Actuating device with push buttons

Abstract

An actuating device is provided for a technical system, especially for selecting gears of a shift-by-wire speed-change gear. This includes a push button arrangement with at least one push button (1) as well as a device (4) generating electrical control signals for transmission to the technical system. The actuating device has a separately controllable blocking device (2, 3), each associated with at least one push button or all push buttons of the actuating device. The blocking device (2, 3) mechanically blocks the particular push button (1) and can be driven by auxiliary energy. This provides an unambiguous tactile feedback on the state of the system or the admissibility of the shifting operation when the push buttons are pressed. Hazards that arise from unrecognized states of the system, inadmissible shift commands or operating errors, defects on the system or non-functioning signal transmission between the actuating device and the system are eliminated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.