FR3080339A1 - MOTOR VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION DEVICE PROVIDED WITH SUCH IGNITION SWITCH - Google Patents

Abstract

An ignition switch (2) of a motor vehicle comprises a conductive rotor (57) which is rotatable in response to rotation of a key (4) in a contact lock to selectively engage a stop position, a running position, a starting position and an intermediate position, which is intermediate between the stop position and the running position; the rotor (57) placing a reference connector in electrical connection with a first connector and a second connector in the intermediate position; the rotor (57) electrically connecting the reference connector with the second connector and with a third connector in the on position; and the rotor placing the reference connector in electrical connection with the third connector and with a fourth connector in the starting position. Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH AND IGNITION DEVICE PROVIDED WITH SUCH AN IGNITION SWITCH The present invention relates to a motor vehicle ignition switch.

Motor vehicles with automatic transmission are usually fitted with ignition devices which include a contact lock actuated by a key and which, for safety reasons, provide a key retaining function inside the contact lock.

This function prevents the driver from removing the key from the ignition lock if the speed selector is not placed in a parking position.

Generally, the rotation of the key inside the contact lock causes, through a transmission, the rotation of a rotor in an ignition switch. As is known, the key can take different positions, including a running position corresponding to the running of the engine and a stopping position corresponding to stopping the engine, the key being able to be withdrawn from the ignition lock in the position stop.

Normally, the aforementioned retaining function is achieved by a locking pin which is movable between a retracted configuration and an advanced configuration in which it stops the rotation of the key in an intermediate angular position between the running configuration and the configuration stop.

When the speed selector is in the parking position, the locking pin performs a translational movement in the retracted configuration. This translational movement is generally obtained by means of an electromagnet in accordance with two possible control logics which are alternatives to one another.

According to the so-called direct logic, the locking pin is retracted, by the supply of the electromagnet, against the elastic effect of a spring, while according to the so-called reverse logic, the pin is automatically retracted by a spring when the power supply to the electromagnet is interrupted.

Using reverse logic, the motor vehicle engine stops when the key is turned to the stop position and the speed selector is placed in a position different from the parking position, but the electromagnet remains excited to lock the key, while the dashboard can remain illuminated.

Thus, the instrument panel lighting can signal that the speed selector has not been put in the parking position.

In accordance with the above, document DE 10056249 describes an ignition switch which, when the key is in the intermediate position, closes a power supply circuit of the dashboard in order to warn the driver that the selector has not been put in the parking position.

Document DE 10056249 does not describe in detail the structure of the switch and does not provide for the detection of the intermediate position of the switch and of the key.

In order to detect the intermediate position of the key and to provide a signal corresponding to a motor vehicle control unit, document US 3590612 provides, generically, a dedicated electrical contact in the switch.

The teaching of the above patent however requires also to provide dedicated wiring for the transmission of the signal to the control unit.

It is rather considered necessary to improve the switches of known type in order to be able to detect the intermediate position of the key in a specialized manner, but without modifying the number and / or the structure of the electrical contacts of the switch and / or of the wiring. connection between the switch and the control unit.

For this purpose, it is considered necessary to use a switch according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising a rotor which is rotatable in response to the rotation of the key and which, in the on position and in the position stop, puts a reference connector in electrical connection with two corresponding corresponding electrical connections one from the other.

The object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle ignition switch which makes it possible to respond in a simple and inexpensive manner to the needs set out above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle ignition switch as defined in claim 1.

The present invention further relates to an ignition device of a motor vehicle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle ignition device as defined in claim 9.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a non-limiting example of the invention and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ignition device of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition switch according to the present invention in a preferred embodiment;

Figure 2 is a front view of the switch of Figure 1, parts being removed for clarity;

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2;

Figure 4 is also similar to Figure 2, Figures 3 and 4 thus being similar to Figure 2 and showing the switch in respective operating configurations different from that of Figure 2; and FIG. 5 represents a diagram of the operation of the switch.

In Figure 1, the reference number 1 designates an ignition device for a motor vehicle, of which only certain parts are schematically represented. The motor vehicle is in particular equipped with an automatic transmission having a selector 8 which can be actuated by the driver of the motor vehicle.

The device 1 comprises an ignition switch 2 and a contact lock 3 which acts on the switch 2 and which can be actuated by inserting a key 4 and then turning it.

The device 1 further comprises an electronic processing and control unit 5 (shown diagrammatically) which is electrically connected to the switch 2 as well as to an optical and / or light emitter 6 (shown diagrammatically), and which receives signals indicating the position of the speed selector 8.

During the use of the device 1, the control unit 5 determines the position of the key 4 depending on the state of closing and opening of the electrical circuits provided in the switch 2. In addition, the control unit 5 is made so as to control the translational movement of a locking pin 7 forming part of the contact lock 3 on the basis of the position of the speed selector 8. The locking pin 7 is movable between a retracted configuration and an advanced configuration in which the locking pin 7 acts on a rotary element of the lock 3 in order to prevent, as will be described in more detail below, the withdrawal of the key 4 from the lock 3 if the driver has not brought the gear selector 8 into a parking position when he gets out of the motor vehicle.

The control unit 5 is also produced in a known manner and not described in detail so as to manage the entire operation of the motor vehicle, for example to switch on / off an electrical system of the motor vehicle, start the engine. internal combustion engine, etc.

The contact lock 3 comprises an external structure 10 which is fixed and which extends along an axis 12, and comprises an annular end section 11. The contact lock 3 further comprises a cylinder of key 13 which engages in a housing of the structure 3 so as to be rotatable about the axis 12 and which is provided with an opening 14 present in the section 11 to receive the key 4.

The section 11 preferably has a face 15 transverse to the axis 12 and provided with a plurality of marks or machining operations 16 which represent the angular positions in which the key 4 can be turned manually when it is inserted in the key cylinder 13.

The key 4 can in particular be turned selectively between the angular positions indicated in the order below, in an anticlockwise direction with respect to the example shown:

- a starting position (START) for the operation of a starting engine of the internal combustion engine;

- an on position (ON) to keep the electric system of the motor vehicle running and therefore keep the engine running after starting;

- An intermediate position (TBD) corresponding to a position in which the locking pin 7, in the advanced configuration, stops the key cylinder 13 when it is attempted to rotate the latter in the on position counterclockwise; and

- a stop position (STOP) in which the electric system of the motor vehicle is not supplied and the key 4 can be inserted into the key cylinder 13 and withdrawn from it.

The contact lock 3 further comprises an output shaft 17 which has an axis 18, which rotates around the axis 18 in response to the rotation of the key cylinder 13, and which is coupled to the switch 2. L axis 18 is preferably parallel to axis 12.

Referring again to Figure 1, the switch 2 includes a housing 20 which has a front wall 21 which extends orthogonal to the axis 18 and has a hole 22 aligned with the axis 18 and crossed by the shaft 17. The housing 20 further comprises two side walls 23 spaced from each other along an axis 24 which is orthogonal to the axis 18.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the housing 20 comprises a support wall 25 arranged orthogonal to the axis 18, and a base wall 26 which is arranged in a fixed position at a end of the wall 25 and which is transverse to the wall 25.

The switch 2 comprises five electrical connectors or connectors 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 which project in overhang from the wall 26 towards the outside of the housing 20.

The connector 36 is used as a reference connector, also called common.

The connections 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 are preferably defined by flat connectors parallel to the wall 25.

The fittings 35 and 37 are connected to the control unit 5 by respective electrical connection lines A ', A, while the fittings 33 and 34 are connected to the control unit 5 by connection lines electric B, C respectively.

The reference fitting 36 is connected to the control unit 5 by an electrical connection line COM.

The switch 2 further comprises five conductive plates 40, 41, 42, 43, 43, 44 distinct from each other, which are carried by the wall 25, are in the same plane, and include respective rectilinear sections 45. The latter are transverse to the axis 24 and are arranged side by side along the axis 24.

The sections 45 of the plates 40, 41, 42, 43, 43, 44 are electrically connected to the fittings 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, respectively.

The plates 40, 44 are arranged on the opposite sides of the switch 2, that is to say adjacent to the walls 23, and further comprise respective curved sections 50, 51, which are coaxial with each other relative to the others and radially equidistant from the axis 18. The sections 50, 51 protrude with respect to the respective sections 45 and are turned towards each other so that their respective ends are adjacent but electrically separated from one the other in the circumferential direction.

Similarly, the plates 41, 42, 43 include respective curved sections 52, 53, 54, which are coaxial with each other, which are radially equidistant from the axis 18 and are arranged in a radial position interior with respect to the sections 50.51.

The plate 42 is arranged in an intermediate position between the plates 41 and 43 along the axis 24. In addition, the sections 52 and 53 have respective ends which are adjacent to each other, but electrically separated from each other in the circumferential direction.

The section 52 is in particular arranged in a position diametrically opposite the section 54 and the section 51 relative to the axis 18.

The section 53 is preferably arranged in a position diametrically opposite to an end part of the section 51 and to an end part of the section 54 relative to the axis 18.

The switch 2 further comprises a rotor 57 which coupled to the shaft 17 in an angularly fixed position in a manner which is not illustrated, to be rotatable around the axis 18 in response to the rotation of the key 4 in the key cylinder 13. The rotor 57 comprises a conductive plate 58, preferably triangular, which is arranged in a position facing the plates 40, 41, 42, 43, 44.

The triangular plate 58 includes three projections facing the plates 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and defining respective sliding contacts 59, 60, 61.

The contact 59 is preferably always based on the section 54 regardless of the angular position of the key 4 and therefore of the rotor 57. Advantageously, the contact 60 is arranged in the same radial position as the contact 59, but it is angularly spaced from the latter so as to bear on the section 52 or on the section 53 in accordance with the angular position of the key 4 and therefore of the rotor 57.

The contact 61 is arranged, relative to the axis 18, in a radially more external position than the contacts 59, 60 so as to be in contact with the section 50 or with the section 51 in accordance with the angular position of the key 4.

In more detail, as can be seen in Figure 2, the rotor 57 is in a position such that the contacts 60, 61 are in contact with the sections 53, 50, respectively when the key 4 is arranged in the aforementioned intermediate position.

By turning the key 4 clockwise until the aforementioned operating position is reached, the rotor 57 also rotates clockwise and, as can be see in FIG. 3, the contact 60 is detached from the section 53 and is in contact with the section 52, while the contact 61 remains in contact with the section 50.

Finally, as can be seen in Figure 4, continuing to turn the key 4 clockwise until the aforementioned start position is reached, the rotation of the rotor 57 in the clockwise direction causes the contact 61 to detach from the section 50 and the contact 61 rests itself on the section 51, while the contact 60 remains in abutment on the section 52.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the switch 2 preferably comprises a pusher 65 which is fixed relative to the triangular plate 58, which is arranged in a position adjacent to the contact 60 and, preferably, is in a radially more external position than the contact 60 itself. The switch 2 further comprises a cam 66 which is carried by the wall 25 in a fixed position and adjacent to the sections 52, 53 of the plates 41, 42, and which projects from the wall 25. The cam 66 is in particular radially more outer than the sections 52, 53 of the plates 41, 42. When the rotor 57 is turned by turning the key 4 between the intermediate position and the operating position, the pusher 65 comes into contact with the cam 66. The cam 66 has a ascending ramp which moves the pusher 65 in a direction parallel to the axis 18 away from the wall 25, which causes a slight bending of the triangular plate 58 and the detachment of the contact 60 from one of the plates 41, 42 .

The cam 66 then comprises a descending ramp which, as the rotation progresses, accompanies the approach of the pusher 65 of the wall 25 until the contact 60 rests on the other of the plates 41, 42.

To allow the passage of the contact 61 between the sections 50, 51 of the plates 40, 44, the switch 2 comprises, similarly to what has been described above: a pusher 67 which is fixed relative to the triangular plate 58 and is arranged in a position adjacent to the contact 61 and, preferably, radially more external than the contact 61; and a cam 68 which is carried by the wall 25 in a fixed position around the sections 50, 51 of the plates 40, 44 and projects from the wall 25.

When the rotor 57 turns due to a movement of the key 4 between the on position and the start position, the pusher 67 comes into contact with the cam 68.

The operation of the kinematic pair formed by the cam 68 and the pusher 67 is generally similar to the operation of the kinematic pair formed by the cam 66 and the pusher 65 and is therefore not described in detail.

Referring now to Figure 5 schematically showing the operation of the switch 2, the rotor 57 puts the connector 36 in electrical connection with the fittings 34 and 37 when the key 4 is arranged in the starting position, it is that is, the rotor 57 is in the position visible in FIG. 4.

The closing of the electrical circuit between the fittings 34 and 36 and the closing of the electrical circuit between the fittings 37 and 36 are detected by the control unit 5. In other words, on lines A and C, l the control unit 5 detects electrical signals for closing the respective circuits, while on lines A and B, the control unit 5 detects no signal since the corresponding circuits are open.

Similarly, when the key 4 is arranged in the on position, that is to say that the rotor is in the position visible in Figure 3, the rotor 57 puts the connector 36 in electrical connection with the fittings 33 and 34.

The closing of the electrical circuit between the fittings 33 and 36 and the closing of the electrical circuit between the fittings 34 and 36 are detected by the control unit 5. In other words, on lines B and C, l the control unit 5 detects respective electrical closing signals, while on lines A 'and A, the control unit 5 detects no signal since the corresponding circuits are open.

Finally, when the key 4 is arranged in the intermediate position, that is to say that the rotor is in the position visible in Figure 2, the rotor 57 puts the connector 36 in electrical connection with the fittings 33 and 35.

The closing of the circuit between the fittings 33 and 36 and the closing of the circuit between the fittings 35 and 36 are detected by the control unit 5. In other words, on lines B and A ', the control unit 5 detects respective closing electrical signals, while on lines C and A ”, control unit 5 detects no signal since the corresponding circuits are open.

The control unit 5 is configured to process the signals detected on the lines A ', A in a logic multiplexer 68 which is configured so as to provide at output on a line A a circuit closing signal when the control unit 5 detects the closure of one or other of the circuits associated with lines A 'and A.

The control unit 5 is also configured to process the circuit closure signals present on lines B, C and A in a block 69.

The block 69 is configured so as to:

- provide a command to start the engine of the motor vehicle if the closing signals of lines A and C are present simultaneously;

- keep the electrical system running when the closing signals for lines B and C are present simultaneously; and

- provide a command to stop the engine and issue an alarm signal when the closing signals for lines A and B are present simultaneously.

The aforementioned alarm signal triggers the emission by the transmitter 6 of an optical and / or acoustic warning to the driver and warns that the key 4 is arranged in the intermediate position, that is to say that 'it has not been completely turned to the off position.

The above operating state implicitly indicates that the speed selector 8 is placed in positions other than the parking position.

Indeed, the control unit 5 is configured so as to maintain the locking pin 7 in an advanced configuration when the speed selector 8 is placed in positions other than the parking position.

As mentioned above, the locking pin 7, in the advanced configuration, prevents the rotation of the key 4 in the stop position, hampering in known manner and not shown the rotation of the key cylinder 13.

In addition, the control unit 5 is configured so as to cause the withdrawal of the locking pin 7 when the selector 8 is put in the parking position to allow the key 4 to be turned from the intermediate position to the stop position.

When the key 4 is in the stop position, the rotor 57 is in a position such that the contacts 60, 61 are detached from the plates 40, 41, 42, 44, while the contact 59 is still in contact with the plate 43 so that all the circuits of the switch 2 are open. Thus, the control unit 5 does not detect any closing signal.

The advantages of the switch 2 are clear from the foregoing description. Thanks to the electrical circuits provided in the switch 2, the intermediate position of the key 4 is detected in a dedicated, unique and simple manner. In fact, block 69 recognizes that the key 4 is in the intermediate position only in the presence of the closing signal on line A and in the presence of the closing signal on line B.

In addition, the number and configuration of the connections 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 remain unchanged compared to those of other switches of the prior art. Already known are indeed solutions with a plurality of fittings which can be electrically connected to each other by means of a rotor with three sliding contacts.

Finally, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made to the switch 2 or to the device 1 described above with reference to the attached drawings, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The two fittings 35, 37 could for example be replaced by a single fitting, electrically connected to the two plates 42, 44, and could define a single closing signal detectable by the control unit 5, instead of that- ci detects two separate signals on lines A 'and A, and / or the two plates 42, 44 could be replaced by a single plate, and / or the switch 2 could be coupled to a processing and control unit and configured to so as to identify the intermediate position of the key differently from what has been described above, for example in a control unit which processes the circuit closure signals present on the lines A 'and A separately.

The plates 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 could be shaped and / or arranged differently from what has been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The triangular plate 58 could be coupled to the key cylinder 13 by a transmission other than the shaft 17.

The management logic of the control unit 5 could be different from the logic indicated by way of example, but again based on the processing of circuit closure signals in order to detect the position of the key 4 at inside the contact lock 3. The information carried by the signals could for example undergo innumerable logical operations inside the block 69 provided that these lead to a unique identification of the position of the key 4 .

Claims (1)

[Claim 1] [Claim 2] [Claim 3] claims Motor vehicle ignition switch (2), the switch comprising: - at least one reference connector (36); - first, second and third connection means which are different from each other and able to be connected to an electronic processing and control unit (5); and - a conductive rotor with three contacts which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (18) in response to a rotation of a key (4) in a contact lock (3) so as to selectively take: a) a stop position, in which the key (4) can be inserted into or removed from the ignition lock (3), and the reference connector (36) is electrically disconnected from the first, second and third connection means; b) a starting position, in which the rotor (57) electrically connects the reference connector (36) to the first (35, 37) and to the third (34) connection means; and c) an on position, angularly arranged between the stop position and the start position; the rotor (57) electrically connecting the reference connector (36) to the second (33) and to the third (34) connection means in the operating position; characterized in that the rotor (57) can also take an intermediate position provided angularly between the on position and the stop position; the rotor (57) electrically connecting the reference connector (36) to the first (35, 37) and to the second (33) connection means in the intermediate position. Switch according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of conductive plates (40, 41, 42, 43, 44) and in that the rotor (57) comprises a first, a second and a third sliding contact ( 59, 60, 61) arranged in contact with said three plates (40, 41, 42, 43, 44) when the rotor (57) is arranged in each of the on, start and intermediate positions; the plurality of plates (40, 41, 42, 43, 44) comprising first and second conductive plates (42, 44) separated from each other and electrically connected to the first connection means (35, 37). Switch according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and second plates (42, 44) comprise respective sections (53, 51) which are arranged in diametrically opposite positions relative to the axis of rotation. [Claim 4] Switch according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first connection means are defined by a first and a second connector (35, 37) separated from each other and connected to the first and to the second plate ( 42, 44), respectively. [Claim 5] Switch according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the plurality of plates (40, 41, 42, 43, 44) further comprises: - a third conductive plate (40) electrically connected to the second connection means (33); - a fourth conductive plate (41) electrically connected to the third connection means (34); and - A fifth conductive plate (43) electrically connected to the reference connector (36). [Claim 6] Switch according to claim 5, characterized in that: - the second connection means are defined by a third connector (33) connected to the third plate (40); and - The first connection means are defined by a fourth connector (34) connected to the fourth plate (41). [Claim 7] Switch according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: - In the starting position, the first, the second and the third sliding contact (59, 60, 61) are arranged in contact with the fifth, the fourth and the second plate (43, 41, 44), respectively; - In the operating position, the first, the second and the third sliding contact (59, 60, 61) are arranged in contact with the fifth, the fourth and the third plate (43, 41, 40), respectively; - In the intermediate position, the first, the second and the third sliding contact (59, 60, 61) are arranged in contact with the fifth, the first and the third plate (43, 42, 40), respectively. [Claim 8] Switch according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises: - a cam element (66) arranged in a position adjacent to the first plate (42); and - a pusher (65) which is made in one piece with the rotor (57) and is arranged in a position adjacent to the second sliding contact (60) [Claim 9] so as to come into contact with the cam element (66) during the rotation of the rotor (57) between the intermediate position and the operating position; the cam element (66) having a shape which causes the pusher (65) to move in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation (18), consequently causing: a) the separation of said pusher (65), and, consequently, the detachment of said second sliding contact (60) from one of said first and fourth plates (42, 41) b) the approximation of said pusher (65) and, consequently, the contact of said second sliding contact (60) with the other of said first and fourth plates (42, 41). Ignition device (1) of a motor vehicle, the device comprising an electronic processing and control unit (5) and an ignition switch, in which the first, second and third connection means are connected to the control unit (5); characterized in that the ignition switch (2) is made according to one of the preceding claims, and in that the control unit (5) is made so as to output an alarm signal when the reference connector (36) is electrically connected to the first connection means (35, 37) and to the second connection means (33).