Patent ID: 8413533

Claim:
An operating device for selecting shifting steps for a shift-by-wire gear-changing transmission, the operating device comprising a base housing and an operating element ( 1 ), which is rotatably or pivotally supported in a bearing position ( 3 , 4 ), a position sensor device ( 9 ) and a force-feedback device, wherein the force-feedback device comprises an adjustable counterforce element ( 2 ) acting on the operating element ( 1 ), the counterforce element ( 2 ) comprising a fluid having controllably variable viscosity, and wherein the counterforce element ( 2 ) is formed by a bearing gap ( 5 ) of the bearing position ( 3 , 4 ) of the operating lever ( 1 ), said bearing gap being filled with the fluid, wherein the bearing position is formed by a ball joint with a ball ( 3 ) and a ball socket ( 4 ) with the fluid being received exclusively within the bearing gap ( 5 ) forming a single cavity defined between an outer surface of the ball ( 3 ) and an inner surface of the ball socket ( 4 ).