Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-19
2001-06-12
Ballato, Josie (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
C301S010100, C340S456000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246127
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a control device for a motor vehicle which comprises a supporting arm with an actuation element which is arranged in an area of the free end of the supporting arm, said control device being arranged in the vicinity of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle.
Such control devices are used in contemporary motor vehicles in order to arrange a plurality of actuation elements within the reach of the motor vehicle driver, in particular in an area which can be accessed indirectly or directly by a hand of the motor vehicle driver which is resting on the steering wheel, and thus arranged in the vicinity of the steering wheel. For this purpose, the control devices, which are also referred to as satellites, project outward in each case with the supporting arm extending in a lateral direction between the dashboard and the steering wheel, and usually having an actuation element at its free end.
In the known devices the fact that an increased level of attention is required from the motor vehicle driver to read the shifting position of the actuation elements proves disadvantageous. This is the case in particular if the actuation element has more than two shifting positions. Here, the motor vehicle driver must firstly determine the shifting position of the actuation element at a given time and subsequently take hold of the element, the motor vehicle driver having to direct his attention once more to the position of the actuation element which differs depending on the shifting position. Finally, in most cases the motor vehicle driver must also ensure whether he has also actually set the desired shifting position since the markings or symbols on the switch are often covered by his hand or by the steering wheel during the actuation of the actuation element and therefore cannot be read.
Other control devices are known in which a shifting position display connected to the actuation element is arranged in the dashboard. As a result, the shifting position display lies in the constant field of vision of the motor vehicle driver. It proves to be disadvantageous here that at first it is necessary for the motor vehicle driver to perform an adjustment between the actuation element and the shifting position and thus whenever actuation is performed at first attention must be directed to Lhe display and then to the actuation element and subsequently to the display again. This procedure may have to be repeated until the desired shifting position is reached.
It is a disadvantage in both embodiments that they require a considerable degree of attention from the motor vehicle driver, as a result of which he looks away from the conditions on the road, and in addition an acclimatization phase is necessary for reliable actuation. These disadvantages resulted in such control devices frequently receiving a critical assessment in the past.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the problem of providing a control device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that its control is made significantly easier and at the same time requires significantly less attention than the known devices.
This problem is solved according to the invention wherein the actuation element is a touch contact switch with which a shifting position of a transmission or the preselected gear speed (shift stage) of an automatic transmission can be changed incrementally and wherein the supporting arm has a visual display for showing the shifting position or preselected gear speed. Such an arrangement has the advantage that the visual display which is arranged on the supporting arm is arranged in the constant field of vision of the motor vehicle driver. This display informs the motor vehicle driver of the shifting position which has been set and which cannot be read directly from the touch contact switch. Here, the display also remains visible during actuation so that any control errors can immediately be detected and corrected. At the same time, owing to the design as a touch contact switch, the position of the actuation element remains unchanged in the various shifting positions. The control of the control device according to the invention therefore requires only a small degree of attention from the motor vehicle driver. In particular, at least after a brief acclimatization phase it is no longer necessary for the driver to look away from the conditions on the road in order to operate the touch contact switch.
A particularly favorable embodiment of the device is obtained if the position of the free end of the supporting arm can be adjusted individually, as a result of which the ease of operation is increased further particularly in terms of the different physical sizes of different motor vehicle drivers and permits convenient control of the touch contact switch. For example, a ball-and-socket joint which can be secured in the desired setting is suitable for this.
It is also advantageous here if the supporting arm is flexible. This makes it possible to perform the individual setting in a particularly easy way. Means for securing the supporting arm in the selected position are not necessary since the supporting arm maintains the selected setting. Furthermore, in the event of a possible accident the risk of injury is reduced by the flexible design.
A particularly reliable embodiment is obtained if the supporting arm is a swan neck. This is distinguished especially by its continuous load capability, hardly any fatigue phenomena occurring even when settings are changed frequently. Electric leads and contacts may be positioned in the interior of the hollow swan neck.
A particularly advantageous development of the invention is obtained if the supporting arm is inclined toward the motor vehicle driver. This provides significantly improved accuracy of reading the visual display even under unfavorable circumstances. For example, troublesome reflections of the visual display can be reduced. In addition, the operation of the touch contact switch is also made easier by the alignment in an ergonomically favorable orientation.
One advantageous embodiment of the invention is that the visual display is a liquid crystal display. The possibility of easy and clear reading of the shifting position which is displayed in this way is particularly advantageous here. For example, the selected gear speed or the program of an automatic transmission can be displayed as a symbol, as a word or in some other suitable way.
It is also particularly advantageous if the liquid crystal display and/or the touch contact switch is made so that it can be illuminated. It makes operation significantly easier when the light conditions are favorable. For this purpose, the touch contact switch has, for example, a symbol which can be illuminated or a characteristic shaped element which can be illuminated from the rear and by means of which the touch contact switch can be easily distinguished and mistaken access is prevented. The liquid crystal display preferably has a background illumination which provides a sharp contour and thus easy readability.
One advantageous development of the invention is obtained if the touch contact switch is a rocker switch. This permits actuation starting from the set shifting position in such a way that it is possible to set one of the two adjacent shifting positions as desired. In order to arrive at the preceding shifting position in this embodiment, it is therefore not necessary firstly to select in succession all the other shifting positions in order finally to arrive at the desired setting. It is appropriate here to arrange the rocker switch in a way which permits a logical relationship between the direction of actuation and the possible shifting positions represented in the visual display.
An advantageous development in which inadvertent incorrect control can be avoided can be obtained if the supporting arm has a further touch contact switch. As a result, incorrect actuation, in particular as a result of the movements of the vehicle which are transmitted to the motor veh
Mayer Klaus
Weilbacher Dieter
Ballato Josie
Farber Martin A.
Mannesmann VDO AG
Polk Sharon
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