Electrical multi-way switch

Abstract

Proposed is an electrical multi-way switch having an actuating lever which is movable out of its neutral position and is equipped with an actuating handle and returns into its neutral position again when an actuating force is withdrawn, wherein a permanent magnet is fastened to the actuating lever in the region of the distal end situated opposite its actuating handle, which permanent magnet cooperates with a magnetic-field-sensitive sensor device which is configured to detect the direction and the extent of an movement of the actuating lever. According to the invention, the electrical multi-way switch is characterized in that the actuating lever is mounted, by means of a joint, on a housing inside which the sensor device is fitted, in that the distal end of the actuating lever is surrounded by an electrical coil, and in that, by pulsed energization of the coil, a force pulse can be imparted to the permanent magnet, which results in haptic feedback by means of an actuating lever movement that is perceptible to the operator.

Description

[0001] Electrical multi-way switch

[0002] The invention relates to an electrical multi-way switch with an actuating lever which is adjustable from its neutral position and provided with an actuating handle and which returns to its neutral position when an actuating force is removed, wherein the actuating lever is movable both in the axial direction and pivotable about at least one axis running perpendicular to its axial direction, wherein a movement of the actuating lever which can be felt by the operator as haptic feedback can be evoked, and wherein a permanent magnet is fastened to the actuating lever in the region of the distal end opposite its actuating handle, which permanent magnet cooperates with a magnetic field-sensitive sensor device which is designed to detect the direction and extent of an adjustment of the actuating lever.

[0003] German patent application DE 198 59 698 A1 describes such an electrical multi-way switch, designed as a four-way switch module. The switch module comprises a housing with an upper and lower housing sections, as well as an actuating lever that can be adjusted from its neutral position in four actuating directions. A return device comprising a spring-loaded, slidably mounted pressure piece and a control cam cooperating with the latter causes the actuating lever to return to its neutral position when the actuating force is removed.

[0004] German patent DE 101 28 436 C1 discloses an electrical multi-way switch with an actuating lever that is pivotably mounted in a housing about two orthogonal axes by means of a joint formed elastically as a molded plastic part. German patent application DE 10 2011 079 863 A1 discloses an electrical multi-way switch according to the preamble of patent claim 1. In this multi-way switch, an actuator is arranged on the actuating lever, which has a lifting armature magnet and a lifting armature. This actuator can be used to trigger a movement of the actuating lever that the operator can feel as haptic feedback.

[0005] The electrical multi-way switch according to the present invention has the advantage over the prior art of enabling the same functionality with significantly simpler and more cost-effective means and, in addition, with a very compact design.

[0006] This is achieved according to the invention in that the actuating lever is mounted by means of a joint on a housing in the interior of which the magnetic field-sensitive sensor device is mounted, in that the distal end of the actuating lever is surrounded by an electrical coil, and in that by means of a pulsed current supply to the coil a force pulse can be generated on the permanent magnet, which causes the movement of the actuating lever to be felt by the operator as haptic feedback.

[0007] The mobility of the operating lever in several degrees of freedom can be achieved in a particularly simple manner by designing the joint as an elastomer molded part.

[0008] A particular advantage of the multi-way switch according to the invention is that only a relatively small mass needs to be moved with the actuating lever, which, particularly in the case of a joint designed as an elastomer molded part, is also vibrationally decoupled from the housing. Thus, firstly, only a small amount of energy is required to generate the haptic feedback, and secondly, this is only noticeable at the actuating lever and not at the housing. The magnetic field-sensitive sensor device preferably comprises an evaluation circuit configured to generate switching signals associated with the detected movement of the actuating lever depending on the direction and magnitude of the movement.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the electrical multi-way switch according to the invention, the magnetic field-sensitive sensor device comprises a 3D Hall sensor, which is advantageously mounted on a circuit carrier inside the housing in such a way that it is located directly opposite the distal end of the actuating lever in its neutral position.

[0010] The electrical coil is preferably designed as a ring-shaped air coil and is mounted within the housing in such a way that it surrounds the actuating lever in its neutral position concentrically to its axial direction.

[0011] The invention is explained below with reference to the attached drawing.

[0012] Showing:

[0013] Fig. 1: A longitudinal section through an electrical multi-way switch designed according to the invention

[0014] Fig. 2: two isometric detailed views of the area of ​​an axial support of the actuating lever on an elastomer molded part

[0015] An electrical multi-way switch designed according to the invention comprises, as shown in Fig. 1 in longitudinal section, an actuating lever 3 secured to a housing 1. The actuating lever 3 is provided outside the housing 1 with an actuating handle 3', which in this case is designed as a finger rest for an operator's finger. The actuating handle 3' is surrounded by an operating panel 4, which prevents a view of the housing 1 below.

[0016] The actuating lever 3 is mounted on the housing 1 by means of a joint formed as an elastomer molded part 2, such that it can be moved from its neutral position both axially and pivoted about at least one axis running perpendicular to its axial direction. When the actuating force is removed, the actuating lever 3 automatically returns to its neutral position due to the spring action of the elastomer molded part 2.

[0017] Thus, pressure exerted centrally on the actuating handle 3 can result in axial adjustment of the actuating lever 3, while pressure on the edge area of ​​the actuating handle 3' can result in pivoting of the actuating lever 3. The forces for both the axial adjustment and the pivoting of the actuating lever 3 can be adjusted by the design of the elastomer molded part 2. The forces required for pivoting the actuating lever 3 are essentially determined by the length and wall thickness of the hollow cylindrical section 2' of the elastomer molded part 2, which fills the space between the actuating lever 3 and the cylindrical bore in the wall of the housing 1.The compressive force required for the axial adjustment of the actuating lever 3, on the other hand, can be adjusted in a particularly simple manner by shaping the support of the actuating lever 3 on a section of the elastomer molded part 2 that surrounds the bore in the wall of the housing 1 in a collar-like manner. Fig. 2 shows two different geometries as examples, in which the axial supports of the actuating lever 3 on the elastomer molded part 2 are each formed by ribs 9, 10 molded onto the former. In the upper illustration, four ribs 9 are used that taper towards the elastomer molded part 2 and require a relatively lower compressive force for the axial adjustment of the actuating lever 3 than the eight ribs 10 shown in the lower illustration, which also rest butt-mounted on the elastomer molded part 2.A permanent magnet 5 is attached to the actuating lever 3 in the area of ​​the distal end 3" opposite its actuating handle 3'. In the embodiment shown here, the permanent magnet 5 is annular or hollow-cylindrical and thus encompasses an area of ​​the actuating lever 3. The magnetization direction of the permanent magnet 5, i.e. its north-south orientation, runs parallel to the axial direction of the actuating lever 3. In a first function, the permanent magnet 5 is provided for cooperation with a magnetic field-sensitive sensor device mounted inside the housing 1. This sensor device is designed to detect the direction and extent of an adjustment of the actuating lever 3 from its neutral position.

[0018] The magnetic field-sensitive sensor device comprises a so-called 3D Hall sensor 6, with which the strength and orientation of a magnetic field in space, and thus the position and orientation of a magnet generating this magnetic field, in this case the permanent magnet 5, can be detected. The 3D Hall sensor 6 is mounted on a circuit carrier 7 inside the housing 1 such that it is directly opposite the distal end 3" of the actuating lever 3 in its neutral position. As a further component of the sensor device, an evaluation circuit can also be provided directly on the circuit carrier 7, for example, which generates switching signals associated with the direction and magnitude of the detected movements of the actuating lever 3.

[0019] The distal end 3" of the actuating lever 3 is also surrounded by an electrical coil 8. This electrical coil 8 is designed as a ring-shaped air coil and is mounted within the housing 1 such that it surrounds the actuating lever 3 in its neutral position concentrically to its axial direction. By energizing this coil 8, a magnetic field can be generated which, depending on the current direction, is aligned parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 5 in the neutral position of the actuating lever 3. By applying a pulsed current to the coil 8, a force pulse can be generated on the permanent magnet 5, which also causes a pulsed movement of the actuating lever 3. An operator's finger resting on the actuating handle 3' in turn senses this brief movement as a force pulse, so that haptic feedback can be generated for the operator by energizing the coil 8.

Claims

Patent claims 1. An electrical multi-way switch with an actuating lever (3) which is adjustable from its neutral position and provided with an actuating handle (3'), which returns to its neutral position when an actuating force is removed, wherein the actuating lever (3) is movable both in the axial direction and pivotable about at least one axis running perpendicular to its axial direction, wherein a movement of the actuating lever (3) which can be felt by the operator as haptic feedback can be evoked, and wherein a permanent magnet (5) is attached to the actuating lever (3) in the region of the distal end (3") opposite its actuating handle (3'), which cooperates with a magnetic field-sensitive sensor device which is designed to detect the direction and extent of an adjustment of the actuating lever (3), characterized in that the actuating lever (3) is mounted on a housing (1) by means of a joint,in the interior of which the magnetic field-sensitive sensor device is mounted, that the distal end (3") of the actuating lever (3) is surrounded by an electric coil (8), and that by means of a pulsed current supply to the coil (8) a force pulse can be generated on the permanent magnet (5), which causes the movement of the actuating lever (3) to be felt by the operator as haptic feedback.

2. Electrical multi-way switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint is designed as an elastomer molded part (2).

3. Electrical multi-way switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magnetic field-sensitive sensor device comprises an evaluation circuit which is designed to generate switching signals associated with the detected adjustments of the actuating lever (3).

4. Electrical multi-way switch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the magnetic field-sensitive sensor device comprises a 3D Hall sensor (6).

5. Electrical multi-way switch according to claim 4, characterized in that the 3D Hall sensor (6) is mounted on a circuit carrier (7) inside the housing (1) such that it is located directly opposite the distal end (3") of the actuating lever (3) in its neutral position.

6. Electrical multi-way switch according to claim 5, characterized in that the electrical coil (8) is designed as an annular air coil and is mounted inside the housing (1) such that it surrounds the actuating lever (3) in its neutral position concentrically to its axial direction.

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