Actuating Device with Rotary Switch

• US 20070261509A1
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Giefer, Andreas, Meyer, Jorg
• Granted Patent: US 9,140,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/504
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0295 with mechanisms to return lever to neutral or datum position, e.g. by return springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/048 with means for unlocking select or shift movement to allow access to reverse gear position particular details of the lever handle F16H2059/0282
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/081 using knops or discs for rotary range selection
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/08 Range selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/22 Locking of the control input devices constructional features of locking or disabling mechanisms F16H63/34
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/087 retractable; Flush control knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/005 for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/05 Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/12 for holding members in an indefinite number of positions, e.g. by a toothed quadrant G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/02 the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20474 Rotatable rod, shaft, or post

Abstract

An actuating device is provided that includes an actuating element (1) with at least three switching positions. The actuating device (1) can be deflected starting from its basic positions at least in one direction into an intermediate switching position for selecting an operating state of the technical system. For selecting at least one other operating state of the technical system, the actuating element (1) can be deflected, starting from an intermediate switching position, into at least one other switching position that is located farther away from the basic position. The undesired jumping of the actuating element over intermediate switching positions, during switching, is effectively prevented from occurring. An intuitively detectable tactile feedback of the switching state of the actuating element or of the state of the system is provided.

Claims

1. An actuating device for a shift-by-wire speed-change gear technical system, the actuating device comprising:

an actuating element with at least three shift positions including a basic position, wherein said actuating element can be deflected from said basic position at least in one direction into an intermediate switching position for selecting an operating state of the technical system and said actuating element can be deflected from said intermediate switching position into at least one other switching position located farther away from said basic position than said intermediate switching position for selecting at least one other operating state of the technical system, said actuating element comprising a rotary switch, which automatically resets into said basic position from all switching positions, said actuating device having a blocking device against unintended deflection of said rotary switch from said intermediate switching position into said at least one other switching position.

2. An actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said blocking device comprises a means for providing an opposing force, which generates a stronger opposing force during a deflection of said rotary switch starting from said intermediate switching position into said at least one other switching position than during the deflection of said rotary switch into said intermediate switching position.

3. An actuating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rotary switch can be moved essentially linearly along at least one other said direction of motion, which is different from a direction of rotary motion.

4. An actuating device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said blocking device comprises a gate shift means, which requires a deflection of said rotary switch along said, at least one additional direction of motion for deflecting said rotary switch starting from said intermediate switching position into said at least one other switching position.

5. An actuating device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a separate display means for displaying a shift position state of said actuating element wherein the actuating device is connected to said separate display means.

6. An actuating device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a display forming a part of said actuating device.

7. An actuating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein both the current operating state of the system and the other selectable operating states are displayed at a separate, fixed location of said display.

8. An actuating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said rotary switch can be sunk into a recess of said console along its axial direction.

9. An actuating device in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

a motor-drivable means for moving said rotary switch along an axial direction thereof.

10. An automatic transmission actuating device, the actuating device comprising:

rotary switch with three shift positions including a basic position, wherein said rotary switch has a deflection path from said basic position in one direction into an intermediate switching position for selecting a shift state of an automatic transmission and said actuating element has another deflection path from said intermediate switching position into another switching position located farther away from said basic position than said intermediate switching position for selecting another shift state of an automatic transmission, said rotary switch being automatically repositioned into said basic position upon release from said intermediate switching position and said rotary switch being automatically repositioned into said basic position upon release from said another switching position said another deflection path including a blocking path portion to act against an unintended deflection of said rotary switch from said intermediate switching position into said another switching position.

11. An actuating device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said blocking path portion comprises a means for providing an opposing force, which generates a stronger opposing force along a portion of said another deflection path during a deflection of said rotary switch starting from said intermediate switching position into said another switching position than during the deflection of said rotary switch along said deflection path into said intermediate switching position.

12. An actuating device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said rotary switch is movable by rotation to provide rotary motion and movable essentially linearly along at least one other direction of motion, and said deflection path from said basic position in one direction into an intermediate switching position includes one of rotary motion and said other direction of motion and said blocking path portion of said another deflection path from said intermediate switching position into another switching position comprises the other of said rotary motion and said other direction of motion.

13. An actuating device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said deflection path from said basic position in one direction into an intermediate switching position is a rotary motion path of said rotary switch and said blocking path portion comprises said other direction of motion of said rotary switch.

14. An actuating device in accordance with claim 13, wherein said another deflection path is a rotary motion path of said rotary switch following said other direction of motion of said rotary switch.

15. An actuating device in accordance with claim 12, wherein said deflection path from said basic position in one direction into an intermediate switching position includes said other direction of motion of said rotary switch and said blocking path portion comprises said rotary motion of said rotary switch.

16. An actuating device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a display means for displaying at least on of said shift positions and a shift state of the automatic transmission.

17. An actuating device in accordance with claim 16, wherein both the current operating state of the system and the other selectable shift positions for selectable operating states are displayed at separate fixed locations of said display means.

18. An actuating device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said rotary switch is mounted to move in an axial direction relative to a console surface to be sunk into a recess of said console along the axial direction.

19. An actuating device in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

a motor-drivable means for moving said rotary switch along the axial direction.

20. An automatic transmission actuating device, the actuating device comprising:

rotary switch with three shift positions including a basic position, wherein said rotary switch has a deflection path from said basic position in one direction into an intermediate switching position for selecting a shift state of an automatic transmission and said actuating element has another deflection path from said intermediate switching position into another switching position located farther away from said basic position than said intermediate switching position for selecting another shift state of an automatic transmission, said rotary switch being automatically repositioned into said basic position upon release from said intermediate switching position and said rotary switch being automatically repositioned into said basic position upon release from said another switching position said another deflection path including a changed path portion with path aspects that are changed from said deflection path from said basic position in one direction into an intermediate switching position whereby an unintended deflection of said rotary switch from said intermediate switching position into said another switching position is avoided.