EP2771755B1 - Operator control element with magnetic return - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a control element, as known from US2002 / 0093328 A , which discloses the preamble of claim 1, for a plurality of control and / or switching functions. Generically, it has a hand from a rest position in at least two opposite directions relative to an abutment part displaceable and / or pivotable operating part. Further, magnetic return means for effecting the provision of the operating member are provided in the rest position. Depending on the mobility in at least two, four or in any direction up to a maximum circuit, it is in the control element according to the invention is a rocker switch, four-way switch or joystick. Detection means for generating a respective at least the maximum positions and the rest position of the operating part corresponding electrical signal are inventively and generically also provided.

It is known to reset controls in the range of movement of the operating part by mechanically inter-engaging components in the rest position of the operating part. Further, mechanically latching components are known for providing haptic feedback. Such controls are subject to wear, so that with increasing wear, the feel and / or the relative positions change, if not the function is completely impaired. To reduce the susceptibility to wear, it is also known to provide magnetic forces based restoring means. The previously known constructions, such as those in the DE 102008004909 A1 shown embodiments have a comparatively complex and voluminous construction, since, inter alia, in addition to the magnetic return means a mechanical operative engagement between the abutment part and the actuating part, for example in the form of a journal bearing or a ball joint is provided. Such mechanical action is subject to wear and thus deteriorates the positioning accuracy of the operating part.

Against the background of the disadvantages of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a generic operating element in this way to further develop that it is particularly low-wear, compact and improved in particular with regard to its haptic feedback.

This object is achieved by an operating element according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the claims in any technologically meaningful way, can be combined with each other and show other embodiments of the invention. The description, in particular in connection with the figures, additionally characterizes and specifies the invention.

The invention relates to an operating element for a plurality of switching and / or control functions, comprising: an abutment part and a manually movable from its rest position in at least two opposite directions relative to the abutment part and / or pivotable actuating part. To return the actuating member in the rest position magnetic, that is based on magnetic forces, restoring means are also provided. These include, for example, one or more permanent magnets, ferromagnetic elements, electromagnets or combinations thereof. Detection means are also provided according to the invention for generating an electrical signal corresponding in each case to at least the maximum positions and the rest position of the actuating part. Preferably, the detection means are designed so that a possible all positions of the operating part uniquely corresponding, optionally proportional electrical signal is generated for position evaluation. The person skilled in the art for this purpose suitable detection means are known, for example, optical or resistive position detections are provided.

According to the invention, the magnetic return means comprise at least a first, operating part-side ring magnet and a second, Widerlagerteilseitigen ring magnet, which are arranged in the rest position so that their end faces facing each other and spaced, that they arranged the operating part against the abutment part pulling and that they are concentric. This embodiment is not only a wear causes a provision, but it is by tightening the operating part reached to the abutment part a mutual support, in which can be advantageously dispensed with an articulated mechanical connection between the two.

According to a preferred embodiment, a securing device, for example, on the housing or on the abutment part is further provided to secure the operating member against loss. The fact that the mechanical attraction is used to hold the operating part, the susceptibility to wear is minimized if not impossible. Furthermore, by using magnetic return means, the haptic feedback on actuation of the operating part can be designed as required by corresponding dimensioning of the ring magnets.

Preferably, the actuating part is rotatable about an axis of rotation and the ring magnets are arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation. The rotatable mounting is realized for example by a sliding bearing between the abutment part and actuating part. Due to the additional degree of freedom, the operating part can be assigned an additional switching or control function when rotating the operating part. The rotation and / or the rotational position are detected, for example, by optical, magnetic detection means.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second ring magnet are each polarized perpendicular to the direction of movement.

According to a further preferred embodiment, at least the mutually facing end faces of the ring magnets are congruent. The ring magnets preferably have an identical dimension and configuration.

Preferably corresponds to the displacement or pivoting of the operating part from the rest position to the maximum position of the displacement of the operating part side ring magnet at least the wall thickness of the abutment side ring magnet. For example, the maximum position is selected so that formed in vertical projection of the facing end faces of the ring magnets in the axial direction of a common plane between the end faces of a crescent-shaped surface. This points For example, a maximum distance of the sickle edges of less than 1mm, for example, 0.5 mm.

It has been shown that thereby increasing the deflection of the actuating part after an increase in the restoring force, a haptically noticeable drop in the restoring force, also referred to as "snap", can be realized. Preferably, the actuating member is monostable, that is, outside the rest position, the restoring force is never zero. For example, it is provided in one embodiment that the ring magnets are designed and arranged so that in the range of movement of the operating part, the restoring force has a local maximum for generating a latching feel. The maximum rate of decline in the restoring force after only one part, for example about half or about two-thirds of the maximum possible deflection, also leads to the maximum position being unavoidably reached after overcoming the maximum return and the subsequent demolition. This increases the reliability of operation and at the same time gives the user haptic feedback.

Preferably, the at least two opposite directions of movement define a line or a curve, more preferably at least one circle segment.

According to a preferred embodiment, the abutment part comprises one or more sliding or rolling elements for supporting the operating part. It is provided in a further embodiment, a cage for receiving and guiding the rolling elements.

To reduce wear, the detection means comprise means for non-contact detection of the position of the operating part or the operating part side ring magnet. More preferably, it is at least one optical and / or magnetic sensor.

According to the invention, it can be provided that the ring magnets are provided exclusively for resetting or haptic feedback. For position detection of the operating part separate sensors and encoders be provided, by means of which the movement of the actuating part is detected. According to the invention, an embodiment should be included, in which at least the actuating part-side ring magnet acts as an encoder for one or more sensors, for example Hall sensors.

The operating element is advantageously used in a motor vehicle, for example as a control element for controlling the vehicle air conditioning.

Fig. 1:

die Ruhestellung des Betätigungsteils 2 des erfindungsgemäßen, in einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform gezeigten Bedienelements 1;

Fig. 2:

die Maximalstellung des Betätigungsteils 2 des Bedienelements 1 aus Fig.1;

Fig. 3A:

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3B:

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht der Fig. 2; sowie

Fig. 4:

einen Verlauf der vom Bediener zu überwindenden Rückstellkraft F in Abhängigkeit der zurückgelegten Ausschlags S aus der Ruhelage.

The invention and the technical environment will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the figures show a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, but this is not limited thereto. They show schematically:

Fig. 1:

the rest position of the actuating part 2 of the control element 1 according to the invention, shown in a preferred embodiment;

Fig. 2:

the maximum position of the operating part 2 of the operating element 1 off Fig.1 ;

Fig. 3A:

an enlarged detail view of the Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3B:

an enlarged detail view of the Fig. 2 ; such as

4:

a course of the restoring force F to be overcome by the operator as a function of the traveled deflection S from the rest position.

The figures show a simplified schematic representation of the structure and operation of the operating element 1 according to the invention. The operating element 1 has an abutment part 3 and an actuating part 2. The abutment part 3 has a the actuating part 2 facing, convex surface. The actuating part 2 has a complementary to the aforementioned surface of the abutment part 3, the abutment part 3 facing, concave surface. The actuating part 2 is freely displaceable or pivotable relative to the abutment part 3. The respective position can be detected by a detection device, not shown. The abutment part 3 comprises a roller bearing device for the displacement of the actuating part 2 facilitate and minimize wear. The rolling bearing device has a plurality of annularly arranged balls 6, which are guided by a cage 7 at a uniform distance. In addition to the displacement rotation of the operating part 2 is possible, see the movement arrows 10, wherein the displacement in all directions is further also allowed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and limited here only for the purpose of better illustration, the movement in the directions shown in the arrows 10 will be described below.

The movement of the actuating part 2 is limited by the guided through a through hole 11 in the abutment part pin 8, wherein the pin 8 is further secured as a securing device on its terminal plate-shaped, for example, screwed widening and the bushing 9 against falling out. For a separation of actuator part 2 and 3 abutment part is made largely impossible. In the mutually facing surfaces of the actuating part 2 and the abutment part 3 each annular grooves are incorporated, in each of which an annular permanent magnet 4, 5, hereinafter also called ring magnet, is used. The ring magnets 4, 5 have the same dimensions and are polarized parallel to their axial direction, ie rotational symmetry axis. The ring magnets 4, 5, are arranged so that unlike poles and the end faces in the in Fig. 1 spaced from each other shown rest position. The ring magnets 4, 5 are further arranged in the rest position concentric with the axis of rotation of the actuating part 2. When moving the operating part 2 in a direction lying in the plane of the drawing in Fig. 1 shown rest position, the in Fig. 2 achieved maximum position reached. The ring magnets 4, 5 cause the provision in the in Fig. 1 shown rest position. When pivoting, the actuation part-side ring magnet 4 moves away with his lying in the direction of movement front and rear ring sections of the respective ring sections of the abutment part side ring magnet 5. The maximum position is that the actuation part-side ring magnet 4 is moved more than by the thickness of the wall of the abutment part side ring magnet 5 , Preferably, the offset of the ring magnets 4, 5, so the projected distance between the inner diameter of the operating part side ring magnet 4 and the outer diameter of the abutment part side ring magnet 5 in the Maximum position and in the relevant displacement direction between about or exactly 1.0 mm and about or exactly 5.0 mm. The relative movement of the ring magnets 4, 5 is in the detail views of FIGS. 3A and 3B clarified. The FIG. 4 shows the course of the restoring force as a function of the deflection. This increases sharply with the displacement of the operating part from the rest position until reaching the local maximum F _max . As soon as the operating-part-side ring magnet is displaced by the wall thickness of the abutment-part-side ring magnet, the restoring force breaks down without completely returning to zero. After that, the maximum position is reached at S _max by impacting. The above-described collapse of the restoring force, also referred to as "snap", is noticeable haptically and serves to give the operator haptic feedback that the maximum position has been reached. The increase in the restoring force subsequent burglary also ensures that the maximum position, if once the maximum restoring force F _max has been overcome, is achieved reliably and almost inevitably. This increases the reproducibility and reliability in the operation.

Claims (9)

1. Operating element (1) for a plurality of switching and/or regulating functions, having: an abutment part (3) ;
   an actuating part (2) which can be moved, for example can be displaced and/or can be pivoted, manually from a rest position in at least two opposed directions with respect to the abutment part (3); magnetic restoring means (4, 5) for bringing about the restoring action of the actuating part (2) into the rest position; detection means for generating an electric signal which corresponds in each case at least to the maximum positions and the rest position of the actuating part;
   the magnetic restoring means (4, 5) comprising at least a first, actuating part-side ring magnet (4) and a second, abutment part-side ring magnet (5) which are arranged in the rest position in such a way that their end faces face one another, are congruent and are spaced apart, that they are arranged so as to pull the actuating part (2) against the abutment part (3), and that they are concentric, characterized in that, in the case of the displacement or pivoting of the actuating part (2) from the rest position into the maximum position, the displacement travel of the actuating part-side ring magnet (4) in the relevant movement direction corresponds at least to the wall thickness of the abutment-side ring magnet (5).
2. Operating element (1) according to Claim 1,
   it being possible for the actuating part (2) to be rotated about a rotational axis, and the ring magnets (4, 5) being arranged concentrically with respect to the rotational axis.
3. Operating element (1) according to either of the preceding claims, the first and second ring magnet (4, 5) being polarized in each case perpendicularly with respect to the movement direction.
4. Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the at least two opposed movement directions defining a line or a curve, preferably a circle segment.
5. Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, it being possible for the actuating part (2) to be pivoted freely or displaced freely with respect to the abutment part (3).
6. Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the abutment part (3) comprising one or more sliding or rolling elements (6) for mounting the actuating part (2).
7. Operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the detection means comprising means for the contactless detection of the position of the actuating part (2) or the actuating part-side ring magnet (4) .
8. Operating element (1) according to the preceding claim, the means for the contactless detection comprising an optical and/or magnetic sensor.
9. Use of the operating element (1) according to one of the preceding claims in a motor vehicle.

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