A combination switch structure of a gear lever handle

By placing a photoelectric sensor at the lower end of the circuit board in the car's column shift lever combination switch, and cooperating with the grating strip at the lower end of the shift block, the problem of dust affecting the stability of the photoelectric sensor is solved, achieving a safer and more convenient shifting operation.

CN116844891BActive Publication Date: 2026-07-31HUANGSHAN AUTOMOBILE ELECTRIC EQUIP CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
HUANGSHAN AUTOMOBILE ELECTRIC EQUIP CO LTD
Filing Date
2023-06-25
Publication Date
2026-07-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Traditional car gear shifting functions are inconvenient to operate, and dust can easily enter the photoelectric sensors, affecting stability, especially in large off-road vehicles and trucks, which affects driving safety and comfort.

Method used

Design a combination switch structure for a shift lever handle, in which a photoelectric sensor is placed at the lower end of the circuit board and works in conjunction with the grating strip at the lower end of the stop block to realize the photoelectric induction switch function and prevent dust from falling directly on the photoelectric sensor.

Benefits of technology

It achieves stability of photoelectric sensors without dust affecting them, saves internal space in the handle, improves ease of operation and driving safety, and is suitable for various vehicle models.

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Abstract

This invention provides a column shifter handle combination switch structure, including a housing. A rotating block is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the housing. A stop block is connected to the rotating block and drives the stop block to rotate. A grating strip for rotating and cutting light is mounted on the lower end of the stop block. A first circuit board is mounted below the stop block, and several sets of photoelectric sensors adapted to the grating strip are mounted on the lower end of the first circuit board. The purpose of this invention is to provide a column shifter handle combination switch structure that prevents dust from falling onto the photoelectric sensors on the upper end of the circuit board, thus affecting the working stability of the photoelectric sensors.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive combination switch technology, and more particularly to a column shift lever combination switch structure. Background Technology

[0002] As automotive technology matures, people are increasingly focused on the safety and comfort of driving. Traditional gear shifting is located directly on the driver's right, requiring a significant distance for the driver's right hand from the steering wheel when shifting gears. This is a drawback in terms of both safety and comfort. Therefore, more and more small cars and SUVs are incorporating column shifters below the steering wheel, often with photoelectric sensors integrated into the shifter, typically located at the top of the circuit board. However, large off-road vehicles and trucks rarely feature column shifters. Due to the harsh driving environment and high levels of dust inside these vehicles, dust can easily enter through the gaps between the shift lever and buttons, settling on the photoelectric sensor and affecting its stability. Therefore, a new combination switch with a column shifter function is needed to prevent dust from affecting the stability of the photoelectric sensor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a combination switch structure for a shift lever to prevent dust from falling on the photoelectric sensor at the top of the circuit board and affecting the working stability of the photoelectric sensor.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0005] A combination switch structure for a shift lever includes a housing, a rotating block rotatably mounted on the upper end of the housing, a stop block connected to the rotating block and driving the stop block to rotate, a grating strip for rotating and cutting light rays mounted on the lower end of the stop block, a first circuit board mounted below the stop block, and a plurality of photoelectric sensors adapted to the grating strip mounted on the lower end of the first circuit board.

[0006] Furthermore, the first circuit board is provided with a sliding groove, through which the grating strip passes and cooperates with the photoelectric sensor.

[0007] Furthermore, the grating strip is a T-shaped structure in the shape of an arc, and the slide groove is also set as an arc structure adapted to the grating strip; two sets of photoelectric sensors are provided, located at both ends of the slide groove respectively.

[0008] Furthermore, the upper end face of the stop block is provided with several sets of pins, and the rotating block is provided with several sets of slots relative to the positions of the pins.

[0009] Furthermore, a button is movably connected to the rotating block, the top post of the button passes through the rotating block, a pressure plate is provided below the top post, a conductive adhesive plate is provided below the pressure plate, and a first contact adapted to the conductive adhesive plate is provided at the upper end of the first circuit board.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer casing is also provided with a knob, below which a contact bridge is provided to drive the contact bridge to rotate, and below the contact bridge a second circuit board is provided, with a second contact point adapted to the contact bridge on the upper surface of the second circuit board.

[0011] Furthermore, the lower end face of the knob is provided with a slot, and the upper end of the contact bridge is engaged in the slot.

[0012] Furthermore, the knob is provided with a gear block, and the lower end face of the gear block is provided with a first gear track groove; the upper end face of the knob is provided with a first gear hole, and the first gear hole is provided with a first spring and a gear ball that adapts to the first gear track groove.

[0013] Furthermore, the stop block is fixedly connected to the outer casing, and the stop block is provided with a fixing seat with a fixing hole. A fixing pin is provided on the outer casing at a position relative to the fixing seat, and the fixing pin is inserted into the fixing hole of the fixing seat.

[0014] Furthermore, the outer casing is provided with second stop holes at both ends, and a second spring and a stop post are provided in the second stop holes; the inner wall of the rotating block is provided with a second stop trajectory groove adapted to the stop post.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The present invention realizes the photoelectric sensing switch function by setting the photoelectric sensor at the lower end of the circuit board and cooperating with the grating strip at the lower end of the stop block. This not only avoids dust falling directly on the upper end of the circuit board and affecting the stability of photoelectric sensing, but also saves internal space of the handle.

[0016] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a combination switch for a shift lever handle according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of a combination switch structure for a shift lever handle according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the internal structure of a shift lever combination switch according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is an exploded view from another direction of the internal structure of a shift lever combination switch according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a diagram of the outer casing and its stop structure in this invention.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram showing the cooperation between the stop block and the first circuit board in this invention.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the stop block in this invention.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a structural diagram of the transfer block in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] like Figures 1 to 4 The diagram shows a column shifter combination switch structure, located below the steering wheel, including a column shifter handle housing 1. A rotating block 2 is rotatably mounted on the upper end of the housing 1, and a stop block 6 is connected to the rotating block 2 and drives the stop block 6 to rotate. A grating strip 601 for rotating and cutting light rays is provided at the lower end of the stop block 6. A first circuit board 7 is provided below the stop block 6, and a plurality of photoelectric sensors 703 adapted to the grating strip 601 are provided at the lower end of the first circuit board 7. The photoelectric sensors 703 are slot-type photoelectric sensors.

[0026] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figure 6 As shown, in order to facilitate the structural arrangement of photoelectric cutting, the first circuit board 7 is provided with a sliding groove 702, and the grating strip 601 passes through the sliding groove 702 to cooperate with the photoelectric sensor 703.

[0027] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, in order to facilitate the rotation of the grating strip 601 to cut the U-shaped grating grooves on the two sets of photoelectric sensors 703 to conduct different handle functions when the stop block 6 rotates, the grating strip 601 is a T-shaped structure with an arc shape, and the slide groove 702 is also set to adapt to the arc structure of the grating strip 601; the photoelectric sensor 703 is provided in two sets, which are located at both ends of the slide groove 702 respectively.

[0028] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, in order to facilitate the connection and fixation of the stop block 6 and the rotating block 2, and to enable the rotating block 2 to drive the stop block 6 to rotate, the upper end face of the stop block 6 is provided with several sets of pins 602, and the rotating block 2 is provided with several sets of slots 202 at positions relative to the pins 602.

[0029] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figures 2 to 4As shown, in order to facilitate the triggering of the handle function by the button 3, the button 3 is movably connected to the rotating block 2. The top post 301 of the button 3 passes through the rotating block 2. A pressure plate 4 is provided below the top post 301. A conductive adhesive plate 5 is provided below the pressure plate 4. A first contact 701 adapted to the conductive adhesive plate 5 is provided at the upper end of the first circuit board 7.

[0030] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figures 2 to 4 As shown, to facilitate triggering the handle function using the knob 9, the outer casing 1 is also provided with a knob 9. Below the knob 9, a contact bridge 10 is provided, which drives the contact bridge 10 to rotate. Below the contact bridge 10, a second circuit board 11 is provided. The upper surface of the second circuit board 11 is provided with a second contact 1101 adapted to the contact bridge 10. The second circuit board 11 is fixedly mounted on the mounting base 12 below it.

[0031] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figure 4 As shown, in order to connect and fix the contact bridge 10 and the knob 9, and to facilitate the knob 9 to drive the contact bridge 10 to rotate and trigger the handle function, the lower end face of the knob 9 is provided with a slot 901, and the upper end of the contact bridge 10 is engaged in the slot 901.

[0032] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figure 3 As shown, in order to achieve the gear shift feel when the knob 9 is rotated, a gear shift block 8 is provided in the knob 9, and a first gear shift track groove 801 is provided on the lower end surface of the gear shift block 8; a first gear shift hole 902 is provided on the upper end surface of the knob 9, and a first spring 903 and a gear shift ball 904 adapted to the first gear shift track groove 801 are provided in the first gear shift hole 902.

[0033] Preferably, in conjunction with the above scheme, in order to facilitate the limiting installation of the stop block 8, the stop block 8 is fixedly connected to the outer shell 1, the stop block 8 is provided with a fixing seat 802 with fixing holes, and the outer shell 1 is provided with a fixing pin 101 at a position relative to the fixing seat 802, the fixing pin 101 being inserted into the fixing hole of the fixing seat 802.

[0034] Preferably, in combination with the above schemes, such as Figure 5 and Figure 8 As shown, in order to achieve the gear shift feel when the rotating block 2 rotates, the two ends of the outer shell 1 are provided with second gear shift holes 102, and the second gear shift holes 102 are provided with second springs 103 and gear shift posts 104; the inner wall of the rotating block 2 is provided with a second gear shift track groove 201 adapted to the gear shift post 104.

[0035] The principle of this invention:

[0036] Column shifter function:

[0037] When rotating block 2, it will drive block 6 to rotate at the same time. When rotating block 2 rotates to forward / reverse gear (D / N / R gear), the grating strip 601 at the lower end of block 6 rotates and non-contactly senses the photoelectric sensor 703 on the first circuit board 7. The signal is then output to the car identification module through the wires soldered on the first circuit board 7 to realize the gear shifting function.

[0038] Moving the handle up and down activates the hydraulic slow-speed (M+ / M-) gear function, while moving the handle forward and backward activates the manual transmission gear shifting function. Both functions can be achieved through the toggle switch structure at the bottom of the handle. This structure can be a common toggle switch structure on the market, so it will not be described in detail.

[0039] Manual / Automatic (A / M) switching function:

[0040] Pressing button 3 causes pressure plate 4 and conductive rubber plate 5 to be pressed down simultaneously. The conductive particles on conductive rubber plate 5 make contact with the first contact point 701 of copper foil on the first circuit board 7 and conduct electricity. The electricity is output to the vehicle identification module through the wires soldered on the first circuit board 7 to realize the manual / automatic transmission switching function. After releasing the button, button 3 will automatically reset under the rebound force of the elastic wall of conductive rubber plate 5.

[0041] Driving mode switching function:

[0042] Rotating the knob 9 causes the contact bridge 10 mounted on it to rotate simultaneously, making contact with the second copper foil contact 1101 of the second circuit board 11 and conducting. The output is sent to the vehicle identification module through the wires soldered on the second circuit board 11, realizing the function of switching driving modes (Economy mode E / P, Off, Comfort mode L1).

[0043] The invention's column shifter function, achieved through a combination switch for the car's gearshift lever, eliminates the need for a manual or automatic transmission lever on the right side of the driver's seat. Combined with a flat-floor cab, this creates a more spacious aisle. Firstly, the increased cab space makes shifting drivers more convenient, especially for high-speed drivers in China, as it allows for seamless driver changes without stopping. Secondly, shifting gears can be performed without taking your hands off the steering wheel, offering convenient and comfortable operation and minimizing distractions during driving. This allows the driver to focus more on the road, enhancing safety. This invention can be applied not only to large off-road vehicles and trucks but also to small cars and SUVs.

[0044] This invention achieves photoelectric sensing switch function by placing a photoelectric sensor at the lower end of the circuit board and cooperating with the grating strip at the lower end of the block, thus avoiding dust from falling directly on the upper end of the circuit board and affecting the stability of photoelectric sensing.

[0045] Since the upper part of the handle is equipped with button 3, top post 301 and pressure plate 4, it will occupy a large amount of internal space of the handle. The present invention sets the photoelectric sensing structure at the lower part of the first circuit board 7, which can avoid the button structure, make the internal space of the handle more compact, and make better use of the internal space of the handle.

[0046] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that terms such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "one end," "one side," "both ends," and "both sides" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0047] The present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-described manner. Any improvements made using the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention, or direct application to other situations without modification, fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gear handle combination switch structure, comprising a housing (1), a rotating block (2) is arranged at the upper end of the housing (1), characterized in that, The rotating block (2) is connected to a stop block (6) and drives the stop block (6) to rotate. The lower end of the stop block (6) is provided with a grating strip (601) for rotating and cutting light rays. The lower part of the stop block (6) is provided with a first circuit board (7). The lower end of the first circuit board (7) is provided with several sets of photoelectric sensors (703) adapted to the grating strip (601). The first circuit board (7) is provided with a sliding groove (702). The grating strip (601) passes through the sliding groove (702) and cooperates with the photoelectric sensor (703). The grating strip (601) is a T-shaped structure with an arc. The sliding groove (702) is also set as an arc structure adapted to the grating strip (601). There are two sets of photoelectric sensors (703), which are located at both ends of the sliding groove (702).

2. The combination switch structure of the shift handle according to claim 1, wherein The upper end face of the stop block (6) is provided with a number of sets of pins (602), and the rotating block (2) is provided with a number of slots (202) at the position relative to the pins (602).

3. The combination switch structure of the shift handle according to claim 1, wherein A button (3) is movably connected to the rotating block (2). The top post (301) of the button (3) passes through the rotating block (2). A pressure plate (4) is provided below the top post (301). A conductive adhesive plate (5) is provided below the pressure plate (4). A first contact point (701) adapted to the conductive adhesive plate (5) is provided at the upper end of the first circuit board (7).

4. The shift lever combination switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing (1) is also provided with a knob (9), and a contact bridge (10) is provided below the knob (9) to drive the contact bridge (10) to rotate. A second circuit board (11) is provided below the contact bridge (10), and a second contact (1101) adapted to the contact bridge (10) is provided on the upper surface of the second circuit board (11).

5. The shift lever combination switch structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lower end face of the knob (9) is provided with a slot (901), and the upper end of the contact bridge (10) is engaged in the slot (901).

6. The shift lever combination switch structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The knob (9) is provided with a gear block (8), and the lower end face of the gear block (8) is provided with a first gear track groove (801); the upper end face of the knob (9) is provided with a first gear hole (902), and the first gear hole (902) is provided with a first spring (903) and a gear ball (904) adapted to the first gear track groove (801).

7. The shift lever combination switch structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The stop block (8) is fixedly connected to the outer shell (1). The stop block (8) is provided with a fixing seat (802) with a fixing hole. The outer shell (1) is provided with a fixing pin (101) at a position relative to the fixing seat (802). The fixing pin (101) is inserted into the fixing hole of the fixing seat (802).

8. The shift lever combination switch structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer casing (1) is provided with second gear holes (102) at both ends, and a second spring (103) and a gear post (104) are provided in the second gear holes (102); the inner wall of the rotating block (2) is provided with a second gear track groove (201) adapted to the gear post (104).