Operator control and detector device having differentiated signal generation

Abstract

A command and signaling device responsive to movement of an actuating tappet includes a spring element to which the tappet is operatively connected to compress the spring element in response to movement of the tappet. A plurality of contact pads are defined on the surface of a printed circuit board. The spring element has a conical portion that is mounted on the printed circuit board proximate the contact pads, and a cylindrical part to which the tappet is connected. As the tappet movably advances, it drives the spring element into increasingly compressed positions that are sensed by contact of the spring element conical portion with multiple ones of the contact pads so that the spring element provides monitoring contact in a first compression position, a command and messaging signal in a second compression position and return urgency for return movement of the tappet.

Claims

1. A command and signaling device, comprising: a printed circuit board; a spring element mounted on the printed circuit board; an actuating tappet arranged for movement and operatively connected to the spring element to compress the spring element with movement of the actuating tappet; and a plurality of contact pads arranged between the printed circuit board and the spring element for converting different compressed positions of the spring element into different signals; wherein the spring element includes three functions comprising a first function in which the spring element is compressible into a first compression position such that contact with the plural contact pads is monitored and a second function in which the spring is compressible into a second compression position such that a command and message signal is generated; wherein the first compression position of the spring element is reached when the spring element is in contact with a respective outer and middle area of a pad of the plurality of contact pads; and wherein the second compression position is achieved when the spring element is in contact with an inner area of the pad of the plurality of contact pads.

2. The command and signaling device of claim 1, wherein the spring element comprises a conical part and a cylindrical part.

3. The command and signaling device of claim 1, wherein the plural contact pads comprise concentric rings.

4. The command and signaling device of claim 1, wherein the spring element defines a return urgency for positionally returning the actuating tappet after movement of the actuating tappet.

5. The command and signaling device of claim 1, wherein the third function of the three functions comprises a return element.

6. The command and signaling device of claim 1, wherein the third function of the substantially linear movement comprises a return element.

7. A command and signaling device, comprising: a printed circuit board; a plurality of contact pads carried on the printed circuit board; an actuating tappet arranged for displacement in advancing and return orientations through a range of substantially linear movement; and a spring element comprising a cylindrical part connected to the actuating tappet and a conical part arranged proximate the plural contact pads, the conical part being compressible, in response to advancing movement of the actuating tappet through the range of substantially linear movement, into contact with at least one of the plural contact pads for generating signals denoting different compression positions of the spring element; wherein said range of substantially linear movement includes three functions in which a first function comprises a first compression position at which contact with the plural contact pads is monitored and a second compression position at which a command and message signal denoting the different compression positions of the spring element is generated; wherein the first compression position of the spring element is reached when the spring element is in contact with a respective outer and middle area of a pad of the plural contact pads; and wherein the second compression position is achieved when the spring element is in contact with an inner area of the pad of the plural contact pads.

8. The command and signaling device of claim 7, wherein the plural contact pads comprise concentric rings of an electrically conductive material, and wherein the spring element is formed of an electrically conductive material so that compression of the conical part of the spring element into contact with multiple ones of the plural contact pads effects electrical contact between and completes an electric signal circuit between said multiple ones of the plural contact pads.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a command and signaling device constructed in accordance with the invention and including an actuating tappet, a spring element and a printed circuit board;

(3) FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective sectional view of the command and signaling device of FIG. 1 with the contact pads positioned between the spring element and the printed circuit board;

(4) FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view depicting the positioning of a spring element of the invention on the contact pads of a printed circuit board;

(5) FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a spring element of the invention in its unstressed starting position;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the spring element of FIG. 4 in the unstressed starting position;

(7) FIG. 6 is an elevated perspective view of a spring element according to the invention in the first compression position;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of the spring element of FIG. 6 in the first compression position;

(9) FIG. 8 is an elevated perspective view of a spring element according to the invention in the second compression position;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of the spring element of FIG. 8 in the second compression position;

(11) FIG. 10 is an elevated perspective view of a spring element according to the invention in a further compression position after the second compression position; and

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of the spring element of FIG. 10 in the further compression position after the second compression position depicted in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(13) FIG. 1 depicts a command and signaling device in accordance with the invention and having a housing 1 in which an actuating tappet 2 is mounted. The actuating tappet 2 is operatively connected to a spring element 3 which preferably has a conical part 4 and a cylindrical part 5. The cylindrical part 5 is mounted in a recess of the actuating tappet 2. The conical part 4 of the spring element 3 is mounted on a printed circuit board 6.

(14) FIG. 2 correspondingly shows the command and signaling device of FIG. 1, wherein contact pads 7 that are preferably in the form of concentric rings are arranged between the printed circuit board 6 and the conical part 4 of spring element 3. As should be apparent in FIG. 2, the command and signaling device has a plurality of contact pads 7, the spacing between the contact pads being matched to the individual spring rings of the conical part 4 of spring element 3.

(15) FIG. 3 depicts the spring element 3 of the invention including the conical part 4 and the cylindrical part 5, the spring element being arranged on corresponding contact pads 7 of a printed circuit board 6.

(16) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the spring element 3 in its unstressed, starting or initial position, and FIG. 5 depicts a corresponding side view of spring element 3. In this unstressed starting position, the spring element is located above the contact pads 7 on the printed circuit board 6 and makes contact only with the outer pad geometry or does not make contact with any of the pads 7.

(17) FIGS. 6 and 7 depict, in respective elevated perspective and side views, the spring element 3 in a first compression position. When spring element 3 is compressed from its starting position by means of actuating tappet 2, the outer turn of the spring element initially makes contact with the outer pad geometry. If the spring element is then further compressed, the spring turns likewise make contact with the central pad. An electrical current can then flow between the two contact pads via the spring element.

(18) FIGS. 8 and 9 show, in respective elevated perspective and side views, spring element 3 in the second compression position. As spring element 3 is compressed further from its first compression position, the spring element also makes contact with the inner pad geometry. An electrical current can then flow between the central pad and the inner pad and also between the inner pad and the outer pad, all via the spring element. A command or message signal can be generated in response to such contact being made with the inner pad.

(19) FIGS. 10 and 11 depict, in respective elevated perspective and side views, spring element 3 in a further compressed position after the second compression positioni.e. with continued compression of the spring element after the spring element has already attained its second compression position. The conical part 4 of spring element 3 is now completely compressed. The actuating tappet 2 can now be pushed or advanced further, whereby the cylindrical part 5 of spring element 3 is further compressed, without changing the switching signal.

(20) The contact spring in accordance with the invention combines the functions of a monitoring contact, a signal generating contact and a return element in a single component. Moreover, the spring element can be pushed or advanced further after the monitoring signal and the contact signal are generated. The signal system of the spring element can accordingly be individually matched to the actuating paths. In addition, the switching points can be freely defined owing to the geometry of the spring element and the arrangement of the contact pads on the printed circuit board. By virtue of the integration of a plurality of functional elements in a single component, this solution provides the potential for considerable cost savings.