ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCH AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

A rotary selector switch prevents accidental rotation to an undesired position. For example, an automobile moving forward at 55 kph may have a rotary selector switch in electrical communication with its transmission. The disclosed switch prevents accidental rotation that would indicate that a REVERSE gear is desired when it is not. Optionally, on override feature may permit users to overpower an otherwise prevented rotation.

主权项

1. A rotary selector switch, comprising:
a code disc having a plurality of recesses relative to a circumference of the code disc, the code disc being rotatable together with a knob and a shaft; a cam having a surface interfacing with a surface of the code disc, the cam having a circumference wherein at least a portion the cam circumference is recessed to at least one depth; the cam having a cam profile along a thickness of the cam about the circumference of the cam; the cam being rotatable by a motor; a plunger biased toward the cam profile, the plunger having a first portion in contact with the cam profile and a second portion insertable into the recesses in the code disc; such that upon rotational movement of the knob, protrusions in the code disc relative to the recesses in the code disc are engageable with the second portion of the plunger, thereby preventing rotational movement of the rotary selector switch in a direction blocked by the protrusion.