DE102022115752A1 - Operating device for a vehicle, control device and method for operating an operating device and operating system for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

An operating device for a vehicle is presented. The operating device (110) comprises a movably mounted shaft (120) which can be coupled or is coupled to an operating element (160) that can be operated by a user. The operating device (110) also includes a damper unit (130) which is coupled to the shaft (120). The damper unit (130) comprises a magnetorheological medium and at least one coil. The at least one coil is designed to generate a magnetic field acting on the medium. The medium is designed to cause a braking force to brake a movement of the shaft (120) depending on a property of the magnetic field. The operating device (110) further comprises an energy storage device (140) which is coupled to the shaft (120) and is designed to exert a restoring force on the shaft (120) that is dependent on the movement of the shaft (120).

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for a vehicle, to a method for operating an operating device, to a corresponding control device, to an operating system for a vehicle and to a vehicle.

To achieve a haptic operating characteristic, mechanical rotary switches, electromagnetic rotary switches or switches with damping based on the magnetorheological operating principle can be used.

Against this background, the present invention provides an improved operating device for a vehicle, an improved method for operating an operating device, an improved control device, an improved operating system for a vehicle and an improved vehicle according to the main claims. Advantageous refinements result from the subclaims and the following description.

An operating device for a vehicle can have a damper based on a magnetorheological medium in combination with an energy storage device for resetting. In this way, a compact mechanical and electronic combination of a passive technology based on a magnetorheological medium and an energy storage device for active resetting can be realized. In contrast to just a control element, a damper or a clutch, the particular advantages of a passive damper based on a magnetorheological medium can be combined with an energy storage in order to also be suitable for applications in which an active moment or an active Force is required on the control element, for example to return to a neutral position. The magnetrheological medium enables, for example, high-resolution and programmable haptics, high blocking torques and freewheeling. Advantageously, generation of an active restoring moment or an active restoring force can be achieved by combining the technology based on a magnetrheological medium with an energy storage, for example a spring element, which can be controlled in its activation. This makes it possible, for example, to have control elements, dampers or clutches with, in particular, controlled or controlled reset. Such a combination of passive damping force and active restoring force can achieve improved feel and more intuitive handling for certain applications. Such an operating device, or in general such an operating concept, can be used in particular for operating elements that require haptic feedback of the reset or an active reset to a neutral position, such as steering controllers, turntables, rotary switches, trailer maneuvering assistance or the like, and for actuators with electronically controllable or activated damping or blocking torque.

• eine beweglich gelagerte Welle, wobei die Welle mit einem durch einen Benutzer bedienbaren Bedienelement koppelbar oder gekoppelt ist;
• eine Dämpfereinheit, die mit der Welle gekoppelt ist, wobei die Dämpfereinheit ein magnetorheologisches Medium und mindestens eine Spule aufweist, wobei die mindestens eine Spule ausgebildet ist, um ein auf das Medium wirkendes Magnetfeld zu erzeugen, wobei das Medium ausgebildet ist, um abhängig von einer Eigenschaft des Magnetfeldes eine Bremskraft zum Bremsen einer Bewegung der Welle zu bewirken; und
• einen Energiespeicher, der mit der Welle gekoppelt ist und ausgebildet ist, um eine von der Bewegung der Welle abhängige Rückstellkraft auf die Welle auszuüben.

An operating device for a vehicle includes the following features:

• a movably mounted shaft, wherein the shaft can be coupled or is coupled to an operating element that can be operated by a user;
• a damper unit coupled to the shaft, the damper unit having a magnetorheological medium and at least one coil, the at least one coil being designed to generate a magnetic field acting on the medium, the medium being designed to be dependent on a Property of the magnetic field to cause a braking force to brake a movement of the shaft; and
• an energy storage device that is coupled to the shaft and is designed to exert a restoring force on the shaft that is dependent on the movement of the shaft.

An operating device can be a device for operating any vehicle function of the vehicle. The movement of the shaft can be caused by an operation on the part of the user. A magnetorheological medium can be a heterogeneous mixture of magnetically polarizable particles, which can also be referred to as a magnetorheological fluid. The magnetorheological medium can also be a powder. When a magnetic field is applied, caused by energizing the coil, the magnetorheological medium solidifies. A resting state of the magnetorheological medium can exist if no magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological medium, i.e. the coil is not energized or is de-energized. An activation state of the magnetorheological medium can exist when a magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological medium, i.e. the coil is energized. By applying the magnetic field, viscoelastic or dynamic-mechanical properties of the magnetorheological medium can be changed quickly and reversibly, with a deformation of the magnetorheological medium taking place between the rest state and the activation state. A coil can be an electrical component that has turns to generate a magnetic field when current flows. The property of the magnetic field can be a strength of the magnetic field, a direction of field lines of the magnetic field, a spatial extent of the magnetic field or the like. The braking force can be caused by the magnetorheological medium when it is in an activated state. The energy storage can have a spring element or another elastic means. The energy storage can be designed to be charged with energy due to the movement of the shaft and to release the energy again in the form of the restoring force. The restoring force and the braking force can be aligned. The shaft can be rotatably mounted. The braking force and the restoring force can be torques. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that the feel for an operating device designed as a rotary switch can be improved.

In addition, the shaft can be mounted so that it can be moved axially. The braking force and/or the restoring force can have an axially acting component. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that haptics for an operating device designed as a rotatable and additionally pressable switch can be improved. An axial displacement can be made possible in order to realize an operating device with multiple operating levels.

Additionally or alternatively, the shaft can be pivotally mounted. The braking force and the restoring force can have a portion acting around a pivot axis of the shaft. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that haptics for an operating device designed as a rotatable and additionally pivotable switch can be improved. An inclination of an effective plane can be made possible in order to realize an operating device with multiple operating levels.

The operating device can have a housing. The damper unit and the energy storage can be arranged in the housing. Additionally or alternatively, the shaft can be arranged at least partially in the housing. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that both mechanical protection and a compact design for the operating device can be made possible.

The operating device can also have the operating element. The control element can be coupled to the shaft. The control element can be shaped, for example, as a rotary knob or knob. The control element can be attached to a free end of the shaft. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that the operating device can also be provided as a complete assembly if required.

According to one embodiment, the energy storage can have a device for locking and triggering the energy storage. Additionally or alternatively, the energy storage can have a gear that is designed to transmit the restoring force to the shaft. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that the restoring force can be applied to the shaft in a targeted and defined manner in terms of time and/or amount.

In addition, the damper unit can have coupling elements and a static component. Here, the shaft can be mechanically coupled to the static component via the coupling elements. At least the coupling elements can be arranged in contact with the medium. Coupling elements can be rolling elements, gears or the like. Rolling elements can be understood as rotating bodies in the form of balls, rollers or barrels. Such an embodiment offers the advantage that the braking force can be increased depending on the intended application and haptic requirements and can be applied in a precisely defined manner.

• Ansteuern der Spule, um das auf das Medium wirkende Magnetfeld zu erzeugen; und
• Aktivieren des Energiespeichers, um die Rückstellkraft zu erzeugen.

A method for operating an embodiment of the operating device mentioned herein comprises the following steps:

• Driving the coil to generate the magnetic field acting on the medium; and
• Activating the energy storage to generate the restoring force.

This method can be implemented, for example, in software or hardware or in a mixed form of software and hardware, for example in a control device.

According to one embodiment, the method can also have a step of receiving at least one status signal from the damper unit and additionally or alternatively from the energy storage and additionally or alternatively at least one control signal from a functional device of the vehicle. Here, the step of driving and additionally or alternatively the step of activating can be carried out depending on the at least one status signal and additionally or alternatively the control signal. The method can additionally or alternatively have a step of providing the at least one status signal for a functional device of the vehicle.

A corresponding control device can be set up to carry out the steps of an embodiment of the method mentioned herein in corresponding units and additionally or alternatively head for. Corresponding electrical signals can be used to carry out the steps of the method.

A control device can be an electrical device that processes electrical signals, for example sensor signals, and outputs control signals depending on them. The control device can have one or more suitable interfaces, which can be designed in hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware design, the interfaces can, for example, be part of an integrated circuit in which functions of the control device are implemented. The interfaces can also be their own integrated circuits or at least partially consist of discrete components. In the case of software training, the interfaces can be software modules that are present, for example, on a microcontroller alongside other software modules.

• eine Ausführungsform der hierin genannten Bedienvorrichtung; und
• eine Ausführungsform des hierin genannten Steuergeräts, wobei das Steuergerät signalübertragungsfähig mit der Bedienvorrichtung verbunden ist.

An operating system for a vehicle includes the following features:

• an embodiment of the operating device mentioned herein; and
• an embodiment of the control device mentioned herein, wherein the control device is connected to the operating device in a manner capable of transmitting signals.

In such an operating system, an embodiment of the control device mentioned herein can advantageously be used or used to operate an embodiment of the operating device mentioned herein.

According to one embodiment, the control device can be arranged in a housing of the operating device. Integrated electronics and, if necessary, software in the form of the control unit can enable a reset through a controlled combination of passive braking force or damping force and active restoring force.

A vehicle includes an embodiment of the operating device mentioned herein or an embodiment of the operating system mentioned herein.

Also advantageous is a computer program product with program code, which can be stored on a machine-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard drive memory or an optical memory and is used to carry out the method according to one of the embodiments described above if the program is on a computer or a control device is performed.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Bediensystems für ein Fahrzeug;
• 2 ein schematisches Kräftediagramm im Zusammenhang mit einem Ausführungsbeispiel einer Bedienvorrichtung für ein Fahrzeug;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeugs mit einem Ausführungsbeispiel einer Bedienvorrichtung; und
• 4 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Bedienvorrichtung.

The invention is explained in more detail using the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an operating system for a vehicle;
• 2 a schematic force diagram in connection with an exemplary embodiment of an operating device for a vehicle;
• 3 a schematic representation of a vehicle with an exemplary embodiment of an operating device; and
• 4 a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating an operating device.

In the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numbers are used for the elements shown in the various figures and having a similar effect, with a repeated description of these elements being omitted.

1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an operating system 100 for a vehicle. The vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, truck or other commercial vehicle or a motorized two-wheeler. The operating system 100 includes a control device 102 or electronics and an operating device 110. The control device 102 and the operating device 110 are connected to one another in a manner capable of transmitting signals. The control device 102 is designed to operate the operating device 110. In other words, the control device 102 is set up to carry out steps of a method for operating the operating device 110, as described below with reference to 4 is described to be executed and/or controlled in appropriate units.

The operating device 110 comprises a movably mounted shaft 120, a damper unit 130 and an energy storage 140. The shaft 120 can be coupled or coupled to an operating element 160 that can be operated by a user. The damper unit 130 is coupled to the shaft 120. The energy storage 140 is coupled to the shaft 120. The shaft 120 is movably mounted relative to at least portions of the damper unit 130 and the energy storage 140.

The damper unit 130 of the operating device 110 comprises a magnetorheological medium and at least one coil. The at least one coil is designed to generate a magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological medium The magnetorheological medium is designed to, depending on a property of the magnetic field, bring about a braking force for braking a movement of the shaft 120 triggered by an actuation of the operating device 110. The movement of the shaft 120 can therefore be braked using the damper unit 130, or more precisely can be braked partially or completely.

The energy storage 140 of the operating device 110 comprises at least one spring element or at least one spring or another elastic means. The energy storage 140 is designed to exert a restoring force on the shaft 120 that is dependent on the movement of the shaft 120. Thus, the shaft 120 can be reset or moved using the energy storage 140.

According to one embodiment, the operating device 110 further comprises a housing 150. The housing 150 is shaped to accommodate at least the damper unit 130 and the energy storage 140. The damper unit 130 and the energy storage 140 are thus arranged in the housing 150. The shaft 120 is at least partially arranged in the housing 150. According to one exemplary embodiment, the control device 102 is also arranged in the housing 150.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the operating device 110 also includes the operating element 160. The operating element 160 is coupled to the shaft 120, in particular rigidly coupled. The control element 160 is, for example, at least partially arranged outside the housing 150. According to the in 1 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the damper unit 130 is arranged, for example, between the energy storage 140 and the control element 160. According to another exemplary embodiment, the energy storage 140 can be arranged between the damper unit 130 and the control element 160.

Furthermore, in the representation of 1 several possible types of movement 170 or directions of action of the shaft 120, and thus also of an operating element 160 coupled to the shaft 120, are shown. More specifically, the possible types of movement 170 here are a rotary movement of the shaft 120 in two possible directions and a linear axial movement of the shaft 120 in two possible directions. According to one embodiment, the shaft 120 is rotatably mounted. The movement of the shaft 120 is a rotary movement or rotation. The braking force and the restoring force are torques. Additionally or alternatively, according to one exemplary embodiment, the shaft 120 is mounted in an axially displaceable and/or pivotable manner. The movement of the shaft 120 is a linear movement, in particular a linear axial movement, or a translation. The braking force and the restoring force are axial forces and/or pivoting forces.

According to one embodiment, the energy storage 140 includes a device for locking and triggering the energy storage 140. And additionally or alternatively, the energy storage 140 includes a gear that is designed to transmit the restoring force to the shaft 120.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the damper unit 130 includes a static component and coupling elements. The shaft 120 is mechanically coupled to the static component via the coupling elements. At least the coupling elements are in contact with the magnetorheological medium. The coupling elements can be rolling elements, for example.

The control device 102 is designed to output a control signal 184 for controlling the coil to the damper unit 130. Furthermore, the control device 102 is designed to output an activation signal 186 to activate the energy storage device 140. According to an exemplary embodiment, the control device 102 is also designed to read or receive, for example, a first status signal 185 from the damper unit 130 and a second status signal 187 from the energy storage 140. In this case, the control device 102, for example, is second designed to generate the control signal 184 and/or the activation signal 186 using the first status signal 185 and/or the second status signal 187. Optionally, the control device 102 is also designed to receive a control signal 188 from a functional device of the vehicle. Optionally, the control device 102 is also designed to provide the at least one status signal 185, 187 to a functional device of the vehicle. For this purpose, the control unit 120 can be connected or connected to the functional device of the vehicle via an interface capable of transmitting signals.

2 shows a schematic force diagram 200 in connection with an exemplary embodiment of an operating device for a vehicle. The operating device corresponds to or is similar to the operating device 1 . For the purposes of the force diagram 200, it is assumed that the movement of the shaft of the operating device is a rotary movement. The braking force is therefore a braking torque and the restoring force is a restoring torque. Accordingly, the force diagram 200 can also be referred to as a moment diagram.

The movement of the shaft is plotted as a rotation angle <p on the abscissa axis of the force diagram 200. The braking force and the restoring force are plotted as a torque M on the ordinate axis of the force diagram 200. Furthermore, areas between respective graphs of the force diagram 200 and the abscissa axis are shown, which are divided into a braking force range 230 and a restoring force range 240.

The braking force range 230 represents the braking force generated by the damper unit. The restoring force range 240 represents the restoring force generated by the energy storage. 2 shows in particular a schematic combination of the damper torque or braking torque from the damper unit and the restoring torque from the energy storage of the operating device. Merely by way of example, the braking force range 230 includes positive torque values and the restoring force range 240 includes negative torque values. For example, a graph for the braking force and a graph for the restoring force each have a zero point in the coordinate origin. Starting from the coordinate origin or the zero point, the amounts of the braking force and the restoring force increase both in the direction of the positive angle of rotation φ and in the direction of the negative angle of rotation φ.

3 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 300 with an exemplary embodiment of an operating device 110. This can be the one in 1 described operating device 110 or a similar operating device. The operating device 110 is arranged, for example, on a steering wheel 305 of the vehicle 300. For example, the operating element 160 is rigidly arranged on the shaft of the operating device 110. The control element 160 can be operated manually, more precisely rotatable, by an occupant of the vehicle by a type of movement 170 in the form of a rotary movement.

4 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 400 for operating an operating device. The operating device corresponds to or is similar to one in one of the 1 until 3 operating devices described. The method 400 for operation is carried out using the control device 1 or a similar control device.

In a step 404 of the actuation, the coil of the damper unit of the operating device is actuated in order to generate the magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological medium. In a step 406 of activation, the energy storage is activated to generate the restoring force. For example, in step 406 of activating, a device for locking and triggering the energy storage is activated to unlock or trigger the energy storage, whereupon the energy storage releases stored energy.

According to one embodiment, the method 400 for operation also includes a step 402 of receiving at least one status signal from the damper unit and/or the energy storage and/or at least one control signal from a functional device of the vehicle. The step 404 of activation and/or the step 406 of activation is or are carried out as a function of the at least one status signal and/or the control signal. Additionally or alternatively, the method 400 for operation according to an exemplary embodiment includes a step 408 of providing the at least one status signal for a functional device of the vehicle.

Steps 402, 404, 406, and 408 of method 400 for operating may be performed in any order and/or repeatedly.

With reference to the figures described above, exemplary embodiments are summarized again below and briefly explained in other words.

The operating device 110, and thus also the operating system 100, includes damper unit 130 with the magnetorheological medium in integrated combination with the energy storage 140, both mechanisms being mechanically connected, for example via the shaft 120, and accommodated, for example, in a common housing 150. These two mechanisms can be controlled electronically and, for example, via software, depending on the desired mode of action, and their modes of action can thus be combined. This allows both functions, i.e. damping and reset, to be implemented in a compact design on a common shaft 120.

The damper unit 130 is designed to generate, for example, a damping or blocking torque or an axial force on the shaft 120 as a braking force. Here, a magnetorheological medium, for example a magnetorheological fluid, is subjected to a magnetic field via a magnetic coil, with the medium solidifying in the process and thereby blocking, for example, mutually movable coupling elements or coupling elements such as rolling elements. The resulting blocking forces can produce a damping or braking effect, which is transmitted to the shaft 120.

The energy storage 140 is designed to generate a restoring force in the form of a restoring moment or an axial force. The energy storage 140 includes, for example, a spring element, possibly a locking and release mechanism and possibly a transmission or damper gear. The restoring moments or forces generated are transferred to the shaft 120.

The electronics or the control device 102 serves both to control the damper unit 130 and the possibly existing locking and triggering mechanism of the energy storage device 140. Furthermore, the control device 102 also records or receives status data of the elements or, if necessary, integrated sensors. Via an interface, data can be sent externally for electronic processing or received from outside for control.

Reference symbols

100

Operating system

102

Control unit or electronics

110

Operating device

120

Wave

130

Damper unit with magnetorheological medium

140

Energy storage

150

Housing

160

Control element or handle

170

possible types of movement or directions of action

184

Control signal

185

first status signal

186

Activation signal

187

second status signal

188

Control signal

200

Force diagram or moment diagram

230

Braking force range

240

Restoring force range

M

Torque

φ

Angle of rotation

300

vehicle

305

steering wheel

400

Method for operating an operating device

402

Receiving step

404

Control step

406

Activation step

408

Deployment step

Claims (13)

Operating device (110) for a vehicle (300), the operating device (110) having the following features: a movably mounted shaft (120), the shaft (120) being coupled or coupled to a user-operable control element (160); a damper unit (130) coupled to the shaft (120), the damper unit (130) having a magnetorheological medium and at least one coil, the at least one coil being designed to generate a magnetic field acting on the medium, wherein the medium is designed to cause a braking force to brake movement of the shaft (120) depending on a property of the magnetic field; and an energy storage device (140) which is coupled to the shaft (120) and is designed to exert a restoring force on the shaft (120) that is dependent on the movement of the shaft (120). Operating device (110) according to Claim 1 , wherein the shaft (120) is mounted so that it can move axially. Operating device (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (120) is pivotally mounted. Operating device (110) according to one of the preceding claims, with a housing (150), wherein the damper unit (130) and the energy storage (140) are arranged in the housing (150). Operating device (110) according to one of the preceding claims, with the operating element (160), wherein the operating element (160) is coupled to the shaft (120). Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy storage (140) has a device for locking and triggering the energy storage (140) and / or wherein the energy storage (140) has a gear that is designed to apply the restoring force to the shaft (120 ) transferred to. Operating device (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the damper unit (130) has coupling elements and a static component, the shaft (120) being connected to the static component via the coupling elements nente is mechanically coupled, with at least the coupling elements being arranged in contact with the medium. Method (400) for operating the operating device (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method (400) has the following steps: Controlling (404) the coil of the damper unit (130) to generate the magnetic field acting on the medium; and Activate (406) the energy storage (140) to generate the restoring force. Procedure (400) according to Claim 8 , with a step (402) of receiving at least one status signal (185, 187) from the damper unit (130) and / or the energy storage (140) and / or at least one control signal (188) from a functional device of the vehicle (300), wherein the step (404) of driving and/or the step (406) of activating is or are carried out as a function of the at least one status signal (185, 187) and/or the control signal (188), and/or with a step (408 ) of providing the at least one status signal (185, 187) for a functional device of the vehicle (300). Control device (102), which is set up to carry out the steps of the method (400) according to one of Claims 8 until 9 to be carried out and/or controlled in appropriate units. Operating system (100) for a vehicle (300), the operating system (100) having the following features: an operating device (110) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th ; and a control device (102) according to Claim 10 , wherein the control device (102) is connected to the operating device (110) in a signal-transmitting manner. Operating system (100) according to Claim 11 , wherein the control device (102) is arranged in a housing (150) of the operating device (110). Vehicle (300) with an operating device (110) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th or with an operating system (100) according to one of Claims 11 until 12 .

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