SENSOR LEVER FOR TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES

Abstract

A sensor lever for technical applications in motor vehicles. In its basic configuration, this sensor lever has a base lever arm and a sensor lever arm for installing at least one sensor and/or a tactile element. According to the invention, the sensor lever arm is aligned in the desired position with respect to base lever arm in the course of production.

Claims

1. A sensor lever for technical applications in motor vehicles, the sensor lever comprising: a base lever arm; and a sensor lever arm for mounting at least one sensor and/or a tactile element, wherein the sensor lever arm is oriented in a predetermined position with respect to the base lever arm during manufacturing of the sensor lever.

2. The sensor lever according to claim 1, wherein the sensor lever arm extends at an angle with respect to the base lever arm.

3. The sensor lever according to claim 2, wherein the sensor lever arm extends at a right angle to the base lever arm.

4. The sensor lever according to claim 1, wherein the sensor lever arm has a receptacle for the sensor and/or the tactile element.

5. The sensor lever according to claim 4, wherein the receptacle is aligned in the predetermined position during manufacturing of the sensor lever.

6. The sensor lever according to claim 4, wherein a center of the receptacle is oriented with respect to an axis of rotation of the base lever arm.

7. The sensor lever according to claim 6, wherein the receptacle is circular, with a center axis running parallel to the axis of rotation of the base lever arm.

8. A method for producing a sensor lever for technical applications in motor vehicles, with a base lever arm and a sensor lever arm for mounting at least one sensor and/or a tactile element, the method comprising: aligning the sensor lever arm in a predetermined position with respect to base lever arm during manufacturing of the sensor lever, wherein the sensor lever arm is oriented in the predetermined position with respect to the base lever arm after the manufacturing of the sensor lever.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising forming the sensor lever of plastic.

10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising aligning the sensor lever arm with respect to the base lever arm during an injection molding process.

11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising actuating injection mold dies whereby a center axis of a receptacle of the sensor lever arm assumes a predetermined position.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising positioning the center axis of the receptacle relative to an axis of rotation of the sensor lever.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising inserting a permanent magnet in the receptacle whereby the permanent magnet is centered relative to the at least one sensor which is stationary.

14. The sensor lever according to claim 1 further comprising a magnet that is the tactile element and is arranged in a receptacle of the sensor lever arm.

15. The sensor lever according to claim 14, wherein the magnet is moved with the sensor lever, and wherein the magnet is centered relative to the at least one sensor which is stationary.

16. The sensor lever according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a Hall sensor.

17. The sensor lever according to claim 1, wherein the sensor lever is formed of a plastic material.

18. The sensor lever according to claim 1, wherein the sensor lever is injection molded.

Description

[0016] The invention is hereinafter explained in greater detail by means of a drawing showing a single exemplary embodiment which describes:

[0017] FIG. 1 The sensor lever according to the invention for technical applications in a motor vehicle in typical mounting conditions and

[0018] FIG. 2 the sensor lever within the region of the sensor lever arm with different suggested positions of the receptacle.

[0019] The figures show a sensor lever for technical applications in motor vehicles. In its basic configuration, the sensor lever has a base lever arm 1 and a sensor lever arm 2. It is evident that the sensor lever arm 2 largely extends at an angle and, according the exemplary embodiment, mostly at a right angle with respect to the base lever arm 1. The sensor lever arm 2 is in addition equipped with a receptacle 3. The receptacle 3 in the exemplary embodiment is nonrestrictively a circular receptacle 3 in the form of a hollow cylinder. The receptacle 3 in question thus defines a center axis 4, which acts as a rotational symmetry axis for the mounting 3. It is evident from the exemplary embodiment that the center axis 4 in question extends parallel to an axis of rotation 5 of the sensor lever.

[0020] The sensor lever can now perform swiveling movements around its axis of rotation 5. According to the exemplary embodiment, a permanent magnet 6 is located inside the receptacle 3, acting as tactile element 6, whose position is sensed by means of a sensor 7, which is immovably positioned at a short distance above the sensor. According to the exemplary embodiment, the sensor 7 is a Hall sensor.

[0021] It is, among other things, possible to determine in this way by means of the sensor lever whether a tank or filling flap is locked or unlocked as described in the generic patent DE 10 2011 116 068 A1. It is also alternatively or additionally possible to determine the positions of a lock cylinder with the assistance of the sensor lever, as the previously cited patent DE 197 02 276 A1 teaches in detail. The sensor lever in question can, in principle, also be used for other positioning movements and their detection, for example for determining the state of closure of a locking mechanism on the inside of a motor vehicle lock. The sensor lever can also, for example, be used to determine the position of a motor vehicle door, a motor vehicle window with an electrical window lifter, etc., to just name a few individual examples, which are under no circumstances to be understood as restrictive or conclusive.

[0022] According to the invention, the possibility now exists for the sensor lever arm 2 and the receptacle 3 for the permanent magnet 6 to be aligned in a desired position in the course of the production of the sensor lever. According to the exemplary embodiment, the sensor lever is a plastic lever. The sensor lever is accordingly produced by means of a plastic injection mold.

[0023] The plastic injection mold has one or more dies 8, which are suggested schematically in the top view according to FIG. 2 and can be displaced in the direction suggested by a double arrow. A control unit, which is not represented, takes care of this. The displaceability of the single or several dies 8 has the consequence that the center axis 4 of the receptacle 3 alters its position with respect to the axis of rotation 5. This position of the center axis 4 with respect the axis of rotation 5 can actually cause a variation such that an axial spacing A of the center axis 4 with respect to the axis of rotation 5 changes, as suggested in FIG. 2. It is also alternatively or additionally possible for the center axis 4 to vary its radial position with respect to the axis of rotation 5, which is shown by means of a suitable swivel angle a in the representation according to FIG. 2. It is basically also naturally possible for the center axis 4 to alter both its radial and its axial position with respect to the axis of rotation 5 in the described production process.

[0024] In this way, the injection mold and/or one or both dies 8 can be actuated by means of the not shown control unit in such a way that the center axis 4 of the receptacle 3 assumes a certain predetermined defined position and/or setpoint position after the production process and possibly after the installation of the sensor lever.

[0025] This position is usually prespecified by the stationary sensor and/or the Hall sensor 7. I.e., according to the exemplary embodiment, one will encounter a configuration such that, in the course of the production process, the center axis 4 is positioned with respect to the axis of rotation 5 in such a way that the permanent magnet 6 located inside the receptacle 3 is centered with respect to the fixed sensor 7 and/or the Hall sensor 7. The thereby defined zero-position and/or setpoint position of the sensor lever can now always be reproducibly set according to this invention, with any manufacturing tolerances. As a consequence of this, every swivel motion of the sensor lever and therefore any movement of the permanent magnet 6 with respect to the stationary sensor and/or Hall sensor 7 corresponds to the fact that a sensor signal accurately reproducing the movement is supplied by the sensor and/or Hall sensor 7. Incorrect signals are no longer observed.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows the target position of the center axis 4 drawn through after the production and the installation of the sensor lever. In order to achieve the drawn through position, the center axis is transposed into the position shown dashed or dotted during production. After the cooling of the sensor lever and its installation, the center axis 4 is in its setpoint position shown drawn with continuous lines.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

[0027] 1 Base lever arm

[0028] 2 Sensor lever arm

[0029] 3 Receptacle

[0030] 4 Center axis

[0031] 5 Axis of rotation

[0032] 6 Permanent magnet, tactile element

[0033] 7 Sensor and/or Hall sensor

[0034] 8 Die

[0035] A Axial separation

[0036] α Swivel angle