Detent changeover switch apparatus

• US 7,732,724 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Otani, Kazuya, Ishigaki, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAROC, LHEIREN MAE ANGLO
• Application Number:
  US12/010,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 200/565
• US Class Current: 200/565
• 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: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 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: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A detent crest member is integrally rotatably mounted on a dial knob. On the other hand, on a peripheral surface of a plunger mounting member which is rotatably operated using a motor, a plurality of plunger members which generates clicks in a dial knob together with the detent crest member is mounted. In changing over click feeling, the motor is rotated thus selectively bringing one of the plunger members mounted on the plunger mounting member into resilient contact with concave/convex patterns of the detent crest member which form the pair with one plunger member.

Claims

1. A detent changeover switch apparatus for performing a selection function operation, comprising:

an operation switch that includes an operation portion to be operated by an operator and a support portion;

a plurality of detent mechanisms, wherein each of the detent mechanisms includes a detent crest member that has a concave/convex pattern along an operating direction of the operation portion and is formed on one of the operation portion and the support portion, and a plunger member that includes a biasing member and a piece member resiliently brought into contact with the concave/convex pattern by the biasing member and is formed on the other of the operation portion and the support portion; and

a detent changeover mechanism that includes an actuator for bringing the piece member of the plunger member of one of the detent mechanisms into resilient contact with the corresponding concave/convex pattern to allow the operation portion to generate click feeling when the piece member gets over a projection portion of the concave/convex pattern at the time of operating the operation portion,

whereby the detent changeover mechanism changes over click feeling of the operation portion by selecting one of the detent mechanisms and bringing the selected detent mechanism into an operation state.

2. The detent changeover switch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detent changeover mechanism includes:

the actuator that is a rotary actuator and includes a drive shaft;

a support member that is mounted on the drive shaft and mounts the plunger members of the detent mechanisms in a state that the plunger members are arranged in an axial direction of the drive shaft and are displaced in a circumferential direction of the drive shaft, wherein the support portion includes the support member;

a detector that detects an operation state when the operator operates the operation portion, and

a controller that performs a drive control of the rotary actuator based on a detection quantity of the detector to bring the plunger member of the selected detent mechanism into resilient contact with the corresponding concave/convex pattern.

3. The detent changeover switch apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the operation portion is of a rotary operation type in which the operation direction assumes a rotary direction,

among the detent mechanisms, the concave/convex patterns generate click feelings different from each other, respectively,

the concave/convex patterns are formed on a bottom surface of the detent crest member so that the concave/convex patterns are arranged side by side along a radial direction of the detent crest member, and

the rotary actuator is arranged in an orthogonal direction in which the drive shaft intersects an operation shaft of the operation portion, and the plunger members are selectively brought into resilient contact with the corresponding concave/convex pattern from a bottom surface side.