IP Library Granted Patent US 7,541,903
Granted Patent B2
US 7,541,903 · App. 12/176,682 · Granted Jun 2, 2009

Switch for vehicles

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,541,903
App. No.
12/176,682
Granted
Jun 2, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a switch for vehicles, including a first switching device which performs the electrical connection/disconnection between a battery and a stop lamp and a second switching device connected to a control device which opens and closes the first switching device based on the magnitude of the magnetism of a magnet mounted on an operating body. Various controls such as auto-cruise control and so on as well as the turn on/off of the stop lamp can be simultaneously performed by the one magnet mounted on the operating body of the switch for vehicles.

Claims (19)

1. A switch for vehicles comprising:

a box-shaped case;

an operating body that is housed in the case so as to vertically move;

a spring that biases the operating body upward;

a magnet that is mounted on the operating body;

a detection device that detects magnetism of the magnet;

a first switching device that performs an electrical connection/disconnection between a battery and a stop lamp;

a control device that is connected to the detection device so as to switch open and close the first switching device based on magnitude of the magnetism of the magnet; and

a second switching device,

wherein the second switching device is connected to the control device so as to perform control other than turn-on/off control of the stop lamp. the first switching device switches in accordance with a first threshold voltage generated by the control device and the second switching device switches in accordance with a second, different threshold voltage generated by the control device.

2. The switch of claim 1 , wherein the second switching device supplies a control signal to an auto-cruise device.

3. The switch of claim 2 , wherein

the operating body is operated,

the first switching device turns on, and the second switching device turns off,

the stop lamp is switched on by the first switching device, and

the control device is configured to stop the auto-cruise device.

4. The switch of claim 2 , wherein the control device is configured to stop the stop lamp switched off by the first switching device after the auto-cruise device.

5. The switch of claim 1 , wherein a switching threshold for the first switching device is based on a first position of the magnet relative to the detection device and a second switching threshold for the second switching device is based on a second, different position of the magnet relative to the detection device.

6. The switch of claim 3 , wherein when an engine is stopped, the control device is configured to maintain a power supply to one connection of the first switching device and is configured to disconnect the power supply from the second switching device.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066957/0984 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 21, 2024
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066644/0558 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 6, 2009
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022363/0306 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2008
From: SHIMIZU, MASARU; SASANOUCHI, KIYOTAKA
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 021542/0654 →