DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of automobiles. More particularly, the
present disclosure relates to a push-type engine start-stop switch for a vehicle with an integrated
5 haptic feedback system.
BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE
Generally, vehicles such as four wheelers are provided with a mechanical key for engine
10 ignition and locking - unlocking the peripheral components of the vehicle. The peripheral
components include trunk, doors, steering lock etc. The mechanism for locking/unlocking
includes components such as a steering lock cylinder, a key etc. The key is to be inserted into
a steering lock cylinder of the vehicle and then a user provides an arcuate movement in the
locking cylinder to proceed for the engine ignition.
15
However, the vehicles are now provided with a keyless ignition, locking/unlocking system.
The keyless locking/unlocking has proven out to offer hands-free operation, multi-layer of
security and an automatic locking to provide a convenient and an ecosystem of security which
avoids the risk of thefts and other security issues. Further, the keyless system for engine ignition
20 is expected to provide a next layer of security to the vehicle which can be advantageous
Though a keyless system’s convenience is widely provided by the vehicle manufacturers for
the automatic locking/unlocking of the vehicle, there still exists a gap where a keyless ignition
system is less prevalent. The large potential of the keyless systems for vehicles still needs more
25 exploration and convenient approach.
Although, conventional push type engine start-stop switch does provide the convenience of
keyless operation for the engine ignition but the lack in providing the feedback for the
confirmation of the complete engagement of the mechanism upon receiving an actuating force
30 from a user on a push type button is missing. This absence of a non-feedback mechanism may
puzzle or confuse a user as it leaves the user in a condition unsure of whether the required
actuating force has been provided to the push button or not, to initiate the engine ignition. The
lack of a communication, feedback or a signal to inform the user whether the complete needed
engagement of the push button from the user side has been achieved or not, is yet to be
35 explored.
3
Present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any such
limitations associated with the prior arts.
SUMMARY
5
One or more shortcomings of the conventional keyed engine ignition systems are overcome,
and additional advantages are provided through the process of a keyless engine ignition
system disclosed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized
through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the
10 disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.
In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, an engine start-stop button switch
is disclosed. The switch includes a push-button, a ring lug, a pair of steel balls, and a
lowercase. The push-button is configured to be operated by a user of the vehicle. The ring
15 lug is coupled to the push-button and the ring lug moves axially within the switch. The pair
of steel balls are mounted on a lower portion of the ring lug. The lowercase of the switch is
defined with a plurality of grooves. The pair of steel balls is configured to traverse axially
between the plurality of grooves upon operation of the push-button, to actuate the switch
between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
20
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the switch comprises a compression spring
coupled to the ring lug, the compression spring contracts and expands, based on the axial
movement of the ring lug.
25 In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the switch comprises a connecting spring, the
connecting spring interconnects the pair of steel balls, and aids in a transverse movement of
the pair of the steel balls, into and out of the plurality of grooves.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each ball of the pair of steel balls is made from
30 a metallic material.
In an embodiment, the connecting spring and the compression spring are coiled springs.
In an embodiment, the switch comprises a signal receiver, the signal receiver is coupled with
35 the ring lug to allow wireless communication between the switch and a fob key.
4
In an embodiment, the switch comprises a touch sensor, the touch sensor transmits a signal
for an engine of the vehicle, based on the contact established with the ring lug of the switch.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In
addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, 5 and features described above, further
aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and
the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
10
Further aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily understood from the
following description with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures together with a
description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further
illustrate the embodiments and explain various principles and advantages, but not limiting the
15 scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings,
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an engine start-stop switch with an integrated
mechanism for haptic feedback, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
20 FIG. 2(a) illustrates a top view of the engine start-stop switch of FIG. 1, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2(b) illustrates a bottom view of the engine start-stop switch of FIG. 1, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
25
FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the engine start-stop switch of FIG. 1, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4(a) illustrates a top view of a lower case of the engine start-stop switch of FIG. 1, in
30 accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4(b) illustrates a top view of the lower case of the FIG. 4 with a pair of steel balls of the
engine start-stop switch, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
35 FIG. 5(a) illustrates a top view of the lower case of the FIG. 4 with a ring lug connected with
the pair of steel balls of FIG. 4(b) of the engine start-stop switch, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
5
FIG. 5(b) illustrates a perspective view of a ring lug of a frame ring of FIG. 3, in accordance
with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6(a) illustrates a side sectional view 5 of the engine start-stop switch, in fully disengaged
position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 6(b) illustrates a side sectional view of the engine start-stop switch, in fully engaged
position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
10
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and
have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements
in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding
of embodiments of the present invention.
15
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled
in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of
the apparatuses and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the
principles of the disclosure described herein
20
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific
embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described in
25 detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to
the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications,
equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention.
Before describing in detail embodiments, it may be observed that the novelty and inventive
30 step that are in accordance with the present disclosure resides in an engine start-stop switch
assembly. It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art can be motivated from the present
disclosure and modify the various constructions of assembly, which are varying from product
to product. However, such modification should be construed within the scope and spirit of the
invention. Accordingly, the drawings are showing only those specific details that are pertinent
35 to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure
with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit
of the description herein.
6
The terms “comprise”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a
non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device that comprises a list of components does not
include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or
inherent to such setup or device. In other words, one or 5 more elements in a system or apparatus
proceeded by “comprises a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other
elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
With reference to FIG. 1 – FIG. 2(b), an engine start-stop switch (100) is illustrated in different
10 views. Throughout the disclosure, the terms “engine start-stop switch” and “switch” may be
used interchangeably without deviating from the technical aspects withheld by the mentioned
terms of the present disclosure. The engine start-stop switch (100) may be actuated by a user
of the vehicle manually whenever the ignition of the vehicle is to be turned ON or OFF. A
simple manual push operation of a push-button (400) of the switch by a user of the vehicle may
15 be sufficient to actuate the ignition of the vehicle. The present disclosure relates to the engine
start-stop switch with an integrated feedback system. In some embodiments, the feedback
system may also be an aspect of a communication sent to a device used by the user of the
vehicle, in the form of an electromagnetic wave or signal. The signal may be configured to be
received in a remote or in some cases, a fob key. Generally, the push-button (400) is configured
20 to be actuated manually. The engine start-stop switch broadly comprises an uppercase (200), a
lowercase (300) as its covering elements. The uppercase (200) and lowercase (300) are
configured to hold all the components of the engine star-stop switch (100) in their respective
positions.
25 The uppercase (200) may be configured to cover internal components of the switch (100) from
its top portion while the lowercase (300) may be configured to act as a covering or base
component of the switch (100) from bottom portion of the switch. The lowercase (300) may
house or accommodate the placement of various components of the switch (100) and provide
support to these components that may be described in later embodiments of the present
30 disclosure. The uppercase (200) and the lowercase (300) may together be coupled or attached
to form or define an enclosed structure of the switch (100) through one of a mechanical
fastening methods. In the present disclosure, the fastening of the uppercase (200) with the
lowercase (300) may be illustrated by the usage of fastener elements like screws (250) but the
same method should not be considered a limitation of the fastening method of the switch (100).
35 In some embodiments, the uppercase (200) and the lowercase (300) may be coupled or attached
7
to each other through an interference fit. It may be noted that the attachment of the uppercase
(200) and the lowercase (300) of the switch (100) may be accustomed to embody a significant
ingress protection (IP) to the switch (100) that may withstand a rigorous flow of fluid and wear
from solid particles by sealing and protecting internal components of the switch (100). In an
embodiment, the disclosed covering elements of the 5 switch (100), i.e., the uppercase (200) and
the lowercase (300) may be made from a polymeric material or a composite material. These
materials may tend to add properties of lightweight and provide a possibility of embedding
different small elements into the uppercase (200) and the lowercase (300). The switch (100)
may be configured to be used manually by the user of the vehicle through manual pressing of
10 a push-button (400). Throughout the disclosure, the terms like “push-button” and “button” may
be used interchangeably to indicate towards the same element without limiting the scope and
functionality of the element. In an embodiment, the button (400) may typically be made from
a durable material like polymeric material, or metal to allow withstanding of the button (400)
on repeated pushing or usage by the user of the vehicle. The shape of the button (400) may
15 either be flat or may be customized to suit the ergonomic specifications of the button (400)
which may make it easier for the user to press when needed. The push-button (400) may be
accommodated in a way inside the switch (100) that it may be supported by other elements
providing a cushioning and lower wear rate upon frequent usage. Such elements may be
disclosed in further upcoming embodiments of the present disclosure. The push-button (400)
20 of the present disclosure may be positioned to be accessible to the user from where the user
may push the button.
Referring to FIG. 3, the switch (100) is illustrated in its perspective view to show different
components provisioned inside the structure of the switch (100). The lowercase (300) of the
25 switch (100) may act as a base element to accommodate and house different elements of the
switch (100) like a circuit board assembly (190). The circuit board assembly (190) of the
present disclosure may be a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) which may be defined as an electronic
medium. The circuit board assembly (190) allows communication or connection between
different elements of the circuit board assembly (190) configured for electrical current). The
30 push-button (400) may be configured to activate the initiation of a signal or input that may be
transferred or communicated through the circuit board assembly (190). In some embodiments,
the push- button (400) may house or dispose a bi-LED (Light Emitting Diode) with light
transmitting cover on its top surface, visible to the user of the vehicle, to signal the ON-OFF
condition of an engine of the vehicle. The push-button (400) may be supported inside a frame
8
ring (410). The frame ring (410) member may accommodate the push-button (400) through
one of a snap fit, positive locking method, but such locking may not limit the possibility of
other locking methods being employed for locking the frame ring (410) to the push-button. The
frame ring (410) upon accommodating the push-button (400) may further be supported or fit
inside a collar (420). The collar (420) houses or 5 fits the frame ring (410), where the frame ring
(410) already houses the push-button (400) therewithin. The frame ring (410) may be
configured to be connected co-axially to a bezel (440) of the switch (100) through a dampener
(430) positioned to interconnect the bezel (440) with the collar (420). In an embodiment, the
dampener (430) may not necessarily be a dampener by its technical aspect but rather an
10 element that allows actuation of the push-button (400) smoothly without any restriction or
friction. In an embodiment, the dampener (400) may be made from a polymeric material. The
described housing of the push-button (400) within different elements provides a smoother
actuation of the button (400) upon being manually operated by the user of the vehicle. It may
be noted that the push-button (400) being accommodated inside the frame ring (410), and
15 further into the collar (420) may imply the shape of the frame ring (410), the collar (420) being
annular-shaped elements. It may be because of the nature of the requirement of the button (400)
for its operation, that is, to be exposed directly to the user of the vehicle which also indicates
the bezel (440) being an annular-shaped element.
20 Referring to FIG. 4(a) – FIG. 4(b) and FIG. 5(a) in conjunction, the lowercase (300) of the
switch (100) may be defined with supporting structures (310) protruding internally from side
walls of the lowercase (300) from one end. The supporting structures (310) of the lowercase
(300) of the switch (100) may be defined with their exposed surfaces at another end. The
another end may embody uneven surfaces that may resemble series of depressions on the
25 exposed surfaces at the another end. Each depression on the another end of the supporting
structures (310) may define a groove. This may lead to defining of plurality of grooves (320)
provisioned on the supporting structures (310) of the lowercase (300) of the switch (100). The
technical advantage related to the provision of the plurality of grooves (320) onto the lowercase
(300) of the switch (100) may be understood in upcoming embodiments of the present
30 disclosures. In an embodiment, each groove of the plurality of grooves (320) may be distanced
by a short narrow path between each other.
The frame ring (410) housing the button (400) may be defined with a ring lug (165) protruding
away from lower portion of the frame ring (410). In the present disclosure, frame ring (410)
9
and the ring lug (165) may necessarily be elements of same part where the ring lug (165) may
be an extension of the frame ring (410) from lower portion. Throughout the disclosure, the
terms ring lug (165) and frame ring (410) may be used interchangeably to essentially denote
the functioning of the same element. The ring lug (165) may be configured to be provisioned
and connected with the push button (400) co-axially, 5 in an axial direction (A). The axial
movement of the ring lug (165) within the switch (100) may be facilitated by its connection
to a compression spring (170). In an embodiment, the compression spring (170) may be one of
a resilient members which may store elastic potential energy upon its compression into its
compressed state and configured to release the same potential energy upon its release back into
10 its natural state. The compression spring (170) may be accommodated inside a ring lug recess
(167) of the ring lug (165). The ring lug recess (167) may be defined as a recess or a cavity that
may be provisioned at central lower portion of the ring lug (165). Through the illustration and
the constructional aspects of assembling the ring lug (165) with the lowercase (300) of the
switch (100), the plurality of grooves (320) may achieve its functionality in defined space
15 between side walls of the ring lug (165) and the supporting structures (310) of the lowercase
(300). The space between the plurality of grooves (320) of the lowercase (300) and the side
walls of the ring lug (165) accommodates a pair of steel balls (150). The pair of steel balls
(150) may be mounted on a lower portion of the ring lug (165). With reference to FIG. 5(b),
the upper portion of the ring lug (165) may engaged with the push-button (400), the lower
20 portion of the ring lug (165) may define a provision for mounting the pair of steel balls (150)
into a lug cavity (152). The lug cavity (152) may be defined as a hollow cylindrical element
provisioned in the lower portion of the ring lug (165) to allow accommodation of a connecting
ring (160) therein. In some embodiments, each steel ball of the pair of steel balls (150) may be
made from one of a polymeric or a metallic material without compromising its functionality
25 and constructional aspects. Each steel ball of the pair of steel balls (150) may be understood as
a spherical-shaped element configured to traverse from a groove of the plurality of grooves
(320) into a successive groove of the plurality of grooves (320). Each steel ball of the pair of
steel balls (150) may be distanced through the connecting spring (160). The same may also be
understood as the connecting spring (160) interconnecting the pair of steel balls (150) or acting
30 as an intermediate member in between. Due to the variable path or depressions, grooves defined
on the another end of the supporting structures (310), there arises an application of an element
that may provide flexibility to the pair of steel balls (150) so that the pair of steel balls (150)
may easily traverse along the grooves (320) transversely. The disclosed connecting spring
(160) may be that element to allow flexible movement of the pair of steel balls (150) while
10
these steel balls traverse from one groove to another groove. This way, the pair of steel balls
(150) remain as the pair of resiliently energized steel balls (150) through virtue of being in
contact with the connecting spring (160) at its terminal. At the longitudinal terminals of the
connecting spring (160), the pair of steel balls (150) are naturally receptive of any potential
energy the connecting spring (160) experiences. 5 In an embodiment, the connecting spring (160)
may be defined as one of a resilient member or a coiled spring. The connecting spring (160)
may be configured to space each steel ball of the pair of steel balls (150) with a distance
equivalent to the length of the connecting spring (160) in its normal state. The connecting
spring (160) may be configured to release and compress in a radial direction (R) under some
10 action of load. The technical advantage associated with the application of the connecting spring
(160) may be understood as facility that provides retaining and regaining of the positioning of
each ball of the pair of balls (150) into its recessive or successive groove, into which the steel
ball (150) may be actuated to traverse while its movement into the axial direction (A). The
connecting spring (160) may provide a constraint in maintaining the accommodation and
15 positioning of the steel balls (150) inside the respective groove of the plurality of grooves (320).
With reference to FIG. 6(a), the ring lug (165) may be wrapped by a receiver (140), the receiver
(140) may be directed for the purpose of processing the electronically transmission of signals
to the fob key, operated by the user and vice versa. The receiver (140) may be mounted and
20 electronically connected on a circuit board assembly (190). The receiver (140) may comprise
of multiple winding of coils which acts as an antenna to receive and transmit a signal during
the operation of the switch (100) by the user of the vehicle. The receiver (140) may function
with the fob key. The fob key according to some embodiments may essentially act as a
transmitter that sends a low-frequency signal to the vehicle. Every vehicle is equipped with a
25 unique ID to that vehicle. Once the fob key is inside the vehicle and the user presses the pushbutton
(400), the switch’s (100) receiver (140) may pick up the signal and sends power to start
the engine of the vehicle. A touch sensor (180) may be mounted on the circuit board assembly
(190) of the switch (100). In an embodiment, the touch sensor (180) may be a contact sensor
configured to operate or send a signal based on the contact observed.
30
The upcoming embodiments of the present disclosure may disclose working operation of the
switch (100) with reference to already disclosed elements in the earlier embodiments. The
switch (100) disclosed in the present disclosure may be actuated manually by the user of the
11
vehicle. The switch (100) may be actuated between a “fully engaged position” and a “fully
disengaged position”.
It is to be noted that engine in ON condition refers to successful cranking of the engine of the
vehicle while the engine 5 in OFF condition refers to terminating the cranking of engine.
An “engaged position” is herein referred to as a state in which the user actuates or presses the
push-button (400) which may lead to the actuation of the compression spring (170) into a fully
compressed state or its final position. A “disengaged position” is herein referred to a state in
10 which the compression spring is released from its fully compressed state or its final state to its
initial position. It is to be noted that the in the “engaged position”, the ring lug (165) may
establish contact with the touch sensor (180), and thereby signalling to start the engine in ONOFF
condition. While in the “disengaged position” which comes naturally in follow up after
the “engaged position”, the ring lug (165) naturally loses contact with the touch sensor (180)
15 to return back the ring lug (165) into its initial position.
Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an engine start-stop switch (100) described with
reference to the figures and specific embodiments; this description is not meant to be
constructed in a limiting sense. Various embodiments form part of the present invention.
20
Referring now to FIG. 6(a) – FIG. (6b), the push-button (400) is coupled with the ring lug (165)
which is adapted to move in the axial direction (A). The ring lug (165) is attached to the
compression spring (170) which transfers the force in the axial direction too. The compression
spring (170) may contract and expand based on the axial movement of the ring lug (165). The
25 ring lug (165) also holds the connecting spring (160). When the actuating force by the user acts
in the axial direction (A), the force exerted by the user in the axial direction (A) in order to start
the engine into ON condition of the vehicle, the force gets transferred to the ring lug (165) from
the push-button (400). The force further may get transferred to the compression spring (170).
30 The switch (100) may initially in its disengaged position where the engine of the vehicle is in
an OFF state. The user of the vehicle may apply a push force through the pressing of the pushbutton
(400) on the switch (100). The force may be in the direction towards the interior of the
switch (100). The compression spring (170) experiences the actuating force being transferred
from the push-button (400) by the user. Initially, the push-button (400) and the compression
35 spring (170) are in disengaged position in the absence of a manual push from the user as shown
12
in FIG. 6(a). Upon receiving the actuating force from the user, the push-button (400) gets an
axial movement in the direction of the applied force. Due to the deflection of the compression
spring (170) in the axial direction (A) of the actuating force, the compression spring (170)
undergoes compression from its initial disengaged position and store sufficient elastic potential
energy. The said elastic potential energy ma 5 y be necessary to push the pair of steel balls (150)
from their initial position inside a groove of the plurality of grooves (320) into further
successive plurality of grooves (320). The pair of steel balls (150) interconnected through the
connecting spring (160) may experience a substantial force that may also compress the
connecting spring (160) into its radial direction (R) implying the shortening of the distance
10 between the pair of steel balls (150) to facilitate the change of position of the pair of steel balls
(150) for facilitating their movement into successive plurality of grooves (320) corresponding
to each steel ball. Along with the facility and convenience for the user to feel the haptic
feedback caused due to the impact generated in this movement, the compression spring (170)
also gets compressed up to a pre-determined depth to its final state or its engaged position as
15 shown in FIG. 6(b) condition. The compression spring (170) actuates the touch sensor (180)
through the ring lug (165) to produce a necessary signal to initiate the engine ignition. The
touch sensor (180) may be positioned inside the switch (100) at a pre-determined depth to
restrict the length of the axial movement of the ring lug (165) when its actuated to turn the
engine into ON condition. This placement of the touch sensor (180) at a predetermined depth
20 inside the switch (100) eliminates the over-pressing of the push-button (400) by the user of the
vehicle. It is because the ring lug (165) being connected to the push-button (400) may only
traverse up to a fixed depth, reaching upon that depth, the engine start-stop switch (100) may
fulfil its operation.
25 The haptic feedback to the user marks the confirmation of the complete engagement of
mechanism of the engine start-stop switch (100). Upon receiving the haptic feedback at the
fully engaged position, the compression spring (170) and the push button (400) may be
configured to return to their initial disengaged position with the release of stored elastic
potential energy in the compression spring (170). After receiving the haptic feedback, the user
30 may not tend to provide extra manual push to the engine start-stop switch in order to avoid
damage and malfunction to the mechanism.
It may be noted that the haptic feedback exists due to the impact that the each steel ball of the
pair of steel balls experiences when the radial distance between them reduces under action of
13
the force exerted by the user. The present disclosure discloses use of the connecting spring
(160) acting as an intermediate member between the pair of steel balls (150). The connecting
spring (160) may provide facility of variable distance between the pair of steel balls (150)
which may reduce and increase in order to allow accommodation or positioning of each steel
ball into recessive or successive groove of 5 the plurality of grooves (320). The connecting spring
(160) may not only provide the positioning of the steel balls into the grooves but also due to its
releasing nature of the elastic potential energy. When each steel ball gets shifted from a narrow
path provisioned between the two consecutive grooves, the elastic potential energy of the
connecting spring (160) which gets stored when the connecting spring (160) gets compressed
10 into the narrow path, releases the same potential energy which impart a radially imparted force
or impact to the steel balls hitting the grooves (320). This mechanism or nature of operation
provides a haptic feedback that may be observed by the user of the vehicle.
The engine start/ stop switch assembly (100) of the present disclosure provides haptic feedback
15 to the user upon actuation of the push button (400) by the user of the vehicle.
The inventors have been working to develop the invention, so that advantage can be achieved
in an economical, practical, and facile manner. While preferred aspects and example
configurations have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various further
20 modifications and additional configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is
intended that the specific embodiments and configurations herein disclosed are illustrative of
the preferred nature of the invention and should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope
of the invention.
25 Equivalents:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having
skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural
as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations
30 may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and
embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments
disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting.
35
List of reference numerals
14
Sr. No. Description
100 Engine Start-Stop Switch
140 Antenna Case
150 Plurality of Steel Balls
152 Lug cavity
160 Connecting Spring
165 Ring lug
167 Lug recess
170 Compression Spring
180 Touch sensor
190 Circuit board assembly
200 Upper Case
250 Bolts
300 Lower Case
310 Supporting structures
320 Plurality of grooves
400 Push-button
410 Frame ring
420 Collar
430 Dampener
440 Bezel
A Axial direction
R Radial direction ,CLAIMS:We claim:
1 An engine start-stop switch (100) for a vehicle, the switch (100) comprising:
a push-5 button (400) operable by a user of the vehicle;
a ring lug (165), wherein the ring lug (165) is configured to axially move within
the switch (100);
a pair of resiliently energized steel balls (150) mounted on a lower portion of
the ring lug (165); and
10 a lowercase (300) of the switch (100) defined with a plurality of grooves (320),
wherein the pair of steel balls (150) is configured to traverse axially between the
plurality of grooves (320) upon operation of the push-button (400) to actuate the switch
(100) between an engaged position and a disengaged position and to get the haptic
feedback on its operation.
15
2 The switch (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a compression spring (170) coupled
to the ring lug (165), wherein the compression spring (170) contracts and expands based
on the axial movement of the ring lug(165).
20 3 The switch (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a connecting spring (160)
interconnecting the pair of steel balls (150), the connecting spring (160) aids in a
transverse movement of the pair of steel balls (150), into and out of the plurality of
grooves (320).
25 4 The switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each ball of the pair of steel balls (150)
is made from a metallic material.
5 The switch (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting spring (160) and the
compression spring (170) are coiled springs.
30
6 The switch (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a signal receiver (140), wherein the
signal receiver (140) is coupled with the ring lug (165) to allow wireless communication
between the switch (100) and a fob key.
16
7 The switch (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprises a touch sensor (180), wherein the
touch sensor (180) is configured to transmit a signal for an engine of the vehicle based
on the contact established with the ring lug (165) of the switch (100).