Operating part support with improved leaf spring element fixings

Abstract

The present invention relates to an input device (1), comprising: a fastening element (3) for fixing the input device (1) to a vehicle component; a bracket (2); an elastic support device (9) for movably and resiliently supporting the bracket (2) at the fastening element (3); a handle (4) which is supported at the bracket (2) in a pivotable or rotatable manner about an axis (11) for actuation input by an operator; at least one actuator (8) fixed to the bracket (2) for colliding with and / or vibrationally exciting the bracket (2) in order to generate a haptic feedback for the operator of the handle (4); a preloading device (14) for preloading the handle (4) in a clearance-free manner against the bracket (2) in the direction of the axis (11).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an input device having a shaft-supported handle capable of rotational or pivotal movement, such as a rotary wheel or a lever. Background Art

[0002] Operators are accustomed to experiencing a clearly tactile confirmation after an operation input. For this purpose, electromechanical vibration exciters, so-called actuators, are usually used to generate a movement of a contact surface or an actuation surface that can be felt by the operator. In most cases, due to the lack of construction space, it is prohibited to directly excite the components forming the operation surface or the actuation surface, but it is necessary to transmit through multiple components to the components actually provided for actuation or contact, such as the handle. This brings the following problems: disturbing noises are generated in the case of mechanically supporting the handle, or due to the relative movement between the handle and the bracket, the tactile feedback as the system response to the excitation signal of the actuator deviates from the form predetermined by the control signal, and in some cases, it loses its re-identification possibility or hardly appears tactilely any more. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In this context, the object of the present invention is to provide an input device having a shaft-supported handle capable of rotational or pivotal movement, the tactile feedback of which is as little affected by disturbing noises as possible and its tactile feedback is reproducible. This object is achieved by the input device according to claim 1. Corresponding advantageous uses are respectively the subject matter of the dependent claims. Advantageous design solutions are respectively the subject matter of the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features detailed separately in the claims can be combined with each other in any technically meaningful way and exhibit other design solutions of the present invention. The description further characterizes and details the present invention in particular in conjunction with the drawings.

[0004] The present invention relates to an input device. The input device of the present invention has a fastening member for fixing the input device to a vehicle component, such as fixing to a dashboard or a lining of a passenger compartment. The fastening member is formed, for example, of a thermoplastic or Zamak alloy. In addition, according to the present invention, a bracket is provided, which is movably and resiliently supported at the fastening member by means of an elastic support device. The support element of the support device is formed, for example, of an elastic material, such as a metal or a metal alloy. The support device is preferably designed to be vibration-damping. For example, the support element of the support device is formed of an elastic and at the same time vibration-damping material, such as an elastomer.

[0005] According to the present invention, a handle is further provided. The handle is supported at the bracket in a manner capable of pivoting or rotating about an axis (preferably an imaginary axis) for actuation input by an operator. The handle is, for example, a lever. The handle is preferably a rotary wheel. For example, the handle has a cover surface that extends substantially completely or partially around the imaginary axis. This cover surface is, for example, shaped like a column or part of a column.

[0006] According to the present invention, at least an actuator fixed at the bracket is further provided for colliding with and / or vibrationally exciting the bracket, thereby causing a haptic feedback for the operator operating or actuating the handle. For example, a plurality of actuators are provided. The actuators are preferably linear-driven actuators respectively, such as piezoelectric actuators. The actuator is, for example, an actuator acting between the bracket and the fastener and supported on both of them. The actuator is preferably an actuator fixed only at the bracket. The actuators are preferably electromechanical or electromagnetic actuators respectively. For example, the actuators each have a coil, and an electromagnetic field generated by the coil is formed and arranged for cooperation with an armature. The actuator is preferably a plunger-armature actuator, also known to those skilled in the art by the English name "Voice-Coil-Actuator".

[0007] According to the present invention, a preloading device is further provided to preload the handle against the bracket in the axial direction, that is, in the direction of the imaginary axis that defines the mobility of the handle, so as to, for example, limit the clearance to a degree that is compulsorily necessary for the mobility of the movement. Thereby, for example, the reciprocating movement of the handle along the imaginary axis is minimized, hard stops of the handle are avoided, and thus interference noise during the generation of haptics is reduced, but at the same time the generation of haptics is made more reproducible compared to a solution without preloading in the axial direction. That is, overall, the input device is improved in terms of its acoustic and haptic characteristics.

[0008] Preferably, in order to support the handle at the bracket in a manner capable of pivoting or rotating, at least two pins and associated pin receptacles extending in the axial direction, that is, in the direction of the imaginary axis, are provided, wherein one pin is in a pivotable or rotatable engagement with the associated pin receptacle respectively, and the preloading device inserts at least one pin into the associated pin receptacle in the axial direction. The preloading device preferably engages at one of a pair of pins or pin receptacles to preload the other pair of components formed by the pin and the associated pin receptacle in the axial direction and the insertion direction.

[0009] In one embodiment, the shaft receiving element is formed on the handle and the associated shaft pin is formed on the bracket. Preferably, all shaft pins are formed on the handle and at least two shaft receiving elements of all shaft receiving elements are formed on the bracket.

[0010] Preferably, the prestressing means is also designed to damp vibrations. The prestressing means then has, for example, a prestressing element formed of an elastomer which acts on the end face of one of the axle pins.

[0011] Preferably, the support forms a baffle having a visible surface facing the operator, wherein the baffle has a through-portion, and the handle is at least partially arranged in the through-portion.

[0012] According to a preferred design of the input device of the invention, other operating elements are arranged at various locations on the support, and the contact or actuation surfaces of the other operating elements are integrated into the visible surface. The support thus obtained is relatively expanded. For at least approximately uniform tactile feedback on all contact or actuation surfaces of the support, the structural design of the prestressed support of the handle has proven to be advantageous, because otherwise, due to the different spatial distances of the contact or actuation surfaces from the handle, their acoustic and tactile effects would ultimately be different and would offset the uniform tactile experience that is attempted to be achieved on all contact or actuation surfaces.

[0013] Preferably, the axle receiving part and the axle pin are arranged below the visible surface, as seen from the operator's perspective, for example extending offset parallel to the visible surface or extending offset parallel to a tangent of the visible surface when the visible surface is curved.

[0014] Preferably, at least one shaft receiving part and the associated shaft pin are designed to be self-centering. For example, the shaft pin, which is preloaded in engagement with the associated shaft receiving part, is sharpened, while the associated shaft receiving part has a conically converging end region. This means that the end face at the end of the shaft pin is designed to be conical or truncated-conical, while the region of the shaft receiving part adjoining thereto is designed to be conical.

[0015] In order to improve the effectiveness of damping vibrations by means of the preloaded support of the handle on the bracket according to the invention, the actuator preferably has at least one main direction of action of its vibration and / or impact excitation, which is in the axial direction or parallel to the axial direction, for example also parallel to the visible surface or to a sectional plane of the visible surface.

[0016] Preferably, an electronic control device is further provided for applying a control signal to the actuator, wherein the control signal is formed as a pulse signal or a pulse train signal, such as a square wave signal.

[0017] Embodiments according to the present invention are particularly suitable for generating a haptic feedback that is perceived by the operator as "precise". It is generally known from the literature that the tactile resolution ability of the human finger can only perceive two successive vibration impacts as separate at a time gap of about 25 ms or more. Therefore, all vibrations within this time interval that the handle undergoes and are coupled to the operator's finger via its actuation surface are perceived as a single "haptic pulse". That is, the system response to the excitation caused by the actuator measured at the handle is preferably designed by cleverly selecting the control signal and / or selecting the damping effect performed by the support device and / or the preloading device such that the maximum achievable amplitude (also referred to as the absolute maximum amplitude X max ) of the system response is achieved within a time window of <20 ms, preferably 15 ms, and the time window is triggered (i.e., induced) by, for example, the first amplitude offset that is tactilely significant. For the sake of brevity and on the premise that the handle has an almost delay-free vibration response to the control signal, it is assumed here that the above time window is triggered by the start of the control signal.

[0018] Most preferably, the first or at the latest the second amplitude offset of the handle is used to achieve the first absolute maximum amplitude.

[0019] According to another preferred design, the control signal and / or the damping effect caused by the support device and / or by the preloading device are selected such that the "decay time" of the system amplitude measured at the handle from 100% of the maximum amplitude to 10% or less of the maximum amplitude is <30 ms, preferably <25 ms, and most preferably <20 ms.

[0020] For this purpose, the duration of the electrical control signal, which is generally periodic and applied to the actuator, is also limited to a duration significantly lower than 20 ms, that is, limited to a few periods, such as a maximum of 2 periods.

[0021] With this type of control and this type of actuator, a haptic feedback that is perceived as a separate pulse in a less noisy and reproducible manner can be generated with lower cost.

[0022] The present invention further relates to the application of the input device in one of the above embodiments in a motor vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention and the technical environment will be explained in detail below with the aid of the drawings. It should be noted that the drawings show particularly preferred implementation variants of the present invention, however, the present invention is not limited to these implementation variants. The drawings schematically show:

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a first embodiment of the input device 1 of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment of the input device 1 of the present invention as shown in Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment of the input device 1 of the present invention.

[0027] Figures 4a to 4c A diagram showing different control signals and related system responses according to the present invention. Detailed implementation mode

[0028] Figure 1 The first embodiment of the input device 1 of the present invention is shown. The input device 1 of the present invention has a fastener 3 for fixing the input device 1 at a vehicle component, such as at a dashboard or a lining of a passenger compartment. The fastener 3 is formed of, for example, thermoplastic or Zamak alloy. Additionally, according to the present invention, there is provided a bracket 2 which is movably and resiliently supported at the fastener 3 by means of an elastic support device 9. The support element of the support device 9 is formed of, for example, an elastic and at the same time vibration-damping material, such as an elastomer.

[0029] According to the present invention, there is also provided a handle 4 which is supported at the bracket 2 in a manner capable of rotational movement about an imaginary axis 11 for actuation input by an operator. Here, the handle 4 is a so-called rotator which is mostly rotated by the thumb of the operator. Thus, the handle 4 has a cylindrical cover surface extending completely around the imaginary axis 11. The bracket 2 forms a baffle 6 which has a visible surface 5 facing the operator, and the baffle 6 has a through portion 7 in which the handle 4 is at least partially arranged.

[0030] Additionally, an operating element 10 is arranged at the bracket 2, and its contact surface or actuation surface is integrated into the visible surface 5 of the baffle 6. The thus obtained bracket 6 extends beyond the handle 4.

[0031] As can be recognized from Figure 2 , in order to support the handle 4 at the bracket 2 in a pivotable or rotatable manner, at least two pins 12a, 12b extending in the axial direction and related pin receiving members 13a, 13b are provided, wherein one of the pins 12a, 12b is in a pivotable or rotatable engagement with the related pin receiving member 13a or 13b respectively. Here, all the pins 12a, 12b are formed on the handle 4 and all the pin receiving members 13a, 13b are formed on the bracket 2.

[0032] According to the invention, a preloading device 14 is also provided in order to preload the handle 4 in a backlash-free manner against the support 3 in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction of the imaginary axis 11 that predetermines the mobility of the handle 4, so that, for example, the clearance is limited to the extent that is compulsorily necessary for the mobility of the movement. Here, the preloading device 14 inserts one of the pins 12a into the associated pin receptacle 13a in the axial direction in such a way that the preloading device 14 bears against the opposite pin 12b in order to preload the engagement of the relative pair of components formed by the pin 12a and the associated pin receptacle 13a in the axial direction and in the engagement direction. The preloading device 14 has, for example, a preloading element formed from an elastomer that acts on the end face of one of the pins 12b, and this preloading element also acts as a vibration damper in this case. Here, the pin 12a whose engagement with the associated pin receptacle 13a is preloaded is sharpened, while the associated pin receptacle 13a has a tapered converging end region. This means that the end face at the end of the pin 12a is formed in a conical or frustoconical shape, while the adjacent region of the pin receptacle 13a is formed in a conical shape. The pin receptacles 13a, 13b also have, for example, sliding bearing elements or ball bearing elements.

[0033] According to the invention, an actuator 8 is also provided which is fixed only at the bracket 3 and is used to collide with and / or vibrate the bracket 2 in an exciting manner, so as to cause a haptic feedback for an operator operating or actuating the handle 4. Fixing the actuator 8 only at the bracket 2 avoids or reduces the undesired impact input into the fastener 3. Here, the actuator is a linearly driven actuator 8, namely a plunger armature actuator, which is also known to those skilled in the art by the English name "Voice-Coil-Actuator". The actuator 8 is arranged to perform haptic feedback as a haptically perceivable confirmation of a contact input or an actuation input made by means of the operating element 10 or the handle 4. The contact is detected, for example, by an electronic control device 15 by means of a capacitive sensor structure 16, while the actuation is detected by the controller 15 by a force sensor 17 based on the proximity between the bracket 2 and the fastener 3 caused by the actuation or based on the deformation of the bracket 2 in the direction of the fastener 3. Detecting the actuation or contact in a positive manner triggers the output of a control signal from the electronic control device 15 to the actuator 8. The main action direction F of the collisional excitation of the actuator 8 is parallel to the direction of the imaginary axis 11 and is substantially parallel to the visible surface 5. By vibrating and exciting substantially in the axial extension direction of the support of the handle 4, the handle 4 also mainly follows this excitation, which is advantageous for the reproducible vibration behavior of the handle 4. In the case of excitation in other orientations, due to the bending vibration in the bracket 2, the vibration behavior reaching the handle 4 can hardly be predicted as a systematic response to the excitation caused by the actuator 8 and has lower reproducibility. In the first embodiment shown, the actuator 8 is fastened to a cantilever 18 protruding from the back of the bracket 2 facing away from the operator in order to orient the main action direction F.

[0034] Thereby and due to the preloading by the preloading device 14, the reciprocating movement of the handle 4 along the imaginary axis 11 is minimized, the hard stop of the handle 4 is avoided, and thereby the interference noise during the generation of haptics is reduced, but compared with the solution without preloading in the direction of the axis 11, it also makes the generation of haptics more reproducible. That is, generally speaking, the input device 1 is improved in terms of its acoustic and haptic characteristics.

[0035] Figure 3 A cross-section of a second embodiment of the input device 1 of the invention is shown. The input device 1 of the invention has a fastener 3 which is used to fix the input device 1 at a vehicle component, such as fixed at a dashboard or a lining of a passenger compartment. The fastener 3 is formed, for example, of a thermoplastic or Zamak alloy. Additionally, according to the invention, a bracket 2 is provided which is movably and resiliently supported at the fastener 3 by means of an elastic support device 9. The support element of the support device 9 is formed, for example, of an elastic and at the same time vibration-damping material, such as an elastomer.

[0036] According to the invention, there are also provided two coaxially arranged handles 4, which are supported at the support 2 in a manner that enables rotational movement about an imaginary axis 11 for actuation input by an operator. Here, the handles 4 are respectively so-called rotors that are mostly rotated by the operator's thumbs, where the handles 4 are independent of each other and rotatable relative to each other, and form a "cascaded rotor". Each handle 4 has a cylindrical covering surface that extends completely around the imaginary axis 11. The support 2 forms a baffle 6, which has a visible surface 5 facing the operator, where the baffle 6 has a through-hole 7, and the handle 4 is at least partially arranged in the through-hole.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1 , further, operating elements can be arranged at the support 2, and their contact surfaces or actuation surfaces are integrated into the visible surface 5 of the baffle 6. The resulting support 6 extends beyond the handle 4.

[0038] As can be recognized from Figure 3 , in order to support the handle 4 at the support 2 in a pivotable or rotatable manner, three axles 12a, 12b extending in the axial direction and associated axle receptacles 13a, 13b, 13c are provided, where one of the axles 12a, 12b is respectively in a pivotable or rotatable engagement with the associated axle receptacle 13a, 13b or 13c. Here, all the axles 12a, 12b are formed at the respective handle 4, and two of these axle receptacles 13a, 13b are formed at the support 2, while the middle axle receptacle 13c is formed in one of these handles 4.

[0039] According to the invention, a preloading device 14 is also provided to preload the handle 4 against the support 3 in a clearance-free manner in the axial direction, that is, in the direction of the imaginary axis 11 that predetermines the mobility of the handle 4, so as to limit the clearance, for example, to the extent that is compulsorily necessary for the mobility of the movement. Here, the preloading device 14 inserts one of the axles 12a into the associated axle receptacle 13a in the axial direction in such a way that the preloading device 14 abuts against the opposing axle 12b to preload the engagement of the relative pair of components formed by the axle 12a and the associated axle receptacle 13a in the axial direction and in the engagement direction. The preloading device 14 has, for example, a preloading member formed of an elastomer that acts on the end face of one of the axles 12b, and the preloading member also functions as a shock absorber. Here, the axles 12a whose engagements with the associated axle receptacles 13a, 13c are respectively preloaded are sharpened, and the associated axle receptacles 13a or 13c respectively have tapered converging end regions. This means that the end face at the end of the axle 12a is formed as a cone or a truncated cone, and the adjacent region of the axle receptacle 13a or 13c is formed as a cone. The axle receptacles 13a, 13b, 13c also have, for example, sliding bearing components or ball bearing components.

[0040] According to the invention, an actuator 8 is also provided which is fixed only at the support 3 and is used to collide with and / or vibrate the support 2, so as to cause a haptic feedback for the operator operating or actuating the handle 4. Here, the actuator is a linearly driven actuator 8, that is, a plunger-armature actuator, which is also known to those skilled in the art by the English name "Voice-Coil-Actuator". The actuator 8 is arranged to perform haptic feedback as a tactilely perceptible confirmation of a contact input or actuation input made by means of the operating element 10 or the handle 4. The contact is detected, for example, by an electronic control device 15 by means of a capacitive sensor structure 16, while the actuation is detected by the controller 15 by a force sensor 17 based on the proximity between the support 2 and the fastening member 3 caused by the actuation or based on the deformation of the support 2 in the direction towards the fastening member 3. Detecting the actuation or contact in a positive manner triggers the output of a control signal from the electronic control device 15 to the actuator 8. The main action direction F of the collision excitation of the actuator 8 is parallel to the direction of the imaginary axis 11 and is substantially parallel to the visible surface 5. By vibrating and exciting substantially in the axial extension direction of the support of the handle 4, the handle 4 also mainly follows this excitation, which is advantageous for the reproducible vibration behavior of the handle 4. In the case of excitation in other orientations, due to the bending vibration in the support 2, the vibration behavior reaching the handle 4 can hardly be predicted as a systematic response to the excitation caused by the actuator 8 and has lower reproducibility. In the first embodiment shown, the actuator 8 is fastened to a cantilever 18 protruding from the back of the support 2 facing away from the operator so as to orient the main action direction F.

[0041] Thereby and due to the pre-tightening by the pre-tightening device 14, the reciprocating motion of the handle 4 along the imaginary axis 11 is minimized, hard stops of the handle 4 are avoided, and thus the interference noise during the generation of haptics is reduced. However, compared with a solution without pre-tightening in the direction of the axis 11, it also makes the generation of haptics more reproducible. That is, overall, the input device 1 is improved in terms of its acoustic and haptic characteristics.

[0042] Figures 4a to 4c The excitation signals A1 to A3 of the present invention and the following excitations and the related system responses S1 to S3 caused thereby are shown, and the system responses are vibration behaviors respectively collected, for example, by a vibrometer at the handle ( Figures 1 to 3 ). Then, the control signal A1 limited to one polarity and due to the damping effect of the support device 9 ( Figures 1 to 3 of) and due to ( Figures 1 to 3The damping effect of the preloading device 14 results in a damped and thus attenuated vibration as the system response S1. Here, the excitation signal A1 and the damping effect are set such that the maximum achievable amplitude of the system response (also referred to as the absolute maximum amplitude X) is achieved with the first or at the latest with the second offset as shown here. max )

[0043] As Figure 4b shown, it is preferably noted that the control signal A2, in terms of duration and course, here the control signal has a period and thus a pulse sequence formed by pulses of opposite polarity, is designed such that the maximum achievable amplitude of the system response (also referred to as the absolute maximum amplitude X) is achieved within a time window of <20 ms. max ) where the above time window is triggered by the start of the control signal.

[0044] Figure 4c shows an embodiment of the control signal A3, which has a pulse sequence comprising two periods. The excitation signal A3 and the damping effects of the support device 9 ( Figures 1 to 3 ) and the preloading device 14 ( Figures 1 to 3 ) are set such that the maximum achievable amplitude of the system response (also referred to as the absolute maximum amplitude X) is achieved with the second offset. max ) In addition, the handle 4 of (Figs. 1 to Figure 3 ) and / or the actuator 8 of ( Figures 1 to 3 ) are damped due to the damping effects of the support device 9 of ( Figures 1 to 3 ) and the preloading device 14 of (Figs. 1 to Figure 3 ) such that the "decay time" of the system amplitude measured at the handle 4 of ( Figures 1 to 3 ) from 100% of the maximum amplitude to 10% of the maximum amplitude or less is 20 ms.

Claims

1. An input device (1), comprising: A fastening element (3) for fixing the input device (1) to a vehicle component; A bracket (2); An elastic support device (9) for movably and resiliently supporting the bracket (2) at the fastening element (3); A handle (4) pivotally or rotatably supported at the bracket (2) about an axis (11) for actuation input by an operator; An actuator (8) fixed at least at the bracket (2) for colliding and / or vibrationally exciting the bracket (2) to generate a haptic feedback for an operator of the handle (4); A preloading device (14) for preloading the handle (4) against the bracket (2) without play in the direction of the axis (11); Wherein, in order to pivotally or rotatably support the handle (4) at the bracket (2), at least two pins (12a, 12b) extending in the axial direction and associated pin receptacles (13a, 13b, 13c) are provided, wherein one of the pins (12a, 12b) is in a pivotally or rotatably engaging connection with the associated pin receptacle among the pin receptacles (13a, 13b, 13c), and the preloading device (14) inserts at least one pin (12a) into the associated pin receptacle (13a) in the direction of the axis (11); Wherein the preloading device (14) includes an elastomeric preloading member acting on an end face of one of the pins (12b).

2. The input device (1) according to claim 1, wherein all the pins (12a, 12b) are formed at the handle (4) and at least two of all the pin receptacles (13a, 13b) are formed at the bracket (2).

3. The input device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bracket (2) forms a baffle (6) having a visible face (5) facing the operator, wherein the baffle (6) has a through-opening (7) in which the handle (4) is at least partially arranged.

4. The input device (1) according to claim 3, wherein other operating elements (10) are also arranged at the bracket (2), and contact surfaces or actuation surfaces of the operating elements are integrated into the visible face (5).

5. The input device (1) according to claim 3, wherein, from the perspective of the operator, the pin receptacles (13a, 13b, 13c) and the pins (12a, 12b) are arranged below the visible face (5).

6. The input device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one pin receptacle (13a, 13c) and the associated pin (12a) are arranged to cooperate in a self-centering manner.

7. The input device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (8) has at least one main action direction (F) of its vibration and / or impact excitation, and the main action direction is in the direction of the axis (11) or is oriented parallel to the direction of the axis (11).

8. The input device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (8) is a plunger coil actuator.

9. The input device (1) according to claim 1, wherein an electronic control device (15) is provided for loading the actuator (8) with control signals (A1, A2, A3), and the control signals (A1, A2, A3) are formed as pulse signals or pulse train signals.

10. The input device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support device (9) and / or the preloading device (14) are formed to be vibration-damping.

11. The input device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the control signals (A1, A2, A3) and / or the damping effect caused by the support means (9) and / or by the preloading means (14) are selected such that the absolute maximum amplitude (X max ) of the system response (S1, S2, S3) to the excitation effect triggered by the control signals (A1, A2, A3) by means of the actuator (8), measured at the handle (4), occurs with a first maximum time interval (t1) of 20 ms after the start of the control signals (A1, A2, A3).

12. The input device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the control signals (A1, A2, A3) and / or the damping effect caused by the support device (9) and / or the preloading device (14) are selected such that the decay time point at which the maximum amplitude of the system response (S1, S2, S3) decays to 10% or less of the absolute maximum amplitude (X max ) follows the previously achieved absolute maximum amplitude (X max ) with a second time interval (t2) of at most 30 ms.

13. A motor vehicle having an input device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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