantilever arms aligned with a track of the ramp plate and with the contact ends biased toward the detent plate so that rotational movement of the detent plate relative to the actuator about the longitudinal axis will bring respective contact ends into and out of electrical engagement with the detent plate in dependence upon an angular position of the detent plate relative to the actuator.