# US 2013/0154627 A1 · Rotary actuator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154627 A1 - Document ID: US20130154627A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/818,920 - Filed: 2011-08-24 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-31 - Assignees: Continental Automotive GmbH - Inventors: Klaus Pfenning - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154627A1 ## CPC - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - G01B 7/30: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes - G01D 5/2415: {adapted for encoders} - G05G 1/08: Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels - G05G 5/03: Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce (arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015) - H03K 17/975: using a capacitive movable element - B60K 35/25: using haptic output - B60K 2360/126: Rotatable input devices for instruments - H01H 2239/006: Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such - H03K 2217/94073: with capacitive detection - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A rotary actuator has a handle, rotatable about an axis of rotation, and a position sensor system for detecting the rotary position of the handle. The rotary actuator has an actuating segment is made of an electrically conductive material and, forming a capacitor, is opposite a sensor segment of a stationary segment ring, which is concentric with respect to the axis of rotation 3 and consists of a plurality of sensor segments. The sensor segments include an electrically conductive material and are axially spaced apart by an air gap. A sensor line leads from each sensor segment to evaluation electronics. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-10. (canceled) ### Claim 11 A rotary actuator, comprising: a handle rotatable about an axis of rotation; a position sensor system for detecting a rotary position of the handle; an actuating segment located at an end of the handle facing away from an operating side of the handle and at a radial distance from the axis of rotation, the end of the handle including an electrically non-conductive material, wherein the actuating segment includes a first electrically conductive material and forms a capacitor; a stationary segment ring including a plurality of sensor segments uniformly distributed on a periphery of the segment ring and being concentric with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein: the actuating segment is located opposite the sensor segments, the sensor segments are spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction and are made of a second electrically conductive material, and the sensor segments are spaced apart from the handle by an air gap; and a respective sensor line leading from each sensor segment to evaluation electronics. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the handle includes a marking in an end region of an end on the operating side of the handle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the handle includes a plastic part, and the actuating segment includes a conductive plastic. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor segments are copper segments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a printed circuit board, wherein the sensor segments are copper areas applied to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the sensor segments form a first segment ring having a plurality of groups following one another in the circumferential direction and having an equal number of first segment segments, one of radially inside and outside the first segment ring, a second segment ring with second sensor segments is arranged to be stationary, the first segment ring and the second segment ring form groups following one another in the circumferential direction and have an equal number of sensor segments, in each case a first sensor segment is assigned a second sensor segment located in a radially opposite manner, the actuating segment is always located opposite a first sensor segment and a second sensor segment assigned thereto, the first sensor segments of the same position of the groups of the first segment ring are connected to a common input of the evaluation electronics, and the second sensor segments of the same group of the second segment ring are respectively connected to a further common input of the evaluation electronics. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the handle is of a pot-like form, and at an end of the handle on the operating side thereof, the handle is closed by a base. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 17, wherein: the base includes translucent regions forming at least one of symbols and markings, and a stationary light source projects from the end of the handle facing away from the operating side into a pot opening of the handle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the light source is arranged on the printed circuit board. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The rotary actuator as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the handle is rotatable in latching steps, a number of latching steps corresponds to a number of sensor segments of the segment ring, and the actuating segment is located opposite a respective sensor segment in every latching position corresponding to the latching steps.