Patent Publication Number: US-2021162866-A1

Title: Rotary selector knob with graphical display

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 62/942,334, filed Dec. 2, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a vehicle rotary knob with an electronic switch which can be utilized in either of drive mode or gear shift selection (PRND S/M/L) options. More specifically, the present invention discloses either of a first variant of a multi-position rotary knob with monostable end stop functionality or, in an alternate variant a 360° rotatable knob. Additional features include the use of any of a thin film transistor (TFT), organic light emitting (OLED) or LCD segmented displays which eliminates the necessity of light pipes thereby reducing part content while providing higher quality graphics. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art is documented with examples of lighting displays for vehicle shifter assemblies. A common example of these utilize light emitting elements located on a PCB circuit board integrated into a known shifter assembly, the PCB communicated via a plurality of light pipes for tunneling individual light pathways to a dedicated painted and etched surface display which is incorporated into either of a rotating shifter knob display face or dial, or configured astride a linearly adjustable shifter lever display surface/dial. 
     Disadvantages of the current design include the requirement of painting/repainting or laser etching the desired shifter position designations into the lens other display covering. Other shortcomings include the attendant costs and additional part content, such as in particular for the light pipes and supporting light pipe frame for communicating the illumination from the PCBA mounted LED&#39;s to the etched surface locations (i.e. PRND). 
     Other examples derived from the prior art include Paulo, U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,345, which teaches a cluster display backlight source set on a PCB and which includes a microcontroller for controlling the lights and sending display information to each cluster. The clusters are mounted on a single support or frame. A rotating mechanism controlled by the driver moves the selected cluster into the line of sight of the viewing surface, which is backlighted and evenly spread by a reflector across the cluster. The light source is set on a PCB incorporating a microcontroller for controlling the lights and sending display information to each cluster. 
     Specks, US 2004/0207607 teaches an integrated display which is programmable. Niazi, US 2018/0143754 further teaches a flat touch-sensitive electronic screen built into the steering wheel and including a graphic user interface for controlling vehicle operations. 
     Other references include CN 109973640, which teaches another version of a monostable rotary knob and EP 3 225 884 (Fico) which teaches a rotary shifter with a unique cam, gearwheel and locking pawl arrangement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,474 (Olson) teaches a rotary switch with a unique spring and detent arrangement (see in particular FIGS. 4 and 7) for engaging notched inner circumferential notch positions 15 configured in the gear knob 24. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,512 (Hayashi) is directed to a vehicle graphical display apparatus, selected from CRT, flat panel, active matrix or plasma displays. U.S. Pat. No. 7,965,282 (Yamada-Honda) teaches an operation device with an operating knob for accessing subset displays via tilt switch functionality provided via a variable load mechanism for responding to any tilt angle of the knob (see FIG. 5). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,498 (Meyer—ZF Friedrichshafen) rotary control device in which a compression spring 7 and locking piece 6 adapted to engage outer contour locations 5 of the knob 1. U.S. Pat. No. 8,055,419 (Meng) teaches a tachometer display exhibiting multiple Archimedean spirals overlaying concentric arcs on a face plate, these indicating any of multiple shifter positions (economy, performance, racing, etc). 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses a rotary shifter providing each of multi-position (with monostable opposite ends) or 360 degree rotational functionality. A cylindrical shaped knob is provided with an inner circumferential surface exhibiting a detent profile and is supported around a stationary inner housing, the housing additionally supporting outwardly biased pawls establishing an interface with the detent profile in a selected rotational position. The inner housing further supports a rotating spur gear having an end secured magnet positioned above a sensor (such providing a switching component in the form of an inductive sensor in which relative motion of the overhead magnet results in a change of voltage), the sensor being incorporated into a printed circuit board configured at a base location of the housing. Rotation of the knob signals to the sensor to in turn instruct a microprocessor or microcontroller component associated with the PCBA to instruct switching to designate a given shifter position (PRND S/M/L) or drive mode selection. The knob also includes an illuminating surface (TFT/OLED, segmented, etc.) for presenting menu options for indicating such as shifter position or drive mode selection. 
     In a first variant, a planetary gear configuration is provided within the inner housing for supporting the rotating spur gear which, in combination with the outwardly biased and inner detent interfacing pawls, provide for rotation of the knob across multiple fixed intermediate positions, in combination with opposite end located and monostable selected positions. The selector switch incorporates a surface graphical display (thin film transistor, segmented, etc.) and which, in addition to designating various modes or shifter positions, further serves (upon knob rotation beyond a monostable end position) to provide the user the ability to toggle a sub-menu of options, such as for refinement or fine tuning of custom drive modes. 
     A further variant teaches a redesign of the rotary knob so as to function in either of multi-position with monostable end functionality (as described in the initial embodiment) or in a fully 360° rotational range. A base location of the inner housing is redesigned to support a ring gear rotatably operating the spur gear with end magnet positioned over the PCBA and sensor/switching component. A rotatable knob portion or handle includes upper and lower components which support the surface graphical display. An outer housing positions and supports the rotational knob relative to the stationary inner housing. The detent profile configured upon the lower rotatable knob or handle can further be designed to permit the handle to be rotated a full 360° without end stops. Alternatively, and as in the first variant, the knob can define a designed number of individual positions, with first and last positions represented at angular offset positions less than 360°, and which can further incorporate angled profiles such that only limited mono-stable rotation is permitted, such as for toggling through sub-set menu options. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the followed detailed descriptions, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is an assembled view of a rotary selector knob according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is an exploded view of the rotary selector knob of  FIG. 1A  and illustrating the PCBA supported cylindrical bottom cover and inner housing with outwardly biased spring and pawl components, the cylindrical knob or handle being rotatably supported through the fixed shifter positions in combination with a graphical display not limited to thin film transistor or segmented designs; 
         FIG. 2  is a repeat of the rotary selector switch of  FIG. 1A  and further showing the range of rotational fixed positions; 
         FIG. 3  is a cutaway taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  and showing the inner-workings of the rotary selector switch including the spring and pawl interface with the detent profile configured within the planetary gear and detent component in combination with the rotary spur gear with end supported magnet and which, upon being rotatably actuated by the planetary gear, causing the magnet to rotate relative to a PCBA mounted sensor to indicate shifter position and menu options presented by the graphical display; 
         FIG. 3A  is a sectional cutaway of the detent profile and planetary gear configured within the cylindrical shaped handle component; 
         FIG. 3B  is a sectional perspective of the package support inner housing component positioned coaxially internally of the handle component and supporting the opposing pairs of detent interfacing springs and pawls in combination with supporting the spur gear in relation to the inside circumferentially arrayed teeth configured within the planetary gear component; 
         FIG. 3C  is a sectional perspective of the spur gear with end supported magnet; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration similar to that presented in  FIG. 2  and depicting each of first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth fixed rotary select positions established by rotation of the cylindrical handle relative to the outwardly biasing pawls supported by the inner coaxially arranged and stationary package housing component, as well as further showing opposite end positions which, upon monostable toggled actuation, provide additional sub-menu functionality; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view taken along line  5 - 5  of the planetary gear and detent component of  FIG. 1B  and illustrating angled end profiles associated with detents at opposite end positions for supporting monostable functionality; 
         FIG. 6  presents a non-limiting graphical depiction of the display component of the rotary selector knob along with a combined presentation of menu options; 
         FIGS. 6A-6F  are subset illustrations respectively of a first through sixth position modes taken from the menu options of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled perspective of a rotary selector switch according to a further embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a rotary selector knob similar to that shown in  FIG. 7  and illustrating a redesigned PCBA supported by a bottom cover, inner housing with outwardly biased spring and pawl components, and outer cylindrical housing which supports upper and lower handle components rotatably supported through the fixed shifter positions in combination with a graphical display not limited to thin film transistor or segmented designs; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional cutaway of a first version of an assembled rotary selector knob such as depicted in  FIG. 7  in which the rotary handle rotates three hundred and sixty degrees with no end stops configured between the outwardly spring-loaded pawls and opposing detent profiles configured within the interior of the lower handle component; 
         FIG. 10  is a similar illustration to  FIG. 9  of a second version of the rotary selector knob in which the knob is rotatable between a successive number of positions, with monostable end stop functionality such as in order to toggle through a sub-menu of options; 
         FIG. 11  is an assembled side plan view of the rotary selector knob as substantially shown in  FIG. 8  with the outer housing removed and depicting the upper and lower rotatable handles supported upon the inner housing; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross section cutaway taken along the lower knob component and showing the inner supported ring gear which interfaces with and rotates the spur gear and end supported magnet positioned above the PCB mounted sensor; 
         FIG. 13  is a further sectional cutaway taken along the inner housing at a lower location in comparison to  FIG. 12  and again depicting the spur gear and magnet relative to the printed circuit board (PCBA); 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional perspective view showing the inner housing in phantom and illustrating the spur gear with end supported magnet positioned above the PCBA sensor; 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a non-limiting graphical depiction of a gear shift selector such as including a thin film transistor (TFT) or segmented display option; 
         FIGS. 16A-16E  provide additional subset illustrations representative of drive mod mode/terrain selector subset menu options associated with the rotary selector knob. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the attached illustrations, the present invention discloses a rotary vehicle drive mode or shift position selector knob (hereinafter synonymously referred to as a rotary selector switch), shown at  10  in each of  FIGS. 1 and 3 , according to a first variant. The rotary selector knob or switch incorporates a planetary gear and magnet supporting rotating spur gear arranged in proximity to a shifter position determining printed circuit board (PCBA). In combination, an arrangement of outwardly biased springs and pawls provide an opposing interface with a detent profile configured circumferentially within an inner surface of the planetary gear body, such that rotation of the knob achieves multiple fixed positions in combination with opposite end monostable select positions. As will be further described in additional detail, the drive mode switch incorporates a surface graphical display (thin film transistor, segmented, etc.) which, upon knob rotation beyond a monostable end position, provides the user the ability to toggle a sub-menu of options, such as for refinement or fine tuning of custom drive modes. 
     According to non-limiting applications of the present invention, the rotary knob allows the vehicle operator to select various shifter positions (PRND S/M/L) or drive modes, such as in one non-limiting application for presenting any of Sport, Snow, Economy (ECO) or other modes. The rotary knob further provides a graphic display not limited to thin film transistor, OLED or segmented display for indicating the shifter position or drive mode selection. 
     With reference initially to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , both assembled perspective and exploded views are provided of selected components associated with the rotary selector knob  10  according to the first embodiment of the present invention and illustrating a printed circuit board (PCBA)  12  supporting a cylindrical bottom cover  14 . For purposes of ease of illustration, certain housing and fascia components, including such as which encases the lower PCBA  12  and supports the bottom cover  14 , are not shown. 
     Additional components include a generally cylindrical shaped knob  16  (also termed a handle component and with further reference to  FIG. 3A  having an inner circumferential surface defining an open interior and exhibiting an upper detent profile  18  and a lower planetary gear profile  20 ). A stationary inner housing  22  is positioned within an open interior of the knob (see  FIG. 3 ). As best shown in  FIG. 3B  the inner housing includes a generally cylindrical shape with a stepped interface defined by an annular ledge  24  which corresponds with location of an installed inner annular edge profile  26  of the outer and bottom cover  14 . 
     Also shown is an interior window defined by an inner rim  28  configured in the inner housing  22  and which, as will be further described, provides support for a radially projecting spur gear having a shaft  30  supporting an uppermost enlarged diameter end  31  depicting a plurality of circumferentially arranged teeth  32 , with selected teeth being in engagement with the inside facing circumferential teeth  20  of the lower planetary gear profile. In combination, a shaft end face of the spur gear diameter end  31  incorporates a magnet  34 , with eccentric/orbital rotation and planetary displacement of the spur gear occurring in proximity to a sensor  36  located in the PCBA  12 . The sensor  36  without limitation can include an inductive sensor which, upon sensing a change in position of the overhead spur gear supported magnet, senses a change in voltage, a representative output signal of which is fed to a microprocessor component  35  of the PCBA  12  to in turn instruct a change in either a shift position or drive mode in a signal outputted from the PCBA  12 . Also depicted on a rear side of the PCBA  12  is a connector  37  for connecting the separate wire harness. 
     The inner housing  22  includes a pair of radially directed pockets  36  and  38  configured in upper locations thereof. A pair of pawls  40  and  42  are supported within the pockets  36 / 38  with outwardly biased by coil springs  44  and  46  arranged underneath in the pockets and as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The pawls  40 / 42  respectively bias against selected detent profiles  18  of the outer knob or handle  16  (see again  FIG. 3 ) in order to define selected rotary adjusted positions of the knob  16  relative to the coaxially supported inner housing  22  as well as the outermost bottom cover  14 . 
     An illuminating component  48  (such as further described including of a thin-film transistor, organic light emitting diode (OLED) or segmented display options, is associated with a surface display of the rotatable shifter knob or handle  16  for displaying a selected drive mode. Other features of the assembly include finish assembly components including a closeout  50  and outermost finish (such as chrome) ring  52  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The graphical display assembly  48  and associated applications provide a variety of display variants for adapting the surface dial illumination (see subsequent  FIGS. 6-6F ) associated with any configuration of shifter display to provide for any non-limiting depictions to accurately and effectively indicate any shifter/mode position. The improved display can incorporate any of thin film display (TFT), transistor LCD, or organic LED (OLED) display variants and which allows for any representation not limited to color, pattern or intensity to be created within a display surface geometry (again such as not limited to either of a round display in a rotary selector or a rectangular display associated with a linear gate selector). The present invention further allows for the use of a clear display surface (not having any painting or etching associated with known selector or other mode position indications and which is only limited by operating software communicated from the associated PCBA circuit board  12  and associated microcontroller. 
     Although not illustrated, an interior of the display housing  48  display housing can incorporate a plurality of LED or suitable illuminating components along with an LCD panel or the like. A ribbon harness  54  can provide either integrated power lines in a first TFT/OLED configuration or can include a pair of separate wires  55  and end connector  56  (see again  FIG. 1B ) in a segmented variant extending from the surface display housing connects to the PCBA  12 , with the surface display in one variant being generically provided without any specific etched or painted representations and which is modifiable in both color and intensity based upon the inputs received from the PCBA  12  to achieve a desired illumination scheme. 
     An alternate variant provides a segmented display in which the harness is substituted by a ribbon (not shown) extending from the PCBA  12  to a suitably reconfigured LED or LCD enabled display surface and by which individual wires within the ribbon illuminate are communicated to selected segments of the display surface. In this manner, and based upon the collection of individual inputs communicated from the main microcontroller located on the PCBA  12 , a desired illumination scheme is achieved. 
     Additional features include the programmed surface display (such as associated with OLED/TFT variants) depicting a current selected mode or sub-menu selection by the graphical display. The main microcontroller  35  of the PCBA board  12  may include a serial communication protocol not limited to any of LIN, SPI, and 12C. Other features include the PCBA board  12  microcontroller  35  incorporating a serial communication protocol not limited to any parallel interface established between the main microcontroller  35  and the display surface of the graphic display  48 . 
     Given the above structural description,  FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective of the rotary selector switch of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and further showing the range of rotational fixed positions which are accessible via either of clockwise (arrow  58 ) or counter-clockwise (arrow  60 ) rotating motion of the knob  16  applied by the user.  FIG. 4  is an illustration similar to that presented in  FIG. 2  and depicting each of first  62 , second  64 , third  66 , fourth  68 , fifth  70  and sixth  72  rotary shifter positions established by rotation of the cylindrical knob/handle  16  relative to the outwardly biasing pawls  40 / 42 . 
     As will be further described, the opposite first  62  and sixth  72  end positions, upon monostable toggled actuation, provide additional sub-menu functionality. Specifically, and with reference to  FIG. 5 , a plan view taken along line  5 - 5  of the planetary gear and detent component  16  of  FIG. 1B  is shown and illustrates angled end profiles associated with the detents  18  at opposite end positions for supporting monostable functionality (it is further noted that the lower planetary gear teeth  20  are hidden in downwardly looking plan cutaway view of  FIG. 5  and owing to them being arranged in an outwardly diameter spaced fashion as noted in  FIG. 3A  and relative to the upper and inwardly diameter arranged detent profile teeth  18 ). 
       FIG. 5  further depicts one hundred and eighty degree offset pairs of inner circumferential rim locations corresponding to positions one through six and are depicted by offset rim locations  62 ′/ 62 ″ for first end position  62 , locations  64 ′/ 64 ″ for second position  64 , locations  66 ′/ 66 ″ for third position  66 , locations  68 ′/ 68 ″ for fourth position  68 , locations  70 ′/ 70 ″ for fifth position  70  and locations  72 ′/ 72 ″ for sixth position  72 . As is further shown, ends of the first position offset rim locations  62 ′/ 62 ″ and sixth position offset rim locations  72 ′/ 72 ″ are angled (see as further shown by angled depictions at  74 / 76  for first position locations  62 ′/ 62 ″ as well as at  78 / 80  for sixth position locations  72 ′/ 72 ″. 
     The configuration and arrangement of the angling portions  74 / 76  and  78 / 80  at the first  62  and sixth  72  locations can be provided in combination with a suitable rotational biasing component (such as provided by the biasing springs  44 / 46  associated with the outwardly biased pawls  40 / 42  but which is envisioned in alternate variants to also include any torsional spring or like structure not shown) and so that toggling outside of the first  62  and sixth  74  positions define monostable adjustment positions. This is further represented by either of consecutive counterclockwise rotary motion at the first position  62  (see at  82  in  FIG. 4 ) or clockwise rotary motion at the sixth position (further at  84 ) applied to the knob  16  and resulting in controlled monostable adjustment (such as in combination with the associated counter biasing spring components such as integrated into the biased pawls) and which results in further rotation of the spur gear supported end magnet  34 , again via the teethed engagement of the pawls  40 / 42  to the succeeding interior circumferential detent profile  18  locations of the knob  16 . 
     The angling of the detent ends at the first  62  and sixth  72  positions is such that succeeding rotation of the knob  14  beyond the monostable end positions in turn causes the lower planetary gear teeth  20  of the knob/handle  16  to in turn incrementally rotate the supported spur gear  30  (see again  FIG. 3 ), via the meshing arrangement established between the knob inner gear teeth  20  which act upon the spur gear teeth  32 , and so that this incremental rotation of the end face magnet  34  is read by the PCBA  12 , via its sensor  36  and communicating microcontroller  35 . 
     Proceeding to  FIG. 6 , presented is a non-limiting graphical depiction of the display component of the rotary selector knob (such as presented upon a display face associated with the display component  48  and according to the graphical display options previously described). The graphical depiction of  FIG. 6  also provides a non-limiting overall depiction with a combined presentation of menu options showing color coded mode positions (again first through sixth by non-limiting representation) along with corresponding textual and color coded representations for each mode position. 
     The non-limiting graphical depictions provided in  FIG. 6  (all illuminated) include for each of first monostable position for CUSTOM (see also at  88  in  FIG. 6A ), second fixed position for ECO (for Economy and as shown at  90  in  FIG. 6B ), third fixed position for HILL (see also at  92  in  FIG. 6C ), fourth fixed position SNOW (see also at  94  in  FIG. 6D ), fifth fixed position RACE (see also at  96  in  FIG. 6E ), and, finally, sixth monostable position for STREET. 
     As again depicted at  88 - 98  respectively for each of  FIGS. 6A-6F , the subset illustrations presented are of one non-limiting combination first through sixth position modes taken from the menu options of  FIG. 6 . As previously described consecutive toggled counter clockwise (CCW) motion  60  beyond the first monostable position  62  or clockwise (CW) motion  58  beyond the sixth monostable position  72  results in a sub-menu of selections for either or both of the CUSTOM and STREET modes shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6F  respectively. 
     The monostable positions  62  and  72  offer the user the ability to not only select a drive mode, but also to utilize the monostable positions to allow the user to toggle and sub-menu for custom modes, using the same rotary knob  16 . In this manner, the present invention provides the user with a single switch or knob for making any desired sub-menu selections (not shown) additional to the primary mode selections  62 - 72 . 
     Additional variants envision substituting the gearing components described herein with a magnet ring and sensor arrangement incorporating into the PCBA. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an assembled perspective is generally shown at  100  of a rotary selector switch according to a further embodiment. As will be described with reference to the succeeding views, the rotary knob can be provided in either of a multiple fixed position configuration with monostable end functionality (similar to  FIGS. 1-6 ), such as for a drive mode variant in which the end monostable functionality provides the ability to toggle through a subset menu of custom drive modes. In a further reconfiguration, the rotary knob or switch can be provides as a 360° rotary shifter knob such as for presenting various shifter positions PRND S/M/L. Without limitation, the rotary selection knob or switch allows the vehicle operator to select from various drive/terrain modes, such as sport, snow, economy (ECO), etc., or to be used as a gear shift selector (Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Manual/Sport). 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a rotary selector knob similar to that shown in  FIG. 7  and illustrating a redesigned printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  102 , this being shown in a generally circular disk configuration and which includes an arrangement of upper surface components. This includes at least a sensor component  104  on an upper face, as well as a microcontroller or microprocessor component  106 . Also depicted is a wire harness connector  107  of a rear surface of the PCBA  102 , as well as a further upwardly projecting capacitor  108 . The PCBA  102  also includes, without limitation, a power supply or other component. 
     The spur gear  109  is arranged in overhead proximity to the sensor component  104 , which is typically in the form of an inductive sensor. The spur gear  109  includes an end face magnet  111  opposing the inductive sensor  104 , with relative orbital motion of the spur gear (such as relative to a ring gear incorporated into the rotatable knob as will be described) resulting in a relative change in position of the magnet, with a voltage change then being read by the sensor  104  for communicating to the microcontroller/microprocessor component  106 . 
     A bottom cover  110  is provided having a similar cross sectional disk shape and is configured to receive the PCBA  102  in a seating arrangement (including the provision of a recess pocket  112  for seating the microcontroller  106 ). Mounting screws  113  seat through apertures  115  in the bottom cover  110  and aligning mounting apertures  117  in the PCBA  102 . 
     An inner housing has a cylindrical shaped body  114  and is provided with an outwardly flared lower rim  116 . A window (see inner rim  118 ) is configured within the inner housing for seating the spur gear. First and second pairs of outwardly biased spring ( 120  and  122 ) and pawl ( 124  and  126 ) components are provided and are supported within apertures  128  and  130 . The spring and pawl components function similar as described in  FIG. 1B  at  40 - 46  as will be further described with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     An outer cylindrical shaped housing  132  installs over the inner housing and includes bottom tabs  134  with aperture receiving locations which engage projecting portions  135  configured at the lower expanded rim end of the inner housing  116  for securing the outer housing to the inner housing. Upper  136  and lower  138  interconnecting handle or knob components are provided, these further defined as one or more rotatable portions, with the lower handle or knob component  138  seating within the outer housing  132  as shown in  FIG. 7 . An underside rim of the upper handle or knob portion  136  includes notches  137  which seat within outer protuberances  139  formed about an upper rim of the lower handle component  138  and so that the upper and lower handle components rotate together. 
     A graphical display surface  140  (not limited to thin film transistor, OLED or segmented designs) seats within the upper handle component  136  so that the display is visible through a top surface. The graphical display can also include a ribbon cable  142  which extends to the remote bottom end located PCBA  102 . Without limitation, the ribbon cable forms part of a wire harness which can include power lines in a TFT/OLED variant, the power lines being separated into a separate wire set in the instance of a segmented variant. 
     The lower handle  138  further includes an upper inner circumferential array of detents  144  (similar to as shown in  FIG. 3A  at  18 ), as well as a corresponding lower array of teeth  146  corresponding to a circumferential interior ring gear for inter engaging selected outwardly facing teeth  148  of the spur gear  109 . Without limitation, the knob can be provided as either of a one-piece construction in which the detents and gear profile are integrated therein (such as also shown in  FIG. 3A ). Alternatively, the knob can be provided as a two piece subassembly in which the upper portion  136  can be removed from the lower portion  138 , such as in order to access the underside display  140  and ribbon cable  142 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional cutaway of a first version of an assembled rotary selector knob such as depicted in  FIG. 7  in which the rotary handle rotates three hundred and sixty degrees with no end stops configured between the outwardly spring-loaded pawls  124 / 126  and opposing detent profile  144  configured within the interior of the lower handle component. Also shown is a ribbon/LED wire harness tunnel  145  for communicating the display  140  to the PCBA  102 . 
       FIG. 10  is a similar illustration to  FIG. 9  of a second version of the rotary selector knob in which the knob is rotatable between successive positions, with monostable end stop functionality such as in order to toggle through a sub-menu of options. Similar to as shown in  FIG. 5  of the first variant, the knob positions are depicted at one hundred and eight degree offset locations  150 / 150 ′,  152 / 152 ′,  154 / 154 ′,  156 / 156 ′,  158 / 158 ′ and  160 / 160 ′ such that the rounded outer most biased portions of the pawls  124 / 126  concurrently seat within a selected pair of recessed seating locations associated with each shifter or drive mode position. As further shown, the end locations of each of the first position  150 / 150 ′ and sixth position  160 / 160 ′ detents further includes angled locations which are shown at  162 / 162 ′ for the first position and  164 / 164 ′ for the sixth position. As with the preceding embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5 , the monostable ends provide additional toggling functionality for navigating sub-menu options such as without limitation for presenting custom drive mode selections for presenting on the display screen  140 . 
       FIG. 11  is an assembled side plan view of the rotary selector knob as substantially shown in  FIG. 8 , with the outer housing removed and depicting the upper  136  and lower  136  rotatable handle components supported upon the outer lower rim support  116  of the inner housing. For purposes of the present description, the knob or handle components can be generally referred to as rotatable portions and can include a single or pair of portions as further described below. 
     Proceeding to  FIG. 12 , a section cutaway view is shown taken through the lower handle portion  138  (with the outer housing again removed) and showing the inner supported ring gear  146  which interfaces with and rotates the spur gear  109  and end supported magnet  111  positioned above the PCB mounted sensor  104  (see again exploded view of  FIG. 8 ). The shaft of the spur gear (again at  109 ) is supported within the inner housing  114  such that the enlarged diameter head and outward teeth  148  are partially seated in projecting fashion through the window  118  and in order to meshingly engage the ring gear teeth  146  in the manner shown. Rotation of the upper and lower handle components  136 / 138  results in ring gear  146  rotating the spur gear  109  (via the inter-meshing teeth  148 ) to in turn rotate the end supported magnet  111  relative to the PCBA supported sensor  104  which in turn detects the change in position of the magnet for subsequent outputting as a signal to the microcontroller component  106 . 
       FIG. 13  is a further sectional cutaway underside view taken along the lower knob component  138  at a lower location in comparison to  FIG. 12  in closer proximity to the PCBA  102  (not shown and again depicting the spur gear  109  and magnet  111 . Also depicted is a support structure  166  associated with the inner housing  114  for supporting in a stationary rotational fashion the stem  109  of the spur gear.  FIG. 14  is a sectional perspective view showing the inner housing  114  in phantom and illustrating the spur gear  109  with end supported magnet  111  positioned above the PCBA supported sensor  104 . 
     Having described the operational aspects of the rotary knob or switch (according to either the 360 degree rotational version of  FIG. 9  or the individual monostable position version of  FIG. 10 ), further reference is made to  FIG. 15  which provides an illustration, at  168  of a non-limiting graphical depiction of a gear shift selector, this further exhibiting a standard PRNDM display for each of Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Motor shifter positions). As previously disclosed, the display screen (as compared again to as shown at  140  in  FIG. 8 ) can include any of a thin film transistor (TFT) display, organic light emitting (OLED) display or segmented display option with LCD panels and the like. 
     Finally,  FIGS. 16A-16E  provide additional subset illustrations representative of drive mod mode/terrain selector subset menu options associated with the rotary selector knob. These are shown at  170  ( FIG. 16A ) for clear road conditions, at  172  ( FIG. 16B ) for snowy conditions, at  174  ( FIG. 16C ) for racing conditions, at  176  ( FIG. 16D ) for challenging terrain conditions and at  178  ( FIG. 16E ) for rainy/wet conditions. As further previously described, the subset menu options can be accessed such through the monostable end position toggling of the rotary knob/switch in the variant of  FIG. 10 . 
     Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. The detailed description and drawings are further understood to be supportive of the disclosure, the scope of which being defined by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed teachings have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims. 
     The foregoing disclosure is further understood as not intended to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. As such, it is contemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications to the present disclosure, whether explicitly described or implied herein, are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims. 
     In the foregoing specification, the disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as one skilled in the art will appreciate, various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified or otherwise implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this description is to be considered as illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the manner of making and using various embodiments of the disclosure. It is to be understood that the forms of disclosure herein shown and described are to be taken as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes or steps may be substituted for those representatively illustrated and described herein. Moreover, certain features of the disclosure may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the disclosure. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. 
     Further, various embodiments disclosed herein are to be taken in the illustrative and explanatory sense, and should in no way be construed as limiting of the present disclosure. All joinder references (e.g., attached, affixed, coupled, connected, and the like) are only used to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present disclosure, and may not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and/or methods disclosed herein. Therefore, joinder references, if any, are to be construed broadly. Moreover, such joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected to each other. 
     Additionally, all numerical terms, such as, but not limited to, “first”, “second”, “third”, “primary”, “secondary”, “main” or any other ordinary and/or numerical terms, should also be taken only as identifiers, to assist the reader&#39;s understanding of the various elements, embodiments, variations and/or modifications of the present disclosure, and may not create any limitations, particularly as to the order, or preference, of any element, embodiment, variation and/or modification relative to, or over, another element, embodiment, variation and/or modification. 
     It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Additionally, any signal hatches in the drawings/figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically specified.