Rotary Actuator Position Detection for Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle operating devices, such as turntables, often experience mechanical play around the zero position, leading to incorrect operating signals due to failure to automatically snap into notches, resulting in unreliable operation.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with a rotatably mounted turntable featuring a coding element and detection device to specify detent positions and absolute angles of rotation, along with a sensor device for touch detection, allowing for precise detection of latching and intermediate positions, and outputting control signals based on these detections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical detent system is used in the turntable, then haptic feedback and discrete positioning are achieved, but mechanical play around the zero position causes unreliable operation and incorrect signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical position detection system with an optical detection system using a light source, detector, and coded disk. This substitution eliminates the mechanical play issue while maintaining the haptic feedback of the detent mechanism, as the optical system independently detects the true angular position without being affected by mechanical gaps or wear in the detent mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coded disk with radial and circumferential code tracks serves as an intermediary between the mechanical turntable and the detection system. It translates the mechanical rotation into optical patterns that can be precisely detected, allowing the system to determine both detent positions and intermediate positions accurately without direct mechanical contact in the detection path.
2Ease of operation
If the turntable remains between detent positions after release, then mechanical flexibility is maintained, but incorrect operating signals are generated for functional devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the angular position through the optical detection system and comparing it with the expected detent positions. When the turntable is released between detent positions, the system detects this intermediate state and can provide haptic feedback or generate appropriate control signals, ensuring that the functional device receives accurate position information regardless of whether the turntable is at a detent position or between them.
3Adaptability or versatility
If only detent positions are detected, then discrete control is achieved, but intermediate positions between detents cannot be utilized for continuous control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection capability into two independent detection paths: one for detecting detent positions (discrete control) and another for detecting intermediate positions (continuous control). The coded disk contains both radial codes for detent positions and circumferential codes for intermediate positions, allowing the system to provide both discrete and continuous control functions without requiring a completely different detection mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables reliable and simple operation by accurately detecting detent and intermediate positions, reducing unintentional operation and improving haptic feedback, ensuring precise control of motor vehicle functional devices.
Implementation Method 1
the operating device has a sensor device for detecting a touch of the turntable
Implementation Method 2
a detection device for detecting an absolute angle of rotation between the turntable and the holding element based on a coding of the at least one coding element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a control device (10) for a functional device of a motor vehicle, comprising a rotary actuator (12) which is rotationally mounted on a retaining element (14) and which comprises at least one coding element (16, 18), a detection device (20) for detecting an absolute rotation angle between the rotary actuator (12) and the retaining element (14) based on a coding of the at least one coding element (16, 18), and a latching device which predetermines a plurality of latch positions in the rotational direction of the rotary actuator (12). Said detection device (20) is designed to detect, based on the coding of the at least one coding element (16, 18), the respective latch position and the absolute rotation angle between at least two of the latch positions, and the operating device (10) comprises a sensor device (24) for detecting a movement of the rotary actuator (12).