EP3956535A1

EP3956535A1 - Actuating device for vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP3956535A1
Application number: EP20714152.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Julian Genter; Jan-Philipp RAHMEDE
Original assignee: Huf Huelsbeck and Fuerst GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Huf Huelsbeck and Fuerst GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2019-07-18
Filing date: 2020-03-18
Publication date: 2022-02-23
Also published as: WO2021008740A1; DE102019119467A1; CN114174622A

Abstract

An actuating device for a vehicle, having a circuit board (4; 14; 24) on which a force-actuated switching element (5a, 5b; 16; 26a, 26b) is arranged. The circuit board (4; 14; 24) is mounted in a receptacle (1; 11; 20), and a flexible protective cover (7) is arranged adjacent to the force-actuated switching element (5a, 5b; 16; 26a, 26b), through which flexible protective cover (7) the switching element (5a; 5b; 16; 26a, 26b) can be actuated with deformation of the protective cover (7). The receptacle (1; 11; 20) has a first section (3; 23) with a first elasticity, which first section (3; 23) is coupled to a further section (2; 15) with a second, lower elasticity. The circuit board (4; 14; 24) is held in the first section (3; 23) in a rest position and, in the event of an action of force on the switching element (5a, 5b; 16; 26a, 26b), deflects in the direction of the action of force with deformation of the first section (3; 23). The resetting force, acting on the circuit board (4; 14; 24), of the first section (3; 23) relative to the further section is, in the case of deflections out of the rest position of the circuit board, lower than a maximum admissible actuating force of the switching element.

Description

Actuator for vehicles

The invention relates to an actuating device for

Vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to a

Actuating device for doors, hoods or flaps of

Vehicles, wherein a circuit board is provided on the

at least one power-operated switching element is arranged. The board is stored in a holder and is flexible

Protective cover is adjacent to the power operated

Switching element arranged so that the switching element under

Deformation of the protective cover can be actuated in the direction of the switching element.

Motor vehicles have at their closable openings, in particular in the areas of the tailgate or the side doors, actuating devices which can be operated

Can register a user's wish to operate.

For example, the document EP 1 468 152 B1 discloses a closure of this type, which is provided for arrangement on the tailgate of a vehicle. The unit of the

Actuating device has a receptacle for a circuit board on which a power-operated switching element (for example a microswitch) is arranged. To protect against

Environmental influences, dirt and moisture, a flexible protective cover, for example an elastomeric skin, is arranged over or on the receptacle in such a way that a user has access to this protective cover and can press it in and deform it in order to close the switching element below

actuate .

In such devices, however, the problem arises that users apply high operating forces to the device. This is due in particular to the fact that users, in particular when opening mechanical components

larger mechanical components such as tailgates, one considerably Exercise greater operator force than is required for electronic detection. In the prior art, such as in the aforementioned document, force-limiting measures are proposed to the switching elements of the

To protect actuating devices.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved

To provide actuating device for motor vehicles.

This object is achieved by an actuating device with the features of patent claim 1.

According to the invention is the actuating device

Recording formed from at least two sections. A first of these sections is designed with a first elasticity and coupled to a further section with a second, lower elasticity. The board is only in direct contact with the first section and is held by this in a rest position with respect to the further section.

When force acts on the switching element, the circuit board is moved in the direction of the force and deforms the first section in the direction of the force in relation to the other

Section .

With regard to its elasticity, the first section is designed in such a way that the one acting on the board

The restoring force of the first section in relation to the further section in the event of deflections from the rest position of the plate is less than a maximum permissible actuating force of the

Switching element.

Providing the greater elasticity of the first

Section that holds the board, compared to the second section, can be achieved by choosing different materials or by different geometry. Geometry includes in particular variations in material thicknesses,

Material recesses and formed deformation areas too understand which increase the elasticity of the first section compared to the elasticity of the second section.

If a force is applied to the switching element, this exerts a force on the underlying circuit board on which the switching element is mounted. The action of force on the board deforms the first, more elastic section, which is in contact with the board, in the direction of the action of the force

compared to the further section with less elasticity. The circuit board itself, which carries the power-operated switching element, is coupled to the first section in such a way that a spring-loaded movement path is formed for the circuit board. According to the invention, the receptacle is thus designed in such a way that the entire circuit board, including the power-operated switching element, yields to the effect of a force and gives way while deforming the first section. This assumes that all components electronically connected to the circuit board follow this path of movement, in particular by sufficient cable allowances or suitable connecting means such as. B. sliding contacts.

Power-operated switching elements, for example microswitches, have a maximum permissible operating force that is either specified by the manufacturer or can be determined in simple tests. The elastic mounting of the circuit board in the receptacle is designed so that the first section yields elastically in the event of excessive actuation force and the entire circuit board with the switching element is displaced in the receptacle, returning to its position after the actuation force has ceased

Rest position is pushed. The first elastic section thus serves both for the spatial fixation of the circuit board with respect to the receptacle and for relieving the suspension of the circuit board against excessive actuation forces.

The geometry of the first elastic section and its material are relevant to those acting on the board

Restoring forces and wall thicknesses selected such that the restoring force of the first section acting on the plate is at least at the beginning of the deformation, i.e. when the deflection starts from the rest position, is less than a maximum permissible

Actuating force of the switching element. Since the actuation of the switching element with appropriate actuation forces

must be guaranteed, the restoring force that acts on the board when a force is applied to the switching element, along the evasive path of the board is greater than the minimum required actuation force for the switching element. This means that when the switching element is actuated with an actuating force which is the minimum force required to trigger the switching element, it is only slightly

exceeds, no or only a slight movement of the

Plate takes place against the restoring forces of the elastic sections of the recording.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a first elastic section is formed from a first elastic soft material. The first elastic section is in turn connected to the further section and fastened in it. The first elastic section has a lower Shore hardness (in particular Shore A hardness) than the further section and is thus deformable under less force than the further section.

The geometry of the first elastic section and the elastic soft material from which the first section is formed are in turn selected with regard to the restoring forces and wall thicknesses acting on the plate so that the restoring force of the soft material acting on the plate is at least at the beginning of the deformation, i.e. at incipient

Deflection from the rest position is less than a maximum permissible actuation force of the switching element.

All dimensionally stable, elastically deformable plastics can be used as elastic soft materials, in particular

thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). The restoring force acting on the plate is essentially dependent on the geometry of the first elastic section, which consists of the elastic Soft material is formed and the circuit board carries and of the properties of the elastic soft material, in particular its hardness. Soft materials are classified based on their Shore hardness. The selected Shore hardnesses and geometries are dependent on the permitted ones

Actuating forces reciprocally, so that a desired

Restoring effect both through geometric measures, for example adjusting the wall thickness of the soft material

manufactured section of the recording, can be adjusted, as well as by a different choice of material with a different Shore hardness.

The invention also ensures that the

The operating force does not need to be reduced by further measures, but rather the entire sensitive electronic components if the operating force is excessive,

including the power-operated switching element and the

Board, an actuating force can evade and thus be protected. This ensures at all times that the circuit board and the power-operated switching element also move

repeated, vigorous exercise, at any time into one

Move back the intended starting position for an actuation, so that actuations over a wide range of

Operating forces are ensured. Continue to be

mechanical limiting elements (e.g. stops) that exert a force on the switching element are not absolutely necessary

reduce so that the area between the flexible

Protective cover and the power-operated switching element can largely remain free, which improves the ability to operate and the haptic feedback for a user. The evasion of the circuit board takes place driven by the actuation force, so that an improved haptic feedback is generated for a user, which at the same time protects the switching element from excessive force.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first elastic section of the receptacle forms an enclosure, in which the board is accommodated at least in sections along its circumferential edge.

Such a border can for example by

be formed lateral bearings which are fastened in the further receptacle and have the grooves into which the board is inserted so that they can, for example, with their

Long sides or short sides facing away from each other is inserted along their edge into the grooves and is held elastically therein. However, such a recording can also

for example, openings in the board reach through or the board can be placed on pins that are formed from the elastic soft material, so that the board

Is held in the soft material so that it cannot move and at the same time can evade the actuating force by compressing or bending the pins.

The first elastic section is preferably of this type

designed that the board is completely encompassed along a circumferential line.

The complete enclosure of the board along its

Edges, for example by pushing into corresponding grooves in the soft material of the first elastic section or by inserting the board in a corresponding recess in the soft material, ensures a spatially reproduced position of the board relative to the soft material and also protects the board against lateral mechanical influences. The other, harder sections of the recording can be called

mechanical protection in the form of a housing or a

Be formed mounting portion for fixing on a vehicle.

In a preferred development of the invention, the soft material of the first elastic section protrudes on a flat side of the circuit board facing away from the switching element in such a way that the soft material and the circuit board penetrate together Potting frame is formed in which a potting compound

is filled to cover the board in sections.

The potting of a circuit board has proven itself in numerous

technical applications as protection against environmental influences and damage. The back of the circuit board, that is to say the side facing away from the switching element under the action of force, can be protected by the potting, with the use of the soft material as a potting mold on the circuit board being further

Makes components superfluous and also the necessary ones

Potting amount reduced to the bare minimum.

In a further development of the invention, a mechanical stop is formed on the receptacle, which deflects the plate when the section is deformed from the first

elastic soft material limited.

In principle, with regard to its elastic mounting of the board, the actuating device should be designed in such a way that a mechanical stop is not used

is required. Nevertheless, it can be clearly

Excessive forces make sense to limit the deflection of the board to a maximum, even if this may result in a greater load on the switching element. In this way, however, other components, for example electronic components on the circuit board, can be protected from damage, the replacement of which is more expensive and complex than the replacement of the switching element.

As mentioned above, the selection of the hardness of the elastic soft material depends to a large extent on the selected geometry of the receptacle and the section made of the soft material with which the circuit board is coupled for elastic mounting. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, this is

Soft material with a Shore A hardness of 5 to 50, with a hardness between 10 and 30 being preferred. A

lower Shore hardness has a greater resilience

PCB storage result, which in terms of the protection of a Pressure switch is positive, but to a desired one

Pressure point of a switching element is to be coordinated. With Shore hardnesses of more than 35, the suspension must be designed with sections of small thickness and thus filigree, which is a

mechanical resilience reduced.

The further section of the receptacle is preferably formed from a material with a Shore A hardness of at least 60, preferably at least 95, to ensure a mechanical protective effect.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing:

Figure la shows schematically a sectional view of a first embodiment of an inventive

Actuator;

Figure lb shows a schematic plan view of the arrangement from Figure la with the protective cover removed;

Figure lc shows schematically the actuation of the

Actuating device from Figures la and lb;

Figure 2a shows schematically a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention

Actuator;

Figure 2b shows schematically the actuation of the

Actuating device from Figure 2a;

Figure 3 shows schematically a third embodiment of the actuating device according to the invention.

In Figure la is a first embodiment of the

Actuating device according to the invention shown. A receptacle 1 is designed as a housing in its outer design. The receptacle 1 has a hard plastic section 2 and a first section 3 made of an elastic soft material. The first elastic section 3 is formed as a receiving frame and is laterally connected to the hard plastic section 2. A circuit board 4 is inserted into the receiving frame 3 and rests on it

corresponding projections 3a, 3b on the receiving frame. The board 4 is attached to the projections 3a, 3b and secured against lifting.

On the circuit board 4 microswitches 5a and 5b are arranged, which are aligned to an actuation side. An elastomeric protective cover 7 spans an opening in the

Hard plastic section 2 of the receptacle 1. The protective cover 7 is deformable when actuated by pressure, so that the protective cover 7, apart from the microswitches 5a and 5b, can be accessed by a user

can be pushed through (see below).

In Figure lb a plan view of the arrangement from Figure la is shown from the direction of the actuation side, the

Protective cover 7 is removed for better illustration. The board 4 is received along its entire edge circumference in the frame of the first elastic section 3 and is fixed in its spatial orientation. The microswitches 5a and 5b are located in an accessible manner in the central area of the receptacle so that they can be actuated in a simple manner.

FIG. 1c shows an actuation of the first embodiment, an actuation force 10 acting on the protective cover 7. The protective cover 7 is in the area of the

Microswitch 5a deforms and acts on microswitch 5a so that it is actuated. The first elastic

Section 3 made of the soft plastic material yields under the acting force 10, so that the plate 4 gives way in the left area in the direction of the force effect 10 and thus relieves the microswitch 5a. It is clearly visible that it is not the force per se that is reduced, but rather that the entire circuit board is mounted so flexibly that the circuit board can evade the operating force in the event of excessive operating forces.

Figure 2a shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this configuration, a frame is again formed as the first elastic section 3 from an elastomeric soft material. The hard plastic further section 15 of the recording is here, however is flatter and has stops 15a, 15b which limit the deflection of the receiving frame 3 made of soft material.

Figure 2b shows an actuation with deflection of the

Protective cover 7 and force acting on the switching element 16 on the circuit board 14. Due to the central arrangement of the

Switching element 16, the force 17 acts centrally on the board 14 and leads to a mutual deformation of the as

Receiving frame formed first section 3 from the

Soft material. However, the deformation is caused by the stops 15a, 15b on the hard plastic material of the further section

15 limited, in particular to provide a reliable pressure point and improved haptic feedback and also to prevent the circuit board from being pushed out of the suspension.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention. In this design, which is otherwise similar to the first embodiment, the receiving frame is the first to be more elastic

Section 23 made of the elastic soft material one

Potting frame, the rear with a potting compound 25

Areas of the board 24 covered. The rear side of the board 24 is thus protected from environmental influences, and the amount of potting material is significantly reduced compared to a complete potting. In addition, the board 24 is mechanically stabilized, which reduces the risk of damage if the board is deflected.

Claims

1. Actuating device for a vehicle with a

Plate (4; 14; 24) on which at least one power-operated switching element (5a, 5b; 16; 26a, 26b) is arranged,

wherein the board (4; 14; 24) in a receptacle (1; 11;

20) is mounted and wherein a flexible protective cover (7) is arranged adjacent to the power-operated switching element (5a, 5b; 16; 26a, 26b), so that the switching element (5a, 5b; 16; 26a, 26b) with deformation of the protective cover (7) can be actuated,

characterized,

that the receptacle (1; 11; 20) is formed with at least a first section (3; 23) with a first elasticity, which is coupled to a further section (2; 15;) with a second, lower elasticity, the

Board (4; 14; 24) is in direct contact exclusively with the first section (3; 23) and is held by this in a rest position and when force is applied to the

Switching element (5a, 5b; 16; 26a, 26b) is moved in the direction of force and thereby deforms the first section (3; 23) in the direction of the action of force with respect to the further section, the first section being designed in such a way that the circuit board ( 4; 14; 24) acting restoring force of the first section (3; 23) compared to the further section

Deflections from the rest position of the board is less than a maximum permissible actuation force of the switching element.

2. Actuator according to claim 1, wherein the first portion (3; 23) to provide the larger

At least partially made of a first material with elasticity a first Shore hardness is formed and wherein the further section (2; 15;) is formed from a second material with a second, greater Shore hardness.

3. Actuator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first portion to provide the larger

Elasticity at least partially with a lower one

Material thickness or material recesses is formed as the further section.

4. Actuating device according to one of claims 1 to

3, the first section being at least partially designed with deformation sections to provide the greater elasticity.

5. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first section (3; 23) forms an enclosure in which the board (4; 14; 24) is received along at least a portion of its edge length.

6. Actuating device according to one of claims 1 to

4, wherein the first section (3; 23) completely surrounds the circuit board (4; 14; 24) along a circumferential line and forms a suspension for the circuit board, so that the circuit board

is cantilevered in sections.

7. Actuating device according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the first section (23) on a side of the board, which faces away from the switching element, protrudes opposite the board with a peripheral edge, so that a

Potting frame is formed in which a potting compound is filled in order to cover the board in sections.

8. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle (11) has a mechanical stop

(15a, 15b), which limits the deflection of the plate when the first section (3) is deformed.

9. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first elastic section (3; 23) has a Shore A hardness of 5 to 50, preferably 10 to 25.

10. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the further section (3; 23) has a Shore A hardness of at least 60, preferably at least 95.