Latched switching device

• US 6,380,733 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AB Elektronik GmbH (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AB Elektronik GmbH (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Apel, Peter, Fallak, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US09/125,123
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207.2, 324/207.25, 324/207.23, 324/207.24, 335/106, 335/107, 335/114, 335/122, 335/125, 335/136, 335/170, 335/177, 335/180, 335/186, 335/203, 335/205, 335/206, 335/207, 248/913, 74/101, 74/101.5, 74/102, 74/102.2, 74/102.7, 74/104.1, 74/105.2, 74/105.4, 74/109, 74/104.5
• US Class Current: 324/207.2
• 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: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/506 making use of permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/06 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being along the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 5/02 Energy stored by the attraction or repulsion of magnetic parts

Abstract

So that a device for producing selector positions is easy to operate, the stop positions of which can be taken in securely and largely free of mechanical wear, and so that it is easily adaptable, in particular to the respective operating conditions, a position transmitter unit (1) is provided which is movable along a longitudinal axis, and thereby its position transmitter teeth can be fixed with respect to the teeth of a first position detector element (6.1., . . . 6.n). The position transmitter unit (1) can be shifted with a finger body along the longitudinal axis into a recess, and thereby a second rotation body can be placed on a second position selector unit, and this position can be detected by a second position detector element (57). The position transmitter unit (1) can be moved with a moving device (32.1, . . . 32.n) via a second position selector unit two dimensionally with respect to a base body (4), and this position can be detected by third position detector elements (8.1).

Claims

1. Discontinuous state selector apparatus intended for operating in-vehicle computers, washing machines, bicycle derailleurs, personal computers, computer games, navigational systems and the like, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a state-transmitting assembly that includes a shaft with a first cylindrical rotor mounted thereon, said first rotor having radial state-transmitting cogs separated by state-transmitting gaps distributed around its circumference and a second cylindrical rotor having at least one state-transmitting component distributed around its circumference, said second rotor being connected to said first rotor on a common longitudinal axis;

(b) a first state-selecting assembly surrounding and arranged substantially coaxially with said first rotor and comprising a crown wheel with cogs pointing radially inward and separated by gaps, said crown wheel incorporating at least one permanently magnetized component which acts in conjunction with said cogs to control rotation of said first rotor; and

(c) a first state-indicating assembly having at least one first state-detecting component for producing electronic signals representing an angular position of said state-transmitting assembly;

whereby said state-transmitting assembly is operative to rotate about said longitudinal axis, transmitting the positions of said state-transmitting component, so that electronic signals, representing said angular position, may be produced by said at least one first state-detecting component.

2. The discontinuous state selector apparatus as in claim 1, said apparatus further comprising, in combination:

(a) a magnetically biased projection extending coaxially on said second rotor;

(b) a second state-selecting assembly with a cutout for the projection to extend through; and

(c) a second state-indicating assembly with at least one second state-detecting component for producing electronic signals representing the respective longitudinal position of said first and second rotor;

wherein said state-transmitting assembly is displaced along the longitudinal axis with the projection on said second rotor, resting said second rotor near said second state-selecting assembly, and wherein this position is detectable by said second state-detecting component,

whereby selection states are augmented in two dimensions, said selection states being determined without being contacted or disturbed, and are in the form of electrical signals for further processing.

3. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 2, wherein the second state-selecting assembly comprises a permanent magnetic finger-touch switching component accommodated in a bushing on a ferritic base and constituting the second state-indicating assembly, changes in the state of which can be detected by the second state-indicating assembly in the form of a second hollow component.

4. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 2, wherein the permanent magnetic finger-touch switching component, when magnetically attracted to the ferritic base, applies a force to the state-transmitting assembly inside the bushing by means of the projection.

5. The discontinuous state selector apparatus as in claim 1, said apparatus further comprising, in combination:

(a) a base having a planar surface normal to said longitudinal axis with a first permanent magnet mounted on said surface facing the state-transmitting assembly;

(b) a housing partially enclosing said state-transmitting assembly and having a wall possessing a second permanent magnet at least partially facing said first permanent magnet; and

(c) said base further comprising a third state-indicating assembly with at least one third state-detecting component for producing electronic signals representing the lateral position of said state transmitting assembly;

said housing partially enclosing

whereby said housing partially enclosing said state-transmitting assembly cat be moved in two dimensions over said third state-indicating assembly and its position can be detected by said third state-detecting component.

6. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 5, wherein said base has four intersecting components on the surface normal to said longitudinal axis and facing the second state-transmitting assembly, wherein the intersecting components are situated in pairs along axes that constitute a coordinate system,

wherein each intersecting component is a groove in said base with the point of intersection and with one of the grooves in the associated coordinate axis, and

wherein an inner housing that accommodates at least the state-transmitting assembly and the first state indicating assembly, with a wall that faces the base and parallels the surface and is provided with guide components that are equal intervals apart, extend above the wall, and can be displaced within the intersecting component.

7. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 6, wherein the guide components are balls that travel in a depression in the wall of the inner housing.

8. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 5, wherein said base is part of an outer and preferably cylindrical housing that at least partially incorporates the inner housing.

9. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 8, wherein said outer housing is provided with opening in the wall facing the base that accommodates connectors that connect the inner housing with a knob for manual actuation.

10. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 5, wherein said bass comprises a plurality of permanent magnets that form a system of coordinates incorporated into a magnet holder such that said permanent magnets in said coordinate system are mounted in pairs along each axis of the coordinate system and are in contact with the external surface of said wall possessing said second permanent magnet.

11. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 5, wherein the third state-indicating assembly is at least partly constituted by the second permanent magnets, changes in the state of which can be detected by the third state-detecting component in the form of a third Hall sensor.

12. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 1, wherein said shaft and said first cylindrical rotor are made of magnetically conductive material.

13. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 1, wherein said shaft and said first cylindrical rotor are in one integral piece.

14. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 1, further comprising a magnetizing assembly comprising at least one coil positioned adjacent said shaft and said first rotor for applying a magnetic flux to said state-transmitting cogs.

15. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 1, wherein said first state-indicating assembly is a slide with a first Hall sensor mounted on it and facing at least one permanent-magnet assembly with the state-transmitting components constituting magnetically conductive tabs mounted at intervals on the second rotor and that can be moved around and secured between the Hall sensor and the permanent-magnet assembly.

16. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 5, wherein one end of said shaft is provided with an actuating button.

17. A discontinuous state selector as in claim 9, wherein said actuating button includes a bowl that facilitates maneuvering.