FR2844610A1 - Tactile panel for control of mirrors or windows includes active detection zone, separated by inactive zone to avoid ambiguous commands - Google Patents

Abstract

The tactile surface activation device includes four distinct detection zones (1 - 4). These are physically separated by a median zone (M) which does not offer and response to commands. This avoids any risk of ambiguous commands when the users finger touches more than one point on the panel. The tactile surface activation device is intended for operation in the manner of a joystick, to enable movement in two, or four directions. The active surface comprises two, or four distinct detection zones (1 - 4) which are physically separated by a median zone (M) which does not offer and response to commands. The median zone may be covered by a mask. By the user touching one of the four detection zones (1-4) the sensor obtains a pair of co-ordinates which are used to determine the action to be carried out. If the user touches more than one point, the sensor is still able to determine co-ordinates and hence the required action, since there is a dead zone in the middle between the active zones.

Description

Activation device by matrix touch surface, in particular for

  The controls of a vehicle The present invention relates to an activation device by matrix tactile surface, in particular for the control of various organs in a vehicle, such as for example the window control and the

mirror control.

  It is usual for the control of these members to provide an operating device in the form of switches or sometimes of a

  joystick operable in four directions, often called a "joystick".

  It has also been proposed, more recently, to use for the touch screen matrix surfaces making it possible to detect a simple pressing of the driver's finger and, as a function of the position in X, Y

  of the detected support and / or of the subsequent displacement of this support on the surface, of triggering a particular type of action or of control of the vehicle organ. Reference may be made, for example, to documents FR 2 798 329, FR 2 800 885 and US 6 157 372. These tactile surfaces can be of any type and use different technologies.

  If the use of such tactile surfaces is indisputably in

  the sense of a better user-friendliness and an increased compactness of the control devices, on the other hand it increases the risk of control errors as a result of an ambiguous positioning of the finger or fingers on the tactile surface.

  The object of the invention is to provide a matrix tactile surface which does not have these drawbacks and thus reduces the

ambiguities of reading.

  The invention achieves its object by means of an activation device using a matrix tactile surface comprising at least two distinct detection zones to which correspond commands, characterized in that the two zones are physically separated by a middle zone to which no command corresponds. . This neutral middle zone located at the interface between two zones avoids the ambiguities of reading. 35 The absence of a command can result, according to the embodiments, either from a circuit inhibiting commands for a support detected in this zone, or from a total absence of detection in this zone, or even from an impossibility of access to this area thanks to a mechanical mask allowing

to simplify the analysis of the signal.

  According to an embodiment particularly suitable for the detection of simultaneous presses, the tactile surface comprises two zones

separated by a middle zone.

  According to another embodiment, a plurality of

  distinct zones, separated two by two or distributed around a neutral central zone.

  Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading

  the description of the invention, as well as the attached drawings in which:

  - Figure 1 is a diagram of a first embodiment of touch surface according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a diagram of a second embodiment of touch surface according to the invention, - Figure 3 is a diagram of a third embodiment of the tactile surface according to the invention. The matrix tactile surface 10 of FIG. I provides the X and Y coordinates of a support point situated on it. It is divided into two zones i and 2 parallel to the ordinates Y and separated by a zone

  neutral median M between the abscissae Xb and Xc.

  If we press simultaneously at 2 points, we get 2 pairs

  coordinates (Xi, Yl) and (X2, Y2) thanks to the matrix network of the tactile surface.

  We can then calculate a set of median coordinates, generally (Xl + X2) / 2 and (Y1 + Y2) / 2 which can be possibly

assigned a coefficient.

  The middle zone M makes it possible to advantageously and unambiguously distinguish a single press from a double press.

  If we receive information X, Y in zone 1, then we

deduces that this is support 1.

  If we receive the information X, Y in zone 2, it is then a question of

support 2.

  If we receive a simultaneous support in 1 and 2, the average value of the coordinates is then between Xb and Xc and we can conclude without

ambiguous to double press.

  In order to avoid misinterpretations, it is still possible to facilitate the analysis of the signals by using a mechanical mask in the middle zone M. The advantage of the invention is therefore to use, thanks to this combination of computer and mechanical means , any touch surface to

  matrix technology for simultaneous support detection.

  Such surfaces can be used to control window regulators in automotive applications in particular.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment in which the touch surface 10 consists of four zones 1 to 4 distributed in a star around a neutral central zone M to which no command corresponds. The zones are thus clearly distinct and zone confusions or antagonistic movements are avoided. Such a tactile surface is for example applicable to the command to open or

  opening sunroof, or when ordering exterior mirrors.

  In FIG. 3, the touch surface 10 combines a touch surface 20 10 ′ of the type of the second embodiment and a surface 10 ″ of the type of the first embodiment, separated by a physical delimitation. The surface 10 ′ may include markers graphics 11 corresponding to the four separate zones distributed around a neutral central zone, and illustrating for example the adjustment movements of an exterior mirror 25 Parts of zones 12 and 13 separated by physical delimitations

  can allow the control of the left or right mirror. The surface 10 "comprises two physically separate zones which may include graphic marks 14 corresponding for example to the operation of the left and right window levers.

Claims (2)

  1. Activation device by matrix tactile surface (10) comprising at least two distinct detection zones (1 to 4) to which correspond commands characterized in that the two zones (1 to 4) are physically separated by a central zone (M) to which matches no command.   1o 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the zone (M) is covered by a mechanical mask.