DE10332823A1 - Intelligent operating device for hand-guided machine, automobile steering or control wheel or operating lever for hydraulic plant with grip tube for handgrip acting as part of capacitive sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The intelligent operating device has at least one handgrip with a grip tube (10) which is insulated from earth via isolation elements (20), for acting as part of a capacitive sensor, coupled to an evaluation device, for providing a control signal in dependence on the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor.

Description

The The present invention relates to an intelligent actuator according to the generic term of claim 1. In particular, the present invention relates a deadman device according to the features the preamble of claim 1.

The inventive intelligent actuators can be used to the touch a handle, handle segment, operating lever or other hand-contacted device by the user of this device determine.

application areas for intelligent according to the invention Betätigunsvorrichtungen are, for example, pedestrian-controlled and / or Hand-held machines, steering and steering wheels of vehicles or control levers for the Control of hydraulic units.

Of the In this application, the term "intelligent actuator" used in particular is intended Totmannvorrichtungen include where the signal of the intelligent Actuator thereto is used, the source of danger (machine, vehicle, engine, aggregate, etc.). In addition to the special applications of Dead man's sightings can the inventive intelligent actuators also for any other switching, actuation or operations used be in which the presence of a body part, such as the Hand, the operator's switch actuation or cause operation and / or trigger.

Of the The term "handle" used in this application is intended to include any device at the a proof for the presence of the hand of an operator for the operational safety one Meaning can have. For example, these are handles, steering or steering wheels or controls for the above devices.

A capacitive sensor according to the preamble of claim 1 is in the EP 0 701 917 A1 disclosed.

The deadman device disclosed therein includes a handle in which a copper foil is embedded between two plastic sheets. When the handle is slipped onto a steel spar of a machine steering rod, a certain basic capacitance C ₀ , which corresponds to a first capacitor and is constant, results between the copper foil and the inner plastic layer. Furthermore, the copper foil with the outer plastic layer forms a second capacitor for the hand of the operating personnel with a variable capacitance C _var . When a person touches the grip, capacitance changes of the order of 10 to 20 pF occur. In order to achieve the greatest possible change in the signal is in the EP 0 701 917 A1 proposed to optimally adapt the material and the thickness of the dielectric layers of the capacitive sensor.

This The prior art has the disadvantage that the structure by the plurality conductive or dielectric layers is relatively expensive.

Of the The invention is therefore based on the object, an intelligent actuator specify that has a simple structure and with as possible low expenditure on any machines or vehicles is adaptable.

The The object of the invention is achieved with a smart actuator according to claim 1 or claim 2 solved. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

According to one execution has the intelligent actuator at least one handle comprising a handle tube, in particular for guiding and / or Keep a pedestrian-controlled and / or hand-held Processing machine, a capacitive sensor and an evaluation device for detecting an electrical quantity of the capacitive sensor on, wherein the evaluation device in dependence on the value of the electric Size a signal for the Machine tool provides, wherein the capacitive sensor consists of the handle tube.

at One has to try surprisingly found out that the Handle tube can form the capacitive sensor and by the touch or grasped the encompassing of the handle tube resulting changes in capacity can be. This results in the advantage that complicated and expensive Constructions for the structure of the capacitive sensor are dispensable. The invention according to this execution has the advantage that known handles can be easily isolated against ground to one for the intelligent activity to create usable capacitive sensor.

In addition or according to a further embodiment of the invention, the intelligent actuator comprises at least one handle comprising a handle tube, in particular for guiding and / or holding a pedestrian-controlled and / or hand-held processing machine, a capacitive sensor and an evaluation device for detection an electrical variable of the capacitive sensor, wherein the evaluation device in dependence on the value of the electrical quantity provides a signal for the processing machine, wherein the handle tube is insulated from ground and is part of the capacitive sensor.

at the experiments have surprisingly been shown that this insulated against ground handle tube may be part of the capacitive sensor. With such capacitive sensors could be satisfactory Achieve results that are safe and reliable enable, whether the grip tube is gripped by the hand of an operator or Not.

advantageously, can in the inventive intelligent actuators the handle tube to be isolated by means of at least one separating body to ground. This execution has the advantage that a simple structure achieved by the dual function of the separator Being a mechanical connection and electrical insulation creates.

at a grip tube mounted in two places on a device can the handle tube be isolated by means of two separating body to ground.

According to one execution the invention, the handle tube at least two sensitive areas have, which isolated from each other by means of a separating body are. This execution has the advantage that one can detect two areas of the handle tube separately, and for example as a condition of operation can set that, respectively a hand is captured in both areas.

advantageously, have the or the separating body a length, the bigger than is a hand width. This execution has the advantage that a misjudgment can be more easily avoided. For example can the separator (s) a length from 5 to 15 cm, preferably 8 to 12 and especially preferably of 10 cm.

According to the invention that Handle tube made of a conductive Material be formed. For example, the grip tube may be off Metal, conductive plastic and / or conductive Textiles be formed.

According to one execution the invention, the handle tube may comprise a full tube or hollow tube. Alternatively or in addition For example, the grip tube may have a tube reinforced with a conductive tissue include.

According to one execution The invention may be the separating body a handle attachment for receiving a passive portion of the handle, a handle tube attachment for receiving the handle tube and a center piece for insulation of the handle tube from the passive section. This results a particularly simple structure and a lightweight construction. For example, you can commercial Handle tubes are used, which are cut off and shortened by the length of the middle piece, whereupon the two pipe parts can be connected to the separating body to to obtain an electrically insulated against ground handle tube that in the Dimensions of the commercial Handle tube corresponds.

According to one execution The invention may be the separating body two handle tube approaches for receiving in each case a sensitive area of the handle tube and a centerpiece have for isolating the two sensitive areas of the handle tube. Such separators are for the separation of two sensitive areas suitable.

Preferably is the intelligent invention Actuation device at least part of a deadman device.

The The invention also relates to the handles for one of the above embodiments the invention. To form the capacitive sensor, the handle can for example, be slipped on a metal tube of the device. Alternatively or in addition can the innermost conductive position relative to the handle also be integrated in the handle.

The Invention will be with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures described below.

1 shows a schematic partial view of a first embodiment of the invention.

2 shows a schematic partial view of another embodiment of the invention.

3 shows a schematic side view of a separating body according to the invention according to a first embodiment for connecting two pipe parts.

4 shows an exploded view of an alternative connection between a partially shown full pipe section and a partially shown hollow pipe section in cross section.

5 shows the in 4 shown parts in a composite arrangement.

Of the smart actuator will hereinafter only a part of the capacitive Sen shown and described. Other components neither shown nor described are those skilled in the art for example from EP 0 701 917 A1 known. Other embodiments known to the person skilled in the art, in particular the evaluation device and electronics, as well as a disconnection device for the pedestrian-controlled and / or hand-held processing machine or the vehicle, etc., can be combined with the capacitive sensor in a known manner by the person skilled in the art.

1 shows a schematic partial view of a first embodiment of the invention. The handle includes a handle tube 10 , which forms the active area of the sensor for the intelligent actuator, and two passive areas 11 and 12 , The passive areas 11 . 12 are each separated by a separator 20 with one side of the handle tube 10 connected. The separating bodies are formed of an electrically insulating material and are described in detail below in connection with the 3 to 5 described. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle tube 10 and the passive areas 11 . 12 shown as hollow tubes and are separating body according to the embodiment of 3 used.

The handle tube 10 is in a known manner via a contact element 31 with an evaluation device 40 connected to the capacity of the handle tube 10 evaluated in a known manner. Preferably, the evaluation device can distinguish whether a hand of the operator touches the grip tube or the grip tube is not touched, and outputs a corresponding signal via the line 32 out. The signal on the line 32 can be used by known devices, for example to turn on or off the motor of a device in response to the signal. For this purpose, for example, as disclosed in the international application WO 00/18012 of the present applicant, in particular on page 14, the ignition coil of the motor short-circuited and the engine are thus turned off. The entire disclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference.

evaluation devices to distinguish between two capacitances of a sensor are those skilled in the art known. Preferably, the measurement is performed by means of a reference capacitance, wherein the Capacity to be measured multiply charged and the charge on the advantageously substantially transfer larger reference capacity becomes. By evaluations known in the art can be applied to the capacity closed (charge conversion).

The Handle tube can according to others embodiments be designed as a full tube. As a material can be a suitable conductive Plastic or a metal chosen become. Furthermore Is it possible the pipe with a conductive Plastic or conductive textile product to coat. In this case, it is not necessary that the pipe itself be conductive.

The passive areas 11 . 12 may be formed of conductive or electrically insulating material. In this case, full pipes or hollow tubes can be used. When the passive regions are formed of electrically insulating material, the separators can 20 also be formed of conductive material.

2 shows a schematic partial view of another embodiment of the invention. This design is different from the one in 1 shown in that two sensitive areas 10A . 10B are provided by a separating body 20 ' mechanically interconnected and electrically isolated. The two sensitive areas 10A . 10B are each about a separator 20 with a passive area 11 respectively. 12 connected. In both separating bodies 20 is in each case an evaluation device 40 for detecting the capacity of its associated sensitive area 10A respectively. 10B and outputting a corresponding signal on the respective line 32 intended. The two signals on the two lines 32 may be combined as needed and desired with an AND or OR circuit in a manner known to those skilled in the art to obtain a signal that can be used for the intelligent actuation. When using an AND circuit, for example, it would be necessary for the grip tube to be touched at both sensitive areas by one hand of the operator.

Advantageously, the length of the separating body 20 ' , ie, the width of its outer insulating area, wider than a hand width, to avoid emitting a signal indicating that the operator has both sensitive areas 10A . 10B with one hand grips, although he the handle tube in the area of the separator 20 ' holds with one hand and both sensitive areas 10A . 10B touched with this hand.

Alternatively, the length of the separating body 20 ' be formed shorter, so as not to unnecessarily make the sensitive areas smaller. It should be advantageously ensured in the evaluation that the detected capacitance change must be sufficiently large that a partial contact is considered as no contact.

advantageously, the evaluation can also be carried out in such a way that only sufficient size Hands as contact of the sensitive area become. In this way, for example, a child safety or infant protection can be realized.

3 shows a schematic side view of a separating body according to the invention 20 according to a first embodiment for connecting two pipe parts, not shown.

The separating body has a center piece 22 whose outer diameter corresponds to the outer diameters of the two mechanically connected pipe parts. If the outer diameters of the two pipe parts are different, the outer diameter of the center piece may also gradually change from the outer diameter of one pipe part to the outer diameter of the other outer diameter. For this purpose, the middle piece may be conical, for example. Preferably, however, the outer diameter of the two pipe parts are the same. This also has advantages in manufacturing, because the intelligent actuator can be easily installed by a conventional handle separated at the desired locations and a tube part is shortened by the length of the center, after which the tube parts can be reconnected to the separator body to a To obtain handle with the original dimensions of the commercial handle.

The separating body 20 also has a handle attachment 21 for connection to a pipe part forming a passive portion of the handle. The outer diameter of the handle attachment 21 corresponds essentially to the inner diameter of the pipe part to be connected. The grip approach 21 can be connected to the tube part in a manner known to those skilled in the art. All joining methods known to those skilled in the art can be used. Preferably, the handle attachment 21 connected to the handle tube with a threaded connection for easier maintenance. Alternatively, a press fit, a clamp connection or adhesive connection can be used. In the handle approach 21 is the evaluation device 40 intended. Preferably, the evaluation device has an integrated circuit 41 on top of a pedestal or a circuit board 42 is provided together with the reference capacity. At the evaluation device is a line 32 connected to forward the intelligent operation signal.

On the other side of the middle piece 22 has the separator 20 a handle tube approach 23 for mechanical connection with the in the 1 and 2 illustrated grip tube 10 on. The outer diameter of the handle tube approach 21 essentially corresponds to the inner diameter of the handle tube to be connected. The mechanical connection between the center piece and the handle tube can be made as above with respect to the other side. In the handle tube approach 23 is a recess 231 for receiving the contact element 31 provided that after the connection of the two parts an electrical contact between the handle tube 10 and the evaluation device 40 manufactures. In the illustrated embodiment, the contact element 31 a contact spring device 311 on, which is formed in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Other means for forming an electrical contact between the handle tube 10 and the evaluation device 40 are conceivable.

The separating body 20 is formed of an electrically insulating material. It has the dual function of mechanical connection and electrical insulation of the two pipe parts.

4 shows an exploded view of an alternative connection between a partially shown full pipe section and a partially shown hollow pipe section in cross section. 5 shows the in 4 shown parts in a composite arrangement.

In the hollow pipe section 51 is a hole 52 for receiving a bolt 53 intended. Before installation has a bolt 53 on one side a bolt head 54 , On the other side is another bolt head 63 formed as a completion of the assembly, as in 5 shown.

As a connecting part is an electrically insulating sleeve 55 provided a bore 56 whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the bore 52 equivalent. The sleeve 53 has a wall 57 and a flange 58 ,

At the with the hollow pipe section 51 to be connected full pipe section 62 is an extension 59 provided, the outer diameter of the inner diameter of the sleeve 55 equivalent. In the extension 59 is a hole 61 provided with a lining 60 is lined from an electrically insulating material. The inner diameter of the lining 60 also corresponds to the diameter of the hole 52 , The bolt 53 is sized so that through the holes 52 . 56 and 61 can be plugged to the hollow pipe section 51 with the full pipe section 62 mechanically connect. The sleeve 55 and the liner create the electrical insulation. The evaluation device, not shown, can in a manner known to the expert with the extension 59 get connected.

The function of the intelligent actuation according to the invention is described below:
When the handlebar is touched by a person, there is a change in capacitance because the touch of the operator causes the outer dielectric to assume a significantly greater value in comparison to the air. This change in capacity is detected by a suitable evaluation and known manner in an information signal to Weiterver work converted.

In order to ensure error-free operation and a reproducible response, especially with regard to the dependence on environmental influences, the evaluation device is preferably designed so that it can compensate for environmental conditions and drift phenomena. For example, after switching on, the evaluation device can first determine and store a first measured value as a reference value. Subsequent measurements are compared to the stored value and only deviations that cause a large change are interpreted as a hand touch. Smaller relative changes are interpreted as drift effects caused by changes in environmental conditions and have an increasing or decreasing effect on the stored reference value. This method is particularly suitable because the values of the relative dielectric constant between ε _r of air and ε _r differ significantly in the case of a hand touch.

10

handle tube

10A

sensitive Area

10B

sensitive Area

11

passive section

12

passive section

20

separating body

21

handle attachment

22

centerpiece

23

Handle tube approach

231

recess

31

contact element

311

Contact spring device

32

management

40

evaluation

41

circuit

42

circuit board

51

Hollow tube section

52

drilling

53

bolt

54

bolt head

55

shell

56

drilling

57

wall

58

flange

59

extension

60

lining

61

drilling

62

Full pipe section

63

bolt head

Claims (16)

Intelligent actuating device with at least one handle, which comprises a grip tube, in particular for guiding and / or holding a pedestrian-controlled and / or hand-held processing machine, a capacitive sensor and an evaluation device for detecting an electrical variable of the capacitive sensor, wherein the evaluation device in dependence on the value the electrical size provides a signal for the processing machine, characterized in that the capacitive sensor from the handle tube ( 10 ) consists. Intelligent actuating device with at least one handle, which comprises a grip tube, in particular for guiding and / or holding a pedestrian-controlled and / or hand-held processing machine, a capacitive sensor and an evaluation device for detecting an electrical variable of the capacitive sensor, wherein the evaluation device in dependence on the value the electrical size provides a signal for the processing machine, characterized in that the handle tube ( 10 ) is isolated to ground and is part of the capacitive sensor. Intelligent actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle tube ( 10 ) is isolated to ground. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) by means of at least one separating body ( 20 ) is isolated to ground. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) by means of two separating bodies ( 20 ) is isolated to ground. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) at least two sensitive areas ( 10A . 10B ), which against each other by means of a separating body ( 20 ' ) are isolated. Intelligent actuating device according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the separator (s) ( 20 . 20 ' ) have a length which is greater than a hand width. Intelligent actuating device according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the separator (s) ( 20 . 20 ' ) have a length of 5 to 15 cm, preferably 8 to 12 and especially preferably 10 cm. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) from a leitfä higen material is formed. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) is formed of metal, conductive plastic and / or conductive textiles. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) comprises a full tube. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) comprises a hollow tube. Intelligent actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the grip tube ( 10 ) comprises a hose reinforced with a conductive fabric. Intelligent actuating device according to one of claims 4 to 13, characterized in that the separating body ( 20 ) a handle attachment ( 21 ) to include a passive section ( 11 . 12 ) of the handle, a handle tube approach ( 23 ) for receiving the handle tube ( 10 ) and a middle piece ( 22 ) for the isolation of the handle tube ( 10 ) from the passive section ( 11 . 12 ) having. Intelligent actuating device according to one of Claims 6 to 14, characterized in that the separating body ( 20 ' ) two handle tube approaches ( 23 ) for receiving in each case a sensitive area ( 10A . 10B ) of the handle tube ( 10 ) and a middle piece ( 22 ) for the isolation of the two sensitive areas ( 10A . 10B ) of the handle tube ( 10 ) having. Intelligent actuator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized that she at least part of a deadman device.