Vehicle operation unit

Abstract

The vehicle operating unit (10) includes an operating element (20) with an operating surface (18), which is movable in an operating direction (56) from a rest position to a function activation position and from the function activation position back to the rest position when depressed. A parallel guide device (68) provides for the parallel movement of the operating surface (18). The parallel guide device (68) includes at least a pair of first and second levers (64, 66) that mesh with each other. The first and second levers (64, 66) are mounted on a support element (44) in a freely coupled state with play. The support element (44) is also connected to the operating element (20). The support element (44) is axially guided in a holding element (52). The levers (64, 66) are pivotally mounted in the bearing blocks (72, 74) with virtually no play, so that the operating element (20) has virtually no play in the direction transverse to the depression movement. The parallel guide device (68) is configured to tolerances that are relatively simple to realize in manufacturing technology.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating unit for a vehicle, in particular to an operating unit for a vehicle with improved parallel guidance of large-area operating elements. [Background technology]

[0002] Current vehicle operating principles include operating units with relatively large touch displays. Because simply touching the display surface (operating surface) does not necessarily signal to the user whether the desired operating function has been accepted by the system, attempts have been made to provide the operator with optical, acoustic, or tactile feedback as confirmation of receipt of the input command. Specifically, the feedback principle known as "haptic feedback" has proven advantageous because it is comfortable. A distinction is made here between passive and active haptic feedback. Active haptic feedback requires active, pulsed mechanical excitation of the operating element (display), which can be structurally expensive, not only in terms of actuator elements but also in terms of damping unwanted vibrations. So-called passive haptic feedback is advantageous in this regard. In this passive haptic feedback, when an operating element (e.g., a display) is pressed, a mechanical switch or, in general, a kinematic element acts on the operating element in a pulsed mechanical manner, which provides a reliable tactile sensation for the user.

[0003] Operating elements with large operating surfaces, in particular when manually actuated off-center, tend to tip over and do not provide a linear depression movement. However, in the ideal situation where only one mechanical switch or kinematic element can be used for passive tactile feedback, it is necessary to provide a linear lifting movement of the operating element, where the depression movement of the operating element is performed while the operating surface is held parallel. Approaches for this are described, for example, in the following documents: German Patent Application No. 34 33 719 (DE-C), German Published Patent Application No. 36 43 927 (DE-A), German Patent Application No. 44 01 644 (DE-C), German Patent Application No. 196 01 492 (DE-C), German Published Patent Application No. 197 57 928 (DE-A), German Published Patent Application No. 10 2008 019 124 (DE-A), German Published Patent Application No. 10 2011 085 725 (DE-A), German Published Patent Application No. 10 2017 220 780 (DE-B), German Published Patent Application No. 10 2017 222 601 (DE-A), German Published Patent Application No. 10 2018 121 678 (DE-A), German Patent Publication No. 10 2019 203 031 (DE-A), European Patent Publication No. 0 304 847 (EP-A), European Patent Publication No. 1 458 000 (EP-B), European Patent Publication No. 2 449 448 (EP-B), US Patent Publication No. 5 813 521 (US-A), US Patent Publication No. 2010 / 0172080 (US-A), WO 2011 / 000910 (WO-A), WO 2014 / 198418 (WO-A) and WO 2016 / 183498 (WO-A). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a parallel guide device for an operating element of an operating unit for a vehicle, which is of simple construction and is adapted to the tightest tolerances that must be met. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve this problem, the present invention proposes a vehicle operating unit (i.e., an operating unit for mounting on a vehicle). an operating element having an operating surface, which is guided reciprocally in the operating direction from a rest position to a function activation position when pressed; a parallel guide device for guiding the operating element in parallel when the operating element moves in the operating direction and the opposite direction; The parallel guide device is a holding element having an upper surface facing the operating element and a lower surface facing away from the operating element; a lever assembly comprising at least one first lever and at least one second lever; a bearing assembly comprising at least one first bearing block on which a first lever is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis extending transversely to the direction of movement, and at least one second bearing block on which a second lever is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis extending transversely to the direction of movement, the pivot axes of both levers extending parallel to each other; two opposing support elements for the operating element, which protrude from the operating element in the operating direction and extend beyond the underside of the holding element through the through-openings in the holding element and / or past the lateral sides of the holding element, The lever assembly and the bearing assembly are disposed below the retaining element and between the two support elements; Each lever has a first lever arm extending from its pivot shaft and a second lever arm extending from its pivot shaft opposite the first lever arm; a first lever arm of the at least one first lever is accommodated in a freely coupled state by a coupling recess having a recess opening of one of the support elements; a first lever arm of the at least one second lever is accommodated in a freely coupled state by a coupling recess having a recess opening of the other support element; The second lever arms of the at least one first lever and the at least one second lever are in pivotal engagement with each other.

[0006] The principle of the operating unit according to the invention comprises a parallel guide device for guiding the operating element in the direction of movement, i.e. from the rest position to the functional start position, and in the opposite direction to the direction of movement. The parallel guide device comprises a lever assembly below the fixed holding element. Lever assemblies are essentially known from prior art principles, i.e., for example from German Patent Applications Nos. 44 016 44 (DE-C) and 10 2017 220 789 (DE-B), or from the above-mentioned international patent documents.

[0007] The configuration of the lever below the holding element offers the advantage of providing space above the holding element for keys with various operating principles, e.g. (mechanically, capacitively, optically, inductively acting), rocker switches, actuators, rotary / press actuators, displays, touch displays, touchpads with "fixed" symbols.

[0008] In one advantageous development of the invention, the joint recesses of the two support elements each have a shape (a so-called "sliding seat") that allows the corresponding first lever arm to slide within the joint recess in a direction toward and opposite the recess opening when at least one first lever and at least one second lever are swung by the movement of the actuating element, while preventing the corresponding first lever arm from moving within the joint recess in the direction of movement of the actuating element and in the opposite direction.

[0009] However, according to this development of the invention, the principle of this lever assembly is particularly easy and provides a length adjustment compensation that can be realized in a simple manner. The flexible connection of the first and second levers is achieved by a joint with play, within which the ends of the first and second levers, housed in the fixed joint part of the joint, are movable transversely to the direction of movement. The same applies to the joint connection between the two levers. The provision of play allows for a particularly simple lever assembly design that is easily realizable in manufacturing technology and does not require the fulfillment of excessive tolerance requirements.

[0010] The operating element, preferably a display and in particular a touchscreen, is arranged above a fixed holding element. The holding element is optionally arranged in a housing of the operating unit. The operating element has a support element facing the holding element. The support element protrudes from the holding element and extends through a through-opening in the holding element or through an edge recess in the holding element. Two bearing blocks are provided on the underside of the holding element. Each bearing block pivotally mounts one of two levers. The pivot joints have substantially no play. The two levers extend in a plane arranged below the holding element and extending approximately parallel to the holding element (when the levers are not pivoting). The opposite ends of the levers engage with each other with play, and their opposite ends are accommodated in joint recesses formed in the respective support elements. Each lever has two lever arms, specifically, on both sides of the corresponding pivot joint of the corresponding bearing block. Each first lever arm is accommodated by a coupling recess in the support element, while each second lever arm of both levers meshes with one another, possibly by means of gears (preferably involute gears) or a similar coupling arrangement in which the first lever arms of both levers are accommodated in the corresponding support element.

[0011] When the operating element is pressed down or reaches the rest position again from the functional start position, the first lever arms of both levers move slightly in the coupling recesses of the corresponding support parts, i.e. the coupling recesses of the support elements allow the corresponding first lever arms to slide towards and against the recess opening of the adjacent corresponding support element (sliding seat).

[0012] In the operating unit according to the invention, the activation of a function can be effected by a touch sensor in the touch screen forming the operating element, or by a switch which is actuated when the operating element reaches the function activation position, or a combination of both mechanisms can be used.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, each first lever arm has a coupling end that is accommodated in one of the coupling recesses, and each coupling recess has an accommodation space adjacent to the recess opening, which surrounds the coupling end of the corresponding first lever arm and prevents movement of the coupling end of the first lever arm inside the accommodation space in the direction of movement of the operating element and in the opposite direction, and may also guide the coupling end of the corresponding first lever arm in a crank-like manner and allow the coupling end of the first lever arm to slide inside the accommodation space.

[0014] Here, it can be advantageous that each coupling recess is configured approximately U-shaped. With reference to a side view showing both levers of the lever assembly, each coupling recess in the support element is configured in the shape of a reclined "U", the opening of the "U" being the recess opening and the coupling recess adjoining this recess opening. The depth of the coupling recess is selected so that the coupling end of the corresponding first lever arm of one of the two levers, accommodated in the coupling recess, still has play with respect to the bottom of the coupling recess when the lever is oriented approximately parallel to the holding element, and the coupling end of the corresponding first lever arm is still accommodated by the coupling recess in the maximum swing position of the lever arm.

[0015] Preferably, each lever is flexibly connected with its corresponding first lever arm via two or three projections forming each joint end, and accommodated in the corresponding support element or two or three supports (support rods) of the support element, respectively. This provides torsion resistance for the entire assembly, ensures parallel guidance when pressing on the operating surface of the operating element, even if the operating element is pressed, for example, in an edge or marginal region, and reduces the vulnerability of the parallel guidance or lever assembly to material warping, as well as the vulnerability of the joint connection between the lever assembly and the support element to material warping. Material warping can be a problem, particularly in the case of plastic injection-molded parts, especially in the case of large parts.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the operating element has an approximately rectangular contour with two longitudinal edges and two lateral edges, and it is further advantageous if the support elements protrude from the operating element in the direction of movement along the two lateral edges or along the two longitudinal edges of the operating element.

[0017] In a further structurally advantageous embodiment of the invention, each support element comprises two spaced apart support bars, each of which protrudes in the direction of movement from an edge region of the operating element formed by the longitudinal and transverse edges, each of which comprises one coupling recess.

[0018] In the above-described embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if each joint end of the first lever arm of the at least one first lever and at least one second lever has two joint end projections inserted into joint recesses of the support rod of the corresponding support element (sliding seats).

[0019] As mentioned above with regard to the joint connection of the first lever arm to the support element, in order to avoid / reduce vulnerability to warping of the material, it may be advantageous if the second lever arm of at least one first lever and at least one second lever are connected to one another by means of a flexible articulation of two or three sections in which the second lever arm of one lever has a joint projection inserted into a joint recess of the second lever arm of the other lever, i.e. a "sliding seat".

[0020] As mentioned above, it is further advantageous if the second lever arms of the at least one first lever and the at least one second lever each have a joint end, one of the two joint ends having a joint recess into which the other joint end is inserted, such that movement within the joint recess in the direction of operation and in the opposite direction is prevented, while sliding movement perpendicular to the direction of operation is possible.

[0021] It may be advantageous if the second lever arms of the at least one first lever and the at least one second lever each have one joint end, the two joint ends being interlocked with one another. As previously mentioned, the lever assembly includes at least one pair of levers, a first and a second lever. Both the first and second levers are pivotally mounted on a bearing block, and their opposite ends are flexibly connected to each other. These levers can be constructed to be torsion-resistant according to a two-plate structure, which must be done depending on the material. Suitable materials for the lever assembly (but also for the support element and bearing block) include, for example, plastic, which is substantially lighter and easier to process than metal. To save material, the plate-shaped levers must be structurally reinforced. This can be achieved by reinforcing ribs or similar, and those skilled in the art will be familiar with the structural reinforcement of plastic components.

[0022] As mentioned above, the operating surface of the operating element comprises a display having a touch sensor for detecting contact of the display by a moving object such as a finger of a hand.

[0023] In some cases, the operating element may also comprise, in addition to the display, at least one rocker switch and / or at least one push key and / or at least one push button and / or at least one rotary / press actuator.

[0024] To further improve the lateral guidance, it is advantageous if the operating element is guided against undesired displacement in a plane extending transversely to the direction of movement, for example by means of a pin / hole-type guide, which can take place between the holding element and the operating element, for example at three positions not lying on a common straight line, i.e. preferably by means of an axial pin / hole-type sliding guide.

[0025] The operating unit may further comprise a housing having a front surface in which a recess is formed in which the operating element is arranged, and the holding element may be fixed in and / or against the housing.

[0026] Vehicle operating units are advantageously equipped with tactile feedback, with the operating element having a plurality of symbol fields on its operating surface that initiate various operating functions when the operating element is touched and then pressed down. Recently, this principle has been established, using optical and acoustic signals to provide feedback on the activation of active functions. Regarding tactile feedback, a distinction is made between passive and active systems. In active systems, the operating element is mechanically pulsed by an actuator, which can be felt tactilely by the operator. Such active tactile feedback systems are relatively complex in structure. Even simpler systems are so-called passive tactile feedback systems. In these systems, switches are used whose switch activation mechanism first moves slightly as the activation force increases, and then, at a certain point, automatically "shifts" to the function activation position without further increase in activation force. For this purpose, curved spring steel washers are typically used. A switch having such characteristics provides tactile feedback and corresponds to the typical behavior known from conventional keys, and if such a switch is used in the operating unit according to the invention, it is possible to provide the operating unit according to the invention with the tactile feedback function using only one such switch.

[0027] According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the operating unit comprises a mechanical switch, namely a switch housing and a switch actuation mechanism, The switch housing is arranged on the upper or lower surface of the retaining element, and the movement of the switch actuation mechanism from the rest position to the functional activation position is operable by an operating element, or the switch housing is disposed on the underside of the retaining element, and the switch actuation mechanism is operable by one of two second lever arms in pivotal engagement with one another; or the switch housing is disposed on one of two second lever arms that are pivotally engaged with each other, and the switch actuation mechanism is operable by a retaining element when the actuation element moves from a rest position to a functional activation position; or The switch is arranged below one of the support elements, and the switch actuation mechanism is operable by the corresponding support element or by an opposing surface on an extension of the corresponding support element when the operating element moves from a rest position to a function activation position.

[0028] The switch is arranged between the retaining element and the operating element, i.e., between the fixed element and the movable element. In terms of tolerances, this principle is such that the switch is preferably arranged between the lever and the operating element, i.e., "sandwiched" between them on both sides.

[0029] In other words, the switch includes a kinematic unit having a pulse excitation mechanism that can mechanically move directly or indirectly when the operating element moves from a rest position to a functional start position, and generates mechanical energy by mechanical movement, and when the operating element reaches the functional start position, releases the energy in pulses to mechanically act directly or indirectly on the operating element.

[0030] The switch housing can be realized as a dome (also called a keycap) of a switch mat with an integrated snap dome made of spring steel, and the switch actuation mechanism is in turn performed by a dome containing an inwardly protruding plunger, the front of which is coated with a conductive material and, when depressed, shorts two contact fields on one substrate.

[0031] As mentioned above, the operating element may comprise a display with or without backlighting, for example a display surface displaying changeable information in the form of symbols, icons, alphanumeric characters or pictures, or the operating element may comprise a display surface displaying non-changeable information, in particular backlit symbols, icons, alphanumeric characters or pictures, as its operating surface.

[0032] An essential feature of the invention is to design the sliding contact surfaces of the different joint connections to be as small as possible, which are implemented with the smallest possible tolerances, so that any possible material warpage of the parts, which are typically made of plastic, is as small as possible or can be easily compensated for. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the operating unit with the operating elements in a rest position; FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an operating unit with an operating element in a depressed or function-activating position; [Figure 3] 3 is a top view showing a horizontal cross section of the operation unit taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional and perspective view of an embodiment of an operating unit 10 according to the present invention. The operating unit 10 comprises a housing 12, the front surface 14 of which is provided with an operating surface 18 for depressible operating elements 20. The operating elements 20 include a display 22 with a touch sensor 24 as part of the operating surface 18. The operating surface 18 includes individual operating fields 26. The actual display unit 28 of the display 22 is located below the touch sensor 24, behind which a backlight unit 30, e.g., with a diffuser 32, is located. The display 22 is arranged on an operating element holder 34, on which further mechanical operating elements 20 may be located. These further mechanical operating elements 20 may include, for example, multiple rocker or toggle switches 36 arranged side by side, a rotary / press actuator 38, and one or more push buttons 40. The operating surface 18 is formed from a so-called cover plate 42, which may consist of, for example, glass or plastic. In the region of the further mechanical operating element 20, the cover plate 42 comprises a corresponding recess. Additionally, the operating element 20 may comprise a capacitively acting keyboard or, possibly instead of a display, a touchpad with "fixed" symbols.

[0035] The operating element 20 is provided with a support element 44 in the form of a support rod 48 pointing towards the bottom 46 of the housing 12. Typically, four such support rods 48 are provided on the underside of the operating element holder 34.

[0036] The operating element 20 may be resiliently mounted on a holding element 52, as indicated by the reference numeral 50. The holding element 52 extends across or across the housing 12, approximately parallel to the bottom 46 of the housing 12. The holding element 52 has a through-hole 54 through which the support rod 48 extends below the holding element 52. The operating element holder 34 is axially guided in the holding element 52 to prevent misalignment in a plane perpendicular to the operating element's direction of movement. For this purpose, three tongue-and-groove or pin / hole guides are provided. Two of these are shown, each with a guide pin 58 in the operating element holder 34. The guide pin 58 is inserted into a guide recess 60 formed in the holding element 52. These mating surfaces are made as compact as possible to provide an axial guide that is insensitive to material warping. In other words, the holding element 52 has the function of a fixed translational guide element against which the movable counter-guide element, in this case the support rod 48, is guided axially and without play.

[0037] The above-mentioned further operating elements (rocker switch or toggle switch 36, rotary / press actuator 38 and push button 40) are arranged on the upper surface of the retaining element 52 and protrude upwardly beyond openings 59 formed in the cover plate 42. The switch contacts actuated by these further operating elements are provided on a base plate 57. The base plate 57 is arranged on the underside of the retaining element 52 via a switch mat 55. The actuation of the operating elements is mechanically transmitted to close the switch contacts by a plunger 53. The plunger 53 is axially movably mounted through the retaining element 52 and rests on a switching dome of the switch mat 55. The switching dome is not shown in detail, however.

[0038] Below the retaining element 52, a lever assembly 62 is provided, which includes two levers 64, 66. In this embodiment, both levers 64, 66 are planar and torsion-resistant. Together with the retaining element 52, the levers 64, 66 form a parallel guide device 68, which allows the operating surface 18 to move parallel when manual pressure is applied to one of the operating fields 26. The parallel guide device 68 further includes a bearing assembly 70. The bearing assembly 70 includes a first bearing block 72 for pivotally mounting the first lever 64 and a second bearing block 74 for pivotally mounting the second lever 66. The two pivot axes are designated by the reference numeral 76.

[0039] The pivotal mounting of both levers 64, 66 forms a first lever arm 78 and a second lever arm 80 on either side of the first lever 64. The second lever 66 forms a first lever arm 82 and a second lever arm 84. The second lever arms 80, 84 of both levers 64, 66 are connected to one another by a joint connection 86, while the joint end 77 of the first lever arm 78 of the first lever 64 is connected to two support rods 48 in a freely connected manner, and the joint end 81 of the first lever arm 82 of the second lever 66 is connected to two other support rods 48 in a freely connected manner. The joint ends 77 and 81 are configured as protrusions 75 or 79, as is clear from FIG. 3 .

[0040] As best seen in Figure 2, the universal connection between the levers and between the levers and the support rods 48 is provided by joints with play in one dimension. Each support rod 48 therefore has a joint recess 88 with an accommodation space 89 accessible through a recess opening 90 in the corresponding support rod 48. Similarly, the joint connection part 86 has a joint recess 92 at the joint end 85 of the second lever arm 80 of one of the levers (in this embodiment, the first lever 64). The joint recess 92 likewise has an accommodation space 93 and a recess opening 94 through which the joint end 83 of the second lever arm 84 of the other lever (in this embodiment, the lever 66) is inserted. Here, the configuration of this joint is such that it allows sliding movement of the joint ends 77, 81, 83 of each lever or lever arm accommodated in a freely connected state, more particularly in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction 56, i.e., in the direction towards and away from each recess opening 94.

[0041] The background to this procedure and structure can be seen by referring to Figure 2, which shows diagrammatically how the parallel guide directions 68 behave when pressure is applied to the operating surface 18 of the operating element 20. The first and second levers 64, 66 then swing, causing their joint ends 77, 81, both of which are mounted in a freely connected manner on the support rod 48, to move (sliding seats) inside the corresponding joint recesses 88 towards the respective recess openings. The joint connection 86 behaves in the same way.

[0042] The operating unit 10 according to the present invention further includes an evaluation and control unit 96. The evaluation and control unit 96 receives signals 98 from the touch sensor 24 of the display 22, signals 100 from a mechanical switch 102, and signals 104 from various other operating elements 20. The evaluation and control unit 96 controls or activates different operating functions depending on the received signals, as is known for multifunction operating units for vehicles. The mechanical switch 102, which includes, for example, a switch housing 101 and a switch actuation mechanism 103, detects that one of the operating fields 26 has been activated manually and notifies the evaluation and control unit 96 accordingly. The mechanical switch 102 also provides the user with passive tactile feedback in this embodiment. The mechanism of the switch 102 provides a tactile sensation when a finger rests on one of the operating fields 26 and the operating element 20 is depressed.

[0043] As mentioned above, the switch 102 can be a component integrated into a switch mat, i.e., it is provided with a switching dome which activates a spring washer when depressed, or when the switch is activated, the spring washer is depressed and suddenly "bounces" from this state to a relaxed state when the force pressing the operating element when depressed is stopped, i.e., the operating element is "released". In this way, the switch also affects the movement of the operating element from a depressed position back to its rest position.

[0044] As an alternative to the spring indicated by the reference numeral 50, the operating element can also be supported by a weight that is part of the levers 64, 66 of the lever assembly 62. With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that when the operating element moves downwards, both levers 64, 66 move upwards between their respective pivot axes 76. If a weight is attached to at least one of these levers (e.g., the second lever arm 84 of the second lever 66) or if the weight is formed integrally with the lever, this weight will pull the second lever arm 84 of the second lever 66 downwards when the pressure on the operating element ceases, i.e., when the operating element is released. In other words, in this development, a spring bearing such as that indicated by the reference numeral 50 is not necessarily required.

[0045] The narrow tolerances that are comparable in terms of manufacturing technology that must be observed in the construction of the parallel guide device 68 are the tongue-and-groove guide of the support rod 48 relative to the retaining element 52 or relative to the edge of the through-opening 54 of the retaining element 52, and the articulated connection of the two levers 64, 66 relative to each other and the articulated connection of the levers 64, 66 with the support rod 48, i.e., only the dimension in the direction of movement 56. With regard to this dimension, the ends of the levers 64, 66 connected in a swivel-coupled state must have no or only minimal play. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Operation unit 12 Housing 14 Front 18 Operating surfaces of operating elements 20 Operational Elements 22 Display 24 Touch sensor of operating element 26 Operation field on the operation surface 28 Display unit 30 Display backlight unit 32 Display Diffuser 34 Holder for operating elements 36 Operating element toggle switch 38 Rotary / Press Actuator of Operating Element 40 Push button operating element 42 Cover plate for operating elements 44 Support element for operating element 46 Bottom of housing 48 Support rod of support element 50 Elastic bearing of operating element 52 Holding Element 53 Plunger 54 Through-opening of retaining element 55 Switch Mat 56 Direction of movement of operating elements 57 Circuit Board 58 Guide pin 59 Cover plate opening 60 Guide recess 62 Lever assembly of parallel guide device 64 First lever of lever arm device 66 Second lever of lever arm device 68 Parallel guide device 70 Bearing assembly for lever 72 First bearing block 74 Second bearing block 75 Protrusion at end of joint 76 Swing shaft of each lever 77 joint end of first lever arm of first lever 78 First lever arm of first lever 79 Protrusions on the end of the joint 80 Second lever arm of first lever 81 joint end of first lever arm of second lever 82 First lever arm of second lever 83 joint end of second lever arm of first lever 84 Second lever arm of second lever 85 second lever arm joint end 86 Joint connection part 88 Support rod joint recess 89 Recessed joint space 90 Recess opening of joint recess 92 Joint recess 93 Recessed joint space 94 Recess opening of joint recess 96 Control Unit 98 signal 100 signals 101 Switch housing 102 Switch 103 Switch operating mechanism 104 Signal [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0047] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Specification No. 34 33 719 (DE-C) [Patent Document 2] German Patent Publication No. 36 43 927 (DE-A) [Patent Document 3] German Patent Specification No. 44 01 644 (DE-C) [Patent Document 4] German Patent Specification No. 196 01 492 (DE-C) [Patent Document 5] German Patent Publication No. 197 57 928 (DE-A) [Patent Document 6] German Patent Publication No. 10 2008 019 124 (DE-A) [Patent Document 7] German Patent Publication No. 10 2011 085 725 (DE-A) [Patent Document 8] German Patent No. 10 2017 220 780 (DE-B) [Patent Document 9] German Patent Publication No. 10 2017 222 601 (DE-A) [Patent Document 10] German Patent Publication No. 10 2018 121 678 (DE-A) [Patent Document 11] German Patent Publication No. 10 2019 203 031 (DE-A) [Patent Document 12] European Patent Publication No. 0 304 847 (EP-A) [Patent Document 13] European Patent No. 1 458 000 (EP-B) [Patent Document 14] European Patent No. 2 449 448 (EP-B) [Patent Document 15] U.S. Patent Publication No. 5,813,521 (US-A) [Patent Document 16] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010 / 0172080 (US-A) [Patent Document 17] International Publication No. 2011 / 000910 (WO-A) [Patent Document 18] International Publication No. 2014 / 198418 (WO-A) [Patent Document 19] International Publication No. 2016 / 183498 (WO-A)

Claims

1. an operating element (20) having an operating surface (18), which is guided reciprocally in an operating direction (56) from a rest position to a function activation position by being pressed down; a parallel guide device (68) for guiding the operating element (20) in parallel when the operating element (20) moves in the operating direction (56) and in the opposite direction, The parallel guide device (68) a holding element (52) having an upper surface facing the operating element (20) and a lower surface facing away from the operating element (20); a lever assembly (62) comprising at least one first lever (64) and at least one second lever (66); a bearing assembly (70) comprising at least one first bearing block (72) on which the first lever (64) is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis (76) extending transversely to the direction of movement (56), and at least one second bearing block (74) on which the second lever (66) is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis (76) extending transversely to the direction of movement (56), the pivot axes (76) of both levers (64, 66) extending parallel to each other; two opposing support elements (44) for the operating element (20), which project from the operating element (20) in the operating direction (56) and extend beyond the underside of the holding element (52) through through-openings (54) of the holding element (52) and / or past the lateral sides of the holding element (52), The lever assembly (62) and the bearing assembly (70) are disposed below the retaining element (52) and between the two support elements (44); Each of the levers (64, 66) has a first lever arm (78, 82) extending from its pivot axis (76) and a second lever arm (80, 84) extending from its pivot axis (76) on the opposite side of the first lever arm (78, 82), the first lever arm (78) of the at least one first lever (64) is accommodated in a freely coupled state by a coupling recess (88) having a recess opening (90) of one of the support elements (44); the first lever arm (82) of the at least one second lever (66) is accommodated in a freely connected state by a coupling recess (92) having a recess opening (90) of the other support element; An operating unit for a vehicle, wherein the second lever arms (80, 84) of the at least one first lever (64) and the at least one second lever (66) are pivotally engaged with each other.

2. 2. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein the joint recesses (92) of the two support elements (44) are each shaped to allow the corresponding first lever arm (78, 82) to slide within the joint recess (88) in a direction toward the recess opening (90) and in a direction opposite thereto when the at least one first lever (64) and the at least one second lever (66) pivot due to movement of the actuating element.

3. Each of the first lever arms (78, 82) has a coupling end (77, 81) accommodated in one of the coupling recesses (88), and each of the coupling recesses (88) has an accommodation space (89, 93) adjacent to the recess opening (90), and the accommodation space (89, 93) surrounds the coupling end (77, 81) of the corresponding first lever arm (78, 82) to accommodate the first lever arm (78, 82) within the accommodation space (89, 93).

3. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein the joint end (77, 81) is prevented from moving in the operating direction (56) of the operating element (20) and in the opposite direction thereto, and the joint end (77, 81) of the corresponding first lever arm (78, 82) is guided in a crank-like manner to allow the joint end (77, 81) of the first lever arm (78, 82) to slide within the accommodating space (89, 93).

4. 4. An operating unit according to claim 3, characterized in that each of said coupling recesses (88) is configured substantially U-shaped.

5. 5. Operating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the operating element (20) has a substantially rectangular outline with two longitudinal edges and two lateral edges.

6. 6. The operating unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the support elements (44) protrude from the operating element (20) in the direction of movement (56) along the two lateral edges or along the two longitudinal edges of the operating element (20).

7. 7. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein each holding element comprises two support rods (48) spaced apart from one another, the four support rods (48) being arranged like the corners of a square and protruding from the operating element (20) in the direction of movement (56), and each support rod has one coupling recess (88).

8. 8. An operating unit according to claim 7, characterized in that each joint end (77, 81) of the first lever arms (78, 82) of the at least one first lever (64) and the at least one second lever (66) has two joint end protrusions (75, 79) inserted into the joint recesses (88) of the support rods (48) of the corresponding support elements (44).

9. 9. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein the second lever arms (80, 84) of the at least one first lever (64) and the at least one second lever (66) each have one joint end (83, 85), one of the two joint ends (83, 85) has a joint recess (92) into which the other joint end (83, 85) is inserted, and movement within the joint recess (92) in the operating direction (56) and in the opposite direction thereto is prevented, while sliding movement perpendicular to the operating direction (56) is possible.

10. 9. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein the second lever arms (80, 84) of the at least one first lever (64) and the at least one second lever (66) each have one joint end (83, 85), and the two joint ends (83, 85) are interlocked with each other.

11. 11. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first lever (64) and the at least one second lever (66) are both configured to be planar and torsion-resistant.

12. 12. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly (70) comprises a plurality of first bearing blocks (72) and a plurality of second bearing blocks (74), the first bearing blocks (72) and the second bearing blocks (74) being arranged in a distributed manner over the length of the pivot shaft (76) of the corresponding lever (64, 66).

13. 13. An operating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the operating surface (18) of the operating element (20) comprises a display (22) with a touch sensor (24) for detecting contact by a moving object, such as a finger of a hand, and / or a touchpad with a touch sensor and symbols.

14. 14. The operating unit according to claim 13, characterized in that in addition to the display (22), the operating element (20) also comprises at least one rocker switch (36) and / or at least one push button (40) and / or at least one rotary button and / or at least one rotary / press actuator (38).

15. 15. An operating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the operating element (20) is guided, for example by a tongue-and-groove or pin / hole-accommodating guide (61), to prevent undesired displacement in a plane extending transversely to the direction of movement (56).

16. 16. The operating unit according to claim 15, characterized in that the operating element (20) is guided in the holding element (52) by, for example, a tongue-and-groove or pin / hole-accommodating guide (61) to prevent undesired displacement in a plane extending transversely to the movement direction (56).

17. 17. An operating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the housing has a front surface in which a recess is formed in which the operating element (20) is arranged, and the holding element (52) is fixed in and / or against the housing.

18. Operating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by a housing (12) fixed to the holding element (52).

19. A mechanical switch (102) comprising a switch housing (101) and a switch actuation mechanism (103), the switch housing (101) is arranged on the upper or lower surface of the holding element (52), and the movement of the switch actuation mechanism (103, 53) from the rest position to the function activation position is operable by the operating element (20), or the switch housing (101) is arranged on the underside of the holding element (52), and the switch actuation mechanism (103) is operable by one of the two second lever arms (80, 84) that are pivotally engaged with each other, or the switch housing (101) is arranged on one of two second lever arms (80, 84) that are pivotally engaged with each other, and the switch actuation mechanism (103) is operable by the retaining element (52) when the actuation element moves from the rest position to the function activation position, or 18. The operating unit according to claim 1, wherein the switch (102) is arranged below one of the support elements (44), and the switch actuation mechanism (103) is operable by the corresponding support element (44) or by an opposing surface of an extension of the corresponding support element (44) when the operating element (20) moves from the rest position to the function activation position.

20. 19. The operating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the kinematic unit comprises a pulse excitation mechanism that is mechanically movable directly or indirectly when the operating element (20) moves from the rest position to the function start position, the kinematic unit generating mechanical energy by mechanical movement and releasing the energy in pulses when the operating element (20) reaches the function start position, thereby directly or indirectly mechanically acting on the operating element (20).

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