A control unit has an electronic control device (ECU) that includes a base board (50) on which a plurality of elements, including a microcomputer containing an automatic transmission program, are disposed. The electronic control device includes an integral neutral start switch (NSW) connected to the microcomputer. The neutral start switch (NSW) also includes a rotor (40) and contact-type switches (SW) operated by rotation-of the rotor. The base board and the rotor are disposed in a case and are substantially parallel to each other at opposite sides of an intermediate wall formed in the case. The base board is separated from the contact-type switches by the intermediate wall to prevent communication of oil or metal dust from the contact-type switches to the base board.

Es wird eine für ein Kraftfahrzeug vorgesehener Signalgeber mit einer zur Detektion von verschiedenen, hintereinander liegenden Positionen eines verstellbares Kraftfahrzeug-Teiles vorgesehenen Sensoreinrichtung vorgeschlagen, bei der zur sicheren Erkennung von einer Vielzahl von Positionen das verstellbare Teil mit einem an einer Halterung vorhandenen, entsprechend verstellbaren magnetischen Auslöseorgan verbunden ist, welches mehrere sich in Verstellrichtung erstreckende Magnetspuren mit für jede Magnetspur sich abwechselnder und damit eine Kodierung sicherstellender Polarität aufweist, wobei den Magnetspuren des Auslöseorgans jeweils zumindest ein magnetfeldempfindliches Bauelement zugeordnet ist und wobei die magnetfeldempfindlichen Bauelemente mit einer die jeweiligen Zustände derselben erfassenden und logisch auswertenden Schaltungsanordnung zur entsprechenden Beeinflussung eines zugeordneten Aggregates verbunden sind.

An electronic control unit (ECU) and a position detection unit are disposed in separate chambers formed in a case (10). Two switch portions (SW1,SW2) are separately disposed on a first cover (20) and on the case, respectively, on opposite sides of a movable member (40) of the position detection unit, thus reducing the size of the unit. The signal-related circuit that needs to be connected to the ECU for signal transmission and the drive circuit (for starting the starter motor and turning on the reverse lamps) that does not need the connection to the ECU for signal transmission are separately disposed on the opposite sides of the movable member (40), that is, on the case (10) side and the first cover (20) side. The drive circuit is completely separated from the signal-related circuit and the ECU, thus preventing the drive circuit from electrically interfering with the signal-related circuit or the ECU.

An electric switch used with motor vehicle transmissions is shown in which the switch arm (22') is mounted on a manual shaft (30) to be movable therewith and is received in a housing (44) which has an end freely rotatable about the manual shaft and an opposite end coupled to the detent lever roller (16). Ingress of debris into the housing is prevented, in one embodiment, by annular sealing elements (54, 56) formed of resilient material and having a curved surface extending in a radial direction disposed around the manual shaft (30) on either side of the switch arm between the switch arm and the housing. In a second embodiment a single annular sealing element (56) is used on one side of the switch arm (22'') and the switch arm (22'') on its opposite side and the base (12'') of the housing are formed with matching curved surfaces (27, 29). In another embodiment the switch arm (64) is fixedly mounted on the detent lever (42) through a depending leg (66) with housing (82) having an end rotatably mounted around the leg (66) with the opposite end of the housing coupled to the detent lever roller (16).

The swith, particularly adapted to respond to the position of an automobile gear shift lever, is responsive to the position of a movable external member relative to a stationary member and includes a pair of housing sections one of Nhich is attached to the stationary member and the other of which (12b) defines a track (44) for a movable switch member (72) which follows the movements of the external member and is arranged to close the switch at a selected location along the track (44). The two housing sections are movable relative to one another in more or less the direction of the track so that by engaging the movable switch member (72) against one or the other end of the track and moving the housing sections relative to one another, the selected location on the track can be correlated with a selection position of the movable member.