阅读说明：本技术 载具的旋转开关设备和确定旋转开关的开关位置的方法 (Rotary switch device for a vehicle and method for determining the switch position of a rotary switch ) 是由 H-W·南斯 J·斯泽克雷斯-克里塞利厄斯 J·格里斯 于 2019-06-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种旋转开关设备(102)具有旋转开关,旋转开关具有以能够运动的方式安装的操作体(210),操作体具有用于提供磁场的磁体装置(220)。旋转开关设备(102)还具有：霍尔传感器装置(222),霍尔传感器装置被形成为用于提供表示磁场的特性的传感器信号(224)；以及确定装置(226),确定装置被形成为用于在使用传感器信号(224)的情况下确定定位信号(106),定位信号指示操作体(210)绕操纵轴线(218)的旋转定位和操作体(210)沿操纵轴线(218)的纵向定位。(A rotary switch device (102) has a rotary switch with a movably mounted operating body (210) having a magnet arrangement (220) for providing a magnetic field. The rotary switch device (102) further has: a hall sensor arrangement (222) formed to provide a sensor signal (224) indicative of a characteristic of the magnetic field; and a determination device (226) which is formed to determine a positioning signal (106) using the sensor signal (224), the positioning signal indicating a rotational positioning of the operating body (210) about the operating axis (218) and a longitudinal positioning of the operating body (210) along the operating axis (218).)

1. A rotary switch apparatus (102) for a vehicle (100), characterized in that the rotary switch apparatus (102) has the following features:

a rotary switch having an actuating body (210) which is mounted so as to be movable in order to be able to execute a rotary movement (214) about an actuating axis (218) of the actuating body (210) and a longitudinal movement (216) along the actuating axis (218), wherein the actuating body (210) has a magnet arrangement (220) for providing a magnetic field;

a Hall sensor device (222) formed to provide a sensor signal (224) representative of a characteristic of the magnetic field; and

a determination device (226) which is formed for determining a positioning signal (106) which indicates a rotational positioning of the operating body (210) about the operating axis (218) and a longitudinal positioning of the operating body (210) along the operating axis (218) using the sensor signal (224).

2. A rotary switch device (102) according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination means (226) are formed for determining the positioning signal (106) indicating the current ambient temperature at the operating body (210) in case a temperature signal (230) is used.

3. A rotary switch device (102) according to claim 2, characterized in that the determination means (226) are formed for acquiring a temperature compensated sensor signal (344) using the sensor signal (224) and the temperature signal (230) and for determining the positioning signal (106) using the temperature compensated sensor signal (344).

4. A rotary switch device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the determination means (226) are formed for determining the positioning signal (106) using a predetermined reference value (234) assigned to a predetermined rotational positioning and/or a predetermined longitudinal positioning.

5. A rotary switch device (102) according to claim 4, characterized in that the determination means (226) are formed for determining the predetermined reference value (234) in response to a calibration signal (238) using the sensor signal (224).

6. A rotary switch device (102), according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said determining means (226) are formed for acquiring a temperature compensated reference value (444) using said predetermined reference value (234) and said temperature signal (230) and for determining said positioning signal (106) using said sensor signal (224) and said temperature compensated reference value (444).

7. A rotary switch device (102), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnet arrangement (220) is shaped as a ring magnet.

8. Rotary switching device (102) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hall sensor arrangement (222) comprises at least one hall sensor, in particular only a single 3D hall sensor.

9. The rotary switching device (102) of claim 8 wherein the at least one hall sensor is formed to sense a change in a characteristic of the magnetic field that can be caused by the rotary motion (214) and by the longitudinal motion (216).

10. A method for determining a switch position of a rotary switch having an actuating body (210) which is mounted in a movable manner in order to be able to execute a rotary movement (214) about a actuating axis (218) of the actuating body (210) and a longitudinal movement (216) along the actuating axis (218), wherein the actuating body (210) has a magnet arrangement (220) for providing a magnetic field, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:

reading (550) a sensor signal (224) via an interface with a hall sensor device (222) formed for providing a sensor signal (224) representative of a characteristic of the magnetic field; and

determining (552) a positioning signal (106) using the sensor signal (224), wherein the positioning signal indicates a rotational positioning of the operating body (210) about the operating axis (218) and a longitudinal positioning of the operating body (210) along the operating axis (218).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a rotary switch device for a vehicle and a method for determining a switch position of a rotary switch.

Background

Rotary switches are used, for example, in vehicles as operating elements for the occupants of the vehicle. Here, the rotary switch can also comprise a so-called push-down function, so that the rotary switch can be rotated and also pushed.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, the present invention provides an improved rotary switch device for a vehicle and an improved method for determining a switch position of a rotary switch according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

Advantageously, the switch position of the rotary switch, which has been set by the rotary movement and the linear movement on the rotary switch, can be detected advantageously using one or more hall sensors. According to one embodiment, a measuring principle based solely on one or more hall sensors can be used for this purpose. In this way, for example, the rotation function and the pressing function can be realized by a single 3D sensor without additional sensors.

The rotary switch device for a vehicle has the following features:

a rotary switch with an operating body which is mounted movably so as to be able to perform a rotary movement about an operating axis of the operating body and a longitudinal movement along the operating axis, wherein the operating body has a magnet arrangement for providing a magnetic field;

a Hall sensor device formed to provide a sensor signal representative of a characteristic of the magnetic field; and

a determination device which is formed for determining a positioning signal using the sensor signal, the positioning signal indicating a rotational positioning of the operating body about the operating axis and a longitudinal positioning of the operating body along the operating axis.

The rotary switch apparatus may be used in a vehicle (e.g. a road vehicle, a water vehicle or an air vehicle) or in combination with other apparatus (e.g. a machine). The actuating body can be actuated by a person and can be rotated in order to bring about a rotational movement about the actuation axis; and on the other hand can be pressed in order to cause a longitudinal movement along the steering axis. The rotary switching device may comprise suitable holding means which can hold the operating body and here enable a rotational movement and a longitudinal movement of the operating body. The magnet arrangement may have at least one magnet. The magnet arrangement may be integrated into the operating body or may be fixed to the operating body. The hall sensor arrangement may comprise at least one hall sensor. The hall sensor device can be arranged such that the operating body can perform a rotational movement and a longitudinal movement relative to the hall sensor device. For example, the hall sensor device may be fixed on the holding device. The hall sensor device may be formed to detect a magnetic flux density of the magnetic field as a characteristic and present the magnetic flux density in the sensor signal. The determining means may comprise circuitry. The determination means may be formed for determining the positioning signal, for example using suitable determination rules, look-up tables or threshold comparisons. Advantageously, the positioning signal can indicate not only the positioning of the operating body due to the rotational movement, but additionally also the positioning of the operating body due to the longitudinal movement. In this way, the switch position of a rotary switch device embodied as a rotary push switch can be indicated.

For the detection of the vertical positioning of the actuating body, the use of sliding contacts, slip rings or levers, which may actuate additional contact points, can advantageously be dispensed with. Alternatively, the vertical positioning can also be detected using a hall sensor arrangement, as a result of which the mechanical and electrical expenditure can be kept low.

According to one embodiment, the determination device can be formed for determining the locating signal in the case of using a temperature signal. The temperature signal may be indicative of a current ambient temperature at the operating body. Such a temperature signal is suitable for compensating for measurement inaccuracies due to temperature differences.

For example, the determination means can be formed for determining the temperature compensated sensor signal using the sensor signal and the temperature signal. The determination means may also be formed for determining the positioning signal using the temperature compensated sensor signal. This enables a very simple approach for temperature compensation. The temperature compensated sensor signal can be determined, for example, using a look-up table or suitable compensation rules.

The determination means may be formed for determining the positioning signal using a predetermined reference value assigned to a predetermined rotational positioning and/or a predetermined longitudinal positioning. For example, a value transmitted by the positioning signal may be compared with a reference value in order to determine whether the current position of the operator corresponds to the position assigned to the reference value. A plurality of predetermined reference values may also be provided, which may be assigned to a plurality of different predetermined positions (also referred to as positions or switch positions). In this way, the current position of the operating body can be determined very accurately. According to one embodiment, the positioning signal can also be determined using at least one predetermined rotational reference value assigned to a predetermined rotational positioning and at least one predetermined longitudinal reference value assigned to a predetermined longitudinal positioning.

The determination means may be formed to determine the predetermined reference value using the sensor signal in response to a calibration signal. In this case, for example, the sensor value transmitted by the sensor signal can be stored as a predetermined reference value. In this way, the rotary switching device can be calibrated very simply.

According to one embodiment, the determination means may be formed for determining the temperature compensated reference value using a predetermined reference value and a temperature signal. The determination means may also be formed for determining the positioning signal using the sensor signal and the temperature compensated reference value. In this way, the temperature difference between the current ambient temperature and the ambient temperature prevailing when the reference value is specified can be taken into account.

For example, the determining means may be formed for: determining a positioning signal as a signal; indicating a current rotational position of the operating body as a possible second predetermined rotational position; and indicates the current longitudinal position of the operating body as a possible second longitudinal position of the operating body. Here, the predetermined positioning may be assigned a predetermined switch position.

The magnet arrangement may be shaped as a ring magnet. Not only a rotational movement but also a longitudinal movement can be detected by means of the ring magnet as a signal generator.

The hall sensor arrangement may comprise at least one hall sensor. Advantageously, the one or more hall sensors of the hall sensor arrangement may be the only sensor used for determining the switch position of the rotary switching device. According to one embodiment, the hall sensor used for sensing rotational motion may also be used for sensing longitudinal motion at the same time. If a plurality of hall sensors are used, the hall sensor used for sensing rotational movement can also be used for sensing longitudinal movement at the same time. In this way, no separate sensor device is required to sense the longitudinal positioning that can be occupied by the operating body. Thus, the at least one hall sensor may be formed for sensing a change in a characteristic of the magnetic field which can be caused by the rotational movement as well as by the longitudinal movement.

According to one embodiment, the hall sensor arrangement comprises only one single 3D hall sensor. Such a sensor may be suitable for sensing a three-dimensional vector of the magnetic flux density of a magnetic field. The unique sensor may be used to sense not only the longitudinal position that may be occupied by the operating body, but also the rotational position that may be occupied by the operating body.

A method for determining a switching position of a rotary switch having an actuating body which is mounted so as to be movable in order to be able to perform a rotary movement about an operating axis of the actuating body and a longitudinal movement along the operating axis, wherein the actuating body has a magnet device for providing a magnetic field, the method comprising the following steps:

reading a sensor signal via an interface with a hall sensor device formed to provide a sensor signal representative of a characteristic of the magnetic field; and

determining a positioning signal using the sensor signal, wherein the positioning signal is indicative of a rotational positioning of the operative body about the manipulation axis and a longitudinal positioning of the operative body along the manipulation axis.

The steps of the method can be performed, for example, using a determination device. The determination means may be an electrical device which processes electrical signals (e.g. sensor signals) and outputs control signals in dependence on these electrical signals. The device may have one or more suitable interfaces, which may be designed as hardware and/or software. In a hardware-based design, these interfaces may be part of an integrated circuit that implements the functionality of the device, for example. These interfaces may also be inherently integrated circuits or may be at least partially formed from discrete components. In a software-type design, these interfaces may be software modules that are present on the microcontroller, for example, in addition to other software modules.

Drawings

The invention is explained in more detail by way of example with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a vehicle with a rotary switching apparatus according to an embodiment;

fig. 2 shows a rotary switch apparatus for a vehicle according to one embodiment;

fig. 3 shows a determination device of a rotary switching apparatus according to an embodiment;

fig. 4 shows a determination means of a rotary switching device according to an embodiment; and is

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for determining a switch position of a rotary switch according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

In the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, elements shown in different figures and functioning similarly are given the same or similar reference numerals, wherein a repetitive description of these elements is omitted.

Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 100 with a rotary switching device 102 according to one embodiment. Illustratively, a rotary switch device 102 is used to enable an operator to operate a component 104 of the vehicle 100, such as an information system of the vehicle 100. To this end, the rotary switching device 102 is formed for outputting a positioning signal 106, which indicates the switching position of the rotary switching device 102. Illustratively, the component 104 or control device uses the positioning signal 106 to control the function of the component 104.

Here, the application of the rotary switch device 102 in the vehicle 100 is exemplarily selected. The rotary switch device 102 may be generally used to operate a machine.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a rotary switching device 102 according to an embodiment. The rotary switching device may be the rotary switching device 102 shown in fig. 1 and arranged in a vehicle, for example.

The rotary switching device 102 has a rotary switch with an operating body 210 which can be operated by an operator. For this purpose, the actuating body 210 is mounted in a movable manner in a suitable bearing 212 and can be rotated and pressed by an operator. According to this embodiment, the rotary switch is shaped such that the operating body 210 can carry out a rotational movement 214 and a longitudinal movement 216 about the actuation axis 218. The operating body 210 is embodied, for example only, as cylindrical.

The operating body 210 comprises a magnet arrangement 220, for example a permanent magnet. The magnet arrangement 220 is formed to provide a magnetic field. If the operating body 210 is moved, the magnet device 220 is moved together. According to one embodiment, the magnet arrangement 220 is shaped as a ring magnet, which exemplarily annularly surrounds the operating body 220.

The rotary switching device 102 has a hall sensor arrangement 222, which is decoupled from the actuating body 210. Illustratively, the hall sensor device 222 is fixed to the support device 212. The hall sensor arrangement 222 is formed to detect a characteristic of the magnetic field provided by the magnet arrangement 220 and to provide a sensor signal 224 indicative thereof. The properties of the magnetic field change upon movement of the operating body 210, so that the sensor signal 224 is suitable for indicating the movement of the operating body 210 and additionally or alternatively the position (also referred to as positioning) of the operating body.

According to different embodiments, the hall sensor device 222 comprises only one hall sensor or two or more hall sensors. For example, the hall sensor device 222 includes one or more 3D hall sensors. Thus, the sensor signal 224 may also be composed of one or more individual signals. According to one embodiment, at least one hall sensor of the hall sensor arrangement is formed for sensing a change of a characteristic of the magnetic field which can be caused by the rotational movement 214 as well as by the longitudinal movement 216. The property is here, for example, the magnitude and/or direction of the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field.

The rotary switching device 102 also has a determination means 226. The determination means 226 are formed for determining a locating signal 106, which indicates the position of the operating body 210, using the sensor signal 224. According to one embodiment, the positioning signal 106 is formed to indicate the rotational positioning of the operating body 210 about the operating axis 218 and the longitudinal positioning of the operating body 210 along the operating axis 218.

According to one embodiment, the determination means 226 is formed for determining the locating signal 106, which for example indicates the current ambient temperature at the operating body 210, using the temperature signal 230. The temperature signal 230 is provided, for example, by a temperature sensor 232, which may be part of the rotary switching device 102.

According to one embodiment, the determination means 226 are formed for determining the positioning signal using a predetermined reference value 234 assigned to a predetermined position (e.g. a predetermined rotational positioning and/or a predetermined longitudinal positioning) of the operating body 210. Illustratively, the predetermined reference value 234 is stored in a memory 236, which may be part of the rotary switching device 102. According to one embodiment, the determination means 226 is formed for determining the predetermined reference value 234 in case the sensor signal 224 is used in response to the calibration signal 238. The calibration process includes, for example: the operating body 210 is brought to a predetermined position, and then the sensor signal 224 or a signal based on the sensor signal 224 is stored as a predetermined reference value 234. Here, the calibration signal 238 indicates, for example: the operating body 210 has reached a predetermined position.

According to one embodiment, a plurality of reference values 234 are used, which are assigned to different switch positions. For example, the first value indicates that the operation body is neither pressed nor rotated; the second value indicates that the operation body is not pressed but rotated; the third value indicates that the operator is pressed but not rotated; and the fourth value indicates that the operator is pressed and rotated. By rotating the operating body, the operating body can be locked in the current longitudinal position, for example.

According to one embodiment, the rotary switch device 102 is formed for providing an identification of a plurality of different vertical orientations for a so-called press-down function of the rotary switch. In this case, different vertical positions can be adjusted by a longitudinal movement 216 of the actuating body 210. Advantageously, the rotary switch device 102 enables the available push-down function to be achieved without additional sensors or switches or other mechanical contacts or joysticks (which may be required in addition to the sensor or sensors sensing the rotary motion 214). The rotational movement 214 is detected, for example, by one or more 2D or 3D hall sensors of the hall sensor arrangement 222, which detect the magnetic field of the magnet arrangement 220, for example a ring magnet.

According to one embodiment, for the recognition of vertical positioning, sliding contacts, slip rings, levers or similar elements are advantageously not used, which require additional contacts. According to one exemplary embodiment, in order to reduce the mechanical and electrical effort, the vertical positioning is also detected by means of 2D or 3D sensors. The third dimension is identified, for example, by the field strength of the magnetic field provided by the magnet arrangement 220.

According to various embodiments, a series of additional measures are performed in order to reliably recognize different positions of the operating body 210.

According to one embodiment, the sensor device, i.e. the hall sensor device 222 and/or the determination device 226, is subjected to learning to determine the exact field strength of the magnet device 220 at a predetermined temperature, e.g. at room temperature.

According to one embodiment, the stored switching point (e.g., in the form of reference point 234 or reference points) is shifted according to the current temperature.

It is difficult to achieve a robust switching point of the rotary switching device 102 even by eliminating tolerances. According to one embodiment, additional temperature compensation enables a stable detection of the positioning. By this measure, it is possible to stably distinguish between the upper and lower, i.e., whether the operating body 210 is in the pressed position or in the extended position. The support device 212 includes, for example, a locking mechanism that can lock the operating body 210, which is pressed by the rotational movement 214, in the pressed position. The actuating body 210 can, for example, be released again and extended again by a further rotational movement 214 opposite the rotational movement 214.

According to one embodiment, the rotary switch device 102 is formed for recognizing the following positioning of the operating body 210:

-not pressed at the top;

-pressed on top and locked;

-not pressed at the bottom and not locked;

-pressed at the bottom.

According to one embodiment, the positioning signal 106 is formed to indicate the mentioned positioning of the operating body 210; or according to other embodiments, the positioning signal is formed to indicate additional and/or other positioning of the operating body. With regard to each of these positions, a reference value may be recorded and stored as a predetermined reference value, for example upon activation of the rotary switching device.

Fig. 3 shows a determination means 226 of a rotary switching device according to an embodiment. This determination means is for example the determination means 226 as shown with the aid of fig. 2. The determination means 226 is formed to receive or read the sensor signal 224 and, if the sensor signal 224 is used, to provide a locating signal 106, which (as shown with the aid of fig. 2) indicates one or more switch positions of the rotary switch device.

According to this embodiment, the determining means 226 comprises a first determining means 340 and a second determining means 342. The first determination device 340 is formed to determine a temperature-compensated sensor signal 344 using the sensor signal 224 and the temperature signal 230 (as described by way of example with reference to fig. 2). The second determination means 342 are formed for determining the locating signal 106 using the temperature compensated sensor signal 344. In this way, influences due to temperature differences, which make it difficult to identify the switch position, can be compensated for.

According to one embodiment, the second determination means 342 are formed for determining the positioning signal 106 using at least one predetermined reference value 234, for example as described with the aid of fig. 2. For example, the temperature compensated sensor signal 342 may be compared to at least one predetermined reference value 234, and the positioning signal 106 may be determined using the result of the comparison or may present the result.

Fig. 4 shows a determination means 226 of a rotary switching device according to an embodiment. This determination means is for example the determination means 226 as shown with the aid of fig. 2. The determination means 226 is formed to receive or read the sensor signal 224 and, if the sensor signal 224 is used, to provide a locating signal 106, which (as shown with the aid of fig. 2) indicates one or more switch positions of the rotary switch device.

According to this embodiment, the determining means 226 comprises third determining means 440 and fourth determining means 442. The third determination means 440 is formed for determining the temperature-compensated reference value 444 using at least one predetermined reference value 234 (as described, for example, with the aid of fig. 2) and the temperature signal 230 (as described, for example, with the aid of fig. 2). In this manner, the predetermined reference value 234, which defines, for example, an assigned relationship between the predetermined switch position and the signal state of the sensor signal 224 at a predetermined temperature (e.g., at room temperature), can be matched to the changed temperature indicated by the temperature signal 230. For this purpose, for example, look-up tables or matching rules can be used. The fourth determination means 442 is formed for determining the positioning signal 106 using the sensor signal 224 and the temperature compensated reference value 444. For example, the sensor signal 342 may be compared to at least one temperature compensated reference value 444, and the positioning signal 106 may be determined using the results of the comparison or may present the results.

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for determining a switch position of a rotary switch according to an embodiment. The method can be implemented, for example, in the case of an apparatus using a rotary switching device (as described with the aid of the above figures).

In step 550, the sensor signal is read via an interface with a hall sensor device formed to provide a sensor signal representative of a characteristic of the magnetic field. The magnetic field can be provided by a magnet arrangement, for example, as described with reference to fig. 2.

In step 552, a locating signal is determined using the sensor signal. The positioning signal is indicative of a switching position of the rotary switch, for example a rotational positioning of an operating body of the rotary switch about a control axis and a longitudinal positioning of the operating body along the control axis.

Steps 550, 552 may be performed continuously, repeatedly, or in response to manipulation of an operative body, for example. In this way, the positioning signal can always indicate the current switch position of the rotary switching device.

If the embodiment comprises an "and/or" relationship between the first feature and the second feature, this may be interpreted as: an embodiment according to one embodiment has both the first and second features, while an embodiment according to another embodiment has either only the first or only the second feature.

List of reference numerals

100 carrier

102 rotary switch device

104 parts

106 positioning signal

210 operating body

212 supporting device

214 rotational movement

216 longitudinal movement

218 steering axis

220 magnet device

222 hall sensor device

224 sensor signal

226 determining device

230 temperature signal

232 temperature sensor

234 predetermined reference value

236 memory

238 calibration signal

340 first determining means

342 second determination means

344 temperature compensated sensor signal

440 third determining means

442 fourth determining means

444 temperature compensated reference value

550 reading step

552 determining step