Rotary control unit, in particular nominal value rotary control unit, for a vehicle heating system and in particular vehicle air conditioning system

• US 8,528,878 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbH (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Behr-Hella Thermocontrol GmbH (MAHLE-STIFTUNG GmbH)
• Inventors: Knittel, Otto
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanchez-Medina, Reinaldo
• Application Number:
  US12/301,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.03, 251/129.04, 454/75, 454/152, 454/155, 454/159, 454/160, 310/68.A, 310/68.B, 345/184
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• 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: F25D 2700/04 Sensors detecting the presence of a person
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/02 Means preventing undesired movements of a controlling member which can be moved in two or more separate steps or ways, e.g. restricting to a stepwise movement or to a particular sequence of movements 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 5/12 for holding members in an indefinite number of positions, e.g. by a toothed quadrant G05G5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

The rotary control unit to which the invention relates, in particular nominal value rotary control unit for a vehicle heating system and in particular vehicle air conditioning system, is provided with a rotatable rotary control element (14), an electric motor (16) with a driveshaft (17) which is mechanically coupled to the rotary control element (14), an control circuit (24) for supplying the electric motor (16) with power for the purpose of generating a holding moment in order to prevent undesired rotation of the rotary control element (14) and/or to build up a resistance as the rotary control element is rotated, and a sensor unit (22) for detecting a hand which is approaching the rotary control element (14) or is touching the rotary control element (14). The control circuit (24) for supplying power to the electric motor (16) can be activated if the sensor unit (22) detects a hand which is approaching the rotary control element (14) or is touching the rotary control element (14).

Claims

1. A rotary control unit comprising a rotatable rotary control element,

an electric motor with a drive shaft that is mechanically coupled with the rotary control element,

a control circuit for supplying current to the electric motor so as to generate a moment acting in or against the sense of rotation to prevent an unintentional rotation of the rotary control element and/or to build up a resistance as the rotary control element is rotated,

the control circuit supplies different current levels to the electric motor to generate different magnitudes of holding moments and/or counter torques depending on the actual rotational position of the drive shaft, and

a sensor unit for detecting a hand approaching the rotary control element or touching the rotary control element,

the control circuit being activatable to supply current to the electric motor, if the sensor unit detects a hand which is approaching the rotary control element or is touching the rotary control element.

2. The rotary control element of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is deactivatable to terminate the supply of current to the electric motor after activation, if the sensor unit does not detect a rotation of the rotary control element or no longer detects a hand near the rotary control element or touching the same.

3. The rotational control element of claim 2, wherein the rotary control element is arranged on the drive shaft of the electric motor so as to rotate therewith.

4. The rotational control element of claim 3, wherein the electric motor is a DC motor with a commutator.

5. The rotational control element of claim 4, wherein the sensor unit has a position sensor for detecting a rotation of the drive shaft of the electric motor.

6. The rotational control element of claim 2, wherein the electric motor is a DC motor with a commutator.

7. The rotational control element of claim 6, wherein the sensor unit has a position sensor for detecting a rotation of the drive shaft of the electric motor.

8. The rotational control element of claim 2, wherein the sensor unit has a position sensor for detecting a rotation of the drive shaft of the electric motor.

9. The rotational control element of claim 1, wherein the rotary control element is arranged on the drive shaft of the electric motor so as to rotate therewith.

10. The rotational control element of claim 9, wherein the electric motor is a DC motor with a commutator.

11. The rotational control element of claim 10, wherein the sensor unit has a position sensor for detecting a rotation of the drive shaft of the electric motor.

12. The rotational control element of claim 1, wherein the rotary control element is arranged on the drive shaft of the electric motor so as to rotate therewith.

13. The rotational control element of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a DC motor with a commutator.

14. The rotational control element of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit has a position sensor for detecting a rotation of the drive shaft of the electric motor.