Patent ID: 12253161

It may be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the present disclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure as included herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particularly intended application and use environment.

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present disclosure(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the present disclosure(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the present disclosure(s) to those exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. On the other hand, the present disclosure(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Specific structural to functional descriptions of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed in the exemplary embodiment or application are only illustrated for the purpose of describing the exemplary embodiments according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and the exemplary embodiments according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms and it should not be construed that the present disclosure is limited to the exemplary embodiments described in the exemplary embodiment or application.

Because the exemplary embodiments according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be variously changed and have various forms, specific exemplary embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the exemplary embodiment or application. However, this is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the concept of the present disclosure to a particular disclosed form, and it should be understood that the present disclosure includes all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Terms such as first and/or second may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another, and for example, without departing from the scope according to the concept of the present disclosure, the first component may be named a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be named the first component.

When a component is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another component, the component may be directly connected or coupled to another component, but it should be understood that other components may also be present between the components. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components between the components. Other expressions which describe the relationship between the components, that is, “between” and “immediately between” or “neighboring” and “directly neighboring to” should be interpreted in the same manner.

The terminology used in the present specification is merely for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. The singular forms may include plural forms unless the contexts clearly indicate the opposite. In the present specification, it may be understood that the term “comprising”, “having”, or the like specifies the presence of the characteristic, integer, step, operation, component, part, or a combination thereof described, and does not exclude the presence or addition possibility of one or more other characteristics, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof in advance.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms including technical terms or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The terms defined in the dictionary commonly used may be interpreted as including a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and may not be interpreted as an ideal or excessively formal meaning, unless clearly defined in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

A control unit (controller) according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented through a non-volatile memory configured to store data relating to an algorithm configured to control the operation of various components of a vehicle or software instructions for reproducing the algorithm and a processor configured to perform operations described below using data stored in the corresponding memory. Here, the memory and the processor may be implemented as separate chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be implemented as a single chip integrated with each other. The processor can take the form of one or more processors.

Hereinafter, a sphere type shifting apparatus for an electronic shift system according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A sphere type shifting apparatus of an electronic shift system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing10, a sphere mechanism20rotatably coupled to the housing10, and a power mechanism30configured to provide a rotation power to be rotatable with respect to the housing10.

The housing10is located near a driver seat, and fixed to and provided on a console, a center fascia, etc. That a driver's hand can reach.

A rotation shaft40is coupled to penetrate a center portion of the sphere mechanism20, and the rotation shaft40is rotatable with respect to the housing10.

Therefore, when the rotation shaft40is rotated, the sphere mechanism20is also rotated with respect to the housing10together, and the sphere mechanism20maintains a state where the hemispherical one side of the sphere mechanism20is exposed to a vehicle interior through the housing20and the hemispherical other side thereof is hidden upon rotation.

The hemispherical one side of the spherical sphere mechanism20is provided with a shifting unit50, and the hemispherical other side thereof is provided with a design unit60.

When the sphere mechanism20is rotated with respect to the housing10, a state where any one of the shifting unit50or the design unit60is exposed to the vehicle interior and the other one thereof is hidden is maintained.

The shifting unit50is provided with a shifting mechanism70operated by a driver for shifting, and as shown inFIG.1,FIG.2,FIG.3, andFIG.4, the shifting mechanism70may be formed of a shifting dial71, and as an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, may be formed of any one of a shifting button or a shifting lever.

Here, when the shifting mechanism70is formed of the shifting dial71or formed of the shifting lever, a separate P-stage button74may be additionally provided together.

Any one of an R-stage, an N-stage, and a D-stage may be selected by operating the shifting dial71, and the P-stage is operated by pressing the separate P-stage button74.

The shifting button is operated by the driver selectively pressing any one of the P-stage button, the R-stage button, the N-stage button, and the D-stage button.

The shifting lever can select any one of the R-stage, the N-stage, and the D-stage through the rotation operation of the driver, and the P-stage is operated by pressing the separate P-stage button74.

The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a configuration that further includes a first printed circuit board (PCB)90configured to receive an operation signal of the shifting mechanism70to output a control signal to a transmission control unit (TCU)80, and the first PCB90may be fixed to and provided on the sphere mechanism20to face the shifting mechanism70.

When the operation signal of the shifting mechanism70is generated, the first PCB90delivers a signal to the transmission control unit80, a transmission actuator is operated by a signal instructed by the transmission control unit80, and a hydraulic pressure is applied or blocked to a hydraulic circuit for each shifting stage of a transmission by the operation of the transmission actuator and therefore, the shift control is electronically performed.

The design unit60includes a light source100coupled to the first PCB90and turned ON/OFF by the control of the first PCB90, and a light window110on which a pattern111with a specific shape is formed on a surface thereof to implement indirect light when the light source100is turned on.

The light source100provided on the first PCB90is a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, and can implement the indirect light (mood light, ambient light), and in particular, can also implement a welcome function in response to the user's gesture.

The light window110may be formed of a hemispherical tempered glass, and formed of a transparent window or a translucent window through which the light of the light source100can transmit.

Furthermore, the design unit60has a configuration that further includes a diffusion member120configured to diffuse the light of the light source100, and the diffusion member120is coupled to and provided on the light window110to face the light source100, and may be formed of a prism, for example.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG.6, the design unit60can further include a display device130configured to send a specific image through the light window110.

It is possible to further increase visual visibility by sending the image set by the user through the display device130.

The display device130may be fixed to and provided on the light window110or the diffusion member120, and the operation of the display device130may be controlled by the first PCB90.

The power mechanism30includes a motor31fixed to and provided on the housing10, a plurality of gear members32connecting the motor31with the rotation shaft40to deliver the power of the motor31to the rotation shaft40, and a second PCB33fixed to the housing10to control the operation of the motor31.

The second PCB33controls the motor31to be driven when a signal of an input unit140is input, and the signal of the input unit140may be configured to use any one of start-ON and -OFF signals of a vehicle, or an open signal and a close signal of a door, or an unlock signal or a lock signal of the door, or a traveling mode change signal (autonomous traveling mode or manual driving mode change signal), or an ON signal and an OFF signal of an operation switch.

When the signal of the input unit140is input, the motor31is driven by the control of the second PCB33, the power of the motor31is delivered to the rotation shaft40through the gear member32to allow the rotation shaft40to rotate with respect to the housing10, and the sphere mechanism20is rotated with the rotation shaft40.

The rotation shaft40of the sphere mechanism20is rotated by 180 degrees upon one-time operation of the power mechanism30, and therefore, upon rotation of the sphere mechanism20, as shown inFIG.1,FIG.2,FIG.3, andFIG.4, the shifting unit50is exposed to the vehicle interior through an opening portion of the housing10, or as shown inFIG.5andFIG.6, the design unit60is operated to be exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing10.

Furthermore, a permanent magnet (magnet)163is coupled to the end portion of the rotation shaft40penetrating the sphere mechanism20, and a third PCB170provided with a hall sensor150is fixed to and provided on the housing10to face the permanent magnet163.

The hall sensor150can detect the rotation of the rotation shaft40, a sensing signal of the third PCB170may be delivered to the second PCB33, and the driving of the motor31may be controlled by the second PCB33more accurately.

When the permanent magnet163is rotated with the rotation shaft40, the hall sensor150can detect a change in the intensity of a magnetic field according to a change in the rotation location of the permanent magnet163, and at the instant time, the sensing signal of the third PCB170is delivered to the second PCB33, and the motor31may be controlled to be driven and terminated by the control of the second PCB33.

The sphere mechanism20according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to receive the power of the motor31to be rotated with respect to the housing10or be rotated by the user's manual operation.

A state where the sphere mechanism20receives the power of the motor31to be rotated with respect to the housing10, and the rotation of the sphere mechanism20is restricted to a holding torque of the motor31may be regarded as a general shift lock of an auto lever.

The shift lock is a safe device configured to enable the shifting lever to be shift-operated according to the user's will only when the user's will to operation is confirmed to prevent mal-operation, and generally includes the control unit (PCB) and the motor (solenoid).

Furthermore, when the shift lock is not released by use of the power of the due to failure of the control unit or the motor forming the shift lock, the user can manually, forcibly release the shift lock by use of a release lever, which may be referred to as shift lock release or override.

Therefore, even in case of the sphere type shifting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the sphere mechanism20should be rotated by only the user's manual operation to implement the function of the shift lock release.

FIG.7shows a flowchart for explaining the operation control method according to the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

The control method according to the various exemplary embodiments are a logic configured for preventing the sphere mechanism20from being separated from the rotation completion location thereof upon rotation operation of the sphere mechanism20, and therefore, there are advantages in that it is possible to prevent occurrence of clearance of the sphere mechanism20, prevent unnecessary noise due to the sphere mechanism20, and improve luxuriousness.

In other words, when the sphere mechanism20which is a rotary body is rotated by the power of the motor31, bounce can occur in a reverse direction opposite to a rotation direction of the sphere mechanism20by the rotation inertia of the sphere mechanism20or the elasticity of a stopping mechanism, and in the instant case, the sphere mechanism20cannot be accurately located at the rotation completion location.

Furthermore, even when an external force is applied to the sphere mechanism20in a reverse direction or the sphere mechanism20stops beyond the rotation completion location, the sphere mechanism20cannot be accurately located at the rotation completion location.

As described above, there occur problems in that if the sphere mechanism20is not accurately located at the rotation completion location when rotated by the power of the motor31, clearance of the sphere mechanism20occurs, and unnecessary noise due to the sphere mechanism20is generated through the clearance, and furthermore, it is not possible to pursue the luxurious image.

The logic of the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is a logic configured for preventing the sphere mechanism20from being separated from the rotation completion location upon rotation operation of the sphere mechanism20, and therefore, it is possible to prevent occurrence of clearance of the sphere mechanism20, prevent unnecessary noise due to the sphere mechanism20, and improve luxuriousness.

FIG.8A,FIG.8B, andFIG.8Cshow diagrams of a situation of the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG.8Ashows a situation in which an external force (F1) is applied to the sphere mechanism20in a reverse direction when the sphere mechanism20is rotated by the power of the motor31, andFIG.8Bshows a situation in which bounce occurs in the reverse direction opposite to the rotation direction of the sphere mechanism20by the reverse external force (F1) (arrow R1).

As shown inFIG.8B, when the bounce of the sphere mechanism20occurs, a reference line (L1) of the rotation completion location and a center line (L2) of the sphere mechanism20do not match with each other.

FIG.8Cshows a state where the sphere mechanism20is rotated in a normal direction again by the additional driving of the motor31after the reverse bounce occurs and the sphere mechanism20is accurately located at the rotation completion location, and at the instant time, the reference line (L1) of the rotation completion location and the center line (L2) of the sphere mechanism20match with each other.

As shown inFIG.7, the operation control method according to the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure includes a rotation step that rotates the sphere mechanism20by the power generated by the driving of the motor31when the signal of the input unit140configured to generate a rotation operation signal of the sphere mechanism is generated; a location determination step that determines whether the sphere mechanism20has been located at the rotation completion location by monitoring the rotation of the sphere mechanism20; and a motor addition driving step that additionally drives the motor31whose driving is terminated so that the sphere mechanism20is located at the rotation completion location when it is determined that the sphere mechanism20is not located at the rotation completion location.

When the signal of the input unit140is generated based on the state where the vehicle can travel (step S1), the motor31is driven (step S2), and the rotation shaft40and the sphere mechanism20are rotated by the driving of the motor31together with respect to the housing10(step S3).

The motor31is a component in which driving is controlled by the PCB when the signal of the input unit140is generated, and the PCB configured to control the driving of the motor31becomes the second PCB33.

The signal of the input unit140may be any one of start-ON and -OFF signals of a vehicle, or an open signal and a close signal of a door, or an unlock signal or a lock signal of the door, or a traveling mode change signal (autonomous traveling mode or manual driving mode change signal), or an ON signal and an OFF signal of a switch.

A mode of the sphere mechanism20includes a traveling mode popped-up so that the shifting unit50is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing, and a standby mode popped-up so that the design unit60is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing10.

In case of the traveling mode state where the shifting unit50is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing10by the rotation of the sphere mechanism20, the design unit60becomes a hidden state of being inserted into the housing10.

On the other hand, in case of the standby mode state where the design unit60is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing10by the rotation of the sphere mechanism20, the shifting unit50becomes a hidden state of being inserted into the housing10.

The traveling mode and standby mode of the sphere mechanism20are alternately changed whenever the sphere mechanism20is rotated by 180 degrees.

The monitoring of the rotating sphere mechanism20and the detection of the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20may be made by the permanent magnet163coupled to the rotation shaft40rotated with the sphere mechanism20and the hall sensor150provided on the third PCB170.

When the rotation shaft40is rotated by the operation of the motor31and the location of the permanent magnet163is changed by the rotation of the rotation shaft40, the hall sensor150can detect a change in a magnetic field according to a change in the rotation location of the permanent magnet163, and therefore, the third PCB170can use the signal of the hall sensor150to monitor the rotation location of the sphere mechanism20(step S4) and to determine the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20(step S5).

The sensing signal of the third PCB170is delivered to the second PCB33.

The rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20is a location when the sphere mechanism20is in a state of being rotated by 180 degrees.

Meanwhile, when the 180-degree rotation of the sphere mechanism20is completed and the motor31is stopped, it is confirmed whether the sphere mechanism20is located at the rotation completion location for a certain time (300 ms) from that time.

Therefore, because it is not confirmed whether the sphere mechanism20is located at the rotation completion location after the certain time (300 ms), it is possible to prevent misrecognition of additional vibration. In other words, a motor additional driving step (step S8) is not performed again after the motor additional driving step (step S8) to be described later.

In step S5, as a result of determining the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20, if it is determined that the sphere mechanism20is located at the rotation completion location, the driving of the motor31is terminated by the control of the second PCB33, and the sphere mechanism20maintains the changed mode until the signal of the input unit140is generated again (step S6).

However, in step S5, as a result of determining the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20, if it is determined that the sphere mechanism20is not located at the rotation completion location, it is determined that the sphere mechanism20is separated from the rotation completion location (step S7), and at the instant time, the motor additional driving step that additionally drives the motor31whose driving is terminated so that the sphere mechanism20is located at the rotation completion location is performed (step S8), and therefore, the sphere mechanism20is accurately located at the rotation completion location and the movement thereof is fixed by the holding torque of the motor31.

In step S8(motor addition driving step), a direction in which the motor31rotates may be a normal direction (clockwise direction) or a reverse direction (counterclockwise direction).

Furthermore, in step S8(motor addition driving step), when the motor31is additionally driven, an alarm of the addition driving of the motor31is generated and provided to passengers in the vehicle, and the passengers in the vehicle can recognize that an abnormal situation has occurred through the provided alarm, and the alarm may include one or more of an audible signal, a tactile signal, and a visual signal.

FIG.9shows a flowchart for explaining an operation control method of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

The control method according to the various exemplary embodiments has advantages in that it is possible to prevent damage to parts and strengthen stability by inducing the normal operation so that the sphere mechanism20reaches the rotation completion location through the fail-safe function when the sphere mechanism20does not reach the rotation completion location upon rotation operation of the sphere mechanism20, and terminating the operation of the motor if the normal operation in which the sphere mechanism20reaches the rotation completion location is not available.

In other words, if the sphere mechanism20is stuck or foreign substances are stuck thereto when the sphere mechanism20is rotated by the power of the motor31, there occurs a situation in which it is difficult for the sphere mechanism20to be rotated, and in the instant case, the sphere mechanism20cannot reach the rotation completion location.

As described above, if the sphere mechanism20does not reach the rotation completion location accurately when rotated by the power of the motor31, there occurs problems in that stability and reliability for operation deteriorate, and furthermore, luxurious image cannot be pursued.

The logic according to the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure is a logic configured for inducing the normal operation so that the sphere mechanism20reaches the rotation completion location through the fail-safe function when the sphere mechanism20cannot reach the rotation completion location upon rotation operation of the sphere mechanism20, and in particular, if the normal operation in which the sphere mechanism20reaches the rotation completion location is not available, the operation of the motor31can be terminated, preventing damage to parts and strengthening stability.

FIG.10A,FIG.10B,FIG.10C, andFIG.10Dshow diagrams of a situation of the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG.10Ashows a situation when the sphere mechanism20starts to be rotated by the power of the motor31, in which the sphere mechanism20is rotated by the power of the motor31in the clockwise direction (arrow R11) in a situation in which the reference line (L1) of the rotation completion location and the center line (L2) of the sphere mechanism20match with each other.

FIG.10Bshows a situation in which the sphere mechanism20cannot be rotated by an external force (F2) due to sticking of the sphere mechanism20rotated in the clockwise direction (arrow R11) or foreign substances stuck thereto, and at the instant time, the sphere mechanism20cannot reach the rotation completion location.

FIG.10Cshows a situation in which the normal operation is induced so that the sphere mechanism20reaches the rotation completion location through the fail-safe function if the sphere mechanism20cannot be rotated by the external force (F2) due to sticking thereof or foreign substance stuck thereto and cannot reach the rotation completion location, and at the instant time, the sphere mechanism20repeats the rotation in the counterclockwise direction (arrow R12) and the rotation in the clockwise direction (arrow R13) by the reference number of times (N times) with the power of the motor31.

FIG.10Dshows a situation in which the sphere mechanism20does not reach the rotation completion location by the external force (F2) even after the sphere mechanism20repeats the rotation in the counterclockwise direction (arrow R12) and the rotation in the clockwise direction (arrow R13) by the reference number of times (N times) in the situation ofFIG.10C, and the present case is a situation in which the operation of the motor31is terminated to prevent damage to parts and strengthen stability.

As shown inFIG.9, the operation control method according to the various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure includes a rotation step that rotates the sphere mechanism20to change the mode of the sphere mechanism20by the power generated by the driving of the motor31when the signal of the input unit140configured to generate the rotation operation signal of the sphere mechanism20is generated; a location determination step that determines whether the sphere mechanism20has reached the rotation completion location within a predetermined time period by monitoring the rotation of the sphere mechanism20; a determination times check step that checks the number of times of determination in the location determination step when it is determined that the sphere mechanism20does not reach the rotation completion location, and checks whether the number of times of determination has exceeded a reference number of times (N times); and a return step that drives the motor31in the reverse direction when it is determined that the number of times of determination does not exceed the reference number of times (N times), and returns the sphere mechanism20to an original state by the reverse driving of the motor31.

When the signal of the input unit140is generated based on the state where the vehicle can travel (step S11), the motor31is driven (step S12), and the rotation shaft40and the sphere mechanism20are rotated by the driving of the motor31together with respect to the housing10(step S13).

The motor31is a component in which driving is controlled by the PCB when the signal of the input unit140is generated, and the PCB configured to control the driving of the motor31becomes the second PCB33.

The signal of the input unit140may be any one of start-ON and -OFF signals of a vehicle, or an open signal and a close signal of a door, or an unlock signal or a lock signal of the door, or a traveling mode change signal (autonomous traveling mode or manual driving mode change signal), or an ON signal and an OFF signal of a switch.

A mode of the sphere mechanism20includes a traveling mode popped-up so that the shifting unit50is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing, and a standby mode popped-up so that the design unit60is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing10.

In case of the traveling mode state where the shifting unit50is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing10by the rotation of the sphere mechanism20, the design unit60becomes a hidden state of being inserted into the housing10.

On the other hand, in case of the standby mode state where the design unit60is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening portion of the housing10by the rotation of the sphere mechanism20, the shifting unit50becomes a hidden state of being inserted into the housing10.

The traveling mode and standby mode of the sphere mechanism20are alternately changed whenever the sphere mechanism20is rotated by 180 degrees.

The monitoring of the rotating sphere mechanism20and the detection of the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20may be made by the permanent magnet163coupled to the rotation shaft40rotated with the sphere mechanism20and the hall sensor150provided on the third PCB170.

When the rotation shaft40is rotated by the operation of the motor31and the location of the permanent magnet163is changed by the rotation of the rotation shaft40, the hall sensor150can detect a change in a magnetic field according to a change in the rotation location of the permanent magnet163, and therefore, the third PCB170can use the signal of the hall sensor150to monitor the rotation location of the sphere mechanism20(step S14) and to determine the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20(step S15).

The sensing signal of the third PCB170is delivered to the second PCB33.

The rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20is a location when the sphere mechanism20is in a state of being rotated by 180 degrees.

In step S15, it is determined whether the sphere mechanism20has reached the rotation completion location within 4 seconds from the time at which the sphere mechanism20is rotated when rotated by the power of the motor31, and at the instant time, the time (4 seconds) may be tuned to an appropriate time.

In step S15, as a result of determining the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20, if it is determined that the sphere mechanism20reaches the rotation completion location, the driving of the motor31is terminated by the control of the second PCB33, and the sphere mechanism20maintains the changed mode until the signal of the input unit140is generated again (step S16).

However, in step S15, as a result of determining the rotation completion location of the sphere mechanism20, if it is determined that the sphere mechanism20does not reach the rotation completion location, the number of times of determination in step S15(location determination step) is checked (step S17), and the determination times check step that checks whether the number of times of determination has exceeded a reference number of times (N times) is performed (step S18).

In step S18(determination times check step), when it is determined that the number of times of determination does not exceed the reference number of times (N times), the motor31is driven in the reverse direction (step S19), and the return step that returns the rotation shaft40and the sphere mechanism20to the original states by the reverse driving of the motor31is performed (step S20).

In step S20(return step), the reverse driving of the motor31is a direction opposite to the driving direction of the motor31in step S12, and therefore, returning of the sphere mechanism20to the original state in step S20(return step) becomes a state of the sphere mechanism20in the previous step of step S11, that is, before the signal of the input unit140is generated.

In other words, when the state of the sphere mechanism20is in the standby mode state before step S11, that is, before the signal of the input unit140is generated, in step S20(return step), the sphere mechanism20returns to the standby mode state (original state) by the reverse driving of the motor31.

The logic after step S20(return step) is fed back to before step S12to continuously perform the logic of the present disclosure.

Meanwhile, in step S18(determination times check step), when it is determined that the number of times of determination exceeds the reference number of times (N times), the driving of the motor31is terminated to prevent damage to portions (motor, gear member, etc.) (step S21), and the control logic of the present disclosure is terminated to maintain and repair the shifting apparatus (step S22).

Furthermore, in step S20(return step), when the sphere mechanism20returns to the original state by the reverse driving of the motor31or the driving of the motor31is terminated as the number of times of determination exceeds the reference number of times (N times) (step S21), each alarm is generated and provided to passengers in the vehicle, the passengers in the vehicle can recognize the abnormal situation through the provided alarm, and the alarm may include one or more of an audible signal, a tactile signal, and a visual signal.

As described above, the operation control method of the sphere type shifting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent the sphere mechanism20from being separated from the rotation completion location upon rotation operation of the sphere mechanism20including the shifting unit50provided on the hemispherical one side thereof and the design unit60provided on the hemispherical other side thereof, preventing occurrence of clearance of the sphere mechanism20, preventing unnecessary noise due to the sphere mechanism20, and improving luxuriousness.

Furthermore, the operation control method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can induce the normal operation so that the sphere mechanism20can reach the rotation completion location through the fail-safe function when the sphere mechanism20cannot reach the rotation completion location due to sticking thereof or foreign substances stuck thereto upon rotation operation of the sphere mechanism20, and in particular, terminate the operation of the motor31when the normal operation in which the sphere mechanism20reaches the rotation completion location is not available, preventing damage to parts and strengthening stability.

Furthermore, the term related to a control device such as “controller”, “control apparatus”, “control unit”, “control device”, “control module”, or “server”, etc refers to a hardware device including a memory and a processor configured to execute one or more steps interpreted as an algorithm structure. The memory stores algorithm steps, and the processor executes the algorithm steps to perform one or more processes of a method in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The control device according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented through a nonvolatile memory configured to store algorithms for controlling operation of various components of a vehicle or data about software commands for executing the algorithms, and a processor configured to perform operation to be described above using the data stored in the memory. The memory and the processor may be individual chips. Alternatively, the memory and the processor may be integrated in a single chip. The processor may be implemented as one or more processors. The processor may include various logic circuits and operation circuits, may process data according to a program provided from the memory, and may generate a control signal according to the processing result.

The control device may be at least one microprocessor operated by a predetermined program which may include a series of commands for carrying out the method included in the aforementioned various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

The aforementioned invention can also be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data which may be thereafter read by a computer system and store and execute program instructions which may be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include Hard Disk Drive (HDD), solid state disk (SSD), silicon disk drive (SDD), read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy discs, optical data storage devices, etc and implementation as carrier waves (e.g., transmission over the Internet). Examples of the program instruction include machine language code such as those generated by a compiler, as well as high-level language code which may be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, each operation described above may be performed by a control device, and the control device may be configured by a plurality of control devices, or an integrated single control device.

In various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the control device may be implemented in a form of hardware or software, or may be implemented in a combination of hardware and software.

Furthermore, the terms such as “unit”, “module”, etc. Included in the specification mean units for processing at least one function or operation, which may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “up”, “down”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, “inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “interior”, “exterior”, “internal”, “external”, “forwards”, and “backwards” are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. It will be further understood that the term “connect” or its derivatives refer both to direct and indirect connection.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described to explain certain principles of the present disclosure and their practical application, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.