Sensor and method for encoding and detecting a plurality of discrete positions are provided. The sensor comprises an array of electromagnetic assemblies 12. Each assembly may be made up of a magnet 14, and a flux-sensing switch 18 electromagnetically coupable to the magnet to generate a signal having a respective logical state in response to the presence or absence of flux from the magnet. A flux mask 16 is movably interposed between each magnet and flux-sensing switch. The flux mask includes a window array configured to pass or block flux from each magnet. The window array is further configured so that each flux-sensing switch can generate in response to whether or not flux passes therethrough, a signal set encoded to uniquely identify each of the discrete positions as the flux mask is set at any of the discrete positions.

The slide switch (15) includes five fixed contact points (28a to 28e) and five movable contact points (32a). The movable contact points (32a) slide along the fixed contact points (28a to 28e) to switch the connection state with the fixed contact points (28a to 28e). A substrate (25) for the slide switch (15) has the fixed contact points (28a to 28e) and terminals (23a to 23e), each of which is electrically connected to one of the fixed contact points (28a to 28e). Each fixed contact point (28a to 28e) and the corresponding terminal (23a to 23e) are integrally formed. According to the substrate (25), a process to connect each fixed contact point (28a to 28e) to the corresponding terminal (23a to 23e) is omitted. Therefore, the number of manufacturing processes for the substrate (25) is reduced.

To enable correctly performing detection of speed change positions. In an inhibitor switch (1) having a terminal block (3) with fixed contacts (9, 11) and a moving block (7) which is mounted and fitted onto a manual shaft of an automatic transmission, has a signaling contact (31) and large capacity current-carrying contacts (33,35), and is rotatable relative to the terminal block, and for electrically detecting a speed change position of the automatic transmission on the basis of a relative rotating positional relationship of the fixed contacts and the signaling contact in accordance with rotation of the manual shaft, the moving block having a boss portion (25) formed of a resin and being mounted on the manual shaft and a contact support portion (27) mounting thereon the signaling contact and large capacity current-carrying contacts, the contact support portion being formed of metal and the signaling contact being joined to the contact support portion by caulking.

To make it possible to facilitate an accurate positioning of an inhibitor switch with respect to an automatic transmission. There is provided a tack-fastening member (29), which is mounted in advance between a terminal block (3) and a moving block (7) before an inhibitor switch is fixed on an automatic transmission, for tack-fastening the terminal block and moving block at a relatively rotational position to detect a specific shift position of the automatic transmission and for being broken at a set torque. By this tack-fastening member, the moving block (7) is temporarily fastened on the terminal block (3), and the moving block in the temporarily fastened state is fitted on a manual shaft at the specific shift position. After this, the inhibitor switch is fixed on the automatic transmission, and the manual shaft is rotated to break the tack-fastening member from the temporarily fastened state.

An inhibitor switch is constructed such that a movable base 1 adapted to be rotatable in accordance with the transmission operating position of an automatic transmission device is supported rotatably by a cover body 2 and a pole base 3 having magnetic sensors 9. The movable base 1 is integrally formed with a yoke 5 through a injection molding method. The yoke 5 has folded sections 5c exposed to the upper surface of the movable base 1 and both pieces 5b for receiving the permanent magnets 4. Moreover, the yoke 5 is composed of a plurality of bottom pieces 5b connected with each other and the folded sections 5c formed at each end of the bottom pieces 5c.

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.

In an automatic transmission system, a position sensor (10) provides digital and analog output indications of the sensed position of a manually operated transmission gear shift lever (113). Electrical contacts within the sensor are cofigured to minimize wear and corrosion by eliminating electrical continuity in the switching elements when the gear shift lever (113) is in the drive position.

An electric switch system (10) for use with a motor vehicle transmission has a movable contact assembly (22) mounted on the detent lever (12) linked to the manual valve assembly and a stationary contact assembly (18) mounted in an open housing (16) disposed over one face surface of the detent lever and in facing relation therewith. The housing has a plurality of L-shaped attachment projections (24a, 24b, 24c) each with a leg (24d, 24e, 24f) which, when the switch system is assembled, extends over the opposite face surface (12c) of the detent lever. A locking projection (24g) of the housing is received in a cut-out (12g) of the detent lever when the attachment projections are out of alignment with the detent lever and has a leg (24h) which extends over the opposite face surface (12c) of the detent lever when the housing (16) is rotated relative to the detent lever so that the attachment projections are in alignment with the detent lever. The housing has a pair of prongs (16d) which receive the roller (26) of the roller/spring assembly (28) to maintain the housing in a fixed angular position. An optional removable lock member (34) is shown to maintain the switch system components in a fixed position prior to installation in a transmission. A modified high current embodiment has a stationary contact assembly (18') with pairs of rails (18c') which lift respective movable contact elements (22a') to break a respective electric circuit at selected angular positions of the detent lever.

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf einen Schalter, insbesondere elektromechanischen Schalter, bei welchen zwischen mechanischen und elektrischen, innerhalb eines Gehäuses angeordneten Elementen eine Kunststoffmembran 5 angeordnet ist. Diese Kunststoffmembran 5 besteht erfindungsgemäß aus einer mit mindestens einer eingeformtem Kalotte 6, 6' versehenen Folie 7.

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).

Ein Drehschalter, insbesondere Getriebeschalter, nimmt in einem mit Anschlußkontakten (9) versehenen Gehäuse (1) in zwei parallelen Ebenen (11, 12) konzentrisch zueinander verlaufende Festkontakte auf, denen eine Kontaktbrücke (13) zugeordnet ist. Um einen kompakten und dichten Aufbau des Drehschalters mit einer Vielzahl von Strompfaden zu erhalten, bestehen in jeder Ebene (11, 12) die Festkontakte aus mindestens einem Stanzgitter (14), die pro Ebene (11, 12) in einem Abstandsstege (17) und Paßelemente (18) aufweisenden Kontaktträger (15) eingespritzt sind. Hierbei sind die Kontaktträger (15) zu einem Kontaktmodul (16) zusammengesetzt, wobei im durch die Abstandsstege (17) der Kontaktträger (15) gebildeten Kontaktraum (20) auf der freiliegenden, dem kontaktraum (20) zugewandten Kontaktfläche (21) der Stanzgittter (14) mindestens eine in einem im Gehäuse (1) konzentrisch gelegerten Schaltglied (22) federbelastet gehalterte Kontaktbrücke (13) gleitet.

Es wird ein für automatische Schaltgetriebe von Kraftfahrzeugen vorgesehener, aus einem Gehäuse und darin vorhandenen, über ein auf einer Schaltwelle befindliches Schaltrad betätigten Schaltkontaktsystemen bestehender elektrischer Positionsschalter vorgeschlagen, bei dem ein nur einen relativ geringen Aufwand erfordernder modularer Aufbau und eine recht einfach durchzuführende Justierung auf die am Schaltgetriebe vorhandenen Verhältnisse dadurch realisiert wird, daß in mehreren parallel zum Gehäuse-Boden liegenden Ebenen jeweils zumindest ein Schaltkontaktsystem vorhanden ist, dessen Schaltkontaktteil über ein Ende von jeweils einem im Gehäuse geführt gehaltenen, mit seinem anderen Ende einer mit Schaltnocken versehenen, in der selben Ebene wie das zugehörige Schaltkontaktsystem befindlichen Schaltkurvenbahn des Schaltrades zugeordneten Schaltstößel betätigbar ist und wobei dem Gehäuse eine auf die Neutralstellung "N" der Schaltanordnung abgestimmte Justiereinrichtung für einen Abgleich der Schaltstellungen des Positionsschalters auf die Position der Schaltwelle zugeordnet ist.

An electrical circuit element including a moulded synthetic resin substrate (11), two electrical conductor sets (21-24 and 25-27) carried by the substrate (11), a first of said conductor sets (21-24) including at least one performed metal strip and the second of said conductor sets (25-27) including at least one printed track. The invention further resides in a method of manufacturing an electric circuit element comprising the steps of starting with mould means defining the shape of a desired substrate, positioning within said mould means at least one electrical conductor in the form of a performed metallic strip (21-24), positioning within said mould means, in relation to said strip, a flexible printed circuit including a flexible, electrically insulating backing member (32) with a flexible conductive track (25-27) exposed on one face thereof, the positioning of the strip and the flexible printed circuit in said mould means being such that after moulding said strip and said track will be exposed on the moulded substrate, and introducing synthetic resin material into said mould means to form said substrate (11).