CN111816487A

CN111816487A - Multi-knob steering column switch

Info

Publication number: CN111816487A
Application number: CN202010756167.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吴际泉; 刘帅; 章国平
Original assignee: Lisheng Automotive Technology Suzhou Co Ltd
Current assignee: Lisheng Automotive Technology Suzhou Co Ltd; BCS Automotive Interface Solutions Suzhou Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-31
Filing date: 2020-07-31
Publication date: 2020-10-23

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-knob steering column switch which comprises a shell (1) and a signal transmission assembly (3) arranged in the shell (1), and further comprises a knob assembly (2) arranged in the shell (1), wherein the knob assembly (2) comprises at least two knobs capable of rotating independently, at least parts of the knobs are exposed out of the shell (1), the signal transmission assembly (3) further comprises a signal triggering device, and the signal triggering device can trigger a control signal by rotating the knobs. The multi-knob steering column switch comprises a plurality of knobs, and the knobs can enable the signal trigger device to trigger different control signals after being rotated, so that the functions which can be controlled by the multi-knob steering column switch are more diversified, and the integration level of the multi-knob steering column switch is greatly improved.

Description

Multi-knob steering column switch

Technical Field

The invention relates to a steering column switch, in particular to a multi-knob steering column switch.

Background

Among the prior art, the steering column switch wide application is on the car, and it connects on car steering wheel steering column, can make things convenient for the staff operation, for example through operations such as stirring, pressing, rotation, realizes the control to light, windscreen wiper, lane change signal lamp etc.. Because the steering column switch has excellent control travelling comfort, even control that also can be convenient in the in-process of traveling, reduce navigating mate's distraction, consequently with more functions integration to the steering column switch on, just can make people more convenient, swift and safe to control of vehicle, however, because the restriction in steering column switch space and structure's restriction, it just becomes more difficult to realize more functions, how to realize more function control in limited space, become the problem that waits to solve in the industry urgently.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and providing a multi-knob steering column switch that is capable of integrating more control functions.

In order to achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides a multi-knob steering column switch, which includes a housing and a signal transmission assembly installed in the housing, and further includes a knob assembly installed in the housing, where the knob assembly includes at least two knobs capable of rotating independently, and at least a portion of the knobs are exposed out of the housing, and the signal transmission assembly further includes a signal triggering device, and when the knobs are rotated, the signal triggering device can trigger a control signal.

In addition, the invention also provides the following auxiliary technical scheme:

the signal transmission assembly further comprises a flexible cable, the signal trigger device comprises a static contact piece fixed in the shell and a movable contact piece connected to the knob, the static contact piece is electrically connected with the flexible cable and provided with a plurality of groups of static contacts, the movable contact piece is provided with a movable contact abutted against the static contact piece, and the movable contact piece can be contacted with different static contacts by rotating the knob.

The knob assembly comprises a first fixing piece and a connecting piece, the connecting piece comprises a spacer and a first shaft connected between the spacer and the first fixing piece, and the knob assembly further comprises a first knob rotatably connected to the first shaft.

The knob assembly further comprises a second fixing piece, the second fixing piece comprises a second shaft connected with the connecting piece, and the knob assembly further comprises a second knob rotatably connected to the second shaft.

Plunger assemblies are arranged on the first knob and the second knob respectively and comprise plungers matched and connected with the first knob or the second knob in a sliding mode and elastic pieces driving the plungers to abut against the spacing pieces.

The signal transmission assembly comprises a flexible cable, a static contact piece arranged on the surface of the flexible cable and a movable contact piece arranged on the first knob and the second knob, and the static contact piece is abutted to the movable contact piece.

The spacing tooth face that is provided with on the spacer with the plunger butt, spacing tooth face is including the dogtooth that the interval set up, adjacent form the tooth's socket between the dogtooth.

The tooth grooves and the convex teeth are in transition through inclined planes or arc surfaces.

The spacing piece is characterized by further comprising limiting blocks arranged on two sides of the limiting tooth surface, and the limiting blocks prevent the plunger from being separated from the limiting tooth surface.

And the outer surface of the knob is provided with a knurl and/or a shifting block exposed out of the shell.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantages that:

1. the multi-knob steering column switch comprises a plurality of knobs, and the knobs can enable the signal trigger device to trigger different control signals after being rotated, so that the functions which can be controlled by the multi-knob steering column switch are more diversified, and the integration level of the multi-knob steering column switch is greatly improved;

2. the multi-knob steering column switch is characterized in that a fixed static contact piece is arranged in a shell, a movable contact piece corresponding to the static contact piece is arranged on a knob, and different contacts on the static contact piece can be conveniently conducted after the knob is rotated, so that various different control signals are triggered;

3. according to the multi-knob steering column switch, the plunger assembly is arranged in the knob and is abutted against the fixed limiting tooth surface, so that definite force feedback can be given to an operator when the knob is rotated, and the multi-knob steering column switch is more convenient and reliable to use.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the structure of a multi-knob steering column switch of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the multi-knob steering column switch of the present invention without the lower cover shown.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the multi-knob steering column switch of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the knob assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic structural view of a first fixing member in the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural view of the middle case of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic connection diagram of the first fixing member, the second fixing member and the connecting member according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the knob assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of another direction of the first fixing member according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the structure of the connector of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a structural view of another viewing direction of the connecting member of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a schematic structural view of a second fixing member in the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a schematic view of the connection of the first knob and the first movable contact piece in the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view of the connection of the second knob and the second movable contact piece in the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a schematic view of the assembly of the plunger assembly with the knob and connector of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in further non-limiting detail with reference to the following preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a multi-knob steering column switch according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 1, and a knob assembly 2 and a signal transmission assembly 3 mounted in the housing 1, wherein the knob assembly 2 includes at least two knobs, and in this embodiment, the number of the knobs is two, and the knobs are a first knob 4 and a second knob 5. By rotating the first knob 4 or the second knob 5, a control signal can be triggered, and the control signal is transmitted to a vehicle control system through the signal transmission assembly 3, so that the control of the related functions of the vehicle is realized.

As shown in fig. 3, the housing 1 includes a middle housing 10, and an upper cover 11 and a lower cover 12 respectively attached to upper and lower sides of the middle housing 10. Two trompils 13 have all been seted up on upper cover 11 and the lower cover 12, and the upper portion and the lower part of first knob 4 and second knob 5 can be followed trompil 13 and exposed to the casing 1 outside to make things convenient for the staff to stir the knob.

The middle housing 10 is a main body part for mounting the knob assembly 2 and the signal transmission assembly 3, and the housing 1 is formed by connecting a plurality of components, so that the installation can be conveniently carried out. Since the middle housing 10 has a large opening (see fig. 2), the knob assembly 2 and the signal transmission assembly 3 can be easily installed in the middle housing 10, and then the installation can be completed by connecting the upper cover 11 and the lower cover 12. The connection manner of the upper cover 11, the lower cover 12 and the middle housing 10 is not limited, and may be, for example, a conventional snap connection manner.

It is understood that the housing 1 is not limited to being formed by connecting three components, and may be formed by connecting fewer or more components, and the middle housing 10, the upper cover 11 and the lower cover 12 are not limited to one component, and may be formed by connecting a plurality of components.

As shown in fig. 4, the knob assembly 2 includes a first fixing member 20, a second fixing member 21, a first knob 4, a second knob 5, and a connecting member 22 connected between the first fixing member 20 and the second fixing member 21.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, taking the first fixing member 20 as an example, the first fixing member 20 is provided with a positioning hole 200 and a through hole 201, the middle housing 10 is provided with a positioning column 100 coupled with the positioning hole 200 and a screw hole 101 corresponding to the through hole 201, the positioning column 100 is inserted into the positioning hole 200 to perform a positioning function, the through hole 201 and the screw hole 101 are coaxially arranged, and a screw can pass through the through hole 201 to be screwed with the screw hole 101, so as to fix the first fixing member 20. The inner surface of the threaded hole 101 may be unthreaded in advance, in which case the connection may be made by a self-tapping screw. The second fixing member 21 can be fixed in a similar manner, or fixed in other manners such as a snap connection, which will not be described herein.

The connecting member 22 includes a spacer 220 and a first shaft 221 connected to the spacer 220, the spacer 220 and the first shaft 221 preferably being integrally injection molded. As shown in fig. 8 to 10, the first shaft 221 is coupled in the coupling hole 202 formed in the first fixing element 20, and the first shaft 221 and the first fixing element 20 are fixed relatively and cannot rotate. Specifically, the mating hole 202 may be configured to have a non-circular shape, and the end of the first shaft 221 may be configured to be identical to the mating hole 202, so that the two shafts cannot rotate relative to each other.

The first knob 4 is rotatably coupled to the first shaft 221 and is positioned between the spacer 220 and the first fixture 20. In the present embodiment, referring to fig. 10, four projections 223 are disposed outside the first shaft 221, outer end surfaces 223a of the projections 223 are arc-shaped, and the outer end surfaces 223a of the four projections 223 are located on the same circumference and are coupled with the first center hole 40, so that the first knob 4 can rotate around the axis of the first shaft 221. The first central hole 40 is internally provided with a convex first retaining shoulder 41, the first retaining shoulder 41 can be abutted against the convex block 223, so as to limit the position of the axis direction of the first retaining shoulder and the convex block 223, the first knob 4 further comprises a first pipe part 42 which is convex towards the first fixing part 20, the first pipe part 42 and the first central hole 40 are coaxially arranged, the first pipe part 42 is abutted against a second pipe part 204 arranged on the first fixing part 20, and the position of the first knob 4 on the first shaft 221 can be limited through the second pipe part 204 and the convex block 223.

As shown in fig. 8, 11 and 12, the second fixing member 21 includes a second shaft 210 connected to the connection member 22, the connection member 22 is provided with a boss tube 224 protruding from the spacer 220 toward the second fixing member 21, and the second shaft 210 is inserted into the boss tube 224. The connecting element 22 and the second fixing element 21 are relatively fixed, similarly, the inner hole 227 of the convex tube 224 can be set into a non-circular shape, the end part of the second shaft 210 is set into a shape consistent with the shape of the inner hole 227, so that the two cannot rotate relatively, in addition, a slot 224a can be arranged in the convex tube 224, an insert block 210a is arranged at the end part of the second shaft 210, and the relative position of the connecting element 22 and the second fixing element 21 can be better positioned through the matching limit of the insert block 210a and the slot 224 a.

As shown in fig. 8, the first fixing member 20, the second fixing member 21 and the connecting member 22 are connected to each other by a bolt 6, and specifically, the bolt 6 passes through the first fixing member 20 and the connecting member 22 in sequence to be connected to a threaded hole 211 provided in the second shaft 210, thereby fixing the three components. Likewise, the threaded hole 211 may be provided with no thread beforehand, and the bolt 6 may be selected as a self-tapping screw.

As shown in fig. 8, the second knob 5 is rotatably connected to the second shaft 210, the second knob 5 is provided with an inner tube 50, the inner tube 50 is provided with a second central hole 51, and the second central hole 51 is coupled with the second shaft 210, so that the second knob 5 can rotate around the axis of the second shaft 210. A male collar 212 is also provided on the second shaft 210, the collar 212 and the collar 224 cooperating to define the position of the second knob 5 on the second shaft 210.

In this embodiment, the first shaft 221 and the spacer 220 are integrally formed, and the second shaft 210 and the body 213 connected thereto are integrally formed, but this is not required, and in some embodiments, they may be separate components that are connected to form the corresponding connecting member 22 and the second fixing member 21; in other embodiments, the first shaft 221 and the second shaft 210 may be integrally formed as a single shaft.

As shown in fig. 3, 13 and 14, the signal transmission assembly 3 includes a flexible cable 30 and a signal trigger device connected to the flexible cable 30 for triggering a corresponding control signal when the knob is rotated, and includes a first static contact 31 disposed on the first fixing member 20, a second static contact 32 disposed on the second fixing member 21, a first movable contact 33 disposed on the first knob 4, and a second movable contact 34 disposed on the second knob 5. The flexible cable 30 is preferably a flex cable, and the first and second

static contacts

31 and 32 are disposed on the surface of the flexible cable 30 and electrically connected to the flexible cable 30. The first fixed contact piece 31 and the first movable contact piece 33 are disposed oppositely, and the second fixed contact piece 32 and the second movable contact piece 34 are disposed oppositely. The first fixed contact piece 31 and the second fixed contact piece 32 are respectively provided with a plurality of groups of fixed contacts, the first movable contact piece 33 and the second movable contact piece 34 are respectively provided with a movable contact 35, the movable contact 35 is connected with the corresponding movable contact piece through an elastic arm 36, and the elastic arm 36 can drive the movable contact 35 to be reliably attached to the fixed contact pieces. After the knob is turned, the movable contact is driven to rotate, so that the movable contact 35 is in contact with different stationary contacts to conduct the different stationary contacts, and thus, various different control signals are triggered.

As shown in fig. 13 and 14, the side surfaces of the first knob 4 and the second knob 5 are respectively provided with a plurality of first pin shafts 430 protruding outward, the first movable contact piece 33 and the second movable contact piece 34 are respectively provided with a first pin hole 310 matched and connected with the first pin shafts 430, and the movable contact pieces are positioned by matching the first pin shafts 430 and the first pin holes 310. The connection between the first and second

movable contacts

33 and 34 and the corresponding knobs may be a rivet connection, a bolt connection, or the like.

The signal trigger device can trigger the control signal by other methods besides the above-mentioned moving and static contacts, for example, by using a position or a photoelectric sensor capable of detecting the rotation angle of the knob, and triggering the control signal after the knob is rotated to a specific angle.

In order to facilitate and facilitate the operation of the knob, as shown in fig. 15, a plunger assembly 7 is disposed in each of the first knob 4 and the second knob 5, the plunger assembly 7 includes a plunger 70 and an elastic member 71 for urging the plunger 70 against the spacer 220, and the elastic member 71 is preferably a spring. The first knob 4 and the second knob 5 are provided with a receiving blind hole 72, the elastic member 71 is received in the receiving blind hole 72, and the plunger 70 is slidably coupled with the receiving blind hole 72. Two ends of the elastic piece 71 are respectively abutted against the bottom of the accommodating blind hole 72 and the plunger 70. The number of the plunger assemblies 7 is preferably two, and the plunger assemblies are symmetrically arranged on the knob, so that the stress is more balanced, and the operation hand feeling is improved.

As shown in fig. 10 and 11, a curb surface 225 and two stoppers 226 located on both sides of the curb surface 225 are provided on both side surfaces 220a of the spacer 220. The check tooth surface 225 includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth 2250, a tooth space 2251 is formed within the plurality of teeth 2250, and the teeth 2250 and tooth space 2251 transition by a bevel or arc. The plunger 70 abuts the curb flanks 225 and is held stationary until it abuts within the tooth slot 2251. When the knob is rotated, the knob drives the plunger 70 on the knob to move on the limit tooth surface 225, and the elastic part 71 can be alternately compressed or deformed in a recovery mode in the moving process of the plunger 70, so that the force required for rotating the knob is alternately changed, and clear operation feedback is provided for an operator. Preferably, when the plunger 70 is located in the tooth slot 2251 in a steady state, the moving contact just conducts the corresponding stationary contact, thereby triggering the control signal. Stop block 226 is higher than teeth 2250 and serves to limit the extreme positions of knob rotation, preventing plunger 70 from disengaging stop flanks 225.

Besides providing better force feedback, the elastic member 71 can effectively push the first knob 4 to approach the first fixing member 20 and push the second knob 5 to approach the second fixing member 21, so that the movable contact piece on the knob can reliably abut against the static contact piece to prevent poor contact.

As shown in fig. 4, knurls 44 are arranged on part or all of the outer peripheral surfaces of the first knob 4 and the second knob 5, and the knurls 44 are used for increasing friction force with fingers and facilitating the fingers to poke the knobs. Still be provided with the shifting block 45 of evagination on first knob 4 and second knob 5, shifting block 45 exposes outside casing 1 through trompil 13, and the travelling comfort of using is further improved through stirring the rotation knob that shifting block 45 can be more convenient, and shifting block 45 still limits the turned angle of knob simultaneously, prevents excessively to rotate the knob. Preferably, the knob is provided with only a dial 45 protruding below the housing 1.

The multi-knob steering column switch of the present invention includes at least the following advantages:

It should be noted that the above-mentioned preferred embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical concepts and features of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the contents of the present invention and implement the present invention, and not to limit the scope of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made according to the spirit of the present invention should be covered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-knob steering column switch comprising a housing (1) and a signal transmission assembly (3) mounted within the housing (1), characterized in that: the multi-knob steering column switch further comprises a knob assembly (2) installed in the shell (1), the knob assembly (2) comprises at least two knobs capable of rotating independently, at least parts of the knobs are exposed out of the shell (1), the signal transmission assembly (3) further comprises a signal triggering device, and the signal triggering device can trigger control signals by rotating the knobs.

2. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 1, wherein: the signal transmission assembly (3) further comprises a flexible cable (30), the signal trigger device comprises a static contact piece fixed in the shell (1) and a movable contact piece connected to the knob, the static contact piece is electrically connected with the flexible cable (30) and provided with a plurality of groups of static contacts, the movable contact piece is provided with a movable contact abutted against the static contact piece, and the movable contact piece can be contacted with different static contacts by rotating the knob.

3. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 1, wherein: the knob assembly (2) comprises a first fixing piece (20) and a connecting piece (22), the connecting piece (22) comprises a spacer (220) and a first shaft (221) connected between the spacer (220) and the first fixing piece (20), and the knob assembly (2) further comprises a first knob (4) rotatably connected on the first shaft (221).

4. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 3, wherein: the knob assembly (2) further comprises a second fixing piece (21), the second fixing piece (21) comprises a second shaft (210) connected with the connecting piece (22), and the knob assembly (2) further comprises a second knob (5) rotatably connected onto the second shaft (210).

5. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 4, wherein: the first knob (4) and the second knob (5) are both provided with plunger assemblies (7), and each plunger assembly (7) comprises a plunger (70) in sliding fit with the first knob (4) or the second knob (5) and an elastic piece (71) for driving the plunger (70) to abut against the spacer (220).

6. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 5, wherein: the signal transmission assembly (3) comprises a flexible cable (30), a static contact piece arranged on the surface of the flexible cable (30) and a movable contact piece arranged on the first knob (4) and the second knob (5), wherein the static contact piece is abutted to the movable contact piece.

7. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 5 or 6, wherein: spacing tooth surfaces (225) abutting against the plunger (70) are arranged on the spacing piece (220), each spacing tooth surface (225) comprises convex teeth (2250) arranged at intervals, and tooth grooves (2251) are formed between every two adjacent convex teeth (2250).

8. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 7, wherein: the tooth groove (2251) and the convex tooth (2250) are in transition by an inclined plane or an arc surface.

9. The multi-knob steering column switch according to claim 7, wherein: the spacer (220) further comprises stoppers (226) disposed on both sides of the stopper tooth surface (225), the stoppers (226) preventing the plunger (70) from disengaging from the stopper tooth surface (225).

10. The multi-knob steering column switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the outer surface of the knob is provided with knurls (44) and/or shifting blocks (45) exposed out of the shell (1).