FR3039792A1 - CONTROL DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch control device of a motor vehicle apparatus, comprising: - a control surface (10) formed on a substrate and arranged to be touched by a plurality of fingers (100) of a user, - a plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23), each arranged with respect to the substrate for detecting and signaling a contact of one of the plurality of fingers (100) with the control surface (10), - at least one electronic unit receiver (40) arranged to receive from the plurality of detection tracks (20, 23) of the contact signals, and to generate a control signal of the vehicle apparatus, characterized in that the control surface (10) ) is in relief and has at least one perimeter, so that it can be simultaneously contacted by the plurality of fingers (100) of the user.

Description

CONTROL DEVICE

The present invention generally relates to a control device intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, and in particular a tactile control device.

It is known in the prior art of tactile control devices, such as that disclosed in FR2847058. In return, this system has the disadvantage of not being obvious to use with several fingers at the same time. On the other hand, it is known to use mechanical control devices with knobs or rotary knobs. However, these systems have operating games that are important and detract from the perceived and functional quality.

An object of the present invention is to meet the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a tactile control device that is easy to use with several fingers, and with good perceived quality. and functional.

For this purpose a first aspect of the invention relates to a tactile control device of a motor vehicle apparatus, comprising: a control surface formed on a substrate and arranged to be touched by a plurality of fingers of a user; a plurality of capacitance detection tracks, each arranged with respect to the substrate for detecting and signaling a contact of one of the plurality of fingers with the control surface, - at least one acquisition electronics unit arranged to receive the plurality of detection tracks of the contact signals, and for generating a control signal of the vehicle apparatus, characterized in that the control surface is in relief and has at least one periphery, so that it can be simultaneously contacted by the plurality of fingers of the user.

The control device according to the present implementation is easy to touch with several fingers, because it is in relief: the fingers of the user can therefore touch the control surface as they enter a control wheel. Embossed control surface means any surface that is protruding from a base surface which may be an appliance front or dashboard for example.

Advantageously, the control surface is in relief, so that it can be simultaneously contacted by the plurality of fingers of the user in the same manner as would be a mechanical control interface such as a control wheel. The control surface can be contacted as if the user's fingers were grasping a conventional control wheel, such as a rotary knob for adjusting sound volume, of cylindrical shape, for example.

Advantageously, the control surface has at least one control side surface on which the plurality of fingers can slide, and at least part of the plurality of capacitance detection tracks, is arranged with respect to the substrate for detecting and signaling a contact. of one of the plurality of fingers with the lateral control surface.

Advantageously, the lateral control surface has a shape similar to a lateral gripping surface of a rotating wheel. We can consider taking a cylindrical or conical shape for example.

Advantageously, the control surface has at least one control top surface on which one of the plurality of fingers can press, and at least one of the plurality of capacitance detection tracks is arranged with respect to the substrate for detecting and signaling a contact of said one of the plurality of fingers with the top control surface. The support on the top surface can be used to control the start or stop of the device.

Advantageously, the plurality of capacitance detection tracks are overmolded or glued or riveted or other assembly techniques on a surface of the substrate facing or opposite to the control surface.

Advantageously, the device comprises a flexible printed circuit on which is formed the plurality of capacitance detection tracks. Such a flexible printed circuit is easy to set up on a substrate even if the latter has a raised shape.

Advantageously, the flexible printed circuit is plated and glued or overmoulded on a surface of the substrate facing or opposite to the control surface.

Alternatively, a circuit is directly formed on the support material or substrate with a molded interconnected device technique otherwise known as the Molded Interconnected Device (MID). Such a "printed" circuit can then receive the capacitance detection tracks. They can be glued, plated or overmolded on this DIM circuit (Molded Interconnected Device or Molded Interconnected Device).

Advantageously, the control surface has a diameter in a range from 5 millimeters to 30 millimeters, and preferably from 6 millimeters to 15 millimeters.

Advantageously, said at least one electronic acquisition unit is deported from the plurality of capacitance detection tracks and the control device comprises at least one connector arranged to connect said at least one electronic acquisition unit with the plurality of tracking tracks. capacitance detection.

Advantageously, the substrate is in transparent or translucent material and the control device comprises at least one backlight for providing visual marking.

Advantageously, the substrate is coated with a mask to form a visual marking.

A second aspect of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising at least one tactile control device according to the first aspect of the invention. Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of two embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a section of a control device according to the invention; FIG. 2 represents a view from above of the control device of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 represents an alternative of the device of FIG.

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a control device according to the invention, which comprises a substrate on which is formed in relief a control surface 10, which itself comprises a side surface 10a and a top surface 10b.

The control surface 10 is formed by the outer surface of the substrate and can therefore easily be contacted by fingers 100 of a user. Indeed, the control surface 10 is in relief, and takes the form of a conical control button, with a crater or recess at its top.

To detect the contact of the fingers 100 with the control surface 10, the control device comprises a plurality of capacitance detection tracks 20 placed under the substrate and connected to an electronic acquisition unit 40 by a connector 30 and electrical conductors. 21 schematically in FIG. 1 between the capacitance detection tracks 20 and the connector 30. In particular, there is also a capacitance detection track 23 which is arranged under the recess of the control surface 10, look at the top surface 10b.

The capacitance detection tracks 20 and 23 are thus arranged to detect any contact of the user's fingers with the control surface 10. For this purpose, tracks connected to ground are also provided, as will be explained in FIG. 2, but all these elements (the capacitance detection tracks 20 and 23, as well as the tracks connected to the ground can be integrated on a flexible printed circuit that can be pressed and glued or overmolded on the inner surface of the substrate. Such a flexible printed circuit has the advantage of being able to conform to the relief geometry of the substrate.

Alternatively, a molded, interconnected device technology may be used to implant the capacitance detection tracks 20 and 23 and those connected to ground to the substrate.

As for the substrate, it can be matt black or glossy, have a marking (by a mask) or a backlight to provide a visual cue to the user. The substrate may also be smooth or have roughnesses depending on the specifications to be met. Glass can be used to make the substrate.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1, showing the plurality of detection tracks 20 distributed around the periphery of the lateral control surface 10a, in order to allow a movement of the fingers to be followed, and derive a sliding direction for example, in order to generate a control signal according to the direction of sliding.

As mentioned above, FIG. 2 also shows tracks 22 connected to ground which are interposed between the capacitance detection tracks. It is also noted that one of these tracks 22 connected to the ground surrounds the capacitance detection track 23. Due to the compactness of the control device and the proximity between the capacitance detection tracks 20, 23, electrical conductors 21 and tracks 22 connected to ground, it is important to provide a shielding between all these organs, in order to maintain effective detection, and signals sent by the capacitance detection tracks 20 and 23 to the electronic unit of acquisition 40 exploitable.

FIG. 3 represents an alternative of the control device of FIG. 1, in which it can be seen that the control surface 10 has a rather cylindrical lateral control surface, which can be contacted by the fingers 100 as if they were a rotary control knob. The rest of the elements of Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1 and will not be described again.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

A touch control device of a motor vehicle apparatus, comprising: - a control surface (10) formed on a substrate and arranged to be touched by a plurality of fingers (100) of a user, - a plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23), each arranged with respect to the substrate for detecting and signaling a contact of one of the plurality of fingers (100) with the control surface (10), - at least one electronic unit receiver (40) arranged to receive from the plurality of detection tracks (20, 23) of the contact signals, and to generate a control signal of the vehicle apparatus, characterized in that the control surface (10) ) is in relief and has at least one perimeter, so that it can be simultaneously contacted by the plurality of fingers (100) of the user. 2. A tactile control device according to the preceding claim, wherein the control surface (10) has at least one lateral control surface (10a) on which the plurality of fingers (100) can slide, and wherein at least a portion of the plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23) is arranged with respect to the substrate for detecting and signaling a contact of one of the plurality of fingers (100) with the control side surface (10a). 3. A tactile control device according to the preceding claim, wherein the control side surface (10a) has a shape similar to a lateral gripping surface of a rotating wheel. A touch control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control surface (10) has at least one control top surface (10b) on which one of the plurality of fingers (100) can press, and wherein at least one of the plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23) is arranged with respect to the substrate for detecting and signaling a contact of one of the plurality of fingers (100) with the top control surface (10b). A touch control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23) are overmolded or glued or riveted onto a surface of the substrate facing or opposite to the control surface ( 10). The touch control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein comprising a flexible printed circuit board on which is formed the plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23). 7. A tactile control device according to the preceding claim, wherein the flexible printed circuit is plated and bonded or overmoulded on a surface of the substrate opposite or opposite the control surface (10). 8. A touch control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control surface (10) has a diameter in a range of 5 millimeters to 30 millimeters. The touch control device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one acquisition electronics unit (40) is offset from the plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23) and wherein the control comprises at least one connector arranged to connect said at least one acquisition electronics unit (40) with the plurality of capacitance detection tracks (20, 23) 10. Motor vehicle comprising at least one tactile control device according to one of the preceding claims.