DE102020214047A1 - Device for generating an electrical signal with a defined pulse width - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for generating an electrical signal with a defined pulse width, comprising a signal input (2) and a signal output (3) for outputting the generated electrical signal and a signal generating device (4) designed to generate the electrical signal, which has at least one drive device ( 6) has a drivable or driven control element (5), which is contacted with at least one contact element (7, 12) to generate the electrical signal, the control element (5) having at least one conductive area (9) and at least one non-conductive area (10) and the signal generating device (4) is designed to generate the electrical signal based on a relative position and/or a relative movement between the contact element (7, 12) and the control element (5).

Description

The invention relates to a device for generating an electrical signal with a defined pulse width.

Devices for generating electrical signals, in particular electrical signals with a defined pulse width, are known in principle from the prior art. Devices of this type are usually used to provide an electric machine, for example an electric motor, with a defined electric signal, which usually consists of a sequence of on and off pulses. This pulse sequence can be supplied to the electrical machine in order to operate the electrical machine. In this case, for example, the ratio of the on to off duration of a pulse sequence supplied to the electric machine can be defined in order to define the torque and/or the speed of the electric machine to be controlled.

Such devices are usually designed as electronic devices, i.e. corresponding electronic elements are provided in order to determine the pulse width of the signal, i.e. to define the ratio of the on to off duration of the signal or to generate such a signal. Electronic devices of this type are, on the one hand, complicated and, on the other hand, expensive, particularly with regard to electric motors of higher torque classes.

The invention is based on the object of specifying an improved device for generating electrical signals with a defined pulse width.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

As described above, the invention relates to a device for generating an electrical signal with a defined pulse width. Within the scope of the application, such a signal is understood to mean a signal that comprises at least one on pulse and at least one off pulse, usually several such pulses in an alternating sequence, i.e. when generating the electrical signal with a defined pulse width, the on to off ratio of the signal set or changed. For this purpose, a corresponding energy source can be connected in particular to a signal input of the device, which, depending on the generation of the electrical signal, is connected to a signal output for the duty cycle. This means that the signal that is constantly and continuously provided at the signal input, for example, is changed into a discontinuous signal with a defined pulse width based on the signal generation by the device, or an output signal is generated from the input signal.

Accordingly, the device comprises a signal input and a signal output, the signal output being designed to output the generated electrical signal. Such a signal output can be connected, for example, to any device to which the signal of a defined pulse width can be supplied after it has been generated. For example, an electrical machine to be controlled can be connected to the signal output, so that an electrical arrangement results from the device for generating the electrical signal and the corresponding electrical machine.

In addition to the signal input and in the signal output, the device also includes a signal generating device designed to generate the electrical signal, which has at least one control element that can be driven or is driven by a drive device and that is in contact with at least one contact element to generate the electrical signal, the control element having at least one conductive area and has at least one non-conductive area and the signal generating device is designed to generate the electrical signal based on a relative position and/or a relative movement between the contact element and the control element.

In other words, the device described here does not, as is usual in the prior art, generate a signal from the received signal using electronic components, but the output signal or the generated signal is based on a relative position and/or a relative movement between the contact element and control generated. Ultimately, the signal generation is based on a mechanical principle, namely the current position of the contact element relative to the control element or vice versa. The signal can consequently be changed by means of a corresponding relative movement between the contact element and the control element, since the conductive area and non-conductive area move relative to the contact element, i.e. the contact between the signal input and signal output is changed and based on the current relative position or as a function of time in Dependence of the relative movement results.

In this case, the control element has a drive device or can be coupled to a drive device that drives the control element. The drive device can thus a separate drive device, for example a separate electric motor, which can be coupled to a drive device. However, it is also possible to couple the control element directly to the electrical machine to be controlled or to establish a connection between the control element and the electrical machine to be controlled via a transmission in order to step up or step down the speed of the electrical machine. In this case, the control element can be driven by a motor about an axis, in particular rotated about the axis. The axis can in particular represent an axis of symmetry of the control element.

The contact element makes contact with the control element, with the control element having a conductive area and a non-conductive area. If the contact element contacts the control element in the conductive area, the connection between the signal input and signal output is established, i.e. when the contact element makes contact in the conductive area, the signal is switched on or an on-pulse is generated. If the contact element contacts the control element in the non-conductive area, the signal is switched off. The result is that during the relative movement between the contact element and the control element, the signal remains switched on as long as the contact element makes contact with the control element in the conducting area. At the transition from the conducting area to the non-conducting area, the signal is switched off and remains switched off as long as the contact element touches the control element in the non-conducting area.

Accordingly, a defined signal results, in particular a defined electrical signal with a defined pulse width, since the characteristic signal can be composed of the arrangement or contacting of the control element in the conductive area and the non-conductive area. In this case, the characteristic signal can be influenced in particular by the distribution or arrangement of the conductive areas and non-conductive areas and by the movement, in particular relative movement, between the contact element and the control element. Characteristic parameters of the movement can be influenced, in particular the speed and/or the relative position can be influenced during the generation of the electrical signal or for the generation of the electrical signal.

The at least one contact element can be coupled to at least one actuator in such a way that the contact element can be moved into at least two different contact positions by means of the at least one actuator, with the geometric distribution or arrangement of the non-conductive area and the conductive area of the at least one control element in the at least two different contact positions is different. As described above, the geometric distribution of the non-conductive area and the conductive area, ie ultimately via the arrangement and division of the area of the control element that can be contacted by the contact element, can be used to generate the electrical signal.

In particular, the arrangement of the non-conductive area and the conductive area, ie the geometric distribution thereof, can be used to determine the ratio of the generated electrical signal and its pulse width and pulse sequence. The movement of the contact element into the at least two different contact positions influences the relationship in which the contact element has a different proportion of contact with the non-conductive area and the conductive area when the control element moves in the two different contact positions. In other words, in a first contact position, when the control element moves relative to the contact element, a first relationship can be assumed in relation to the contacting of the conductive area and non-conductive area, and in the second contact position, a second relationship can be assumed in relation to the contacting of the conductive area and non-conductive area will. The conductive areas and non-conductive areas can thus be shorter or longer in the direction of movement, for example in the circumferential direction, in the different contact positions.

Since the geometric distribution of the non-conductive area and the conductive area is different for the different contact positions, the pulse width of the electrical signal can be influenced in a targeted manner by moving the contact element into the required contact position. In addition, the electrical signal can be influenced in a further defined manner by adapting the movement of the control element, for example by setting a defined speed. In order to move the at least one contact element, the actuator can be designed in particular as a linear actuator or swivel actuator.

Depending on the configuration of the control element, the actuator can move the contact element into various axial or radial positions, the axial and radial positions always being understood in relation to the relevant axis of rotation or axis of movement of the control element. For example, in the case of a control element designed as a control disk, the actuator can move the contact element into different contact positions which have different radial distances from the axis of rotation of the control element. In this case, the distribution of the conducting area and the non-conducting area can be chosen differently in the radial direction on the control element, so that the contact element ment is moved to the required radial positions to generate the desired electrical signal. In particular, the arrangement of conductive area and non-conductive area alternates in the circumferential direction, so that the characteristic on-off signal results when the contact element makes contact on the control element and the corresponding relative movement between the contact element and control element.

Basically, within the scope of this application, the conductive area and the non-conductive area do not necessarily have to be designed to be electrically conductive or non-electrically conductive. The "conducting area" only specifies that when the contact element makes contact with the conducting area of the control element, the signal is switched on or the signal is passed through. Likewise, if the "non-conductive area" is contacted, the signal is switched off or the transmission of the signal is interrupted, regardless of whether the conductive area and non-conductive area are electrically conductive or not. As explained below, in some embodiments the conductive area is nevertheless designed to be electrically conductive and the non-conductive area to be electrically non-conductive at the same time. Embodiments are also described in which the conductivity of the control element, in particular of the conductive area and non-conductive area, is irrelevant or arbitrary.

According to one configuration, the device can have an input contact designed as a sliding contact which is electrically connected to the conducting area and is in particular arranged on or in the area of the axis of rotation. In this embodiment, it is therefore provided that the conductive area is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to the input contact, which is designed as a sliding contact. In other words, the electrical signal can be routed from the input directly to the conducting area and the signal can thus be routed to the signal output depending on the contacting of the conducting area with the contact element. The input contact, which is designed as a sliding contact, is electrically and therefore also physically in contact with the conductive area or the at least one conductive area on the control element, so that the input contact moves together with the control element, driven by the drive device.

Correspondingly, the signal input also has a sliding contact, which makes contact with the input contact and thus ensures that contact is established in the event of a relative movement. In this embodiment, it is assumed, for example, that contact is made with the signal input via the input contact. However, it is also possible to use the described input contact as an "output contact" and connect it to the signal output on this side. The preceding and all subsequent descriptions can therefore be reversed in relation to the signal input and the signal output, since ultimately it is only important in which relationship the contact between the contact elements and the conductive area or non-conductive area is established. The corresponding configurations or descriptions can therefore be reversed or transferred in relation to the signal input and the signal output. The input contact can thus protrude from the control element as a pin or spigot, for example, and thus enable contact to be made between the conductive area and the non-conductive area. It is also possible for the input contact to be a direct part of the control area, thus allowing direct contacting of the control area.

According to a further configuration, it can be provided that the at least one control element is contacted on at least one surface of the at least one contact element and has at least one electrically conductive area as a conductive area and at least one electrically non-conductive area as a non-conductive area, with the surface being moved relative to the at least one contact element is rotatable about an axis of rotation. According to this embodiment, at least one contact element is provided which touches the surface of the control element, for example the surface of a control disk. Depending on the current relative position between the control element and the contact element, the contact element has contact with the conductive area, which is designed to be electrically conductive in this embodiment, or contact with the non-conductive area, which is designed to be electrically non-conductive in this embodiment. The drive device moves the control element such that the surface moves relative to the contact element contacting the surface, in particular such that a rotation about the axis of rotation of the control element is carried out, with the contact element sliding or rubbing on the surface.

Depending on how the conductive area and the non-conductive area are arranged or distributed geometrically on the control element, there is contact between the contact element and the conductive area or the contact element and the non-conductive area. Due to the relative movement between the control element and the contact element, contacting of the conductive area and the non-conductive area by the contact element may deviate over time or over a rotation of the control element, resulting in a defined on-off ratio of the generated electrical signal. Depending on how long the contact time between the contact element and the conductive area and the non-conductive area is, the defined pulse width results, in particular the pulse width of the on-component in relation to the length of the conducting region and the off-component in relation to the length of the non-conducting region. Of course, the pulse widths also depend on the speed, but the ratio is determined by the length of the areas, for example in the circumferential direction.

As already described above, the contact element is preferably designed as a sliding contact. The contact element can be designed, for example, as a brush, in particular as a carbon brush. The contact element is spring-mounted, in particular, so that compensation for wear or a different positioning can be compensated for by the fact that the contact element is not applied to the control element. The control element can be designed as a control disk, for example, so that the contact element makes contact with the surface of the disk on which the conductive area and non-conductive area are arranged geometrically distributed in a correspondingly defined manner. It is also possible for the control element to be in the form of a control cylinder, with the surface resulting in the lateral surface. Of course, multiple surfaces of the control element can also be used to arrange corresponding conductive areas and non-conductive areas on which multiple contact elements are arranged or at least one contact element per surface. In this case, several contact elements can also be assigned to the same surface, for example in the sense of redundancy.

The at least one control element can also have at least one pure conductive area in at least one contact position, in particular radially on the outside or in a first axial position, and/or in at least one contact position, in particular radially on the inside or in a second axial position, at least one pure non-conductive area. The terms "radially inside" and "radially outside" naturally refer to the axis of rotation of the control element, for example the axis of symmetry of the control disc. The different axial positions refer to the longitudinal axis of a control cylinder or a suitably similar shape. The positions described can also be reversed, so that the purely non-conductive area is radially on the outside and the purely conductive area is radially on the inside. This offers the advantage that the contact element can be moved accordingly into the purely conductive areas or non-conductive areas, for example in order to generate a constant on signal or off signal.

In this case, an intermediate area can result between the purely conductive area and the purely non-conductive area or such an intermediate area can be provided and configured, in which intermediate area the proportion of the contact between the contact element and the conductive area distributed over a rotation of the control element can be changed depending on the contact position, in particular increasing from radially inwards outwards or from the second axial position into the first axial position. A reversal of the arrangement is of course also possible. The change in the proportion is preferably continuous, but can also be chosen to be non-linear. It is thus provided that between the pure conductive area and the pure non-conductive area there is an intermediate area which, depending on the position, for example radial positions or axial position, has a different ratio between the conductive area and the non-conductive area.

For example, based on a control disc, starting from a pure control area, in which the control area is arranged without interruption in the circumferential direction, and thus a complete and exclusive portion of the control area is given, the control area can decrease in the intermediate area. If you move from the corresponding radial position on which the purely conductive area is arranged in the direction of the purely non-conductive area, the proportion of the non-conductive area increases compared to the proportion of the conductive area until the pure non-conductive area is reached. Advantageously, the contact element can thus be moved precisely to that position which has the desired ratio between the conductive area and the non-conductive area. The preceding description can of course be transferred to conducting areas and non-conducting areas that are arranged differently, for example axially.

According to a further configuration of the device, at least two contact elements can be provided, with at least two contact elements each being coupled to a separate actuator and/or at least two contact elements being coupled to the same actuator by means of a control linkage. It is possible to provide several signal inputs and several signal outputs or to provide the individual contact elements redundantly. The device can thus be designed specifically for one phase or for multiple phases, for example for two-phase or three-phase electrical machines. In this case, separate contact elements can be formed for each of the phases of the electrical machine. The individual contact elements can thus be controlled separately and individually by individual actuators. It is also possible to move redundant contact elements or contact elements belonging to the same phase with the same actuator, for example via a control linkage.

At least one control element can have at least two surfaces, each with at least one conductive area and one non-conductive area. Provision can also be made for the signal-generating device to have at least two control elements, in particular control discs, each of which has at least one surface, with the distribution of the guide area being the same or different in the different surfaces. In principle, it is thus possible to provide at least one control element which has at least two surfaces, each of the surfaces having at least one conductive area and one non-conductive area. The conductive areas and non-conductive areas can alternate in the circumferential direction. In this case, in particular, a plurality of conductive regions and a plurality of non-conductive regions can be assigned to the same surface, which are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction on the surface, for example similar to slices of cake. In addition, a control disk can be designed that provides two surfaces, in particular the upper side and underside of the control disk, on which the arrangement of the individual conducting areas and non-conducting areas is given. The surfaces can differ in the geometry and the distribution and the number of conductive areas and non-conductive areas.

It is also possible for at least two control elements, for example two control discs, to be provided, which have one or more surfaces with conducting areas and non-conducting areas. The distribution of the conductive areas and non-conductive areas or their number can differ in the individual surfaces. Of course, any combination of multiple controls and controls that have multiple surfaces are possible.

The device described can also be further developed such that the signal generating device comprises a cam gear and the control element is designed as a cam drum which has a geometry that is asymmetrical in relation to the axis of rotation, with a radial distance between the surface of the cam drum and the axis of rotation between two circumferential positions and/or is different between two axial positions. As already described at the outset, it is evident that the conductive areas and non-conductive areas on the control element do not actually have to be designed to be electrically conductive or non-conductive.

In the case of the cam mechanism described, the ON signal is generated accordingly when the cam mechanism, in particular the cam drum, is in an alignment intended for this purpose. The cam drum is here purely geometrically capable of generating the signal or not, namely depending on how the cam drum is aligned and the radial distance of the surface from the axis of rotation of the cam drum is designed accordingly. The cam drum is designed asymmetrically in particular in the circumferential direction and is also designed asymmetrically in the axial direction. The cam drum can be continuous, i.e. the transitions of the individual asymmetrical areas merge continuously, i.e. in particular without steps in the axial direction or in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, at least one area that is symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation can be provided, for example for a constant on signal.

As previously described, the contact element also makes contact with the control element, ie the surface of the cam drum, and is deflected by the cam drum, depending on the circumferential position and axial position in which the contact element rests on the cam drum. If the radial distance exceeds a minimum amount by which the contact element is deflected, the signal is switched on or passed through. If the distance falls below the minimum, no signal is generated or the signal is switched off. This in turn results in the characteristic on-off signal. The relationship between switching on and off as well as the pulse width can consequently be defined by the configuration of the geometry of the cam drum.

For this purpose, the at least one contact element can be in the form of a swivel arm or have at least one swivel arm which, in particular by means of a driven cam wheel, is connected to the surface of the cam drum to generate the signal, with an electrical connection being established depending on a minimum deflection of the swivel arm when contacting a conductive area can be closed between signal input and signal output. A conductive area is therefore present when the swivel arm is deflected by at least the minimum deflection when it makes contact with the conductive area and the signal is generated. The swivel arm thus contacts the surface of the cam drum via the cam driven wheel or directly and is thus deflected, depending on the radial distance of the current segment of the cam drum at which the cam drum is contacted by the contact element. If the minimum distance from the axis of rotation of the cam drum is exceeded, so that the swivel arm performs a minimum deflection, the contact closes and the signal is generated. For this purpose, the contact element or the pivoting arm can be moved axially along the cam drum, so that the pivoting arm can be adjusted into different axial positions as a contact position.

Since there are different geometries of the cam drum in the different axial positions, different conditions with regard to switching on and off and thus a pulse width or pulse sequence can be generated. In the case of the cam drum, those areas of the surface of the cam drum form light areas where the swivel arm reaches the minimum deflection and the signal is thus generated or switched on, and those areas of the surface of the cam drum form non-conductive areas where the corresponding minimum deflection is not reached.

The invention also relates to an arrangement of the device described with a device to which the device outputs the signal. Such a device can ultimately be any desired electrical device to which the electrical signal is to be supplied, which in particular has a defined pulse sequence and pulse width. Example arrangements may include the device and an electric machine. The electrical machine can be designed in particular as a direct current, alternating current or universal motor. It is also possible to design the electrical machine as a multiphase motor, in particular when a phase control and pole reversing device, for example an internal one, is additionally provided.

Of course, all the advantages, details and features that have been described in relation to the device can be fully transferred to the arrangement.

• 1 eine Vorrichtung nach einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 2 eine Vorrichtung nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 3 eine Vorrichtung nach einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 4 eine Vorrichtung nach einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 5 eine Vorrichtung nach einem fünften Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 6 die Vorrichtung von 5 in umgekehrter Darstellung.

The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. The figures are schematic representations and show:

• 1 an apparatus according to a first embodiment;
• 2 an apparatus according to a second embodiment;
• 3 an apparatus according to a third embodiment;
• 4 an apparatus according to a fourth embodiment;
• 5 an apparatus according to a fifth embodiment; and
• 6 the device of 5 in reverse representation.

1 shows a device 1 for generating an electrical signal of defined pulse width. the 1 comprises a signal input 2 and a signal output 3. In the following description, the signal input 2 is understood as the input of an electrical signal, for example a connection to an energy source that provides a constant electrical signal. The signal output 3 is understood as the output via which the electrical signal generated by the device 1 is output, for example supplied to an electrical device. Signal input 2 and signal output 3 are of course interchangeable and the corresponding description can be used or transferred in reverse.

The device 1 also includes a signal generating device 4 which is designed to generate the electrical signal. The signal generating device 4 includes a control element 5 which can be driven by a drive device 6 . In this case, the drive device 6 is designed as a separate drive device 6 . It is also possible that the control element 5 is operated by means of the electrical device to which the signal is supplied. If the electrical device is an electrical machine, for example, it can be used to drive the control element 5 . In this case, in particular, a transmission can also be provided between the electrical machine and the control element 5 in order to adjust the speed.

The control element 5 is contacted with two contact elements 7 in this exemplary embodiment. It is also possible to use only a single contact element 7 . The contact element 7 makes contact with a surface 8 of the control element 5. For example, the contact element 7 is designed as a spring-loaded carbon brush and is therefore able to produce an electrical connection. The control element 5 also has at least one conductive area 9 and a non-conductive area 10, which in this exemplary embodiment are designed to be conductive (conductive area 9) and non-conductive (non-conductive area 10). In particular, here the conductive area 9 is electrically conductive and the non-conductive area 10 is electrically non-conductive. The geometry or the shape and the distribution of the non-conductive area 10 and the conductive area 9 is to be understood merely as an example. Of course, any other shape, division and geometry of conductive area 9 and non-conductive area 10 can be selected.

The conducting area 9 is contacted by an input contact 11 which, in this exemplary embodiment, is arranged on the axis of rotation of the control element 5 and can be understood as a peg-shaped extension or connection of the conducting area 9 . In turn, contact elements 12 are arranged on the input contact 11 , which can also be in the form of carbon brushes and are connected to the signal output 3 . The elec The physical connection between the input contact 11 and the conductive area 9 is routed below the non-conductive area 10 so that when the contact elements 7 make contact with the non-conductive area 10, no electrical connection to the non-conductive area 9 or the input contact 11 can be established. For example, the connection is routed axially through the non-conductive area 10 to the conductive area 9 .

To generate the defined electrical signal or the electrical signal with a defined pulse width and defined pulse length, the drive device 6 can generate a rotational movement of the control element 5 about an axis of rotation, which can represent an axis of symmetry of the control element 5 . The rotational movement creates a relative movement between the contact elements 7 and the surface 8 of the control element 5, so that the contacting of the contact element 7 on the conductive area 9 and the non-conductive area 10 alternate. As can be seen, this generates an electrical signal which alternates between an on state and an off state. The pulse width and the pulse length are influenced in particular by the distribution between the conducting area 9 and the non-conducting area 10 and the speed of the control element 5 .

To further influence the generation of the electrical signal, actuators 13 are provided, which are connected to the contact elements 7 and can move them, linearly in this exemplary embodiment, relative to the control element 5 . Accordingly, the contact elements 7 can be moved into different contact positions. For example, these can be moved to different radial positions in relation to the axis of rotation of the control element 5 . Since the distribution of the conductive area 9 and the non-conductive area 10 is different for different radial positions, it is thus possible to generate different electrical signals, in particular different ratios between switching on and switching off the electrical signal. As an alternative to individual actuators 13, which are assigned to the individual contact elements 7, it is also possible to assign two or more contact elements 7 to a single actuator 13 and forward or synchronize the corresponding movement via a control linkage.

In the embodiment shown, a purely non-conductive area 14 is also provided in a radially inner area, in which the contact element 7, when it is in this radial position, has continuous contact with the non-conductive area 10, in particular over a full rotation of the control element 5. Accordingly, a pure conductive area 15 is provided, namely in a radially outer area in relation to the axis of rotation of the control element 5. If contact is made with the contact element 7 in the pure conductive area 15, a signal is continuously generated.

2 shows a device 1 in a to 1 Similar representation, in which three pairs of contact elements 7, 7', 7" are shown, which are arranged in pairs around the axis of rotation of the control element 5. The contact elements 7, 7', 7" are assigned corresponding actuators 13, 13', 13". The basic description of the principle from 1 is thus fully dependent on the execution 2 transferable. In addition, it is possible here to operate different phases of a multi-phase motor with the electrical signal. The individual contact elements 7, 7′, 7″ can be assigned individual signal outputs which can be connected to the respective phases. Other applications than multi-phase motors are of course also possible.

3 shows a device 1, which is also part of the device 1 from 1 is similar. The device 1 in 3 has three control elements 5, which basically belong to the device 1 in 1 are constructed identically. The basic description is therefore of 1 transferable. Different signal outputs can in turn be assigned to the individual contact elements 7, 7', 7". The signal inputs can be identical or different for all three control elements 8. The non-conductive areas 10 and conductive areas 9 can be designed identically or differently for the individual control elements 8. In particular, their Distribution, arrangement, number, geometry, alignment, orientation and the like can optionally be different or the same. Of course, any combinations are possible. The device 1 can be assigned a single drive device 6. It is also possible to assign the individual control elements 8 different drive devices 6 Likewise, the actuators 13, 13', 13" can be actuated differently or the contact elements 7, 7', 7" can be moved synchronously.

4 shows a device 1 according to a fourth embodiment. At the in 4 Device 1 shown, the control element 5 is designed as a control cylinder and not as a control disc, as in the previous embodiments. However, the basic structure corresponds to the previous explanations and can therefore be transferred analogously. The surface 8 of the control element 5 is the outer surface of the cylinder and in turn has a conductive area 9 and a non-conductive area 10 . The conducting area 9 is connected to the input contact 11 , an input signal being applied to the signal input 2 via contact elements 12 the control area 9 can be directed. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the conductive area 9 is again formed from an electrically conductive material and the non-conductive area 10 is made from an electrically insulating or non-conductive material. The surface 8 of the control element 5 is in turn contacted by contact elements 7, which in this exemplary embodiment are in turn designed as sliding contacts.

The contact elements 7 are connected to the signal output 3 and can be moved into different axial positions along the longitudinal axis of the control element 5 by means of actuators 13 . The signal introduced via the signal input 2 is thus transmitted via the contact elements 12 to the signal input 11 and thus to the conducting area 9 . If the contact elements 7 come into contact with the conducting area 9, the signal is passed through to the signal output 3. The drive device 6 is intended to rotate the control element 5 about its longitudinal axis, so that the surface 8 of the control element 5 moves relative to the contact elements 7 . Depending on where the contact elements 7 contact the surface 8, a corresponding on-off signal will result due to the rotation of the surface 8, since the contact elements 7, depending on the axial position, alternately move the conductive area 9 and contact the non-conductive area 10.

The surface 8 in turn has a purely non-conductive area 14 and a purely conductive area 15, which are arranged in different axial positions, in particular at the opposite axial ends of the control element 5. Here, too, an intermediate area is provided between the purely conductive area 15 and the purely non-conductive area 14, in which the portion of the non-conductive region 10 increases continuously from the purely conductive region 15 to the purely non-conductive region 14, in particular from one axial end position to the other axial end position. Deviating from the geometry of the control element 5, the basic function of the device 1 with the device 1 can be seen 1 comparable. It is thus supplementary to the description 1 referred.

the 5 and 6 show a device 1 according to a fifth embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the conductive areas and the non-conductive areas are not necessarily electrically conductive or made of conductive or non-conductive material, but the conductive areas and non-conductive areas are characterized in that they radially space the contact element 7 at different distances with respect to an axis of rotation B. The material and the conductivity of the conductive areas and non-conductive areas is therefore arbitrary in this embodiment.

The contact element 7 is designed with a swivel arm or includes one that can be swiveled about the axis A essentially. For this purpose, it is provided in particular that a driven cam wheel 16 rolls on the surface 8 of the control element 5 and thus, depending on how far the contacted surface segment of the surface 8 of the control element 5 is at a distance from the axis B at the current position, a corresponding deflection of the contact element 7 makes. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control element 5 is designed as a cam drum and is therefore asymmetrical both in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction, in particular in relation to the axis B, about which the control element 5 is rotatably mounted by the drive device 6 . Thus, with a full rotation of the control element 5, the swivel arm of the contact element 7 is deflected to different extents.

In this case, the swivel arm, that is to say the contact element 7, is mechanically coupled to a contact 17 which is closed when the contact element 7 has a corresponding minimum deflection. In other words, the drive device 6 is used to rotate the control element 5 , ie the cam drum 5 of the cam gear, so that the cam driven wheel 16 rolls on the surface 8 . The contact element 7 is deflected according to the radial distance between the lateral surface 8 and the axis of rotation B and closes the contact 17 when a minimum deflection is reached. When the contact 17 is closed, the signal is switched on, when the contact 17 is open, the signal is switched off, so that the characteristic electrical signal results from the rotation of the control element 5 in turn.

Since the cam drum, ie the control element 5, is designed asymmetrically both in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction, the contact element 7 can be moved via the actuator 13 into different axial positions along the axis A and thus be able to generate different characteristic signals. The contact 17 or one of the poles can be connected to the signal input and the signal output (not shown). The basic principle can therefore be transferred from one of the preceding embodiments.

The advantages, details and features shown in the individual figures can, of course, be combined with one another as desired, interchanged with one another and transferred to one another, in particular insofar as this is technically sensible.

Reference List

1

contraption

2

signal input

3

signal output

4

signal generating device

5

control

6

drive device

7

contact element

8th

control

9

control area

10

non-conductive area

11

input contact

12

contact element

13

actuator

14

pure non-conductive area

15

pure control area

16

cam output gear

17

Contact

Claims (10)

Device (1) for generating an electrical signal with a defined pulse width, comprising a signal input (2) and a signal output (3) for outputting the generated electrical signal and a signal generating device (4) designed to generate the electrical signal, which has at least one drive device ( 6) has a drivable or driven control element (5), which is in contact with at least one contact element (7, 12) to generate the electrical signal, the control element (5) having at least one conductive area (9) and at least one non-conductive area (10) and the signal generating device (4) is designed to generate the electrical signal based on a relative position and/or a relative movement between the contact element (7, 12) and the control element (5). Device (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one contact element (7, 12) can be moved into at least two different contact positions by means of at least one actuator (13), with a geometric distribution of the non-conductive area (10) and the conductive area (9) of the at least one control element (5 ) is different in the at least two different contact positions. Device (1) after claim 1 or 2 characterized by an input contact (11) designed as a sliding contact and electrically connected to the conducting area (9), in particular arranged on or in the area of the axis of rotation. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one control element (5) is contacted on at least one surface (8) of the at least one contact element (7, 12) and has at least one electrically conductive area as a conducting area (9 ) and at least one electrically non-conductive area as a non-conductive area (10), the surface (8) being rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the at least one contact element (7, 12) by means of the drive device (6). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one control element (5) in at least one contact position, in particular radially on the outside or at a first axial position, has at least one purely conducting region (15) and/or in at least one contact position, in particular radially on the inside or at a second axial position, has at least one purely non-conductive area (14). Device (1) after claim 5 , characterized in that in an intermediate area between the purely conductive area (15) and the purely non-conductive area (14), the portion of the contact between the contact element (7, 12) and the conductive area (9) distributed over a rotation of the control element (5) in Dependence of the contact position is variable, in particular from radially inwards outwards or from the second axial position to the first axial position increases. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least two contact elements (7, 12), wherein at least two contact elements (7, 12) are each coupled to a separate actuator (13) and/or at least two contact elements (7, 12 ) are coupled to the same actuator (13) by means of a control linkage. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one control element (5) has at least two surfaces (8), each with at least one conductive area (9) and a non-conductive area (10), or that the signal generating device (4) has at least two Control elements (5), in particular control discs, each having at least one surface (8), the distribution of the guide area (9) being the same or different in the different surfaces (8). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal generating device (4) comprises a cam gear and the control element (5) is designed as a cam drum which has a geometry which is asymmetrical in relation to the axis of rotation (A), with a radial distance of the surface (8) of the cam drum is different from the axis of rotation (A) between two circumferential positions and/or between two axial positions. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one contact element (7, 12) has a swivel arm which, in particular by means of a driven cam wheel (16), is connected to the surface (8) of the cam drum in order to generate the signal There is a connection, with an electrical connection between the signal input (2) and signal output (3) being able to be closed depending on a minimum deflection of the swivel arm when contact is made with a conductive area (9).

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