DE102023204829A1 - operating device for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating device (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular for specifying a braking and/or acceleration request, with a first and a second housing part (2, 3), wherein the first housing part (2) has an actuating surface (6) on an upper side (4) facing away from the second housing part (3) or wherein a cover (5) with the actuating surface (6) is arranged on the upper side (4), and wherein the first housing part (2) is displaceably mounted on the second housing part (3) by a parallelogram gear (7).

Description

The invention relates to an actuating device for a motor vehicle, in particular for specifying a braking and/or acceleration request.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one such actuating device.

State of the art

It is known from the prior art to detect an actuation of an actuating device for a motor vehicle that can be actuated by a driver by means of a sensor assigned to the actuating device. If the driver actuates the actuating device, a braking or acceleration request by the driver is recognized as a function of this. For example, braking systems with electromechanical brake boosters are known which, together with a vehicle assistance system, in particular an electronic stability program (ESP), form a redundant "brake-by-wire" system in which there is no mechanical connection from the actuating device to the braking system. A braking request is forwarded, for example, as a function of an actuation of the actuating device to an electromechanical actuator that is designed to build up pressure in the braking system. Analogously, actuating devices for drive units, in particular with internal combustion engines and/or electric machines, of motor vehicles that are part of a "drive-by-wire" system without a mechanical connection to the drive unit are known. An acceleration request is recognized, for example, as a function of an actuation of the actuating device and forwarded to the drive unit. Due to the lack of mechanical coupling of the actuating devices to the brake system and/or drive unit, it is possible to design such actuating devices without travel or at least with only a small stroke of a few millimeters. The use of various measuring methods is known for detecting the actuation. For example, the published documents DE 10 2017 119 392 A1 , DE 102 39 913 A1 and DE 103 12 547 A1 travel-free pedals as well as the detection of an actuation of a travel-free pedal by means of strain gauges.

disclosure of the invention

The actuating device according to the invention with the features of claim 1 has a first and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part has an actuating surface on an upper side facing away from the second housing part or wherein a cover with the actuating surface is arranged on the upper side, and wherein the first housing part is slidably mounted on the second housing part by a parallelogram gear. This ensures a particularly advantageous mounting of an actuating device with a small stroke as described at the beginning. Particularly preferably, at least one electrical component of a sensor arrangement for detecting an actuation of the actuating device, in particular for detecting an actuating force exerted on the actuating surface and/or an actuating path, is arranged in the second housing part. The parallelogram gear is preferably arranged at least approximately centrally on the first and/or second housing part in the transverse extension and/or longitudinal extension. In particular, the parallelogram gear has the same distance to two opposing outer edges of the first and/or second housing part. Particularly preferably, at least one of the housing parts is designed to be at least approximately mirror-symmetrical in the transverse and/or longitudinal extent. The actuating device therefore has a particularly advantageously simple geometry. The second housing part is designed in particular to be fastened in a floor area of the motor vehicle, in front of a driver's seat. The parallelogram gear preferably allows a stroke of less than 10 mm, in particular less than 5 mm, of the first housing part relative to the second housing part.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the parallelogram gear has at least two gear members of equal length, spaced apart from one another and always aligned parallel to one another, which are pivotably mounted at one end on the first housing part and at the other end on the second housing part, so that the first housing part remains aligned parallel to a floor plane of the second housing part when the gear members are displaced. The appropriately designed and arranged gear members advantageously ensure that the first housing part is guided exactly on the second housing part so that it can be displaced. In particular, the gear members each have a bearing point at one end, which comprises, for example, a roller bearing element or plain bearing element, so that the gear members are advantageously mounted in a low-wear manner.

It is particularly preferred that the parallelogram transmission has a first pivot axis associated with the first housing part and a second pivot axis associated with the second housing part for each of the transmission elements, wherein the pivot axes are each at least approximately parallel to an edge of the actuating surface and/or at least one of the housing parts and/or are aligned transversely to a longitudinal extension of the actuating surface and/or at least one of the housing parts. Such an assignment and alignment of the pivot axes advantageously ensures that the actuating device can be operated particularly intuitively. Preferably, the pivot axes are arranged transversely to a longitudinal direction of the actuating surface when used as intended.

According to a preferred development of the invention, two such parallelogram gears are each arranged on an opposite longitudinal side of the actuating device, with two of the gear members being rotatable about a common first and second of the pivot axes. By providing two such parallelogram gears, it is advantageously ensured that the stability of the parallelogram gear is further improved. In particular, it also functions reliably when the actuating device is actuated off-center.

It is particularly preferred that each of the gear members is articulated at one end to a different corner of the first and second housing parts. Appropriate mounting at the corners provides the advantage that the first housing part can be moved at any time, regardless of the operating position.

According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that the parallelogram gear has a bearing plate arranged between the two housing parts and connected to the first housing part. Such a bearing plate advantageously ensures that an actuation by means of the parallelogram gear is transmitted over a large area.

It is particularly preferred that the gear members are each integrally connected to the bearing plate by an elastically deformable first section, in particular pivotable about one of the first pivot axes, and that the gear members each have an elastically deformable second section at or spaced from an end facing away from the bearing plate and are pivotably connected to the second housing part, in particular pivotable about one of the second pivot axes. This results in the advantage that the parallelogram gear is particularly easy to manufacture and assemble because it ultimately has only one component made of a bearing plate with gear members. The component is made in particular from spring steel.

According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that the bearing plate and/or at least one of the gear members has material thickenings outside the elastically deformable sections. Such material thickenings advantageously ensure that the elastic deformation and thus the pivoting only takes place on the pivot axes. In particular, this prevents the bearing plate and/or the gear members from deforming or bending unintentionally.

It is particularly preferred that the bearing plate is connected to the first housing part and/or at least one of the gear members is connected to the second housing part in a force-fitting, positive-locking and/or material-locking manner, in particular screwed. The positive-locking, force-fitting and/or material-locking connection, in contrast to a one-piece design, creates a particularly advantageous possibility for the flexible manufacture of the bearing plate and/or the gear members, in particular their geometry. Alternatively, the bearing plate is formed in one piece with the first housing part and/or at least one of the gear members is formed in one piece with the second housing part. The one-piece design has the advantage that the respective component is manufactured without an additional step when assembling the actuating device.

According to a preferred development of the invention, at least one spring element, in particular a helical spring, is arranged as a return spring between the housing parts. The spring element advantageously ensures that the first housing part returns to a predetermined starting position in an unactuated state. In particular, at least two spring elements are arranged diametrically opposite one another, for example each assigned to a different corner of at least one of the housing parts. A particularly advantageous uniform return is achieved by at least two diametrically opposed spring elements. Preferably, a plurality of spring elements, in particular four spring elements, are arranged evenly distributed, with two of the spring elements being arranged diametrically opposite one another, and/or with the spring elements being arranged evenly distributed, in particular each assigned to a different corner of at least one of the housing parts.

It is particularly preferred that at least one electrical component of a sensor arrangement for detecting an actuating force exerted on the actuating surface and/or an actuating path is arranged in a bottom region of the second housing part. Such a sensor arrangement provides a particularly advantageous possibility for detecting an acceleration and/or braking request.

According to a preferred development of the invention, at least one lighting device, in particular a light-emitting diode, is arranged in a base area of the second housing part. The lighting device creates a particularly advantageous possibility for optical feedback to a user about an actuation of the actuating device. The lighting device is preferably designed to be controlled together with the ambient lighting of the motor vehicle. For example, the lighting device is switched on when the driver gets in and/or gets out, and/or switched off when driving. Alternatively, a light intensity or light color of the lighting device is determined depending on an actuation force exerted on the actuation surface and/or an actuation path. In particular, different light colors are assigned to braking and acceleration requests.

It is particularly preferred that the component and the lighting device are arranged on a common circuit board. The arrangement on a common circuit board has the advantage that electrical contact is ensured without additional electrical lines. The circuit board with the component and the lighting device can advantageously be inserted into the second housing part as a prefabricated unit.

According to a preferred development of the invention, a light-guiding element for the lighting device is arranged in the housing parts, which extends from the lighting device to an opening in the actuating surface. The light-guiding element advantageously ensures that a light beam emanating from the lighting device can be reliably recognized on the actuating surface.

The motor vehicle according to the invention with the features of claim 15 is characterized by at least one actuating device according to the invention. This also results in the advantages already mentioned.

• 1 eine vorteilhafte Betätigungsvorrichtung,
• 2 ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Parallelogrammgetriebes der Betätigungsvorrichtung, und
• 3 ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel des Parallelogrammgetriebes.

Further preferred features and combinations of features emerge from the above description and from the claims. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

• 1 an advantageous actuating device,
• 2 a first embodiment of a parallelogram transmission of the actuating device, and
• 3 a second embodiment of the parallelogram transmission.

1 shows an actuating device 1 for a motor vehicle (not shown). The actuating device 1 is designed in particular to specify a braking and/or acceleration request and for this purpose can be or is arranged in particular in the footwell of the motor vehicle.

The actuating device 1 has a first housing part 2 and a second housing part 3. In order to be able to show the inner workings of the actuating device 1, the second housing part 3 is shown in section. The first housing part 2 has a cover 5 with an actuating surface 6 on an upper side 4 facing away from the second housing part 3. Alternatively, the first housing part 2 has the actuating surface 6 directly on the upper side 4, in particular it is formed in one piece with it. In the present case, both the two housing parts 2, 3 and the cover 5 are formed at least approximately mirror-symmetrically in the transverse extension.

The first housing part 2 is mounted on the second housing part 3 by a parallelogram gear 7. The parallelogram gear 7 is provided with the 1 The first embodiment shown in detail in the 2 is shown, and that in the 3 The second embodiment shown in detail can be used as an equivalent alternative.

What both embodiments have in common is that the parallelogram gear 7 has at least two gear members 8 of equal length, spaced apart from one another and always aligned parallel to one another, which are pivotably mounted at one end on the first housing part 2 and at the other end on the second housing part 3, so that the first housing part 2 remains aligned parallel to a floor plane 9 of the second housing part 3 when the gear members 8 are displaced.

The parallelogram gear 7 also has a first pivot axis 10, assigned to the first housing part 2, and a second pivot axis 11, assigned to the second housing part 3, for each of the gear members 8. The pivot axes 10, 11 each run parallel to one another, to an edge 12 of the actuating surface 6 and to corresponding outer edges of the housing parts 2, 3. In other words, the pivot axes 10, 11 are each transverse to a longitudinal extension of the actuating surface 6 and the housing parts 2, 3.

The parallelogram transmission 7 has a bearing plate 13 arranged between the two housing parts 2, 3 and connected to the first housing part 2. The bearing plate 13 is connected to the first housing part 2 and/or at least one of the transmission members 8 is connected to the second housing part 3 in a force-fitting, form-fitting and/or material-fitting manner. For example, the transmission members 8, as shown in the 1 visible, screwed to the second housing part 3 by screws 14.

In the 1 and 2 In the first exemplary embodiment of the parallelogram transmission 7 shown, the transmission members 8 are each integrally connected to the bearing plate 13 by an elastically deformable first section 15, in this case each pivotable about one of the first pivot axes 10. In addition, the transmission members 8 each have an elastically deformable second section 16, which is arranged at a distance from an end 17 of the respective transmission member 8 facing away from the bearing plate 13. The transmission members 8 are each pivotably connected to the second housing part 3, in this case each pivotable about one of the second pivot axes 11, by means of through holes 18 arranged between the section 16 and the end 17, into which the screws 14 are inserted.

The circuit board 13 and the gear members 8 each have material thickenings 19 between or outside the elastically deformable sections 15, 16 in order to ensure that the deformation takes place exclusively in the area of the sections 15, 16.

In the 3 In the second exemplary embodiment of the parallelogram gear 7 shown, two parallelogram gears 7 are each arranged on an opposite long side of the actuating device 1, or, in other words, each assigned to a corresponding long side of the first and second housing parts 2, 3. Two of the gear members 8 can each be rotated at one end about a common first pivot axis 10 and a common second pivot axis 11. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the gear members 8 are not flat, but rather designed as rod-shaped supports, and are not formed in one piece with the bearing plate 13, but are merely connected to it in an articulated manner or mounted thereon by corresponding bearing devices. Alternatively, the gear members 8 are mounted directly on the first housing part 2.

In the present case, each of the gear members 8 is articulated at one end to a different corner of the first and second housing parts 2, 3 or of the second housing part 3 and the bearing plate 13 or is at least assigned to a different corner.

In the bottom area 9 of the second housing part 3, preferably at least one electrical component 20 of a sensor arrangement 21 is arranged for detecting an actuating force exerted on the actuating surface and/or an actuating path. In the 3 several such sensor arrangements 21 are indicated by way of example. Furthermore, a lighting device 22, for example designed as a light-emitting diode, is arranged in the base area 9. The component 20 and the lighting device 22 are arranged on a common circuit board 23 and are thus particularly advantageously easily electrically contacted.

Furthermore, a light-guiding element 24 for the lighting device 19 is arranged in the housing parts 2, 3, which extends from the lighting device 22 through the housing parts 2, 3 to an opening 25 in the bearing plate 13 and to an opening 26 in the actuating surface 6. The lighting device 22 is designed as a light-emitting diode, in particular monochrome, or has an RGB control.

In addition, at least one spring element 27, for example designed as a helical spring, is arranged as a return spring between the housing parts 2, 3. In particular, several such spring elements 27 are arranged between the housing parts 2, 3. In the 3 it is indicated that, for example, each of the sensor arrangements 21 is assigned a corresponding spring element 27, for example surrounding the respective sensor arrangement 21, alternatively a spring element 27 is used instead of one of the sensor arrangements 21.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2017 119 392 A1 [0003]
• DE 102 39 913 A1 [0003]
• DE 103 12 547 A1 [0003]

Claims (15)

Actuating device (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular for specifying a braking and/or acceleration request, - with a first and a second housing part (2, 3), - wherein the first housing part (2) has an actuating surface (6) on an upper side (4) facing away from the second housing part (3) or wherein a cover (5) with the actuating surface (6) is arranged on the upper side (4), and - wherein the first housing part (2) is displaceably mounted on the second housing part (3) by a parallelogram gear (7). Actuating device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the parallelogram gear (7) has at least two gear members (8) of equal length, spaced apart from one another and always aligned parallel to one another, which are pivotably mounted at one end on the first housing part (2) and at the other end on the second housing part (3), so that the first housing part (2) remains aligned parallel to a floor plane (9) of the second housing part (3) when the gear members (8) are displaced. Actuating device according to claim 2 , characterized in that the parallelogram gear (7) has for each of the gear members (8) a first pivot axis (10) assigned to the first housing part (2) and a second pivot axis (11) assigned to the second housing part (3), wherein the pivot axes (10, 11) each run at least approximately parallel to an edge (12) of the actuating surface (6) and/or at least one of the housing parts (2, 3) and/or are aligned transversely to a longitudinal extension of the actuating surface (6) and/or at least one of the housing parts (2, 3). Actuating device according to claim 3 , characterized in that two such parallelogram gears (7) are each arranged on an opposite longitudinal side of the actuating device (1), wherein two of the gear members (8) are each rotatable about a common first and second of the pivot axes (10, 11). Actuating device according to claim 4 , characterized in that each of the gear members (8) is articulated at one end to a different corner of the first and second housing parts (2,3). Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the parallelogram gear (7) has a bearing plate (13) arranged between the two housing parts (2, 3) and connected to the first housing part (2). Actuating device according to claim 6 , characterized in that the gear members (8) are each integrally connected to the bearing plate (13) by an elastically deformable first portion (15), in particular pivotable about one of the first pivot axes (10), and that the gear members (8) each have an elastically deformable second portion (16) at or spaced from an end (17) facing away from the bearing plate (13) and are pivotably connected to the second housing part (3), in particular pivotable about one of the second pivot axes (11). Actuating device according to one of the Claims 6 and 7 , characterized in that the bearing plate (13) and/or at least one of the gear members (8) has material thickenings (19) outside the elastically deformable sections (16,17). Actuating device according to one of the Claims 6 until 8 , characterized in that the bearing plate (13) is connected, in particular screwed, to the first housing part (2) and/or at least one of the gear members (8) is connected to the second housing part (3) in a force-fitting, form-fitting and/or material-fitting manner. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one spring element (27), in particular a helical spring, is arranged as a return spring between the housing parts (2, 3). Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one electrical component (20) of a sensor arrangement (21) for detecting an actuating force exerted on the actuating surface (6) and/or an actuating path is arranged in a base region (9) of the second housing part (2, 3). Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lighting device (22), in particular a light-emitting diode, is arranged in a bottom region (9) of the second housing part (3). Actuating device according to claims 11 and 12 , characterized in that the component (20) and the lighting device (22) are arranged on a common circuit board (23). Actuating device according to one of the Claims 12 and 13 , characterized in that a light-guiding element (24) for the lighting device (22) is arranged in the housing parts (2,3), which extends from the lighting device (22) to an opening (26) in the actuating surface (6). Motor vehicle, characterized by at least one actuating device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 until 14 .

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