Haptic switch assembly with a tilting switching member

Abstract

The invention relates to a haptic switch assembly, in particular for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising a housing (1) provided with an opening (14), a tiltable switching member (2), disposed within the housing (1) on a ball-and-socket joint (9) and protruding from and movable within the opening (14), switching means (42, 162) activated in response to the movements of the switching member (2) within the housing (1), and a haptic means (7, 8) providing a haptic response to a user when the switching member (2) is tilted. In order to provide a switch assembly that would double the length of interaction of the haptic means in response to a tilt of the switching member, that would be compact, cost efficient and simple to manufacture, the switch assembly further comprises at least one actuator (3) disposed slidably within the housing (1) defining an axis of the slide (x, y), and engaged with an actuating section (22) of the switching member (2), at least one slider (4) disposed slidably within the housing (1 ) along said axis of the slide (x, y), at least one lever (5) disposed pivotably within the housing (1 ) and engaging said at least one actuator (3) and said at least one slider (4), wherein the slide of said at least one actuator (3) rotates said at least one lever (5) and said at least one lever (5) slides said at least one slider (4) in the opposite direction, wherein the haptic means (7, 8) have a form of at least one first haptic member (7) slidable along with said at least one actuator (3) and engaging at least one second haptic member (8) slidable along with said at least one slider (4).

Description

[0001] HAPTIC SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH A TILTING SWITCHING MEMBER

[0002] The present invention relates to a haptic switch assembly, in particular for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising a housing provided with an opening, a tiltable switching member, disposed within the housing on a ball-and-socket joint and protruding from and movable within the opening, switching means activated in response to the movements of the switching member within the housing, and a haptic means providing a haptic response to a user when the switching member is tilted.

[0003] Background of the invention

[0004] Switch assemblies of this kind can be employed in consumer devices and especially in the automotive industry.

[0005] Publication US3795882 discloses a device for coordinatedly controlling a plurality of variable resistors so as to achieve a desired combination of a plurality of variable resistors, said device comprising a first horizontal crosspiece having a lengthwise slot and a lateral plate perpendicular to the length of the crosspiece per se at each end thereof and second crosspiece having the similar slot and lateral plates the underside of which is partly on the same level as the underside of the first crosspiece when it is mounted on the second crosspiece, the two crosspieces being arranged crosswise and being moved relatively on a plane so that their movement moves a plurality of wipers so as to wipe the corresponding resistor elements. A shaft penetrates the slots of the two crosspieces and is supported by a ball-and-socket joint.

[0006] Publication US4590339 discloses a joystick having a casing, a pair of gimbal plates mounted in the casing each slidable orthogonally with respect to the other and a pair of transducers, a control member of each coupled to a corresponding gimbal plate. A handle is coupled to the casing having a gimbal actuating sphere engaging each of the gimbal plates with the handle being universally pivotal on a ball-and-socket-joint throughout a portion of a spherical arc whose center lies intermediate the actuating sphere and an opposite end of the handle. Movement of the handle results in corresponding movement of the gimbal plates by an amount proportional to the component of displacement of the handle along the direction of movement of each of the gimbal plates. Each gimbal plate is biased so that it is urged towards a neutral position in the event of displacement on either side of the neutral position. External contacts are coupled to the transducers to allow the joystick to the electrically coupled to an external electrical line.

[0007] Other relevant constructions of the switch assemblies of this kind are disclosed in publications US3893449, US4772836, US4856785, US4533899, and

[0008] US2003098196.

[0009] It has been the object of the present invention to provide a compact, cost efficient and simple to manufacture switch assembly of the kind mentioned at the outset.

[0010] Another object of the present invention has been to provide a switch assembly that would double the length of interaction of the haptic means in response to a tilt of the switching member.

[0011] Summary of the invention

[0012] The invention provides a haptic switch assembly of the kind mentioned at the outset, which further comprises at least one actuator disposed slidably within the housing defining an axis of the slide, and engaged with an actuating section of the switching member, at least one slider disposed slidably within the housing along said axis of the slide, at least one lever disposed pivotably within the housing and engaging said at least one actuator and said at least one slider, wherein the slide of said at least one actuator rotates said at least one lever and said at least one lever slides said at least one slider in the opposite direction, wherein the haptic means have a form of at least one first haptic member slidable along with said at least one actuator and engaging at least one second haptic member slidable along with said at least one slider.

[0013] Preferably the switch assembly further comprises at least one spring cooperating with said switching member and / or said at least one actuator and / or slider and / or lever to maintain the neutral position of said switching member within the housing.

[0014] The spring allows to provide a monostable functionality of the switch assembly, which would otherwise work in a multistable mode. Preferably the switch assembly comprises two actuators defining two orthogonal axes of the slide and two axes orthogonal to said axes of the slide, two sliders disposed slidably within the housing along said axes of the slide, and two levers disposed pivotably within the housing, wherein each actuator has an opening for the switching member, wherein the width of the opening along said axis of the slide substantially corresponds to the width of the switching member along said axis of the slide and the length of the opening along said orthogonal axis is larger than width of the switching member along said orthogonal axis, and one actuator cooperates with said actuating section on one side of a spherical part of the ball-and-socket joint, while the other actuator cooperates with said actuating section on the other side of said spherical part of the ball-and-socket joint.

[0015] In such a case the opening is preferably cross-shaped and its intersecting lines correspond to said orthogonal axes of the slide.

[0016] In such a case the socket is preferably provided with two pairs of cutouts perpendicular to said orthogonal axes of the slide and allowing for a pivotal movement of said actuating sections of the switching member.

[0017] Preferably said first haptic member is provided with a protrusion or a number of haptic grooves and said second haptic member is provided with a number of haptic grooves or a protrusion, wherein the protrusion cooperates with the grooves.

[0018] Alternatively both haptic members can be provided with a number of haptic grooves.

[0019] Preferably said first haptic member and / or said second haptic member has a form of a flat spring.

[0020] Preferably the switching means have a form of contact, magnetic, capacitive, or Hall effect switches.

[0021] Preferably the switching means have a form of Hall sensors fixed to the housing and cooperating with magnets disposed within the sliders or the actuators.

[0022] Brief description of

[0023] The invention shall be described and explained below in connection with the attached drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic axonometric, exploded, top view of an embodiment of the haptic switch assembly according to the present invention;

[0024] Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 , with the first housing member removed;

[0025] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 along a vertical plane B-B shown in Fig. 2;

[0026] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 along a horizontal plane C-C shown in Fig. 3;

[0027] Fig. 5 is a schematic axonometric, top view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 , with certain elements removed;

[0028] Fig. 6 is a schematic axonometric, top view of the haptic switch assembly shown in

[0029] Fig. 1 ;

[0030] Fig. 7 is a schematic axonometric, bottom view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 , with certain elements removed;

[0031] Fig. 8 is a schematic axonometric, bottom view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 , with certain elements removed;

[0032] Fig. 9 is a schematic top view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 ; and

[0033] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the haptic switch assembly shown in Fig. 1 along a vertical plane A-A shown in Fig. 9.

[0034] Detailed of preferred embodiment

[0035] An embodiment of a haptic lever switch assembly shown in Figs. 1-10 is designed to be employed as a cruise control of an automotive vehicle enabling to haptically signal subsequent steps of its operation to a user. The assembly comprises a plastic injection molded housing 1 comprising a first housing member 11 and a second housing member 12, snap-locked with each other by means of a number of snap fasteners 13, and a third housing member 16 fixed to the first housing member 11 and to the second housing member 12 by means of a screw 17 passing through the openings 111 , 121 , and 161 in the housing members 11 , 12, and 16, and secured with a nut 18.

[0036] The first housing member 11 is provided with a cross-shaped opening 14 defining two perpendicular axes x, y, depicted by arrows. A switching member 2 is disposed within the housing and protrudes from the cross-shaped opening 14. The switching member 2 terminated with a manipulator 21 for a user is movable within the opening 14 along the axes x, y, as shall be explained later. A switching means e.g. in the form of contact, magnetic, or capacitive switches are activated in response to the movements of the switching member 2. The housing 1 enables to fix the switch assembly at the vehicle assembly line, where the switching means can be electrically connected to the vehicle wiring in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

[0037] Reference numerals of the same functional elements described below remain the same in the drawing provided with additional suffixes “x”, “y” to refer to these perpendicular axes x and y, and - where appropriate - with additional suffixes “a”, “b”, etc. to distinguish their distinct constructional features performing the same function.

[0038] The switching member 2 is disposed within the housing 1 on a ball-and-socket joint 9 formed by an enlarged spherical part 93 of the switching member 2 and a socket formed by spherically shaped first socket part 91 of the first housing member 11 (cf. Fig. 10) and spherically shaped second socket part 92 of the second housing member 12 (cf. Fig. 1 ). The section of the switching member 2 between the spherical part 93 and the manipulator 2 forms the actuating section 22x while the section of the switching member 2, on the other side of the spherical part 93 forms the actuating section 22y.

[0039] Two actuators 3x and 3y are slidably disposed within the housing substantially perpendicularly along the axes x and y. The actuators 3 overlap at the area of the switching member 2. Each actuator has an opening 31 through which passes the switching member 2. The width Wx of the opening 31 x in the actuator 3x along the x axis substantially corresponds to the width of the actuating section 22x of the switching member 2 along the x axis. Similarly the width Wy of the opening 31 y in the actuator 3y along the y axis substantially corresponds to the width of the actuating section 22y of the switching member 2 along the y axis. On the other hand, the lengths of the openings 31 along the orthogonal axes are larger, allowing for the movement of the corresponding sections 22 of the switching member 2. Furthermore, the second (bottom) socket part 92 of the ball-and-socket joint 9 is provided with cutouts 94y enabling a pivotal movement of the actuating section 22y along the y axis, while the first (top) socket part 91 of the ball-and-socket joint 9 is provided with corresponding cutouts (not shown) perpendicular to the cutouts 94y and enabling a pivotal movement of the actuating section 22x along the x axis. Therefore, the switching member 2 tilted by user in the cross-shaped opening 14 along the x axis is unrestricted to move in the opening 31 y of the actuator 3y but pushes on the surfaces of the opening 31 x forcing the corresponding movement of the actuator 3x. Similar action occurs if the switching member 2 is tilted along the y axis, forcing the corresponding movement of the actuator 3y. To this end surfaces of the openings 31 cooperating with the actuating sections 22 of the switching member 2 are curved (cf. Figs. 1 , 5, 10).

[0040] Two sliders 4x and 4y are slidably disposed within the actuators 3x and 3y. Two levers 5x and 5y are disposed pivotably within the second housing 1 . Each lever 5 has a cylindrical protrusion 53 in its central area. The protrusion 53x of the lever 5x passes through an opening 15x in the second housing member 12. The protrusion 53y of the lever 5y passes through an opening 15y in the first housing member 11. Furthermore, each lever 5 is provided with two pins 51 and 52 coaxial with and on the opposite sides of the protrusion 53 protruding in the direction opposite to the protrusion 53. The first pin 51 cooperates with a slot 32 in the actuator 3, while the second pin 52 cooperates with a slot 41 in the slider 4. The widths of the slots 32 and 41 along the axis of the slide of the actuator 3 and the slider 4 substantially correspond to the diameters of the pins 51 and 52. On the other hand, the lengths of the slots 32 and 41 along the orthogonal axis are larger allowing for the slide of the pins 51 and 52 within the slots 32 and 41 . Therefore, the actuator 3 sliding along its axis pushes the first pin 51 rotating the lever 5 around the protrusion 53 and the second pin 52 forces the slide of the slider 4 in the opposite direction along this axis.

[0041] Two returning springs 6 in the form of longitudinal compression springs enable the actuators 3 to return to the neutral position after their displacement. The springs 6 are disposed in slots 33 of the actuators 3 and in a neutral position abut the walls of the slots 33 perpendicular to the axis of the slide of the actuators 3 and to the protrusions 19. Protrusions 19x are made in the first housing member 11 and protrusions 19y are made in the second housing member 12 (cf. Fig. 1 ). The returning springs 6 define the neutral position of the switching member 2 in the housing 1. When the actuator 3 slides, the corresponding spring 6 shortens and counteracts to return the actuator 3 to the neutral position. Two first haptic members 7 are fixed within the slots 34 of the actuators 3. Each haptic member 7 has form of a metal plate with a protrusion 71. Two second haptic members 8 are formed in the surfaces of the sliders 4 facing the actuators 3 in a form of a number of haptic grooves 81 disposed in the surface of the slider 4 facing the actuator 3. The protrusion 71 cooperates with the grooves 81. Therefore, displacement of the actuator 3 by some distance D leads to the rotation of the lever 5 and displacement of the slider 4 in the opposite direction by the same distance D, so that the actuator 3 displaces with respect to the slider 4 by the doubled distance 2D. During this slide the protrusion 71 “jumps” between the grooves 81 (cf. Fig. 10) generating a tangible haptic effect even if the distance D is relatively short.

[0042] In other embodiments (not shown) the first haptic member 7 could be provided with a number of haptic grooves and the second haptic member 8 could be provided with a protrusion cooperating with the grooves. Alternatively both haptic members 7 and 8 could be provided with a number of haptic grooves.

[0043] In this embodiment the third housing member 16 has a form of a printed circuit board and the switching means have a form of two Hall sensors 162 fixed to the third housing member 16, protruding perpendicular to its surface, and cooperating with the magnets 42 disposed within the sliders 4. In the neutral position of the switching member 2, sensors 162 are in the proximity of the magnets 42. Therefore, displacement of the slider 4 in response to the movements of the switching member 2 displaces also its magnet 42 which moves away of the corresponding Hall sensors 162 generating appropriate electric signal.

[0044] The above embodiments of the present invention are therefore merely exemplary. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized. These and other factors however should not be considered as limiting the spirit of the invention, the intended scope of protection of which is indicated in appended claims.

[0045] List of reference numerals x first axis of the slide y second axis of the slide

[0046] W width (of the opening 31 ) 1. housing

[0047] 11. first housing member

[0048] 111. opening

[0049] 12. second housing member

[0050] 121. opening

[0051] 13. snap fastener

[0052] 14. opening (for the switching member 2)

[0053] 15. opening (for the cylindrical protrusion 53)

[0054] 16. third housing member

[0055] 161. opening

[0056] 162. Hall sensor

[0057] 17. screw

[0058] 18. nut

[0059] 19. protrusion

[0060] 2. switching member

[0061] 21. manipulator

[0062] 22. actuating section

[0063] 3. actuator

[0064] 31 . opening (for the switching member 2)

[0065] 32. slot (for the first pin 51 )

[0066] 33. slot (for the spring 6)

[0067] 34. slot (for the haptic member 7)

[0068] 4. slider

[0069] 41 . slot (for the second pin 52)

[0070] 42. magnet

[0071] 5. lever

[0072] 51 . first pin (cooperating with the actuator 3)

[0073] 52. second pin (cooperating with the slider 4)

[0074] 53. cylindrical protrusion

[0075] 6. returning spring

[0076] 7. first haptic member

[0077] 71. protrusion

[0078] 8. second haptic member

Claims

Claims1. A haptic switch assembly, in particular for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising a housing (1 ) provided with an opening (14), a tiltable switching member (2), disposed within the housing (1 ) on a ball-and- socket joint (9) and protruding from and movable within the opening (14), switching means (42, 162) activated in response to the movements of the switching member (2) within the housing (1 ), and a haptic means (7, 8) providing a haptic response to a user when the switching member (2) is tilted characterized in that it further comprises at least one actuator (3) disposed slidably within the housing (1 ) defining an axis of the slide (x, y), and engaged with an actuating section (22) of the switching member (2), at least one slider (4) disposed slidably within the housing (1 ) along said axis of the slide (x, y), at least one lever (5) disposed pivotably within the housing (1 ) and engaging said at least one actuator (3) and said at least one slider (4), wherein the slide of said at least one actuator (3) rotates said at least one lever (5) and said at least one lever (5) slides said at least one slider (4) in the opposite direction, wherein the haptic means (7, 8) have a form of at least one first haptic member (7) slidable along with said at least one actuator (3) and engaging at least one second haptic member (8) slidable along with said at least one slider (4).

2. The switch assembly according to Claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises at least one spring (6) cooperating with said switching member (2) and / or said at least one actuator (3) and / or slider (4) and / or lever (5) to maintain the neutral position of said switching member (2) within the housing (1 ).

3. The switch assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises two actuators (3x, 3y) defining two orthogonal axes of the slide (x, y) and twoaxes (y, x) orthogonal to said axes of the slide (x, y), two sliders (4x, 4y) disposed slidably within the housing (1 ) along said axes of the slide (x, y), and two levers (5x, 5y) disposed pivotably within the housing (1 ), wherein each actuator (3x, 3y) has an opening (31 ) for the switching member (2), wherein the width (W) of the opening (31 ) along said axis of the slide (x, y) substantially corresponds to the width of the switching member (2) along said axis of the slide (x, y) and the length of the opening (31 ) along said orthogonal axis (y, x) is larger than width of the switching member (2) along said orthogonal axis (y, x), and one actuator (3x) cooperates with said actuating section (22x) on one side of a spherical part (93) of the ball-and-socket joint (9), while the other actuator (3y) cooperates with said actuating section (22y) on the other side of said spherical part (93) of the ball-and-socket joint (9).

4. The switch assembly according to Claim 3, characterized in that the opening (14) is cross-shaped and its intersecting lines correspond to said orthogonal axes of the slide (x, y).

5. The switch assembly according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the socket (91 , 92) is provided with two pairs of cutouts (94) perpendicular to said orthogonal axes of the slide and allowing for a pivotal movement of said actuating sections (22) of the switching member (2).

6. The switch assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said first haptic member (7) is provided with a protrusion (71 ) or a number of haptic grooves and said second haptic member (8) is provided with a number of haptic grooves (81 ) or a protrusion, wherein the protrusion (71 ) cooperates with the grooves (81 ).

7. The switch assembly according to Claim 6, characterized in that said first haptic member (7) and / or said second haptic member has a form of a flat spring.

8. The switch assembly according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that, the switching means have a form of contact, magnetic, capacitive, or Hall effect switches.

9. The switch assembly according to Claim 8, characterized in that the switching means have a form of Hall sensors (162) fixed to the housing (1 ) and cooperating with magnets (42) disposed within the sliders (4) or the actuators

Images