Microswitch for position determination, and use

Abstract

Disclosed is a microswitch that allows the setting of the microswitch to be detected. The microswitch includes a conducting element movable along a surface that includes at least one conducting track that is contacted by the movable conducting element. Actuating the microswitch moves the movable conducting element along the surface resulting in electrically connecting or disconnecting two electrical tracks and causing electrical switching. In addition, the contact surfaces electrically connected by the conducting element may have different electrically conductive regions such that moving the connected surfaces changes the electrical resistances. Different switch positions can be determined by measuring resistance.

Claims

1. Microswitch with at least one strip conductor which is integrated into a first surface whereby the microswitch encompasses an arch-shaped conductor element which is elastically deformable and shiftable along a second surface which can be shifted by activation of the microswitch, wherein the conductor element comprises two end areas and the conductor element is deformable in such a way that the two end areas of the conductor element are shifted relative to the second surface, whereby the shifting can induce electrical switching, whereby a contact surface which as a result of the shifting enables electrical switching by means of production of an electrical contact, demonstrates sections with different electrical conductivities.

2. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the second surface which contacts the first surface by shifting of the conductor element encompasses different metals and/or different metal alloys.

3. Microswitch in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the deformable conductor element demonstrates sections with different electrical conductivities.

4. Microswitch in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the sections different conductivities are arranged in a strip shape vertically to the shifting direction of the shiftable conductor element.

5. Microswitch in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the deformable conductor element contacts two internal strip conductors in the non-activated state of the microswitch which are arranged between two further strip conductors.

6. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the areas of one or several strip conductors which can be contacted by means of the deformable conductor element end flush with an adjacent surface.

7. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the microswitch encompasses conductors and/or positioners in order to conduct and/or position the deformable conductor element.

8. Microswitch in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that there is a pin protruding from an internal surface of the microswitch which reaches through a hole in the deformable conductor element.

9. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that two ends of the conductor element are conducted through adjacent bridges.

10. Electronic component carrier with a basic section made of electrically insulating material and electrical strip conductors for connection of electrical components, whereby strip conductors are surrounded by the material of the basic section at least in places and at least one, preferably at least two of the electrical strip conductors of the electronic component carrier are a direct component of an electrical microswitch which encompasses the characteristics in accordance with claim 1.

11. Use of a microswitch or electronic component carrier in accordance with claim 1 for the position determination of a component of a motor vehicle.

12. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the microswitch encompasses positioners in order to position the deformable conductor element.

13. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the deformable conductor element demonstrates sections with different electrical conductivities.

14. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the sections of different conductivities are arranged in a strip shape vertically to the shifting direction of the shiftable conductor element.

15. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the deformable conductor element contacts two internal strip conductors in the non-activated state of the microswitch which are arranged between two further strip conductors.

16. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that there is a pin protruding from an internal surface of the microswitch which reaches through a hole in the deformable conductor element.

17. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, wherein, when shifting the conductor element along the second surface, the two end areas of the conductor element move in opposite directions.

18. Microswitch in accordance with claim 1, wherein shifting the conductor element along the second surface moves a first end area of the conductor element from a first position of the second surface to a second position of the second surface and moves a second end area of the conductor element from a third position of the second surface to a fourth position of the second surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1: Components of the electronic component carrier in the uninstalled state;

(2) FIG. 2: Electronic component carrier

(3) FIG. 3: Cross-section through the electronic component carrier in the non-activated state

(4) FIG. 4: Cross-section through the electronic component carrier in the activated state

(5) FIG. 5: Cross-section through the second electronic component carrier in the non-activated state

(6) FIG. 6: Cross-section through the second electronic component carrier in the activated state

(7) FIG. 7: Enlarged depiction of a section of a conductor end in a first position

(8) FIG. 8: Enlarged depiction of a section of a conductor end in a second position

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(9) FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate the construction of a microswitch which is integrated into an electronic component carrier 1. The electronic component carrier comprises a basic section 2 made of electrically insulating material and electrical strip conductors 3, 4, 5. The basic section can be manufactured by plastic housing and material sprayed into the housing. The strip conductors 3, 4, 5 inserted into the housing before spraying are partly surrounded by the material of the basic section 2. Four electrical strip conductors 4, 5 of the electronic component carrier 1 are a direct component of an electrical microswitch. The microswitch comprises an arch-shaped conductor element 6 which is elastically deformable. By activation of the microswitch the arch-shaped conductor element 6 is elastically deformed in such a way that the two end areas 7 of the conductor element 6 are shifted. FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of the shifted and consequently the activated state. By means of the shifting of the two end areas 7 the two electrical strip conductors 4 are electrically connected. On the contrary, the electrical connection between the two strip conductors 5 is interrupted by activation.

(10) When the switch 1 is at rest the arch-shaped conductor element 6 contacts the two internal strip conductors 5 with its end areas 7 as illustrated in FIG. 3. These internal strip conductors 5 are located between the two further strip conductors 4.

(11) The end areas 7 demonstrate two different metals with different electrical conductivities on the surface which the strip conductors 5 contact in a strip shape. This leads to measurable changes in resistance during shifting. The changes in resistance enable further information on the position of the arch-shaped conductor element effected by the degree of depression of the cap 13.

(12) The strip conductor sections of the microswitch arranged between the two bridges 8 and which can be contacted by the arch-shaped conductor element 6 run parallel to one another in order to minimize the necessary installation space. These sections or areas of the strip conductors 4, 5 arranged between the two bridges 8 and which can be contacted by the arch-shaped conductor element 6 end with their surface flush with the adjacent surface 9 of the insulating material. Furthermore, the surfaces of the strip conductors 4, 5 end flush with the adjacent surface insofar as these are arranged inside the protruding, ring-shaped edge 10.

(13) There is a pin 11 protruding from the surface of the electronic component carrier 1 which reaches through the hole 12 in the arch-shaped conductor element 6 which act as positioners. The two ends 7 of the arch-shaped conductor element 6 are conducted through the laterally adjacent bridges 8.

(14) The ends 7 of the arch-shaped conductor element 6 are bent in the opposite direction to the other arch shape of the arch-shaped conductor element 6. This creates arch-shaped contact areas for the end areas 7 whereby friction resistance which occurs during activation of the microswitch 1 is minimized.

(15) The protruding edge 10 ensures the dust- and moisture-proof sealing of the lid 13. The lid 13 is deformable as illustrated in the comparison of FIG. 4 with FIG. 3.

(16) The strip conductors 3 of the electronic component carrier are not part of the microswitch. These should be electrically connected to a further electrical component.

(17) An internal edge 14 of the lid is adjacent on the arch-shaped conductor element 6. By depression of the lid 13 the arch-shaped conductor element 6 is depressed and the microswitch thus activated. An area 15 of the lid 13 is envisaged for the depression which stretches externally in a cylinder shape in the direction of the edge 14. The pin 11 stretches into the cylinder shape which simultaneously acts as a conductor of the lid 13. Viewed from the area 15 the lid 13 stretches in a wave shape (16) in a radial direction. This facilitates activation.

(18) FIGS. 5 and 6 show an execution form of the invention with three strip conductors of the microswitch. The strip conductor 17 is wider than the strip conductors 4 and 5 so that a contact is always present for the arch-shaped conductor element 6. One of the two strip conductors 3 or 4 can be used to detect the position of the microswitch. But there is also the possibility of using both strip conductors 4 and 5 for switching.

(19) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the detection of two further positions of the arch-shaped conductor element 6 due to sections of the conductor element end 7 with varying degrees of conductivity. Section 7a consists of a material which is a poor conductor. Section 7b consists of a material which is a good conductor. Surfaces of the two sections 7a and 7b which can contact strip conductors 4 and 5 run in a strip shape vertically to the direction of movement of the end 7. In the case of FIG. 7 only the comparatively poorly conducting section 7a contacts the electrical strip conductor 4. Although there is now an electrically conducting connection. However, the Ohm resistance is relatively high. The measurement of this resistance indicates the position of the microswitch shown in FIG. 7. If the middle activation area 15 cap 13 is pressed further in the direction of the electronic component carrier, the section 7b with good conductivity contacts the electrical strip conductor. The electrical resistance decreases and thus displays that the position shown in FIG. 8 is attained.

(20) This can be used, for example, to detect the position of a pivotable catch in a motor vehicle latch which can be ratcheted by means of one or several pawls in one pre-ratchet position and in one main ratchet position. If the end 7 contacts the strip conductor 4 the catch is in an opening position. If the end 7 reaches the position shown in FIG. 7 the catch is located in the pre-ratchet position. If the catch reaches the position shown in FIG. 8, the catch has reached the main ratchet position. If there is no electrically conducting contact, the catch is located in an intermediate position during opening or closure. A multitude of positions can thus be detected with only a compactly constructed microswitch.

(21) It is sufficient if one end 7 demonstrates sections of different conductivities. However, it is preferable for both ends 7 to have sections 7a and 7b with different conductivities. Changes in resistance can thus be either increased in order to facilitate measurement. But it is also possible to increase variation options. Instead of the ends 7 or in addition strip conductors 4, 5, 17 can be equipped with sections of different conductivities in order to increase detection possibilities, for example.

REFERENCE LIST

(22) 1 Electronic component carrier 2 Basic section 3, 4, 5 Electrical strip conductor 6 Arch-shaped conductor element 7 Conductor element end 7a Section of the conductor element end with poor conductivity 7b Section of the conductor element end with good conductivity 8 Bridge 9 Surface 10 Ring-shaped edge 11 Pin 12 Hole in the arch-shaped conductor element 13 Lid 14 Internal edge of the lid 15 Activation area 16 Wave-shaped progression 17 Strip conductor 18 Ring-shaped edge of lid 19 Ring-shaped lid area