Rotary switch assembly with adjustable programming limit mechanism

Claim 2

A multi-function switch, comprising: a stationary switch contact member, a movable switch contact member adapted to cooperate with said stationary contact member, a rotor connected to said movable switch member, the position of said rotor controlling the position of said movable switch member, detent means having a stationary member and a member carried by said rotor, said detent means being constructed and arranged to define a plurality of spaced mechanically stable rotor positions, adjacent stable rotor positions being separated only by an unstable rotor position, and a stationary switch function program member having a plurality of selectable means selectively operable to limit the range of the rotor''s movement to mechanically stable positions to thereby provide multi-stable-position switch programs equal to or less than said plurality of stable rotor positions, or to limit the rotor''s movement such that at least one end of said range of movement includes a mechanically unstable position to thereby provide momentary-unstable-position switch programs.

Claim 3

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch function program member includes selectable stationary stop means cooperating with said rotor to limit the range of rotation thereof.

Claim 4

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 2 wherein said stop means includes an extending flag carried by said rotor and selectively positionable stationary stops cooperating with said flag to limit at least one end of the rotor''s range of movement to a stable position or to an unstable position, in accordance with the selected switch function.

Claim 5

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 3 including a crank-arm adapted to be selectively attached to said rotor in a known orientation to said flag and including a handle disposed from the axis of rotation of said rotor and extending generally parallel thereto to provide a multi-stable-position switch program and/or a momentary-unstable switch program.

Claim 6

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 3 including a knob adapted to be selectively attached to said rotor in a known orientation to said flag to provide a multi-stable-position rotary switch program and/or a momentary-unstable rotary switch program.

Claim 7

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said stationary switch contact member is formed on a nonconductive planar surface including electrically conductive circuit patterns, including a hollow housing mounted on said planar surface, and a rotary shaft supported by said housing and supporting said rotor within said housing with said movable switch contact member in electrical contact with said circuit patterns.

Claim 8

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 6 wherein the stationary member of said detent means is carried by said housing and is positioned relative to said circuit patterns so as to establish a predetermined switching relationship between said movable switch contact member and said circuit patterns when said rotor is in said stable positions and when said rotor is in one unstable position.

Claim 9

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 7 wherein said switch function program member includes a flag carried by said rotor, and wherein said plurality of selectable means includes stationary stop means carried by said housing and selectively movable into the path of said flag to restrict at least one end of the rotor''s range of movement to a stable position and/or to said one unstable position.

Claim 10

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 8 including a crank arm attached to said shaft by means of mating positioning surfaces, and a switch handle disposed from the axis of rotation of said rotor and extending generally parallel to said axis to provide a multi-stable-position switch program and/or a momentary-unstable-position switch program.

Claim 11

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 8 including a knob actuator attached to said shaft by means of mating positioning surfaces to provide a multi-stable-position rotary switch program and/or a momentary-unstable-position rotary switch program.

Claim 12

A programmable multi-function switch comprising: a printed circuit board carrying an annular circuit pattern, a housing mounted on said circuit board in known alignment with said circuit pattern, a rotor mounted in said housing for rotation relative to said circuit pattern, movable switch contacts carried by said rotor and engaging said circuit pattern in switching relationship, indexing means associated with said housing and said rotor to establish a plurality of discrete mechanically stable rotor positions for a complete revolution of said rotor, adjacent stable positions being separated only by an unstable rotor position, said circuit pattern being formed to provide a unique switch configuration for at least certain of said stable rotor positions, and additionally being formed to provide a unique switch configuration for at least one of said unstable rotor positions, and manually adjustable program means effective to limit the range of rotation of said rotor such that each end of said range includes a stable rotor position to provide a multi-position switch function, and/or to limit rotation of said rotor such that at least one end of said range includes said one unstable rotor position to provide a momentary switch function.

Claim 13

A programmable multi-function switch comprising: a printed circuit board carrying an annular circuit pattern, a housing mounted on said circuit board in known alignment with said circuit pattern, a rotor mounted in said housing for rotation relative to said circuit pattern, movable switch contacts carried by said rotor and engaging said circuit pattern in switching relationship, indexing means associated with said housing and said rotor to establish a plurality of discrete mechanically stable rotor positions for a complete revolution of said rotor, adjacent stable positions being separated only by an unstable rotor position, said circuit pattern being formed to provide a unique switch configuration for at least certain of said stable rotor positions, and additionally being formed to provide a unique switch configuration for at least one of said unstable rotor positions, and manually adjustable program means effective to limit the range of rotation of said rotor such that each end of said range includes a stable rotor position to provide a multi-position switch function, and/or to limit rotation of said rotor such that at least one end of said range includes said one unstable rotor position to provide a momentary switch function.

Claim 14

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 11 including positioning means cooperating with said printed circuit board and said housing to produce known registry between said circuit pattern and said stable and unstable rotor positions.

Claim 15

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 12 wherein said indexing means includes spring-biased detent means operable between said rotor and said housing, a portion of said detent means including a series of notches establishing said stable rotor positions, said unstable rotor positions being defined by line-like ridges between adjacent notches as formed by the joining of the opposite sloping walls of adjacent notches.

Claim 16

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 13 wherein said program means includes an extending flag carried by said rotor, and manually positionable stops associated with said housing effective to limit the ends of the range of rotation of said rotor by virtue of engagement with said flag.

Claim 17

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 13 including manually actuable means for selective use with said rotor to selectively provide rotary knob switch functions or pivotal-handle switch functions.

Claim 18

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 12 wherein said annular circuit pattern includes a plurality of unique configurations disposed about a 360* annular circuit pattern, and wherein said indexing means establishes a like plurality of stable rotor positions in registry with the unique configurations of said circuit pattern.

Claim 19

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 16 wherein said indexing means includes a series of discrete notches formed about the 360* annular circumference of said rotor, one for each of said stable rotor positions, and a spring biased member mounted at a fixed position on said housing and cooperating with said notches to establish said stable rotor positions.

Claim 20

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 17 wherein said program means includes an extending flag carried by said rotor in substantial alignment with the line-like ridge formed by the joining of the opposite sloping walls of two adjacent notches, and a ring of holes formed in said housing adapted to receive one or more stop-pins to establish the ends of the range of rotor rotation to stable positions by virtue of engagement with said flag, and at least one additional hole formed in said housing adapted to receive a stop pin to establish at least one end of the range of rotor rotation to include an unstable position by virtue of engagement with said flag as said spring biased member engages the wall of a notch adjacent the ridge which joins said wall to the wall of the adjacent notch.

Claim 21

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 18 wherein said program means includes two additional holes formed in said housing adapted to receive stop pins to establish a range of rotor rotation which includes a stable mid-position and two unstable end positions, one on each side of said mid-position, and wherein said annular circuit pattern includes a short arcuate conductive segment corresponding to said mid-position and a relatively long arcuate conductive segment corresponding to each of said two unstable positions.

Claim 22

A multi-function switch as defined in claim 19 including a manually rotatable knob selectively usable with said rotor for rotation about the axis of rotation of said rotor when said program means is set to allow substantial rotation of said rotor, to thereby provide rotary-knob switch functions, and a manually actuable crank arm, including a handle disposed from the axis of rotation of said rotor, extending generally parallel thereto, and selectively usable with said rotor when said program means is set to allow rotation through no more than three positions of said rotor, to thereby provide pivotal-handle switch functions.