Two-way swivel control element with minimized installation space

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating element (1), comprising: a carrier (3); an actuating part (2) mounted on the carrier (3) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (D) for performing a pivot adjustment from a rest position along one of two opposite pivot directions (S1, S2) into a respective associated pivot position by an operator; a printed circuit board (9) arranged, from the operator's perspective, on the side of the pivot axis (D) facing away from the operator and fixed to the carrier (3), said circuit board having a main surface (9c) having a plurality of electrical contact surfaces (9a, 9b), extending parallel to the pivot axis (D) and facing the actuating part (2);for each pivoting direction (S1, S2), at least one elastic switching dome (7a, 7b) arranged on the circuit board (12) and covering the contact surfaces (9a, 9b), having at least one conductive contact pill (9a, 9b) for establishing an electrically conductive connection via the contact surfaces (9a, 9b) in one of the pivoting positions of the actuating part (2); for each pivoting direction (S1, S2), a transmission element (4a, 4b) mounted on the carrier (3) by a linear guide (5a, 5b) perpendicular to the main surface (9c) and driven directly or indirectly by the actuating part (2), each transmission element having a cantilever engaging below the pivot axis (D) for acting on one of the switching domes (7a, 7b);characterized in that the switching dome (7a, 7b) covers a plurality of contact surfaces (9a, 9b) and has at least one conductive contact pill (9a, 9b) for establishing an electrically conductive connection via the contact surfaces (9a, 9b) in one of the pivoting positions of the actuating part (2); ; that furthermore at least one pivoting lever (6) mounted pivotably on the support is provided for transmitting the pivoting adjustment of the actuating part (2) to the associated transmission element (4b); and an associated use.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a two-way control element. This refers to an operating element with an actuating part, also referred to as a handle, wherein the actuating part is mounted on a support belonging to the operating element for pivoting about a pivot axis. The actuating part can be pivoted by an operator from a rest position along one of two opposite pivot directions into a respective pivot position to perform a pivot adjustment. Typically, the return is achieved by return means that generate a return force opposite to the pivot adjustment.

[0002] The swivel axis is, for example, parallel to a user interface or viewing surface. A change in the switching state of one or more switching elements can be assigned to the swivel adjustment in each swivel direction. For example, each swivel direction involves a single-stage or two-stage, two-way swivel control element.

[0003] Such control elements required considerable installation space and were therefore unsuitable for integration into a steering wheel, especially when multiple settings were required for each steering direction. Capacitive touch input, a space-saving alternative, is often perceived by operators as inferior, among other things due to the lack of haptic feedback.

[0004] A two-way control element according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from JP H05 - 48 144 U. Generic two-way control elements are known from US 2011 / 0303 516 A1, US 5 824 978 A, JP H06 - 333 4565 A and DE 10 2019 107 842 A1.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a comparatively space-saving two-way control element, namely a control element with an actuating part which is mounted on a support belonging to the control element so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and which can be pivoted by an operator to carry out a pivot adjustment from a rest position along one of two opposite pivot directions into an associated pivot position, in particular for a motor vehicle.

[0006] This object is achieved by an operating element according to claim 1 and the use of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technologically expedient manner and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description, particularly in conjunction with the figures, further characterizes and specifies the invention.

[0007] The invention relates to an operating element, in particular for a motor vehicle. The operating element according to the invention has a carrier. The carrier is made, for example, from a plastic, such as a thermoplastic. The term "carrier" is to be interpreted broadly and can have a design directed solely at the attachment of the operating element. However, it can also have a design that protects one or more components, for example, an electronic component, of the operating element. For example, it is designed in some areas as a substantially closed housing.

[0008] The operating element according to the invention further comprises an actuating part mounted on the support for pivoting about a pivot axis, which is pivotally mounted by an operator from a rest position along one of two opposite pivot directions into a respective pivot position. Preferably, the pivot position is an end position of the actuating part, which is achieved by limiting the pivoting mobility of the actuating part.

[0009] The actuating part is made of a plastic, such as a thermoplastic, and is manufactured, for example, using an injection molding process. The actuating part is preferably designed as a thumbwheel, i.e., operation is achieved using one-finger operation, and, for example, the pivot axis lies in the plane of the operating or viewing surface facing the operator or is parallel to this operating or viewing surface. The operating surface is defined, for example, by the dashboard or a steering wheel into which the operating element is integrated. The actuating element has, for example, a fin extending parallel to the pivot axis as a grip aid.

[0010] According to the invention, a printed circuit board is further provided, which is arranged on the side of the pivot axis facing away from the operator and is secured to the carrier. The term "printed circuit board" is to be interpreted broadly and is intended to include, in addition to a conventional circuit board with a substrate made of fiber-reinforced plastic or laminated paper, a film layer structure arranged on a plastic substrate with a conductive coating in some areas. According to the invention, the printed circuit board has a main surface extending parallel to the pivot axis and facing the actuating part, on which a plurality of electrical contact surfaces are arranged. The "main surface" is understood to mean the two opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board with the largest surface area.

[0011] According to the invention, for each pivoting direction, at least one elastic switching dome is provided, which is arranged on the circuit board and covers the contact surfaces and has at least one conductive contact pill for establishing an electrically conductive connection via the contact surfaces in one of the pivoting positions, preferably the respective end position in the respective pivoting direction.

[0012] According to the invention, for each pivoting direction, a transmission element is mounted on the support by a linear guide perpendicular to the main surface, which is driven directly or indirectly by the actuating part. Each transmission element has a cantilever extending below the pivot axis for acting on one of the switching domes. In other words, a surface, in particular a surface facing away from the pivot axis, of the cantilever belonging to the transmission element serves to act on and engage with an associated switching dome.

[0013] The cantilevers according to the invention, which engage below the pivot axis and thus extend between the pivot axis and the circuit board, result in a structurally compact design of the generic control element, whereby installation space can be saved without loss of durability in such a way that integration into a steering wheel, for example into a steering wheel spoke supporting a steering wheel rim on a steering wheel hub, is possible.

[0014] Preferably, the linear guides formed between the support and the transmission element are arranged on different sides of an imaginary first plane spanned by the pivot axis and an orthogonal line to the main surface of the circuit board, in accordance with their respective associated pivoting directions. In other words, the linear guides are arranged laterally offset from the pivot axis for the operator looking perpendicularly at the circuit board and the pivot axis, and on different sides of the pivot axis for the two different pivoting directions. Preferably, the pivoting mobility of the actuating part is secured by a one-sided attachment of the linear guide between the support and the transmission element.

[0015] Preferably, at least one linear guide projects beyond an imaginary second plane extending through the axis of rotation and perpendicular to the first plane in the direction of the operator, for example to increase the guide length of the transmission element.

[0016] The rest position of the actuating part corresponds, for example, to a central position of the actuating part located in the first plane, wherein the central position is the position that encloses the same pivot angle with the two pivot positions. Preferably, the rest position corresponds to a central position of the actuating part tilted to one side of the first plane about the rotation axis.

[0017] According to the invention, in order to save installation space and / or to be able to ensure a sufficient guide length of the transmission length, at least one pivoting lever mounted on the carrier in a pivotable manner is provided for transmitting the pivoting adjustment of the actuating part to the associated transmission element.

[0018] Preferably, the pivot lever acts on the transmission element, whose linear guide is arranged on the side of the first plane in which the tilted position of the actuating part, corresponding to the rest position, is located. Preferably, the remaining transmission element is driven directly by the actuating part, i.e., for example, without the mechanical-kinematic interposition of a gear such as the pivot lever.

[0019] Preferably, several switching stages are provided for each pivoting direction. Multiple switching stages means that, in addition to a switching state change associated with the pivoting position, a further switching state change of a switching contact is provided when the actuating part is in an intermediate position between the rest position and the pivoting position. It should be irrelevant whether the switching state change is maintained upon reaching the intermediate position during further pivoting of the actuating position into the pivoting position.

[0020] Preferably, the multiple switching stages are realized by multiple contact pins per pivoting direction and associated contact surfaces on the circuit board, of which at least two contact pins differ in their clear distance from the main surface of the circuit board in the rest position of the actuating part. Preferably, the multiple contact pins per pivoting direction are arranged in a common, elastic switching dome.

[0021] In one embodiment of the control element, the return of the actuating part is effected by additional return means, such as a spring, in particular a coil spring. In a preferred, particularly compact embodiment, the return of the actuating part to the rest position is effected exclusively by at least one switching dome per pivoting direction.

[0022] The invention further relates to the use of the control element in one of the previously described embodiments in a motor vehicle.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures. These figures are to be understood as examples only and represent preferred embodiments. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective sectional view of an embodiment of the control element 1 according to the invention; Fig. 2 another perspective sectional view of the Fig. 1 shown embodiment; Fig. 3 a perspective detail section view of the Fig. 1 shown embodiment; Fig. 4 a bottom view of the mechanics of the Fig. 1 shown embodiment; Fig. 5 and 6 respectively of the Fig. 1 shown embodiment.

[0024] The invention relates to an operating element 1, in particular for a motor vehicle. The operating element 1 comprises a carrier 3. The carrier 3 is made, for example, of a plastic, such as a thermoplastic. As shown here, the carrier 3 comprises several components, such as a panel 10, which together form a largely closed housing.

[0025] The operating element 1 further comprises an actuating part 2 mounted on the support 3 for pivoting about a pivot axis D. The actuating part 2 is pivotally mounted by an operator from a rest position along one of two opposite pivot directions S1, S2 into a respective pivot position. The pivot position is an end position of the actuating part 2, which is achieved by limiting the pivoting mobility of the actuating part 2.

[0026] The actuating part 2 is made of a plastic, such as a thermoplastic, and is manufactured, for example, using an injection molding process. In the embodiment shown, the actuating part 2 is formed in several parts and has an outer handle 2a forming the actual operating surface. This operating surface includes a fin as a gripping aid and a partially cylindrical operating surface area, as is typical for a so-called thumbwheel. The pivot axis D is oriented essentially parallel to a visible surface facing the operator, which is formed by the panel 10.

[0027] Furthermore, a printed circuit board 9 is provided which, from the operator's perspective, is arranged on the side of the pivot axis D facing away from the operator, i.e. below the pivot axis D, and is fixed to the carrier 3. The term printed circuit board 9 is to be interpreted broadly and is intended to include, in addition to a conventional circuit board with a substrate made of fiber-reinforced plastic or hard paper, a film layer structure arranged on a plastic substrate with a conductive coating in some areas. The printed circuit board 9 has a main surface 9c which extends parallel to the pivot axis D and faces the actuating part 2, and on which a plurality of electrical contact surfaces 9a, 9b are arranged. The main surface is understood to be the two opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board 9 with the largest surface area. The contact surfaces 9a, 9b are, for example, two meander-shaped, nested or parallel, contactable electrodes.

[0028] As the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, for each pivoting direction S1, S2, at least one elastic switching dome arranged on the circuit board, covering the contact surfaces 9a, 9b, with at least one conductive contact pill 8a, 8b is provided for establishing an electrically conductive connection via the contact surfaces 9a, 9b in one of the pivoting positions, preferably the respective end position in the respective pivoting direction S1, S2.

[0029] For each pivoting direction S1, S2, a transmission element 4a, 4b is provided, which is mounted on the carrier 3 by a linear guide 5a, 5b perpendicular to the main surface 9c of the circuit board 9 and driven directly or indirectly by the actuating part 2, which is essentially L-shaped and has a respective arm engaging below the pivot axis D for acting on one of the switching domes 7a, 7b. In other words, a surface, in particular a surface facing away from the pivot axis D, which in plan view in Fig. 4, the arm belonging to the transmission element 4a, 4b acts on and rests against an associated switching dome 7a, 7b. As far as the transmission element 4a is concerned, the actuating element 2 with its inner component 2b acts directly on this transmission element 4a, whereas the actuating element 2 with its inner component 2b interacts only indirectly with the transmission element 4b.

[0030] As is particularly evident from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the linear guides 5a, 5b formed between the carrier 3 and the transmission element 4a, 4b are arranged on different sides of an imaginary first plane E1 spanned by the pivot axis D and an orthogonal to the main surface 9c of the circuit board 9, in accordance with the pivot direction S1, S2 assigned to them. In other words, the linear guides 5a, 5b are arranged laterally offset from the pivot axis D for the operator looking perpendicularly at the circuit board 9 and the pivot axis D, and on different sides of the pivot axis D for the two different pivot directions S1, S2. The pivoting mobility of the actuating part 2 is thereby achieved in each case by a one-sided attachment of the linear guide between the carrier 3 and the transmission element 4a, 4b.

[0031] The arrangement of the linear guides 5a, 5b shown, together with the arms of the transmission elements 4a, 4b which engage below the pivot axis D and thus extend between the pivot axis D and the circuit board 9, results in a structurally compact design of the generic control element 1, whereby installation space can be saved without loss of durability in such a way that integration into a steering wheel, for example into a steering wheel spoke supporting a steering wheel rim on a steering wheel hub, is possible.

[0032] As particularly in Fig. 1, at least the linear guide 5a projects beyond an imaginary second plane E2 extending through the rotation axis D and perpendicular to the first plane in the direction of the operator, for example to increase the guide length of the transmission element 5a.

[0033] The rest position of the actuating part 2 here does not correspond to a middle position of the actuating part 2 located in the first plane E1, where the middle position is the position that encloses the same pivot angle with the two pivot positions. Rather, the rest position corresponds to a middle position of the actuating part 2 tilted to one side of the first plane E1 around the rotation axis D.

[0034] In order to save installation space and / or to ensure a sufficient guide length of the transmission length, a pivoting lever 6 mounted on the carrier 3 is provided for transmitting the pivoting adjustment of the actuating part 2 to the associated transmission element 4b.

[0035] The mutually facing inclined planes of the actuating part 2, the pivoting lever 6 and the transmission element 4b act as sliding surfaces and enable the conversion of the rotational / pivoting movement of the lever 6 into the linear movement of the transmission element 4b.

[0036] The pivot lever 6 acts on the associated transmission element 4b, the linear guide 5b of which is arranged on that side of the first plane E1 in which the tilted position of the actuating part 2 corresponding to the rest position is located.

[0037] The remaining transmission element 4a is driven directly by the actuating part 2, i.e., for example, without the mechanical-kinematic interposition of a gear such as the pivot lever 6.

[0038] How Fig.As shown in Figure 1, several switching stages are provided for each pivoting direction S1, S2. "Multiple switching stages" means that, in addition to a switching state change associated with the pivoting position, a further switching state change of a switching contact is provided when the actuating part 2 is in an intermediate position between the rest position and the pivoting position. It is irrelevant whether the switching state change is maintained upon reaching the intermediate position during the further pivoting adjustment of the actuating part 2 into the pivoting position.

[0039] The multiple, here two, switching stages are realized by multiple, here two, contact caps 8a, 8b per pivoting direction S1, S2 and associated contact surfaces 9a, 9b on the circuit board 9, of which the contact caps 8a, 8b differ in their clear distance from the main surface 9c of the circuit board 9 in the rest position of the actuating part 2. The multiple contact caps 8a, 8b per pivoting direction S1, S2 are arranged in a common, elastic switching dome 7a, 7b.

[0040] The return of the actuating part 2 to the rest position is effected exclusively by the respective switching dome 7a, 7b per pivoting direction S1, S2.

Claims

[1] Control element (1), comprising: a carrier (3); an actuating part (2) pivotably mounted on the support (3) about a pivot axis (D) for carrying out a pivot adjustment from a rest position along one of two opposite pivot directions (S1, S2) into a respective associated pivot position by an operator; a printed circuit board (9) arranged on the side of the pivot axis (D) facing away from the operator, fixed to the carrier (3), with a main surface (9c) having a plurality of electrical contact surfaces (9a, 9b), extending parallel to the pivot axis (D) and facing the actuating part (2); for each pivoting direction (S1, S2) at least one elastic switching dome (7a, 7b) arranged on the circuit board (12); for each pivoting direction (S1, S2), a transmission element (4a, 4b) mounted on the support (3) by a linear guide (5a, 5b) perpendicular to the main surface (9c) for transverse displacement, driven directly or indirectly by the actuating part (2), each having a cantilever engaging below the pivot axis (D) for acting on one of the switching domes (7a, 7b), characterized by , that the switching dome (7a, 7b) covers a plurality of contact surfaces (9a, 9b) and has at least one conductive contact pill (9a, 9b) for establishing an electrically conductive connection via the contact surfaces (9a, 9b) in one of the pivoting positions of the actuating part (2); that furthermore at least one pivoting lever (6) mounted on the support in a pivotable manner is provided for transmitting the pivoting adjustment of the actuating part (2) to the associated transmission element (4b). [2] Operating element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the linear guides (5a, 5b) formed between the carrier (3) and the actuating part (2) are arranged on different sides of an imaginary first plane (E1) spanned by the pivot axis (D) and an orthogonal to the main surface (9c) of the printed circuit board (9) in accordance with the pivoting direction (S1, S2) assigned to them. [3] Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one linear guide (5a, 5b) projects beyond an imaginary second plane (E2) extending through the axis of rotation (D) and perpendicular to the first plane (E1) in the direction of the operator. [4] Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rest position of the actuating part (2) corresponds to a middle position of the actuating part (2) tilted to one side of the first plane (E1) about the axis of rotation. [5] Operating element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pivoting lever (6) acts on the associated transmission element (4b), the linear guide (5b) of which is arranged on that side of the first plane (E1) in which the tilted middle position of the actuating part (2) corresponding to the rest position is located. [6] Control element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein several switching stages are provided for each pivoting direction (S1, S2). [7] Operating element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the plurality of switching stages are realized by a plurality of contact pills (9a, 9b) per pivoting direction (S1, S2) and associated contact surfaces (on the circuit board), of which at least two contact pills differ in their clear distance from the main surface of the circuit board in the rest position of the actuating part. [8] Operating element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the plurality of contact pills per pivoting direction are arranged in a common, elastic switching dome. [9] Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating part (2) is designed as a thumbwheel. [10] Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the return of the actuating part (2) to the rest position is effected exclusively by at least one switching dome (7a, 7b) per pivoting direction (S1, S2). [11] Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the assumption of at least one position, in particular the rest position, of the actuating part (2) is optically monitored by a light barrier (11, 12). [12] Use of the control element (1) according to one of the preceding claims in a motor vehicle.

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