DE102020109800A1 - Actuating device for a vehicle and method for actuating an actuating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating device (10) for a vehicle with a lever element (14, 16) which is movably mounted on a housing (12) of the actuating device (10). The lever element (14, 16) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (18, 20) from a starting position into an actuating position. A sensor element (24, 26) is designed to detect reaching the actuation position and comprises a deformable substrate (28) and a conductive element (30). A first part (34, 38) of the sensor element (24, 26) is attached to the lever element (14, 16), and a second part (32, 36) of the sensor element (24, 26) is attached to the housing (12) . By deforming the deformable substrate (28), an electrical variable of the conductive element (30) can be changed. The invention also relates to a method for actuating such an actuating device (10).

Description

The invention relates to an actuating device for a vehicle, having at least one lever element which is movably mounted on a housing of the actuating device. The at least one lever element can be pivoted about a pivot axis from a start position into at least one actuation position. At least one sensor element of the actuation device is set up to detect that the at least one actuation position has been reached by the at least one lever element. The invention also relates to a method for actuating such an actuating device.

In actuation devices for a vehicle, for example in a steering column module with actuating levers which are mounted on the housing of the steering column module, mechanical switches can be used in order to detect a movement of the actuating levers. In this case, mechanical contact is established between a first contact element and a second contact element of the switch when the actuating lever has reached or has reached its actuating position. However, such mechanical switches are subject to wear and tear which can reduce the length of time that the mechanical switch will operate correctly. Furthermore, such mechanical switches are quite expensive.

Actuating levers that are mounted on the housing of the steering column module can therefore also be equipped with contactless sensors such as Hall effect sensors.

The document WO 2008/067954 A1 describes, for example, a steering column module for motor vehicles with an actuating lever that can be pivoted about a pivot axis, and with a magnet that can be pivoted by the actuating lever. The magnet interacts with a magnetic field sensor that is fixed in its position. The magnetic field sensor is designed in such a way that a pivoted position of the magnet in relation to the magnetic field sensor or different distances between the magnet and the magnetic field sensor can be determined.

Such a contactless sensor arrangement with the magnet is also quite expensive since the magnet is required for the detection. Furthermore, the Hall effect sensor is not very sensitive if there is only a small displacement or pivoting movement of the actuating lever about the pivot axis.

The document also describes U.S. 6,040,542 A Switch assemblies that are integrated into a steering wheel of a vehicle. By cutting channels in a circuit board made of an elastic material, part of the circuit board can be moved relative to the rest of the circuit board. Here, the movable part of the circuit board can be brought into an inclined position from a starting position in which the part is flush with the rest of the circuit board. A layer of resistive ink is provided on the part of the circuit board that can be tilted. An electric resistance of the resistive ink layer changes depending on an amount of inclination of the movable part of the circuit board. This change in electrical resistance is detected, and a switching operation is performed depending on the electrical resistance.

This switch arrangement with the tiltable part of the circuit board is quite limited in terms of its functionality.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an actuating device of the type mentioned at the beginning, which enables a particularly simple and reliable detection of a movement of the lever element, and to specify a corresponding method.

This object is achieved by an actuating device with the features of claim 1 and by a method with the features of claim 10. Advantageous configurations with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

According to the invention, the actuation device for a vehicle comprises at least one lever element which is movably mounted on a housing of the actuation device. The at least one lever element can be pivoted about a pivot axis from a start position into at least one actuation position. The at least one sensor element of the actuation device is set up to detect that the at least one actuation position has been reached by the at least one lever element. The at least one sensor element, which is configured to detect whether the at least one lever has reached the at least one actuation position, comprises a deformable substrate and at least one conductive element that is connected to the substrate. A first part of the sensor element is attached to the lever element and a second part of the sensor element, which is spaced from the first part, is attached to the housing. A change in an electrical variable of the at least one conductive element can be brought about by a deformation of the deformable substrate.

Such a deformable sensor element enables contactless detection or contactless detection of the at least one actuation position that is reached by the at least one lever element. In other words, reaching the at least one actuation position is not accompanied by the establishment of mechanical contact between contact elements, as is the case with a mechanical switching element. Therefore, there is no wear of the contact elements. Consequently, the service life of the sensor element with the deformable substrate is particularly long compared to a mechanical switching element.

By using the at least one sensor element with the deformable substrate, which is deformed due to the movement of the lever element into the at least one actuation position, a particularly simple and reliable detection of the movement of the lever element is achieved.

Since the first part of the sensor element is fastened to the lever element and the second part of the sensor element is fastened to the housing, the movement of the lever element relative to the housing causes the deformation of the deformable substrate by pivoting the lever element about the pivot axis. This deformation has an influence on the electrical properties of the at least one conductive element. And by measuring the at least one electrical variable, a change in the electrical properties of the at least one conductive element can easily be detected. Consequently, the measurement of the at least one electrical variable enables simple and reliable detection of the fact that the lever element has reached or obtained its actuation position.

Furthermore, such a sensor element can be provided at particularly low costs compared to other contactless sensor technologies. In particular, no complex additional components such as a magnet or the like are required for the contactless operation of the sensor element.

In addition, such a sensor element provides a functional and simple interface for connecting the sensor element to further devices, in particular to analog or digital devices for processing a signal provided by the sensor element. The signal output of the sensor element is very efficient, since the change in the at least one electrical variable can be detected particularly easily.

By using the sensor element with the deformable substrate and the at least one conductive element adhering to the substrate, the actuating device can be provided with a particularly small number of hardware parts. Nevertheless, the sensor element enables particularly easy installation and repair.

In addition, only a very small amount of installation space has to be provided in order to integrate the at least one sensor element into the actuating device.

The at least one sensor element is preferably designed as a bending sensor. By bending the deformable substrate, an electrical resistance of the at least one conductive element can be changed. Alternatively or additionally, an electrical capacitance of the at least one conductive element can be changed by bending the deformable substrate.

Such a bending sensor can be designed for several applications depending on how much the deformable substrate is bent or warped due to the movement of the lever element. Furthermore, such a bending sensor takes up very little space in the actuating device and can be provided at particularly low costs.

Furthermore, electrical quantities such as the electrical resistance and / or the electrical capacitance of the at least one conductive element can be measured very easily in order to detect whether the at least one lever element has reached or reached the at least one actuation position.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one sensor element can be designed as a strain sensor. By stretching and / or compressing the deformable substrate, a change in an electrical resistance and / or an electrical capacitance of the at least one conductive element can be brought about. Such a strain sensor or extension sensor also makes it possible to determine in a reliable and efficient manner whether the lever element has reached or reached the at least one actuation position.

The at least one sensor element is preferably set up to detect when a first actuation position has been reached in which the at least one Lever element is pivoted about the pivot axis from the starting position in a first direction, and to detect reaching a second actuation position. In the second actuation position, the at least one lever element is pivoted about the pivot axis from the starting position in a second direction which is different from the first direction. In particular, the second direction can be opposite to the first direction. The same sensor element therefore makes it possible to detect the movement of the lever element about the pivot axis from the starting position in different directions, in particular in opposite directions. This is very useful for lever elements which, for example, can be moved up and down from the starting position, with the upward movement and the downward movement being assigned to different functions to be activated.

In order to enable the detection of a movement of the at least one lever element in the first direction and in the second direction, a first conductive element can be provided on a first side of the deformable substrate and a second conductive element can be provided on the opposite side of the deformable substrate be. Alternatively or additionally, carbon fibers can be used as conductive elements which are embedded in the deformable substrate or applied to the deformable substrate. The use of carbon fibers as the at least one conductive element also makes it possible to detect a movement of the lever element in different or opposite directions.

The first part and the second part of the sensor element are preferably end regions of the sensor element. Such a configuration makes the sensor element particularly sensitive even to fairly small movements of the lever element about the pivot axis. This is due to the fact that the end regions of the sensor element are spaced particularly far from one another.

The actuating device is preferably designed as a steering column module, the at least one lever element being designed as an actuating lever which is mounted on the housing of the steering column module. In particular, a multiplicity of actuating levers for activating various functions within the vehicle can be arranged on the steering column module. The integration of the at least one sensor element with the deformable substrate and the at least one conductive element in the steering column module is therefore particularly advantageous. The steering column module can also be referred to as an upper column module, since the module is arranged in its mounting position on an upper part of the steering column or the steering post of the vehicle.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one lever element can be designed as an actuating lever for a transmission of the vehicle. The transmission can be an automatic transmission or a manual transmission, in particular in a shift-by-wire application. when the at least one actuation position of the shift lever has been reached, respective shifting operations of the transmission can be effected. The design of the at least one lever element as an actuating lever for the transmission is therefore a further particularly suitable application of the actuating device.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one lever element can be designed as an actuating lever of a window lifting device for the vehicle. In such an advantageous embodiment, at least one window of the vehicle can be raised and opened in a very reliable and simple manner.

Furthermore, the at least one sensor element can be designed in such a way that the same sensor element detects the movement of a plurality of actuating levers of the window lifting device. This goes hand in hand with a particularly small number of parts to be provided in order to detect the corresponding movements of the various actuating levers.

A measuring connection of the at least one sensor element is preferably connected to a microcontroller and / or to an analog circuit of the actuating device. Here, the microcontroller and / or the analog circuit are set up to control at least one functional unit of the vehicle. Such a refinement enables the signal provided by the at least one sensor element to be used to control the at least one functional unit of the vehicle.

If the actuation device is designed as a steering column module, controlling the at least one functional unit of the vehicle can include activating windshield wipers of the vehicle such as front windshield wipers, activating lamps such as headlights and / or taillights of the vehicle, activating a turn signal or the like. However, a variety of other functional units of the vehicle can be controlled by evaluating the signal provided by the at least one sensor element.

In the method according to the invention for actuating an actuating device for a vehicle, at least one lever element of the actuating device, which is movably mounted on a housing of the actuating device, is attached to a Pivot axis pivoted from a starting position into at least one operating position. Reaching the at least one actuation position by the at least one lever element is detected by at least one sensor element of the actuation device. The at least one sensor element comprises a deformable substrate and at least one conductive element which is connected to the substrate. A first part of the sensor element is attached to the lever element and a second part of the sensor element, which is spaced from the first part, is attached to the housing. By deforming the deformable substrate, an electrical variable of the at least one conductive element is changed.

Since the movement of the lever element leads to the deformation of the deformable substrate, the measurement of the change in the at least one electrical variable can be used to detect whether or not the at least one lever element has reached the at least one actuation position or not. Consequently, the method enables a particularly simple and reliable detection of the movement of the lever element.

The advantages described with regard to the actuating device according to the invention and its embodiments also apply to the method according to the invention and vice versa.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention . Embodiments of the invention that are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, but emerge and can be generated from the explained embodiments by means of separate combinations of features, are thus also to be regarded as covered and disclosed. Designs and combinations of features are also to be regarded as disclosed, which therefore do not have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim. In addition, designs and combinations of features, in particular through the statements set out above, are to be regarded as disclosed that go beyond the combinations of features set forth in the back-references of the claims or differ from them.

• 1 schematisch ein Lenksäulenmodul für ein Fahrzeug, wobei das Modul zwei Betätigungshebel und zwei Biegesensoren umfasst, die dazu eingerichtet sind, eine Bewegung des jeweiligen Betätigungshebels zu detektieren;
• 2 schematisch einen der Biegesensoren in einem geraden Zustand und in einem gebogenen oder verbogenen Zustand;
• 3 eine mögliche elektrische Verbindung eines der Biegesensoren;
• 4 verschiedene Biegepositionen des Biegesensors, der in einer schematischen Seitenansicht gezeigt ist;
• 5 eine mögliche Gestaltung einer Vielzahl von leitfähigen Elementen des Biegesensors oder eines Dehnungssensors, welcher ebenfalls als Sensorelement mit verformbarem Substrat innerhalb einer Betätigungsvorrichtung wie beispielsweise dem Lenksäulenmodul verwendet werden kann;
• 6 eine mögliche Verwendung des Biegesensors innerhalb einer Schaltung auf Mikrocontrollerbasis;
• 7 eine mögliche Verwendung des Biegesensors innerhalb eines Systems mit einer analogen Schaltung;
• 8 eine andere mögliche Anwendung des Sensorelements innerhalb einer Betätigungsvorrichtung, die als Fensterheber für ein Fahrzeug ausgebildet ist; und
• 9 eine weitere mögliche Ausgestaltung der Betätigungsvorrichtung, wobei die Betätigungsvorrichtung einen Betätigungshebel für ein Getriebe eines Fahrzeugs umfasst.

Show in it:

• 1 schematically, a steering column module for a vehicle, the module comprising two actuation levers and two bending sensors which are set up to detect a movement of the respective actuation lever;
• 2 schematically one of the bending sensors in a straight state and in a bent or bent state;
• 3 a possible electrical connection of one of the bending sensors;
• 4th different bending positions of the bending sensor, which is shown in a schematic side view;
• 5 a possible design of a plurality of conductive elements of the bending sensor or a strain sensor, which can also be used as a sensor element with a deformable substrate within an actuation device such as the steering column module;
• 6th a possible use of the bending sensor within a circuit based on microcontrollers;
• 7th a possible use of the bending sensor within a system with an analog circuit;
• 8th another possible application of the sensor element within an actuating device which is designed as a window regulator for a vehicle; and
• 9 a further possible embodiment of the actuating device, wherein the actuating device comprises an actuating lever for a transmission of a vehicle.

In the figures, the same elements or elements with the same function are indicated by the same reference symbols.

1 shows schematically an example of an actuation device for a vehicle, the actuation device as a steering column module 10 is trained. The steering column module is in its mounting position in the vehicle 10 arranged on an upper part of the steering column (not shown) of the vehicle. The steering column module 10 is therefore also referred to as the upper column module. As viewed by a driver of the vehicle, there is an enclosure 12th of the steering column module 10 in its mounting position mainly located behind a central part of a steering wheel (not shown) of the vehicle.

In the in 1 The example shown has the steering column module 10 two lever elements in the form of a first operating lever 14th and a second operating lever 16 on. In variants of the Steering column module 10 however, more operating levers or fewer operating levers can be attached to the housing 12th or to the housing 12th of the steering column module 10 be mounted.

The operating levers 14th , 16 are movable on the housing 12th mounted so that the first operating lever 14th around a first pivot axis 18th can be pivoted and the second operating lever 16 around a second pivot axis 20th can be pivoted.

In 1 are upward movements and downward movements of the respective operating lever 14th , 16 , that is, movements that take place when one of the operating levers 14th , 16 around its respective pivot axis 18th , 20th is pivoted by arrows 21 , 22nd specified. A first pair of arrows 21 there is movement of one of the operating levers 14th , 16 in a first direction, and a second pair of arrows 22nd there is movement of one of the operating levers 14th , 16 in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.

If mechanical switches in the steering column module 10 used to detect whether the operating lever 14th , 16 by pivoting the operating lever 14th , 16 around the pivot axis 18th , 20th from an in 1 If the starting position shown has been moved into an actuating position, such mechanical switches suffer from wear. When a non-contact Hall sensor is used to detect whether one of the operating levers 14th , 16 has reached its actuation position by moving it in one of the directions indicated by one of the arrows 21 , 22nd in 1 is a magnet for detecting the position of the operating lever 14th , 16 necessary. This makes contactless detection by means of the Hall sensor rather complex and expensive.

To avoid these problems, the in 1 shown steering column module 10 a first sensor element which is configured to detect whether the first operating lever 14th has reached or has reached its actuation position, and a second sensor element which is configured to detect whether the second actuation lever 16 has reached or obtained its operating position. In the in 1 The example shown is the first sensor element as the first bending sensor 24 designed, and the second sensor element is designed as a second bending sensor 26th educated.

In 1 are the bending sensors 24 , 26th only schematically in their arrangement in relation to the housing 12th and the respective operating lever 14th , 16 shown. In the actuation device in the form of the steering column module 10 however, are the bending sensors 24 , 26th not visible to a person standing on the steering column module 10 looks from its outside. Rather, the bending sensors are 24 , 26th inside the steering column module 10 hidden.

The respective bending sensor 24 , 26th , which in a possible embodiment in 2 shown includes or comprises a deformable or flexible substrate 28 that serves as a carrier. A conductive element 30th is with the substrate 28 connected or applied to this. The conductive element 30th for example, by printing a polymer ink with conductive particles embedded therein on the substrate 28 to be provided.

When the bending sensor 24 just like on the left in 2 shown has an electrical quantity such as an electrical resistance of the conductive member 30th a first value. However, if the bending sensor 24 is bent as on the right in 2 As shown, the conductive particles move further apart within the ink. This increases the electrical resistance of the conductive element 30th . By measuring the change in the electrical quantity, in the example explained, the change in the electrical resistance, it can be determined how much the respective bending sensor is 24 , 26th is bent.

In the in 1 The example shown are parts of the respective bending sensor 24 , 26th , which are spaced from each other, on the one hand on the operating lever 14th , 16 and on the other hand on the housing 12th attached. In particular, there is a first end region 32 of the first bending sensor 24 on the housing 12th fixed or attached. An opposite end range 34 of the first bending sensor 24 is on the first operating lever 14th attached or fixed.

In a like manner is a first end region 36 of the second bending sensor 26th on the housing 12th fixed or attached, and a second end region 38 of the second bending sensor 26th is on the second operating lever 16 attached or fixed.

As conventional mechanical switches through the bending sensors 24 , 26th are replaced, any upward movement and downward movement of the operating lever goes 14th , 16 with a certain degree of bending or bending of the deformable or flexible substrate 28 and therefore with a change in the electrical resistance of the conductive member 30th hand in hand.

One way of changing the electrical resistance of the conductive element 30th of the bending sensor 24 , 26th to evaluate is in 3 shown. According to 3 can be a first connection element 39 of the bending sensor 24 can be used as a measuring connection. An output voltage that is applied to this first connection element 39 detected or is measured changes as the electrical resistance of the conductive element changes 30th changes.

In the in 3 The example shown is a second connection element 40 of the bending sensor 24 with the crowd 42 tied together. The bending sensor 24 can be supplied with a supply voltage via an electrical line 44 are supplied with the first connection element 39 connected is. If a resistance element 46 in the electrical line 44 is arranged for connecting the bending sensor 24 used with the supply voltage, form the resistance element 46 and the conductive element 30th of the bending sensor 24 a voltage divider. The voltage divider divides the supply voltage in a ratio that is determined by the electrical resistances of the resistance element 46 on the one hand and the conductive element 30th on the other hand is dependent. Such a configuration of the bending sensor 24 , 26th is particularly easy to implement to detect whether the corresponding operating lever 14th , 16 has reached or obtained its operating position. This is due to the fact that in the in 3 embodiment shown, no additional resistors or potential dividers are required.

4th shows the bending sensor 24 , 26th in different bending positions. In the straight configuration, in which the distance between the first end region 32 , 36 and the second end region 34 , 38 is a maximum, the electrical resistance has its nominal value. In a bending position of about 45 degrees, the value of the electrical resistance is increased. When the bending sensor 24 , 26th has a bend of about 90 degrees, the electrical resistance value is increased even more. This change in electrical resistance can easily be measured.

Alternatively or additionally, an electrical capacitance of the at least one conductive element can be changed 30th that with the substrate 28 is connected, can be measured when the sensor element is used as a bending sensor 24 , 26th is trained. Furthermore, the sensor element with the deformable substrate 28 be designed as a strain sensor. This can be done by stretching or compressing the deformable substrate 28 a change in an electrical resistance and / or an electrical capacitance of the at least one conductive element 30th be effected.

5 represents various sizes and shapes of the as a bending sensor 24 , 26th or a sensor element designed as a strain sensor can be used depending on the desired application. As a result, a single flexure sensor 24 , 26th with a suitable shape may be sufficient for the replacement of a plurality of mechanical switches in the operating device.

In the in 1 given example, in which the bending sensor 24 , 26th in the steering column module 10 is used, the movement of the respective operating lever 14th , 16 by determining the degree of flexion or deflection of the deformable substrate 28 identified. In particular, the bend in the bending sensor 24 , 26th can be identified by measuring different voltage levels. The respective voltage level can represent a desired function such as, for example, activation of windshield wipers of the vehicle, of lamps such as, for example, headlights of the vehicle, a blinker of the vehicle and the like. However, a variety of other uses are possible.

As in 6th shown, the measuring connection or the first connection element 39 of the bending sensor 24 , 26th can be used in a microcontroller-based circuit. Here, the first connection element 39 with an amplifier 48 be connected, which in turn with an analog or digital input connector 50 of a microcontroller 52 connected is. An analog-to-digital converter can be connected to the input connection 50 be provided. A first output port 54 of the microcontroller 52 can be provided to the microcontroller 52 with a control unit of the vehicle, in particular in the form of an on-board power supply control unit 56 , and / or with a support circuit of the vehicle via a communication channel 58 connect to. A data transfer via the communication channel 58 can be based on a vehicle bus protocol such as CAN (Controller Area Network), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), FlexRay or the like.

A second output port 60 of the microcontroller 52 is to connect the microcontroller 52 with at least one functional unit 62 of the vehicle. Using the second output port 60 , which can in particular contain a digital-to-analog converter, the functional unit 62 of the vehicle such as a light emitting diode (LED), a motor, a display, an electrical load or the like by means of the microcontroller 52 being controlled.

As in 6th shown, an additional resistance element 64 be included in the microcontroller based circuit to the amplifier 48 to bypass. In particular, the additional resistance element 64 be provided in a branch of the circuit that of the bending sensor 24 , 26th to the input port 50 leads. A switching element (not shown) can be provided to either the amplifier 48 within the circuit or the additional resistance element 64 to use.

In another example of a possible connection of the bending sensor 24 , 26th with an evaluation circuit that is included in 7th is shown, an analog signal from the bending sensor 24 , 26th can be evaluated directly. Here is the first connection element 39 , which serves as a measuring connection, with an analog circuit 66 through an amplifier 68 or connected to a preamplifier. The analog circuit 66 may include a processing circuit, at least one operational amplifier, a circuit, a transistor or transistors such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and / or insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), at least one thyristor or the like. In the in 7th The embodiment shown is the analog circuit 66 directly with the at least one functional unit 62 connected to the vehicle.

Inside the steering column module 10 can the at least one sensor element, in particular as a bending sensor 24 , 26th is formed, alternatively or additionally with a rotary element such as a rotary ring or rotary segment of the actuating lever 14th , 16 be used. Such a rotary element can be used, for example, to change the speed of the front windshield wipers of the vehicle and / or to control the lamps of the vehicle, such as the headlights and taillights, for example.

When the second end area 34 , 38 of the bending sensor 24 , 26th is fixed to the rotating element and the first end region 34 , 36 of the bending sensor 24 , 26th on part of the operating lever 14th , 16 is fixed, which remains stationary when the rotating member is rotated, the deformation of the bending sensor can 24 , 26th , especially a bend in the bending sensor 24 , 26th can be easily detected. Consequently, the desired function can be performed as a function of the change in the at least one electrical quantity of the conductive element 30th to be activated.

As in 8th shown, the actuating device for the vehicle can also be used as a window lifting device 69 be trained. In the in 8th The example shown can be the window lifting device 69 four lever elements or operating levers 70 , 72 , 74 , 76 exhibit. Two adjacent operating levers 70 , 72 can be used to control the front windows of the vehicle. The other two operating levers 74 , 76 which can also be arranged adjacent to one another can be used to operate or control the rear windows of the vehicle. In a same way as with reference to the steering column module 10 described, a suitable sensor element, in particular a single bending sensor 24 , 26th , used to control the pivotal movement of each of the operating levers 70 , 72 , 74 , 76 in terms of a housing 78 the window regulator 69 to detect.

The respective operating lever can be used to open or close the windows of the vehicle 70 , 72 , 74 , 76 be pivoted about a pivot axis, which for the sake of simplicity in 8th is not shown.

In the same way, the adjustment of a vehicle seat of the vehicle can be carried out by pivoting a corresponding seat adjustment lever (not shown) about a pivot axis, the movement of the seat adjustment lever about the pivot axis by the sensor element in particular in the form of the bending sensor 24 can be detected (see 2 ).

9 shows a further actuating device for the vehicle, wherein the lever element is used as an actuating lever 80 is designed for a transmission of the vehicle. A sensor element such as a bending sensor, for example, can again be used here 24 , 26th used to detect whether the operating lever 80 by pivoting the operating lever 80 around a (in 9 for the sake of simplicity (not shown) pivot axis has attained or reached an actuating position.

This pivoting movement of the operating lever 80 goes around the pivot axis with a movement of an upper part of the operating lever 80 along a guideway 82 hand in hand that in one housing 84 is provided in which the guideway 82 is arranged. Depending on the by the operating lever 80 attained or reached operating position, a shifting process can be carried out within the transmission of the vehicle.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• WO 2008/067954 A1 [0004]
• US 6040542 A [0006]

Claims (10)

Actuating device for a vehicle, with at least one lever element (14, 16) which is movably mounted on a housing (12) of the actuating device (10), the at least one lever element (14, 16) about a pivot axis (18, 20) a start position can be pivoted into at least one actuation position, and with at least one sensor element (24, 26) which is configured to detect reaching of the at least one actuation position by the at least one lever element (14, 16), characterized in that the at least a sensor element (24, 26) comprises a deformable substrate (28) and at least one conductive element (30) connected to the substrate (28), wherein a first part (34, 38) of the sensor element (24, 26) is attached the lever element (14, 16) is attached and a second part (32, 36) of the sensor element (24, 26), which is spaced from the first part (34, 38), is attached to the housing (12), and wherein by a deformation of the ve Deformable substrate (28) a change in an electrical quantity of the at least one conductive element (30) can be effected. Actuator according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one sensor element (24, 26) is designed as a bending sensor, it being possible to change an electrical resistance and / or an electrical capacitance of the at least one conductive element (30) by bending the deformable substrate (28) . Actuator according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one sensor element (24, 26) is designed as a strain sensor, wherein by stretching and / or compressing the deformable substrate (28) a change in an electrical resistance and / or an electrical capacitance of the at least one conductive element ( 30) can be effected. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one sensor element (24, 26) is set up to detect reaching a first actuating position in which the at least one lever element (14, 16) about the pivot axis (18, 20 ) is pivoted from the starting position in a first direction (21), and reaching a second actuation position to be detected in which the at least one lever element (24, 26) about the pivot axis (18, 20) from the starting position in a second direction ( 22) is pivoted, which is different from the first direction (21), in particular the first direction (21) is opposite. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (34, 38) and the second part (32, 36) of the sensor element (24, 26) are end regions of the sensor element (24, 26). Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device is designed as a steering column module (10), the at least one lever element being designed as an actuating lever (14, 16) which is mounted on the housing (12) of the steering column module (10) . Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one lever element is designed as an actuating lever (80) for a transmission of the vehicle. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one lever element is designed as an actuating lever (70, 72, 74, 76) of a window lifting device (69) for the vehicle. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a measuring connection (39) of the at least one sensor element (24, 26), in particular via an amplifier (48, 68), with a microcontroller (52) and / or with an analog circuit ( 66) of the actuating device (10) is connected, the microcontroller (52) and / or the analog circuit (66) being set up to control at least one functional unit (62) of the vehicle. Method for actuating an actuating device (10) for a vehicle, wherein at least one lever element (14, 16) of the actuating device (10), which is movably mounted on a housing (12) of the actuating device (10), about a pivot axis (18, 20 ) is pivoted from a start position into at least one actuation position, and reaching the at least one actuation position by the at least one lever element (14, 16) is detected by at least one sensor element (24, 26) of the actuation device, characterized in that the at least one Sensor element (24, 26) comprises a deformable substrate (28) and at least one conductive element (30), which is connected to the substrate (28), wherein a first part (34, 38) of the sensor element (24, 26) is attached the lever element (14, 16) is attached and a second part (32, 36) of the sensor element (24, 26), which is spaced from the first part (34, 38), is attached to the housing (12), and wherein by deforming the deformable substrate (28) a electrical size of the at least one conductive element (30) is changed.

Images