DE102006003891B4 - Push-button and using the push-button - Google Patents

Abstract

Tactile switch for a motor vehicle, with a plurality of in a housing (1) arranged contact elements (9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), which are acted upon by a switching operation successively with an actuating force, characterized in that the mobility of a contact element (9, 9c ) is limited by a housing part (10).

Description

The invention relates to a push-button switch for a motor vehicle, having a plurality of arranged in a housing contact elements, which are acted upon by a switching operation successively with an actuating force or with a arranged in a housing contact element, which can be successively brought into a plurality of switching positions by a switching operation. The invention also relates to the use of the key switch.

From the DE 198 12 249 C1 For example, a switch is known in which an actuating plate transmits an actuating force to switching domes of a switching mat. For this purpose, the two end portions of the actuating plate are each on a switching dome. The force acting on an actuator operating force is transmitted off-center on the actuating plate, so that the operating force unevenly divided on the switching dome of the switching mat. As a result, the two switching domes are actuated sequentially in a defined manner; This results in a two-stage switch operation.

The DE 102 05 581 A1 discloses a membrane switch in which a front foil is provided as a contact element. The front foil can be brought in a snap-action manner from one starting position in succession into two switching positions, wherein switching contacts are closed in each switching position.

Such multi-stage push-button switch are preferably used in motor vehicles as a power window switch.

A common version of a power window switch has two contact points for the window start-up control and two contact points for the window storm control. The first contact point is always there for the manual window operation; when the second contact point is actuated, the window automatically moves into the end stop.

The ability to automatically close a vehicle window, however, is not desirable in any case, since this always entails a risk of entrapment. To create is therefore a switch variant in which this switching function is excluded.

For this purpose, it may be provided to provide a single-stage switch mechanism for the closing direction of the vehicle window. But this requires a relatively expensive redesign of the switch. The production costs are also relatively high, since parts of the switch mechanism can be used especially only for the newly created switch variant.

A one-stage acting switch mechanism can be realized in particular by changing parts of an already known two-stage switch mechanism. Since the changes suitable for this purpose are usually made on parts inside the housing, there is a further risk that externally identical-looking switch variants can be confused during inspection or during assembly.

It is easier and less expensive to maintain the two-stage switch mechanism and provide no electrical wiring or simply no triggerable switching function in the control electronics for the second switching stage. This is also disadvantageous because the functionless second switching stage remains haptic perceptible upon actuation, and thereby gives the user the appearance of a missing function, if not a malfunction of the power window control.

The invention was based on the object, starting from a push-button switch with at least a two-stage switching function while avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages to provide a switch variant, which has a single-stage switching function instead of at least a two-stage switching function.

This object is achieved in that the mobility of one or the contact element is limited by a housing part.

From the German patent application DE 35 43 216 A1 a push-button switch is already known, in which a switching operation of the push-button switch can be blocked by a blocking element. However, this document gives no indication of a housing part for restricting the mobility of at least one of the contact elements in a multi-stage push-button switch.

The solution to the aforementioned problem is therefore to mechanically block a switching stage of an actually two-stage push-button switch with largely the same switch construction.

The blocking can be formed by a dome-shaped Gehäuseanformung which is guided through an opening in the circuit board and mechanically defines a switching dome of a switching mat. In addition to the specially shaped housing part and the possibly provided breakthrough in the circuit board, the switch variant according to the invention requires no further distinguishing features compared to a conventional two-stage push-button. The required development and tooling to implement such a switch variant is relatively low.

In the production control or when installed in a motor vehicle, however, it is advantageous if the two switch variants are clearly distinguishable by an externally recognizable feature. In particular, it is advantageous if this distinguishing feature can also be recognized by an automatic device, for example to enable a fully automatic production control, which takes into account both switch variants.

Since the two switch variants differ mainly by slightly differently shaped housing, one of which has a specific Gehäuseanformung to block a switching function and the other not, it is advantageous to provide one of the housing variants with an external marking. This marking may consist in a slight variation of the outer casing shape, a special color of the housing or the like.

It is particularly advantageous if the case forming serving to block a switching function is recognizable from the outside. As a result, the Gehäuseanformung itself serve as a label to distinguish the switch variants, which can be easily recognized by a final test after installation. Additionally advantageous in this case is that in this case no additional marking must be provided on a housing and also that the switch variants outwardly distinctive feature is directly connected to the function of the thus marked switch variant.

In production control, the final tester asks to distinguish between the switch variants, whether a base with the basic version, ie without a blockage of the second switching stage or whether a base is available as a variant with the blocking. That is, the area that generates the second stage blocking is the same area that is checked by the final tester to distinguish the switch variants. As a result, permutations or incorrect combinations of base and printed circuit boards are practically impossible.

• 1 eine erste Schnittzeichnung,
• 2 eine zweite Schnittzeichnung,
• 3 eine Seitenansicht und die
• 4 eine Explosionsdarstellung eines Tastschalters.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show it

• 1 a first sectional drawing,
• 2 a second sectional drawing,
• 3 a side view and the
• 4 an exploded view of a push-button.

The 4 shows a push button in an exploded view. The pushbutton consists of a housing ( 1 ) into which a contact surfaces ( 12 ) supporting circuit board ( 8th ) is used. With the circuit board ( 8th ) are connected to the electrical connection of the key switch several pins ( 13 ) passing through the bottom of the housing ( 1 ) are passed and in electrical connection to the on the circuit board ( 8th ) arranged contact surfaces ( 12 ) stand.

A safety mat ( 7 ) forms on four dome-like projections each movable contact elements ( 9 ), which electrical connections to those on the circuit board ( 8th ) arranged contact surfaces ( 12 ) can produce. The holder of the safety mat ( 7 ) and an actuation of the switching domes ( 9 ) via a control frame ( 6 ). A pestle ( 3 ) and a control rocker ( 5 ) transmit a pressure or a pulling operation of a rocker switch ( 4 ) on the drive frame ( 6 ) and above on the safety mat ( 7 ). The rocker switch ( 4 ) is in an aperture ( 2 ) stored in the housing ( 1 ) is used.

A side view of the mounted pushbutton is in the 3 shown. Based on 3 are two cutting planes CC and DD defined by the switch whose views the 1 and 2 demonstrate.

From the 2 are the parts of the push-button switch visible, which via a pressure actuation of the rocker switch ( 4 ) Trigger switching functions. Here is the on the rocker switch ( 4 ) acting actuating force on the plunger ( 3 ) on the double pressure bar ( 11a ) transfer. The end sections of the double pressure beam ( 11a ) lie on a respective switching dome ( 9a . 9b ) of the safety mat ( 7 ) on. Since the ram ( 3 ) off-center on the double pressure bar ( 11a ), the actuating force is distributed unevenly on the two switching domes ( 9a . 9b ); specifically here is the right dome ( 9b ) acted upon by a larger proportion of the actuating force, so that this rather than the switching dome ( 9a ) against a contact surface ( 12b ) of the printed circuit board ( 8a ) is pressed and there closes a switch contact.

Only at a higher actuation force and thus in the sequence after the switching dome ( 9b ) also closes the switching dome ( 9a ) the associated switching contact on the circuit board ( 8a ), in which he is at the contact surface ( 12a ) comes to the plant. In reverse order, the two switching domes ( 9a . 9b ) after elimination of the actuating force on the rocker switch ( 4 ) by the elastic restoring forces of the switching mat ( 7 ) returned to their original position. As far as a pressure-operated two-stage push-button switch is realized.

In an application of the key switch as a power window switch with the first switching stage is generally a manual window operation and connected to the second switching stage automatic window adjustment to an end position. The pressure actuation of the rocker switch is also associated mostly with the shutdown of the window. Accordingly, switching functions for raising the window pane are triggered in a pulling operation of the rocker switch.

The elements provided for this purpose of the key switch are in the 1 shown. A pulling operation of the rocker switch, which is not visible in this sectional view, is via the Ansteuerwippe ( 5 ), so that via a further double pressure bar ( 11b ) also asymmetric pressurization of the switching dome ( 9c . 9d ) results.

In principle, the arrangement of double pressure bars ( 11a ), Switching domes ( 9c . 9d ) and PCB here completely analogous to the arrangement of in the 2 be formed switch section shown. In this case, this would result in two successive triggering switching functions, which can be used for example for manual and automatic startup of the window.

When in the 1 illustrated embodiment of a power window switch is, however, especially for protection against dangerous operating errors, the automatic window start-up control excluded. For this purpose, a specially shaped housing part ( 10 ), which determines the mobility of a contact element, here in particular one of the switching domes ( 9c ).

This is realized by a U-shaped housing part ( 10 ), which extends into the interior of the housing ( 1 ) and the originally intended for a second switching stage switching dome ( 9c ) in its basic position. As a result, the second switching stage is not only functionally disabled but also haptically no longer perceptible.

The only other adaptation is below the blocked switching dome ( 9c ) in place of a contact surface a recess ( 14 ) in the printed circuit board ( 8b ) provided by the U-shaped housing part ( 10 ) is passed.

It is advantageous if the blocking of the contact element ( 9c ), as shown here, by a housing part ( 10 ), which is recognizable from the outside. In contrast to changes in the switch mechanism inside the housing, so the possible switch variants are directly distinguishable by the external shape. This prevents confusion of the switch variants when installed in a motor vehicle and also allows for the switch production fully automatic distinctness of the switch variants in the tape end control solely on the basis of external housing features.

Of course, in the context of the invention, it may also be provided to modify a plurality of originally two-stage switching functions by blocking contact elements to single-stage switching functions in the case of a more complexly executed push-button switch.

reference numeral

1

casing

2

cover

3

tappet

4

rocker

5

Ansteuerwippe

6

Ansteuerrahmen

7

Safety mat

8, 8a, 8b

circuit board

9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d

Contact elements (switching dome)

10

housing part

11a, 11b

Double pressure beam

12, 12a, 12b, 12d

contact surfaces

13

contact pins

14

recess

Claims (6)

Tactile switch for a motor vehicle, with a plurality of in a housing (1) arranged contact elements (9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d), which are acted upon by a switching operation successively with an actuating force, characterized in that the mobility of a contact element (9, 9c ) is limited by a housing part (10). Tactile switch for a motor vehicle, with a contact element arranged in a housing, which can be successively brought into a plurality of switching positions by a switching operation, characterized in that the mobility of the contact element is limited by a housing part. Push-button after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the housing (1) has an external marking, which indicates the restriction of the mobility of a or the contact element (9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) by a housing part (10). Push-button switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing part (10) is recognizable from the outside. Push-button switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing part (10) is formed by a molding on the housing (1). Push-button switch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the push-button switch is used as a power window switch in a motor vehicle.

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