Leopold Kostal Gmbh & Co. Kg

Martin Wagner

Christoph Oster

Meinolf Kathol

Rainer Buehlmann

Sven Kober

Werner Thormann

Rainer BÜHLMANN

A switch is formed by a branch including a measurement resistance and a selectable one of switching resistances having different nominal values such that a switch position depends on which switching resistance is selected. The measurement resistance is connected through the selected switching resistance to a supply voltage whereby a voltage drop dependent on the switch position is across the measurement resistance. A controller identifies the switch position by comparison of a measured value (U) of the voltage drop with target voltage drops corresponding to switch positions, calculates a voltage drop (Uges) across the branch based on nominal values of the measurement and selected switching resistances and the supply voltage, forms a difference value (U) between a measured value (U) of the supply voltage and the branch voltage drop (Uges), and qualifies the identified switch position as faulty when the difference value (U) exceeds a difference threshold value (U).

Method for detecting a switching position of a switching device

An electrical switch including a housing, four fixed contact elements fixed with respect to the housing, and four movable contact elements movable with respect to the housing. Each of the movable contact elements is positioned directly opposite from a respective fixed contact element. An actuating member is movable from a neutral position into four actuating positions. In each actuating position the actuating member actuates a respective movable contact element causing the respective movable contact element to contact a respective fixed contact element for enabling a corresponding switching function. An auxiliary frame surrounds the actuating member and is positioned within the housing. A first pair of opposed connecting elements connects the actuating member to the auxiliary frame. The first pair of opposed connecting elements form a first pivot axis. A second pair of opposed connecting elements connect the auxiliary frame to the housing. The second pair of opposed connecting elements are disposed offset by 90&deg; with respect to the first pair of opposed connecting elements. The second pair of opposed connecting elements form a second pivot axis. The actuating member moves from the neutral position into one of the four actuating positions about the first and second pivot axes.

Electrical switch

A rotating actuator includes a rotatable control shaft, a manually operated handle connected therewith, and a device for generating a haptic perception when rotating the control shaft. The haptic signal generating device is developed in the form of a mechanical detent assembly including a detent curve and at least one detent element engaging the stop curve. An activating device is allocated to the haptic signal generating device and is actively configured on the detent curve or a detent element. By selecting the activation device an interaction is created between a detent element and the detent curve in order to generate the haptic signal formed by the detent curve. The haptic signal can be enabled or disabled by activating or deactivating the activation device as the control shaft is rotated.

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Luedenscheid, Germany

Martin Wagner