EP2769282B1 - Operating device for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle operating device for operating in particular vehicle elements, as known from DE 196 53 768 A ,

Operating devices, in particular hand-operable operating devices for vehicles in the center console or armrest area, are known in many ways. Often, so-called joysticks are used to make numerous functions, especially in the commercial vehicle sector, such as in the off-road area, feasible. Such functions include not only operating hydraulic functions for implements, but also operating a navigation system and the like. This often results in the problem that such a joystick can be configured only limited by a maximum number of actuators can be arranged. Although functions can be actuated by means of rocking movements, the operating elements on such joysticks are not sufficient to combine the numerous control signals required today for a wide variety of functions of the vehicle in one lever.

At the same time, it is desirable that as many vehicle functions as possible can be operated by an operating device, since this advantageously enables the intuitive operation by the operator who is seated in the vehicle. In contrast, in previous vehicles for many functions on other buttons, levers or the like must be accessed in order to operate this function can. This requires a high level of operator attention.

Knob arrangements are frequently known from the field of passenger cars, which at the same time can perform a tilting movement in order to be able to combine as many functions as possible within such a control knob. At the same time, such a button is still pressed to thereby serve another function. Although such control buttons are already used at the same time for navigation systems and for setting radio stations, but thus the usability of the maximum number of vehicle functions is exhausted. However, in the future it will not be just about the operation of a conventional car radio, but about the operation of mostly complex web radios, which regulate the sending and receiving of e-mails, the application of apps to access to the Internet and of course also to the conventional navigation system and radio operation. This alone requires in the car a high level of attention of the operator, which, if it is also the driver of the vehicle, the risk of accident causes.

At the same time such a knob or control knob is arranged in such cars on the center console, whereas an armrest or armrest for placing an arm is to be arranged separately. The placement of the knob within the center console not only takes up space that could otherwise be used as storage space, but also pulls the uncomfortable operation of the knob after, as the arm of the operator person is placed on the armrest.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a vehicle operating device with which a minimization of the number of necessary operating steps, an increase in the number of operations of various functions of the vehicle and at the same time a comfortable handling is possible.

This object is achieved according to the features of claim 1.

The core idea of the invention is that a vehicle operating device has a three-dimensional, plastically deformable by hand forces body and below an outer layer of the body at least one at least one finger of a hand assignable, are arranged by the hand forces in their position variable sensor surfaces for detecting finger actuation movements. Preferably, at least five Assigned sensor surfaces for the fingers of a hand. This means that each finger is assigned a sensor surface. The vehicle operating device is preferably equipped with an armrest for vehicle seats, so that the vehicle operating device can be conveniently operated by placing the arm of a driver.

Such an operating device allows not only by the adaptation of the body to a palm and its finger sizes a comfortable operation, but also a quick, easy and intuitive operation of a large number of serving functions of the vehicle. Because the body adapts not only to the hand shape, but even allows the movement or correct positioning of the sensor surfaces, so that they are always reliably associated with the five fingers of an operator's hand. If the operator has a hand with short fingers, these sensor surfaces can again be moved correspondingly below the outer layer, just as it would happen if a hand with very long and thin fingers were placed on the adjustable base body. A displacement of a finger can also cause a displacement of the sensor surfaces, wherein the sensor surfaces are arranged below or above the outer layer and this outer layer can be arranged on a gel-like material, which in turn is connected to a solid preform, which is located below this gel-like material , This preform already has the finger hollows, in which the sensor surfaces can be arranged. If the operator has long fingers, the sensor surfaces within these finger hollows are thus positioned at a different location than a person with short fingers. Of course, the gel-like material can also be omitted so that the outer layer with the associated sensor surfaces, which may be arranged below or above the outer layer, rests directly on the preform with the preformed finger recesses.

Such a deformation or deformation of the body and also the sensor surface positions can be reversed after leaving or when leaving the vehicle. Such reversals can be done by bringing the deformed base body into a starting position, for example by means of the application of an electrical voltage to which a medium which is located within the base body reacts in a relaxing manner.

It is both an ergonomic adjustment of the control device in shape to the hand of the respective operator person, as well as a comfortable operation of numerous functions of the vehicle possible. For this purpose, the operating device by means of a control device on standardized interfaces to the rest of the vehicle network.

Basically, such an operating device in almost all vehicle types, such as cars, trucks and off-road vehicle, can be used.

The intuitive operation, which results from such a hand-adapted form with the associated sensor surfaces, allows a large number of control options, whose operating principle is equivalent to an operating level and the need for a look at the operating device. Because the driver encloses the operating device, which can be quite bale-shaped, with his hand and deforms it by light pressure in a shape adapted to his hand, so that the outer layer and the resulting outer shape of the operating device has the desired shape of the hand of the operator. By such pressurization with the entire hand, an overview table or an overall image with the available functions, such as navigation system, radio, etc., with the associated functional levels is displayed on a display device or a screen, for example. By a slight pressure, for example by means of the index finger, a function can then be selected and operated directly, whereby the sensor surface, which is assigned to the index finger, is actuated. This has the advantage that this type of operation makes it unnecessary to prevent the operator from leaning forward or to extend the arm of the operator towards the dashboard.

Possible functions that can be operated with such an operating device, not only the navigation system and the radio, but also a CD player, air conditioning, settings for the off-road driving modes, menus, as known from previous vehicles are, for example, for heaters, air conditioners and the like. It is conceivable, for example, that the thumb is assigned a sensor surface which switches between these individual functional areas or functions and an operation within the called functional area is possible with the other fingers. Alternatively, a firm press of the thumb may call for the navigation system as a functional area and a firm press of the index finger allow calling the radio as a functional area in the screen or the display device.

To operate such an operating device, the arm can lie on the arm rest in such a way that the operator can operate the operating head or the operating device with the main body without twisting the wrists by hand.

A simple press of the hand of the operator allows an adaptation of the outer shape of the body. In the interior of the main body are in addition to the already mentioned at least five sensor surfaces so-called finger fields or sensitive zones that mitverformen by the hand pressure, a medium such as granules and / or an elastomer and / or a highly viscous fluid and / or an inert gas , which is suitable for plastic deformation and adaptation to the palm and the individual fingers of the hand. The medium is designed such that it retains a plastic deformation initially experienced by means of the hand forces until a return of the plastic deformation to an initial shape is carried out by means of a reset signal.

The reset signal is transferable when leaving the vehicle by an operator to the control device. This can happen automatically when opening the door, pulling the ignition key or lifting the seat, for example.

The medium preferably has a volume region of the base body, which is closed off from further volume regions or can be connected to at least one further compensation volume region. In this way, in the presence of a closed volume area, it can be ensured that no medium is lost, whereas when connected to a compensation volume area it is possible for the basic body to change in its basic volume, depending on whether the operator is a small hand or has a big hand.

The sensor surfaces preferably have pressure sensors and / or capacitive sensors and / or piezo sensors which generate electrical actuation signals upon finger actuation and transmit them to a central control unit in wired or wireless fashion.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer layer is a first film layer, under which a second film layer is arranged with the sensor surfaces arranged thereon. The sensor surfaces can therefore be arranged on the outside of the second film layer. Alternatively, the sensor surfaces can also be present on the inside of the first film layer for saving a second film layer.

The first film as the outer layer is advantageously a material which is designed to be light and flexible on the surface of the main body and whose soft surface is pleasant and in the form of an elastic film. Materials for such elastic film may be elastomers and thermoplastics such as TPO, PUR, PVC, PC and PC / PBT.

The sensor surfaces on the second film may be printed, painted and / or sprayed conductive surfaces on the surface of the film. Upon actuation of the sensor surfaces, such as by pushing, pushing or pulling with the fingers, the electrical signals or actuation signals are generated, which are transmitted to the control device for the execution of further control signals to the respective functional elements of the vehicle.

The sensor surfaces are configured to generate a restoring force to generate a tactile confirmation signal in response to a finger pressure stress. This allows confirmation for the operator that a function has been actuated. During this operation, it is not necessary to look at the operating device. Rather, all attention can be focused on the traffic and the exterior of the car.

Advantageously, the operating device or the operating head has a rotary and / or articulated joint with the armrest connecting, wherein a rotational and bending movement of the base body causes the generation of further electrical actuation signals. This allows an increase in the number of possible operations for different functions within the vehicle.

The control device is preferably connected by means of at least one data transmission line with a touch-sensitive display device. Alternatively, a wireless Data transmission takes place. The display device can display all actuated commands within the operating device in the form of a display, wherein the display can be designed, for example, as a dashboard screen or as a head-up display. Thus, an intuitive operation of the operating device is achieved, the view in the direction of the control panel, ie down to the control device, unnecessary. The view remains rather forward in the direction of travel and directed to the display or the screen. Thus, the driver experiences in the operation of the functions no distraction from the current ride and can concentrate fully on his driving.

Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims.

• Figuren zu entnehmen. Hierbei zeigen:

  Fig. 1

  In einer schematischen Seitendarstellung einen Fahrzeugsitz mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Bedieneinrichtung;

  Fig. 2

  in einer schematischen Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Bedieneinrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

  Fig. 3

  in einer schematischen Darstellung die erfindungsgemäße Bedieneinrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung; und

  Fig. 4

  in einer schematischen Seitendarstellung den Fahrzeugsitz mit der erfindungsgemäßen Bedieneinrichtung und einer Anzeigeeinrichtung.

Advantages and expediencies are the following description in connection with the

• Figures to take. Hereby show:

  Fig. 1

  In a schematic side view of a vehicle seat with an operating device according to the invention;

  Fig. 2

  in a schematic representation of an operating device according to the invention according to a first embodiment of the invention;

  Fig. 3

  in a schematic representation of the control device according to the invention according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

  Fig. 4

  in a schematic side view of the vehicle seat with the operating device according to the invention and a display device.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle seat with an operating device according to the invention.

The vehicle seat 1 according to the figure has a backrest 2 and a seat part 3, wherein arm 4, 5 are arranged between the seat part 3 and a lower part 6.

An armrest 7 has on its surface on the operating device with the base body 8, which preferably has the shape of a palm, wherein the adaptation to an individual palm only by hand forces of the operator person can be made possible.

As Fig. 2 can be removed with a first embodiment of the operating device, the base body 8 consists of a first film 9, which is arranged on the outside and preferably consists of elastic material. Immediately below the first film 9, a second film 10 is arranged, on which the individual sensor surfaces 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are arranged on the outside. The sensor surfaces 11-15 are assigned to the respective fingers. The main body 8 is freely deformable by the hand forces of an operator and is connected to a solid 17, which in addition to a rotary and knee joint 20 also has an electrical interface to the underlying armrest and the vehicle instruments to be operated.

Below the second film 10 is a medium 16, which may be, for example, a gel, which allows it to be deformed by hand force to allow adaptation to the individual palm. Then this adapted gel-like medium can maintain its instantaneous shape so that it can be returned to a reset position, for example by applying a voltage, when leaving the vehicle.

In a central lower region of the main body 8, a solid body 17 is arranged, which has a bottom region and a pivot joint or articulated joint 20 with respect to a surface 19 in accordance with FIG Fig. 4 is spaced so that the joint is the connection with the surface 19 and thus with the armrest 7. Thus, the main body 8 can be pivoted, as indicated by the reference numeral 18 in FIG Fig. 1 is played in order to activate additional functions of the vehicle can.

In Fig. 4 is shown in a schematic side view of the vehicle seat with the operating device according to the invention together with a display device. In addition to the main body 8, the operating device according to the invention has a display device 21 which can be arranged in the dashboard area. The display device can be designed as a touchscreen in order to be able to activate functions also via this display device. This display device is wireless or wired by means of a communication line 22 connected to a control device of the base body, not shown here.

In Fig. 3 the control device according to the invention is shown according to a second embodiment of the invention. Instead of a gel-like liquid or a gel as a medium below the second film, as in Fig. 2 According to the first embodiment of the operating device according to the invention is shown, only a solid, optionally in the form of a preform 23, may be arranged, which is embedded in a deformable elastic mass 16a. The viscosity of this elastic mass 16a is selected such that it can be deformed by hand from the outside in such a way that the gripping depressions located in the solid body 23 can be molded onto the cover film 9. Thus, the operating device can also be adapted to the particular shape of an individual palm.

The solid body 23 forms, together with the elastic mass 16 a, which may be in the form of a gel-like deformable zone 16 a, and the covering film 9 forms a base body 8.

In both embodiments of the operating device according to the invention according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 contributes the adapted gel-like medium, or the elastic mass that it / his current shape after deformation by an individual palm is maintained, and then when leaving the vehicle again in a hand-neutral reset position, for example by applying an electrical voltage to be brought.

• Der Zeigefinger betätigt das Navigationssystem
• Der Mittelfinger betätigt das Telefon
• Der Ringfinger betätigt das Radio und allgemein Audio
• Der kleine Finger ist für die Favoriten, d.h. sekundäre Funktionen, die beliebig ausgebildet und konfiguriert werden können, zuständig. Optional können in den vier Bedienfeldern auch Funktionen durch den Fahrer zugeordnet werden, die Favoriten gleichkommen.
• Der Daumen steht für die Enter-Funktion (Bestätigung).

The operating device can, for example, have its sensor surfaces or finger zones for the following functional levels in the truck / passenger car:

• The index finger operates the navigation system
• The middle finger presses the phone
• The ring finger operates the radio and generally audio
• The little finger is responsible for the favorites, ie secondary functions that can be configured and configured as desired. Optionally, in the four panels also functions can be assigned by the driver, the favorites are equal.
• The thumb stands for the Enter function (confirmation).

• Der Zeigefinger betätigt die Heckhydraulik.
• Der Mittelfinger ist für den ersten Hydraulikkreis zuständig.
• Der Ringfinger ist für den zweiten Hydraulikkreis zuständig.
• Der kleine Finger ist für die Ansteuerung der Zapfwelle vorgesehen. Optional können in den vier Bedienfeldern auch Funktionen durch den Fahrer in Form von Favoriten zugeordnet werden.
• Der Daumen ist wiederum für die Bestätigung (Enter) vorgesehen.

In the off-road area, such as a tractor, the following occupancy may exist:

• The index finger operates the rear hydraulics.
• The middle finger is responsible for the first hydraulic circuit.
• The ring finger is responsible for the second hydraulic circuit.
• The little finger is intended for the control of the PTO. Optionally, functions can also be assigned by the driver in the form of favorites in the four control panels.
• The thumb is again intended for confirmation (Enter).

Of course, with each finger a freely selectable functional level can be tapped and their choice confirmed with the thumb.

• Für die Bedienung einer Funktion braucht man maximal 5 Kommandos:
  1. 1. Aufwärts, inkremental oder stufenlos, bedient durch Zeigefinger nach vorne auf dem Fingerfeld oder durch Vor-Bewegung des Bedienkopfes (typische Joystick-Bewegung).
  2. 2. Abwärts, inkremental oder stufenlos, bedient durch Zeigefinger nach hinten auf dem Fingerfeld oder durch Zurück-Bewegung des Bedienkopfes (typische Joystick-Bewegung).
  3. 3. Bei einigen Funktionen ist es notwendig, mit dem Cursor auf dem Bildschirm freie Bewegungen in y (links/rechts)- Richtung durchzuführen. Dies wird durch eine Links- bzw. Rechtsbewegung des gesamten Bedienkopfes durchgeführt (typische Joystick-Bewegung) oder durch Bewegung des Zeigefingers nach rechts oder links auf dem Fingerfeld.
  4. 4. Eine eventuell notwendige Zoom-Bewegung (Vergrößern oder Verkleinern) erreicht man durch eine gleichzeitige Vor- und Zurückbewegung von Zeige- und Mittelfinger (Vorbewegung=größer, Zurückbewegung=kleiner).
  5. 5. Das Bestätigen der Auswahl, welches durch den Daumen bedient wird.

The operation of a single function of the vehicle can be done as follows:

• To operate a function you need a maximum of 5 commands:
  1. 1. Upward, incremental or stepless, operated by index finger forward on the finger field or by pre-movement of the operating head (typical joystick movement).
  2. 2. Downward, incremental or continuous, operated by index finger backwards on the finger field or by backward movement of the operating head (typical joystick movement).
  3. 3. For some functions it is necessary to use the cursor on the screen to perform free movements in the y (left / right) direction. This is done by a left or right movement of the entire operating head (typical joystick movement) or by moving the index finger to the right or left on the finger field.
  4. 4. A possibly necessary zoom movement (zooming in or out) is achieved by a simultaneous forward and backward movement of the index and middle fingers (forward movement = larger, backward movement = smaller).
  5. 5. Confirming the selection, which is operated by the thumb.

Three fingers are therefore sufficient for a complete operation of all functions. There is a multitude of functional levels. Here is the question of how this ad is easy and intuitive to reach. The activation of this overview level would be by pressing the control head with all fingers simultaneously for
about 3-5 seconds reachable. Each time the operator firmly accesses, so the overview menu is displayed on the screen. All functional levels are shown in this menu and can now be selected as described above. This also allows the finger fields to be optionally assigned. With this movement, the operating head is also, as already described above, brought into the form adapted to the operator.

All disclosed in the application documents features are claimed as essential to the invention, provided they are new individually or in combination over the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle seat

2

backrest

3

seat part

4, 5

poor

6

lower part

7

armrest

8th

body

9

Outer layer / film layer

10

film layer

11

sensor surface

12

sensor surface

13

sensor surface

14

sensor surface

15

sensor surface

16

medium

17

solid

18

pivotal movement

16a

elastic mass

19

armrest

20

Rotary and / or articulated joint

21

display

22

Data transmission line

23

preform

Claims (10)

1. Vehicle operating device comprising a three-dimensional main body (8) that can be plastically deformed by hand forces, and at least one sensor surface (11-15) for detecting finger actuation movements, which sensor surface can be assigned to at least one finger of a hand and the position of which can be changed by the hand forces, is arranged under an outer layer (9) of the main body (8), characterised in that the outer layer is a first film layer (9) under which a second film layer (10), comprising the sensor surfaces (11-15) arranged thereon, is arranged.
2. Operating device according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of sensor surfaces (11-15) for a plurality of fingers are pressure sensors and/or capacitive sensors and/or piezo sensors which generate electrical actuation signals when actuated by fingers and transmit said signals to a central control unit in a wired or wireless manner.
3. Operating device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the first film layer (9) is made of a resilient material such as an elastomer and/or a thermoplastic.
4. Operating device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in order to plastically deform the main body (8), a medium (16) such as a granular material and/or an elastomer and/or a highly viscous fluid and/or an inert gas is arranged under the sensor surfaces (11-15).
5. Operating device according to claim 4, characterised in that the medium (16) is designed so as to maintain the plastic deformation to which it has initially been subjected by the hand forces until the plastic deformation is restored to an initial shape by means of a restoring signal.
6. Operating device according to claim 5, characterised in that the restoring signal can be transmitted to the control device when an operator leaves the vehicle.
7. Operating device according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the medium (16) is arranged in a volume region of the main body (8) that is closed off from other volume regions or can be connected to at least one other compensation volume region.
8. Operating device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main body (8) is connected, on the underside thereof, to the armrest (7, 19) by means of a pivotal point or a centre pivot joint (20), a rotational and/or bending movement of the main body (8) causing further electrical actuation signals to be generated.
9. Operating device according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the control device is connected to a touch-sensitive display device (21) by means of at least one data transmission line (22).
10. Operating device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a restoring force for generating a tactile confirmation signal can be generated on the sensor surfaces (11-15) in response to compressive loading by a finger.

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