阅读说明：本技术 电子多路力传感器 (Electronic multi-path force sensor ) 是由 安德烈·费林 米歇尔·布莱克曼 马蒂亚斯·塞费尔特 凯·布伦塞尔 亚历山大·考尔 圭多·胡 于 2020-03-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明描述了一种具有感应栓杆和感应板的电子多路力传感器,所述感应栓杆可以从其中立位置在至少两个操作方向上进行调节,当取消操作力时,所述感应栓杆再次回到其中立位置,感应板连接到感应栓杆,并且感应板通过感应栓杆的调节相对于印刷电路板是可偏转的,感应板具有电测量系统,电测量系统的输出信号取决于感应板的位置,其中感应板一体地连接到多个条形支撑元件,支撑元件各有一个构成为圆孔的末端部,并且其中感应板和支撑元件一体地从金属板自由切割。(The invention relates to an electronic multi-channel force sensor having a sensor pin which can be adjusted from its neutral position in at least two operating directions and which returns to its neutral position again when an operating force is removed, and having a sensor plate which is connected to the sensor pin and which is deflectable relative to a printed circuit board by adjustment of the sensor pin, wherein the sensor plate has an electrical measuring system whose output signal is dependent on the position of the sensor plate, wherein the sensor plate is connected in one piece to a plurality of strip-shaped support elements which each have a distal end in the form of a circular hole, and wherein the sensor plate and the support elements are cut in one piece freely from the metal plate.)

1. An electronic multi-path force sensor having a sensing pin (11) and a sensing plate (12), the sensing pin (11) being adjustable from its neutral position in at least two operating directions, the sensing pin returning to its neutral position again when the operating force is removed,

-the sensor board (12) is connected to the sensor pin (11) and the sensor board (12) is deflectable by adjustment of the sensor pin (11) relative to a printed circuit board (20) having an electrical measuring system whose output signal depends on the position of the sensor board (12),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the induction plate (12) is integrally connected to a plurality of strip-shaped support elements (13, 14, 15, 16) which each have a distal end configured as an eyelet (17, 18, 19), and

the induction plate (12) and the support element (13, 14, 15, 16) are cut freely in one piece from a metal plate.

2. Electronic multiplex force sensor according to claim 1, characterised in that the terminal portions of at least two of said support elements (13, 14) constitute screwing eyelets.

3. Electronic multiplex force sensor according to claim 1, characterised in that the end portion of at least one of said support elements (15, 16) constitutes a centring eyelet.

4. Electronic multiplex force sensor according to claim 1, characterised in that said metal plate is originally rectangular in shape and said support elements (13, 14, 15, 16) are free to cut in the diagonal direction of said metal plate.

5. Electronic multiplex force sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that said screwing eyelet (17) is screwed with a printed circuit board (20).

6. Electronic multiplex force sensor according to claim 3, characterised in that said centring eyelets (18, 19) co-act with centring pins on said printed circuit (20).

7. Electronic multiplex force sensor according to claim 3, characterised in that said centring eyelet is made as an elongated hole (19).

8. Electronic multiplex force sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the printed circuit board (20) has a plurality of conductor surfaces (21) and that the deflection of the sensing plate (12) relative to the conductor surfaces (21) of the printed circuit board (20) can be detected by means of capacitively measured electronics.

Technical Field

The invention relates to an electronic multiplex force sensor having a sensor pin which can be adjusted from its neutral position in at least two operating directions and a sensor plate which, when an operating force is removed, moves back into its neutral position, has a sensor plate which is connected to the sensor pin and which is deflectable relative to a printed circuit board by adjustment of the sensor pin, and has an electrical measuring system whose output signal depends on the position of the sensor plate.

The components of the electronic multiplex force sensor which do not belong directly to the printed circuit board are referred to below as sensor elements.

Background

Multipath force sensors of this type are used in particular as input elements, for example in seat adjustment switches in motor vehicles. A detection device in the form of a capacitive multi-way force sensor is known from german patent application DE 102014014021 a1, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present document. The multi-way force sensor described in DE 102014014021 a1 has a sensing pin rigidly connected to the upper part of the housing. The induction bolt is connected with a metal or metalized plate inside the shell. When the sensing pin deflects, the metal or metalized plate simultaneously deflects relative to the metalized surface on the printed circuit board, thereby causing the capacitance value of the capacitor formed by the arrangement of the metal or metalized plate and the surface to vary with the deflection of the sensing pin. Since the upper part of the housing must simultaneously be elastically deformed to deflect the sensing bar, the multiplexed force sensor is very stiff, which is ideal for some applications such as seat adjustment switches.

The sensor element of the multi-way force sensor designed according to DE 102014014021 a1 can advantageously be produced completely or largely as an injection-molded part, in which at least the housing and the sensor pin are composed of plastic in one piece. The design of the sensor element can also be made entirely of metal, but the manufacturing costs are relatively high due to the difficulty of demoulding the housing. For some applications, in particular in motor vehicles, the relatively large space requirement for the housing is also disadvantageous.

The object of the invention is to create a versatile, in particular simple, inexpensive and compact electronic multiplex force sensor with simple, inexpensive and compact sensor elements made entirely of metal.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, this object is achieved by: the induction plate is integrally connected with a plurality of strip-like support elements, the strip-like support elements each have a distal end configured as an eyelet, and the induction plate and the support elements are integrally freely cut from the metal plate.

The induction plate and the strip-shaped support plate element can be freely cut out of a single, preferably rectangular or in particular square, metal plate, preferably by means of a stamping process.

Between the strip-shaped support elements there remains an approximately clover-shaped induction plate with four induction blades facing each other in pairs.

The strip-shaped support element, which is connected integrally to the sensor board, makes possible a particularly simple arrangement of the sensor board, either at the mounting location opposite the printed circuit board or preferably directly on the printed circuit board.

The support element serves as a fixing element for fastening the sensor plate and as a centering element for precisely positioning the sensor plate. Thus, the end portion of the support element forms a screwing or centering eye, in which a bolt or a centering pin is inserted.

It is advantageous when at least two supporting elements are designed as fixing elements with screwing eyelets. It is also advantageous if the centering eye is designed as an elongated hole when provided as a supporting element for the centering element.

A complete sensor element is created by connecting the sensing plate to the center of a vertically protruding sensing pin. Since it does not have any parts, such as a housing, which are difficult to demold, the sensor element can be made entirely of metal in a simple and inexpensive manner. The metal production facilitates a particularly rigid production of the multi-way force sensor, while having a simple construction. The sensor element can be connected directly to the printed circuit board via its support element. Electronic components for detecting the deflection of the sensing plate are provided on the printed circuit board. The measuring system formed in this way may preferably consist of a plurality of conductor surfaces arranged on a printed circuit board, which conductor surfaces form capacitors with the sensor blades of the sensor board, whose capacitance and capacitance change can be detected to determine the adjustment of the sensor board. In addition to acquiring the capacitance value, the change in distance can also be determined by other measuring principles (for example by optical methods).

The deflection of the sensing pin causes the sensing blade of the sensing plate to tilt relative to the support element and thus an increase or decrease in the distance between the sensing blade and the conductor surface arranged on the circuit board. The magnitude of the change in distance is a measure of the applied force, which can be determined by electronic means not described in detail herein.

The arrangement of four sensing vanes ensures that at least four operating directions can be detected with only one sensor element.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be shown and explained below with reference to the drawings. The sole figure shows an exploded view of an electronic multiplex force sensor designed according to the invention.

Detailed Description

The multi-way force sensor shown functions according to the capacitive measuring principle and consists of a metallic sensor element 10 and a printed circuit board 20, in particular a plurality of conductor surfaces 21 being applied on the printed circuit board 20.

The sensor element 10 has a substantially cylindrical sensing pin 11. A metal sensing plate 12 is attached to the lower end portion of sensing bolt 11, sensing plate 12 deflecting when the longitudinal axis of sensing bolt 11 deflects.

This changes the position of the sensing plate 12 relative to the conductor surface 21 arranged on the printed circuit board 20. Portions of sensing plate 12 and these conductive surfaces 21 form capacitors whose capacitance varies with the deflection of sensing plate 12. The change in capacitance can be evaluated by electronics, not shown here, to detect a change in the position of the sensor plate 12 and thus the operating force acting on the sensor pin 11. The deflection of the sensor pin 11 can be effected manually, for example, by means of an additional button cover, not shown here.

The lower part of the sensor element 10 is made of an originally square or rectangular metal plate from which strip-shaped support elements 13, 14, 15, 16 are freely cut in the direction of their diagonals. The end portions of the support elements 13, 14, 15, 16 form screwing eyelets 17 and centering eyelets 18, 19. The centering holes 18, 19 for centering the sensor element 10 are designed as holes 18 and elongated holes 19.

The portion of the metal plate integrally connected with the strip-shaped support elements 13, 14, 15, 16 is formed as an induction plate 12 of approximately clover shape having four induction blades 12a paired and facing each other, the center of which is firmly connected with a cylindrical induction bar 11 projecting vertically.

After assembly, the sensor element 10 is arranged on the upper side of the printed circuit board 20, and the screwing eyelet 17 is bolted to the screwing hole 23. For precise positioning of the sensor element 10, a centering pin 22 arranged on the upper side of the printed circuit board 20 is also inserted into the centering eyelets 18, 19 of the sensor element 10.

In the neutral position of the sensor element 10, the sensor blade 12a is aligned slightly obliquely upward compared to the plane opened by the support elements 13, 14, 15, 16, in order to be able to perform a relative movement in all possible oblique directions.

10 sensor element

11 Induction bolt

12 induction plate

12a induction blade

13. 14, 15, 16 support element

17 screwing eyelet

18. 19 centering eyelet

18 holes

19 long hole

20 printed circuit board

21 surface of conductor

22 positioning pin

23 screw hole