Patent ID: 7328782
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: F16H,H01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A shifter for vehicles, comprising: a base structure; a shift lever movably mounted to the base structure; a shift gate controlling movement of the shift lever between a plurality of control positions including at least PARK, NEUTRAL and DRIVE control positions; a powered pawl having a pawl member configured to engage the shift gate, the pawl member defining a first position relative to the shift gate wherein the shift lever is locked in the NEUTRAL position, a second position relative to the shift gate wherein the shift lever is movable between the PARK, NEUTRAL and DRIVE positions, and a centered neutral third position positioned between the first and second positions, the pawl member being biased to the third position when no power is applied to move the powered pawl and, when in the third position, locking the shift lever in the PARK position; and at least one solenoid for selectively moving the pawl member from the third position to the first position when a first current is applied and for selectively moving the pawl member from the third position to the second position when a different second current is applied.