DE20014946U1 - Electrical switching device for adjusting the exterior mirrors of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

ABB Patents GmbH

Mannheim 28 August 2000

Mp. No. 00/628 PAT 2-Pn

Electrical switching device for adjusting the exterior mirrors of a motor vehicle Description

The invention relates to an electrical switching device for adjusting the exterior mirrors of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

From DE 196 45 211 A1, an operating device with operating elements accommodated on operating surfaces is known, in which a part which is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis and is accommodated, for example, in the cockpit of a motor vehicle has at least two operating surfaces (first operating surface for climate functions such as ventilation or air conditioning, second operating surface for selecting communication devices such as car radio, CD player, car phone or navigation system, third operating surface for controlling window lifters, sunroof or exterior mirrors), whereby the desired operating surface can be selected by rotating this part.

From DE 195 07 952 A1 a switching device for the actuation of a plurality of actuating or driving elements is known, for example for opening and closing vehicle windows, wherein a first switching actuating element is provided for the actuation of elements and a second switching actuating element is provided for switching between the elements to be actuated.

MP no. 00/628 '£" ** ··" August 28, 2000

The invention is based on the object of specifying an electrical switching device for adjusting the exterior mirrors of a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the beginning, wherein the number of operating elements is reduced as far as possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention in conjunction with the features of the preamble by the features specified in the characterising part of claim 1.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are in particular that a compression of the operating units is achieved and at the same time a simple, easily understandable operation is made possible. The operation takes place from a single point, which is optimally placed in the interior of the motor vehicle, for example from the point of view of road safety.

Further advantages are evident from the description below.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

The invention is explained below using the embodiment shown in the drawing.

Fig.1 a view of an electrical switching device,

Fig. 2 the signal connection for operating different exterior mirrors.

Fig. 1 shows a view of an electrical switching device. The electrical switching device 1 has a plastic housing with a housing cover 2 that protrudes beyond the outer contour of the housing. Fasteners 3 are provided on the housing, which allow the switching device 1 to be installed in a center console or door panel of a passenger vehicle, for example. The housing cover 2 contains the following control elements and display devices: - four control elements 4 for activating window lifts (closing/opening windows) at the front left, front right, rear left and rear right,

MP no. 00/628 '3 '* .··**··* August 28, 2000

- four control elements 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d (buttons) for adjusting an exterior mirror to the left, to the right, up and down, whereby two of these control elements 5a, 5b have a dual function and are also used to select the exterior mirror to be adjusted (left exterior mirror / right exterior mirror),

- two display devices 6a, 6b for displaying the currently selected left or right exterior mirror adjustable with the control elements 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d,

- a control element 7 (button) for switching a child safety lock on/off,

- a display device 8 for indicating that the child safety lock is deactivated,

- a display device 9 for indicating that the child safety lock is activated and

- a control element 10 (button) for activating/deactivating a central locking system, whereby this control element also serves to display the current state of the central locking system "activated/deactivated".

To open or close a window of the motor vehicle, the corresponding control element 4 is operated. The control elements 4 are expediently illuminated in the sense of a search light.

By pressing the control element 7, the operating modes "child lock off" and "child lock on" can be set, whereby the currently selected state is displayed by means of one of the two display devices 8, 9, i.e. the operating states are displayed by corresponding illumination of translucent symbol areas. The lighting color of the symbol of the display device 8 is preferably green, while the symbol of the display device 9 is preferably illuminated red. With appropriate translucence of the symbol areas and optimal use of light-emitting diodes, the visibility of the operating states can also be achieved in daylight.

If the left or right exterior mirror is to be adjusted, the desired exterior mirror must first be selected. This is done by briefly pressing one of the two control elements 5a, 5b for adjusting the exterior mirror to the left or to the right. After this brief operation, the respective

MP no. 00/628 " *4* " *··*"..* August 28, 2000

for an adjustment of the selected exterior mirror via the two display devices 6a, 6b and the control elements 5a, 5b, the function automatically changes from the exterior mirror selection mode to the exterior mirror adjustment mode. The corresponding control elements 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d can now be operated to adjust the selected left or right exterior mirror to the left, right, up or down as desired. If after this first brief operation of the control elements 5a, 5b no control elements 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are operated within a specified period of time, the selection of left exterior mirror / right exterior mirror returns to the neutral state and the display devices 6a, 6b go out accordingly.

The control elements 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are conveniently illuminated in the sense of a search light.

The control element 10 is also illuminated in the sense of a search light. By pressing the control element 10, the desired operating mode "central locking activated" is set as required, with such a state being indicated by the central locking symbol being illuminated more intensely or by the symbol being illuminated in a different color.

Fig. 2 shows the signal connection for operating different exterior mirrors. A selection element 11 can be seen, which receives signals from the control elements 5a or 5b on the input side for adjusting the exterior mirrors to the left or right and controls a control element 12 on the output side. This control element 12 receives signals from the control elements 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d on the input side, activates one of the two display devices 6a or 6b on the output side and applies the signals specified by the control elements 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d to the selected left mirror 13 or right mirror 14.

Claims (9)

1. Electrical switching device for adjusting the outside mirrors of a motor vehicle, wherein control elements ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d ) are provided for adjusting an outside mirror ( 13 , 14 ) to the left, right, up or down, characterized in that the control elements ( 5a , 5b ) for adjusting an outside mirror ( 13 , 14 ) to the left or to the right have a dual function and also serve for selecting the left outside mirror/right outside mirror. 2. Switching device according to claim 1, characterized in that display devices ( 6 a, 6 b) are provided for displaying the currently selected left or right outside mirror ( 13 , 14 ) adjustable with the operating elements ( 5 a, 5 b, 5 c, 5 d). 3. Switching device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a selection element ( 11 ) to which the signals of the operating elements ( 5a , 5b ) for adjusting an outside mirror ( 13 , 14 ) to the left or to the right can be fed on the input side and which controls a control element ( 12 ) on the output side, which receives the signals of the operating elements ( 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d ) for adjusting an outside mirror ( 13 , 14 ) to the left, right, up or down on the input side and forwards them to the selected left or right outside mirror ( 13 , 14 ). 4. Switching device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the control element ( 12 ) activates one of the two display devices ( 6a , 6b ) to display the currently selected left or right exterior mirror ( 13 , 14 ). 5. Shaft device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an operating element ( 7 ) is provided for switching a child safety lock on/off. 6. Switching device according to claim 5, characterized in that display devices ( 8 , 9 ) serve to indicate whether the child safety lock is switched on or off. 7. Switching device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that operating elements ( 4 ) are provided for window lifters at the front left, front right, rear left and rear right. 8. Switching device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an operating element ( 10 ) is provided for activating/deactivating a central locking system. 9. Switching device according to claim 8, characterized in that the operating element ( 10 ) for activating/deactivating the central locking system has a display device for the current state of the central locking system.