Patent Publication Number: US-6903291-B2

Title: Multi-way electric switch having operator control supported by two orthogonal parallel linkages coupled via intermediate part

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation of International Application PCT/EP03/04394, published in German, with an international filing date of Apr. 28, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and which claims priority to DE 102 19 477.7 filed Apr. 30, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a multi-way electric switch having an operator control that is movably mounted by an articulated suspension. The articulated suspension includes two four-jointed link elements arranged at right angles to one another. An intermediate part connects the two link elements. One link element is coupled in a stationary manner with its two joints that are free with respect to the intermediate part. The other link element supports the operator control or a holder for the operator control with its two joints that are free with respect to the intermediate part. 
   2. Background Art 
   Multi-way electric switches include an operator control that is mounted so that it can move in several directions on a surface. Such switches are often used as data entry devices in order to input data into a data processing device. The operator control can be used to navigate a menu making it possible to go to different menu items depending on the direction of motion of the operator control. Such switches are also used as joysticks. A part such as a switch lever is kinematically coupled to the motion of the operator control. The switch lever closes a switching contact in predetermined switch positions in order to execute the action assigned to this position of the operator control which might depend on the currently selected menu. 
   DE 196 36 183 C2 discloses a four-way rocker actuated switch having an operator control. An articulated suspension mounts the operator control such that it can move through an articulated suspension about two perpendicular axes. The suspension includes two four-jointed link elements that are spatially arranged on top of one another. The first and second link elements each include respective first and second pairs of rockers. The first pair of rockers are coupled to a stationary carrier and whose free ends are articulately coupled on an intermediate part. Thus, the elements involved in the structure of the first link element are the stationary carrier, the first pair of rockers, and the intermediate part. The articulated coupling between the first pair of rockers and the intermediate part is done through joint axes that are arranged parallel to the stationary carrier. The second link element uses the intermediate part as a base. The second pair of rockers support a holder for the operator control and whose free ends are articulately coupled on the intermediate part through joint axes. 
   The first link element allows the intermediate part to move back and forth in a first direction of motion. The perpendicular arrangement of the second link element to the first link element and its support on the intermediate part allows the operator control to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of motion of the intermediate part when the second link element is exclusively operated. Simultaneous operation of the two link elements makes it possible to move the operator control through the operator control holder in almost any way that is desired within a switching field. 
   The switch described in DE 196 36 183 C2 is intended to make the operator control move on a curved surface so that when a user operates the operator control, the user gets the impression of making a swiveling motion. For this reason, the distance of the joint axes to the base of the two link elements—the coupling to the stationary carrier or to the intermediate part—is greater or smaller, depending on the desired form of the swiveling motion, than the distance of the joint axes to the articulated connection of the rockers with the respective other element—the intermediate part or the operator control holder. However, DE 196 36 183 C2 does not disclose how an operator control is suspended in order to give the user the impression that the operator control is moving on a plane. 
   Although the switch described in DE 196 36 183 C2 does allow articulated suspension of the operator control so that it can be moved in any way desired within a field of operation, the described switch requires a relatively considerable mounting depth. It should be taken into consideration that the length of the rockers coupled to the stationary carrier and to the operator control holder defines the amount of motion that is possible and thus the size of the operating field. This has the consequence that when designing a switch whose operator control is intended to cover a certain amount of motion, it is necessary to use correspondingly long rockers. However, the mounting space in numerous applications is not deep enough to realize such a switch. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, starting from the discussed background art, the present invention is based on further developing a multi-way electric switch in such a way that the mounting depth that is required is reduced without penalties on the mobility of the operator control. 
   The present invention solves this objective by providing a multi-way electric switch having an operator control which is supported by an articulated suspension. The articulated suspension includes a pair of parallel (i.e., first and second) four-jointed linkages arranged orthogonally to one another. The first and second linkages each include a pair of rockers, and are articulately coupled at one side to an intermediate part. That is, first ends (i.e., first joints) of the rockers of the first and second linkages are articulately coupled to the intermediate part. The first linkage is fixed (i.e., stationarily coupled) at its opposite side. That is, the second opposite ends (i.e., the second opposite joints) of the rockers of the first linkage are fixed. The second linkage supports the operator control or a holder for the operator control at its opposite side. That is, the second opposite ends (i.e., the second opposite joints) of the rockers of the second linkage support the operator control or the holder. The linkage axes planes in which the first and second linkages are articulately coupled to the intermediate part lie in different planes. 
   The distance between a base joint axis plane in which the two rockers of the first linkage are stationarily coupled and a joint axis plane in which the two rockers of the first linkage are articulately coupled to the intermediate part is equal to (or, alternatively, greater than) the distance between a base joint axis plane in which the two rockers of the second linkage are articularly coupled to the intermediate part and a joint axis plane in which the two rockers of the second linkage support an operator control or a holder for the operator control. 
   As such, the axes of the articulated connection between the rockers of the first linkage and the intermediate part is located in a first plane (i.e., an upper plane), and the axes of the articulated connection between the rockers of the second linkage and the intermediate part is located in a second different plane (i.e., a lower plane). Thus, the two linkages are nested in one another. 
   In DE 196 36 183 C2, the height of the structure is the sum of the heights of the two link elements. In accordance with the present invention, the height of the structure depends on the first linkage. As such, the structure height in accordance with the present invention is reduced as compared to the structure height in DE 196 36 183 C2. As the structure height in accordance with the present invention depends on the first linkage, it is possible to achieve a 50% reduction in the necessary mounting depth relative to the configuration disclosed in DE 196 36 183 C2. 
   For the case in which a movement of the operator control is provided without it making a swiveling motion with respect to its longitudinal axis, the elements involved in the structure of the first and second linkages are arranged in a type of parallelogram. 
   The reduction in mounting depth enables such a multi-way electric switch to be used as a rotating actuator in a motor vehicle. Such a rotating actuator has a rotating operator control which can rotate and also move in the plane defined by the suspension. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is described below using a sample embodiment which refers to the attached figures. The figures are as follows: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of a rotating actuator for manual data input in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the rotating actuator viewed from below with reference to  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the articulated suspension of the rotating actuator; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the rotating actuator in an assembly along the line A-B of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the rotating actuator in an assembly along the line C-D of FIG.  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
   Referring now to the figures, a rotating actuator  1  in accordance with the present invention will now be described. Rotating actuator  1  generally serves as an operator control. To this end, rotating actuator  1  includes a handle  2  which is mounted to rotate on a drive shaft  3  of an electric motor  4 . The connection between handle  2  and drive shaft  3  is torsionally rigid. Motor  4  provides tactile feedback when handle  2  is rotated. A cage  5  holds motor  4 . 
   Cage  5  also supports a rotational motion detection device  6 . Rotational motion detection device  6  includes an encoder disk  7  and a light barrier arrangement  8 . Thus, rotational motion detection device  6  is optoelectronic. Encoder disk  7  is arranged in a torsionally rigid manner on a driven shaft  9  and acts as an angle sensor. A pinion gear  10  is also connected in a torsionally rigid manner with driven shaft  9 . Pinion gear  10  serves as a driven gear and engages into internal teeth arranged on the inside of handle  2 . Thus, rotational motion of handle  2  is transferred through pinion gear  10 , which is engaged in the internal teeth, and driven shaft  9 , to encoder disk  7 . Light barrier arrangement  8  is held in a stationary manner on cage  5  so that it is opposite encoder disk  7 . As such, cage  5  supports handle  2 , motor  4 , pinion gear  10 , driven shaft  9 , and rotational motion detection device  6 . 
   An articulated suspension  11  mounts cage  5  such that the cage is movable on a surface. Suspension  11  includes parallel first and second four-jointed linkages V 1 , V 2 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , suspension further  11  includes an intermediate part  15 . First and second linkages V 1 , V 2  are arranged orthogonally to one another (i.e. at about 90° given manufacturing tolerances) and are coupled together by intermediate part  15  in the assembled rotating actuator  1  as shown in FIG.  3 . In general, first and second linkages V 1 , V 2  are articulately coupled at one side to intermediate part  15  with the first linkage V 1  being articulately coupled to the intermediate part in one (upper) plane and with the second linkage V 2  being articulately coupled to the intermediate part in a different (lower) plane. As such, the linkage axes planes in which first and second linkages V 1 , V 2  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  15  lie in different (upper and lower) planes. 
   First linkage V 1  includes a first pair of rockers  13 ,  14 . First ends (i.e., first joints) of rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  15 . Second linkage V 2  includes a second pair of rockers  16 ,  17 . First ends (i.e., first joints) of rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  15 . Rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  15  at right angles with respect to the articulate coupling between rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  and the intermediate part. 
   First linkage V 1  is stationarily coupled (i.e., fixed) to the inside of an upper housing shell  12 . That is, the second opposite ends (i.e., second opposite joints) of rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  which are free with respect to the articulated connection to intermediate part  15  are fixed to the inside of upper housing shell  12 . Intermediate part  15  serves as a base for second linkage V 2 . Second linkage V 2  supports cage  5  (i.e., supports an operator control or a holder for the operator control). That is, the second opposite ends (i.e., second opposite joints) of rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  which are free with respect to the articulated connection to intermediate part  15  support cage  5 . The support provided to cage  5  by the second opposite ends of rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  may be done in an articulated manner. In order to support cage  5 , floating axles  18  of rocker  16  engage into two extensions  19  of cage  5 ; and floating axles of rocker  17  engage into extensions of the cage in a corresponding manner. 
   A printed circuit board P is located beneath cage  5  and articulated suspension  11 . Printed circuit board P is inserted into a lower housing shell  20  and has electrical/electronic components necessary to operate rotating actuator  1 . 
   The illustration in  FIG. 2  shows, arranged on the inside of handle  2 , the internal teeth  21  into which pinion gear  10  engages. Rocker  14  is mounted, with floating axles  22  in corresponding mounting extensions  23  on the inside of housing shell  12 , to stationarily couple the second opposite end of rocker  14  to housing shell  12 . The second opposite end of rocker  13  is stationarily coupled to housing shell  12  a corresponding manner. 
   Articulated suspension  11  is shown in  FIG. 3  without its connection to housing shell  12  and cage  5 . For clarity, it should be pointed out once again that the two rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are coupled in a stationary manner to upper housing shell  12  with their second opposite ends which are free with respect to the articulated connection to intermediate part  15  shown in FIG.  3 . By contrast, the two rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  support (articulately coupled) to cage  5  with their second opposite ends which are free with respect to the articulated connection to intermediate part  15  shown in FIG.  3 . 
   Intermediate part  15  is ring-shaped so that cage  5  can engage into an inner opening  24  of the intermediate part. Intermediate part  15  a pair of joint extensions  25  projecting upward out of the plane shown and a pair of joint extensions  26  projecting downward out of the plane shown. Joint extensions  25  of intermediate part  15  are articulately connected to the first ends of rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  in an upper plane as shown in FIG.  3 . Joint extensions  26  of intermediate part  15  are articulately connected to the first ends of rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  in a lower plane as shown in FIG.  3 . 
   As such, the joint axes of rockers  13 ,  14  and  16 ,  17  are arranged in two planes. Lying in the upper plane are (a) the joint axes with which rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  15 ; and (b) the joint axes with which rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  support (i.e., articulated connected to) cage  5 . Lying in the lower plane are (a) the joint axes with which rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are stationarily coupled (i.e., fixed) to the inside of upper housing shell  12 ; and (b) the joint axes with which rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  16 . The lower plane (i.e., the plane in which the joint axes with which first linkage V 1  is stationarily coupled to upper housing shell  12 ) is designated as the base joint axis plane. 
   This nesting of first and second linkages V 1 , V 2  provides an articulated suspension of cage  5  and its mobility within a field of movement, while keeping the height of the structure of articulated suspension  11  as small as possible. The height of articulated suspension  11  is the distance between (a) the point of the articulated coupling between the first ends of rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  and intermediate part  15  and (b) the point of the stationarily coupling between the second opposite ends of rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  and upper housing shell  12 . As such, in this embodiment, the height of articulated suspension  11  is the distance between the upper joint axis plane and the lower (base) joint axis plane. 
   Articulated suspension  11  is designed in such a way that if cage  5  is moved within its field of movement, the orientation of its longitudinal axis does not change. To accomplish this, the distance of the joint axes to the base of the two linkages V 1 , V 2 —housing shell  12  or intermediate part  15 , respectively—is exactly as large as the distance of the other joint axes, which have intermediate part  15  (for first linkage V 1 ) and cage  5  (for second linkage V 2 ) coupled to them. That is, the distance between a base joint axis plane in which rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are stationarily coupled and a joint axis plane in which rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  15  is equal to the distance between a base joint axis plane in which rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  are articularly coupled to the intermediate part and a joint axis plane in which rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  support cage  5 . 
   As such, the axis of the articulated connection between rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  is located in a first plane (i.e., an upper plane), and the axis of the articulated connection between rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  is located in a second different plane (i.e., a lower plane). Thus, the two linkages V 1 , V 2  enclose parallelograms and are nested in one another such that movement of an element—intermediate part  15  or cage  5 —opposite the base—housing shell  12  or intermediate part  15 , respectively—always executes movements parallel to its base. 
   In the sample embodiment shown, the translational motion of rotating actuator  2  in its surface of movement is guided by two curved notches  27  (one such curved notch  27  is shown in FIG.  2 ). A catch bolt  28  engages into each of these curved notches  27 . Catch bolts  28  are associated with rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2 . 
   The sectional illustration in  FIG. 4  shows the engagement of the pinion gear  10  into the internal teeth  21  of handle  2 .  FIG. 4  also shows that cage  5  provides a damping element  29  that also engages into internal teeth  21  of handle  2 . Damping element  29  dampens the rotating motion of handle  2 . Cage  5  also supports a bar magnet  30  which serves as a locator for detecting the position of cage  5  within its field of movement. Bar magnet  30  interacts with a Hall sensor arrangement  31  which can detect the respective position of cage  5  in the possible positions that are specified by curved notches  27 . 
   On the inside, handle  2  is supported by a pressure flange  32  on an abutment plate  33  between which is an elastically deformable element  34 . In the sample embodiment shown, element  34  is the switch thimble of a switch mat. Handle  2  can axially move against the material resilience of elastic element  34  so that this mobility of handle  2  makes it possible to select individual menu items when working with a menu. When handle  2  is axially moved the bottom section of drive shaft  3  of motor  4  correspondingly moves. This section interacts with a light barrier arrangement  35  arranged on printed circuit board P so that it is possible in this manner to detect whether handle  2  is in its normal position or in its axially pressed, and thus engaged position. Light barrier arrangement  35  is shown in the sectional illustration in FIG.  5 .  FIG. 5  also shows the engagement into curved notches  27 , of the two catch bolts  28  which are held on the inside against housing shell  12 . 
   The sample embodiment shown allows the rotating actuator to move without changing the orientation of its longitudinal axis. However, articulated suspension  11  can also be designed in such a way that the joint axes are spaced differently. For example, the spacing of the joint axes can be designed such that the distance between a base joint axis plane in which rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are stationarily coupled and a joint axis plane in which rockers  13 ,  14  of first linkage V 1  are articulately coupled to intermediate part  15  is greater than (instead of equal to) the distance between a base joint axis plane in which rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  are articularly coupled to intermediate part  16  and a joint axis plane in which rockers  16 ,  17  of second linkage V 2  support cage  5 . In this case, when rotating actuator  1  moves it changes the orientation of the longitudinal axis in order to achieve a rocker or tactile feedback similar to a joystick. 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               List of Reference Numbers 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
               1 
               Rotating actuator 
               20 
               Housing Shell 
             
             
               2 
               Handle 
               21 
               Internal Teeth 
             
             
               3 
               Drive shaft 
               22 
               Floating Axle 
             
             
               4 
               Electric motor 
               23 
               Mounting Extension 
             
             
               5 
               Cage 
               24 
               Opening 
             
             
               6 
               Rotational motion detection device 
               25 
               Joint extension 
             
             
               7 
               Encoder disk 
               26 
               Joint extension 
             
             
               8 
               Light barrier arrangement 
               27 
               Curved notch 
             
             
               9 
               Driven shaft 
               28 
               Catch bolt 
             
             
               10 
               Pinion gear 
               29 
               Damping element 
             
             
               11 
               Suspension 
               30 
               Bar magnet 
             
             
               12 
               Housing shell 
               31 
               Hall sensor arrangement 
             
             
               13 
               Rocker 
               32 
               Pressure flange 
             
             
               14 
               Rocker 
               33 
               Abutment plate 
             
             
               15 
               Intermediate part 
               34 
               Elastic return element 
             
             
               16 
               Rocker 
               35 
               Light barrier arrangement 
             
             
               17 
               Rocker 
               P 
               Printed circuit board 
             
             
               18 
               Floating axle 
               V1 
               First four-jointed linkage 
             
             
               19 
               Extension 
               V2 
               Second four-jointed linkage 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.