VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A MOTOR VEHICLE

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The present invention relates to a control device for an electronic circuit of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The subject of the invention can be used in order to electrically adjust the rear-view mirrors of a vehicle.

Background art

In the automotive industry, control devices are commonly used, e.g. in order to adjust the position of rear-view mirrors, wherein the user operates a knob, which can rotate about its own longitudinal axis and can also translate transversally to such axis. For example, by turning the knob the user can select which rear-view mirror to control (either the right-hand one or the left-hand one) and then, by moving the knob, the user adjusts the position of the chosen mirror. A control unit is adapted to perform specific actions upon mechanical, electric or electronic parts of the vehicle in response to the movements of the knob .

However, this type of system suffers from a few drawbacks. One drawback lies in the fact that such devices are constructively complex, bulky and expensive.

Summary of the invention

It is one object of the present invention to provide a control device for an electronic circuit of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which can overcome this and other drawbacks of the prior art, while at the same time being simple and economical to manufacture.

According to the present invention, this and other objects are achieved through a device made in accordance with the appended independent claim.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in the following detailed description of the invention. In particular, the appended dependent claims define some preferred embodiments of the present invention, which include some optional technical features.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is supplied merely by way of non limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein :

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a sectional view of a device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the movable structure and the support element, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the movable structure and the crown, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 5 is a view of the crown, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of a half body belonging to the body of a device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 7 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 2 in a different operating position. Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the drawings, there is shown a control device for an electronic circuit of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising:

a body 2,

- a movable structure 4, mounted movable relative to body 2, which extends along a longitudinal axis x-x and comprises a knob 6 for being gripped by a user; the movable structure 4 is configured to move transversally to its own longitudinal axis and to rotate about said longitudinal axis ,

- a support element 8 constrained to movable structure 4 with freedom of rotation about the longitudinal axis x-x of movable structure 4,

- at least one magnet 10 integral with support element 8,

- at least one ferromagnetic element 12 (e.g. made of metal) movably mounted to body 4 and configured to magnetically interact with magnet 10, wherein magnet 10, ferromagnetic element 12 and support element 8 are so configured as to bring movable structure 4 towards an idle position,

- a crown 14 integral with movable structure 4 and comprising a plurality of radial protrusions 16 made of ferromagnetic material and configured to magnetically interact with magnet 10 in order to hold movable structure 4 in a plurality of angular positions around its own longitudinal axis x-x.

Therefore, the user can rotate knob 6 about the axis x-x (e.g. in order to select a rear-view mirror) and move knob 6 along one or more directions transversal to the axis x-x. Knob 6 is integral with movable structure 4. In the illustrated variant, movable structure 4 is adapted to rotate outside the longitudinal axis x-x. In other words, the longitudinal axis x-x is adapted to rotate. According to one possible variant, movable structure 4 is capable of translating linearly in a plane transversal, in particular perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis x-x. When the user moves the movable structure transversally to the axis x-x, he will be able, for example, to adjust the position of the previously selected rear-view mirror.

In particular, body 2 is an enclosure, and preferably comprises first and second half-bodies 2a, 2b that can be assembled together, e.g. by means of a snap mechanism. Knob 6 is at least partly located outside body 2, and a remaining part of movable structure 4 is an internal part of body 2. In the variant shown herein, body 2 is an enclosure defining an inner cavity.

Support element 8 can rotate freely about the longitudinal axis x-x relative to movable structure 4. Conversely, support element 8 and movable structure 4 are constrained to each other when moving transversally to said axis x-x. According to one possible embodiment, support element 8 and movable structure 4 are mutually slidably constrained along the axis x-x. According to a further possible embodiment, support element 8 and movable structure 4 are mutually slidably unconstrained along the axis x-x; in such a case, the user can also press or pull knob 6 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis x- x .

Support element 8 is constrained to body 2 in rotation about the longitudinal axis x-x of movable structure 4. With reference to the embodiment shown herein, body 2, in particular the second half-body 2b, and support element 8 have engagement surfaces adapted to co-operate to prevent any mutual rotation between the body and support element 8 about the axis x-x, while however allowing them to mutually move transversally to said axis x-x. In the example, support element 8 comprises a pin 46, in particular a pair of pins 46, capable of moving within a respective abutment surface 48, which is integral, in particular made as one piece, with body 2, in particular the second half-body 2b.

Abutment surface 48 is preferably also capable of limiting the travel of movable structure 4 transversally to its own longitudinal axis x-x. With reference to Fig. 6, abutment surface 48 is a recess, in particular in the second half-body 2b. Preferably, abutment surface 48 has a cross-like shape, and in particular includes two elongated recesses perpendicular to each other. In this way, pin 46 can only slide along the two elongated recesses of abutment surface 48. In this way, movable structure 4, and in particular knob 6, can only move along two mutually perpendicular trajectories, with reference to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis x-x. Therefore, the user can move knob 6 along two perpendicular directions, e.g. "up-down" and "right-left". In any case, knob 6, and therefore movable structure 4, can still be rotated about the longitudinal axis x-x. Therefore, when a user turns knob 6 transversally to the axis x-x (i.e. about an axis transversal or perpendicular to the axis x-x) , movable structure 4 and support element 8 will move together, even though movable structure 4 and support element 8 are mutually free in rotation about the axis x-x.

Movable structure 4 shown herein includes a shaft 18 aligned with the longitudinal axis x-x. A first end of shaft 18 is fixed to knob 6. In the particular example shown herein, crown 14 is mounted in proximity to a second end of shaft 18. Conveniently, as can be seen in Fig. 5, crown 14 comprises a tooth 20 capable of engaging with a corresponding recess 22 of shaft 18, so as to prevent any mutual rotation between crown 14 and movable structure 4 about the axis x-x. Crown 14 has a hole in which shaft 18 is inserted. Tooth 20 is located in said hole. In particular, shaft 18 has a wider section 26 where recess 22 is formed.

According to the embodiment shown herein, movable structure 4, and in particular shaft 18, goes through a hole 24 of support element 8. In particular, support element 8 is interposed between knob 6 and crown 14. Knob 6 may be an element mounted to shaft 18 or, as an alternative, knob 6 and shaft 18 may be made as one piece.

Preferably, radial protrusions 16 are radially equidistant, in particular with reference to the longitudinal axis x-x. In particular, radial protrusions 16 are formed on a radially external surface of crown 14. Crown 14 is coaxial to the longitudinal axis x-x. Radial protrusions 16 alternate with recesses on crown 14. In particular, the at least one magnet 10 is radially external to crown 14. When the user rotates movable structure 4, crown 14 will rotate as well, and during such rotation radial protrusions 16 will slide in proximity to magnet 10. When a radial protrusion 16 is close to magnet 10, between them 10, 16 a magnetic attraction is generated, which will produce a resistance to the rotation of movable structure 4, and hence of knob 6, about the longitudinal axis x-x. Conversely, when radial protrusion 16 is far from magnet 10, between them 10, 16 less magnetic attraction is generated, which will produce less resistance to the rotation of movable structure 4, and hence of knob 6, about the longitudinal axis x-x. Therefore the user, as he turns knob 6, will have a tactile sensation of a stepping rotation. This aspect is advantageous because it provides the user with tactile feedback about the rotation of knob 6, which may be indicative of the covered degrees of rotation. Alternatively, different actions of the electronic circuit of the vehicle correspond to different angular positions of knob 6 relative to the axis x-x, and thus crown 14 will allow the user to perceive the angular position taken by knob 6, so that it will be easier to position the knob into a useful or desired position. A further advantage of the interaction between magnet 10 and crown 14 is the absence of friction due to contact of sliding parts. Conveniently, whole crown 14 is ferromagnetic, e.g. made of metal. By way of example, Fig. 7 illustrates some symbols 50 on body 2 which are commonly found in motor vehicles and which indicate to the user how knob 6 should be moved in order to perform specific actions through the electronic circuit.

In the illustrated example, to the second end of shaft 18 a base 28 is constrained, which is optionally made as one piece with shaft 18, and which is capable of housing electric/electronic components for controlling the electronic circuit associated with the vehicle as a function of the movements of the movable structure, in particular as a function of the movements of crown 14. The illustrated base 28 has a wider cross-section than shaft 18, and defines a cavity.

Preferably, there are a plurality of ferromagnetic elements 12 capable of cooperating with respective magnets 10. In particular, there are two ferromagnetic elements 12 capable of cooperating with two respective magnets 10. Conveniently, ferromagnetic elements 12 and magnets 10 are evenly distributed radially around the longitudinal axis x- x; in particular, they 10, 12 are in opposite positions relative to the longitudinal axis x-x.

Preferably, support element 8 comprises at least one inclined surface adapted to come in contact with the respective ferromagnetic element 12. Preferably, the inclined surface includes a concavity adapted to come in contact with the respective ferromagnetic element 12. Between magnet 10 and ferromagnetic element 12 there is a magnetic attraction force. Therefore, in the idle position magnet 10 and ferromagnetic element 12 are at a minimum distance from each other. It follows that, in the idle position, ferromagnetic element 12 is in the deepest part of the concavity. Therefore, the invention advantageously allows creating a "stepping" tactile effect for the user. In fact, with reference to Fig. 7, when the user rotates movable structure 4 transversally to the longitudinal axis x-x, magnet 10 and ferromagnetic element 12 will move away from each other, so that the attraction force will diminish and, as a result, movable structure 4 will tend to snap towards its end-of-travel position, thereby generating a stepping sensation. This aspect advantageously allows the user to move knob 6 up to the end-of-travel point without too much effort. In particular, ferromagnetic element 12 is a ball. As an alternative, ferromagnetic element 12 may have different shapes, e.g. a three-dimensional ellipsoidal shape. In particular, ferromagnetic element 12, e.g. the ball, is at least partly ferromagnetic.

Preferably, the at least one ferromagnetic element 12 is movable along a guided path relative to body 2. Conveniently, the guided path is a straight line, which preferably is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis x-x of movable structure 4 when it 4 is in the idle position. In particular, body 2, in particular the second half-body 2b, has at least one guiding cavity 30 in which the respective ferromagnetic element 12 is housed with freedom of sliding along a guided path, which in particular is a straight line, preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis x-x when movable structure 4 is in the idle position. Therefore, guiding cavity 30 shown herein is substantially a straight tube.

In the example, magnet 10 is housed in a cavity defined by a housing portion of support element 8. Magnet 10 and the corresponding ferromagnetic element 12 are separated by a portion of support element 8, in particular by the inclined surface.

In particular, support element 8 comprises a plurality of (in the example, four) inclined tracks 32, 34, 36, 38 capable of coming in contact with respective ferromagnetic element 12, and defining the concavity where ferromagnetic element 12 is inserted when movable structure 4 is in the idle position. With reference to Fig. 3, magnet 10 is under the inclined tracks 32, 34, 36, 38. In particular, for each magnet 10 there are four inclined tracks 32, 34, 36, 38 (only three of which are shown in Fig. 3) arranged mutually perpendicular, with reference to a plan view (in other words, a cross-like arrangement) . Therefore, the inclined tracks 32, 34, 36, 38 converge towards a point that allows achieving a minimum distance between ferromagnetic element 12 and respective magnet 10 (corresponding to the idle position) . In accordance with some possible non-limiting variants, the inclined surface is a concave surface, or an upside-down truncated cone. The inclined surface may include, therefore, one or more flat and/or curved surfaces. Support element 8 shown herein is made as one piece; as an alternative, it 8 may include a number of assembled parts or components.

Body 2, in particular the first half-body 2a, has an opening 39, which in the example has a circular shape, through which movable structure 4 is inserted. Knob 6 is proximal to such opening 39 and lies on the outer part of body 2.

Conveniently, a sheath 40 is arranged on a lower part of knob 6 to prevent water and dust from seeping into body 2. Sheath 40 is preferably deformable, e.g. sheath 40 is made of polymeric material. In particular, sheath 40 has a substantially annular shape, with an aperture through which a cylindrical portion 42 of knob 6 is inserted. Knob 6 shown herein has a mushroom-like shape, wherein the cylindrical part 42 is the stem of the mushroom. Conveniently, body 2, in particular the second half-body 2b, has in its internal part a circular edge 44 whereon a radially external portion of sheath 40 can rest.

A further advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that magnet 10 allows providing tactile feedback about the rotation of knob 6 about its own axis x-x and also bringing knob 6 back into the idle position after it has been moved transversally to said axis x-x.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of embodiment and the implementation details may be extensively varied from those described and illustrated herein by way of non-limiting example, without however departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.