Patent Abstract:
There is provided a device for detecting rotation in two directions which can detect rotation of a rotating member, which is rotatable around axes whose axial directions are two directions intersecting one another, and which can be easily assembled into various devices. Concretely, there is provided a shift lever device which can detect rotation of a shift lever, which is rotatable around axes whose axial directions are two directions orthogonal to one another, and in which assembly of such a shift lever rotation detecting structure is easy, and which can be made compact overall.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-128033, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a device for detecting rotation in two directions which detects rotation of a rotating body which rotates around axes whose axial directions are in two directions which intersect one another, and to a shift lever device for operating a transmission installed in a vehicle.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     A plurality of shift ranges are set in advance in an automatic transmission of a vehicle. An operating device, for selecting and operating these plural shift ranges is provided in the vehicle. A so-called shift lever device is often used as this type of operation device. There is a so-called “straight-type” shift lever device in which a shift lever rotates only around an axis whose axial direction is, for example, the substantially transverse (left-right) direction of the vehicle. In addition, there is a socalled “gate-type” shift lever device in which, for example, in addition to rotating around an axis whose axial direction is the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle, the shift lever can rotate around an axis whose axial direction is the substantially longitudinal (front-back) direction of the vehicle, so as to operate the shift lever in a zigzag form as seen in plan view.  
         [0006]     The gate-type shift lever device has a housing. A member, such as a control shaft or the like which structures the shift lever, is rotatably supported at a pair of side walls of the housing which oppose one another in the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle. Separately from the member such as the control shaft or the like, the shift lever has a lever main body having a bracket. The bracket of the lever main body is mounted to the member such as the control shaft or the like, so as to be able to rotate around an axis whose axial direction is the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle.  
         [0007]     The distal end side of the lever main body (i.e., the side opposite the bracket), projects upward, or the like, of the housing. When an attempt is made to rotate the lever main body around the axis whose axial direction is the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle, the bracket interferes with the member such as the control shaft or the like, and rotates the member such as the control shaft or the like. In this way, the lever main body rotates around the axis whose axial direction is the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle.  
         [0008]     When an attempt is made to rotate the lever main body around the axis whose axial direction is the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the bracket rotates, with respect to the member such as the control shaft or the like, around the axis whose axial direction is the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In this way, the lever main body rotates around the axis whose axial direction is the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle.  
         [0009]     When the shift lever is rotated in this way around the axes whose axial directions are the two directions of the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle and the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a position detecting means, which is structured by a magnetic sensor or a microswitch or the like, detects the rotational position of the shift lever. The automatic transmission installed in the vehicle is operated on the basis of these results of detection.  
         [0010]     The position detecting means, such as that described above which detects the rotational position of the shift lever, must be able to detect rotation of the shift lever wherein the axial direction is the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle, and rotation of the shift lever wherein the axial direction is the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, a position detecting means, which is for detecting the rotation of the member such as the control shaft or the like, is generally mounted to one side wall of the pair of side walls of the housing which oppose one another in the substantially transverse direction of the vehicle, and a position detecting means, which is for detecting rotation of the lever main body including the bracket, is mounted to one side wall of the pair of side walls of the housing which oppose one another in the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle.  
         [0011]     However, there are the drawbacks that there is a large number of steps for assembling the position detecting means from the many directions, and costs are high.  
         [0012]     Thus, in the shift lever device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 54-67684, a spherical shaft-supporting portion (a pivot) is formed at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of a shift lever at whose distal end portion a grasping portion is mounted. This spherical shaft-supporting portion is supported by a pivot bearing. A slider is mounted at the side of the spherical shaft-supporting portion, which side is opposite the side at which the grasping portion is located. The slider slides longitudinally and laterally in accordance with the rotation operation of the shift lever. A sliding contact, which is provided at the slider, appropriately contacts a fixed contact of a fixed plate which is provided at the side of the slider opposite the side at which the shift lever is located.  
         [0013]     In accordance with the above-described structure disclosed in JP-A No. 54-67684, it suffices to provide the fixed plate, which is the place where the position detecting means is, only beneath the shift lever. This overcomes the drawback of having to mount the position detecting means from various directions.  
         [0014]     However, the structure disclosed in JP-A No. 54-67684 has the critical drawback that it can only be applied to structures in which the shift lever is supported by a pivot bearing. Namely, in a structure in which a member such as the control shaft or the like rotates around an axis whose axial direction is the substantially vehicle transverse direction and the bracket of the lever main body is mounted, with respect to the member such as the control shaft or the like, so as to be able to rotate around an axis whose axial direction is the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle, even if a separate lever were to extend downward, or the like, from the control shaft, this lever would only rotate around an axis whose axial direction is the substantially vehicle transverse direction.  
         [0015]     Similarly, even if a separate lever were to extend from the bracket of the lever main body, this lever would only rotate around an axis whose axial direction is the substantially longitudinal direction of the vehicle.  
         [0016]     Accordingly, the technique disclosed in JP-A No. 54-67684 cannot be utilized in such a structure.  
         [0017]     Moreover, in the technique disclosed in JP-A No. 54-67684, the shift lever must be extended all the way to the side opposite the side at which the grasping portion is located, with the spherical shaft-supporting portion therebetween. As a result, it is difficult to make the shift lever device compact along the longitudinal direction of the shift lever. Moreover, because the slider and the like are provided within the housing of the shift lever device, there is the drawback that, when the slider is being assembled in, the housing interferes therewith and the work is difficult.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     In view of the aforementioned, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting rotation in two directions which can detect rotation of a rotating member which rotates around axes whose axial directions are two directions which intersect one another, and which can be easily assembled into various types of devices, and to provide a shift lever device which can detect rotation of a shift lever which rotates around axes whose axial directions are two directions which are orthogonal to one another, and in which assembly of the structure which detects the rotation of the shift lever is easy, and which can be made compact on the whole.  
         [0019]     A first aspect of the present invention is a device for detecting rotation in two directions, detecting rotation of a rotating member which rotates around a predetermined first axis direction and rotates around a predetermined second axis direction which intersects the first axis direction, the device comprising: first detecting means having a first rotating body which rotates around the first axis direction one of integrally with the rotating member and interlockingly with rotation of the rotating member around the first axis direction, and having a first detecting portion provided at one side of the rotating member along the first axis direction and one of electromagnetically and mechanically detecting rotation of the first rotating body; and second detecting means, provided at the one side of the rotating member along the first axis direction, for one of electromagnetically and mechanically detecting approach and movement away of the rotating member when the rotating member rotates in the direction around the second axis.  
         [0020]     In accordance with the device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to the present aspect, when the rotating member rotates in the direction around the first axis, the first rotating body of the first detecting means rotates together with the rotating member. This rotation of the first rotating body is detected electromagnetically or mechanically by the first detecting portion of the first detecting means which is provided at one side of the rotating member along the first axis direction. In this way, the rotation of the rotating member in the direction around the first axis is detected.  
         [0021]     On the other hand, when the rotating member rotates around the second axis direction which intersects the first axis direction, the rotation of the rotating member around the second axis direction is detected electromagnetically or mechanically by the second detecting portion of the second detecting means which is provided at one side of the rotating member along the first axis direction.  
         [0022]     In this way, in the device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to the present aspect, rotation of the rotating member around the first axis direction and around the second axis direction can be detected.  
         [0023]     Here, in the device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to the present aspect, both the first detecting portion of the first detecting means and the second detecting means are provided at one (the same) side of the rotating member along the first axis direction. Therefore, the first detecting portion of the first detecting means and the second detecting means can be made integral as a single unit, and the mounting (assembly) of the present device for detecting rotation in two directions, with respect to various types of devices which are structured to include the rotating member, can be carried out easily.  
         [0024]     At the first detecting means, the first detecting portion detects, at one side of the rotating member along the first axis direction, the rotation of the first rotating body which is integral with or interlocked with rotation of the rotating member around the first axis direction. The second detecting means detects rotation of the rotating member at one side of the rotating member along the first axis direction. Namely, the device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to the present invention is not a structure (such as the structure disclosed in above-discussed JP-A No. 54-67684) which detects rotation of a rotating member at the side opposite the rotating member, with respect to the rotation axial center of the rotating member along both the first axis direction and the second axis direction located therebetween.  
         [0025]     Therefore, as compared with a structure which detects the rotation of the rotating member at the side opposite the rotating member, with respect to the rotation axial center of the rotating member, it suffices to not elongate the member, which rotates together with the rotating member, as far as the side of the rotation axial center which side is opposite the rotating member, and the overall device can be made compact.  
         [0026]     In a second aspect of the present invention, the second detecting means of the above-described first aspect has: a moving body moving in the first axis direction due to the rotating member rotating toward at least one side in the direction around the second axis; and a second detecting portion detecting, one of directly and indirectly, movement of the moving body along the first axis direction.  
         [0027]     In accordance with the device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to the present aspect, when the rotating member rotates toward at least one side in the direction around the second axis, the moving body moves along the first axis direction due to the rotation of the rotating member. When the moving body moves in the first axis direction in this way, the movement of the moving body is detected directly or indirectly by the second detecting portion which structures the second detecting means. The rotation of the rotating member around the second axis direction is thereby detected.  
         [0028]     In a third aspect of the present invention, the second detecting means of the above-described second aspect has a second rotating body which, interlockingly with the movement of the moving body, rotates in a direction around an axis parallel to the first axis direction, and the second detecting portion detects rotation of the second rotating body.  
         [0029]     In accordance with the device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to the present aspect, when the rotating member rotates toward at least one side in the direction around the second axis, the moving body moves along the first axis direction due to the rotation of the rotating member. When the moving body moves in the first axis direction, the second rotating body rotates around an axis which is parallel to the first axis direction. Due to the second detecting portion detecting the rotation of the second rotating body, the rotation of the rotating member around the second axis direction is detected.  
         [0030]     Here, both the first rotating body of the first detecting means and the second rotating body of the second detecting means rotate around axes whose axial directions are the same direction (the first axis direction and a direction parallel to the first axis direction). Namely, the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion are both structures which detect rotation. Accordingly, the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion can be made to have the same structure, and, as a result, the manufacturing costs of the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion can be effectively reduced.  
         [0031]     In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a shift lever device comprises: a shift lever having a first lever supported so as to be able to rotate around a predetermined first axis direction, and a second lever supported at the first lever so as to be able to rotate around a second axis direction which intersects the first axis direction; first detecting means having 1) a first rotating body which is connected at a side of a rotating shaft of the first lever along the first axis direction, to the rotating shaft one of directly and indirectly, and which rotates together with the first lever, and 2) a first detecting portion for detecting rotation of the first rotating body one of electromagnetically and mechanically; and second detecting means provided at a side of the second lever at which side the first detecting means is provided along the first axis direction with respect to the shift lever, the second detecting means including a second detecting portion for detecting, one of electromagnetically and mechanically, displacement of the second lever along the first axis direction due to rotation of the second lever around the second axis direction, wherein the shift lever device controls a transmission installed in a vehicle, on the basis of results of detection of the first detecting means and the second detecting means.  
         [0032]     In accordance with the shift lever device relating to the present aspect, the first lever which structures the shift lever is supported, directly or indirectly, so as to be able to rotate in the direction around the first axis. The first rotating body of the first detecting means is connected, directly or indirectly, to the rotating shaft of the first lever, at a side of the rotating shaft of the first lever along the first axis direction. Due to the first lever rotating, the first rotating body rotates together with the first lever.  
         [0033]     The rotation of the first lever is detected electromagnetically or mechanically by the first detecting portion of the first detecting means. The rotation of the shift lever along the direction around the first axis is thereby detected.  
         [0034]     On the other hand, the second lever is connected to the first lever, and the second lever can be rotated, with respect to the first lever, around the second axis direction which intersects the first axis direction. When the second lever is rotated around the second axis direction, the rotation of the second lever is detected electromagnetically or mechanically by the second detecting portion of the second detecting means. In this way, the rotation of the shift lever along the direction around the second axis is detected.  
         [0035]     In the shift lever device relating to the present aspect, a transmission, which is installed in a vehicle, is operated in accordance with the results of detection of the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion at the time when the shift lever is rotated around the first axis direction and around the second axis direction as described above. For example, the transmission is changed to a shift range or a gear corresponding to the rotational position of the shift lever around the first axis direction and around the second axis direction.  
         [0036]     Here, in the shift lever device relating to the present aspect, the second detecting means is provided at the side at which the first detecting means is provided along the first axis direction with respect to the shift lever. Therefore, the first detecting means and the second detecting means can be made integral as a single unit, and the assembly work and the like thereof can be carried out easily.  
         [0037]     Further, the second detecting means detects the rotation of the second lever along the first axis direction at the time when the second lever rotates around the second axis direction. Therefore, the second detecting means does not have to be mechanically connected to the rotating shaft of the second lever, and such a connecting member or the like is not needed, and the device can be made compact overall.  
         [0038]     In a fifth aspect of the present invention, the shift lever device based on the above-described fourth aspect further comprises a housing having a pair of side walls which are provided so as to oppose one another, and between which the shift lever is disposed, and which rotatably support the first lever, wherein, at an outer side of one side wall of the pair of side walls, the first detecting means and the second detecting means are mounted to the one side wall of the pair of side walls.  
         [0039]     In accordance with the shift lever device relating to the present aspect, the shift lever is provided between the pair of side walls which structure the housing, and the first lever is pivotally supported at the pair of side walls.  
         [0040]     On the other hand, in the shift lever device relating to the present aspect, the first detecting means and the second detecting means are provided at the outer side of one side wall of the pair of side walls (i.e., at the side of one side wall of the pair of side walls, which side is opposite the other side wall). The first detecting means and the second detecting means are mounted to the one side wall of the pair of side walls. Therefore, the first detecting means and the second detecting means can be made integral as a single unit. In addition, as compared with a structure which detects rotation of the shift lever by providing a sensor or the like at the inner side of the housing, the assembly and removal of the first detecting means and the second detecting means are easy, and the routing of the wiring and the like also can be made to be easy.  
         [0041]     In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the second detecting means of the above-described fourth or fifth aspect has: a moving body passing through the one side wall of the pair of side walls and provided so as to be slidable in a direction parallel to the first axis direction, and due to an end portion of the moving body within the housing being pressed one of directly and indirectly by the second lever which rotates around the second axis direction in a direction of approaching the one side wall of the pair of side walls, the moving body slides toward an outer side of the one side wall of the pair of side walls; and a second rotating body disposed so as to oppose the other end of the moving body, and rotating around an axis, whose axial direction is a direction parallel to the first axis direction, due to pushing force from the other end of the moving body along a direction parallel to the first axis direction. Each of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is structured to have a permanent magnet at which an orientation of poles is set in a direction orthogonal to the first axis direction. Each of the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion is a magnetic detecting means for detecting changes in a magnetic field of the permanent magnet which are generated by rotation of the permanent magnet.  
         [0042]     In the shift lever device relating to the present aspect, when the first lever rotates around the first axis direction and the first rotating body rotates, the orientation of the poles of the permanent magnet structuring the first rotating body changes. When the orientation of the poles changes due to the rotation of the permanent magnet in this way, a change arises in the magnetic field which the permanent magnet forms. This change in the magnetic field is detected by the magnetic detecting means which structures the first detecting portion.  
         [0043]     On the other hand, when the second lever rotates around the second axis direction and the second lever approaches one side wall of the pair of side walls structuring the housing, the end portion of the moving body which passes through the one side wall is pushed directly or indirectly by the second lever and slides. When the moving body receives the pushing force from the second lever and slides, the other end of the moving body pushes the second rotating body.  
         [0044]     When the second rotating body receives the pushing force from the moving body, the second rotating body rotates around an axis whose axial direction is a direction parallel to (the same direction as) the first axis direction. When the second rotating body rotates in this way, the orientation of the poles of the permanent magnet structuring the second rotating body changes. When the orientation of the poles changes due to the rotation of the permanent magnet in this way, a change arises in the magnetic field which the permanent magnet forms. This change in the magnetic field is detected by the magnetic detecting means which structures the second detecting portion.  
         [0045]     Here, the present shift lever device is structured by magnetic detecting means in which both the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion have basically the same operation. In this way, by using parts of basically the same specifications for the first detecting portion and the second detecting portion, the number of types of parts can be reduced, and costs can be reduced.  
         [0046]     As described above, the device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to the present invention can detect rotation of a rotating member which rotates around axes whose axial directions are two directions which intersect one another, and can be easily assembled into various types of devices.  
         [0047]     Further, in the shift lever device relating to the present invention, rotation of a shift lever, which rotates around axes whose axial directions are two directions which are orthogonal to one another, can be detected, and assembly of the structure which detects rotation of the shift lever is easy, and the shift lever device can be made compact on the whole. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0048]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a main portion (a device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to a first embodiment of the present invention) of a shift lever device relating to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the overall structure of the shift lever device relating to the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0050]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the structure of a moving body and a second rotating body.  
         [0051]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a housing, and illustrates shift positions of a shift lever.  
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing the relationship between the shift lever and the moving body.  
         [0053]      FIG. 6  is block diagram summarily showing the relationship between an automatic transmission and first and second detecting portions.  
         [0054]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a main portion (a device for detecting rotation in two directions relating to a second embodiment of the present invention) of a shift lever device relating to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0000]     &lt;Structure of First Embodiment&gt; 
         [0055]     The structure of a shift lever device  10  relating to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in an exploded perspective view in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the present shift lever device  10  has a lower housing  14  which structures a housing  12 . The lower housing  14  is provided at, for example, a predetermined position at the front side of a vehicle between the driver&#39;s seat and the front passenger&#39;s seat. Examples of this predetermined position are beneath the front side of the console box, at the reverse surface side of the instrument panel, and the like.  
         [0056]     The lower housing  14  is formed in the shape of a tube having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration, and includes a pair of side walls  16 ,  17  which oppose one another substantially along the transverse direction of the vehicle, and a pair of side walls  18 ,  19  which oppose one another substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The upper side open end of the lower housing  14  in  FIG. 2  is closed by an upper housing  20 . The top surface of the upper housing  20  is exposed to the interior of the vehicle passenger compartment. By closing the open end of the lower housing  14  by the upper housing  20 , the various members at the interior of the lower housing  14  are hidden, and the entry of foreign matter and the like therein is prohibited or suppressed.  
         [0057]     A lever main body  24  which structures a shift lever  22  is provided at the inner side of the lower housing  14 . The lever main body  24  has a retainer  26  serving as a first lever. The retainer  26  is formed, in front view, in the shape of an upside-down triangle whose bottom end is the apex. A substantially tubular tube portion  28 , which passes through along the direction in which the side walls  16 ,  17  oppose one another, is formed at the top end portion of the retainer  26 .  
         [0058]     A shaft  30  (see  FIG. 5 ), whose axial direction is along the direction in which the side walls  16 ,  17  oppose one another, is connected substantially integrally to the tube portion  28  in a state of passing therethrough. The both axial direction end sides of the shaft  30  pass through the side walls  16 ,  17  and are supported by the side walls  16 ,  17 . The retainer  26  and the shaft  30  are thereby supported so as to be able to rotate around the axial center of the shaft  30 .  
         [0059]     The lever main body  24  has a body  36  as a second lever. The body  36  has a block-shaped base portion  38 . A pair of leg plates  40  extend from the bottom end portion of the base portion  38 . The directions of thickness of the both leg plates  40  are along the direction in which the side walls  18 ,  19  oppose one another, and the leg plates  40  are formed as to oppose one another along the direction in which the side walls  18 ,  19  oppose one another.  
         [0060]     The interval between the leg plates  40  is slightly larger than the thickness of the above-described retainer  26 , and the retainer  26  is disposed between these leg plates  40 . Through-holes  42 , which pass-through along the direction of thickness of the leg plates  40 , are formed in the lower end portions of the leg plates  40 . A through-hole  44  is formed in the lower end portion of the retainer  26  so as to correspond to the through-holes  42 . A shaft  46 , whose axial direction runs along the direction in which the side walls  18 ,  19  oppose one another, passes through the through-holes  42 ,  44 . The body  36  is supported so as to be able to rotate around the shaft  46 , relative to the retainer  26 .  
         [0061]     A circular hole  78  having a bottom is formed in the top surface of the base portion  38  of the body  36 . The proximal end portion of a lever member  80 , which is rod-shaped and structures the shift lever  22 , is inserted in and fixed integrally to the circular hole  78 . At the longitudinal direction intermediate portion of the lever member  80 , the lever member  80  passes through a substantially “backward h” shaped shift hole  82  formed in the upper housing  20 , and extends to the outer side of the upper housing  20 . A knob  90  is mounted to the lever member  80  which extends to the outer side of the upper housing  20 .  
         [0062]     On the other hand, a pin accommodating portion  120  which is tubular is formed in the base portion  38  of the body  36 , at the side of the lever member  80 . The pin accommodating portion  120  is open at the upper end portion thereof in  FIG. 2 . A compression coil spring (not illustrated) and a pin  124  are accommodated in the pin accommodating portion  120 . A gate member (not shown), in which a return groove is formed, is disposed at the reverse side of the upper housing  20  and at the inner side of the lower housing  14 , in correspondence with the pin  124 .  
         [0063]     The return groove is a bottomed-groove formed at the reverse side of a top floor. In plan view (as reverse surface view), the return groove is formed in a substantially “backward h” shape, in the same way as the shift hole  82 . In the state in which the pin  124  compresses the compression coil spring from above, the top end of the pin  124  is set in the return groove, and press-contacts the top side floor of the return groove due to the urging force of the compression coil spring. Moreover, the top side floor of the return groove is slanted appropriately. In the state in which the lever main body  24  is positioned at a return position S in the shift hole  82  shown in  FIG. 4 , the position of the return groove, which position is the same as the return position, is where the return groove is the deepest. In the state in which the pin  124  is positioned at a position other than the return position S, the urging force of the compression coil spring attempts to return the pin  124  to the return position S.  
         [0064]     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a sensor unit  130 , which serves as a device for detecting rotation in two directions, is provided at the side of the side wall  16 , which side is opposite the side at which the side wall  17  is located. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sensor unit  130  has a base  132 . The base  132  has a shallow main body  134  which opens toward the side opposite the side wall  16 . A holder  136 , which is substantially cylindrical tube shaped, is formed at the reverse surface side of the floor portion of the main body  134 .  
         [0065]     A rotating plate  138 , which serves as a first rotating body, is accommodated within the holder  136 , substantially coaxially with the holder  136 . A spring  140  is accommodated within the holder  136 , between the floor portion of the base  132  and the rotating plate  138 . One end of the spring  140  engages with a projection  142  formed at the inner peripheral portion of the holder  136 . Another end of the spring  140  engages with a projection  144  which projects from the rotating plate  138 . When the rotating plate  138  rotates around its own center within the holder  136 , the other end of the spring  140  rotates with respect to the one end thereof. Urging force, which attempts to return the rotating plate  138  to its original rotational position, is thereby generated.  
         [0066]     A disc-shaped cover  146  is provided at the side of the rotating plate  138  opposite the side at which the spring  140  is located. Engaging pieces  148  are formed to project from the outer peripheral portion of the cover  146 . Due to engaging claws  150 , which are formed at the outer peripheral portion of the holder  136 , engaging with the engaging pieces  148 , the cover  146  closes the open end side of the holder  136  and prevents the rotating plate  138  from falling-out. Moreover, a ring spring  152  is interposed between the cover  146  and the rotating plate  138 . Displacement of the rotating plate  138  along the axial direction thereof is restricted by the urging force of the ring spring  152 .  
         [0067]     A key  154  is formed to project from the center of the cover  146  side end surface of the rotating plate  138 . The key  154  passes through a through-hole  156  formed in the cover  146 , and fits in a key groove  158  formed in the side wall  16  side end surface of the shaft  30 . In the state in which the key  154  is fit in the key groove  158 , the rotating plate  138  is connected coaxially to the shaft  30 , and when the shaft  30  rotates around its own axial center, the rotating plate  138  rotates together with the shaft  30 .  
         [0068]     On the other hand, a substantially cylindrical tube shaped holder  160  is formed at the reverse surface side of the floor portion of the main body  134  structuring the base  132 .  
         [0069]     The holder  160  is formed above the holder  136 , in the state in which the base  132  is mounted to the side wall  16 . The holder  160  is formed in the shape of a cylindrical tube which opens in the same direction as the direction of opening of the holder  136 . A rotating plate  162 , which serves as a second rotating body and structures a second detecting means, is accommodated within the holder  160 , substantially coaxially with the holder  160 .  
         [0070]     The spring  140  is accommodated within the holder  160 , between the floor portion of the base  132  and the rotating plate  162 . One end of the spring  140  engages with the projection  142  formed at the inner peripheral portion of the holder  160 . Another end of the spring  140  engages with the projection  144  which projects from the rotating plate  162 . When the rotating plate  162  rotates around its own center within the holder  160 , the other end of the spring  140  rotates with respect to the one end thereof. Urging force, which attempts to return the rotating plate  162  to its original rotational position, is thereby generated.  
         [0071]     A plunger  164 , which serves as a moving body and structures the second detecting means, is provided at the side of the rotating plate  162  opposite the side where the spring  140  is located. The plunger  164  has a main body  166 . The main body  166  is a solid-cylindrical member whose axial direction is the same direction as the shaft  30 . A cam portion  168  is formed at the base  132  side end portion, along the axial direction, of the main body  166 .  
         [0072]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cam portion  168  is formed in the shape of a cylindrical tube which has a bottom and which opens toward the base  132 . The outer diameter of the cam portion  168  is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the main body  166 , and the cam portion  168  is formed integrally and coaxially with the main body  166 .  
         [0073]     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner floor surface of the cam portion  168  is formed in the shape of a screw around the axial center of the cam portion  168 , and gradually becomes deeper one way along the direction around the axis of the cam portion  168 . An oval shaft portion  170  is formed at the substantial center of the cam portion  168  side surface of the rotating plate  162 , so as to correspond to the cam portion  168 . A pin  172  is formed to project from the end surface of the shaft portion  170 , in a state of being eccentric with respect to the center of the rotating plate  162 .  
         [0074]     The shaft portion  170  is formed so as to be able to fit together with the inner side of the cam portion  168  and rotate around the axial center of the cam portion  168 . In the state in which the shaft portion  170  is fit-in at the inner side of the cam portion  168 , the distal end of the pin  172  abuts the inner floor surface of the cam portion  168 .  
         [0075]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a return spring  174  is disposed between the cam portion  168  and the rotating plate  162 . As mentioned above, the shaft portion  170  can fit-together with the inner side of the cam portion  168 . The return spring  174  urges the plunger  164  in the direction of moving the cam portion  168  away from the shaft portion  170  (i.e., away from the rotating plate  162 ).  
         [0076]     A cover  176  is provided at the side of the rotating plate  162  opposite the side at which the spring  140  is located. The cover  176  has a large diameter portion  178  which is formed in the shape of a cylindrical tube having a floor and which opens toward the base  132 . The engaging pieces  148  are formed to project outwardly in the radial direction from the rotating plate  162  side end surface of the large diameter portion  178 . Due to the engaging claws  150 , which are formed at the outer peripheral portion of the holder  160 , engaging with the engaging pieces  148 , the cover  176  closes the open end side of the holder  160 , and prevents the rotating plate  162  from falling-out.  
         [0077]     A small diameter portion  180 , which is shaped as a cylindrical tube, is formed coaxially and integrally with the large diameter portion  178 , at the end portion of the large diameter portion  178  at the side opposite the side where the rotating plate  162  is located. The end portion of the small diameter portion  180 , which end portion is at the side opposite the large diameter portion  178 , is open. The end portion of the small diameter portion  180 , which end portion is at the large diameter portion  178  side, opens at the floor portion of the large diameter portion  178 . The inner diameter of the small diameter portion  180  is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the main body  166  of the plunger  164 , and is sufficiently smaller than the outer diameter of the cam portion  168 .  
         [0078]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the small diameter portion  180  passes through a through-hole  156  formed in the side wall  16 , and projects into the housing  12 .  
         [0079]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the distal end side of the main body  166  of the plunger  164  which is urged by the aforementioned return spring  174  (i.e., the side opposite the cam portion  168 ) passes through the small diameter portion  180  and opposes the base portion  38  of the body  36 .  
         [0080]     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the ring spring  152  is interposed between the rotating plate  162  and the large diameter portion  178  of the cover  176 . Displacement of the rotating plate  162  along the axial direction thereof is restricted by the urging force of the ring spring  152 .  
         [0081]     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a magnet  182 , which serves as a permanent magnet and structures a first detecting means, is fixed to the end surface of the rotating plate  138  at the side opposite the side wall  16 . The magnet  182  is formed in the shape of a rectangle whose longitudinal direction runs along the radial direction of the rotating plate  138 . One side of the magnet  182 , with respect to the center of the rotating plate  138 , is the N pole, and the other side is the S pole.  
         [0082]     A magnet  184 , which serves as a permanent magnet and structures the second detecting means, is fixed to the end surface of the rotating plate  162  at the side opposite the side wall  16 . In the same way as the magnet  182 , the magnet  184  is formed in the shape of a rectangle whose longitudinal direction runs along the radial direction of the rotating plate  162 . One side of the magnet  184 , with respect to the center of the rotating plate  162 , is the N pole, and the other side is the S pole.  
         [0083]     A PC board  186  is provided at the side of the base  132  opposite the side at which the holders  136 ,  160  are located. Printed wiring (not shown) is formed on the PC board  186 , and electrical elements, such as resistor elements and the like, are appropriately mounted thereto.  
         [0084]     A magnetic sensor  188  is provided at the PC board  186  so as to oppose the magnet  182 . The magnetic sensor  188  is structured by a Hall element or a magneto resistance element (including a so-called giant magneto resistance element), and detects the fluctuations in the magnetism formed by the magnet  182  (the changes in the strength of the magnetic field, or the changes in the orientation of the magnetic field, or the like).  
         [0085]     Moreover, a magnetic sensor  190  is provided at the PC board  186  so as to oppose the magnet  184 . In the same way as the magnetic sensor  188 , the magnetic sensor  190  is structured by a Hall element or a magneto resistance element (including a so-called giant magneto resistance element), and detects the fluctuations in the magnetism formed by the magnet  184  (the changes in the strength of the magnetic field, or the changes in the orientation of the magnetic field, or the like).  
         [0086]     As shown in the block diagram of  FIG. 6 , the magnetic sensors  188 ,  190  are connected to an ECU  192  which is provided on the PC board  186 . On the basis of the output signals from the magnetic sensors  188 ,  190 , the ECU  192  detects the rotational position of the shift lever  22 , and outputs these results of detection to an ECU  196  of an automatic transmission  194 . The ECU  196  appropriately operates the automatic transmission  194  in accordance with the output (the results of detection) from the ECU  192 .  
         [0087]     A cover  198  is provided at the side of the PC board  186  opposite the side at which the magnetic sensors  188 ,  190  are located. The cover  198  is held at the base  132  due to fit-together portions  200 , which are formed at the outer peripheral portion of the base  132 , being fit into holes of fit-together pieces  199 , which are formed at the outer peripheral portion of the cover  198 . In the state in which the cover  198  is held at the base  132 , the side of the base  132 , at which side the PC board  186  is accommodated, is closed by the cover  198 , and the PC board  186  is thereby prevented from falling-out.  
         [0000]     &lt;Operation and Effects of First Embodiment&gt; 
         [0088]     The operation and effects of the present embodiment will be described next.  
         [0089]     In the present shift lever device  10 , when, from the state in which the lever main body  24  passes through the shift hole  82  at the S position in  FIG. 4 , the knob  90  is grasped and the shift lever  22  is pushed toward the right in  FIG. 4  (in the direction of arrow R in  FIG. 4 ), the body  36  rotates around the shaft  46  with respect to the retainer  26 . The lever member  80  thereby passes through the shift hole  82  at the N position of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0090]     When the body  36  rotates around the shaft  46  with respect to the retainer  26  in this way, as shown by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 5 , the body  36  pushes the main body  166  of the plunger  164 . The plunger  164 , which is pushed by the body  36 , slides, against the urging force of the return spring  174 , substantially toward the right in  FIG. 5  along a direction parallel to (the same direction as) the axial direction of the shaft  30 . When the plunger  164  slides in this way, the inner floor surface of the cam portion  168  pushes the pin  172  which is formed at the shaft portion  170  of the rotating plate  162 .  
         [0091]     Because the rotating plate  162  basically cannot be displaced along the axial direction thereof, the pin  172 , which is pushed by the cam portion  168 , rotates around the axial center of the cam portion  168  so as to be displaced toward the deeper side of the inner floor surface of the cam portion  168  which is formed in a spiral. In this way, the rotating plate  162  rotates against the urging force of the spring  140 .  
         [0092]     When the rotating plate  162  rotates, the orientation of the poles of the magnet  184  fixed to the rotating plate  162  changes, and accompanying this change, the magnetism which the magnet  184  forms fluctuates. This fluctuation in the magnetism formed by the magnet  184  is detected by the magnetic sensor  190  provided at the PC board  186 .  
         [0093]     Next, when, from this state, the knob  90  is pushed upward in  FIG. 4  (in the direction of arrow U in  FIG. 4 ) and the body  36  and the retainer  26  rotate around the axial center of the shaft  30  until the lever member  80  passes through the shift hole  82  at position D of  FIG. 4 , the shaft  30  rotates accompanying this. Due to the shaft  30  rotating, the rotating plate  138  rotates substantially integrally therewith, and the orientation of the poles of the magnet  182  fixed to the rotating plate  138  thereby changes. Accompanying this change, the magnetism formed by the magnet  182  fluctuates. This fluctuation in the magnetism formed by the magnet  182  is detected by the magnetic sensor  188  provided at the PC board  186 .  
         [0094]     On the other hand, after the shift lever  22  is rotated from the S position to the N position as described above, when the knob  90  is pushed downward in  FIG. 4  (in the direction of arrow D in  FIG. 4 ) and the body  36  and the retainer  26  rotate around the axial center of the shaft  30  until the lever member  80  passes through the shift hole  82  at position R of  FIG. 4 , the shaft  30  rotates accompanying this. Due to the shaft  30  rotating, the rotating plate  138  rotates substantially integrally therewith, and the orientation of the poles of the magnet  182  fixed to the rotating plate  138  thereby changes. Accompanying this change, the magnetism formed by the magnet  182  fluctuates. This fluctuation in the magnetism formed by the magnet  182  is detected by the magnetic sensor  188  provided at the PC board  186 .  
         [0095]     In contrast, when, from the state in which the lever main body  24  passes through the shift hole  82  at the S position in  FIG. 4 , the knob  90  is pushed upward in  FIG. 4  (in the direction of arrow U in  FIG. 4 ) and the body  36  and the retainer  26  rotate around the axial center of the shaft  30  until the lever member  80  passes through the shift hole  82  at position B of  FIG. 4 , the shaft  30  rotates accompanying this. Due to the shaft  30  rotating, the rotating plate  138  rotates substantially integrally therewith, and the orientation of the poles of the magnet  182  fixed to the rotating plate  138  thereby changes. Accompanying this change, the magnetism formed by the magnet  182  fluctuates.  
         [0096]     This fluctuation in the magnetism formed by the magnet  182  is detected by the magnetic sensor  188  provided at the PC board  186 . However, in this case, because the body  36  does not push the plunger  164 , the rotating plate  162  does not rotate, and accordingly, no fluctuations arise in the magnetism formed by the magnet  184 .  
         [0097]     As described above, depending on which of the S position, the D position, the R position and the B position the lever main body  24  passes through the shift hole  82  at, the signal outputted from at least one of the magnetic sensors  188 ,  190  differs. On the basis of the differences in the signals, at the ECU  192  of the PC board  186 , it is determined at which of the S position, the D position, the R position and the B position the lever member  80  (i.e., the shift lever  22 ) is positioned.  
         [0098]     The ECU  192  outputs a signal which is based on the results of determination of the position of the lever member  80 . The signal outputted by the ECU  192 , i.e., the results of determination of the position of the lever member  80 , is inputted to the ECU  196  as a signal.  
         [0099]     If, based on the signal from the ECU  192 , it is determined that the position of the lever member  80  is the D position, the ECU  196  changes the shift range to the drive range (D range), and the vehicle is set in a state in which it can proceed forward. If the position of the lever member  80  is the R position, the ECU  196  changes the shift range to the reverse range (R range), and the vehicle is set in a state in which it can move backward.  
         [0100]     Further, if it is determined that the position of the lever member  80  is the B position, the ECU  196  changes the shift range to the engine brake (B range), so as to change to a shift range mainly using gears having a relatively low gear ratio. When, in a state in which the vehicle is originally traveling by using gears having a relatively high gear ratio, the shift range is changed in this way to a shift range mainly using gears of a low gear ratio, a state in which the so-called engine brake is applied arises.  
         [0101]     In the sensor unit  130  which is applied to the present shift lever device  10 , the rotating plate  138 , the magnet  182 , and the magnetic sensor  188 , which detect the rotation of the shaft  30 , are provided at the outer side of the side wall  16 . Further, the plunger  164 , the rotating plate  162 , the magnet  184 , and the magnetic sensor  190 , which detect the rotation of the body  36  around the shaft  46 , are also provided at the outer side of the side wall  16 , in the same way as the rotating plate  138  and the like.  
         [0102]     Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the plunger  164 , the rotating plates  138 ,  162 , the magnets  182 ,  184 , and the magnetic sensors  188 ,  190  can be made into a unit, and assembly thereof to the housing  12  is easy.  
         [0103]     Further, the structure for detecting the rotation of the shaft  30  (i.e., the rotating plate  138 , the magnet  182 , and the magnetic sensor  188 ), and the structure for detecting the rotation of the body  36  around the shaft  46  (i.e., the plunger  164 , the rotating plate  162 , the magnet  184 , and the magnetic sensor  190 ) are basically mounted to the side wall  16  as an integral unit. Therefore, no structure for detecting the rotation of the shift lever  22  is disposed beneath the shift lever  22 , i.e., beneath the retainer  26 . In this way, the lower housing  14  can be formed to be short, and as a result, the device can be made more compact overall.  
         [0104]     In the present embodiment, the sliding of the plunger  164  is changed, by the cam portion  168 , into rotation of the rotating plate  162 , and the rotation of the rotating plate  162  is detected by the magnetic sensor  190  as a fluctuation in the magnetism of the magnet  184 . Therefore, although the structures of the key  154  and the shaft portion  170  may differ, the same structure of the spring  140  and the ring spring  152  can basically be applied at both the rotating plate  138  side and the rotating plate  162  side. Further, with regard to the magnets  182 ,  184  and the magnetic sensors  188 ,  190  as well, the same structure can be applied at both the rotating plate  138  side and the rotating plate  162  side. Because the number of common parts can be increased in this way, the costs of the parts can be reduced as a result.  
         [0105]     Further, because the magnetic sensor  188  and the magnetic sensor  190  can be formed to have basically the same structure, the processing of the signals from the magnetic sensor  188  and the processing of the signals from the magnetic sensor  190  are the same. Therefore, the signal processing system at the ECU  192  can be simplified, and for this reason as well, costs can be reduced.  
         [0000]     &lt;Second Embodiment&gt; 
         [0106]     A second embodiment of the present invention will be described next.  
         [0107]     In the explanation of the present embodiment, regions which are basically the same as those of the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.  
         [0108]     The structure of a sensor unit  212 , which serves as a device for detecting rotation in two directions and which is a main portion of a shift lever device  210  relating to the present embodiment, is illustrated in an exploded perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 1  which is used in describing the above first embodiment.  
         [0109]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the sensor unit  212  does not have the ring spring  152 , the rotating plate  162 , the spring  140 , and the magnet  184 . In addition, the plunger  164  of the sensor unit  212  does not have the cam portion  168 .  
         [0110]     Instead of the cam portion  168 , a spring anchor piece  214  is formed at the plunger  164 , coaxially and integrally with the main body  166 . The spring anchor piece  214  is disc-shaped, the axial direction dimension thereof is relatively short, and the spring anchor piece  214  has a larger diameter than that of the main body  166 . One end of the return spring  174  abuts the end surface of the spring anchor piece  214 , which end surface is at the side opposite the main body  166 .  
         [0111]     A push rod  216  is formed at the spring anchor piece  214 . The push rod  216  is provided coaxially and integrally with the main body  166  and the spring anchor piece  214 . The push rod  216  projects from the end surface of the spring anchor piece  214 , which end surface is at the side opposite the main body  166 , and passes through the inner side of the return spring  174 , and, at the inner side of the holder  160 , passes through a through-hole  218  formed in the main body  134  of the base  132 , and projects out to the side of the main body  134  opposite the side at which the holder  160  is located.  
         [0112]     On the other hand, instead of the magnetic sensor  190 , a microswitch  220 , which structures the second detecting portion of the second detecting means, is provided at the PC board  186 . The microswitch  220  has a swinging piece  224  whose proximal end portion is connected to a main body  222 , and whose distal end side can be displaced in directions of approaching the main body  222  and moving away from the main body  222 .  
         [0113]     The distal end side of the swinging piece  224  opposes the distal end portion of the push rod  216  along the axial direction of the plunger  164 . When the plunger  164  is displaced toward the cover  198  side against the urging force of the return spring  174 , the push rod  216  pushes the distal end side of the swinging piece  224 , and makes the distal end side of the swinging piece  224  approach the main body  222 . When the distal end side of the swinging piece  224  approaches the main body  222  in this way, a fixed contact and a moving contact provided at the main body  222  contact one another and are made conductive.  
         [0114]     Namely, at the sensor unit  212  of the present shift lever device  210 , when the body  36  rotates around the shaft  46  with respect to the retainer  26  and the body  36  pushes the main body  166  of the plunger  164  as shown by the two-dot chain line in  FIG. 5 , the plunger  164  slides along the direction parallel to (the same direction as) the axial direction of the shaft  30 , substantially toward the right in  FIG. 5  against the urging force of the return spring  174 .  
         [0115]     When the plunger  164  slides in this way, the push rod  216  slides toward the cover  198 , and pushes the swinging piece  224 , and makes the distal end side of the swinging piece  224  approach the main body  222 . In this way, due to the moving contact within the main body  222  contacting the fixed contact and becoming conductive, the fact that the push rod  216  has moved, and accordingly, the fact that the body  36  has rotated around the shaft  46  with respect to the retainer  26 , is detected.  
         [0116]     In this way, in the present embodiment, the principles for detecting that the body  36  has rotated around the shaft  46  with respect to the retainer  26  are different than in the above-described first embodiment. However, in the same way as in the first embodiment, the microswitch  220 , the plunger  164 , and the like are, as is the case with the magnetic sensor  188 , the magnet  182 , and the like, provided at the outer side of the side wall  16 .  
         [0117]     Therefore, in the present embodiment as well, in the same way as in the above-described first embodiment, the plunger  164  and the microswitch  220  can be made into a unit together with the rotating plate  138 , the magnet  182 , and the magnetic sensor  188 , and assembly thereof to the housing  12  is easy. Moreover, by forming a unit in this way and installing the unit at the side wall  16 , no structure for detecting the rotation of the shift lever  22  is disposed beneath the shift lever  22 , i.e., beneath the retainer  26 . In this way, the lower housing  14  can be formed to be short, and as a result, the device can be made more compact overall.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5