Push My Buttons: Ford Files Patent Application for 'Proximity Shifting'

Bozi Tatarevic
by Bozi Tatarevic

The traditional console-mounted transmission shifter is disappearing, being replaced by buttons or rotary knobs in many models as shift-by-wire becomes the industry standard. The 2018 GMC Terrain recently debuted — and received criticism for — pushbuttons mounted low in the center stack in order to control the transmission.

Ford is no stranger to these configurations. The Blue Oval uses buttons mounted on the left side of the center stack in the Lincoln MKZ and a console-mounted rotary knob in the Ford Fusion. Now, Ford has an idea for an even more complex shifting system — and this one comes with a bit of retro flair.

A recently published patent application describes a shifter mechanism comprised of pushbuttons (which wouldn’t look out of place on an 8-track player) mounted low in the center stack. The assembly is shown on a pivoting box that would swing out towards the driver based on a set of proximity sensors.

These sensors would also be employed on each of the buttons in order to approximate the shifter position as the drivers hand approaches, as well as to make sure the driver is not resting their hand on the buttons. The application states, “It would be desirable to provide for an enhanced operation of a pushbutton shifter interface for us on a vehicle.”

While these buttons are likely just a general representation, the technology of proximity sensing seems like an unnecessarily complex solution to a problem that does not exist.

While proximity sensing may have a use in exterior door handles, it just adds something else to break if it is employed for a shifter — especially one that needs to emerge from the dash in order to be used. Ford seems to have done well with the rotary knob in the Fusion and I’m not sure why they would want to implement something that would take up more space on the center stack (and possibly cause owner dissatisfaction).

[Images: United States Patent and Trademark Office]

Bozi Tatarevic
Bozi Tatarevic

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  • Flipper35 Flipper35 on Sep 05, 2017

    So, looking at the diagram it would pop out each time you reached for your big gulp.

  • PrincipalDan PrincipalDan on Sep 05, 2017

    Toggle switches! MORE TOGGLE SWITCHES! We need more interiors that resemble a 1960s Thunderbird.

  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
  • Jalop1991 The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged due to suspected improper assembly by the supplier. Over time, partial engagement can cause damage to the intermediate shaft splines. Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engagedGee, my Chrysler van automatically engages the parking brake when we put it in Park. Do you mean to tell me that the idjits at Kia, and the idjit buyers, couldn't figure out wanting this in THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE????
  • Dukeisduke I've been waiting to see if they were going to do something special for the 60th Anniversary. I was four years old when the Mustang was introduced. I can remember that one of our neighbors bought a '65 coupe (they were all titled as '65 models, even the '64-1/2 cars), and it's the first one I can remember seeing. In the '90s I knew an older gentleman that owned a '64-1/2 model coupe with the 260 V8.
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