Switching operating arrangement

Abstract

A switching operator control arrangement for a motor vehicle. A movable operating area interacts with a shifting device in such a way that the operating area can be moved in a substantially linear manner over at least one distance from a neutral position to an operating position. The operating position can be in the form of a switching position in such a way that the operating area has a switching action on a switching element, a sensor or the like in the switching position. The shifting device includes a rocking lever arrangement which can move in parallel.

Claims

1. A switching operator control arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising a movable operating area, wherein the operating area interacts with a shifting means in such a way that the operating area is movable in a substantially linear manner over at least one distance from a starting position to an operating position, wherein the operating position is configured as a switching position in such a way that the operating area has a switching action on at least one of a switching element, and a sensor, wherein the shifting means comprises a rocking lever arrangement, the rocking lever arrangement including at least first rocking levers arranged substantially in parallel with respect to one another, and second rocking levers arranged to move substantially in parallel with respect to one another, and wherein the rocking lever arrangement has a movable bearing on one side and a fixed bearing on an opposite side.

2. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the switching element, and the sensor generates a signal on account of the switching action of the operating area in the switching position, and wherein the signal preferably serves to switch and/or trigger a function in the manner of a switching signal.

3. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a housing is provided, in that the operating area is arranged on a surface of the housing and can be moved into the interior of the housing, wherein the rocking lever arrangement is further located in the interior of the housing, wherein a further rocking lever arrangement is yet further arranged approximately parallel to the rocking lever arrangement, and wherein in each case one rocking lever arrangement is once again further located on two sides of the operating area which are situated opposite one another.

4. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rocking lever arrangement has rotationally mounted lever pairs, and/or wherein the rocking lever arrangement has elastic elements, which are braced in parallel.

5. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rocking lever arrangement has the movable bearing on the one side and the fixed bearing on the other, opposite side.

6. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the floating bearing comprises a moving plate, and wherein the moving plate is guided in a rotational and/or linear manner in a bearing on the housing.

7. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein an attachment which projects in a substantially perpendicular manner is arranged on the operating area, on that side of the operating area which faces the interior of the housing, wherein the attachment is located approximately centrally on the operating area, and wherein the attachment is further located in the housing.

8. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein one rocking lever is, at one end, rotationally mounted on the attachment by means of a rotary bearing and is, at its other end, rotationally mounted on a bearing, which is fixed to the housing, by means of a further rotary bearing, and wherein, the other rocking lever is, at one end, rotationally mounted on the attachment by means of a rotary bearing and is, at its other end, rotationally mounted on a floating bearing by means of a further rotary bearing, in such a way that the operating area can be moved into the housing substantially in the direction of the attachment.

9. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein one leaf spring is, at one end, fastened to the attachment and is, at its other end, fastened to a fixing means which is fixed to the housing, and wherein the other leaf spring is, at one end, fastened to the attachment and is, at its other end, preferably fastened to a floating bearing, in such a way that the operating area can be moved into the housing substantially in the direction of the attachment.

10. The switching operator control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein an elastic element for repositioning the operating area and/or for generating haptics for the movement of the operating area interacts with the operating area, with the attachment, and wherein the elastic element comprises a compression spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention with different developments and refinements are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in greater detail below.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a switching operator control arrangement;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic section along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 in the manner of a basic diagram showing the functioning of the switching operator control arrangement according to a first embodiment; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic section as in FIG. 2 according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a switching operator control arrangement 1 in the form of a touchpad which is used, in particular, for a motor vehicle. The switching operator control arrangement 1 has a housing 13 which is composed of plastic and which has, on its manually accessible surface 14, an operating area 2 which extends in the x and y directions. The user can operate the switching operator control arrangement 1 in the intended manner by manually acting on the operating area 2 by means of an element 5. The element 5 may be a finger 5 on a human hand 6, so that operator control in the intended manner is possible by means of corresponding movement of the finger 5. By way of example, the switching operator control arrangement 1 can be arranged in the center console of the motor vehicle and be provided for operating a navigation system, a screen or the like in the motor vehicle. The switching operator control arrangement 1 can be connected, for example, to a bus system in the motor vehicle by means of a plug connection 15.

(6) The switching operator control arrangement 1 is provided with a sensor, not shown any further, which interacts with the operating area 2. The sensor which operates, for example, in a capacitive manner and/or with infrared radiation generates a signal as the element 5, for example the finger 5 of the hand 6 of the user in this case, approaches the operating area 2 and/or when the element 5 makes contact with the operating area 2 and/or when the element 5 exerts pressure onto the operating area 2. The signal then serves to switch and/or trigger and/or select a function in the motor vehicle in the manner of a switching signal.

(7) The operating area 2 of the switching operator control arrangement 1 is further designed such that it can move in direction 3 (z direction), so that the operating area 2 can be moved in the direction 3, and therefore in a direction toward the interior of the housing 13, by means of the finger 5 in a manual manner. As further shown in FIG. 2, the operating area 2 interacts with a shifting means 4 for this purpose in such a way that the operating area 2 can be moved in a substantially linear manner over at least one distance from a starting or neutral position to an operating position. The operating position is in the form of a switching position such that the operating area 2 has a switching action on an electrical switching element 7 in the switching position. In this case, the switching element 7 generates a switching signal which can serve, for example, as an “enter” command and therefore to switch and/or trigger the associated function in the motor vehicle. A sensor, such as a Hall sensor, an inductive sensor, a light barrier or the like can also be used instead of an electrical switching element 7.

(8) As is further shown with reference to FIG. 2, the shifting means 4 comprises a rocking lever arrangement. In the present case, the rocking lever arrangement 4 is designed such that it can move in parallel and is located in the interior of the housing 13. For the purpose of improving the guidance in direction 3, a further rocking lever arrangement 4′ is arranged approximately parallel to the rocking lever arrangement 4. If desired, in each case one rocking lever arrangement 4, 4′ can be located on two sides 8, 8′, which are situated opposite one another according to FIG. 1, of the operating area 2 in order to further improve the parallel guidance.

(9) As is clear with reference to FIG. 2, an attachment 16 which projects in a substantially perpendicular manner is arranged on the operating area 2. The attachment 16 is arranged on that side of the operating area 2 which faces the interior of the housing 13 and also approximately centrally on the operating area 2, and is located in the housing 13. The rocking lever arrangement 4, 4′ is connected to said attachment 16 in order to interact with the operating area 2.

(10) In a first embodiment according to FIG. 2, the rocking lever arrangement 4, 4′ has lever pairs 9, 10 which are mounted in a rotational manner. One rocking lever 9 is, at one end, mounted in a rotational or articulated manner on the attachment 16 by means of a rotary bearing 17 and is, at its other end, mounted in a rotational or articulated manner on a bearing 19, which is fixed to the housing, by means of a further rotary bearing 18. The other rocking lever 10 is, at one end, mounted in a rotational or articulated manner on the attachment 16 by means of a rotary bearing 17′ and is, at its other end, mounted in a rotational or articulated manner on a floating bearing 20 by means of a further rotary bearing 18′. As a result, the operating area 2 can be moved into the housing 13 substantially in the direction of the attachment 16, that is to say in direction 3.

(11) In a second embodiment according to FIG. 3, the rocking lever arrangement 4, 4′ has elastic elements 11, 12 which are braced in parallel. In the present case, the elastic elements 11, 12 are leaf springs. One leaf spring 11 is, at one end, fastened or clamped to the attachment 16 and is, at its other end, fastened or clamped in a fixing means 21 such that it is fixed to the housing. The other leaf spring 12 is, at one end, fastened or clamped to the attachment 16 and is, at its other end, fastened or clamped to a floating bearing 20. As a result, the operating area 2 can be moved into the housing 13 substantially in the direction of the attachment 16, that is to say in direction 3, as is indicated in FIG. 3 with reference to the leaf springs 11, 12 which are illustrated using dashed lines.

(12) The two embodiments according to FIGS. 2 and 3 therefore share the common feature that the rocking lever arrangement 4, 4′ has a floating bearing 20 on one side and has a fixed bearing 19, 21 on the other, opposite side. The floating bearing 20 can comprise a moving plate 22. According to FIGS. 2 and 3, the moving plate 22 is guided in a linear manner in a bearing on the housing 13. If desired, the moving plate of the floating bearing can also be guided in a rotational manner in a bearing on the housing 13, but this is not shown any further.

(13) Finally, an elastic element 23, which is shown in FIG. 2, for repositioning the operating area 2 to the starting position and/or for generating haptics for the movement of the operating area 2 in the operating position can interact with the operating area 2. The elastic element 23 is a compression spring which, in this case, acts on the attachment 16.

(14) The present invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described and illustrated. Instead, it also includes all developments by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention defined by the patent claims. Therefore, the switching operator control arrangement 1 according to the invention can not only be used as a touchpad for motor vehicles but also for other switching elements with operator control surfaces which have a large area and also with linear operation and possibly with short strokes. Furthermore, the switching operator control arrangement 1 can also be used in domestic appliances, audio appliances, video appliances, telecommunications appliances or the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(15) 1: Switching operator control arrangement 2: Operating area 3: Directional arrow 4: Shifting means/rocking lever arrangement 4′: (Further) rocking lever arrangement 5: Element/finger 6: Hand (of user) 7: (Electrical) switching element 8, 8′: Side (of the operating area) 9, 10: Lever pair/rocking lever 11, 12: Elastic element/leaf spring 13: Housing (of switching operator control arrangement) 14: Surface (of housing) 15: Plug connection (on the housing) 16: Attachment 17, 17′: Rotary bearing 18, 18′: (Further) rotary bearing 19: Bearing (which is fixed to the housing)/fixed bearing 20: Floating bearing 21: Fixing means/fixed bearing 22: (Moving) plate (of floating bearing) 23: Elastic element