EP3608747A1 - Operating device for a vehicle, vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device (1) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with an operating element (2) that can be actuated by a user and is movably mounted on a carrier element (3), with at least one actuatable actuator (12) that is designed for this purpose , to move the control element (2) relative to the support element (3), and with a first spring device (4) which is arranged between the control element (2) and the support element (3) and the control element (2) on the support element ( 3) movably supported. It is provided that a compensation element (8) is movably mounted on the carrier element (3) and that the actuator (12) is connected to the control element (2) and to the compensation element (8).

Description

The invention relates to an operating device, in particular for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with an operating element that can be actuated by a user and is movably mounted on a carrier element, with at least one controllable actuator that is designed to move the operating element relative to the carrier element, and with a spring device which is arranged between the control element and the support element and movably supports the control element on the support element.

State of the art

Operating devices of the type mentioned are already known from the prior art. In vehicle construction there are already numerous operating devices for every type of electrical or mechanical device, which are increasingly being replaced by screens with virtual operating elements. Examples of this are stove tops, copying machines, mobile telephones outside the vehicle sector and, in particular, navigation and multimedia systems in the vehicle sector. Even if the user has now become accustomed to the operation of virtual control elements, the user often lacks haptic feedback, as can be felt for the user in real / mechanical switching devices.

However, so-called haptic displays are already known which, when touching an operating surface with the aid of at least one actuator, perform a specific movement or vibration, for example depending on the location of the touch, a direction of movement and / or the touch force are dependent. This gives the user a haptic feedback when operating the operating device.

Such an operating device is, for example, also from the publication US 9,436,341 B1 known. It is provided there that the user interface is formed by an operating element which is movably mounted on a carrier element by a spring device. An electromagnetic actuator is arranged between the carrier element and the control element in order to move the control element relative to the carrier element if necessary, in order to thus generate the haptic feedback.

Especially in the case of large haptic surfaces, the direction of movement and the vibrations that occur can cause airborne sound and / or structure-borne noise, which can have a comfort-reducing effect.

Disclosure of the invention

The control device according to the invention with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that the formation of structure-borne noise or airborne noise is reduced in a simple and inexpensive manner. For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that a compensation element is movably arranged on the carrier element and that the actuator is connected to the control element and to the compensation element. As a result, the actuator interacts with both the control element and the compensation element. As a result, actuation of the control element by the actuator also has an effect on a movement of the compensation element. Movements can also be transmitted from the control element to the compensation element. This then ensures that the compensation element can oscillate in the transverse, inverse direction of movement to the control element, as a result of which structure-borne sound and / or airborne sound can be compensated. The transmission behavior between the oscillating mass of the control element and that of the compensation element is preferably matched to one another so that the dynamic forces cancel each other out (superposition principle). The compensation element is preferably arranged on the side of the carrier element facing the operating element. Alternative is the operating element is arranged or mounted on the side of the carrier element facing away from the carrier element.

According to a preferred development of the invention, a second spring device is arranged between the compensation element and the carrier element, which supports the compensation element on the carrier element. There is thus a first spring device between the operating element and the carrier element and a second spring device between the carrier element and the compensation element. The spring device creates an oscillating operating mass system with the control element and an oscillating compensating mass system with the compensation element, which are especially matched to one another by adapting the mass and spring stiffness so that the generation of airborne sound and structure-borne noise are minimized or completely prevented. Optionally, a damping measure and / or acceleration measure is also set by the design of the spring devices as well as the compensation element and the operating element.

The compensation element and the operating element can preferably be displaced only perpendicularly or only almost perpendicularly to a longitudinal center plane of the carrier element. The compensation element and operating element can thus be moved at least essentially only perpendicularly to or away from one another. Sideways movements are at least largely excluded. This ensures that, on the one hand, the control element is guided securely, which gives the user a valuable feeling, and, on the other hand, that the effects of the spring devices can be optimally used to achieve the desired effect.

According to a preferred development, the control element has a touch-sensitive screen. For this purpose, the control element carries a display which is covered by a transparent protective pane and which comprises the means for recognizing / detecting the position of at least one finger on the protective pane. For example, it can be a capacitive display. However, other embodiments of the touch-sensitive screen are also conceivable. Due to the mobility of the Screen and the controllable actuator, it is now possible to give the user a haptic switching of a virtual switch shown by the display. If, for example, the actuator is actuated, the control element and the actuator element are moved towards one another in order to simulate the switching process for the user and to offer haptic feedback.

The compensation element is preferably a compensation mass. The compensation element is thus characterized solely by its mass, and is preferably made from a stable, one-piece mass element. By a clever determination of the mass of the compensation mass to compensate for the control element, the vibrations can be compensated for particularly advantageously.

Alternatively, the compensation element is preferably designed as a lighting device for the control element. For this purpose, the compensation element preferably has one or more illuminants which are arranged distributed on a substrate or carrier of the compensation element and which are oriented toward the rear of the operating element in order to illuminate the operating element from behind or from the direction of the carrier element. For this purpose, the carrier element is preferably partially transparent or provided with openings in order to ensure that the light generated by the lighting device reaches the operating element. To this extent, the lighting device serves as a compensation mass for the control element and is preferably matched to the mass of the control element.

In particular, the control element and the compensation element, in particular the lighting device, have at least essentially the same weight. This advantageously prevents vibrations or airborne noise and / or structure-borne noise. The quotient of spring stiffness and mass of the oscillatable systems is preferably the same. The compensation element and the second spring device form an oscillatable system and the control element and the first spring device form a further oscillatable system.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the actuator and the spring devices are designed in such a way that the compensation element and the control element can be controlled in opposite directions or in opposite phases by the actuator with the same force value. This results in a particularly advantageous reduction in structure-borne noise and / or airborne noise. In addition, the operation of the control element in particular with its resonance frequency ensures that the control of the control element by the actuator can be perceived haptically by the user.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the first spring device and / or the second spring device have at least one spring element, in particular a plurality of spring elements which are arranged in particular in an evenly distributed manner. The spring elements define the respective spring stiffness or elasticity of the respective spring device and ensure, in particular in the case of a uniform distribution, that the operating element and the compensation element are acted upon evenly by spring force, thereby ensuring that the operating element and the compensation element are seen to move evenly over their surface extension.

At least one spring element is preferably an elastomer or foam spring element. This type of spring element is inexpensive and can be easily integrated into the operating device in terms of construction.

Alternatively, at least one spring element is a metal spring element or plastic spring element, in particular in the manner of a spring tongue. For example, at least one of the spring elements is designed to be integrated in the control element or in the compensation element. For example, the substrate of the lighting device can have one or more spring tongues, which are designed as cut-out and bent spring tongues and realize the spring action of the spring device due to their inherent elasticity.

The actuator is preferably designed as an electromagnetic actuator or as a piezo actuator. This is an inexpensive and space-saving Realization of the actuator in the control device ensures that also allow a quick actuation of the control element. In particular, the actuator is arranged centrally between the operating device and the compensation element, seen in a plan view of the operating element, so that the actuator force produced by the actuator acts uniformly on the operating element and the compensation element. Several actuators are optionally arranged between the control element and the compensation element, the actuators in this case preferably being arranged in a uniformly distributed manner, in order to ensure that the control element and the compensation element are subjected to a uniform force.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the electromagnetic actuator has a first actuator element arranged on the operating element and a second actuator element arranged on the carrier element. The actuator is thus formed at least in two parts, the actuator elements being designed such that when the actuator is actuated they act with one another, in particular attracting or repelling, in order to pull the control element towards the compensation element or to repel it.

In particular, it is provided that at least one of the actuator elements has at least one current-carrying coil for generating a magnetic field. By energizing the coil, a magnetic field is generated, by means of which one actuator element is repelled or attracted to the other actuator element of the same actuator. In particular, there is an air gap between the actuator elements in the unactuated state of the operating device, which allows the operating element to be pulled by the actuator from the unactuated position into an actuating position used on the compensation element or the carrier element.

The vehicle according to the invention with the features of claim 15 is characterized by the operating device according to the invention. This results in the advantages already mentioned.

Figur 1

eine vereinfachte Schnittdarstellung einer vorteilhaften Bedieneinrichtung für ein Fahrzeug,

Figur 2

ein Diagramm zur Erläuterung der Bedieneinrichtung und

Figur 3

eine vereinfachte Explosionsdarstellung der Bedieneinrichtung.

Further advantages and preferred features and combinations of features result in particular from what has been described above and from the claims. in the The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show this

Figure 1

1 shows a simplified sectional illustration of an advantageous operating device for a vehicle,

Figure 2

a diagram for explaining the control device and

Figure 3

a simplified exploded view of the control device.

Figure 1 shows a simplified sectional view of an advantageous control device 1, which is advantageously used in a motor vehicle. However, it is also conceivable to use the operating device 1 in other applications, such as in a kitchen, on a television, on a machine or the like.

The control device 1 has a control element 2 that can be actuated by a user and is movably mounted on a carrier element 3. For this purpose, the control element 2 is connected to the carrier element 3 by a first spring device 4. The spring device 4 has a plurality of spring elements 5, which are arranged distributed uniformly over the circumference of the operating element 2, in order to ensure a uniform loading or movement of the spring element 5. The control element 2 has a touch-sensitive screen 6 with a protective screen 7.

Furthermore, a compensation element 8 is movably arranged on the carrier element 3 and is connected to the carrier element 3 by a second spring device 9. The second spring device 9 has a plurality of spring elements 10 which are arranged distributed uniformly over the circumference of the compensation element 8 in order to ensure a uniform movement or loading of the compensation element 8. The compensation element 8 is arranged on the side of the carrier element 3 facing away from the control element 2, so that the carrier element 3 is between the compensation element 8 and the Control element 2 is located and extends there in particular flat. According to an alternative embodiment, not shown here, the compensation element 8 is arranged on the side of the carrier element 3 facing the control element 2.

The carrier element 3 itself is preferably coupled, for example, to a dashboard of the motor vehicle by means of viscoelastic damping elements 11. On the one hand, the damping elements 11 reduce vibrations that are introduced from the outside, for example vibrations that are caused by a road surface along which the motor vehicle is moving. On the other hand, non-compensated vibrations of the operating device itself are reduced, for example tilting movements that take place about the Y axis.

The control device 1 also has a plurality of actuators 12 which are arranged between the control element 2 and the compensation element 8 and also act between them. For this purpose, each of the actuators 12 has a first actuator element 13, which is connected to the control element 2 on its rear side facing the carrier element 3, and a second actuator element 14, which is connected to the compensation element 8.

The actuator elements 13 and 14 are each spaced apart from one another, so that an air gap 15 remains between them. At least one of the actuator elements 13 or 14 is provided with an energizable coil which, when energized, generates a magnetic field through which the opposite actuator element 14 or 13 is attracted or repelled. By actuating the respective actuator 12, the operating element 2 can thus be moved relative to the carrier element 3, in particular in the direction of the carrier element or away from it. By actuating the actuators 12, haptic feedback can thus be generated, which the user of the operating device 1 can feel especially when operating the touch-sensitive screen 6.

The control element 2 and the compensation element 8 are guided in particular on the carrier element 3 such that they only move towards one another away from each other and thus at least substantially only perpendicular to the longitudinal center plane of the carrier element 3. For this purpose, the spring elements 5, 9 offer, for example, a parallel guide mechanism.

If the respective actuator 12 is activated, the control element 2 and the compensation element 8 are moved towards one another transversely or translationally. The masses of control element 2 and compensation element 8 are preferably matched to one another, in particular in such a way that control element 2 and compensation element 8 have at least substantially the same mass of, for example, 970 g. As a result, both elements, that is to say the compensation element 8 and the control element 2, experience the same acceleration of deflection.

der Wert der benötigten Federsteifigkeit k der Federelemente 5, 10 ermitteln. Es ist wünschenswert, die beweglichen Massen mit der Resonanzfrequenz zu betreiben, da dadurch die Massen die maximale Beschleunigung bei gleichem Energieaufwand im haptisch gut wahrnehmbaren Bereich erfahren. Hier zeigt sich auch, dass abweichende Massen m von Bedienelement 2 und Kompensationselement 8 kein Problem darstellen, da die voneinander abweichenden Massen durch ausgleichende Federkoeffizienten k ausgeglichen werden können, um dennoch beide schwingfähigen Systeme mit der Resonanzfrequenz zu betreiben. Vorzugsweise werden die schwingfähigen Systeme derart ausgebildet, dass die Dämpfungsmaße beider Systeme gleich sind.For this purpose, the spring elements 5, 10 are preferably also identical, at least with the same spring stiffness k. A first vibratable mass results from the touch-sensitive screen 6 with the protective screen 7 and the electronic components arranged thereon, a second vibratable mass results from the compensation element. A favorable vibration frequency range of the masses that are to be moved transversely towards one another is 10 Hz to 300 Hz. This area can be easily felt by a user of the operating device 1 with the finger. By choosing in particular the resonance frequency f _{R of} the movable / vibratable masses in the haptically well perceptible range, given the mass m of the moving parts, the mathematical relationship allows $$f_R=\frac{1}{2\pi }\sqrt{\frac{k}{m}}\to k=m*{\left(2{\mathit{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="\pi f\; R"\; filenames="imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">\pi f\; </figure-callout>}}_R\right)}^2$$

determine the value of the required spring stiffness k of the spring elements 5, 10. It is desirable to operate the moving masses at the resonance frequency, since this enables the masses to experience the maximum acceleration in the haptically well perceptible range with the same energy expenditure. This also shows that deviating masses m of control element 2 and compensation element 8 are not a problem, since the masses deviating from one another are compensated for by compensating spring coefficients k be able to operate both vibratable systems at the resonance frequency. The oscillatable systems are preferably designed in such a way that the damping dimensions of the two systems are the same.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a resonance frequency of the respective movable mass of 115 Hz is selected. This resonance frequency has been found to be favorable in previous experiments because the resonance point lies in the middle in the haptically well perceptible range. The required value of the spring stiffness k of the spring elements 5, 10 or of the spring devices 4, 9 in the X direction of 506 N / mm in the present case is preferably determined from the mass and resonance frequency.

Figure 2 shows the amplitude response, so that the ratio of the acceleration to the winding current of the actuators, taking into account the transmission behavior from the control element 2 to the compensation element 8. The coordination of the system parameters of the two oscillatable systems or masses shows an almost congruent amplitude response over the entire frequency range. Deviations from this can be explained, for example, by manufacturing tolerances. On the one hand, this compensates for the dynamic forces of the oscillatable systems or masses, and on the other hand, favorable transmission behavior is achieved in a further frequency range.

The spring stiffness used in the present exemplary embodiment results from the design of the spring elements 5, 10 as polyurethane foam spring elements, with silicones or other designs also being conceivable. In particular, the spring elements are alternatively designed as metal springs or plastic springs, which are elastically deformable. The spring elements 5, 10 can also be formed in one piece with the control element 2 or compensation element 3 in order to ensure a high level of integration of the respective spring device 4, 9 in the control device 1.

The spring elements are preferably chosen such that they ensure an almost linear behavior from surface size to spring stiffness. This was empirically proven on the basis of different measurements and different sample masses as well as different foam spring surfaces. In order to achieve the spring stiffness with a value of 506 N / mm, a surface of 9000 mm ^{2 is} necessary in the present case. At the specified resonance frequency, the respective system experiences a maximum deflection of 0.2 mm in the x direction.

Dadurch ist es möglich, durch Erhöhung der Beschleunigung a ₂ oder a ₈ des Massesystems des Bedienelements 2 die Masse m₈ des Kompensationselements 8 zu reduzieren. Dadurch würde sich ein geringeres Gewicht des Gesamtsystems ergeben. Alternativ sind Kompensationsmasse m₈ und die Masse m₂ des Bedienelements 2 gleich groß gewählt.In order to influence the weight ratio of the oscillating mass m _{2 of} the operating element 2 to the oscillating mass m _{8 of} the compensation element 8, the accelerations are dependent on a _{2 of} the control element 2 and a _{8 of} the compensation element 8 preferably takes the following mathematical relationship into account: $$m_{\mathrm{8th}}*{\overrightarrow{a}}_{\mathrm{8th}}={\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="m"\; filenames="imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">m</figure-callout>}}_2*{\overrightarrow{a}}_2$$

This makes it possible by increasing the acceleration a ₂ or a ₈ of the mass system of the control element 2 to reduce the mass m _{8 of} the compensation element 8. This would result in a lower weight of the overall system. Alternatively, the compensation mass m ₈ and the mass m _{2 of} the control element 2 are chosen to be the same size.

The compensation element 8 is particularly preferably designed as an illumination device 16 which has a multiplicity of illuminants 17, as in FIG Figure 1 shown as an example. The illuminants 17 are arranged on the top of a substrate 18 of the compensation element 8 facing the carrier element 3 or the control element 2, in particular in a uniformly distributed manner, so that they illuminate the control element 2 from its rear.

Figure 3 shows in a simplified exploded view the control device 1, in which the carrier element 3 is arranged between the control element 2 and the compensation element 8. The carrier element 3 is frame-shaped, so that it has a recess 19 through which the light generated by the lamps 17 can penetrate through the carrier element 3, in particular around the operating element 2 to illuminate or illuminate the screen 6 from behind so that it is easier for the user to read. Several actuators 12 are also arranged uniformly distributed around the recess. For reasons of clarity, the spring elements 5, 10 are shown in Figure 3 Not shown.

Claims (15)

Operating device (1) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, with an operating element (2) which can be actuated by a user and is movably mounted on a carrier element (3), with at least one controllable actuator (12) which is designed to operate the operating element ( 2) to move relative to the carrier element (3), and with a first spring device (4) which is arranged between the control element (2) and the carrier element (3) and movably supports the control element (2) on the carrier element (3) , characterized in that a compensation element (8) is movably mounted on the carrier element (3) and that the actuator (12) is connected to the control element (2) and to the compensation element (8). Operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that a second spring device (9) is arranged between the compensation element (8) and the carrier element (3) and the compensation element (8) is mounted on the carrier element (3). Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compensation element (8) and the control element (2) can only be displaced perpendicularly or only almost perpendicularly to a longitudinal center plane of the carrier element (3). Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element (2) has a touch-sensitive screen (6). Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compensation element (8) is a compensation mass. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compensation element (8) is a lighting device (16) for the operating element (2). Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control element (2) and the compensation element (8) have at least substantially the same mass. Control device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one actuator (12) and the spring devices (4,9) are designed such that the compensation element (8) and the control element (2) with the same force value in opposite directions by the at least one Actuator (12) can be controlled. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first spring device (4) and / or the second spring device (9) have at least one spring element (5, 10), in particular a plurality of spring elements (5, 10) arranged in particular in an evenly distributed manner. Control device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one spring element (5,9) is an elastomer or foam spring element, in particular polyurethane foam element. Control device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one spring element (5, 10) is a metal spring element or plastic spring element. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one actuator (12) is designed as an electromagnetic actuator or as a piezo actuator. Control device according to claim 12, characterized in that the electromagnetic actuator (12) a first on the control element (2) arranged actuator element (13) and a second on the compensation element (8) arranged actuator element (14). Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the actuator elements (13, 14) has an energizable coil for generating a magnetic field. Vehicle, in particular motor vehicle, with at least one operating device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 14.

Images