Patent ID: 7714459

Claim:
Locking device for a steering shaft comprising: a locking bolt arrangement, a control element which is coupled to the locking bolt arrangement in such a way that the locking bolt arrangement can be displaced in the axial direction thereof between a locking position and a release end position by rotation of the control element, a motor drive for rotation of the control element, an electronic control unit for control of the motor drive and a sensor arrangement which is coupled to the electronic control unit for detection of at least one axial position of the locking bolt arrangement, wherein the electronic control unit switches off the motor drive when the locking bolt arrangement is displaced in the axial direction from the locking position to the release end position and the sensor arrangement supplies an output signal which indicates that a switch-off position of the locking bolt arrangement has been reached, the sensor arrangement being configured in such a way that, at least in one displacement interval of the locking bolt arrangement preceding the release end position and including a desired switch-off position, the output signal (U a ) can assume a plurality of output signal values which are monotonically dependent upon the axial position in such a way that a selection of the desired switch-off position is possible by selection of corresponding output signal value, and the electronic control unit having a selection means which enables the selection of an output signal value of said plurality of output signal values as a threshold value, said selected output signal value corresponds to the desired switch-off position, so that when the threshold value is reached, exceeded or is fallen below a signal is emitted which causes the motor drive to be switched off.