Abstract:
An electrical switch device including a housing having an actuator cap movably mounted thereon and a plurality of contact switches disposed therein. The cap is operable to engage the contact switches within the housing to activate the switches in a selected sequence.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a switching device for producing at least one switching signal that can be evaluated electrically, comprising a housing with an externally accessible actuator cap mounted on it in a swiveling arrangement and one or more transmission elements mounted in the housing that have their first end face facing the inside of the actuator cap and their second end face facing a contact switch installed in the housing, and interacting with this when the actuator cap is activated. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A two-stage switch is disclosed in EP 1463077 B1, the actuator cap of which that is mounted in a swiveling arrangement on the housing acts on a first subsection of the transmission element that is configured as an actuator foot, by means of which the contact switch is activated when the actuator cap is pressed down. The movement angle of the actuator cap is limited in this case, so that the movement travel of the actuator foot largely corresponds to the swiveling angle of the actuator cap. 
     Therefore, as soon as the actuator cap makes contact with a stop, the actuator foot is no longer moved. Now, in order to activate a second contact switch arranged opposite the first contact switch, the actuator cap is held pressed against the stop and moved about the fulcrum formed in this way opposite to the direction of the first movement travel, so that the actuator cap moves a second actuator foot of the transmission element in the direction of a contact switch arranged below that. In the area of the second contact switch, there is also a stop formed on the actuator cap, by means of which the movement travel of the second actuator foot is restricted. 
     The two contact switches are accordingly activated by tilting the actuator cap in two opposite directions. The switching signals produced by the contact switches can be electrically evaluated, for example in order to activate a servomotor used for moving a window pane installed in a vehicle. 
     It has proven to be a disadvantage with this state of the art that only two switching signals can be produced, which exclusively specify two different operating positions, namely moving the window pane until the first contact switch is deactivated, or moving the window pane as far as the end position if both contact switches are closed. Although a corresponding electronic control unit with an associated electrical evaluation unit allows these operating positions to be adapted to any requirement profiles, having additional operating positions makes it necessary to provide additional two-stages switches of this kind, therefore in order to achieve raising of the window in a car as well it would be necessary to install another switch. 
     Once the second switching position has been reached in the two-stage switch according to EP 1 463 077 B1, the actuator switch can no longer be swiveled or moved in the direction of the original actuation direction, because the actuator cap is positioned against the stop. The confirmation pressure communicated to the user is therefore significantly characterized by reaching the stop; the state of the art does not provide a defined movement possibility beyond the moment of switching. Rather, the stop is reached directly and the movement travel of the actuator cap is stopped. 
     A further disadvantage lies in the fact that the actuator cap for actuating the two contact switches initially has to be moved in a first swiveling direction and, once the stop limiting this movement has been reached, it has to be moved in a second, opposite, swiveling direction in order to actuate both contact switches simultaneously. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a task of the present invention to provide a switching device of the aforementioned kind such that a plurality of different switching signals is provided and, at the same time, it is guaranteed that actuation of the switching device is possible in a movement sequence that is as even as possible and goes beyond the last switching point. 
     Furthermore, the switching device should make it possible to achieve overlapping movements, namely about an axis of rotation, and a linear movement in order to generate a plurality of switching procedures on an electrically operated device, vehicle or the like by actuating the switching device. 
     The control contour worked into the inside of the actuator cap in both the longitudinal and transverse directions is divided up into differently configured subsections, thereby allowing the transmission elements to be arranged inside the housing laterally and/or in height with almost complete freedom in relation to one another. This means the switching device can be optimally adapted to the given installation situations and, at the same time, the function of the switching device is not impaired. Rather, the actuator cap can produce at least two different switching signals in one swiveling direction by actuating two switching contacts and can produce two further different switching signals in a swiveling direction opposite to the first swiveling direction which are produced by actuating at least one other switching contact. This means, for example, a window in a car can be opened and closed by pressing the actuator cap forwards in relation to the installation position in order to open the window and backwards in order to close it. Different switching signals of this kind can then be evaluated by an electronic control unit by means of which the servomotor is controlled in a corresponding way. 
     Furthermore, the actuator cap is mounted on the housing so as to be movable in a linear direction, with the effect that one or more further groups of actuation elements can be supplied to it. The particular group of actuation elements in this case is equipped with specified electrical signals that are allocated to activating certain electrical components in an electrical device, a car or the like. 
     Due to the geometrical shape of the control contour, the actuator cap is mounted on the transmission element in such a way that it is held in a fixed location by the transmission elements and by the fixing onto the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings shows five sample embodiments configured in accordance with the present invention, the details of which are explained below. 
         FIG. 1  shows a switching device consisting of a housing with an actuator cap mounted on it that can be swiveled about an axis of rotation in two directions, 
         FIG. 2  shows an initial sample embodiment of a switching device in accordance with  FIG. 1 , in the starting position, along section II-II. 
         FIG. 3  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 2 , in a first operating position, 
         FIG. 4  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 2 , in a second operating position, 
         FIG. 5  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 2 , in a further operating position, 
         FIG. 6  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 2 , in a plan view, 
         FIG. 7  shows a second sample embodiment of a switching device in accordance with  FIG. 1 , in a plan view, 
         FIG. 8   a  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 7 , along section VIIIa-VIII, 
         FIG. 8   b  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 7 , along section VIIIb-VIIId, 
         FIG. 9  shows a force/travel diagram indicating the movement sequences of the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 10  shows an electrical circuit for evaluating the switching signals generated by the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 11  shows a diagram in which the voltages produced at the individual contact switches of the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 1  are indicated, 
         FIG. 12  shows a third sample embodiment of a switching device with an actuator cap configured as a ball, that can be tilted in two planes running at right angles to one another, in a plan view, 
         FIG. 13  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 12 , along section XIII-XIII, 
         FIG. 14  shows a fourth sample embodiment of a switching device in which the actuator cap is held on a housing and can be moved in one linear direction, in a cross section, 
         FIG. 15  shows a fifth sample embodiment of a switching device in which the actuator cap can be moved both about an axis of rotation and in a linear movement and which has two or more groups of transmission elements each of which has a predefined electrical control function for an electrical device, in a cross section and 
         FIG. 16  shows the switching device in accordance with  FIG. 15  in a perspective cutaway view. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the switching device  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , it should be possible to convert a mechanical movement into one or more electrical switching signals  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″, ( FIG. 11 ) with the effect that, with the help of the circuit  19  shown in  FIG. 10 , a drive motor  21  can be operated by a control unit  20 . The switching device  1  in this case can be installed in particular in a vehicle and, by means of this, it should be possible to lower or raise the windows integrated in the vehicle. Further technical applications for the switching device  1  in accordance with the present invention are for shifting seat positions and adjusting the exterior mirror and/or rear-view mirror. This list is merely given by way of example, since it goes without saying that the switching device  1  can also be used outside motor vehicles; this is shown in  FIGS. 12 to 15 . 
     The switching device  1  in accordance with  FIGS. 1 to 6  consists of a housing  3  with an actuator cap  4  mounted on it by means of two pins  5  running flush with one another in a swiveling arrangement about an axis of rotation  6  formed by the pins  5 . The actuator cap  4  can therefore be moved about the axis of rotation  6  in two opposite directions relative to the housing  3  that is firmly installed. Each stop  7 ′ provided on the housing  3  when the actuator cap  4  has reached one of its two limit positions. 
       FIGS. 2 to 6  show the design structure of the switching device  1 , comprising three transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′ and  8 ″. The transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′ and  8 ″ are mounted in the housing  3  so as to be axially movable and are each configured as a tappet  11 . The tappet  11  has a first end face  14  and a second end face  15 . The first end face  14  faces the inner surface of the actuator cap  4  and each second end face faces a contact switch  10 . The actuator cap  4  is in zero-play contact with at least two of the first end faces  14  of the tappet  11 , which is independent from the particular operating position of the actuator cap  4 . The status of the actuator cap  4  shown in  FIG. 2  reflects the rest position. 
     The inner surface of the actuator cap  4  facing the particular tappet  11  has a control contour  12  worked into it, which consists of three subsections  13 ,  13 ′ and  13 ″. Each subsection  13 ,  13 ′ and  13 ″ is assigned to a particular transmission element  8 ,  8 ′ or  8 ″. The two outer subsections  13  and  13 ′ are in a mirror-image arrangement with one another and run at an angle out of the horizontal plane. The middle subsection  13 ″ has a semicircular indentation in which the first end face  14  of the middle transmission elements  8 ″ are embedded in the non-actuated condition. 
     Three springs  9  are supported on the housing  3 , each of which interact with one of the tappets  11 , with the effect that the particular tappet  11  is pressed against the force of spring  9  on the particular subsection  13 ,  13 ′ or  13 ″ of the control contour  12  of the actuator cap  4 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a first operating position of the switching device  1 , because the actuator cap  4  is swiveled in the direction of the transmission element  8  about the axis of rotation  6 . This means the first subsection  13  of the control contour  12  acts on the first end face  14  of the transmission element  8 , by means of which the tappet  11  is pressed axially in the direction of the contact switch  10  arranged below it, against the force of the spring  9 . This means the tappet  11  activates the contact switch  10  that is configured as a diaphragm switch and a switching signal  2  is produced that can be evaluated electrically. 
     The subsection  13 ′ that is assigned to the transmission element  8 ′ is raised off the first end face  14  of the tappet  11  in this operating position, with the effect that the transmission element  8 ′ remains in its rest position. The subsection  13 ″ that is assigned to the middle transmission element  8 ″ is initially formed so that the tappet  11  of the middle transmission element  8 ″ is not actuated, with the effect that the contact switch  10  arranged below it does not produce any electrical signal. 
       FIG. 4  shows the second operating position of the switching device  1 , which now corresponds to the limit position for the swivel angle of the actuator cap  4 . The stop  7  that is formed on the actuator cap  4  makes contact with the housing wall that is provided as a limiting surface  7 ′, with the effect that the actuator cap  4  is in its limit position. It is also feasible for a stop  7  to be formed to the side adjacent to the subsection  13  or  13 ′ which acts on the housing  3  on the inside, and therefore limits the swiveling angle of the actuator cap  4 . 
     However, the stop  7  only acts on the limiting surface  7 ′ after the second generated switching procedure, and this produces a comfortable switching feel because the actuator cap  4  can be moved beyond the second switching point. 
     The middle subsection  13 ″ of the control contour  12  is configured in such a way that it pushes the middle tappet  11  axially in the direction of the contact switch  10  against the force of the spring  9 , with the effect that the middle contact switch  10  also produces a switching signal  2 ″ that can be evaluated electrically. The control contour  12  in this operating position is fully raised off the first end face  14  of the outer transmission element  8 ′, with the effect that no forces act on this. 
       FIG. 5  shows the further operating position when the actuator cap  4  has been moved about the point of rotation  6  opposite to the swiveling angle shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The transmission element  8 ′ and  8 ″ is actuated in this operating position. The intermediate position, in which only the transmission element  8 ′ is pressed in the direction of the contact switch  10 , is not shown because this operating position largely corresponds to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  shows that the two outer transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ lie on a common axis of symmetry  16  of the housing  3  and that the middle transmission element  8 ″ is arranged offset to the side in relation to this plane. The particular subsections  13 ,  13 ′ or  13 ″ in the inside of the actuator cap  4  are assigned to the positions of the transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′ and  8 ″. 
       FIG. 7  shows a sample embodiment comprising four transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″, and  8 ′″. The two middle transmission elements  8 ″ and  8 ′″ are arranged flush with one another on a common axis of symmetry  17 , with the effect that these form one plane. The planes formed by the transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ and by the transmission elements  8 ″ and  8 ′″ are accordingly at right angles to one another. The four transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″ and  8 ′″ are arranged symmetrically to one another. 
     The configuration of the control contour  12  can be seen in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b . The subsections  13 ,  13 ′,  13 ″ and  13 ′″ face the particular transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″,  8 ′″. However, the control contour  12  has the special feature that the subsections  13 ″ and  13 ′″ run in a mirror image to one another and the particular transmission element  8 ″ or  8 ′″ is only moved axially in the direction of the contact switch  10  arranged below it in the particular swiveling position. The subsections  13  and  13 ′ are also aligned in a mirror-image arrangement in relation to one another, and only activate the tappet  11  of the particular transmission element  8  or  8 ′ arranged below it when the actuator cap  4  is moved in a particular swiveling direction. 
       FIG. 1  shows that the actuator cap  4  can be swiveled forwards or backwards about the point of rotation  6 . Therefore, if the actuator cap  4  is pressed backwards, the transmission element  8  is initially actuated and, as the movement continues, subsequently the middle transmission element  8 ″ is actuated; if, on the other hand, that actuator cap  4  is moved in the opposite direction, i.e. forwards, then initially the outer transmission element  8 ′ and subsequently the middle transmission element  8 ′″ is moved in the direction of the contact switch  10 . It is also feasible for installation situations involving corresponding differences in height for design reasons, e.g. a spatial offset of the transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″ and  8 ′″ in relation to one another, to be compensated. Furthermore, any required switching travels can be achieved by changing the control contour  12  accordingly. 
       FIG. 9  shows a force/travel diagram which illustrates in a schematic way the switching process of the switching device  1  when the actuator cap  4  is actuated. The reference number  18  here indicates the switching points when the first transmission element  8  and subsequently the second transmission element  8 ″ activate the contact switch  10 . The contact switch  10  configured as a diaphragm namely snaps through in the form of a snap disc, with the effect that a defined specified force resistance must be overcome when switching, and is reduced by the switching. 
     Accordingly, the actuator cap  4  can still be moved in the direction of the housing surface configured as a stop surface  7 ′ even after the second switching procedure. This means a switching procedure takes place which guarantees that the actuator cap  4  can even be moved beyond the second switching point  18 . This delivers a pleasant switch feeling for the user. 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show a circuit  19  as well as a diagram for evaluating the produced switching signals  2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2   IV . The contact switches  10  shown schematically with KS 1 , KS 2  and KS 3  are initially open, with the effect that the resistor  21 ′ connected in parallel to the switches results in a voltage value 2 0  is interpreted by the control unit to mean that the switching device  1  is non-actuated. This means the drive motor  21  electrically connected to the control unit  20  is not activated. 
     If the actuator cap  4  and therefore the first transmission element  8  is now pressed in the direction of the contact switch  10  (KS 1 ) arranged below it, a resistor  21 ′ connected in series results in a voltage drop, with the effect that a switching signal  2  is produced that is detected by the control unit  20 . This means for the control unit  20 , for example, that the drive motor  21  must be activated until the contact switch KS 1  is once again opened. 
     As has already been explained, both contact switches KS 1  and KS 2  are pressed in the second operating position, with the effect that both resistors  21 ′ and  21 ″ connected in parallel to one another produce a switching signal  2 ′ that in turn has a voltage value that is different from other switching positions. The control unit  20  interprets this in such a way that the drive motor  21  must be actuated irrespective of the operating position of the actuator cap  4  until a window pane has reached its limit position. 
     Actuation of the transmission element  8 ′ and  8 ″ in turn produces different voltage values that the control unit  20  converts into electrical switching signals for the drive motor  20  in accordance with an evaluation ECU. 
     If the switching device  4  is made up of four transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″,  8 ′″ then additional switching signal  2  to  2 ′ are produced, which can be used for controlling completely different kinds of electrical devices. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show a switching device  1 ′ comprising a housing  3 ′ with an outer contour has an outer curvature in the area of overlap with an actuator cap  4 ′. The inner contour of the actuator cap  4 ′ in this case is adapted to the outer contour of the housing  3 ′ in such as way that the actuator cap  4 ′ is held and guided by the outer contour of the housing  3 ′ and, at the same time, can be moved in two schematically represented tilting planes  23  that are at right angles to one another. The deflection of the actuator cap  4 ′ can take place without steps in this case. 
     Five transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″,  8 ′″,  8   IV  are arranged inside the housing  3 ′, which are offset laterally in relation to one another. The inside of the actuator cap  4 ′ has the control contour  12  adapted to the arrangement of transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″,  8 ′″,  8   IV , which is divided up into different subsections  13 ,  13 ′,  13 ″,  13 ′″,  13   IV . Each of the subsections  13  to  13   IV  is assigned to one of the transmission elements  8  to  8   IV , with the effect that when the actuator cap  4 ′ is swiveled or tilted, the particular subsection  13  to  13   IV  can be brought to interact with the particular transmission element  8  to  4 ′. 
     The curvature of the housing  3 ′ and the configuration of the inner contour of the actuator cap  4 ′ that is adapted to it are principally configured with a cupola shape in the overlapping area. The free end of the actuator cap  4 ′ therefore forms a stop  7  which makes contact with an end face  7 ′ of a schematically drawn device or a housing, and therefore limits the tilting movement of the actuator cap  4 ′. 
       FIG. 14  shows a switching device  1 ″ made up of an actuator cap  4 ″ that can be moved in a linear direction. The actuator cap  4 ″ can therefore be moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing  3 . The inside of the actuator cap  4 ″ has one of the subsections  13  and  13 ′ of the control contour  12  assigned to it for each of the transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ accommodated in the housing  3 . A stop  7 ′ is formed on the housing  3 , by means of which the movement direction of the actuator cap  4 ″ is limited. In the opposite direction to the stop  7 ′ formed on the housing  3 , the actuator cap  4 ″, i.e. the slide switch, can be made to perform a movement of any required length. This means a plurality of transmission elements  8  or  8 ′ can be provided in the housing  3 , by means of which the particular subsections  13 ,  13 ′ of the control contour  12  can be activated. 
     The actuator cap  4 ′ has two guide grooves running flush with one another in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cap, with projections formed on the inside of the housing  3  engaging in the grooves and therefore supporting the actuator cap  4 ′ without thereby limiting the linear movement possibility of the actuator cap  4 ″. 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show a switching device  1 ′″ by means of which electrical switching signals can be generated both by tilting the actuator cap  4 ″ and by moving it in a linear direction. In this case, the actuator cap  4 ″ and the transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″ and  8 ′″ arranged below it are arranged as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . The actuator cap  4 ″ is mounted in a housing  3 ′″ so as to allow linear movement. Two guide grooves running parallel and flush with one another are therefore worked into the inside of the housing  3 ′″, and the actuator cap  4 ″ is pushed into them. The housing  3 ″ in this case is principally divided into two legs at right angles to one another. As shown in  FIG. 14 , two of the transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ are arranged in the two legs of the housing  3 ′″. Therefore, if the actuator cap  4 ″ is arranged in a rest position in accordance with the initial situation shown in  FIG. 16 , the transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ in the legs of the housing  3 ″ to be activated by movement of the actuator cap  4 ″ are not activated and corresponding signals are produced by the actuator cap  4 ″ and by each of the transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″ and  8 ′″ arranged below the cap. 
     If the actuator cap  4 ″ is now moved to the first group of transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ in the first leg of the housing  3 ′, the control contour assigned to the transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ produces a corresponding switching signal by means of which a control ECU directly recognizes that another electrical device or parts thereof should be controlled with the actuator cap  4 ″. Furthermore, the actuator cap  4 ″ in the second leg of the housing  3 ′″ can be moved in order to activate a second group of transmission elements  8  and  8 ′. Each group of transmission elements  8  and  8 ′ in this case is assigned to a particular electronic component for controlling it. 
     The number of transmission elements  8 ,  8 ′ is adapted to the control function of the electrical device in this case.