Texas Instruments Corporation

Peter J Bloznalis

Gary A Baker

Carleton M Cobb, Iii

Charles M Anastasia

Nicholas D Anastasia

Engbertus Berkel

A recognition switch assembly ( ) has a movable contact assembly ( ) mounted on an actuator ( ) mounted for sliding movement along a longitudinal direction ( ) in a housing ( ) with a stationary contact board ( ) mounted on the housing over the movable contact assembly ( ). The actuator is formed with a laterally deflectable beam ( ) on one side of the actuator having a protrusion ( ) which cooperates with space protrusions ( ) on the opposed side for sliding engagement with opposed sidewalls ( ) of the housing. A pair of vertically deflectable beams ( ) having a protrusion ( ) slidingly engage platform surfaces ( ). When mounted in the housing, the beams are deformed to eliminate clearances between the actuator ( ) and the housing ( ) in both the vertical and lateral directions resulting in an improved, vibration independent, electrical output signal of the switch assembly.

Gear recognition switch system

A switch system (10) is shown having housing members (12, 13) forming a cavity (14) in which an actuator arm (32) is pivotably mounted. Spring electrical contact members (36, 38) are mounted on the actuator arm and slide into and out of engagement with electrical contact segments (26a, 24a) respectively mounted on respective circuit boards (26, 24) as the actuator arm pivots. The actuator arm is formed with a hub portion (32a) received in bores (12b, 13b) of the housing. The hub in turn has a bore (32b) which is received on and keyed to the manual shaft of a vehicle transmission by opposing flat surfaces (32c). First and second annular spring seal elements (34) are received between respective sealing surfaces (12a, 32a) and (13a, 32a) to prevent ingress of debris into cavity (14). Housing member (12) is formed with a connector portion (16) having a generally cylindrical connector shroud (16a) which receives terminal pins (28) which are electrically connected to contact segments (26a, 24a). Connector portion (16) is received through a first bore (2) of the transmission housing wall (6) and manual lever shaft (8) is received in a second bore (4) of the transmission housing wall (6).

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Upton, MA, United States of America

Peter J Bloznalis