EP0920081B1 - Rotary switch or resistor - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rotary switch or resistor for controls of ventilation, heating or air conditioning systems in motor vehicles.

Such controls are used in the dashboard or in the vehicle's uprights in tight spaces and therefore may not exceed a certain size. As automation of mass-produced article production is increasing, there is a need for a design that is suitable for automated manufacturing and also has small dimensions.

From DE 3122941 a step rotary switch is known with a bottom plate which is connected by means of an elastic contact body with a printed circuit board.

From DE 29 14 953 A1 a proposal for this is already known, in which an elastically yielding contact strip for electrically conductive connection of two conductor track groups is arranged in two partially overlapping planes arranged conductor carriers, wherein the contact portions of the contact strip are provided with a thin electrically conductive layer , The contact strip should be inserted between the conductor carrier, which in turn by suitable means, for. B. by means of plug frames or the like, are fixed in the correct position to each other.

The contact strip described here as a roller-shaped is not suitable for a process-safe manufacturing operation, the fixation of the conductor carrier to each other is very expensive.

Proceeding from this, the present invention seeks to design a specified in the preamble of claim 1 rotary switch or resistor such that a process-safe production, a simplified fixation of the conductor carrier to each other and a reduction of the required space can be achieved.

This object has been solved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous developments are specified by the subclaims.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described below.

• Fig. 1
  einen Schnitt durch einen Drehknopf eines Drehschalters oder -widerstandes;
• Fig. 2
  einen Schnitt durch den Drehschalter -oder widerstand nach Fig. 1.

The drawing shows:

• Fig. 1
  a section through a knob of a rotary switch or resistor;
• Fig. 2
  a section through the rotary switch -or resistor according to FIG. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a section through a knob 1 of a rotary switch or resistor for controls of ventilation, heating or air conditioning systems in motor vehicles, formed from a first housing-fixed base plate 3 with connector sockets 4 and a second base plate 5 with conductor tracks 6, wherein connector sockets. 4 and conductor tracks 6 are electrically conductively connected in an overlapping region 7 via elastic compliant contact elements 8.

The knob 1 protrudes with Mitnehmeransätzen 9 in between the base plates 3, 5 existing space 10 which is filled by a switching or resistance device 11, which is adjusted by the Mitnehmeransätze 9.

It is envisaged that the contact elements 8 are formed by elastomer balls or rollers 12 which have an electrically conductive layer and are elastically deformed in the installed state and effect with their restoring force locking of Verklippselementen 13, which consist between the two base plates 3, 5 , The elastomeric balls or rollers 12 are arranged uniformly distributed on the circumference of the base plates 3, 5 and the Verklippselemente 13 in the center of the base plates 3, 5. Further elastomer balls or rollers 14 can cause a contacting of leads 15 with the tracks 6, but themselves need not be coated electrically conductive.

The embodiment shows Anschlußleiter15 of several light emitting diodes 16, which are pressed over the non-conductive elastomer balls or rollers 14 for electrical contacting against the conductor track 6.

Fig. 2 shows a view of the base plate 5 with the interconnects shown hatched 6 and series resistors 17 for the light emitting diodes 16 and resistor or slider tracks 18, which are traversed by a switch grinder (not shown). The series resistors 17 may be printed, vapor-deposited or painted on.

The elastomer balls or rollers 12, 14 are shown schematically as circles, wherein the elastomer balls or rollers 12 cooperate with the connector strips 4. In the center of the base plate 5, the Verklippselemente 13 are shown, which are in the locking position with a Verklippsansatz 19. The restoring force of the deformed elastomeric balls or rollers 12, 14 causes a locking force which is supported by the Verklippsansätzen 19.
A front panel frames the knob 1 and carries a symbolism 21, which is illuminated by a light guide assembly 22.

As shown in Fig. 1, the elastomer balls or rollers 12, 14 rest in recesses 23 of the first base plate, i. H. these are before mounting the base plates 3, 5 by z. B. inserted a machine.

With the inventive measures an automatic production has been achieved, the design is very simple and requires little space.

Claims (2)

1. Rotary switch or potentiometer for control elements for ventilation, heating or air-conditioning units in motor vehicles, formed from a first base plate (3), fixed to a housing, with connection plug tracks (4) and a second base plate (5) with conductor tracks (6), the connection plug tracks (4) and the conductor tracks (6) being electrically conductively connected in a region of overlap (7) via elastic, flexible contact elements, characterized in that the contact elements (8) are formed by elastomeric spheres or rolls (12) which have an electrically conductive layer and are elastically deformed in the installed state and, with their resetting force, cause clip elements (13) provided between the two base plates (3, 5) to latch.
2. Rotary switch or potentiometer according to Claim 1, characterized in that the elastomeric spheres or rolls are arranged such that they are distributed evenly over the circumference of the base plate (3, 5), and the clip elements (13) in the centre of the base plates (3, 5).

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