EP2661657B1 - Rotary/push- control device for a human-machine interface - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rotary / push-operation device for a human-machine interface, in particular for a control unit of a vehicle.

Rotary / push-operated operating devices for data input in a vehicle via a so-called human-machine interface or for operating units of a vehicle are known in the prior art. As a rule, a turn / push operating device is provided with a rotary / push element. By turning the rotary / push element letters, characters or functions are selected and confirmed by pressing. After confirming such input, a task corresponding to the input is performed.

Out DE-A-102 61 284 is a rotatable control element is known, which can be moved in the event of a force along its axis of rotation. This operating member has a toothed portion which engages with a gear to transmit the rotation of the operating member to the gear. The axis of rotation of the gear is arranged parallel and laterally to the axis of rotation of the operating element. By this measure, a movement of the operating element along its axis of rotation is possible. The toothed section preferably forms a toothed wheel itself so that a full revolution of the operating element is possible. A disadvantage of the known operating element, however, is that the rotation and the movement of the operating element axial direction is realized by the interaction of several gears and thus the construction is complex.

Out DE-A-102 12 992 is a rotatable control with a fixed inner part and a rotatable ring or sleeve member known as the outer part, which is mounted by means of a rolling bearing on the inner part.

Furthermore, in EP-A-0 282 817 a rotary / push-control unit according to the preamble of claim 1 described.

An object of the invention is to provide a human-machine interface turning / pushing operation device, the rotary push / pull operating device being provided with a simple and trouble-free construction for moving a rotating / pushing member in two orthogonal directions is.

To solve this problem, a rotary / push-control device is proposed with the invention, which is provided with the features of claim 1. Individual embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The rotary / push-operating device according to the invention is provided with a manually operable rotary / push element, which is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis by means of a rolling bearing, wherein the rotary / push element is depressible in the direction of the rotation axis and zurückbewegbar. The rolling bearing has a fixed bearing ring, a movable bearing ring and a Wälzkörperkäfig arranged therebetween, wherein the rotary / push element is coupled to the movable bearing ring such that the rotary / push element moves together with the movable bearing ring when the movable Bearing ring rotates when turning the rotary / push element or is moved axially in the direction of the axis of rotation. The Wälzkörperkäfig is provided with a plurality of rolling elements, which are arranged in at least one radial plane. The rolling elements move in a circular running channel, which is formed by the fixed bearing ring and the movable bearing ring. In this running channel, the rolling elements when rotating the rotary / push element in the circumferential direction of the two bearing rings under rolling on opposite tracks of the two bearing rings and the depression of the rotary / push element in the direction of the axis of rotation on the tracks perpendicular to the circumferential direction movable. Thus, the rolling elements are arranged in the axial direction "floating" between the raceways. A constructive simplification of the rotary / push control device according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the movement of the rotary / push element is realized in two orthogonal directions exclusively by a roller bearing.

In order to limit the movement of the rotary / push element in the direction of the extent of the axis of rotation between a starting position and a depression position, the rotary / push control device according to the invention has end stop elements.

The Endanschlagelemente can be configured in various forms. The end stop elements may for example consist of two radially projecting from the stationary bearing ring and axially spaced flanges and a protruding from the movable bearing ring stop projection which projects between the two flanges. The initial position and the depression position of the rotary / push member is then defined by abutment of the stopper projection on each one of the flanges. The arrangement of the flanges and the stopper projection on the bearing rings can also be reversed.

Alternatively, a stopper projection on the rotary / push element, e.g. also with other elements of the operating device, e.g. a front panel and a rotating / pressing member supporting plate (printed circuit board) cooperate to define the initial and Niederdrückposition.

According to the invention, the running channel has two ends in the direction of the extent of the axis of rotation, at each of which the distance between the two raceways can be reduced. In order to roll the rolling elements on the two opposite raceways, the distance between the two raceways is substantially equal to the extent of a rolling element in the radial direction of the two bearing rings. If this distance is reduced at the two ends of the running channel, the rolling elements can not penetrate into the tapered ends of the running channel. The reduced distances at the ends of the raceways thus form Endanschlagelemente.

A further variant of the invention can be seen in that the rolling bodies are essentially cylindrical bodies (for example with a cylindrical or crowned peripheral surface). When moving the rotary / push element in the direction of the axis of rotation (eg, when the rotary / push element is pressed down), these cylindrical bodies are displaced on the opposite raceways of the two bearing rings.

Advantageously, the rolling elements are balls. This has the advantage that the balls can move on the raceways in the circumferential direction of the two bearing rings as well as in the direction of the axis of rotation under unwinding. Thus, even when moving the rotary / push element in the direction of the extension of the axis of rotation between the rolling elements balls and the raceways a rolling motion instead of a sliding movement.

In order to prevent wear of the bearing by e.g. To prevent tilting torque acting on the rotary / push element, various embodiments of the rolling elements or the Wälzkörperkäfigs are possible. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the rolling elements are arranged in two spaced apart radial planes of the Wälzkörperkäfigs. Thus, the rotary / push element is mounted in the direction of extension of the axis of rotation over two spaced-apart groups of rolling elements. This can prevent any unwanted tilting of the rotary / push element. As a result, the stability of the rotating / pushing operating device increases.

It is expedient that the rotary / push element can be automatically reset by a return element of its depression position to its original position. In this restoring element may be, for example, an arbitrarily ausgestaltetes elastic element. By depressing the rotary / push element in the depression position, the return element is further biased. After releasing the rotary / push element, it can be reset by the restoring force of the return element to its original position.

Conveniently, the inventive rotary / push element is provided with at least one first sensor which detects a rotational movement and / or the current rotational position of the rotary / push element, and at least one second sensor for detecting the depression position of the rotary / push element.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer teilweise aufgeschnittenen Dreh-/Drück-Bedienvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt durch die Dreh-/Drück-Bedienvorrichtung in dem Zustand, in dem sich ihr Dreh-/Drückelement in dessen Ausgangsposition befindet,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch die Dreh-/Drück-Bedienvorrichtung in dem Zustand, in dem sich ihr Dreh-/Drückelement in dessen Niederdrückposition befindet,

Fig. 4

eine vergrößerte Ansicht des in Fig. 2 mit IV markierten Bereiches und

Fig. 5

eine vergrößerte Ansicht des in Fig. 3 mit V markierten Bereiches.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawing. In detail, they show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a partially cut rotary / push-control device,

Fig. 2

a section through the rotary / push-operation device in the state in which its rotary / push element is in its starting position,

Fig. 3

a section through the rotation / pusher operating device in the state in which its rotary / push element is in its depressed position,

Fig. 4

an enlarged view of the in Fig. 2 with IV marked area and

Fig. 5

an enlarged view of the in Fig. 3 with V marked area.

In the Fig. 1 a partially cut rotary / push-operation device 10 is shown, which has a rotary / push member 12 and a roller bearing 14 designed as a ball bearing, wherein the rotary / push member 12 rotate about an axis of rotation 15 in its circumferential direction and along this axis of rotation 15th can move. The rolling bearing 14 is provided with a (for example designed as a printed circuit board) support plate 16 fixed bearing ring 18, a movable bearing ring 20 and disposed between them Wälzkörperkäfig 22 with rolling elements 24, wherein the movable bearing ring 20 surrounds the stationary bearing ring 18 or disposed within this is. In this embodiment, the movable bearing ring 20 is formed integrally with the rotating / pushing member 12. Thus follows the movable bearing ring 20 of the manually made movement of the rotary / push member 12 both when rotating in the circumferential direction and when moving in the direction of the axis of rotation 15th

The rolling elements 24 of the rolling element cage 22 are balls 25, 26. To improve the stability of the rolling bearing 14, the balls 25, 26 are rotatably arranged in two spaced-apart radial planes of the rolling element cage 22. Suitably, two corresponding circular flow channels 27, 28 are formed on the movable bearing ring 20 and the fixed bearing ring 18 for the balls 25, 26 distributed in two planes, namely an upper run channel 27 and a lower run channel 28. The upper run channel 27 has two opposing raceways 29, 30, wherein the raceway 29 is formed by the fixed bearing ring 18 and the raceway 30 of the movable bearing ring 20. Similar to the upper running channel 27, the lower running channel 28 is likewise provided with two opposite raceways 31, 32 formed on the two bearing rings. The balls 25, 26 can roll on the respectively corresponding raceways 29, 30, 31, 32 both during rotation of the rotary / push element 12 in its circumferential direction and during depression of the rotary / push element 12 along the axis of rotation 15. The interaction of the balls 25, 26 and the raceways 29 to 32 is based on the FIGS. 4 and 5 explained in more detail.

To determine the rotational position of the rotary / push element 12, a first sensor 34, e.g. an optically operating rotational position sensor arranged on the support plate 16 which scans the rotational position of the rotary / push element 12.

For automatically resetting the rotary / push member 12 from its Niederdrückposition in its initial position, the rotary / push-control device 10 further comprises a return element 36. As in Fig. 1 As shown, the turn / push operation device 10 is provided with a return spring 38 serving as a return member 36. The return spring 38 is compressed upon depression of the rotary / push member 12 between a formed on the rotary / push member 12 sleeve 40 and a towering from the support plate 16 spring support member 42.

In order to detect whether the rotary / push element 12 has reached its depression position, the rotary / push operating device 10 has a second sensor 44. This sensor 44 may eg be arranged to detect the movement of the sleeve 40 within the two bearing rings 18, 20 (as in FIG Fig. 1 shown), or for detecting the movement of the movable bearing ring 20 outside the two bearing rings 18, 20 may be arranged.

Fig. 2 shows a section through the rotary / push-operating device 10 in the state in which its rotary / push member 12 is in its initial position. How to get out Fig. 2 can recognize, the rotary / push member 12 is biased by the return spring 38 in this starting position. The turning / pushing element 12, for example, is rotatable to select a desired function from a menu of an operator interface of a human-machine interface. Its rotational position or movement is detected by the first sensor 34. To activate the selected function, the rotary / push element 12 is depressed in the direction of its axis of rotation 15 manually to its depression position. The reaching of the depression position is detected by the second sensor 44.

The state of the ball bearing 14 in the starting position ( Fig. 2 ) and in the depressing position ( Fig. 3 ) of the rotary / push member 12 is respectively based on the FIGS. 4 and 5 explained in more detail.

As in FIGS. 4 and 5 shown, the balls 25, 26 are respectively in the upper run channel 27 and the lower run channel 28 when the rotary / push element 12 is pressed. The movement of the rotary / push element 12 in the direction of the axis of rotation 15 between the starting position and the depression position is limited by end stop elements 45. The function of the end stop elements 45 can be ensured by various possibilities. One measure is in FIGS. 4 and 5 shown. As in FIGS. 4 and 5 shown, the upper running channel 27 in extension of the axis of rotation 15 has two ends, namely an upper end 46 and a lower end 47, on each of which the distance between the two opposing raceways 29, 30 is reduced, thereby facing away from each other tapered ends 46th and 47 of the upper run channel 27 form. In the same way, the lower running channel 28 has two opposite tapered ends 48 and 49.

In the widened (middle) areas of the upper and lower running channels 27 and 28 are the ball 25 and 26, when the rotary / push member 12 moves as intended, that is rotated or depressed. Between these widened portions and the respective upper and lower ends 46, 47, 48 and 49 of the two raceways 27 and 28, the raceways 29, 30, 31 and 32 have concave transition curves 50, 52, 54 and 56. These transition curves 50, 52, 54 and 56 can, as in the FIGS. 4 and 5 shown to be formed alternately on the opposite raceways 29, 30, 31 and 32. Thus, at the lower end 47 of the flow channel 27, and Although formed at the lower end of the raceway 30, a transition curve 52. The transition curve 50 is formed at the upper end 46 of the upper raceway 27, at the upper end of the raceway 29 of the fixed bearing ring 18th

As in Fig. 4 shown, the upper balls 25, characterized in that the transition curves 50 and 52 abut the balls 25, further movement of the rotary / push member 12 via the starting position ( Fig. 4 ). In the same way, by virtue of the transition curves 54 and 56 resting on them, the lower balls 26 limit further movement of the rotary / push element 12 via the depression position (FIG. Fig. 5 ). By the above-described interaction of the balls and the transition curves so the functions of the end stop elements 45 are realized.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Rotary / push-operating device

12

Rotary / push element

14

roller bearing

15

Rotary axis of the rotary / push element

16

support plate

18

fixed bearing ring

20

movable bearing ring

22

Rolling Element

24

rolling elements

25

Balls in the upper radial plane of the Wälzkörperkäfigs

26

Balls in the lower radial plane of the Wälzkörperkäfigs

27

Upper raceway of the rolling bearing

28

lower raceway of the rolling bearing

29

upper raceway of the fixed bearing ring

30

upper raceway of the movable bearing ring

31

lower raceway of the fixed bearing ring

32

lower raceway of the movable bearing ring

34

first sensor (rotation sensor)

36

Return element

38

Return spring

40

shell

42

Spring retaining element

44

second sensor (depression sensor)

45

end stop

46

Upper end of the upper raceway

47

lower end of the upper raceway

48

upper end of the lower raceway

49

lower end of the lower raceway

50

upper transition curve in the upper raceway

52

lower transition curve in the upper raceway

54

Upper transition curve in the lower raceway

56

lower transition curve in the lower raceway

Claims (9)

1. A rotary/push operating device (10) for a man-machine interface, in particular for an operating unit of a vehicle, comprising

   - a manually operable rotary/push element (12) which can be rotated about a rotational axis (15) and which can be pushed down in the direction of the rotational axis (15),

   - a rolling-body bearing (14) defining the rotational axis (15), said rolling-body bearing (14) comprising a immobile bearing ring (18), a movable bearing ring (20), and a rolling-body cage (22) arranged between said bearing rings,

   - the rotary/push element (12) being tightly coupled to the movable bearing ring (20),

   - the rolling-body cage (22) comprising a plurality of rolling bodies (24) arranged in at least one radial plane of the rolling-body cage (22),

   characterized in that

   - the immobile bearing ring (18) and the movable bearing ring (20) forming at least one circular moving channel (27,28) in which the rolling bodies (24), upon rotation of the rotary/push element (12), are movable in the circumferential direction of the two bearing rings (18,20) with rolling movements on opposite moving tracks (29,30, 31,32) of the two bearing rings (18,20), and, when the rotary/push element (12) is being pushed, are movable in the direction of the rotational axis (15) on the moving tracks (29,30,31,32) at a right angle relative to said circumferential direction, and

   - end abutment elements (45) for limiting the movement of the rotary/push element (12) in the direction of the rotational axis (15) between a base position and a push-down position.
2. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, during movement of the rotary/push element (12) between the base position and the push-down position, said opposite moving tracks (29,30,31,32) are displaceable relative to each other in the direction of the rotational axis (15).
3. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the direction of the rotational axis (15), the moving channel (27) has two ends (46,47) on which the distance between the two moving tracks (29,30) is respectively reduced for forming the end abutment elements (45).
4. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rolling bodies (24) are substantially cylindrical bodies which during movement of the rotary/push element (12) in the direction of the rotational axis (15) are displaceable along the opposite moving tracks (29,30,31,32) of the two bearing rings (18,20).
5. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rolling bodies (24) are balls (25,26) which during movement of the rotary/push element (12) in the direction of the rotational axis (15) are movable by rolling on opposite moving tracks (29,30,31,32) of the two bearing rings (18,20).
6. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rolling bodies (24) are arranged in two mutually spaced radial planes of the rolling-body cage (22).
7. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rotary/push element (12) is automatically resettable from its push-down position into its base position by means of a resetting element (36).
8. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a first sensor (34) for detecting a rotational movement and/or the current rotary position of the rotary/push element (12).
9. The rotary/push operating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by a second sensor (44) for detecting the push-down position of the rotary/push, element (12).

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