WO2004034414A1

WO2004034414A1 - Navigational button

Info

Publication number: WO2004034414A1
Application number: PCT/DE2003/003120
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Bilger; Jürgen Götz; Thomas Riester; Michael Steiert
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2002-10-09
Filing date: 2003-09-19
Publication date: 2004-04-22
Also published as: CN1320571C; ATE344529T1; EP1550142B1; JP2006502542A; CN1689127A; DE50305603D1; BR0315145A; ES2271631T3; DE10247093B3; EP1550142A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a navigational button comprising an actuating element which is (1) displaceable at least in two directions and controls said navigation button. The inventive actuating element (1) is arranged in a casing (2, 7) and performs an action on a communication element (3). The inventive limitation element (5,6) is disposed between the actuating element (1) and the casing (2, 7) in such a way that it limits actuation efforts performed on the navigational button.

Description

description

navigation switch

The invention relates to a navigation switch with an actuating element which can be tilted at least in two directions, and by means of which the navigation switch can be operated, a housing accommodating the actuating element and a switching element on which the actuating element acts.

Navigation switches generally have a switch housing with a switching element arranged in the interior of the switch housing, which can be moved against at least two contact areas and, when moved, comes into a contact position that switches an electrical contact. The

Switching element has an actuating arm which is guided outwards as an axial extension of a switching lever arranged in the interior of the housing. The actuating arm can be pivoted from a central rest position in several directions via an operating element which is located in a switch housing.

Such navigation switches are known for a variety of applications. They are generally used to control electronic consumer electronics devices, such as. B. in digital cameras, VCRs or cell phones but also for menu control in electronic

Data processing equipment used. In particular, they are used to reduce the number of components if several functions are assigned to individual components.

To actuate the switching element, the actuating element has one on its underside Tappet so that the actuating arm of the switching element can be mechanically contacted. When the actuating element is actuated, the plunger of the actuating element transmits the actuating force to the actuating arm of the switching element, so that it reaches a contact position and switches an electrical contact.

The navigation switches described at the beginning have no protection against too high

Operating forces. Improper or excessive actuation of the actuating element leads to high actuating force on the actuating arm of the switching element, which can result in destruction of the switching element. Furthermore, an undefined tilting movement of the actuating element can lead to destruction of the switching element.

The object of the invention is to provide a navigation switch in which the switching element is better protected against premature wear and destruction.

The object is achieved in that a limiting element is arranged between the actuating element and the housing, which limits the actuating forces to the switching element.

This navigation switch has the advantage that by using a limiting element between the actuating element and the housing receiving the actuating element, any type of switching element can be protected against improper or excessive actuation. The fact that the limiting element has a recess provided in the center, which corresponds to the dimensions of a plunger on the actuating element, allows the actuating element to be guided in tracks and therefore prevents undefined tilting.

Actuating forces that are too great are introduced via the limiting element into the side walls of the housing receiving the limiting element. A safe guiding of the plunger of the actuating element on the actuating arm of the switching element is made possible.

An advantageous development provides that the delimiting element is formed in one piece with the housing and that the delimiting element and the housing are made from an elastomeric plastic.

Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment provides that the limiting element is convex to the actuating element and has a lattice-like structure.

Likewise, the limiting element can also be designed as a curved disc made of plastic or metal.

It is advantageous that the limiting element has an axial recess for receiving a plunger located on the underside of the actuating element.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the housing receiving the delimiting element encloses a circular cavity, with at least two notches in the outer region of the bottom delimiting the cavity are formed and that the convex limiting element has at least two further counter catches which engage in the correspondingly provided catches of the housing.

Here, the limiting element is inserted into the cavity of the housing, the limiting element being rotated clockwise by 45 degrees after the assembly, so that the counter-catches of the limiting element engage in the catches of the housing.

The invention makes it possible to create a navigation switch with very little production and assembly effort, in which wear that occurs under normal circumstances due to excessive actuation forces is prevented by means of a limiting element. The structural unit of the housing for receiving the actuating element can be stored and handled in a preassembled form without having to use any special care.

Large actuation forces occurring on the actuating element are introduced into the side walls of the housing via the additional limiting element. By using limiting elements, microswitches can also be protected against improper or excessive actuation. At the same time, the limiting element enables the actuating element to be guided in tracks to prevent undefined tilting.

The use of the optional limiting element enables the properties to be adjusted regardless of the material of the housing. The lifespan of the Navigation switch or the switching element is positively influenced.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. The same or corresponding elements in different figures are provided with the same reference numerals.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a navigation switch according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows the top view of the navigation switch shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a vertical section D-D from FIG. 2,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing receiving the actuating element with an integrated limiting element

Representation from diagonally above,

Figure 5 is a top view of that shown in Figure 4

Casing,

FIG. 6 shows the horizontal section A-A through the housing shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 shows the vertical section B-B through the housing shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 shows an exploded perspective view of a further navigation switch according to the invention, FIG. 9 shows the top view of the navigation switch shown in FIG. 8,

10 shows the vertical section C-C through the navigation switch shown in FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 shows the housing receiving the actuating element in a perspective view obliquely from above,

FIG. 12 shows a plan view of the housing shown in FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 shows the vertical section A-A through the housing shown in FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 shows a diagonal section B-B through the housing shown in FIG. 12,

15 shows the top view of the limiting element of the navigation switch according to the invention according to FIG

Figure 16 shows the section A-A of Figure 15 and

Figure 17 is a side view of the limiting element shown in Figure 15.

In Figure 1, the perspective view of a navigation switch according to the invention is shown. The navigation switch has a switching element 3 with a square base, which is arranged, for example, on a housing part or a circuit board 4. The Switching element 3 has an actuating arm 32 leading through a recess in the cover of switching element 3, which serves as an axial extension of a switching lever arranged in the interior of switching element 3 and not shown here. The switching lever arranged in the center of the interior of the switching element 3 can be moved against at least two contact areas, so that an electrical contact is switched when moving into a contact position.

Furthermore, the navigation switch has a circular actuating element 1 with four radial and one centrally positioned switching position. A plunger 11 arranged in the axial direction is provided on the underside of the actuating element 1. The navigation switch also has a housing 2 with a circular shape

Dimensions of the actuator 1 corresponding cavity 21. In the assembled state, the actuating element 1 is received by the housing 2 and the housing 2 is arranged above the switching element 3, so that the plunger 11 of the actuating element 1 is centered in the

Actuating arm 31 of the switching element 3 engages.

An actuation of the switching element 3 takes place via the actuating element 1, the plunger 11 of the actuating element 1 acting on the actuating forces

Actuating arm 31 of the switching element 3 transmits, so that the actuating arm 31 is moved into a switching position. A limiting element 5 arranged in the housing 2 limits the forces acting on the actuating arm 31 of the switching element 3. FIG. 2 shows the top view of the navigation switch described in FIG. 1 with the actuating element 1 arranged centrally in the housing 2.

The section DD from FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3. As already discussed in advance, the actuating element 1 can be found in the housing 2, the plunger 11 of the actuating element 1 encompassing the actuating arm 31 of the switching element 3 ^' . In the bottom area within the cavity 21 of the housing 2, a molded-on, convex to the actuating element 1 limiting element 5 is provided.

As can be seen in detail from the perspective illustration of the delimiting element 5 in FIG. 4 and from the top view of the housing 2 with the integrated delimiting element 5 in FIG. 6, the delimiting element 5 has a central recess 53 which corresponds to the outer dimensions of the plunger 11 on the operating element 1. Furthermore, it can be seen that the delimiting element 5 is structured in a lattice-like manner, the delimiting element 5 in the advantageous embodiment shown in FIG. 5 starting in pairs from the square ring 51 provided with the recess in the center, parallel to the transverse and longitudinal axes of the delimiting element 5, opposite branches 52 has, the end of which are molded onto the housing.

In this embodiment shown, the delimiting element 5 with the housing 2 is preferably made in one piece from, for example, an elastomeric plastic.

Figures 6 and 7 each show the horizontal section AA and the vertical section BB from Figure 5. The convex Boundary element is molded with the housing in a manufacturing process.

Another advantageous embodiment of the navigation switch according to the invention is shown in FIG. A separate limiting element 6 is provided here, which is inserted into the bottom of a housing 7.

FIG. 9 shows the top view of the navigation switch described in FIG. 8 with the actuating element 1 arranged centrally in the housing 7.

FIGS. 11 to 14 show different perspectives of the housing 7 receiving the actuating element 1. The housing 7 encloses a circular cavity 71 and, as can be seen in detail from FIGS 72 on.

FIGS. 15 to 17 show an embodiment of the

Limiting element 6. The limiting element 6 is designed as a convexly curved disc with four counter catches 61 arranged on a side edge 62, which are arranged radially at the same distance.

The limiting element 6 has a recess 63 in the center, which corresponds to the dimensions of the plunger 11 of the actuating element 1. The plunger 11 of the actuating element 1 runs in this recess, so that the plunger 11 can be guided safely and thus an uncontrolled actuation of the actuating arm 31 is prevented. For latching, the actuating element 6 is rotated clockwise by 45 degrees, and is thus firmly connected to the housing 7.

The special mode of operation of the delimiting elements 5 and 6 can be seen from the sectional views in FIGS. 3 and 10.

In the assembled state, the underside of the actuating element 1 has a minimum distance d from it

Top 54, 64 (see Figure 3 and Figure 10) of the limiting elements 5, 6 located in the housing 2, 7. A force application f to the actuating element 1 can take place centrally or eccentrically. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 10, a central introduction of force f has the result that the operating element 1 shifts the actuating arm 31 of the switching element 3 downward into the switching element 3 by the path e. The path e represents a stroke limitation realized by the limiting elements 5 and 6. Furthermore, the actuating element 5 and 6 causes a tilt limitation in the case of an eccentric force introduction due to the distance d of the actuating element 1 from the upper side 54, 64 of the limiting element 5, 6. If the centrifugal or eccentric force introduction f is too great, the pressure force is derived on the

Actuator 1 in the walls of the housing 2 and 7.

Claims

claims

1. Navigation switch with:

- An actuating element (1) which can be tilted at least in two directions, and through which the

Navigation switch can be operated,

- A housing (2,7) receiving the actuating element (1) and - A switching element (3), on which the actuating element (1) acts, characterized in that a limiting element between the actuating element (1) and the housing (2,7) (5,6) is arranged, which limits the actuation forces to the switching element (3).

2. Navigation switch according to claim 1, so that the limiting element (5) is formed in one piece with the housing (2).

3. Navigation switch claim 1 or 2, so that the limiting element (5) and the housing (2) are made of elastomeric plastic.

4. Navigation switch according to one of claims 1 to 3, since you rchgek characterized in that the limiting element (5,6) is convex to the actuating element (1).

5. Navigation switch according to one of claims 1 to 3, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the limiting element (5) is formed like a grid.

6. Navigation switch according to claim 1, so that the limiting element (6) is designed as a curved disc.

7. Navigation switch according to claim 6, so that the limiting element (6) is made of plastic or metal.

8. Navigation switch claim 1, so that the limiting element (5, 6) has an axial recess for receiving a plunger (11) located on the underside of the actuating element (1).

9. Navigation switch claim 1, since you rchgek characterized in that the housing (7) encloses a circular cavity (71), wherein at least two notches (72) are formed in the outer region of the bottom delimiting the cavity (71) and the convex limiting element (6 ) has at least two further counter catches (61) which engage in the correspondingly provided catches (72) of the housing (7).

0. Navigation switch claim 1, since you rchgek characterized in that the limiting element (6) in the cavity (71) of the housing (7) is inserted, wherein the limiting element (6) is rotated clockwise by 45 ° so that the counter detents (61) of the limiting element (6) engage in the catches (72) of the housing (7).