DE102015001118A1 - Force-sensitive operating device for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device (3) for a motor vehicle (1). In the operating device (3) all electronic circuit parts should be arranged on a single circuit board (12). A swivel element (20) mounted pivotably about an axis of rotation (21) and a touch pad (5) are elastically deflected relative to one another via at least one spring element (25). A printed circuit board (12) has at least one force sensor (16) on which abuts the pivoting element (20) and on which the pivoting element (20) a pressing force exerted by an operating object (6) on an operating side (7) of the touchpad (5) (9) at least partially transmits. At least one light source (28) is provided, and for each light source (28) there is a respective light guide (30) adapted to direct a light (29) of the light source (28) through the pivot member (20) to one of the operator side (7) to guide the opposite rear side (38) of the touchpad (5) and to radiate the light (29) without contact to a light symbol (11) provided in the touchpad (7).

Description

The invention relates to an operating device for a motor vehicle. By the operating device, a touchpad is provided, that is, a touch-sensitive plate to which a touch by an operating object, such as a finger, can be detected spatially resolved by means of a sensor matrix. Furthermore, at least one force sensor is provided by means of which the contact pressure exerted by the operating object on the touchpad can be detected. The invention also includes a motor vehicle with an embodiment of the operating device according to the invention.

An operating device of the type mentioned is for example from the DE 10 2008 035 907 A1 known. Thereafter, the touchpad is mounted on several coil springs, through which the touchpad can be pressed down perpendicular to the plane of the control surface. Between the touchpad and one of the coil springs is a force sensor which detects the force transmitted to the coil springs.

From the DE 10 2007 018 892 A1 An operating device for a motor vehicle is known in which light can be emitted through openings in a touchpad. In this case, the light is guided by means of light guides from the respective light-emitting diode to the passage opening in the touchpad.

From the DE 103 04 704 A1 is known a touchpad, which is tiltably mounted on multiple buttons. By exerting a corresponding finger pressure on the touchpad, at least one of the buttons can be selectively actuated.

From the DE 10 2011 017 383 A1 a touch screen is known, the user interface outputs acoustically and preferably mechanical feedback signals or feedback signals to the user.

From the DE 11 2010 004 756 T5 is a touchpad with force sensors and actuator feedback known that can be installed in a laptop. A linear motor may be coupled via a lever to the touch-sensitive disc of the touchpad.

The invention has for its object to realize with little electronic switching effort an operating device with touchpad and operator force detection and lighting symbolism on the touchpad.

The object is solved by the subject matters of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the features of the dependent claims.

In the operating device according to the invention for a motor vehicle, it is possible, with the exception of the sensor matrix of the touchpad, to arrange all electrical components for processing and generating electrical signals on a single printed circuit board. This makes the machining of the circuit for the operating device particularly simple and thus inexpensive.

The operating device has in the manner described a touchpad with a sensor matrix for spatially resolved detection of a touch of a control object on an operating side of the touchpad. The touchpad is arranged on a pivoting element which is pivotally mounted about a rotation axis. In other words, the touchpad is attached to a pivot arm. The pivoting element in turn, that is, for example, the pivoting arm, abuts against said printed circuit board. In fact, the printed circuit board has at least one force sensor against which the pivoting element rests. In other words, the pivoting element contacts the printed circuit board at its at least one force sensor. Since the pivot member is pivotally mounted, the pivot member transmits a contact force, which is exerted by the operating object on the operating side, at least partially on the force sensor or the force sensors. Thus, if the user presses the operating side of the touchpad with the finger or another operating object, for example a stylus, this force is transmitted to the pivoting element via the spring arrangement and this in turn is pressed against the at least one force sensor because of its pivotability about the axis of rotation ,

At least one light source can also be arranged on the printed circuit board, wherein each light source can be provided, for example, as one light-emitting diode (LED) or several light-emitting diodes. For each light source, a light guide is provided, which is designed to guide a light from the respective light source through the pivoting element to a side of the touchpad opposite the rear side of the touchpad. Furthermore, the light from the respective light source is emitted by the respective light guide without contact to a light symbol provided in the touchpad. The light symbol can be realized for example by a transparent area in the touchpad and / or by a recess. The circuit board on the one hand and the touchpad on the other hand are located on one of two opposite sides of the pivot member. Both the at least one light source and the at least one force sensor can be arranged on the circuit board and the touchpad can still be supplied both with light for its luminous symbols and evaluated in relation to the pressing force of the operating object.

In addition, the touchpad is held by a spring arrangement on the pivot member elastically deflectable. For this purpose, the spring arrangement can have at least one spring element, wherein each spring element can be, for example, a flat spring or another metal bent part. The touchpad can thus be elastically deflected on the pivoting element or the pivoting arm, that is, swinging back and forth on the pivoting element. In this way, impacts or impulses acting on the touchpad can be cushioned, thereby protecting the operating side from breakage. In that each light guide radiates the light contactlessly to the respective light symbol, the touchpad can continue to be freely elastically deflected on the spring assembly, without this a force is transmitted to the light guide.

The invention has further developments, resulting in additional benefits.

In a further development, an electrical actuator is arranged on the printed circuit board and the actuator is mechanically coupled to the touchpad via a lever element. By means of the actuator, for example a linear motor or a rotary motor, a deflection force can be exerted on the touchpad via the lever element, which is then elastically deflected thanks to the spring arrangement. This results in the advantage that control lines and electrical supply lines for the actuator can likewise be arranged on the printed circuit board, resulting in short cable paths for operating the electrical actuator.

In a development, the touchpad has a sandwich arrangement comprising a glass pane, the described sensor matrix and a carrier structure. This results in the advantage that the touchpad despite the use of glass, such as soda-lime glass, lightweight or low-weight can be built so that it has a low inertia in the deflection by the spring assembly opposite or.

The support structure is configured in a development as a honeycomb structure. As a result, it is light and yet rigid, so that the glass can be particularly thin and lightweight.

In a development, a loudspeaker and a control device are provided on the circuit board. The control device is designed to control the loudspeaker as a function of a respective signal of the at least one force sensor. In other words, upon actuation of the touchpad, when a contact force is exerted on the operating side, the contact pressure force is detected by the at least one force sensor and a corresponding or correlating pressure signal or force signal is generated. The control circuit generates a control signal for the loudspeaker in response to the force signal so that it emits a sound. This results in the advantage that in the operating device, a noise in response to an operator control can be generated. In particular, a mechanical switching noise can thereby be imitated. This results in an operating impression on the touchpad, which corresponds to that of a mechanical switch.

In a further development, a processor device coupled to the sensor matrix is provided on the circuit board, which is designed to determine a contact point of the operating object on the operating side as a function of sensor signals of the sensor matrix. In particular, two-dimensional touch coordinates are detected. By also the processor device, such as a microcontroller, is provided on the circuit board, the operating device is completely self-sufficient in terms of signal evaluation and signal generation. This advantageously results in a particularly simply designed interface, via which the operating device can be coupled to a device of the motor vehicle, which is to be operated by means of the operating device.

In a further development, a distance of the touchpad to the axis of rotation of the pivoting element is greater than 2 cm, in particular greater than 5 cm. As a result, it is advantageously possible to reliably detect a contact pressure force on the entire surface of the operating side by means of the at least one force sensor and to generate a correlating force signal.

In a further development, in the case of the spring arrangement, the at least one spring element has a leaf spring, in which a longitudinal extension direction is aligned perpendicular to a surface plane of the operating side. Along the longitudinal direction, a leaf spring is incompressible or stiff. By this rigid direction is aligned perpendicular to the operating side, acting on the operating side contact force of the operating object can be reliably transmitted to the at least one force sensor. In contrast, the touchpad of a force acting in or parallel to the surface plane of the operating side, be damped or compensated by the leaf spring.

Furthermore, the touchpad can be deflected along this direction by means of the actuator device, for example by shaking or impulse, whereby a haptic feedback can be provided to the user on the touchpad for a user.

The invention also includes a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle according to the invention is characterized by an embodiment of the operating device according to the invention. The operating device can be arranged for example in a dashboard or a center console of the motor vehicle. The operating device may, for example, be coupled to an information / entertainment system (infotainment system) and designed to control the infotainment system in response to a user's touch input.

The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car.

In the following an embodiment of the invention is described. This shows:

1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

2 a schematic representation of a plan view of a touchpad of an operating device in the motor vehicle of 1 can be installed;

3 a schematic representation of a circuit board of the operating device;

4 a schematic representation of a carrier structure with honeycomb structure; and

5 a schematic representation of a pivoting element and an actuator of the operating device.

The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, however, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual features of the invention, which are to be considered independently of each other, which also develop the invention independently of one another and thus also individually or in a different combination than the one shown as part of the invention. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

In the figures, functionally identical elements are each provided with the same reference numerals.

1 shows from a motor vehicle 1 a vehicle interior 2 , In the motor vehicle 1 it may, for example, be a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car. The car 1 can in the vehicle interior 2 an operating device 3 have, for example, in a trim part 4 For example, a center console or a dashboard, can be installed. Through the operating device 3 can in the vehicle interior 2 a touchpad 5 Be provided a driver with a finger 6 can serve. The driver can do this with his finger 6 an operating page 7 at a touch location or a touch location 8th touch and a contact pressure 9 on the operating page 7 exercise. Through the operating device 3 this can both the touch point 8th be detected two-dimensionally, so for example coordinates on the operating page 7 , as well as an amount of contact pressure 9 , This can be caused, for example, that the driver with the finger 7 must exert a minimum contact force before its operation on the operating side 7 accepted or registered. Through the operating device 3 For example, a device 10 of the motor vehicle 1 by the finger operation by the finger 6 be possible. The device 10 For example, it can be an infotainment system. The finger 6 represents in the example an operating object.

The operating page 7 is in 2 again from a top view, as the driver from the interior 2 on the operating page 7 can have shown. The touchpad 5 can light symbols 11 have, for example, may be formed by recesses or a transparent filler. The light symbols 11 can be backlit, giving a driver the light symbols 11 perceives in the dark as self-luminous signs.

Furthermore, it can be provided in the operating device that the user to his fingers 6 receives a haptic feedback or feedback signal by the operator side 7 a shaking motion or a jerk or pulse or a pulse-like deflection, for example in the surface plane of the control surface 7 performs. For the user, this feels like he is operating a click switch or button.

The detection of the contact point 8th , the pressing force 9 , the illuminating light symbols 11 and generating the haptic feedback signal may be at the operating device 3 by means of a single circuit board 12 be exemplified in a plan view in 3 is shown.

The touchpad 5 can for detecting the touch point 8th a sensor matrix 13 have, which can be configured in a conventional manner, for example, on the basis of a plurality of grid-shaped electrodes. The sensor matrix 13 can by means of an electrical coupling device 14 , For example, a cable, with a process device 15 be electrically connected. The process device 15 for example, a Be microcontroller. It can, for example, on the circuit board 12 be arranged. Through the process facility 15 may be a control signal C depending on the Berührort 8th and / or the contact pressure 9 be generated. By the control signal C, the device 10 to be controlled. For detecting the contact pressure 9 can on the PCB a force sensor 16 or several force sensors 16 be arranged. The force sensor 16 For example, based on a diaphragm spring 17 be provided, for example, at one or more electrodes 18 the circuit board 12 can be connected. By means of another electrode 19 can be a distance of the diaphragm spring 17 from the electrode 19 be detected such that one of a distance-dependent electrode signal can be generated. The electrode signal may be generated by the processor device 15 be evaluated. For transmitting the contact pressure 9 from the operating side 7 to the respective force sensor 16 can the touchpad 5 to a pivoting element or pivoting element 20 be attached or arranged there in 4 shown again in a plan view. The pivoting element 20 can be around a rotation axis 21 be mounted pivotably and this by means of a rotary joint device 22 rotatable with respect to the circuit board 12 be stored. In 1 the axis of rotation extends 21 perpendicular to the drawing plane.

To generate the haptic feedback signal can on the circuit board 12 an actuator 23 be arranged, which may be, for example, a linear motor or a piezoelectric element. The actuator 23 can for example via a lever element 24 be mechanically coupled to the touchpad. So that the touchpad 5 upon application of a force by the actuator 23 over the lever element 24 can move, the touchpad can 5 via spring elements 25 on the pivoting element 20 be held. The spring elements 25 For example, leaf springs can have a force transmission in a direction perpendicular to the surface plane of the operating side 7 along a transmission direction 26 is possible without thereby the spring elements 25 yield elastically in a significant way. By the spring elements 25 can be a deflection movement 27 parallel to the surface plane of the operator side 7 be possible.

To illuminate the light symbols 11 can on the circuit board 12 for the light symbols, the light sources 28 be provided, which may be, for example, each one or more light-emitting diodes. To transmit a light 29 the light sources 28 can for any light source 28 a light guide 30 may be provided, each of which may be formed, for example, of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate). The light guide 30 For example, on the pivoting element 20 be attached.

When generating a control signal C can by the processor device 15 also an acoustic feedback signal or operating noise are triggered. This can be done on the circuit board 12 also a speaker 31 be provided. For example, by the processor device 15 provided control device 32 can the speaker 31 operate. For example, a click sound can be generated, as it would arise if a mechanical button would be operated.

At the touchpad 5 can the operating page 7 for example through a glass pane 33 be provided. Although the touchpad 5 a glass pane 33 has, it may still be particularly light and unbreakable. The low weight may be particularly advantageous in connection with the generation of the haptic feedback signal. The touchpad 5 may for realizing this advantage one of a sandwich arrangement 34 in which the glass pane 33 and the sensor matrix 13 via or by means of an adhesive layer 35 are glued. Furthermore, by means of a further adhesive layer 36 a carrier structure 37 a back 38 of the touchpad 5 form. The support structure 37 is an illustration of a plan view in 5 shown again. The support structure 37 can be a honeycomb structure 38 include. As a result, they can be designed particularly easily and yet rigid. The support structure 37 can further through holes 39 through which the light guides 30 contactless the light 29 to the touchpad 5 can radiate. In particular, through the passage openings 39 prevents a vibration of the touchpad 5 , as occurs when generating the haptic feedback signal, the optical fibers 30 remain unmoved. The passage openings 39 form light channels for the light 29 ,

The example shows how precise implementation of a touchpad with lighting, haptics, acoustics and force evaluation can be provided.

A preferred embodiment provides that on a pivoted pivot lever, a carrier supported by flat springs honeycomb structure is arranged to increase the stability and with light channels. Glued to the carrier is the touch PCB and glued over the rear-painted real glass surface with symbols.

In the light channels there are light guides that guide light up over the illumination of the symbols from the LEDs on the main circuit board. Due to the movable mounting of the carrier, the haptics can be generated with the aid of the actuator on the main printed circuit board. At the same time, the loudspeaker on the main PCB generates the acoustics.

The gesture and character recognition is performed by the touch board, that is, the sensor matrix, and located on the main circuit board touch controller of the processor device. The pivot lever is due to its rotating bearing on the force sensors. These can be used to evaluate the actuation force for certain functions on the touchpad.

Overall, the example shows how can be realized by the invention, a mechanical structure of a touchpad with lighting, haptics, acoustics and force evaluation.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008035907 A1 [0002]
• DE 102007018892 A1 [0003]
• DE 10304704 A1 [0004]
• DE 102011017383 A1 [0005]
• DE 112010004756 T5 [0006]

Claims (10)

Operating device ( 3 ) for a motor vehicle ( 1 ), comprising: - one about an axis of rotation ( 21 ) pivotally mounted pivoting element ( 20 ), - a touchpad ( 5 ) with a sensor matrix ( 13 ) for the spatially resolved detection of a touch of a control object ( 6 ) on an operator side ( 7 ) of the touchpad ( 5 ), - at least one spring element ( 25 ) having spring arrangement over which the touchpad ( 5 ) to the pivoting element ( 20 ) is held elastically deflectable, - a printed circuit board ( 12 ) with at least one force sensor ( 16 ), on which the pivoting element ( 20 ) and on which the pivoting element ( 20 ) one of the operating object ( 6 ) on the operating page ( 7 ) applied contact force ( 9 ) at least partially transmits, - at least one light source ( 28 ) and for each light source ( 28 ) a respective light guide ( 30 ), which is designed to be a light ( 29 ) of the light source ( 28 ) by the pivoting element ( 20 ) through to one of the operating side ( 7 ) opposite back ( 38 ) of the touchpad ( 5 ) and the light ( 29 ) contactlessly with a in the touchpad ( 7 ) provided light symbol ( 11 ). Operating device ( 3 ) according to claim 1, wherein the light source ( 28 ) on the printed circuit board ( 12 ) is arranged. Operating device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on the printed circuit board ( 12 ) an electric actuator ( 23 ) is arranged and the actuator ( 23 ) via a lever element ( 24 ) with the touchpad ( 5 ) is mechanically coupled. Operating device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the touchpad ( 5 ) a sandwich arrangement ( 34 ) from a glass pane ( 33 ), the sensor matrix ( 13 ) and a support structure ( 37 ) having. Operating device ( 3 ) according to claim 4, wherein the support structure ( 37 ) at least partially as a honeycomb structure ( 38 ) is configured. Operating device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on the printed circuit board ( 12 ) a speaker ( 31 ) and a control circuit ( 32 ) and the control circuit ( 32 ) is adapted to the loudspeaker ( 31 ) in response to a respective signal of the at least one force sensor ( 16 ) head for. Operating device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein on the printed circuit board ( 12 ) one with the sensor matrix ( 13 ) coupled processor device ( 15 ), which is designed in dependence on sensor signals of the sensor matrix ( 13 ) a contact point ( 8th ) of the operating object ( 6 ) on the operator side ( 7 ) to investigate. Operating device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a distance of the touchpad ( 5 ) to the axis of rotation ( 21 ) is greater than 2 centimeters, especially greater than 5 centimeters. Operating device ( 3 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the spring arrangement the at least one spring element ( 25 ) a leaf spring, wherein a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a surface plane of the operating side ( 7 ) is aligned. Motor vehicle ( 1 ) with an operating device ( 3 ) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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